BACKGROUND: To summarize the progress of tissue engineering in repairing spinal cord injury in recent years.DATA SOURCES: A computer-based online search of PubMed database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed) and CNKI database (www.cnki.net/index.htm) was performed for articles published between September 1999 and September 2009 with the key words of "spinal cord injury, tissue engineering" in English and Chinese, respectively. Articles published recently or in authoritative journals in the same field were selected.DATA SELECTION: Inclusion criteria: clinical or experimental study about tissue engineering in repairing spinal cord injury.Repetitive studies were excluded. A total of 29 articles were included.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Seed cell selection of tissue engineering; requirements of scaffold materials of tissue-engineered spinal cord, neurotrophic factor for regeneration, special internal environment construction for regeneration.RESULTS: Seed cells of tissue-engineered spinal cord include Schwann cells, olfactory ensheathing cells, embryonic stem cells, neural stem cells and bone marrow stromal stem cells. Scaffold materials involve synthetic or modified natural materials, such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, and lactic acid/glycolic acid copolymer, which benefit cell attachment and nutrition factor aggregation following surface modification. Antibodies that promote or inhibit nerve growth factor in combination with polyoxyl are coupled to function as tissue-engineered scaffold, which may be approaches to repair spinal cord injury by tissue engineering in combination with stem cell transplantation and electric field/magnetic field stimulation.CONCLUSION: The optimal elements for tissue engineering are the key role in repairing spinal cord injury by tissue engineering.

Objective To investigate 4 variants single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein(ALOX5AP) in lipoxygenase pathway and in cytochrome P450 pathway as susceptibility genes for stroke in a southeastern Chinese population,and evaluate the associations between susceptibility genes and cerebral infarction,to find whether gene-gene interactions increase the risk of cerebral infarction.Methods By case-control study,two hundred and ninety-two patients with cerebral infarction and 259 healthy control subjects were included.Eight variants in 5 candidate genes were examined for stroke risk,including the SG13S32 (rs9551963),SG13S42 (rs4769060),SG13S89 (rs4769874),and SG13Sl14 (rs10507391) variants of the ALOX5AP gene,the G860A (rs751141) variant of the soluble epoxide hydrolase (EPHX2) gene,the A1075C (rs1057910) variant of the CYP2C9 *2 gene,the C430T (rs1799853) variant of the CYP2C9* 3 gene,and the A6986G (rs776746) variant of the CYP3A5 gene.Gene-gene interactions were explored using generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR)methods.Results There were no statistically significant differences in the frequencies of the genotypes of the 8 candidate genes.The GMDR analysis showed a significant gene-gene interaction between SG13S114 and A6986G,with scores of 10 for cross-validation consistency and 9 for the sign test (P =0.011).These genegene interactions predicted a significantly higher risk of cerebral infarction (adjusted for age,hypertension,and diabetes mellitus;OR =1.804,95％ CI 1.180-2.759,P =0.006).Conclusions A two-loci gene interaction confers significantly higher risk for cerebral infarction.The combinational analysis used in this study may be helpful in the elucidation of genetic risk factors for common and complex diseases.

[Abstract ] Objective At present, the majority of injectable tissue engineering bones or carrier stents are gel , whose surface area , intensity, and hardness cannot satisfy the requirements of the repair of complex and varied bone and cartilage defects .This paper evaluated the new injectable microspherical porous chitosan/biological properties of the hydroxyapatite ceramic scaffold . Methods Injectable porous chitosan /hydroxyapatite composite microspheres with mass fractions of 30%, 50%, and 70% were prepared respectively . The hydroxyapatite ceramic ball was obtained by sintering with liquid nitrogen freezing ( liquid nitrogen group ) or without liquid nitrogen pro-cessing ( non-liquid nitrogen group ) as a new carrier of bone tissue engineering scaffold material .The microstructure of the scaffold was observed and the porosity measured under the scanning electron microscope .The mechanical properties were determined through biome-chanical experiments.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were grown in the porous chitosan/hydroxyapatite ceramic scaf-fold followed by observation of the growth of the cells and validation of the biological fusion of the scaffold . Results No difference was observed with the naked eye in the ceramic scaffold of different mass fractions in the liquid nitrogen and non -liquid nitrogen groups . Scanning electron microscopy exhibited spherical shape , uniform size, and regular morphology of the ceramic scaffolds in both groups .A large number of irregular pores were seen in the surface of the microspherical ceramic scaffolds treated with liquid nitrogen but not in the surface of those not treated .With increased mass percentage of chitosan/hydroxyapatite , the internal pores were reduced and the interior structure compacted.In the liquid nitrogen group, the scaffold of 50%mass fraction had a significantly larger diameter ([0.48 ±0.11] mm), higher compression intensity ([1.75 ±0.14] MPa), and lower porosity ([79 ±2]%) than that of 30%mass fraction ([0.40 ± 0.08] mm, [1.21 ±0.12] MPa, and [87 ±1]%) (all P<0.05).Electron microscope scanning revealed well -grown HUVECs with multiple synapses in the porous tricalcium phosphate scaffold. C onclusion The porous chitosan /hydroxyapatite ceramic scaffold of 50%mass fraction treated with liquid nitrogen , with its strong mechanical intensity and high biological fusibility , can be used as a new carrier of bone tissue engineering scaffolds .

Objective:To investigate the expression of TIP30 and its relationship with clinico-pathological characteristics in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC).Methods:The expression of TIP30 in 78 cases of ECC tissues and 78 cases of para-cancerous tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:The positive expression rate of TIP30 was 43.59％ and 75.64％ in ECC tissues and para-cancerous tissues,respectively.Differences were statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).The expression levels of TIP30 were not correlated with age,gender,degree of differentiation and tumor size(P＞0.05),but correlated with lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis and TNM staging(P＜ 0.05).The median overall survival of 78 ECC cases was 14.8 months,and it of TIP30 positive expression cases was 20.3 months,statistically higher than 11.5 months in TIP30 negative expression cases(P＜ 0.01).Conclusion:The downregulation of TIP30 is closely correlated with the development,metastasis and prognosis of ECC.TIP30 may be used as a molecular marker to identify and predict the progression,metastasis and prognosis of ECC.

Spinal cord injury is a difficult medical problem and need to be solved urgently.Application of tissue engineering to repair spinal cord injury has gradually become a hot spot.It is important to prevent the development of scar tissue while inducing cells' regeneration by using scaffold.Nanotechnology has improved the performance of scaffold because of its superiority.Nanoscaffold has obvious advantages compared with the traditional scaffolds.New scaffold materials can be obtained by nanotechnology.Nanoscaffold can also serve as a good drug carrier,and it may have beneficial effects on biological behaviors of seed cells on its surface,such as differentiation,proliferation and migration,which may promote tissue regeneration and functional recovery and get good results in repairment of spinal cord injury.This article summarized the research progress in recent years in nano spinal cord engineering scaffolds in order to provide a reference for research in related fields.

Objective To explore the effects and safety of endoscopic parallel placement of double metal stents on unresectable hilar malignant obstruction.Methods The clinical data of 11 patients with malignant hilar obstructive jaundice due to advanced carcinoma who were treated with parallel placement of double biliary stents from January 2011 to September 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Out of 11 patients,10(90.9％) were successfully embedded with double biliary stents and 4 were dead during the follow-up.There was no sign of stent occlusion during the follow-up period.The survival time ranges from 128 to 185 days.One case was lost during the follow-up and 5 others are still alive.Conclusion The endoscopic parallel placement of double biliary stents is effective and safe for patients with unresectable malignant hilar obstruction.

To investigate the mechanism of inhibitory effect of a novel bFGF antagonist peptide isolated from the phage display random heptapeptide library on cell proliferation induced by basic fibroblast growth factor. The effect of P7 on cell morphology was observed under an inverted microscope. Flow cytometry was applied to analyze the effect of P7 on cell cycle progress of bFGF-stimulated cells. The effect of P7 on bFGF-induced activation of MEK and Erk1/2 in MAPK pathway was detected by Western blotting. The results showed that no significant cell morphology change was observed in the range of detected concentrations of P7. Cell cycle analysis showed that P7 decreased S-phase cell population and arrested cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase of bFGF-stimulated cells. The results of MAP kinase activation assay indicated that P7 decreased bFGF-induced MEK and Erk1/2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. P7 inhibited proliferation of bFGF-stimulated Balb/c 3T3 cells possibly via cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and down-regulation of signal molecular activation in MAPK pathway.
Animals ; BALB 3T3 Cells ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Binding

Objective To explore the clinical application of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in gastroin- testinal nutrition among critically ill patients.Methods Twenty-two patients were undertaken percutaneous endo- scopic gastrostomy under the lead of gastroscope.The puncturatio site was located in anterior wall of stomach.Results All the procedures were performed successfully for one time.Intraoperational blood pressure was very steady.At the same time,intraoperational SpO_2 of the patients all exceeced 97%.The bleeding amount and operation time were respectively (3.8?1.9) ml and (15.5?2.3) min.Severe complications such as gastrostoma,gastrocolic fistula, pneumoperitoneum,refluxing or aspiration of gastric juice,inhalant pneumonia didn't occur after the operation.Con- clusion Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was safe and feasible among critically ill patients who needed gastroin- testinal nutrition because of its slight injury,little bleeding and shorter operational time.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the impact of number of retrieved lymph nodes and lymph node ratio(LNR) on the prognosis in patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 507 patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Follow-up was available in all the patients.

RESULTSThe total number of retrieved lymph nodes was 5801, of which 1122 had metastasis. There was a positive correlation between metastatic lymph nodes and retrieved lymph nodes(r=0.171, P<0.01). In stage II colorectal cancer there was a significant difference in 5-year survival rate between patients with more than 12 lymph nodes retrieved and those with less than 12 lymph nodes retrieved(P<0.01). LNR also affected the 5-year survival rate of patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer(P<0.05). In patients with similar LNR, the 5-year survival rate differed significantly among different regions of lymph node metastasis(P<0.05). LNR influenced the prognosis independent of the number of lymph nodes retrieved.

CONCLUSIONSThe number of retrieved lymph nodes is a prognostic factor for stage II and III colorectal cancer. More than 12 lymph nodes should be retrieved for better staging and prognosis. LNR is also a prognostic factor in stage II and III colorectal cancer. Regions of lymph nodes metastasis should be considered when evaluating the prognosis of patients using LNR.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of sodium ferulate (SF), an intravenous drug made from traditional Chinese herbs, on activation of postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) and neuroprotection after transient cerebral artery occlusion in rats.

METHODSForty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 2 groups (n=23 in each group): the control group and the SF group. After anesthesia, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was conducted with the intraluminal filament technique. The neurological deficit was assessed with the method devised by Bederson et al. The 2,3,4-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining was used to assess the infarct volume. We adopted a modified six-point scale to conduct neurobehavioral evaluation. Immediately the activation of postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) was studied with Western blot analysis system in the cortex and striatum of rat brain.

RESULTSThe neurologic deficit score of the SF group decreased substantially compared with that of the control group (P<0.05). The infarct volume of the control group (168.1 mm3 +/- 42.2 mm3) was significantly larger than that of the SF group (61.5 mm3 +/- 28.7 mm3) at 24 hours after reperfusion (P<0.01). And the rats showed some neurological deficit. The activity of PSD-95 in the SF group at most timepoints was less than that in the control group. No upregulation of PSD-95 protein could be detected in the contralateral cortex.

CONCLUSIONSSodium ferulate can induce a neuroprotective effect against the transient focal cerebral ischemic injury and weaken the activation of PSD-95 in ischemic area after MCAO.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Infarction ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Coumaric Acids ; therapeutic use ; Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Treatment Outcome