Objective To study the impact of physical stimulus on periosteal chondroplasia with an in- tention of reconstructing cartilage tissue that has a biomechanical function and can be created either entirely in vivo or in vitro and subsequently implanted into the patient.Methods A series of biomechanical test methods were designed in order to investigate the mechanical properties of engineered cartilage under a variety of mechanical stress stimulations.The periosteal explants were harvested from proximal medial tibias of New Zealand rabbits and secured onto poly-?-caprolactone(PCL)scaffolds.The composites(periosteum/PCL)were suspended in the spinner flask bioreactor and the spinner flask was located on the stirring machine.The stem cells were stimulated by fluid shear stress under magnetic bar stirring.Results In gross observation,the thickness and length of neo-cartilage with shear force stimulation were significantly greater than those without shear force.The direction of elongation was parallel with fluid flow direction,regardless of composite orientation.Secondary,two different zones based on various cell morphology and distribution were clearly observed.The thickness of the superficial zone was greater in samples exposed to high shear force compared with low shear force.The superficial zone protein and lubricant were found in the engineered cartilage under shear stress stimulation.Conclusion The results reveal that shear stress can not only influence proliferation and differentiation of stem cells,but also change chondrocyte morphology and increase extracellular matrix production.

Objective To explore the clinical value of different transcatheter arterial embolization methods for renal carcino-ma before radical nephrectomy.Methods The related data of 43 patients with renal carcinoma who were confirmed by surgical pa-thology were retrospectively analyzed.Renal artery,renal capsular artery and adrenal artery of lesion side kidney were super-selec-tive embolized before surgery was set as group A,while Lesion side renal artery embolized was set as group B.Direct surgical radical nephrectomy was set as group C.The related data of operation time,ease or complexity of operation,intraoperative blood loss,suc-cess rate of lesion resection and postoperative survival rate were analyzed and compared in the three groups with statistical meth-ods.Results There were significant differences among the three groups in the average operation time,ease or complexity of opera-tion,intraoperative blood loss,success rate of lesion resection and postoperative survival rate (P < 0.01 ).There were significant differences between group A and B about all indexes except success rate of lesion resection(P <0.01).Conclusion The cases with additional transcatheter arterial embolization before radical nephrectomy improved obviously,especially in the cases who underwent completely embolization of lesion side renal artery and renal capsular artery.

Objective:To compare the effectiveness of fire needle versus Western medicine in the treatment of herpes zoster. Methods:Randomized controlled trials comparing fire needle with Western medicine in the treatment of herpes zoster were identified using 8 databases. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Results:Eight trials involving 569 patients were included in this meta-analysis, and the results showed that fire needle was superior to Western medicine comparing the effective rate [risk ratio (RR)=1.13, 95％ confidence interval (CI): 1.06 to 1.20;P=0.0002], the visual analog scale (VAS) score [mean difference(MD)=–7.95, 95％ CI: –10.71 to –5.20;P<0.00001], time of pain disappearance (MD=–7.61, 95％CI: –9.38 to –5.84;P<0.00001), time of blister-stop (MD=–1.34, 95％CI: –1.51 to –1.18;P<0.00001), time of crusted scab (MD=–2.92, 95％CI: –3.62 to –2.23;P<0.00001), and time of scab off (MD=–4.64, 95％CI: –5.83 to –3.46;P<0.00001). In addition, a significantly lower incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was found in the fire needle group in 30 d (RR=0.23, 95％CI: 0.11 to 0.51;P=0.0002) and 60 d (RR=0.33, 95％CI: 0.12 to 0.91; P=0.03) after treatment. Conclusion:Fire needle has a favorable effect in increasing the effective rate, relieving pain, recovering skin lesions and decreasing incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in the treatment of herpes zoster. However, considering the limitations in this study, the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

AIMTo search for potential anti-atherosclerosis drugs with vascular relaxation activity, a series of agonists of endothelial targets were designed and synthesized.

METHODSCoupling N-methyl-1,2, 3,6-tetrahydrapyridine ring system with 3,4-dibenzenesulfonyl-1,2,5-oxadiazole-2-oxide through esterification or amidation, a series of arecoline derivatives containing NO donors were designed and synthesised.

RESULTSA novel series of compounds structurally related to arecoline have been prepared, the proposed structures of eighteen new compounds were established by IR, 1H NMR, MS spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The effects of the target compounds on the vasodilation activity were tested in the isolated preparation of mice thoratic aorta.

CONCLUSIONThis preliminary pharmacological tests showed that the candidates have good vasodilation activities and were worthy to be intensively studied.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Arecoline ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Nitric Oxide Donors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the changes of plasma somatostatin(SS) and its correlation with cellular immune function in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).Methods Fifty cases of HIE were collected to detect the SS and T lymphocyte subsets,IL-2,sIL-2R as well as IL-6 levels by radioimmunoassay,APAAP and doule antibody sandwith ELISA methods.Results The SS and sIL-2R levels in patients with HIE were significantly higher(P

Objective To analyze the value of MRI in the diagnosis of giant cell tumor of tendon sheath(GCTTS). MethodsThe MR images of 21 GCTTS cases including 3 cases of recurrences were retrospectively evaluated.All were confirmed giant cell tumor of tendon sheath by surgery and pathology.All the patiens were examined by MRI,and 19 received contrast enhanced MRI.The characteristics of MRI presentations were explored.Results Of the 21 cases,17 were in diffuse form and 4 in localized form.On T1WI,the signal intensities of the giant cell tumor of tendon sheath almost equalled to those of skeletal muscle in 18 cases and were slightly lower than those of skeletal muscle in 3 cases.On T2WI,the signal intensities tended to range between those of skeletal muscle and fat in 7 cases,almost equalled to those of skeletal muscle in 12 cases,and were slightly lower than those of skeletal muscle in 2 cases.Of the 19 cases with gadolinium-enhanced images,17 showed inhomogeneous enhancement and 2 homogeneous enhancement,and all were observed with a fat suppression sequence on T1WI. Conclusion MRI is able to depict the characteristic internal signal of giant cell tumor of tendon sheath,which is a valuable for diagnosis,treatment and follow-up.

Objective To improve the level of early detection and treatment of pyonephrosis. Methods This study included 41 cases(17 men and 24 women;mean age,49 years)of pyonephrosis.A variety of examinations,including urinary analysis,blood analysis,kidney nuclear medicine scan,ultrasonog- raphy,intravenous urography(IVU),and CT were used for the early diagnosis of pyonephrosis.Pereutaneous nephrostomy(PCN)drainage was done for the interim management of pyonephrosis,then phase 2 operation was performed in 28 cases.The double-J tube was placed in ureter by ureteroscope for drainage,and then phase 2 operation was done in 2 cases.Emergency operation was done in 10 cases.The remaining 1 case un- derwent ESWL after anti-infective therapy.Results Definite diagnosis of pyonephrosis before operation was made by invasive examinations in 31 cases(75.6%),and by percutaneous drainage in 4 cases;the other 6 cases were detected during operation.Only 6 cases(14.6%)underwent nephrectomy;the other 35 cases (85.4%)underwent kidney-sparing operation.Follow-up of 3 months to 9 years was available in 37 cases. No nephrectomy was needed in 33 cases with spared kidney.Serum creatinine was normal in the 4 cases un- dergoing nephrectomy.Conclusions The key to the treatment of pyonephrosis by kidney-sparing surgery is early diagnosis,timely drainage and relief of obstruction.Ultrasonography plays an important role in the early diagnosis of pyonephrosis,and CT has a high sensibility in the diagnosis.Pereutaneons nephrolithotomy (PCNL)secondary to drainage through pereutaneous nephrostomy was beneficial to the patients with kidney stones or upper ureter stones.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) in mouse prostate cells and explore the putative role of EGF in prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODSSixty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into two EGF groups and one control group (n=20) and subjected to subcutaneous injection of 1 and 2 microg/day EGF and distilled water, respectively, for 28 consecutive days. The cellular expression of ER and AR in the prostate of mice in different groups was evaluated by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the positivity rate of ER and its expression level were significantly increased in the mouse prostate after EGF treatment (P<0.01), and the ER expression level was significantly higher in mouse with 2 microg/day EGF treatment than in those treated with 2 microg/day EGF (P<0.01). AR positivity rate and expression level also increased significantly in comparison with the control group (P<0.05), but no significant variation was found between 1 microg/day and 2 microg/day EGF groups.

CONCLUSIONEGF can increase the cellular expression of ER and AR in mice prostate and may play a role in the pathogenesis of prostatic hyperplasia.

Animals ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Male ; Mice ; Prostate ; cytology ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Androgen ; biosynthesis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; biosynthesis

Objective To study the outcomes of selective reduction of triplet pregnancy by assisted reproductive technology. Methods The clinical data of 31 women who succeeded in conception by vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in the third affiliated hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were retrospectively investigated to analyze and compare the rates of abortion from triplet pregnancy, twin pregnancy and single pregnancy after selective reduction of triplet pregnancy, the incidence of pregnant complications, outcomes of perinatal period. Results There were no significant differences between triplet pregnancy and the twin and single pregnancy after selective reduction of triplet pregnancy in terms of pregnancy and parity time, fetal disease, premature rupture of membrane, severe eclampsism, gestational diabetes and postpartum hemorrhage (P>0.05). There were significant differences in gestational weeks, birth weight, rate of premature birth, rate of neonatal transfer to NICU and neonatal RDS: The gestational time in the triplet group longer than the groups of twin pregnancy and single pregnancy after selective reduction of triplet pregnancy (P<0.05). (37.3 ± 1.9) vs. (35.2 ± 0.9), (32.6 ± 2.3), respectively), the rate of premature birth dropped (100%vs. 100%, 33.3%, respectively), the body weight was increased (1 707 ± 360.4)g vs. (2 066.1 ± 307.5)g, (2 712.5 ± 514.1)g, respectively and the neonatal complication rate was reduced (P<0.05). Conclusion The selective reduction of multiple pregnancy may decrease the risk of premature birth and reduce the rate of lower body weight of neonates, improving the pregnancy outcomes, but the higher rate of abortion at the early or middle course of pregnancy after selective reduction is worth our attention.

Objective To observe the relationship between apoptosis of K562 cell induced by iron-deprivation and activation of Caspase-3.Methods K562 cells were treated with desferrioxamine(DFO) in different dosages were collected at different time points.K562 cells were labelled with Annexin V/PI,and then the rate of apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry;The activation of Caspase-3 were detected by colorimetric method with pAN labelled substrate;The active protein of Caspase-3 were analyzed by Western blot.Results When K562 cells were treated with different concentrations of DFO,the apoptosis rate and the activity of Caspase-3 increases gradually.When K562 cells were incubated with DFO(50 ?mol/L and 100 ?mol/L) 24 h later,the enzymatic activity of Caspase-3 increases dramatically more than that of control group,and the difference was significantly(P0.05).All those effect above can be counteracted by equal mole concentration of FeCl_3.Conclusion Iron-deprivation maybe induce the apoptosis of K562 cell by chelating intracellular iron and activing Caspase-3.