BACKGROUND: Forest frog is a rare medicinal animal in China, but the skin of forest frog is waste after Oviductus Ranae production. The forest frog skin is rich of collagen, and is large in quantity without pollution and disease risk. So the forest frog skin has potential to be developed into collagen sponge; however, there is no research on collagen sponge preparation as yet.OBJECTIVE: To optimize the preparation of collagen sponge from forest frog skin, and to investigate the physical properties and in vitro cell compatibility.METHODS: Chitosan and glutaraldehyde were used to modify collagen sponge from forest frog skin. Chitosan/collagen (w/w) (1:1, 1:2, 1:4) and glutaraldehyde concentration (1%, 1.5% and 2%) were selected as the experimental factors.The significant water absorbency, mechanical properties and thermal denaturation temperature were chosen as the indexes. Using the orthogonal experimental design, we optimized collagen sponge preparation process. We also investigated the in vitro cell compatibility and surface morphology of the collagen sponge. The nine kinds of collagen sponges from forest frog skins were co-cultured with human foreskin fibroblasts to detect cell proliferation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: When the chitosan/collagen was 1:1 and the glutaraldehyde concentration was 1%, we could get the collagen sponge with ideal water absorbency (water absorption capacity=5.22), mechanical properties (elongation at break=10.96%) and thermal denaturation temperature (81.24 ℃). The aperture of the forest frog skin collagen sponge was 200-400 μm, and the pores were consistent in the size and arranged regularly. Except the chitosan/collagen of 1:4 and the glutaraldehyde concentration of 1% or 5%, all kinds of forest frog skin collagen sponges could promote the viability of human foreskin fibroblasts and exerted benefits to cell viability and growth. To conclude,the forest frog skin collagen sponge has good biocompatibility and apparent morphology, in aggreement with the requirements of biological materials.

BACKGROUND:The enamel matrix derivative has been used in the clinical treatment of severe periodontitis; however, the mechanism(s) by which enamel matrix derivative promotes periodontal regeneration is stil obscure. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of enamel matrix derivatives on the differentiation and proliferation of periodontal ligament stem cels. METHODS:Periodontal ligament stem cels were isolated and identified from human teeth. Cloning forming efficiency, surface antigen expression and pluripotency were detected and identified. Enamel matrix derivatives with different concentrations (20, 50, 100 mg/L) were used to culture periodontal ligament stem cels for 2 and 4 weeks. Colagen synthesis and mineralized nodule formation were detected using Trichrom staining and Von Kosa’s staining, respectively; real-time RT-PCR was employed to detect expressions of colagen type I, osteocalcin, and RUX2; MTT and cel growth rate assay were used to detect the proliferation of periodontal ligament stem cels. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Periodontal ligament stem cels were spindle-shaped and showed a higher colony forming efficiency than periodontal ligament cels. The expressions of surface antigens of periodontal ligament stem cels-CD105, CD29, CD45, CD44 were respectively 99.8%, 99.7%, 1.26%, 98.8%, indicating periodontal ligament stem cels have the multilineage differentiation potential. Enamel matrix derivatives improve the colagen synthesis and mineralization nodule formation of periodontal ligament stem cels in a time-dose dependent manner. They also can improve the expression of osteogensis-related genes colagen type I, osteocalcin, RUX2 and proliferation of periodontal ligament stem cels.

Objective To observe the prevalence and risk factors of chronic low back pain in puerperas after childbirth.Methods Eight hundred and eighty-one puerperas were selected,among whom 459 cases had uterine-incision delivery,and 422 cases had spontaneous delivery.The age,height and weight of pregnant women,birth weight of newborn,history of preoperative low back pain,parity and mode of delivery were recorded.The rate of chronic low back pain occurring within 1 month after childbirth and continuing for 3 months was recorded by telephone.The factors with P values less than 0.05 would enter the Logistic regression analysis to screen the risk factors of chronic low back pain.Results Two hundred and fifty-nine puerperas (259/881,29.4％) appeared chronic low back pain,of whom 157 puerperas (157/459,34.2％)delivered by uterine-incision and 102 puerperas (102/422,24.2％) delivered spontaneously,and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01).Six hundred and fifty-eight puerperas had no history of preoperative low back pain,and 150 puerperas (150/658,22.8％) appeared newly developed chronic low back pain.Logistic regression analysis showed that mode of delivery,parity and history of preoperative low back pain were the risk factors of chronic low back pain.Condusions The rate of chronic low back pain in puerperas after childbirth is 29.4％,and the newly developed chronic low back pain is 22.8％.Uterineincision delivery,multiparity and history of preoperative low back pain are the risk factors of chronic low back pain for puerperas after childbirth.

Objective: This study investigated the characteristics of progestin-insensitive endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) patients receiving fertility-sparing treatments and assessed the therapeutic effects of second-line fertility-preserving treatments. Methods: Three hundred and thirty-eight patients with EEC (n=75) or AEH (n=263) receiving fertility-preserving treatment were retrospectively analyzed. ‘Progestin-insensitive’ was defined as meeting one of the following criteria: 1) presented with progressed disease at any time during conservative treatment, 2) remained with stable disease after 7 months of treatment, and/or 3) did not achieve complete response (CR) after 10 months of treatment. Clinical characteristics and treatment results of progestin-insensitive patients receiving second-line treatment and those of progestin-sensitive patients were compared. Results: Eight-two patients (59 AEH and 23 EEC) were defined as progestin-insensitive and 256 as progestin-sensitive. In multivariate analysis, body mass index ≥28.0 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR]=1.898) and lesion size >2 cm (OR=2.077) were independent predictors of progestin-insensitive status. Compared to AEH patients, progestin-insensitive EEC patients had poorer second-line treatment responses (28-week cumulative CR rate after changing second-line treatment, 56.3% vs. 85.4%, p=0.011). No statistical difference was found in CR rate among different second-line treatments. Conclusion Obesity and larger lesion size were independent risk factors associated with progestin-insensitive status. In progestin-insensitive patients receiving second-line treatment, EEC patients had lower CR rate comparing with AEH patients. Further study with larger sample size is needed to evaluate efficacy of different second-line treatments for progestin insensitive patients.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of alpha-1 A adrenoceptor antagonist (tamsulosin) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients with acute urinary retention.

METHODSSeventy-two BPH patients with acute retention of urine were randomly divided into treatment group and control group of 36 patients each. All the patients were treated with indwelling catheter, oral antibiotics and the patients in treatment group tamsulosin 0.4 mg once a day for 3 days. The catheter was removed after 72 hours of treatment.

RESULTSAfter removal of the catheter, 44% (32/72) of patients voided successfully. The effect rates were 61% (22/36) in the tamsulosin treatment group and 28% (10/36) in the control group(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTreatment with tamsulosin was effective in raising the success rate of voiding without catheter after an episode of acute urinary retention. The efficacy of treatment was not influenced by the volume of prostate.

Acute Disease ; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; complications ; drug therapy ; Sulfonamides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urinary Retention ; complications ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of using tetracysteine (TC) reporter in gene therapy.

METHODSEffects of TC reporter and conventional reporter genes encoding green fluorescence protein (GFP) and luciferase (Luc) on expression and function of the therapeutic gene MGMT(P140K) were compared. Cytotoxicity and drug resistance were studied by Western blot. TC reporter used in therapy was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSThe TC reporter had no toxicity to cells and neither affected the expression or activity of therapeutic gene as compared to GFP and Luc. TC could be used in blood sample detection.

CONCLUSIONTC is a new kind of reporter gene for lentiviral vector in future gene therapy.

Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Cysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism

Aim To observe the effect of ilexonin A (IA) on the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs),and to investigate whether IA can promote the migration of BMSCs by up-regulating the expression of CXCR4 in rats. Methods MTT method was used to assay and analyse the proliferation of BM-SCs which were pretreated with different concentrations of IA (3.125,6.25,12.5,25,50,100,200,400, 800 mg·L-1) for 24,48 and 72h,then the best con-centration and the best optimum time were screened. The third generation of BMSCs was exposed to the opti-mal concentration of IA for 48h. The Transwell system was used to carry out the experiment of BMSCs migra-tion. Western blot was used to analyse the expression of CXCR4. Results MTT assay showed that com-pared with control group, the proliferation of BMSCs was significantly reduced in IA 100 ~800 mg·L-1 groups at 24h(P < 0.05); compared with control group, the proliferation of BMSCs significantly de-creased in IA 100~800 mg·L-1groups at 48h(P<0.05),but markedly increased in IA 6.25 and 3.125 mg·L-1groups (P <0.05); compared with control group,the proliferation of BMSCs was significantly re-duced in IA 12.5~800 mg·L-1groups at 72h(P<0.05). The above results indicated that the BMSCs in-cubated with IA 6.25 and 3.125 mg·L-1for 48h were the optimal choice to promote proliferation. The Transwell migration assay showed that incubation with IA 6.25 and 3.125 mg·L-1for 48h could significant-ly increase the migration of BMSCs(P <0.05), and the migration rate was not related with the concentra-tion of IA. This effect was completely blocked by AMD3100(the antagonist of CXCR4). Western blot showed that incubation with IA 6.25 and 3.125 mg· L-1for 48h could increase the expression of CXCR4 in BMSCs(P<0.05). Conclusion IA can promote the proliferation of BMSCs and increase the migration of BMSCs by up-regulating the expression of CXCR4.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of 1, 8-Cineole on the injury of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) induced by high glucose (HG) via regulating autophagy. Methods Cells were incubated with different doses of 1, 8-Cineole followed by exposing to HG for 60 h, and MTT assay was used to analyse cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was used to detect cytotoxicity, and Western blot was used to detect Beclin1, LC3-II/I, p62, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expressions. Autophagy inhibitor (chloroquine, CQ) was treated on HAECs, and the expressions of Beclinl, LC3-II/I, p62, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were measured by Western blot. Results 1, 8-Cineole increased cell viability, reduced the content of LDH, activated autophagy and inhibited apoptosis. Compared with control group, the expression of Beclinl, LC3-II/I, p62, caspase-3 and caspase-9 in CQ group increased. Simultaneously, the expression of above-mentioned between CQ + HG group and CQ + HG + CH group. Conclusions 1, 8-Cineole has protective effect on the injury of HAECs induced by high glucose, and its effect is related to improving autophagy flux.

Hypertension is a risk factor for a variety of cardiovascular diseases, which is an important public health problem in the world today. MiRNAs are a class of highly conserved non-coding small RNAs. In recent years, studies have found that miRNAs are involved in the occurrence and development of hypertension through a variety of ways, causing damage to the important target organs of hypertension, such as heart, brain and kidney. This article reviews the research progress of miRNA in hypertension in recent years, in order to clarify its role in the process of hypertension and target organ damage, and provide ideas for exploring new therapeutic targets of hypertension.

Objective: To examine the outcomes of Tiantan first-aid protocol on critically ill patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Methods: The clinical data of 18 patients with PCNSL who were treated according to Tiantan first-aid protocol at Department of Neurosurgery,Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University from November 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 9 females, aged (56.9±11.1)years (range: 29 to 77 years). The median Karnofsky performance status(KPS) score at admission was 40 (range: 20 to 60). Three patients were mild coma, 3 were lethargy and 12 were conscious. The mean midline shift was 0.7 cm (range: 0 to 1.8 cm). After admission, all patients were treated according to the plan of rapid biopsy, rapid routine pathology and rapid salvage chemotherapy. The treatment procedures, clinical and radiographic outcomes, KPS score and adverse reactions of patients after chemotherapy were collected. Results: All of the 18 patients completed the first-aid treatment. The median duration from admission to the biopsy was 1 day (range: 0 to 5 days), from biopsy to routine pathological diagnosis was 1 day (range: 1 to 4 days) and from routine pathology to salvage chemotherapy was 1 day (range: 0 to 4 days). All the patients were pathologically confirmed with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, 1 patient was double-hit lymphoma. Seventeen patients underwent clinical remission and 1 died of cardiac dysfunction. The successful salvage rate was 17/18. Radiologically, complete remission was observed in 1 case, partial remission in 16 cases, and stable disease in 1 case. The median KPS score at discharge was 60 (range: 30 to 80). The mild gastrointestinal, hematological and hepatic adverse effects were observed after chemotherapy. Conclusion: Tiantan first-aid protocol is effective for critically ill patients with PCNSL, which has the merit to be popularly used and improved.
Central Nervous System ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms/therapy* ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma/therapy* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies