OBJECTIVETo repair cartilage defects at non-weight-bearing area of the femoral condyle in rabbits with invitro amplified cartilage cell using calcium alginate column scaffold combined with calcium alginate gel injection, and to study repair effects of combination with different form of the same material.

METHODSTwenty-four New Zealand rabbits were divided into 4 groups randomly. The wounds of rabbits in the Group 1 were repaired with injection of calcium alginate gel; the wounds of rabbits in the Group 2 were repaired with in planting of calcium alginate column scaffold; the wounds of rabbits in the Group 3 were repaired with in planting of calcium alginate column supporter firstly, and then injection of calcium alginate gel at the surrounding; and Group 4 is control group, the rabbits in the group were repair and without any support. The repair effects were demonstrated with Xij, and the effects of all animals were studied with statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe Xij scores of each rabbits were calculated, and the scores in four groups were compared. The statistical results showed that combination therapy was better than other methods (F = 69.0, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe calcium alginate with column shape has better shaping effects and certain mechanical strength. The calcium alginate gel has better stick nature and can be used to integrate artifical material with normal structure. They can be used together, which meeting the desire of repair and integration in cartilaginous tissue engineering.

Alginates ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; pathology ; surgery ; Collagen Type II ; analysis ; Female ; Gels ; Glucuronic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Hexuronic Acids ; administration & dosage ; Immunohistochemistry ; Knee Joint ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering

Objective To investigate the clinical application of detecting serum PPAR-γmRNA,MMP-9mRNA in the diagnosis of ruptured intracranial aneurysm.Methods The expression of serum PPAR-γmRNA,MMP-9mRNA were detected for 87 cases of patients with intracranial aneurysm,including ruptured group and non-ruptured group,respectively,with 57 cases and 30 cases of patients.The control group should be established to compare the changes of the above indicators.Results The expression of serum PPAR-γmRNA in the ruptured group,the non-ruptured and the controls group were 0.23±0.03,0.59±0.11 and 0.87±0.15,which of MMP-9mRNA were 0.93±0.17,0.63±0.13 and 0.25±0.05.Compared with those in the controls group,the expression of serum PPAR-γmRNA in the ruptured group significantly lowered (t=23.79,P＜0.01),which of MMP-9mRNA raised (t=25.63,P＜0.01).There were statistically significant differences.The expression of PPAR γmRNA in the ruptured group were lower than those in the unruptured group,which of MMP-9 mRNA were higher (t=15.32,16.27,P＜0.01).To establishing the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) in evaluating the clinical significances of the two markers to use the rupture group and non-ruptured group as the dependent variable,the AUC of the expression of serum PPAR-ymRNA,MMP-9mRNA were 0.858 (95 ％ CI:0.775 ～ 0.940,P =0.000),0.842 (95 ％CI:0.756～0.929,P=0.000).As the dependent variable in the control group and unruptured group,the AUC of the expression of serum PPAR-γmRNA,MMP-9mRNA were 0.827 (95％CI:0.734～0.920,P=0.000);0.818 (95％CI:0.722 ～0.914,P=0.000).Conclusion Detection of serum PPAR-γ mRNA,MMP-9 mRNA can be applied in assessment of occurrence and progression for the intracranial aneurysm,and to provide evidences for the early detection of ruptured intracranial aneurysm.

Objective: To evaluate the associative role of depression and apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele (APOEε4) in subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and its progression to objective cognitive decline. Methods: After literature search in electronic databases, studies were selected by following precise eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses were performed to examine the role of APOEε4 and depression in SCD or its progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Results: APOEε4 positivity was not different between SCD and normal individuals but was significantly higher in individuals with SCD plus than in normal individuals [odds ratio: 2.39 (95% CI: 1.87, 3.05); p<0.00001] and in SCD converters than in non-converters [odds ratio: 5.19 (95% CI: 2.36, 11.42); p<0.00001]. Depression was significantly higher in individuals with SCD [standardized mean difference: 0.63 (0.45, 0.82); p<0.00001] and SCD plus [standardized mean difference: 0.83 (0.43, 1.22); p<0.0001] than in normal individuals. However, depression was not different between SCD and MCI or between SCD converters and non-converters. Age of SCD converters was higher than non-converters [mean difference: 2.95 years (0.58, 5.31)]. Conclusion Whereas APOEε4 positivity was higher in SCD plus and SCD converters, depression was higher in SCD and SCD plus but was not different between SCD and MCI.

MISA (MicroSAtelite) software was employed to screen SSRs in 68 787 contigs of Swertia mussotii transcriptome sequences. 5 610 SSRs were distributed in 5 099 contigs which accounted for 7.41% of 68 787 contigs. There are 220 kinds of SSR motifs existing in S. mussotii transcriptome. On average, SSRs occurred every 12.60 kb in length. In the SSRs, the tri-nucleotide repeat motif was the most abundant (45.99%), followed by the di-nucleotide (41.62%). AT/TA and AAT/TTA were the main types of motif in di-, tri-nucleotide repeats. The repeat numbers of SSRs which from S. mussotii transcriptome SSRs were mainly from 5 to 10 and motif length of them mostly ranged from 12 bp to 30 bp. A total of 30 651 contigs were annotated, and only 1 447 SSRs were occurred in protein-coding regions. In the six repeat motifs, tri-nucleotide repeats were the most abundant in coding regions (928). There are abundant SSRs in S. mussotii transcriptome with high frequency and various types, indicating their usefulness in theory. This research may lay the foundation for designing the targeted SSR primers and developing SSR molecular markers by mining the information of SSRs loci in S. mussotii transcriptome sequences data.
Data Mining ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Swertia ; genetics ; Transcriptome

The purpose of this study was to compare monotonic biomechanical properties of gourd-shaped LCP fixation with LCP fixation of human tibial shaft in gap fracture mode. Twenty paired fresh cadaveric human tibias were randomly divided into 4 groups (5 pairs each): (1) axial loading single cycle to failure testing, (2) torsion single cycle to failure testing, (3) 4-point bending single cycle to failure testing, and (4) dynamic 4-point bending testing. A 7-hole 4.5 mm gourd-shaped LCP was secured on the anteromedial surface of 1 randomly selected bone from each pair, respectively, using 6 locking screws in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th hole with the middle hole unfilled and just located at the mid-diaphysis of the tibia. A 7-hole 4.5 mm LCP was secured on the other bone with the same method. Standard AO/ASIF techniques were used. After fixation finished, a 10 mm gap in the mid-diaphysis of tibia was created, centrally located at the unfilled hole. The axial, torsional, and bending stiffness and failure strengths were calculated from the collected data in static testings and statistically compared using paired Student's t-test. The 4-point bending fatigue lives of the two constructs were calculated from the dynamic testing data and also statistically compared using paired Student's t-test. Failure modes were recorded and visually analyzed. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results showed that the axial, torsional and bending stiffness of gourd-shaped LCP construct was greater (4%, 19%, 12%, respectively, P<0.05) than that of the LCP construct, and the axial, torsional and bending failure strengths of gourd-shaped LCP construct were stronger (10%, 46%, 29%, respectively, P<0.05) than those of the LCP construct. Both constructs failed as a result of plate plastic torsional deformation. After axial loading and 4-point bending testings, LCP failed in term of an obvious deformation of bent apex just at the unfilled plate hole, while the gourd-shaped LCP failed in term of a deformation of bent arc between the 3rd and 5th holes, which indicated a more consistent stress distribution on gourd-shaped LCP. Fatigue life of gourd-shaped LCP construct was significantly greater than LCP construct (153 836±2 228 vs. 132 471±6 460 cycles, P<0.01). All constructs failed as a result of fracture of the plate through the compression hole of the unfilled combination screw hole. The biomechanical testing showed that gourd-shaped LCP can provide greater stiffness and strength, and longer fatigue life than LCP. The gourd-shaped LCP may be more advantageous mechanically and may reduce the plate breakage rate clinically.
Bone Plates ; Compressive Strength ; Elastic Modulus ; Equipment Failure Analysis ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Prosthesis Design ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tensile Strength ; Tibial Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of long-term exposure to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) from automobile exhaust on the reproductive function of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.

METHODSForty-five male SD rats, weighing 80 - 94 g and aged 28 days, were randomly assigned to receive intra-tracheal administration of 0.9% normal saline (control group, n = 15), PM2. 5 at 2 μg per 100 g body weight per day (low-dose PM2.5 group, n = 15), and PM2.5 at 16 μg per 100 g body weight per day (high-dose PM2.5 group, n = 15), qd, for 60 successive days. After the last 24-hour exposure, 10 rats were taken from each group for copulation with normal female ones, while the others were sacrificed, their testes removed for sperm count and deformity, pathological examination, and determination of the Connexin43 expression.

RESULTSThe conception rate was significantly decreased in the low- and high-dose PM2.5 groups as compared with that of the control (70% and 50% vs 100%), and so were the sperm count and quality. The rats in the PM2.5-exposed groups showed significantly disordered histological structure of the seminiferous tubules, reduced sperm count in the testicular lumen, some exfoliated secondary spermatocytes, downregulated Connexin43 expression in the testis, and damaged blood-testis barrier.

CONCLUSIONLong-term exposure to PM2.5 from automobile exhaust damages the reproductive function of male SD rats.

Animals ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; Body Weight ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Fertilization ; Male ; Particulate Matter ; toxicity ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sperm Count ; Spermatocytes ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and effectivity of using compound material of fibrin glue and DBM as scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

METHODSChondrocytes isolated from articular cartilage were seeded into prepared scaffolds, after incubation for 4 weeks in vitro. Chondrocytes and fibrin glue and DBM constructs were implanted in the joint cave of rabbit. The specimens were excised at the 4th, 8th, 12th week, examined grossly analyzed by haematoxylin cosine, toluidine blues staining and type II collagen immunohistochemistry reaction. Wakitani score was counted to evaluate the repairing effect.

RESULTSGrossly analysis showed some ivory tissue filled the caves after 4 weeks and the caves were full filled with smooth surface after 12 weeks. The microscope showed a good deal of chondrocytes appeared after 8 weeks and more type II collagen than 4 weeks. Twelve weeks later, cartilage lacuna could be observed. The cells arrangement and the amount of type II collagen both showed the same as the natural one.

CONCLUSIONComplicated material of fibrin glue and DBM as scaffolds can be used as scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

Animals ; Bone Matrix ; physiology ; transplantation ; Cartilage, Articular ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Cell Transplantation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; physiology ; transplantation ; Female ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Regeneration ; Tissue Adhesives ; therapeutic use ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of antisense p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase (hereinafter referred to as p38α) on myocardial cells exposed to hypoxia and burn serum.

METHODSThirty adult SD rats were inflicted with 40% TBSA full-thickness burn on the back to obtain burn serum. The myocardial cells were isolated from 80 neonatal SD rats and cultured, then they were divided into 4 groups according to the random number table: normal control group (N, ordinary culture without any treatment), hypoxia+burn serum group (HB, exposed to hypoxia after being treated with 10% burn rat serum), hypoxia+burn serum+infection group (HBI, exposed to hypoxia and 10% burn rat serum after being infected with antisense p38α gene-carrying adenovirus), hypoxia+burn serum+empty vector infection group (exposed to hypoxia and 10% burn rat serum after being infected with adenovirus empty vector). At post hypoxia hour (PHH) 1, 3, 6, and 12, mRNA and protein expression levels of p38α in the latter 3 groups were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, cell viability was determined by methylthianolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was assayed at the same time point. At PHH 1, 6, and 12, apoptosis rate of myocardial cells was assessed by annexin V staining method. The indexes of group N were determined with the methods mentioned-above. Three wells were set at each time point in each group. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD- t test.

RESULTS(1) At PHH 1, 3, and 6, the p38α mRNA level was higher in group HB than in group N and group HBI (with t values from 2.725 to 4.375, P values all below 0.05). (2) At PHH 1, 3, and 6, the p38α protein level was higher in group HB than those in group N and group HBI (with t values from 5.351 to 7.981, P values all below 0.01). (3) At PHH 3, 6, and 12, the cell viability in group HB (0.115 ± 0.007, 0.104 ± 0.006, 0.094 ± 0.005) was lower than that in group N (0.141 ± 0.014) and group HBI (0.136 ± 0.009, 0.124 ± 0.010, 0.112 ± 0.007, with t values from 2.357 to 6.812, P values all below 0.05). (4) The LDH activity was up-regulated in group HB as compared with that in group N and group HBI at each time point (with t values from 22.753 to 201.273, P values all below 0.01). (5) At PHH 1, 6, and 12, the apoptosis rate of myocardial cells in group HB [(5.4 ± 0.7)%, (8.7 ± 1.1)%, (13.6 ± 1.7)%] was higher than that of group N [(3.1 ± 0.3)%] and group HBI [(4.3 ± 0.5)%, (5.1 ± 0.7)%, (7.2 ± 0.9)%, with t values from 2.345 to 9.700, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONSAntisense p38α can protect the myocardial cells from the injury of hypoxia and burn serum.

Animals ; Antisense Elements (Genetics) ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively analysis the curative effect of wrist scaphoid bone fracture,and explore the causes and preventive methods of misdiagnosis.

METHODSFrom September 2007 to September 2010,16 patients with wrist scaphoid bone fractures were treated with plaster cast and cannulated screws fixation. There were 10 males and 6 females,ranging in age from 26 to 44 years with an average of 35 years. Among them, 12 cases manifested swelling pain of radial lateral wrist, tenderness at snuffbox area, wrist pain aggravated when stretching wrist joint, thumb or forefinger; 4 cases manifested no obviously symptoms and limited movement; 9 cases were early diagnosed; 5 cases were treated by plaster cast; 4 cases were treated with cannulated screws fixation; Among 7 cases with misdiagnosis, there were 4 cases without obvious symptoms and they were dealt with activating blood to dissipate swelling and pain process in preliminary stage. Four cases were treated with plaster cast and 3 cases with cannulated screws fixation.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 3 months to 39 months (averaged 21 months). Among 16 patients, 9 cases were early diagnosis, 7 cases were misdiagnosis and the rate of misdiagnosis was 43.8%. Seven cases with screws fixation were no wound infection. There was 1 case with occurred chronic pain and declining wrist mobility in both plaster cast and screw group, and both of them were misdiagnosed. According to curative effect rating criteria,these 2 cases were classified into moderate, other 14 cases were excellent.

CONCLUSIONWrist scaphoid bone fracture are easy to misdiagnose, so early diagnosis and treatment is particularly important. The main causes of misdiagnosis are nonspecific symptoms at early stage, combination with other injuries, lack of knowledge and ignorance of the further examination. Therefore, detailed inquiries and particular examination, multi-dimensional radiography and CT scan or MRI scan are the main measures for prevention.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Casts, Surgical ; Diagnostic Errors ; prevention & control ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Scaphoid Bone ; injuries

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of medium and long-chain triglyceride on the immune function of burn patients during early postburn stage and its possible mechanism.

METHODSThirty burn patients with TBSA exceeding 30% were enrolled in this study and were randomly divided into two groups (n = 15 in each group). The patients in F group were supplemented orally with enteral nutrient Fresubin 750MCT containing medium (MCT) and long-chain triglyceride (LCT), and those in N group with Nutrition containing only LCT. All the patients were treated with nutritional support beginning from 24 PBH, continued for 10 days. The changes in plasma levels of IL-2, IL-4, PGE(2) and T lymphocyte transformation rate (LTR) in peripheral blood of patients in the two groups were determined on 1, 4, 7 and 10 postburn days (PBDs).

RESULTSThe plasma IL-2 level in all time points exhibited no difference in all patients (P > 0.05). The plasma level of PGE(2) on PBD 4 in F group was obviously lower than that in N group (P < 0.01). The plasma level of IL-4 on PBDs 4, 7 and 10 in F group were evidently higher than that in N group (P < 0.01). The T LTR in peripheral blood on PBDs 4 and 7 in F group was much higher than that in N group (P < 0.05 - 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEnteral nutrient containing MCT/LCT seemed to be superior to that containing only LCT in the improvement of postburn immune function in burn patients.

Adult ; Burns ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Dietary Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Dinoprostone ; blood ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Time Factors ; Triglycerides ; therapeutic use