OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility to fabricate a blood vessel scaffold with a combined polymer for tissue engineering.

METHODSA blood vessel scaffold was designed with a combined polymer composed of rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs), collagen and a non-spinning fabric mesh of polyglycolic acid (PGA). VSMCs were implanted into collagen gel and their growth was observed. The mixed solution of VSMCs and collagen was dropped into the tubular scaffold, followed by 7-day culturing.

RESULTSVSMCs formed many prominences after culturing in gelatinous collagen for 3-4 hours. With cells extending, some cells became shuttle- or spindle-shaped. After VSMCs-collagen complex was implanted into the PGA mesh, most of VSMCs remained in the pore of PGA mesh with the formation of gelation. VSMCs could adhere to and grow on the PGA fiber.

CONCLUSIONThe non-spinning PGA porous biodegradable material coated with collagen is a good carrier for VSMCs to adhere and grow.

Animals ; Blood Vessels ; growth & development ; Collagen ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; growth & development ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Polymers ; Rabbits ; Time Factors ; Tissue Engineering ; instrumentation ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

Background and Objective:Pelvic lymphocysts are the most common postoperative complications of pelvic lymphadenectomy. Prevention of this disease is more important than treatment. This randomized study was to evaluate the preventive effect of lymph vessel ligation during pelvic lymphadenectomy on pelvic lymphocyst formation. Methods: A total of 39 patients with gynecologic malignancy,who had pelvic lymphadenectomy in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2006 to January 2007,were randomized into the ligation group (19 patients) and the non-ligation group(20 patients). All patients had no heart disease,hepatopathy,nephronia, pneumonopathy,hypoproteinemia and no history of radiotherapy. All the patients were followed-up with sonographic evaluation and physical examination for lymphocysts and other postoperative complications at 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after operation. Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups in pathlogic type, age, height, weight, body surface area,body mass index (BMI),operation duration, estimated blood loss, time to the passage of flatus, total drainage volume,duration of drainage, and duration of hospital stay (P＞0.05).The occurrence rate of lymphocysts was significantly lower in the ligation group than in the non-ligation group at one week after operation (26.3% vs. 60.0%, P＜0.05). The rates were slightly lower in the ligation group than in the non-ligation group without significant differences after then (31.6% vs. 55.0% at the 4th week),(16.7% vs. 45.0% at the 12th week),(20.0% vs. 27.8% at the 24th week).No significant differences were observed in the occurrence of other postoperative complications between the two groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Ligations of the deep inguinal lymph vessels,obturator lymph vessels,common iliac lymph vessels,and the lymph vessels at the crossing of the external iliac and the inter iliac vein can decrease the occurrence of postoperative lymphocysts in short-term period,and will not increase the occurrence of postoperative complications.

【Objective】 To investigate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian cancer and explore the feasibility of hydrogel embedded histoculture drug sensitivity test(HDST) use in selecting chemotherapy regiments for ovarian cancer. 【Methods】 We performed a retrospective analysis of 11 patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy as recommended by NCCN guidelines at the department of gynaecological oncology in Sun Yatsen Memorial Hospital. Demographics, clinical data and tissue specimens were collected from patient charts. The patients were grouped according to the HDST results. We compared the differences between groups in the total decline rate of CA125, HE4 and Fagotti scores and analyzed their relationship with HDST results. 【Results】 HDST results showed that 6 patients were not sensitive to the selected platinum drugs(cisplatin or carboplatin) and 1 patient not sensitive to paclitaxel. After 3 times of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the patients presented a significantly successive decrease in the levels of tumor markers. HDST results were consistent with the clinical efficacy(Kappa=1.000, P<0.05), with 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 100% Youden's index. There was a significant positive correlation between changes in Fagotti' sscores and effective rate of HDST(rs=0.678, P<0.05), while no correlation between the total decline rate of CA125 and HE4 and effective rate of HDST(P>0.05) . 【Conclusions】 HDST is fast, convenient and economical in helping select neoadjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Additionally, with its consistency with the clinical efficacy, HDST is expected to provide an accurate individualized chemotherapy for patients with ovarian cancer.