BACKGROUND: In recent years, myocardial tissue engineering has developed rapidly. By using exogenous biomaterials to simulate extracellular matrix, damaged myocardial cells can be effectively repaired or reconstructed, which has great potential value in the treatment of ischemic heart diseases such as myocardial infarction. OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress of myocardial scaffolds in the treatment of myocardial infarction. METHODS: NCBI and WanFang databases were retrieved for relevant articles published from 2008 to 2018, with the key words of "myocardial scaffold materials, myocardial infarction" in English and Chinese, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At present, the commonly used myocardial scaffolds are mainly natural biomaterials (including collagen/Matrigel, fibrin, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and algae hydrochloric acid) , synthetic materials (polyester synthetic materials and nanomaterials) and composite scaffolds. Due to the complexity of cardiac environment and heart function, the selection of scaffold materials should fully take account of biocompatibility, immunogenicity, conductivity, degradation rate and susceptibility to ischemia and hypoxia. Although many scaffold designs have begun to meet many requirements, there are still many kinds of stent materials for clinical application. It is believed that with the further development of researchers and application tools, people can expect to create myocardial scaffolds close to the physiological function of the original tissue, so that the heart function can be better restored.

BACKGROUND:Acellular vascular scaffolds can mimic the microstructure and function of native blood vessels,but some extracellular matrix loss occurs during their preparation,which affects their hemocompatibility.Therefore,it is necessary to modify them to improve their hemocompatibility. OBJECTIVE:To assess the hemocompatibility of acellular vascular scaffold prepared by Triton-x100/heparin sodium treatment. METHODS:The abdominal aorta was taken from SD rats and randomly divided into control and experimental groups.The control group was treated with Triton-x100 for 48 hours.The experimental group was treated with Triton-x100 for 48 hours and then treated with heparin sodium.The morphology and hydrophilicity of the two groups of acellular vascular scaffolds were detected.The hemocompatibility of the two groups of acellular vascular scaffold was evaluated by recalcification coagulation time test,platelet adhesion test,dynamic coagulation time test,hemolysis test,and complement activation test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of the two groups of vascular scaffolds was relatively intact,and a large number of fiber filaments appeared on the surface of the scaffolds after decellularity treatment,and the surface microstructure changed significantly.The water contact angle of the two groups of vascular scaffolds was smaller than that of natural vessels(P<0.000 1).There was no significant difference in water contact angle between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)The coagulation time of vascular scaffold was longer in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.05).The number of platelets attached to the scaffold membrane was less in the experimental group than that in the control group(P<0.000 1).The coagulation index was greater in the experimental group than that in the control group(P<0.01),and the complement level was lower in the experimental group than that in the control group(P<0.001).The hemolysis rate of the two groups was lower than 5%of the national standard.(3)To conclude,acellular scaffold treated with Triton-x100/heparin sodium has excellent hemocompatibility.

Objective To study the effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) on the apoptosis of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.Methods MCF-7 cells were co-cultured with different concentrations of UCMSCs.The apoptosis of MCF-7 cells was detected by in situ apoptosis and flow cytometry.Nude mouse subcutaneous tumor model was established by inoculating MCF-7 and MSCs cells subcutaneously on the right side of the back of a mouse.The MCF-7 cells were inoculated on the left side of the mouse as control.The tumor volume was measured every week to compare the difference between the two groups.On the 17th day after inoculation,the tumor tissue was harvested and the apoptosis of tumor cells was observed by a transmission electron microscopy.Results In situ apoptosis and flow cytometry showed that the early and late apoptosis rates of MCF-7 cells increased first and then decreased with the increase of UCMSCs concentration.The differences between the control and the MCF-7+UCMSCs group were statistically significant for early (F=39.80,P＜0.001) and late apoptosis rates (F=5.68,P＜0.01).The tumor volume of MCF-7+UCMSCs group was significantly lower than that of control group in 17 days after inoculation (F=9.81,P＜0.01).The representative apoptotic cells were observed by the transmission electron microscopyin the MCF-7 +UCMSCs group.Conclusion The UCMSCs with a certain concentration can effectively promote the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells.This study provides a certain experimental basis for the clinical treatment of breast cancer.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by E. granulosus is a serious helminthic zoonosis in humans, livestock and wildlife. Xinjiang is one of high endemic province for CE in China. A total of 55 sheep and cattle livers containing echinococcal cysts were collected from slaughterhouses in Changji and Yining City, northern region of Xinjiang. PCR was employed for cloning 2 gene fragments, 12S rRNA and CO1 for analysis of phylogenetic diversity of E. granulosus. The results showed that all the samples collected were identified as G1 genotype of E. granulosus. Interestingly, YL5 and CJ75 strains were the older branches compared to those strains from France, Argentina, Australia. CO1 gene fragment showed 20 new genotype haploids and 5 new genotype haplogroups (H1-H5) by the analysis of Network 5.0 software, and the YLY17 strain was identified as the most ancestral haplotype. The major haplotypes, such as CJ75 and YL5 strains, showed identical to the isolates from Middle East. The international and domestic trade of livestock might contribute to the dispersal of different haplotypes for E. granulosus evolution.
Abattoirs ; Animals ; Argentina ; Australia ; Cattle ; China ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Echinococcosis ; Echinococcus granulosus ; Echinococcus ; France ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Haploidy ; Haplotypes ; Helminths ; Humans ; Liver ; Livestock ; Middle East ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sheep

Objective:To explore the diagnostic accuracy of muscle ultrasound and plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) for ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) in patients with sepsis.Methods:A prospective observational study was conducted. Patients with sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from April 2021 to October 2021 were enrolled. The demographic data were collected. The enrolled patients were evaluated with Medical Research Council (MRC) score every day until discharged from ICU. During this period, patients with total MRC score < 48 (for two consecutive times and a time interval of 24 hours) were divided into ICU-AW group, those with total MRC score ≥ 48 were served as non-ICU-AW group. On the 1st, 4th and 7th day following admission into ICU, ultrasound was used to measure the muscle linear thickness of the rectus femoris (RF-MLT), the cross sectional area of the rectus femoris (RF-CSA) and the muscle linear thickness of the vastus intermedius muscle (VI-MLT). And meanwhile, the plasmas samples of patients were collected to measure MCP-1 concentration by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The difference of each index was compared between the ICU-AW group and the non-ICU-AW group. The risk factors of ICU-AW in patients with sepsis were analyzed by binary Logistic regression. Besides, receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted, the diagnostic value of ultrasound parameters and plasma MCP-1 level for ICU-AW in patients with sepsis was analyzed.Results:A total of 99 septic patients were enrolled, with 68 patients in the ICU-AW group and 31 patients in the non-ICU-AW group. Compared with the patients in the ICU-AW group, the patients in the non-ICU-AW group tended to be older, and had higher sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) score, higher rates of septic shock, higher blood lactic acid and lower Glasgow coma score (GCS). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that APACHEⅡ score and septic shock were the risk factors of ICU-AW for septic patients [odds ratio ( OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 1.310 (1.138-1.509) and 0.232 (0.072-0.746), respectively, both P < 0.05]. The RF-MLT, RF-CSA and VI-MLT on the 1st, 4th and 7th ICU day was falling over time. Compared with the patients in the ICU-AW group, the patients in the non-ICU-AW group had smaller RF-MLT on the 7th day [cm: 0.32 (0.22, 0.47) vs. 0.45 (0.34, 0.63), P < 0.05] and higher 7-day RF-CSA atrophy rate [25.85% (10.37%, 34.28%) vs. 11.65% (2.28%, 22.41%), P < 0.05]. According to ROC curve analysis, 7-day RF-MLT had diagnostic value for ICU-AW of septic patients. Area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.688 (95% CI was 0.526-0.849); when the cut-off value was 0.41 cm, the sensitivity and the specificity were 66.7% and 68.4%. The levels of plasma MCP-1 in the ICU-AW group were significantly higher than those in the non-ICU-AW group on the 1st, 4th and 7th day. ROC curve analysis showed that the plasma MCP-1 levels on the 1st, 4th and 7th day played a significant role to diagnose ICU-AW for septic patients, the AUC and 95% CI were 0.732 (0.629-0.836), 0.865 (0.777-0.953), 0.891 (0.795-0.986), respectively. When the cut-off values were 206.3, 410.9, 239.5 ng/L, the sensitivity was 87.1%, 64.0%, 82.4%, and the specificity was 54.4%, 96.1%, 86.2%, respectively. Conclusion:The muscle mass parameters on the 7th day of bedside ultrasound and plasma MCP-1 levels had certain diagnostic values for ICU-AW in patients with sepsis.

2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Delta variant of concern (VOC) is one of the variants of 2019-nCoV, which has the characteristics of strong transmission, high pathogenicity, and rapid progression. 2019-nCoV Delta VOC has caused a global pandemic. Understanding the characteristics of 2019-nCoV Delta VOC and implementing targeted control measures are important aspects of controlling the pandemic. In this paper, the characteristics and control measures of 2019-nCoV Delta VOC were reviewed.

Objective To evaluate the changes in the expression of hippocampal α7 nicotinic ace-tylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) , acetylcholinesterase ( AChE) and choline acetyltransferase ( ChAT) after sevoflurane anesthesia in neonatal rats. Methods Seventy-two healthy Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes, aged 7 days, weighing 25-40 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=24 each) using a random number table method: control group ( group C) , air and oxygen group ( group A∕O) and sevoflurane group ( group S) . Rats were exposed to carrier gas ( air 1 L∕min plus oxygen 1 L∕min) for 2 h in group A∕O. Rats were ex-posed to 3. 4％ sevoflurane in carrier gas for 2 h in group S. Eight rats in each group were selected at 2 h, 1 week and 4 weeks after the end of inhalation, and sacrificed, brains were removed and hippocampal tis-sues were obtained for determination of α7nAChR, AChE and ChAT protein and mRNA by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Results Compared with group A∕O, the expression of α7nAChR mRNA was significantly down-regulated at each time point after the end of inhalation, and the expression of TnAChR was down-regulated at 2 h after the end of inhalation and up-regulated at 1 week after the end of inhalation, the expression of AChE mRNA was up-regulated at 2 h after the end of inhalation and down-regulated at 4 weeks after the end of inhalation, the expression of AChE was down-regulated at 4 weeks after the end of inhalation, the expression of ChAT mRNA was up-regulated at 2 h after the end of in-halation, and the expression of ChAT was down-regulated at each time point after the end of inhalation in group S ( P<0. 05) . Conclusion The expression of hippocampal α7nAChR is down-regulated at first and then up-regulated after sevoflurane anesthesia, the expression of ChAT and AchE in the later period is down-regulated, the tendency of protein expression mentioned above is different from that of its mRNA ex-pression, suggesting that sevoflurane may affect the protein expression through other pathways.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICUAW) in patients with sepsis, and to evaluate the predictive value of each risk factor for ICUAW.Methods:A case control study was conducted, 60 septic patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from October 20, 2020 to February 20, 2021 were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups: sepsis ICUAW group and sepsis non-ICUAW group. The data of gender, age, body mass index (BMI), acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ) score, complications, mechanical ventilation, duration of ICUAW, length of stay in ICU, fasting blood glucose, blood lactic acid (Lac), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, outcome, antimicrobial agent, glucocorticoid, sedatives and analgesics drugs and vasoactive drugs were collected. Risk factors were screened by univariate Logistic regression analysis, and odds ratio ( OR) was adjusted by multivariate binary logistic regression, P < 0.05 was considered as independent risk factors. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to analyze the predictive value of independent risk factors. Results:The APACHEⅡ score of the sepsis ICUAW group was significantly higher than that of the sepsis non-ICUAW group (23.05±8.17 vs. 15.33±4.89, P < 0.05), the total length of stay in the ICU was significantly longer than that of the sepsis non-ICUAW group (days: 15.1±9.2 vs. 8.5±3.4, P < 0.05), the improvement rate of patients was significantly lower than that of the sepsis non-ICUAW group [45.0% (9/20) vs. 95.0% (38/40), P < 0.05]. After univariate Logistic regression and multicollinearity test analysis, 7 factors including APACHEⅡ score, average SOFA score, blood lactic acid, proportion of mechanical ventilation, sedatives and analgesics drugs, type of antibiotics and type of vasoactive drugs were included in the binary Logistic regression model [ OR: 1.21, 2.05, 2.26, 0.21, 1.54, 2.07, 1.38, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.09-1.35, 1.42-2.94, 1.12-4.57, 0.05-0.66, 1.03-2.29, 1.27-3.37, 0.96-2.00, all P < 0.05]. Hosmer-Lemchaw test P = 0.901, and the correct percentage of prediction was 85%, indicating good model fit. Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that APACHEⅡ score and average SOFA score were independent risk factors for the occurrence of ICUAW in septic patients (APACHEⅡscore: OR = 1.17, 95% CI was 1.004-1.376, P = 0.044; average SOFA score: OR = 1.86, 95% CI was 1.157-2.981, P = 0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that the mean value of APACHEⅡ score, average SOFA score and their combined detection had a certain predictive value for the occurrence of ICUAW in sepsis patients, areas under ROC curve (AUC) were 0.787, 0.881, 0.905, 95% CI was 0.646-0.928, 0.791-0.972, 0.828-0.982, all P < 0.05. When the cut-off value was 19.500, 6.225, 0.375, the sensitivity was 75%, 90%, 90%, and the specificity were 80%, 80%, 85%, respectively. Conclusion:APACHEⅡ score and average SOFA score can be used as independent risk factors for the occurrence of ICUAW in sepsis, and their combined predictive value is better than that of individual index.

Pancreatic cancer has poor prognosis and lymph node metastasis is a poor prognostic factor in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. The metastatic prevalence of para-aortic lymph node (PALN) ranges from 9.1% to 26.5% and it is listed as the distant metastatic group in pancreatic cancer. Nevertheless, it is controversial whether PALN metastasis is the contraindication of surgery in resectable pancreatic cancer for the shortage of level Ⅰ evidence.This study concluded that PALN metastasis indicated poor prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer, but some patients with PALN metastases could benefit from surgery and their survival could be much improved after the combination of surgery and adjuvant therapy. Therefore, it is not wise to refuse surgery for all pancreatic cancer patients with PALN metastasis and the clinicians can cautiously choose the patients to do surgery. Besides, there are mainly retrospective studies rather than prospective and multicenter studies to explore the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients with PALN metastasis. Thus, more prospective and multicenter studies are needed to decide whether PALN metastasis is an independent prognostic factor in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer.