BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) play important roles in entochondrostosis and fracture healing blood vessel hyoperplasia. OBJECTIVE: To observe and compare the roles of VEGF and bFGF in fracture healing. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Double-factor trial was performed at Pathological Laboratory, North China Coal Medical University from August 2005 to May 2006. MATERIALS: Twenty-four adult healthy Japan rabbits were selected and radial fracture models were created in 48 bilateral anterior limbs. The rabbits were randomly divided into VEGF group and bFGF group (n=24). METHODS: VEGF (0.2 ?g) and bFGF (100 ng) were injected respectively in the fracture site of rabbits. No external fixation was used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The rabbits were executed at postoperative weeks 2, 4 and 6 to measure callus sagittal diameter, transverse diameter and section area. X-ray was used to observe fracture healing and measure bony callus total area. Histological alterations during fracture healing were observed, and percentage of trabecular bone, cartilage and fibrous tissue in the bony callus was determined. RESULTS: At 2 weeks after operation, callus sagittal diameter and transverse diameter in VEGF group were significantly larger than bFGF group (P

BACKGROUND: The mouse model of cervical heart transplantation is an ideal medical research tool for study of transplant-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury and immunological rejection.However,technical problems have limited the widespread use of mouse cervical vascularized heart transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To improve the cervical heterotopic heart transplantation in mice using the tail-cuff technique.METHODS: Isogeneic transplantation was performed from Balb/c to BALB/c mice,and allogeneic transplantation from C57BL/6 to BALB/c mice.The right common carotid artery and the external jugular vein of the recipient were equipped with a tail cuff made from 24 G and 22 G intravenous catheter,and everted over the cuff,and then connected with the aorta and the pulonary artery of donor heart,respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 36 transplants for formal experiment,12 for isogeneic transplantation,and 24 for allogeneic transplantation,were performed with a surgical successful rate of 100%.The total surgical procedure was(49.6±7.4)minutes and total ischemic time of the grafts was(28.8±4.2)minutes.In particular,the average time for vascular everting and for the reconnection of both vessels was obviously shortened.This improved tail-cuff technique shows its superiority,and can serve as an ideal method for establishing cervical heterotopic heart transplantation model in mice.

Objective To investigate a new method for the reconstruction of the urethra using peritoneal free grafts in phalloplasty in a rabbit model. Methods Animal models were established in 24 adult male New Zealand white rabbits, which were randomly divided into the peritoneal graft group (n=12) and peritoneum-skin graft group (n=12). In the former group the peritoneal tube grafts with the mesothelial surface inward were used as the urethral substitutes. And a circumferential 1 cm rim of scrotal skin was inserted at the tip of the tubularized peritoneal graft for urethroplasty in the latter group. Subsequently, a superficial epigastric fasciovascular pedicle flap for phalloplasty was harvested and tubed over the reconstructed urethra. The process of growth was observed grossly. Results The reconstructed penis survived well without urethral stricture, and the peritoneal-lined grafts survived in all rabbits with a smooth, moist quality and without ulceration and fibrosis. Gross examination showed 8 meatal occlusions with fistulas simultaneously in the peritoneal graft group, and 3 fistulas in the peritoneum-skin graft group. Conclusion The authors have successfully designed the rabbit model of the urethroplasty using the tubularized peritoneal free grafts in the penile reconstruction and demonstrated the possibility of the new method for phalloplasty brings a light to clinical study.

0.05).The blood gas analysis(BGA) and pulmonary function test(PFT) were performed in patients with stable COPD.The cognitive function was evaluated by ESD in both patients with stable COPD and healthy persons as control.The patients were divided into different groups by BGA and PFT(FEV1/Pred).Results:The total score of ESD and the subtest scores of ESD in leaning,memory,calculation,constructive function were obviously lower in the patient group than those in the control group(The mean difference of the total score was 16,with the two groups' total scores as 208.1?17.6/224.3?10.6,t=5.19,P

AIM: To detect dystrophin expression in skeletal muscles of mdx mice after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and to evaluate the effect of BMT on Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). METHODS: Bone marrow cells were cultured for three days, and then transplanted into mdx mice irradiated lethally through tail veins. After 4 and 6 months, dystrophin expression on myocytes membranes in mdx mice was detected by fluorescent immunohistochemical staining. The centrally nucleated fibers (CNF) were calculated by HE staining, and the physiologic parameters measured and the motor function detected by traction test, rotating rods test and rotating wheels test were also observed. RESULTS: Until 4 and 6 months after BMT, dystrophin was expressed partly on myocytes membranes in mdx mice, and the ratio of CNF decreased, physiologic functions improved, the motor ability reinforced in treated group. CONCLUSION: After BMT, marrow stem cells settled in injured skeletal muscles and bone marrow, then differentiated into myocytes with dystrophin expression and caused the improvement of pathology, physiology and motor function in treated group finally. These results give a powerful proof for the treatment of DMD with BMT.

AIM: To study the effect of bone marrow stem cell transplantation on mdx mice at different ages. METHODS: The bone marrow stem cells of C57BL/6 mice (4 - to-weeks age) were cultured in vitro for 3 days, then injected intravenously into the 6 -week and 8-week aged mdx, which were preconditioned with 7 Gy ? ray. 12 weeks after being transplanted, the mdx mice were studied for the dystrophin protein expression on the skeletal muscle membrane. RESULTS: Three months after transplanted with bone marrow stem cells, about 16% and 7% muscles cells in 6-week and 8-week mdx mice expressed dystrophin protein, respectively. CONCLUSION: 12 weeks after transplantation with bone marrow stem cells of homologous series mice, different amounts of dystrophin protein expressed on the membrane of skeletal muscle cells were observed in different aged mdx mice. Bone marrow stem cell transplantation show more benefic effect for younger mdx mice.

AIM: To observe the effects of overload exercise on skeletal muscles in X-linked muscular dystrophy(mdx) mice.METHODS: Mdx mice and C57 mice were carried out swimming and hanging tail movement tests (mdx mice as control did not exercise). It lasted for 13 minutes each time per day, and lasted 3 days. Evans blue was injected into tail vain. The mice were killed the next day, and the hind limbs were taken photographs after skins were flayed. The gastrocnemius muscles and diaphragms cryostat sections were made. Under a fluorescence microscope, Evans blue staining was seen. Then the sections were tested by routine HE staining, the histological change of muscles was analyzed under a light microscope.RESULTS: Many blue colored longitudinal lines were observed in skeletal muscles of mdx mice, whereas they were hardly seen in control mdx and C57 mice. Under a fluorescence microscope, some muscle fibers of mdx mice were stained with Evans blue, few muscle fibers of control mdx mice were stained, and C57 mice were not. Under a light microscope, HE staining of muscles showed some degenerated muscle fibers became round in shape and the myonuclei became condensed, or necrotic fibers had amorphous structures, most of them in the degenerated and necrotic fibers of diaphragms C57 mice did not have these changes.CONCLUSION: Overload exercise did harm to skeletal muscles of mdx mice; Vital staining with Evans blue is useful not only for distinguishing degenerating muscle fibers, but also for studying the degeneration process in dystrophin-deficient muscle.

Objective To examine whether the increase of carbon monoxide (CO) induced by oral methylene chloride (MC) administration in recipients before heart transplantation would protect heart grafts against isehemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury associated with transplantation and to explore the possible mechanism.Methods Inbred male Balb/c mice were used as donors and recipients to establish cervical heart transplantation model Recipients were treated with either MC (100 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg,per os)(group MC 100 mg,n=10;group MC 500 mg,n=12) or olive oil(0.15 ml,per os.group olive,n=10) 3 h prior to anesthesia.Age-matched norwlal mice served as controls (group N,n=5).The serum COHb and the CO content of myocardial tissue were measured at 0,1,3,6,12,24 h after oral MC administration.Half of recipients were killed at 3 and 24h after transplantation for senum or cardiac graft samples.The serum cTnI levels,the mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-10,Bcl-2,Bax.the protein levels of NF-κB and the ultrastructures of myocardium were examined.Results As tompared with group olive.the serum COHb and tissue CO were increased significantly and peaked within 3 h in group MC 100 mg and group MC 500 mg.The serum cTnI levels in group MC 100 mg and group MC 500 mg were significantly decreased (P<0. 01 ), especially in group MC 500 mg. The increase of CO in recipients of group MC100 mg and group MC 500 mg significantly inhibited the proinflammatory gene expression of TNF-α mRNA and the pro-apoptotic gene expression of Bax mRNA (P<0. 01), and increased the anti-apoptotic gene expression of Bcl-2 mRNA (P<0. 01), but did not increase the anti-inflammatory gene expression of IL-10 mRNA (P>0. 05) in the heart grafts. As compared with group N, the myocardial NF-κB activation was increased significantly in group olive,group MC 100 mg and group MC 500 mg (P<0. 01 ), but there was no significant difference among the later three groups (P>0. 05). The myocardial ultrastructure was also alleviated significantly in group MC 100 mg and group MC 500 mg as compared with group N. Conclusion The increase of CO induced by MC in recipients suppresses pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic gene expression and efficiently ameliorates transplant-induced heart I/R injury. The possible mechanism does not seem to be associated with down-regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the onset of phlegm obstruction due to lung-deficiency in rats and the therapeutic mechanism of Huatan Recipe. METHODS: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group and treatment group, with 8 rats in each group. The rats in the model group and treatment group were exposed to sulfur dioxide and cold wind to establish the rat model of phlegm obstruction due to lung-deficiency, and the rats in the treatment group were also treated with Huatan Recipe, a compound traditional Chinese medicine. The expression of NF-kappaB in the bronchial epithelial cells of the rats was tested with the method of immunohistochemistry, and the COX-2 mRNA in the lung tissues of the rats was measured by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The expressions of NF-kappaB and COX-2 mRNA in rats of the model group were higher than those of the normal group (P<0.01), and the expressions of NF-kappaB and COX-2 mRNA in rats of the treatment group were obviously lower than those of the model group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The NF-kappaB and COX-2 play an important role in the onset of phlegm obstruction in rats. Huatan Recipe may prevent the development of phlegm obstruction by down-regulating the expressions of NF-kappaB and COX-2 mRNA.