BACKGROUND: Myelination following axonal regeneration is a key factor affecting the recovery of spinal cord injury. Oligodendrocyte survival directly affects the myelination following axonal regeneration. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into oligodendrocytes induced by neurotrophic factors. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The cell molecular biology in vitro study was performed at the Laboratory of Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital from September 2006 to June 2007. MATERIALS: A total of 5 Sprague Dawley rats aged 2-4 weeks, of both gender were selected. Bilateral femur and tibia bone marrow was obtained to harvest BMSCs. METHODS: At passage 4, BMSCs were incubated in serum-free medium, supplemented with N2, 20 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor, 20 ng/mL epidermal growth factor for 48 hours, and incubated in medium containing 500 ng/mL insulin-like growth factor I and N2 for 3 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morphological changes were observed using an phase contrast microscope. Semiquantitative RT-PCR was utilized to detect specific marker mRNA expression of oligodendrocytes. Using neuron marker anti-microtubule-associated protein, astrocyte marker anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein, oligodendrocyte marker anti-galactocerebroside, anti-myelin basic protein antibody, immunocytochemical staining was performed to detect the positive rate of the differentiation of BMSCs into oligodendrocytes. RESULTS: Morphological changes in BMSCs during the differentiation into oligodendrocytes: After the induction, a majority of BMSCs presented the morphological characteristics of oligodendrocytes. Cytoplasm retraction towards nucleus, cell process extension towards outwards, and strong refraction were found. With the prolongation of time, several cell processes connected and formed a typical net-shape structure. Specific marker mRNA expression of oligodendrocytes: Following induction, specific strap of myelin basic protein mRNA and galactocerebroside mRNA could be detected. Positive rate of oligodendrocytes: During induction, the positive rates of galactocarebroside, myelin basic protein and microtubule-associated protein were 65%, 45% and 10%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The combination of epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and insulin-like growth factor can effectively promote the directional differentiation of BMSCs into oligodendrocytes.

AIM: To observe the enhancement of ginsen stem leaves (GSL) to the antitumor effect of 5 FU in mice inoculated S180. METHODS: The different combinations of GSL and 5 FU were used to examine the inhibition rates of tumor growth in KM mice inoculated S180. RESULTS: The combination of GSL (15 mg?kg -1 ) and 5 FU (1.5 mg?kg -1 ) obtained 26.90% of inhibition rates of tumor growth (P

Objective To retrospectivel y analyze the abdominal CT findings and pathological results of the chronic schist osomiasis so as to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the disease. M ethods The plain abdominal CT scanning was performed in 103 cases an d enhanced CT scanning in 81 cases. The pathological specimen which was consist ent with the section of CT scan was obtained in each cases. Results On CT scanning, liver cirrhosis was seen in 84 cases, various calci fication in liver in 71 cases, liver cancer in 12 cases, enlargement of sple en in 78 cases, calcification in spleen in 13 cases, wall-thickening in colon i n 27 cases, calcification in colon in 31 cases, and colon cancer in 9 cases. Pa thological examination revealed various fibrosis and formation of pseudolobule. The eggs and calcification could be seen in pseudolobule and septa, colonic sub mucosa, and regional lymph nodes. Fibrous hyperplasia in colonic wall and hyper plasia in mucous membrane were obvious. Fibrous hyperplasia and calcification w ere seen in spleen, but the eggs were not found. Conclusion The liver and colon are the major organs affected by chronic schistosomias is in abdomen, and the CT findings are obvious too. The pathological features o f spleen are accompanied with liver cirrhosis. CT is the important imaging meth od in diagnosing chronic schistosomiasis and pathological changes.

18 fungal strains including N.coenophialum,N.lolii, N.huerfanum、N.chisosum、N.aotearoae、N.sp.and 8 varieties of grass seeds belonging to Festuca arundinacea and Lolium perenne have been studied.With amplification of IS1～IS3 and F1～R1 of genomic DNA, the primers Tub-2-F～Tub-2-R from Tubulin-2 gene and F3～R3 from NC25 gene have been designed.A PCR method to detect N.coenophialum and N.lolii was established, and also a nested-PCR method to detect N.coenophialum and N.lolii in single seed was established.These PCR detection methods are strongly special and much credible and rapid-speeded.

Objective To assess the feasibility and clinical results of video-assisted high anterior transcervical approach (Smith-Robinson) in treatment of spinal lesions of the craniovertebral junction. Methods Between April 2007 to October 2009, nineteen consecutive patients with spinal lesions of the craniovertebral junction were included in the study. There were 9 males and 10 females aged from 16 to 62 years old with a mean of 32 years. The primary pathologies included 4 cases with chronic odontiod fracture, 2 cases with purely irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation, 6 cases with os odonteideum, 1 case with Marfan synd rome, 1 case with primary basilar invagination from Kippel-Feil syndrome, 3 case with axis tumor and 1 case with irreducible rheumatoid atlantoaxial dislocation. All of the patients underwent combined video-assisted high anterior transcervical procedure and posterior fixation at one-stage. The anterior procedure included atlantoaxil release and reduction (8 cases), odontoidectomy (8 cases), and intralesional extracapsular excision and reconstruction (3 tumor cases). The posterior technique were C1-C2 pedicle screw fixation (13 cases), C1-C3 pedicle screw fixation (2 cases), and occipitalcervical fusion (4 cases). Results Anatomical reduction was achieved in eight cases with anterior release and reduction. Tumors were completely removed in three cases with axial tumor. The mean follow-up was 14 months (6-36 months). All of them achieved solid bone fusion. In the 14 patients with symptoms of spinal cord dysfunction, the average Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA)score had improved from 9.1±3.3 preoperatively to 14.1±2.9 postperatively. The improvement rate was excellent for 7 cases, good for 5 cases, fair for lcase and poor for 1 case. One patient experienced leakage of cerebrospinal fluid which was resolved by bioprotein gelatin blocking and lumbar subarachnoid continuous drainage within 1 week. Dysphagia which occurred in 3 cases responded well to dexamethason and mannitol.No infection and hardware failure were observed. Conclusion Video-assisted high anterior transcervical procedure is a safe and effective alternative for treating spinal lesions in the craniovertebral junction.

Objective To investigate the genetic polymorphism of mec Ⅰ in the clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus anreus(MRSA).Methods 40 isolates(MRSA)carrying mecA gene were selected randomly from the clinical isolates of Staphylococcus anreus from Jan,2005 to Aug,2006 in our hospital.The mec Ⅰ gene was detected by PCR followed with sequencing.Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec(SCCmec)in MRSA were detected by multiplex-PCR.Agar dilution method was used for determining the MICs of oxacillin against MRSA.Results 35 of 40(87.5%)MRSA carried mec Ⅰ gene.All isolates carrying mec Ⅰ gene have mecI 202C→T substitution,which resulted in Gln at 68 aminophenol position replaced by stop condon.32 isolates carried single point mutation.3 isolates carried double-point mutation,including additonal A at 3 positon,A→C at 41 position and C→T at 142 position beside C→T at 202 position,respectively.Among 35 isolates carrying mec Ⅰ gene,there were 27 isolates of SCCmec Ⅲ, 7 isolates of SCCmec Ⅲ A and 1 isolate of SCCmec Ⅱ.Among 5 isolates with deletion of mec Ⅰ gene,there were 3 isolates of SCCmecⅣ,1 isolate of SCCmec Ⅰ and 1 isolate of non-known SCCmec tpye.The MICs of oxacillin were 256-512 ?g/ml,≥512 ?g/ml and 8-256 ?g/ml in 31 isolates with single point mutation at 202 position in mec Ⅰ gene,3 isolates with double-point mutation in mecI gene and 5 isolates with deletion of mec Ⅰ gene,respectively.1 isolate with single point mutation in mec Ⅰ gene had contrary result(MIC

Objective: The current study was designed to evaluate the clinical application of radioimmunoimaging(RII) for lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma. Methods:1)131I was used to label McAb G9(specific to cellular membrane antigen of human esophageal carcinoma) and form labeling compound 131I-G9. Administration of 131I-G9 in esophagus submucosally with a specific injector for the purpose of submucosal injection via endoscopies in preoperative patients with squamous cell carcinoma of thoracic esophagus followed by RII. 2)The samples of dissected lymph node were used for detection of radioactivity. Results: 1)The pictures at 48 h showed that small radioactivity concentrated dots appeared dispersedly in mediastinum and upper abdomen around esophagus and cardiac gastric. The lymph nodes were considered metastatic in above regions. 2)The pathological results of the lymph nodes dissected compared to the RII result. The metastatic lymph nodes were found in the regions of dispersedly concentrated radioactivity, while no metastatic lymph nodes could be found in the radioactivity free regions. 3)After counting for radioactivity, lymph node metastases showed higher antibody uptake than the non-metastases lymph nodes. The difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: 131I-G9 may be used to locate metastatic lymph nodes in patients with esophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo observe the mechanical properties of the prefabricated connective tissue tube as blood vessel substitute and its changes after implantation at the femoral artery.

METHODSThe acellular matrix tube of 8-12 cm in length with a silicone rod inside it was implanted into dog peritoneal cavity. 3 weeks later, a new formed tube around the silicone rod was transferred to the femoral artery as blood vessel substitute. The mechanical properties and histological examination of the blood vessel substitute were assessed and compared to those of the carotid artery and vein. 6 months after transfer, the patency of the blood vessels substitute was observed. The histological change was studied by light microscopy, scanning and transmitting electron microscopy.

RESULTS(1) The mechanical properties of blood vessel substitute was not as strong as artery, but better than the vein. (2) There were elastic and collagen fibers with many fibroblasts around the tube wall, but few mesothelial cells around the inner wall. All of the blood vessel substitutes (n = 6) were found to keep patency and the structure of the blood vessels substitutes became similar to femoral artery 6 months after they had been grafted to the femoral artery.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that tissue engineering in vivo is a good approach to construct vessels substitute. The tissue tubes made in dog's peritoneal cavity have good condition when it is used as a blood vessel substitutes.

Animals ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Blood Vessels ; transplantation ; Carotid Arteries ; surgery ; Dogs ; Extracellular Matrix ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVETo determine the role of hepatic oval cell in primary hepatocarcinogenesis using specific Y chromosome.

METHODSThe model of hepatic oval cell proliferation was established by feeding 30 male Wistar rats with 0.06% 3'3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) for 4 weeks. Another 40 female Wistar rats were equally randomized into two groups: control group and experimental group. Experimental group was inoculated with oval cells suspension from the prepared male rats under the hepatic amicula and fed with DAB for 14 weeks continuously to promote hepatocarcinogenesis. Control group was fed with DAB for 14 weeks. After primer fragments were worked out on the male rats' SRY genes using the software of primer design, DNAs were extracted from the hepatic carcinomas of the female rats of the two groups and then amplified with PCR. Electrophoretic analysis was performed on the products.

RESULTSAfter 14 weeks, primary hepatocarcinogenesis was found in the livers of all the 40 female rats. Electrophoresis showed the positive straps from the experimental group with the same length to the designed segments, whereas no positive straps were seen in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe hepatic oval cells can differentiate into hepatic cancer cells, which provides the evidence that the hepatocellular carcinoma has its source from the hepatic oval cells.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; genetics ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Y Chromosome

OBJECTIVE: To induce hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells of umbilical cord blood to differentiate into mature megakaryocytes and platelets in vitro and to investigate the mechanism of production of platelets. METHODS: The CD34+ cells were sorted from umbilical cord blood by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) and then cultured in vitro with optimized medium to be differentiated into mature megakaryocytes and platelets. The cultured cells and the platelet-like particles were isolated from the culture and were checked by the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), immunohistochemistry assays, light microscope,electron microscope and platelet aggregation tests. RESULTS: The cultured megakaryocytes were detected with proplatelets and both the cultured cells and the platelet-sized particles were found to have the same structure with the normal megakaryocytes and platelets by light and electron microscope. The immunohistochemistry assays revealed the cultured cells expressed GP II b III a with a positivity of 95% which was a special antigen for platelets and megakaryocytes. Culture-derived platelet-sized particles aggregated in response to thrombin as the plasma derived-platelets did. The cultured platelets had the same positivity of CD41 as the platelets from platelet rich plasma. CONCLUSION The hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells can be induced to differentiate into purified and mature megakaryocytes and platelets. It provides a practical way to study the mechanism of platelets production.
Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Blood Platelets ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; metabolism ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology