BACKGROUND:In recent years, many manufacturing techniques have been recently developed for soft tissue engineering scaffolds. Especialy additive manufacturing with a unique material accumulated forming principle can be feasible and reliable to manufacture the highly precise scaffolds with gradient structures and multi-materials for large soft tissue defect repairing.
OBJECTIVE:To summarize scaffolds manufacturing technologies in the soft tissue engineering applications developed in recent years and to predict the direction of development.
METHODS: A retrieval was performed for the literature about the manufacturing methods of soft tissue scaffolds using key words of “additive manufacturing, microfabrication, vascular tissue engineering, muscle tissue engineering, cartilage tissue engineering, stereolithography, 3D printing, biodegradable hydrogel” in English and Chinese, which were published between January 2010 and September 2013 in PubMed Database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) Database.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:For large soft tissue defects repairing, structure design of the scaffolds has been shifted from a simple planar structure to a more complex three-dimensional structure, and integration of scaffold structure, materials and cels, and growth factors during the manufacturing procedure can be used to obtain the resolution of vascularization. Additive manufacturings become one of the most promising approaches for the ideal soft tissue scaffolds with gradient and complex structure and multi-materials. In particular, the hydrogel/cellcomposite scaffolds fabrication, a hot but promising approach to develop the soft tissue engineering wil be made progress by the accurate principles and processes of the hydrogel additive manufacturing combined with the introduction of living cels and growth factors.

OBJECTIVETo study 3 different strategies of urine drainage following hypospadias urethroplasty, the clinical nursing in their application, and their effects.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 595 cases of hypospadias treated by urethroplasty. After surgery, 133 of the patients underwent urine drainage by suprapubic cystostomy (group A), 202 by urethral stent- tube indwelling (group B), and 260 by early initiative micturition with the urethral stent-tube (group C). All the patients received routine postoperative nursing care required for hypospadias repair.

RESULTSOperations were successfully completed in all the cases. Group C showed a remarkably shorter hospital stay and lower incidence rates of urinary fistula and urethral stricture than groups A and B (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in the three indexes between A and B (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor urine drainage following hypospadias repair, early initiative micturition with the urethral stent-tube can significantly reduce postoperative complications, decrease difficulties and workload of nursing care, and shorten the hospital stay of the patient.

Cystostomy ; Drainage ; methods ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; prevention & control ; Urinary Fistula ; prevention & control ; Urine ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male

OBJECTIVEAmbroxol induces the synthesis of surfactant in lung alveolar type II cells. Some studies have shown its effectiveness for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two different ways of ambroxol administration, ie, intravenous injection and atomizing inhalation, for the prevention of RDS in preterm infants.

METHODSA total of 125 preterm infants born between 28-37 weeks of gestation were randomly assigned into three groups: Intravenous and Atomizing ambroxol treatment groups (n=40 each) or Control group (n=45). The Intravenous group was injected with 15 mg/kg of ambroxol through the umbilical vein immediately after birth and then received 30 mg/kg of ambroxol daily for 2 days by intravenous drip. The Atomizing group was administered with 30 mg/kg of ambroxol daily for 2 days by atomizing inhalation immediately after birth. The Control group received no ambroxol treatment. The incidences of RDS and complications as well as the blood gas results 6 hrs after birth were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe incidence of RDS was 7.5%, 5.0% and 24.4% in the Intravenous, Atomizing and Control groups respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of RDS between the two ambroxol treatment groups. However, the incidence of RDS in the two treatment groups were noticeably lower than in the Control group (P < 0.05). The blood gas results did not show significant differences between the two ambroxol treatment groups but both groups demonstrated improved blood gas results compared with the Control group at 6 hrs after birth (P < 0.05). The incidence of complications, such as pulmonary hemorrhage, respiratory failure, intraranial hemorrhage, in the two ambroxol treatment groups was reduced compared with the Control group (P < 0.05), but there were no differences between the two ambroxol groups.

CONCLUSIONSEarly administration of either intravenous or atomizing ambroxol can produce a positive efficacy for the prevention of RDS in preterm infants. The two different ways of administration seem to result in a similar efficacy in the prevention of RDS.

Administration, Inhalation ; Ambroxol ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; metabolism ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; prevention & control

Objective To determine the expression of membrane-bound B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) protein and its mRNA in vitro of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),and to investigate the role of interferon-?(IFN-?) on the expression of BLyS.Methods PBMCs were obtained from 25 SLE patients (mean age of 31+14) and 20 healthy volunteers (mean age of 28?10).They were randomized into IFN-?(5 ng/ml) group and control group.PBMCs were col- lected at 0,6,12 and 24 h for BLyS mRNA assessment using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).PBMCs were also collected at 72 h for membrane-bound BLyS protein detection using flow cy- tometry (FACS) and direct immunofluorescence.Results①The expression of BLyS mRNA and membrane- bound protein in PBMCs was significantly higher in individuals with SLE compared with healthy controls (P＜0.05);②IFN-?enhanced BLyS mRNA expression in PBMCs in both healthy controls and SLE patients,with the greatest effect at 6 h (stimulated vs unstimulated,0.42?0.19 vs 0.25?0.14,P＜0.01;0.59?0.28 vs 0.44?0.21,P＜0.01 );③IFN-?also increased the expression of membrane-bound BLyS protein in both healthy con- trols and individuals with SLE (FACs,mean fluorescence intensity,4.5+3.0 vs 3.7~2.6,P

Objective To analysis the clinical applications of unstable an-gina medications.Methods Retrospective analysis of the original re-cords of 327 patients with unstable angina pectoris and evaluation of the use and rationality of the medications using the indicators of defined daily dose(DDD), frequency of drug use(DDDs) and drug utilization index ( DUI) .Results Top three of the most frequently used anti-ischemic drugs were metoprolol tartaric acid ( 40.06%) , glyceryl trinitrate ( 33.03%) and metoprolol succinate sustained -release tablets ( 25.99%) .In addition, 97.54% of patients received anti -platelet therapy, 12.23%received anti-coagulation therapy, and 95.41% re-ceived treatment of statins.As for DUI, except of aspirin and clopi-dogrel, other drugs were ≤1.Conclusion Except that the intensity of anti-coagulation therapy is not enough, the use of other drugs was rea-sonable and consistent with the guidelines basically.

Objective To investigate the gene mutations of calcium-and integrin-binding protein 2 (CIB2) 196C＞T, 272T ＞ C and 297C ＞ G carried by students with non-syndromic hearing impairment from special educational schools in Yunnan Province. Methods The experimental group included 337 students with non-syndromic hearing impairment who failed to carry deafness gene with GJB2 (35 del G, 176_191 del 16,235delC, 299_300 del AT), GJB3 (C538T,G547A), mtDNA 12S rRNA (A1555G, C1494T), and SLC26A4 (IVS7_2A＞G, A2168G) . The control group consisted with 150 healthy people. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood with EDTA anti-coagulate. The subject's DNA fragments including CIB2 196C＞T, 272T ＞ C and 297C＞ G were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and subsequently analyzed by direct sequencing to identify deafness-associated mutations. Results Both in the experimental group and control group, we failed to find the mutation of CIB2 196C＞T, 272T＞C and 297C＞G in all individuals. Conclusion Mutations in CIB2 gene 196C＞T, 272T＞C and 297C＞G are not a frequent cause of non-syndromic hearing loss among deaf people in Yunnan province. It provided important information for deafness with formulating landscape of gene screening in this region.

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect of paeoniflorin (PAE) on TNF-α-induced TNF receptor type I (TNFR1)-mediated signaling pathway in mouse renal arterial endothelial cells (AECs) and to explore its underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODSMouse AECs were cultured in vitro and then they were treated by different concentrations PAE or TNF-α for various time periods. Expression levels of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media), the TNF-α group (cultured by 2-h serum-free culture media plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the low dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 0.8 μmo/L plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the middle dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 8 μmol/L plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the high dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 80 μmol/L plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL) with Western blot analysis. Nuclear translocation of transcription factor NF-κB (NE-κB) was detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media), the TNF-α group (cultured by 2-h serum-free culture media plus 45-mm TNF-α 30 ng/mL), and the high dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 80 μmol/L plus 45-min TNF-α 30 ng/mL) by immunofluorescent staining. Expression levels of the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated (protein) kinase (ph-ERK) and p38 (ph- p38) were detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media) and the high dose PAE group (2-h PAE 80 μmol/L culture) by Western blot. NF-κB inhibitor-α (IκBα) protein expressions were detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media), the TNF-α group (cultured by 2-h serum-free culture media plus 30-min TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the high dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 80 μmol/L plus 30-min TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the p38 inhibitor group (SB group, pretreatment with SB238025 25 μmol/L for 30 min, then treated by PAE 80 μmol/L for 2 h, and finally treated by TNF-α 30 ng/mL for 30 min), the ERK inhibitor group (PD group, treated by PD98059 50 μmol/L for 30 min, then treated by PAE 80 μmol/L for 2 h, and finally treated by TNF-α 30 ng/mL for 30 min) by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, ICAM-1 protein expression levels obviously increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the TNFα group, ICAM-1 protein expression levels were obviously inhibited in the high dose PAE group (P < 0.05). Protein expression levels of ph-p38 and ph-ERK were obviously higher in the hIgh dose PAE group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal group, IκBα protein expression levels obviously decreased in the TNF-α group (P < 0.01). Compared with the TNFα group, TNF-α-induced IκBα degradation could be significantly inhibited in the high dose PAE group (P < 0.01); the inhibition of PAE on IκBα degradation could be significantly inhibited in the SB group (P < 0.05). NF-κB/p65 signal was mainly located in cytoplasm in the normal group. NF-κB/p65 was translocated from cytoplasm to nucleus after stimulated by 45 min TNF-α in the TNF-α group, while it could be significantly inhibited in the high dose PAE group.

CONCLUSIONSPAE inhibited TNF-α-induced expression of lCAM-1. Its action might be associated with inhibiting TNFR1/NF-κB signaling pathway. p38 participated and mediated these actions.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Monoterpenes ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

We have constructed the immune microsphere against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) prospectively, hoping to establish the experiment groundwork in more researches which could be used in specific elimination of the TNF-alpha by blood purification method for the future. The recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha monoclonal antibody (rHTNF-alpha McAb) was wrapped on the polystyrene microsphere (PSM) carrier connecting poly-L-lysine (PLL) beforehand. They were earmarked by the fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) respectively. The packing conditions were examined using the inversted and fluorescence microscopes and the spectrophotometer. The results showed that the best conditions for wrapping were 20 degrees C, pH9.5 and 60 minutes. The PLL content was not changed in the washing fluid after coating, which indicated the wrapping was quite firm. At the same temperature and same coating time, the rHTNF-alpha McAb coated on the PLL was obviously substantial when the concentration of glutaraldehyde solution was 0.2%. The findings demonstrated that the built immune microsphers can be used as a novel adsorption material. This method is simple and economic, and it offers a new approach to the related studies.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Fluorescein ; chemistry ; Humans ; Microspheres ; Polylysine ; chemistry ; Polystyrenes ; chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Antigens, Surface ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Trophoblasts ; immunology

OBJECTIVE Lychee seed, a famous traditional Chinese medicine, recently were reported to improve the learning and memory abilities in mice. However, it is still unclear whether lychee seed saponins (LSS) can improve the cognitive function and associated mechanisms. METHODS In present studies, we established the Alzheimer disease (AD) model by injecting Aβ25-35 into the lateral ventricle of rats. Then the spatial learning and memory abilities of LSS- treated rats were evaluated with the Morris water maze, meanwhile the protein expressions of AKT, GSK3β and Tau in the hippo?campal neuron were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS The results showed LSS can improve the cognitive functions of AD rats through shortening the escape latency, increasing the number across the platform, platform quadrant dwell time and the percentage of the total distance run platform quadrant. The protein expression of AKT was significantly up-regulated and that of GSK3β and Tau were decreased remarkably in the hippocampal CA1 area. CONCLUSION Our study is the first to show that LSS significantly improve the cognitive function and prevent hippocampal neuronal injury of the rats with AD by activation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway, suggesting LSS may be developed into the nutrient supplement for the treatment of AD.