Objective To estimate curative effect of reconstruction of rabbit knee joint cartilage defect with the homogeneitic tissue engineered cartilages.Methods The chondrocytes were isolated and collected from articular cartilages of eight New Zealand white rabbits.The tissue engineered cartilages after culturing chondrocytes and atelocollogen for two days.Cartilage defects were created in both keen joint of twenty-six rab- bits.Complexes of chodrocytes and atelocollagen was grafted into the defect of left knee joint at once as experi- mental group,and no implantation were served as control.General and histological examination were respec- tively performed in both group at four weeks and eight weeks after surgery.Results After implantation,the defects were filled with cartilaginous tissue in experiment group,while there were only tissue in control group. Histologically,defective areas were filled with chondrocytes in experiment group,but only fibroblast in control group.Conclusion The implantation of the tissue engineered cartilages contenting with chondrocytes and atelocollogen can effectively improve reconstruction of rabbit knee joint.

Volatile oil components and the contents and types of amino acid in spica of Prunella vulgaris were analysed by GC-MS and amino acid analyzer. Esters, fatty acids, aromatic hydrocarbon, ketone and several alcohol compounds were identified by mass spectrum comparison. In these ingredients, beta-ionone smelled aroma of cedar, raspberry, nerolidol showed weak sweet soft orange blossom flavor, neroli tasted sweet and fresh, nerolidol tasted sweet with light aroma of wood, hexadecanal showed a weak aroma of flowers and wax, alpha-sinensal had rich and fresh sweet orange flavor. To some extent, these types of aromatic substances can affect the taste of herbal tea or decoction made of Spica Prunellae. Among amino acids detected, natural amino acids accounted for a larger proportion, and those natural amino acids showed bitterness, slight bitterness, sourness (freshness), sweetness, slight sweetness, sourness (slight freshness). The results indicated that bitter and slightly bitter amino acids have the greatest impacts on the sense of Spica Prunellae.
Amino Acids ; analysis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Prunella ; chemistry ; Taste

Objective To understand the epidemicological condition of human brucellosis in Zhengzhou city to provide scientific evidence for future preventive and control measures. Methods Surveillance on high risk populations were done in the designated monitoring Gongyi City and other randomized monitoring cities or counties (4 or 5 towns or farms were selected in each city or county) during the year from 2002 to 2007. The intradermic allergy test with brucellin were carried out among high risk populations who had been in close touch of domestic animals or their products in those cities, and standard tube agglutination test(SAT) were used for those who had suspected clinic symptom or positive result of intradermie allergy test during 2002 to 2005. The SAT investigations for enterprises of livestock breeding were performed in non-designated monitoring cities. All manipulation methods and judging standards were according to the manual of prevention and treatment for human brucellosis. Results In the designated monitoring city Gongyi from 2002 to 2007, a total of 13 831 people were investigated, among whom 3744 peoples were tested by intradermic allergy test and the positive rate was 1.01%(38/3744). Fifty-four cases were positive in SAT among 2693, and the positive rate of SAT was 2.01%(54/2693). Forty-four new cases were diagnosed. In the 11 non-designated monitoring city from 2002 to 2005, 13 136 persons were treated by intradermic allergy test, the positive rate was 0.62% (82/13 136), among these 1316 persons were treated by SAT and 66 patients were positive. The positive rate was 5.02% (66/1316) from 2002 to 2007. Fifty one new cases were diagnosed. In the enterprises of domestic animals breeding, among 242 and 688 employees were treated by SAT, 17 and 16 patients were positive, the positive rate were 7.02%(17/242) and 5.02%(16/688) in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Conclusions The infection of human brucellosis in Zhengzhou is rising up. The governments at all levels must put large amounts of funds for the monitoring, investigating and disinfecting to prevent the disease from increasing and outspreading.

Sciatic nerve injury is a common disease of peripheral nerve in clinic. After nerve injury, there are many dysfunctions in motoneurons and muscles following regeneration. Previous studies mostly investigated the aspects related to the injured nerve, and the effect on the recurrent inhibition (RI) pathway of spine following regeneration was not fully understood. Following reinnervation after temporary sciatic nerve crush, the functional alteration of RI was studied. In adult rats, RI between lateral gastrocnemius-soleus (LG-S) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) motor pools was assessed by conditioning monosynaptic reflexes (MSRs) elicited from the cut dorsal roots and recorded from either the LG-S or MG nerves by antidromic stimulation of the synergist muscle nerve. The following results were obtained. (1) The RI of MSRs in rats was almost lost (<5 weeks) after sciatic nerve crush. Although the RI partially recovered following reinnervation (6 weeks), it remained permanently depressed (up to 14 weeks). (2) Sciatic nerve crush on one side did not affect the contralateral RI. (3) Sciatic nerve crush did not induce any motoneuron loss revealed by immunohistochemistry. Peripheral nerve temporary disconnection causes long term alterations in RI pathway which make up motoneuron's function enhance for the alteration of muscle power and suggests that peripheral nerve injury induces long term plastic changes in the spinal motoneuron circuitry.
Animals ; Long-Term Synaptic Depression ; physiology ; Male ; Motor Neurons ; physiology ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Neurons, Afferent ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reflex, Monosynaptic ; physiology ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Spinal Cord ; physiopathology ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; physiopathology

The study was purposed to investigate the differentiation ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into myocardial cells in vitro. Rat bone marrow-derived MSCs were labeled and co-cultured with neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (CM) for 5 - 7 days. The expression of cell surface antigens was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression of muscle-specific marker myosin and troponin T in labeled cells was detected by immunofluorescence. The results showed that in vitro cultured MSCs expressed CD90, CD44, CD105, CD54, not expressed CD34, CD45, CD31. After co-cultured with neonatal rat CM, labeled MSCs differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells expressing myosin and troponin T. It is concluded that MSCs can differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells when co-cultured with neonatal myocardial cells in vitro. In co-culture of two kind of cells in ratio of four to one showed obvious efficacy differentiating MSCs into CMs.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

This study was purposed to investigate the phenotype, in vitro expansion and cytokine secretion profile of Valpha24(+) NKT cells from cord blood (CB), peripheral blood (PB), and granulocyte colony stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (G-PBMNCs). Fresh mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated by the method of gradient centrifugation and then cultured with alpha-GalCer (100 ng/ml), IL-2 (50 U/ml), IL-15 (50 ng/ml) for 12 days. Valpha24(+) NKT cells were purified by anti-Vbeta11 TCR McAb and goat anti-mouse IgG magnetic beads. The phenotype and purity of Valpha24(+) NKT cells were determined by flow cytometry. Cytokine production was analyzed by ELISA. The results showed that Valpha24(+) NKT cells in CB, PB and G-PBMNCs were expanded by 221.5 (95 - 501), 456.5 (101 - 2207), and 756.38 (82 - 20373)-fold respectively. After stimulation by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) for 24 hours, IL-4 and IFN-gamma produced by Valpha24(+) NKT cells from CB and PB were 180.33 (144.67 - 2253.48) vs 190.67 (110.07 - 6060.16) ng/ml, 864.33 (401.33 - 3386.67) vs 508.49 (253.82 - 8840.00) ng/ml respectively, with IL-4/IFN-gamma ratio of 0.503 +/- 0.642 vs 0.455 +/- 0.562 respectively. After expansion of Valpha24(+) NKT cells from G-PBMNCs, IL-4 and IFN-gamma produced by Valpha24(+) NKT cells at day 9 and day 12 were 139.08 (7.62 - 606) vs 89.3 (0 - 729.2) ng/ml, 14264.8 (1168 - 18059) vs 14488 (1041 - 18261) ng/ml respectively, with IL-4/IFN-gamma ratio of 0.0531 +/- 0.1081 vs 0.0376 +/- 0.1148 respectively. It is concluded that in presence of IL-2 and IL-15, alpha-GalCer can facilitate the rapid short-term expansion of Valpha24(+) NKT cells from CB, PB, and G-PBMNCs. Valpha24(+) NKT cells from G-PBMNCs show much high potential of expansion in comparison to the counterparts from CB or PB (p < 0.05). The activated Valpha24(+) NKT cells can secrete IFN-gamma and IL-4 in large amounts, with IFN-gamma in particular.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Galactosylceramides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; secretion ; Interleukin-15 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; secretion ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for aplastic anemia (AA).

METHODSTwelve patients with severe AA (SAA) and 4 with chronic AA (CAA) received allo- HSCT. The effectiveness and complication were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSHematopoiesis reconstitution was achieved 14 patients (87.50%). The median time of neutrophils reached to 0.5 x 10(9)/L and platelets reached to 20 x 10(9)/L were 14 (11 - 16) and 14 (10 - 33) days, respectively. Six cases developed grade I - II acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), chronic local GVHD occurred in 2 patients. Graft rejection occurred in 3 cases. Thirteen cases survived with a median of 10 (0.5 - 84) months at the end of follow-up. Three cases died of un-engraftment, graft rejection (GR) and interstitial pneumonia (IP) each.

CONCLUSIONAllo-HSCT is an effective therapy for patients with AA. Enhancing immunosuppressive treatment for conditioning and GVHD prophylaxis may reduce the incidence of GR and GVHD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

This study was aimed to explore the curative effect of Zhuo-Du-Qing (ZDQ) particles on diabetic cystopa-thy (DCP) based on the theory of turbid toxin. A total of 100 DCP patients were randomly divided into the control group with 47 cases and the treatment group with 53 cases. Mecobalamin tablets was given in the control group. And ZDQ particles were given to the treatment group. The treatment course was 3 months. The observation was made on the bladder residual urine (BRU), clinical manifestation integral, hemodynamic indexes, HOMA-IR and HbA1c before and after the treatment. The results showed that compared with pretreatment, the BRU, clinical manifestation integral, hemodynamic indexes, and HOMA-IR were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the BRU, clinical manifestation integral, hemodynamic indexes, and HOMA-IR were also significantly reduced (P <0.01). The effective rate in the treatment group was 81.1%, which was significantly higher than 59.6% in the control group (P< 0.05). There were no obvious changes on the blood routine examination, urine routine examination, stool routine examination, liver function, renal function, electrocardiogram and so on before and after treatment. It was con-cluded that the treatment of DCP with ZDQ particles was safe and effective. To remove toxin and descend turbid may be another effective treatment method for DCP. The occurrence and development of DCP were closely related to the turbid toxin.

Animals ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Liver ; enzymology ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; enzymology ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; analysis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To examine the impact of pregnancy termination before 28 weeks of gestation on the overall prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs).Methods Data collected during the period of 2004 and 2010 from a birth defects surveillance system in Pingding county and Talgu county of Shanxi province were used.Number of births ≥28 weeks of gestation and number of cases with major birth defects among the births were collected.Terminations of pregnancies before 28 weeks of gestation due to prenatal diagnosis were also collected.The total prevalence of neural tube defects,prevalence before 28 weeks of gestation,and prevalenee of ≥28 weeks gestation were calculated using the total number of pregnancies of ≥28 weeks of gestation as denominator.The prevalence data were compared to examine the impact of pregnancy termination on the total prevalence.The proportions of pregnancy terminations before 28 weeks of gestation due to prenatal diagnosis of an NTD against the total number of NTD cases were also calculated.Results During 2004-2010,52 366 births were recorded,and 485 NTD cases were ascertained.The overall prevalence of NTDs was 92.6 per 10 000 births,with prevalence of ＜28 weeks gestation due to pregnancy terminations as 60.9 per 10 000 births,while the prevalence of ≥28 weeks of gestation was 31.7 per 10 000 births.NTD prevalence of ≥28 weeks gestation was 66.0％ lower than the total NTD prevalence.In the last two years,the proportion of NTDs ascertained ≥28 weeks gestation accounted for about 40.0％ of the total NTD cases.Conclusion A birth-defect-surveillance program that covered only tregnancies ≥28 weeks of gestation resulted in a severe underestimation of the total birth prevalence of NTDs,especially for anencephaly.We would recommend that the current national birth defects surveillance system should include pregnancy terminations before 28 weeks of gestation and the calculation of total NTD prevalence should also include these cases into the numerator,so as to better estimate true population NTD prevalence,upon which the related public health policy is based.