Objective To investigate the mechanisms of plasma exchange(PE) in the treatment of chronic severe hepatitis. Methods Twenty five patients with chronic severe hepatitis were divided into two groups: treatment group and control group. The concentration of ammonia, endotoxin, TNF ?, TGF ? 1, HGF and amino acid spectrum were detected before and after therapy, respectively .Moreover, ammonia and endotoxin levels were detected before and after every treatment with ALSS. Results Compared with the control group ,there were significant decreases in the concentration of ammonia, endotoxin, TNF ?,TGF ? 1 in the treatment group( P

Objective To analyze the clinical features and mutation patterns of HBV polymerase gene in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB) after the emergence of drug-resistance during Lamivudine(LAM) therapy.Methods LAM-resistant mutations were detected by direct sequencing of the HBV polymerase gene in hospitalized patients and outpatients of CHB with LAM-resistance in Changhai Hospital from Dec.2005 to Dec.2007.Clinical features after the emergence of LAM-resistant mutations were retrospectively analyzed.Results Two hundred and fifteen patients with CHB were diagnosed as LAM-resistant.Among them 192 patients were found to have LAM-resistant-associated mutations in the HBV polymerase gene.The mean value of serum HBV DNA was 6.25?1.31(log10copies/ml),the mean value of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) was 75U/L(ranged 19-821 U/L).ALT elevation and hepatitis recrudescence were found in 139 among 192(72.4%) patients.99.0%(190/192) patients had YMDD mutations.Four major mutation patterns of LAM-resistant HBV were identified as rtM204I(33.9%),rtL180M+rtM204V(26.0%),rtL180M+rtM204I(21.9%) and rtV173L+rtL180M+rtM204V(11.5%).The rtM204V mutation was accompanied more frequently by the rtL180M mutation compared with the rtM204I mutation(P0.05).Conclusions YMDD is the major mutation pattern of HBV polymerase gene after emergence of LAM-resistance.The mutation patterns of HBV polymerase gene are possibly not related to the clinical severity of CHB patients during LAM therapy.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil(ADV) monotherapy and ADV lamivudine(LAM) combined therapy for patients with LAM-resistant chronic hepatitis B.Methods 124 chronic hepatitis B patients with LAM-resistant mutations were enrolled in the present study.74 patients were treated with ADV combined with LAM therapy,and other 50 patients subjected to ADV monotherapy.There were no differences between the two groups in patients' baseline characteristics.Sequencing of the HBV polymerase gene was performed to determine LAM and ADV mutations occurred at baseline or during therapy.All patients were monitored with clinical examinations and routine laboratory tests during the therapy.Results The reduced logarithmic values of serum HBV DNA after 12-week and 24-week treatment were 1.99?0.64 and 2.61?0.80 in ADV group,obviously lower compared with those in ADV+LAM group(2.55?0.74 and 3.19?0.82,respectively,P

Objective: To investigate the alteration of red cell deformability (RCD) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of cell membrane in essential hypertensive (EH) patients and essential hypertension patients complicated with cerebral infarction (HCI). Methods: Twenty healthy individuals, 30 EH patients and 30 HCI patients were selected as subjects. The erythrocyte deformability indexes (DI)、 Na+, K+-ATPase and Ca2+ATPase activities were examined. Results: (1) EH patients had significantly higher DI, lower ATPase activity as compared to healthy individuals. There were significantly negative correlation between DI and ATPase activity, and a significantly positive correalation between DI and diastolic blood pressure in EH patients; (2) There was significantly higher DI, lower ATPase activity in HCI patients than those in EH patients. There was significantly negative correlation between DIand ATPase activity in HCI patients. Conclusion: (1) RCD decreases in EH patients, and RCD is correlated to the decreased ATPase of cell membrane and elevated blood pressure; (2) The decreased RCD level may be related to the occurrence of HCI.

Objective To analyze clinical courses and rescue therapies of adefovir-resistant chronic hepatitis B patients who had lamivudine resistance before and then changed to take adefovir dipivoxil. Methods 15 patients resistant to lamivudine were retrospectively analyzed, who had virological breakthrough after adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy and were treated with rescue therapy.Adefovir-resistant mutations were detected by direct sequencing of the HBV polymerase gene. Results 15 patients with former lamivudine resistance were treated with adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy for a median of 16 months, and 14 patients were found adefovir-resistant mutations at rtA181T/V and(or) rtN236T, only 1 patient was found multi-mutations at rtM204I + rtL180M + rtA181T. Rescue therapies were given to all the 15 patients after drug resistance. Among the 7 patients treated with lamivudine in combination with adefovir for 3 months,whose HBV DNA levels decreased (2.2±0.6)lg copy/mL on average, 5 patients achieved HBV DNA undetectable after 6 months combinative therapy. The HBV DNA levels of the 3 patients treated with entecavir decreased 2.8～3.5 lg copy/mL within 6 months treatment. Conclusion These preliminary data suggest the combination of lamivudine and adeforvir dipivoxil may be an effective rescue therapy for adefovir-resistant patients who have former lamivudine resistance.

BACKGROUND:To seek for ideal scaffold materials is still an important task for cartilage tissue engineering.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the application of the AviteneTM microfibrillar collagen hemostat sponge in cartilage tissue engineering.METHODS:Rabbit auricular cartilage was harvested via surgical operation,and primary chondrocytes were isolated and amplified.Microfibrillar collagen hemostat sponge was cut into small bricks.The passage 2 chondrocytes were suspended and seeded onto the spongy bricks.After 1 week of in vitro culture,the constructs were then implanted into nude mice.After 8 weeks,the specimens were collected and evaluated using gross,histological and immunohistochamical observation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:During the cell seeding,the scaffold maintained its dimensions.No shrinkage was observed when the cell suspension was added.There was no considerable change in dimensions during the 1-week in vitro culture and at 8 weeks after implantation in nude mice.At 8 weeks post-implantation,mature cartilage blocks were harvested,which were white,translucent,and flexible.Histologically,the constructs appeared to have typical mature cartilaginous tissues,with robust extracellular matrix secretion,in which the microfibrillar collagen was incompletely degraded.We conclude that the microfibrillar collagen is a favorable scaffold material for cartilage tissue engineering.

BACKGROUND:The cell-sheet technology, based on a temperature-responsive culture, has been drawing more and more attention;however, the temperature-responsive culture dish is quite expensive. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a substitutive technique.OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of cell-sheet ulturing using common culture dish, and investigate the chondrogenesis of the cell sheet. METHODS: A piece of nasal septal cartilage was adopted from a patient with deviation of nasal septum to extract primary chondrocytes that were then cultured and amplified. The passage 3 chondrocytes were used to construct ell sheets. Monolayer cell sheet was formed by intensive culturing and allowing the extracellular matrix secretion. Bilayer cell sheet was constructed by seeding passage 2 chondrocytes on the monolayer cell sheet. The cell sheets were harvested using cell scraper, their properties were investigated prior to plantation into nude mice to construct the tissue-engineered cartilage. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Both bilayer and monolayer cell sheets with soft tremellose structures showed no significant difference through naked eyes. The newly harvested cell sheets appeared to have good fluidity and gelation. Eight weeks after mplantation into the nude mice, mature cartilage blocks were obtained. Histologically, the cell sheets were thin films composed by layered chondrocytes and extracellular matrix. Glycosaminoglycan formation and type Ⅱ collagen expressions were observed in the cell sheets cultured in vitro. The explanted samples exhibited ature cartilaginous tissue at 8 weeks after implantation. Biochemical analysis showed that the DNA contents of the neocartilages were higher than those of native human costal cartilage, while the contents of glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline were similar to native human nasal septal cartilage. To conclude, the hondrocyte cell sheets are likely to be constructed and harvested successfully using common culture dish, and the cell sheets exhibit favourable chondrogenesis.

Objective]To study the feasibility of Cartilage engineering using fibrin gel and chondrocyte cell sheets.[Methods]rabbit auricular chondrocytes were isolated and cultured to form cell sheets in flasks. The cell sheets were harvested using cell scrapers,and cut into fragments. The two precursor solutions of Fibrin gel were used to suspend the cell sheet fragments and isolated chondrocytes,and then added into the wells of a 48-well plate to form Gelatinous chondroid disc constructs. After in vitro culture, the constructs were implanted into nude mice. After 8 weeks,the constructs were harvested,and the specimens were evaluated using grossly observing, histological and immunohistochemical observation. [Results]Mature cartilage discs were obtained. The histomorphology of the explanted discs appeared non-uniform cartilaginous tissue comprise of regenerated cartilage islands with different size and irregular shape. Immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated that type II collagen highly expressed in the ECM of the cartilage islands. In 1 of the 8 discs,partial ossification was observed.[Conclusion]Fibrin gel is a favourable carrier. Artificial cartilage with stereochemical structure was constructed via combining the fibrin gel and chondrocyte cell sheets.

Objective To investigate the synergistic effects of simulated microgravity and noise on the audito‐ry functions and corti organs in rats .Methods A total of 48 healthy rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=12):control group (Group A) ,microgravity only group (Group B) ,noise only group (Group C) and microgravity+noise group (Group D) .The microgravity environment was simulated by suspending the posterior limb using Morey-Holton method .The noise exposure was the simulation of the noise environment in spaceship including steady -state noise (72 ± 2) dB SPL and impulse noise up to 160 dB SPL .The control group was kept in normal conditions without any exposure .Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) ,HE stainings ,immunofluorescence stainings and scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) were tested after 1week and 2 weeks exposure respectively (n=6) .Results The average of ABR threshold shifts of 2 weeks exposure were higher than those of 1 week in each group .Group D showed the highest ABRs (P<0 .01) .The HE stainings showed different degrees of injury in corti organs in all experimental groups ;which Group D being the most serious ,followed by Group C .The results of immunefluorescence in hair cells showed that swelling necrosis was the main damage of cochlear hair cell after 1 week's exposure .The swelling rate of Group D was the highest ,followed by Group C .Nucleus missing in hair cells was observed after 2 weeks'exposure . Group D had the highest missing rate and the main missing of Group B happened in the inner hair cells .SEM showed that the most serious damage of stereociliums in Group D ,followed by Group C ,then Group B .Conclusion The synergistic effects of simulated microgravity and noise lead to significant damage of the auditory function and cochlea Corti organs in rat .

Objective To provide scientific basis for developing mental interventions for the wounded in major disasters by assessing the mental health status and the mental intervention effect among the Wenchuan earthquake survivors transferred to Chongqing.Methods A total of 389 transferred wounded survivors were examined by using questionnaires including general information questionnaire,Psychological Health Self-rating Questionnaire (PHSQ),Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90),Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) and Coping Styles Questionnaire (CSQ).According to PHSQ,the wounded were divided into control group and stress group.Then,the stress group was given mental intervention and taken the second mental evaluation one month later.Results Acute stress disorder (ASD) rate (30.08％) was remarkably observed in these transferred wounded,who were subsequently administered a set of mental intervention.The wounded whose PHSQ mark ≥8 were defined as the stress group (Group A) and the others as the control group ( Group B).Compared with Group B,Group A had higher scores in depression ( P ＜ 0.01 ),anxiety ( P ＜ 0.01 ) and consternation ( P ＜ 0.01 ),and lower scores in PSSS (P ＜0.01 ).Group A inclined to negative coping styles mainly including shrink back (P ＜ 0.01 ) and fantasy (P ＜0.01 ),while Group B inclined to coping styles mainly including rationalization and help.The PSSS score in Group A was significant lower than that in Group B (P ＜ 0.01 ).The scores in PHSQ,SCL-90 (anxiety and consternation),CSQ and PSSS were significantly improved after the mental intervention in Group A.Conclusions The incidence of ASD is high in the transferred wounded survivors and is mainly related with mental stress,such as emotional symptoms,negative coping styles and low perception of social support.Early mental interventions will help improve the psychological status of the transferred wounded.