To study the effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) on the cardiomyogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) and human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs), we seeded the cells in the culture plates and used cardiomyocyte culture medium (CMCM) combining with different concentration of S1P to induce UC-MSCs and AD-MSCs in vitro for 7, 14 and 28 days. Cardiomyogenic differentiations were identified through immunofluorescence staining, and the results were observed with fluorescence microscopy and confocal microscopy. The effects of S1P and CMCM on cell activity were evaluated by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. The functional characteristic similar to cardiomyocytes was evaluated through detecting calcium transient. Our results showed that cardiomyogenic differentiation of UC-MSCs or AD-MSCs were enhanced with S1P concentration increasing, but cell activities declined. Results showed that the suitable differentiation time was 14 days, and the optimal concentration of S1P was 0.5 micromol/L. When working together with CMCM, S1P could promote the differentiation of UC-MSCs or AD-MSCs into functional cardiomyocytes, giving rise to specific electrophysiological properties (the calcium transient). Taken together, our results suggested that S1P could promote the differentiation of UC-MSCs or AD-MSCs into functional cardiomyocytes when being cultured in CMCM.
Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Humans ; Lysophospholipids ; pharmacology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Sphingosine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features, cranial MRI and treatment of toxic encephalopathy induced by 1, 2-dichloroethane (1, 2-DCE).

METHODSThe clinical, MRI features and treatment of 5 patients with toxic encephalopathy induced by 1,2-DCE were observed and analyzed.

RESULTSFive patients all presented with subacute onset with a history of direct exposure to 1,2-DCE. Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pressures were all increased in 5 patients. All 5 patients had obvious intracranial hypertension. Liver and kidney function had no obvious abnormalities; Cranial MRI showed T1WI low signal and T2WI high signal in bilateral hemispheric white matter, cerebellar dentate nucleus and globus pallidus. After the treatment of dehydrating agent, glucocorticoid and supportive treatment, four patients were clearly improved, and one patient had cerebral hernia formation.

CONCLUSIONThe main neurological clinical features in patients with 1,2-DEC poisoning is obvious intracranial hypertension. The prognosis is usually good with early and long term use of glucocorticoids and dehydrating agent in poisoning patients.

Adult ; Ethylene Dichlorides ; poisoning ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of the levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) in serum of patients with cerebral infarct and to explore the effect of sICAM-1 on cerebral infarct.

METHODSThe serum levels of sICAM-1 in 55 patients with cerebral infarct both in acute stage(within 2 days) and convalescence(2 weeks after attack) were detected by using ELISA. At the same time, we compare the results with those of 32 patients having other neurologic diseases(20 patients with sciatica, 12 with trigeminal neuralgia) and 30 healthy subjects.

RESULTS(1) The serum levels of sICAM-1 of patients with cerebral infarct (acute stage: 766+/-179 microgram/L, convalescence: 602+/-155 microgram/L, respectively) were significantly higher than those of the control groups(530+/-77 microgram/L and 521+/-116 microgram/L, respectively, P<0.01). (2)There was a positive correlation of SICAM levels with the amount of leukocytes in acute stage(r=0.285,P<0.05), but negative correlation to clinical severity of cerebral infarct(r= 0.333,P<0.05). And there was no significant correlation between the level of sICAM-1 and the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in serum(r= 0.042 and r=0.061, respectively, P>0.05). (3)There was no significant difference between sICAM levels of patients of cerebral cortex infarct and those of patients with basal ganglia infarct(773+/-178 microgram/L and 758+/-183 microgram/L, respectively, P>0.05). (4)The levels of sICAM-1 between patients of cerebral infarct with or without hypertension were no significant difference(774+/-189 microgram/L and 754+/-165 microgram/L, respectively, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe levels of sICAM-1 increase significantly in patients with cerebral infarct. sICAM-1 may participate in the pathophysiologic process through inflammatory mechanism.

Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; physiology ; Leukocyte Count ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the occurrence of delayed neuronal degeneration, activation of microglia and nuclear factor-kappa B after rat intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and the possible role of iron.

METHODSICH model was induced by infusion of autologous whole blood into the right basal ganglia. To evaluate the possible role of iron on delayed neuron loss, an iron model by injection of FeCl(2) into hippocampus was also set up. Degeneration of neurons and the activation of microglia and NF-kappa B were detected.

RESULTBoth whole blood and iron caused neuron degeneration for at least 14 days were revealed by Fluoro-jade C staining. Consistently, activated microglia and NF-kappa B positive cells were also observed in the peri-hematoma area and the ipsilateral hippocampus.

CONCLUSIONThe iron may participate in the delayed neuron injury followed ICH; the activated microglia and NF-kappa B may be involved in the process of delayed neuronal injury.

Animals ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Ferrous Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Male ; Microglia ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nerve Degeneration ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

PURPOSETo discuss surgical technique, operative efficacy and clinical outcome of intramedullary fixation in the treatment of subtrochanteric femur fractures.

METHODSFrom February 2011 to February 2013, 76 cases of subtrochanteric femur fractures were treated by intramedullary fixation in our hospital, including 53 males and 23 females, with the age range of 37 -72 years (mean 53.5 years). According to Seinsheimer classification, there were 2 cases of type I, 7 type II, 15 type III, 23 type IV and 29 type V. Firstly, all patients underwent closed reduction with the guidance of C-arm fluoroscopy in a traction table. Two cases of type I and 3 cases of type III fractures had ideal closed reduction followed by internal fixation. The others needed additional limited open reduction. Radiographic examination was used to evaluate callus formation and fracture healing in postoperative 1, 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up. Functional recovery was evaluated by Harris Hip Scoring (HHS) system.

RESULTSPatients were followed up for 6-12 months. All fractures were healed except one patient with delayed union. The average bone union time was 4.5 months. According to HHS system, 65 cases were considered as excellent in functional recovery, 8 good, 2 fair and 1 poor. The proportion of the patients with excellent and good recovery was 96.05%.

CONCLUSIONIntramedullary fixation is feasible for the treatment of subtrochanteric femur fracture. The accuracy of intraoperative reduction and surgical skill are important for the clinical outcome and the patients' prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; classification ; surgery ; Fluoroscopy ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Recovery of Function ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo develop a chitosan (CH)/polyethylene glycols succinate acid (PEG-SA)-mediated mitomycin C (MMC) delivery system and investigate its drug release characteristics in vitro and its effect against scar tissue adhesion in vivo.

METHODSMitomycin C loading in the composite CH/PEG-SA/MMC films was determined using ultraviolet. The freeze-dried films were dispersed in 1 ml PBS (pH7.4) and mitomycin C release in vitro was determined according to the mitomycin C concentration-UV value standard curve. The influence of the film structure on the drug release was evaluated. The drug delivery system was then implanted in SD rats, and 4 weeks later, immunohistochemical and histological examinations were carried out to assess the therapeutic effect on epidural scar tissue.

RESULTSThe linear regression equation of the mitomycin C concentration-UV value standard curve was y=0.593x(3)-2.563x(2)+25.944x-0.236 (R(2)=1.000). The film demonstrated good drug delivery capability, and 20 mg of the samples in PBS showed a peak mitomycin C release after 12 days of 14.9616 microg/ml, which was higher than the ID(50) of mitomycin C (10.4713 microg/l) to the fibroblasts. On days 18 and 32, another two drug release peaks occurred (14.4824 microg/ml and 11.4092 microg/ml, respectively), followed by maintenance of slow release. Till day 60, the accumulative mitomycin release reached 0.1793 microg/ml, and the loaded drug was ultimately completely released. Significant differences were noted in the hydroxyproline content in the scar tissues of different groups (F=12.085, P=0.000), and the CH/PEG-SA/MMC DDS reduced the amount of scar tissue and promoted its orderly alignment to control potential scar hyperplasia that may compress the spinal cord and nerve roots.

CONCLUSIONThe composite film for drug delivery possesses good flexibility and mechanical properties and allows sustained drug release of mitomycin C to prevent epidural scar tissue adhesion following lumbar laminectomy.

Animals ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Intervertebral Disc ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polyethylenes ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Succinates ; chemistry ; Tissue Adhesions ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo review the clinical and genetic features of a pedigree of Kennedy disease in China.

METHODSThe clinical data of patients from a Kennedy disease family were collected. The numbers of trinucleotide CAG repeats in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene were determined by DNA sequencing and repeat fragment analysis.

RESULTSIn the pedigree, 4 patients were identified as Kennedy disease. Clinical manifested with adult-onset, progressive proximal limb muscle weakness and atrophy, gynecomastia, oligospermia were also presented. The number of trinucleotide CAG repeats in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene was 51 in the proband. The electrophysiological study showed sensory and motor involvement and their serum triglycerides values were elevated significantly.

CONCLUSIONAndrogen receptors gene testing is the most reliable diagnosing method, the patients suspected as Kennedy disease should have a gene testing of androgen receptors.

Base Sequence ; Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pedigree ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; Trinucleotide Repeats ; genetics

Cranial Sinuses ; Dilatation ; Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial/therapy* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Since the beginning of the new century, the artificial cultivation of Dendrobium officinale has made a breakthrough progress. This paper systematically expounds key technologies, main features and cautions of the cultivation modes e.g. bionic-facility cultivation, the original ecological cultivation, and potting cultivation for D. officinale, which can provide useful information for the development and improvement of D. officinale industry.
Animals ; Biomimetics ; Culture Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Dendrobium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Pest Control ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; prevention & control

AIMTo investigate the protective effect of monosialoganglioside (GM1) on injury induced by oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/Rep) in rat hippocampal slices.

METHODSThe protective effects of GM1 on hippocampal slices after OGD/Rep were observed by detecting the light transmittance (LT) changes of rat hippocampal slices and 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining of rat hippocampal slices.

RESULTS(1) In four groups treated with 0 (control), 0.1, 1.0, 10 micromol/L GM1, the peak of light transmittance (LT) in the slices treated with 1.0 micromol/L GM1 was significantly lower than that of the control and the group treated with 0.10 micromol/L GM1 (P < 0.01, ANOVA), while the peak of LT in the slices treated with 10.0 micromol/L GM1 was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P < 0.01, ANOVA). The time to reach the peak of LT in four groups was significantly different from each other (P < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). The time to reach the peak of LT in the group treated with 1 micromol/L GM1 was the significantly longer than that in the control (P < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U test). (2) There was characteristic dose-response relationship between GM1 and TTC staining of rat hippocampal slices. In the five groups, treated with 0 (control), 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10 micromol/L GM1 respectively, TTC staining in the group treated with 1 micromol/L GM1 was the deepest (P < 0.05 vs. control, 0.01 and 0.1 micromol/L GM1 group, ANOVA), and the next was in the group treated with 10 micromol/L GM1 (P < 0.05 vs. control and 0.01 micromol/L GM1 group, ANOVA).

CONCLUSIONGM1 could protect injury induced by OGD/Rep in rat hippocampal slices effectively in vitro.

Animals ; G(M1) Ganglioside ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; deficiency ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Oxygen ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury