BACKGROUND: The selection of carrier plays an essential role in the research of applying tissue-engineering to fix the peripheral nerves. An ideal carrier would be one that is similar to extracellular matrix and that it has biocompatibility with in vivo cells.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biocompatibility of hippocampal neural stem cells with collagen and gelatin sponge in vitro and to probe into the feasibility of using the materials as biomaterial scaffold in peripheral nerve tissue engineering.DESIGN: A randomized and controlled trial.SETTING: Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University; Department of Anatomy of the School of Basic Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out from July to December 2005 at the Laboratory of Neurobiology of the Department of Anatomy of the School College of Basic Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University.Twelve New born (＜ 24 hours) clean grade guinea pigs of either gender with a body mass of 50-70 g, were provided by the Experimental Animals Center of Zhengzhou University School of Medicine.METHODS: The new born (＜ 24 hours) guinea pigs were anesthetized intraperitoneally with 10 g/L chloral hydrate and sterilized in 0.75 volume fraction of alcohol. Hippocampal tissue was resected from the brain under a surgical microscope. Hippocampus neural stem cells were cultured in vitro. The cultured cells of two generations were suspended at a density of 1 ×1010L-1 and respectively combined with collagen and gelatin sponge.The number of cells was counted and histological changes were observed under an inverted phase microscope and scanning electron microscope after 7 days, and the adhesion rate of the two materials to the cells were measured.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Growth of the neural stem cells and their adhesion to the collagen and gelatin sponge were observed and the total number of the cells and adhesion rate with carrier were measured. ②The morphological changes of differentiation cells by immunocytochemical staining.RESULTS: ①Hippocampus neural stem cells could grew on the collagen and gelatin sponge and attached to them gradually. The adsorption rate of collagen was higher than thai of gelatin sponge (37.17 % and 14.87 %,x2=4.819,P ＜ 0.05). ② There was no significant difference in the total number of the cells in the control group, collagen group and gelatin sponge group [(53.17±3.5)×104,(53.25±2.6)×104, (52.04±4.05)×104,F=0.233,P ＞ 0.05].CONCLUSION: Two biomaterials (collagen and glutin sponge), especially collagen, have good biocompatibility with hippocampus neural stem cells from the guinea pigs and can be used safely as scaffold materials in peripheral nerve tissue engineering.

Objective To develop an electronic infusion alarm system with low cost and high safety and reliability.Methods The system was composed of modules of sensor, control, alarm and DC power supply. The integrated operational amplifier was used to amplify the voltage signals from the cantilever sensor, and NE555 timer controlled the system give out alarm when 10% liquid remained in the bottle.Results The system could alarm when 10% liquid remained in the bottle, and three gears were designed for the common infusion bottles in the market.Conclusion The system is easy to operate and maintain, and thus can be popularized in all hospitals and clinics.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of the executive function and working memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the relations between working memory and executive function and the effects of working memory on patient' s daily functioning.Methods Thirty patients with MCI and 30 healthy elderly subjects were tested with a wide neuropsychoingical battery of tests including those of executive function, working memory and other cognition domain tests.Executive function was evaluated by using the verbal fluency test (VFT), color trail test (CTT), digital span (DS).Results The results showed the presence of significant executive function and working memory impairment in MCI patients as compared with the healthy controls.The scores of executive function test in MCI patients were decreased significantly in CTT (130.8±58.2 vs 52.0±13.5), CTT-B (210.2±81.8 vs 121.0±33.4),DS (3.4±0.9 vs 4.2±1.1), VFT (8.9±5.4 vs 16.4±5.4) and visuo-objective working memory (0.73±0.12 vs 0.85±9.18) respectively (t = 7.108, 5.159,-2.544,-4.879, and-4.351, all P <0.01 or P < 0.05) .In the stepwise liner regression analysis objective working memory test made a significant independent contribution to ADL (β =-0.720, t =-3.571, P < 0.01).Conclusion The patients with MCI have the deficit in executive function and working memory.Visuo-objective working memory is closely correlated with general cognitive function such as daily function, resulting in daily function decline.

Acute Disease ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteochondroma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Spinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy

Objective To describe the distribution of positive lymph nodes of muscle invasive bladder cancer, and explore the relationship between positive nodes and pathological characters. Methods Pathological data from 208 consecutive cases of muscle invasive bladder cancer were collect-ed and reviewed. The correlation of tumor grade, tumor stage and lymph nodes status was analyzed. The locations and numbers of positive nodes were recorded and compared according to the specific grade or stage. Results There were 153 cases (73.6%)of G_3 tumor and 55 cases(26.4%) of G_2 tumor and none G_1 (0%)in this cohort. The case number from pT1 to pT4 was 59(28. 4%)、58 (27.8%)、48(23.0%)and 43(20.6%), respectively. The tumor grade was positively correlated with tumor stage in this cohort (r=0. 392, P=0. 000). 153 cases had been taken lymph node dissection. There was more node positive cases in pT_3 and pT_4 than that in T_1 (P=0. 001 ,P=0. 000), as well as pT_4 compared with pT_2 (P= 0. 012). The data showed that most of the positive nodes were located within the pelvic region. There was only 1 case and 1 node positive for G_1/G_2 tumor with 24.84% of node positive cases for G_3. The positive nodes involved from pelvic to proximal artery while the stage increased. Conclusions There is less chance for low grade (G_1/G_2) bladder cancer to be node posi-tive compared with G_3 ones. It is necessary to take a extensive lymphadenectomy for the patients with stage more than T_2.

OBJECTIVETo study the signal roles of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) on proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts derived from hypertrophic scar(HS-FB) and normal skin (NS-FB) by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1).

METHODSHS-FB and NS-FB were cultured and passaged in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium(DMEM). The PTK activity in unstimulated or IFN-gamma or TGF-beta1-stimulated HS-FB and NS-FB (10,30,60 and 120 min) were assayed by phosphorus (32P) incorporation. Cell proliferation was determined with MTT stain. The type III procollagen was measured by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSTGF-beta1 did not change PTK activity but it increased predominately proliferation and collagen synthesis of HS-FB and NS-FB in time-dependent fashion. Genistein, an inhibitor of PTK, inhibited HS-FB and NS-FB to proliferate and synthesize collagen but it could not change the roles on proliferation and collagen synthesis by TGF-beta1. IFN-gamma activated transiently PTK (P < 0.05) and increased proliferation and collagen synthesis of both fibroblast (P < 0.05, at 30 min, 60 min). As the recovery of PTK activity, the proliferation and collagen synthesis were inhibited by IFN-gamma at 120 min. Furthermore, Genistein abrogated the transient increased roles and partly reversed the longterm inhibitory functions by IFN-gamma (P < 0.05) . There were no difference on PTK activity, proliferation and collagen synthesis between HS-FB and NS-FB.

CONCLUSIONSPTK did not mediate the signal of TGF-beta1 but transduced the signal of transient increased roles of IFN-gamma. Inhibited or activated PTK might mediate the signal of decreasing or increasing proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblast.

Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Dermis ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo study the roles of protein kinase C (PKC) in effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on wound healing and cicatrization.

METHODSIFN-gamma was applied on the wound and into the scar tissues of rabbit ear before or after wound healing. PKC activities in the tissues from 0, 3, 6 d, 11-16 d post-wounding and from 14, 30 and 45d post-epithelization were measured by phosphorus (32p) incorporation. The time of wound epithelization and scar changes were also observed.

RESULTSThe PKC activity in granulation tissue, wound margin tissue and scar tissue elevated obviously in comparing with that of normal skin (P < 0.01). IFN-gamma did not change PKC activity (P > 0.05). But it delayed the wound healing (P < 0.01) and inhibited scar hyperplasia (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPKC might not mediate the signal of IFN-gamma inhibiting the wound healing and scar hyperplasia. But PKC might be related to the wound healing and scar hyperplasia.

Animals ; Cicatrix ; metabolism ; Female ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Male ; Protein Kinase C ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Signal Transduction ; Skin ; injuries ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anatomical study and clinical applications of sural neuron-myocutaneous flap transposition for repairing the special patients with soft tissue defect in foot and ankle.

METHODSThe branches, distributions and anastomoses of the vessels and nerves lie in superficial layer of the posterior crural region were observed on 30 sides of adult cadaver lower limb specimens perfused with red latex. Since February 2004, distally based sural neuron-myocutaneous flap was applied for repairing 7 cases of soft tissue defect in foot and ankle.

RESULTSThe nutrient vessels of sural nerve, small saphenous vein and posterior femoral cutaneous nerve anastomosed permanently with the musculocutaneous perforators of medial and lateral head of gastrocnemius. There were 2 - 3 anastomoses found respectively. The musculocutaneous perforators pierced the two heads of gastrocnemius muscle (1.8 +/- 0.5) cm medially and (3.7 +/- 0.9) cm laterally away from the groove of the muscle. The medial anastomoses more closed to the middle groove and their diameters were found larger than the lateral ones. In operation, we routinely observed the compound flap for 15 to 20 minutes and found actively errhysis on the muscle, so the fine blood circulation in the flap was demonstrated. All flap survived after operation and the cases were followed up 2 to 6 months with cured osteomyelitis and satisfied flap outline.

CONCLUSIONSDistally based sural neuro-myocutaneous flap can live. The operative method is simple. The flap offers an excellent donor site for repairing the soft tissue defect in foot and ankle in special cases.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Popliteal Artery ; anatomy & histology ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Sural Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; innervation

Objective To analyze the cause, prevention and treatment of complications related to endovascular embolotherapy for ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Methods Sixty-eight patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms received early endovascular embolization. Intraoperatively, artery spasm was relieved by papaverine infusion through microcatheter or balloon dilatation; parent artery occlusion by coils was treated by anticoagulation or antiplatelet treatment; ruptured aneurysms were embolized using mixed heparin; arterial thrombosis after embolization was ameliorated by the micro-catheter infusion of r-tPA thrombolytic. Results In the 68 cases, 8 cases suffered from complications, accounting for 11.77%. Among them, 1 case of extensive spasm of middle cerebral artery developed cerebral infarction and mild hemiplegia; 2 cases of localized spasm were improved well without sequelae; 1 case in which partial coils entered middle cerebral artery achieved a satisfied therapeutic outcome without infarction; 1 case with cerebral infarction due to coil dropping and 1 case with aneurysm rupture during operation received secondary embolotherapy without adverse consequences; one week after operation, 1 case died from aneurysm re-rupture; 1 case had hemiplegia owing to massive cerebral infarction. Conclusions It will do much benefit to secure the success of the operation by displaying the location, shape and size of the aneurysms as well as the relationship with the parent artery. Moreover, the proper choice of coils and well mastering of operative skills can decrease the incidence of complications, and adequate and prompt treatment of intraoperative complications can improve the prognosis of the patients obviously.

OBJECTIVETo determine the change of P-selectin in avulsion-injured vessels.

METHODSDifferent stretch forces of 60, 70, 80 and 90 g were applied to a vascular injury model. The expression changes of P-selectin were evaluated by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of P-selection mRNA in the injured vessels increased with the stretch force.

CONCLUSIONThe result associated with our previous study indicated that P-selectin may be involved in thrombosis.

Animals ; Endothelium, Vascular ; P-Selectin ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Vascular System Injuries ; genetics ; metabolism