This paper summarizes major advances in military-related life sciences in 2014 .The United States ,European Union and Japan officially launched brain science programs .The era of big data in life sciences is coming .MRC,NIH and DARPA are investing more in big data research .Studies on brain-machine interface ,brain-brain interface ,mind reading and mind control are going ahead so that brain control and reading the brain may become a reality in the near future .New technology and tools,such as genome editing , neuroimaging techniques , protein research and single molecule technology , keep emerging , which is promoting the development of military medicine research .

Human enhancement technology is an emerging field that aims to enhance human physical and mental power of humans with the latest developments of the life science , information science , electronic science , cognitive neuroscience and other fields .This paper provides an overview of status quo of human enhancement technology and its military applica -tions, and analyzes the factors that may adversely affect its applications .

2013 saw sustained and rapid development in the military medicine-related life sciences .New research fields, new technologies and devices continue to emerge , such as Brain Science Projects , 3D bio-printing, cognitive neuro-science, brain-computer interface and mind control , genome editing technology , neuroimaging techniques , protein research technology , Which will promote the all-round development of basic and applied research for military medicine .

Objective To study the feasibility of stem cell transplantation under mild hypothermia so as to provide a prerequisite for stem cell transplantation in patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) during mild hypothermia treatment. Methods After transfecting plasmid containing temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen (tsSV40LT) into temperature-sensitive umbilical cord mes-enchymal stem cells (tsUCMSCs) , the changes of cell morphology, nuclear proliferation index (PIx) and telomerase activity were detested when the tsUCMSCs were cultured at 33℃ and 37℃. After the mouse model with tTBI treated with mild hypothermia was established, tsUCMSCs were transplanted into semi-injury area to detect survival rate, proliferation and apoptosis indices and perform neurological deficit scoring. Results When cultured at 33℃, the tsUCMSCs displayed long spindle-shaped and highly refractive, with higher proliferation index and telomerase activity than those cultured at 37℃. Compared with control group (non-temperature-sensitive UCMSCs transplantation), tsUCMSCs in semi-injury area showed much higher cell survival and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression ( P < 0.05 ) , with fewer apoptotic cells and better neurological function (P < 0.05). Conclusion The establishment of temperature-sensitive stem cell line enables stem cell transplantation during treatment of TBI with mild hypothermia, as provides us a new direction for treatment of TBI.

Objective: To evaluate sensory recovery in noninnervated radial forearm free flap after tongue reconstruction. Methods: Sixty-five cases of tongue reconstruction by using free radial forearm flaps were analyzed. Flap sensations to touch, sharp vs dull, two-point discrimination and warmth vs cold was evaluated in each of these patients at 6 months and 12 months after treatment. Results:Twenty-nine flaps (44.6%) showed good sensory recovery, thirty-two flaps (50%) recovered partly, four flaps (6.1%) was anesthetic. Conclusion: Spontaneous recovery of flap sensation can be re-established after reconstruction. Delay or failure of sensory recovery in flap reconstruction could be caused by radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND: The aging and lesions of the intervertebral disc are closely related to the lack of nutritional blood supply to the disc. Aquaporin plays an important role in the nutritional supply to the intervertebral discs, but the specific mechanism has not been fully defined. OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of Yaobishu on degenerated intervertebral disc in rabbits based on the changes of aquaporin (AQP) 1 and AQP3 protein expression. METHODS: Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into model group, low-dose Yaobishu group and high-dose Yaobishu group. Animal models of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse were prepared through an injection of normal saline into L4/5 and L5/6 segments. The model group was intragastrically given normal saline 5 mL/kg per day, the low-dose group was intragastrically given Yaobishu 5 mL/kg per day, and the high-dose group was intragastrically given Yaobishu 10 mL/kg per day, twice a day, for 21 days. After 6 weeks of treatment, the intervertebral discs were taken for anatomical and histological observation using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Expression of AQP1 and AQP3 in the nucleus pulposus at protein and mRNA levels was quantified by RT-PCR and western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In all the three groups, the annulus fibrosus was destroyed, abnormal cartilage tissue appeared, and the nucleus pulposus was reduced in number. Severest degeneration of the intervertebral disc was found in the model group, followed by the low-dose Yaobishu and high-dose Yaobishu groups in turn. The expression of AQP1 and AQP3 mRNA and protein in the high-dose Yaobishu group and low-dose Yaobishu group increased significantly after 6 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05), while the expression in the model group showed no significant difference before and after treatment (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the expression of AQP1 and AQP3 mRNA and protein among the three groups (P < 0.05). Therefore, Yaobishu may alleviate the degeneration of the rabbit intervertebral disc by increasing the expression of AQP1 and AQP3.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of vaginal dilators by 567 adverse event reports, and to provide a reference for the reasonable use.

METHODSWith retrospective case study, analyzed 567 reports induced by vaginal dilators by National Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Center in 2012.

RESULTSExpected treatment of disease might be relevant with severity of adverse events, while age was not the related factor; the influencing factor of consequences of grading was the classification of the cause of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONMonitoring should be strengthen in order to reduce or avoid the vaginal dilator adverse events.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems ; Dilatation ; adverse effects ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vagina ; pathology

BACKGROUND: The source of conspecific heart transplantation organ is very limited and deficiency becomes more and more obvious.OBJECTIVE: To observe the mechanical properties of ascending aorta at one-dimensional loading between healthy persons and swine of different months, so as to provide necessary biomechanical experimental basis for anastomosing blood vessel in heterogeneic heart transplantation from swine to human.DESIGN: Open design SETTING: Staff Room of Anatomy, Yunyang Medical College MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at the Laboratory of Biomechanics, Yunyang Medical College from April 2002 to July 2003.Ascending aortas of human were obtained from the 6 adult male corpses without cardiovascular diseases, aged 18 to 30 years, who died for accident and donated by Yunyang Medical College. Totally 42 conspecific swine of 1 month old, with certification number of QN0202, were provided by Animal Experimental Center of Yunyang Medical College. They were raised with common foodstuff. The 42 swine were butchered respectively at 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 months, 6 swine once. After anatomical isolation and in situ measurement of respective in vivo length, ascending aorta from aorta valve ring base plane to initiation part of innominate artery was taken out (Artherosclerosis was not presented in all the samples) and divided into five equal segments, and the second and fourth segments were used for mechanical test of one-dimensional loading.METHODS: Six adult male corpses and ascending aorta of 42 swine of 1 to 7 months were performed mechanical test of one-dimensional loading.All the blood segments were pre-treated ten times with the same strain rate at room temperature 32 ℃(loading range from 0 to 0.5 N). Hysteresis disappeared after blood vessel was given periodic permanent loading and unloading, and repeated force-deformed data were obtained. Blood vessel was given loading and unloading once with the same loading range and strain rate. The recorded force-deformed data were used for computer analysis. Force and displacement were scaled with standard weight and percentage scale at the end of each time. Constant α and elastic modulus Dt/dλ were fitted from experimental data.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Comparison of the mechanical characteristic constant of ascending aorta at one-dimensional loading be tween human and swine of different months. ② Comparison of elastic mod ulus of ascending aorta at one -dimensional loading between human and swine of different months .RESULTS: ① Comparison of the mechanical characteristic constant of ascending aorta at one-dimensional loading between human and swine of different months: With the increase of month, although the material con stant of blood vessel of swine had a little increase, there was no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05). The mechanical material constant of ascending aorta at one-dimensional loading of human was basically familiar to that of swine of 1 to 7 months (P ＞ 0.05). ② Comparison of elastic modulus of ascend ing aorta at one -dimensional loading between human and swine of differ ent months: With the increase of months, elastic modulus of ascending aorta was significantly increased in swine of 7 months old in comparison with that in other months old (P ＜ 0.05); there was no significant difference of elastic modulus of corresponding blood vessel between human and swine of different months (P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference in mechanical characteristic constant and elastic modulus of ascending aorta between human and swine of 1 to 7 months. Mechanical characteristics of corresponding blood vessel were similar in some segments at least. From the mechanical angle, anastomosis of corresponding ascending aorta in the process of heterogeneic heart transplantation from swine to human has certain feasibility.

BACKGROUND: Due to the source of conspecific heart transplanted organ is limited and it becomes more and more deficient, and porcine cardiovascular system and haemodynamics are very similar to that of human being, therefore, domestic and foreign scholars have paid more attention on the heterogeneic heart transplantation from swine to human, and there are more and more basic studies about it.OBJECTIVE: To compare the zero-stress state of ascending aorta and pulmonary artery trunk between swine of different months and healthy persons, which provides necessary vascular tissue reconstruction basis for anastomosing vessel of heterogeneic heart transplantation from swine to human being.DESIGN: Open experiment.SETTING: Laboratory of Biomechanics, Yunyang Medical College.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at the Laboratory of Biomechanics, Yunyang Medical College from October 2001 to September 2002. Human heart specimens were chosen from 6 male adult corpses who had no visible manifestation of cardiovascular diseases, aged 18 to 30 years. Informed consents were obtained from all the relatives. Totally 42 conspecific swine, aged one month, were also chosen and divided into 7 groups, named as 1,2,3,4,5,6 and ＞ 6 months groups respectively, with 6 in each group. Swine were anesthetized at 1,2,3,4,5,6,＞ 6 months respectively and sacrificed in each group.METHODS: The corresponding ascending aorta and pulmonary artery trunk were dissected and isolated. Each arterial anterior wall was labeled in situ with coloring pen, and then artery was shifted into the oxygen-saturated Kreb's solution. Five isometric vascular rings were divided along the axial direction, then each vascular ring was cut open along the radial direction. Opening angle of each vascular ring at zerostress state was measured and recorded by computer 20 minutes later(The included angel formed through connecting the middle point of inner wall of open vascular plane and two end points of inner wall). The experiment was conducted at room temperature 20-30 ℃. All the procedures of vascular samples were performed within 24 hours after subjects died.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measuring results of opening angle of ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk at zero-stress state of swine at different months and human being.RESULTS: ①Comparison of measuring results of opening angle of ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk between swine at different months and human being: Opening angle of ascending aorta of human being increased from (100.4±12.8)°at proximal end to (152.8±18.6)°at distal end. Opening angle of swine at different months increased from about 68°at proximal end to about 130°at distal end; Opening angel of pulmonary artery trunk of human being did not changed significantly along axial direction, and opening angel of pulmonary artery trunk of swine at different months increased from about 65° at proximal end to about 125°at distal end. There was significant difference of opening angle of ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk at zero-stress state between human being and swine (P=0.028 ＜ 0.05).But the opening angle of ascending aorta of human being was similar at the second segment to at the fourth and fifth segments of swine of different ages; Opening angle of each segment of pulmonary artery trunk of human being was close to that of proximal end (first and second segments) ofpulmonary artery trunk of swine.② Comparison of measuring results of ascending aorta and pulmonary artery trunk at zero-stress state of swine at different months: Opening angle of ascending aorta and pulmonary artery trunk of swine did not changed with the increase of age (P=-0.063 ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Opening angels of ascending aorta and pulmonary artery trunk at zero-stress state are close in some segments between human being and swine, suggesting that corresponding ascending aorta or pulmonary artery trunk can mutually anastomose in some segments in the heterogeneic heart transplantation from swine to human, and the effect of age is not significant in vascular reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: So far it has not achieved satisfactory effects to use synthetic blood vessels (diameter＜ 6 mm) as the substitutes for human small arteries or veins when clinical reconstructive vascular operations are performed. So, study on the substitutes for small arteries and veins has been a problem demanding prompt solution at present.OBJECTIVE: To observe the pressure-volume (P-V) relationship of umbilical cord vein of different gestational ages so as to provide theoretical basis of biomechanical properties for the clinical application of human umbilical cord vein as material for vascular grafting.DESIGN: Non-randomized controlled experiment.PARTICIPANTS: The experiment was completed in the Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Yunyang Medical College in June 2004. Umbilical cord veins of 50 normal fetuses were collected on spontaneous miscarriage or labor with the pregnant women's permission by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shiyan Taihe Hospital. The gestational age of the fetuses ranged from 24 to 42 weeks and the pregnant women aged 20to 30 years. Among them, 8 cases with gestational age of 24-27 weeks,7cases 28-32 weeks,8 cases 33-36 weeks,4 cases 37 weeks,5 cases 38weeks, 5 cases 39 weeks , 5 cases 40 weeks , 4 cases 41 weeks and 4cases 42 weeks.INTERVENTIONS:Umbilical cord veins of 50 normal fetuses were collected. A 2-cm long segment of each umbilical cord was measured and labeled at both ends. Then they were cut off and put into normal saline (NS). The umbilical veins were carefully stripped from the cord; its two ends were fixed on the biomechanical experiment stand of soft tissues. The P-V relationship of fetal umbilical cord vein was measured, and then the compliance calculated.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pressure, volume and compliance of different umbilical cord veincurve of pressure-volume relationship of the umbilical cord vein was similar at week 37 to 40 but decreased significantly at week 28 and week 42. After regression analysis twice, it was found that the absolute value of regression vein increased with the increasing of gestational age[24-27 weeks (2.22±0.34)cord vein collected at 37 to 40 weeks of gestational age was similar. When the umbilical cord veins older than 42 weeks or under 28 weeks were compared, there was significant difference in their compliance (F=65.84-86.52, P＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Human umbilical cord veins are good substitutes for The relationship between compliance and gestational age. Our studies suggest that the umbilical cord vein, whose gestational ages range from 37to 40 weeks, is a material of choice for the transplantation.