Embryonic stem cells(ESCs),a kind of totipotent cells,can differentiate into cell type of the 3 germ layers.Adult stem cells(ASCs) are pluripotent stem cells,which can self-renew and transdifferentiate into a completely different tissue derivative cells.Thus ASCs can transdifferentiate into germ cells in a certain condition.Great progress has made for the study on human ESCs.However,use of ESCs faces the immunological rejection,oncogenicity and ethical controversies problems,and these limit their uses for treatment of human diseases.On contrast,ASCs can advoid these problems,and they may have a better perspective.Germ cells as carriers of genetic materials,are worth of studying.If male germ cells can be derived from ASCs,this will open the possibilities for the use of these cells for male infertillty in clinical application.In this review,we will introduce the progress on derivation of male germ cells from ESCs and ASCs.

Objective To investigate the hemodynamics and structural effect of rat endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) transplant on pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) induced by monocrotaline(MCT) in rats.Methods EPCs were identified and marked.Twenty-one days after injection of EPCs,the pulmonary hemodynamic parame- ters,average pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP),right heart index were determined.The vascular endothelial cells and pulmonary vascular structural changes were verified by fluoresccuse microscope.Results Compared with the model,EPCs treatment(n=10) decreased mPAP significantly (mPAP,EPCs:25.9?0.7 mmHg vs model group:29.3?2.2 mmHg,P

G,the noval insertion mutation of c.2298_2299insC is identified in Chinese patients.

With references of historical materials and modern literature regarding acupoint characteristic, a secondary analysis on the concept, origin, related factors and research methods in present research of acupoint characteristic is performed. The acupoint characteristic should be considered as an acupoint inherent attribute that could explain physiological and pathological manifestations at the same time, including location attribute and function attribute, which is related with time and treatment method. Some re-thinking on acupoint characteristic is proposed as well as advice on further research method and direction, hoping to promote the research development of acupoint characteristic.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians

BACKGROUND:There are many methods in the clinic to treat pelvic fractures, mainly conservative treatment, internal fixation and external fixation. Conservative treatment often causes complications due to poor reduction after fractures. Fixation has good effects on repair of unstable fractures, but fixation is seldom used for pelvic fractures.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of internal fixation on unstable pelvic fractures, and compare with conservative treatment and external fixation.
METHODS:126 cases of unstable pelvic fractures from Longhua District People’s Hospital of Shenzhen City from January 2008 to June 2014 were divided into three groups:conservative treatment group, external fixation group and internal fixation group (n=42). After treatment, patients received X-ray examination. Lindahl imaging criteria were used as evidence. The quality of fracture reduction was evaluated. Patients were regularly fol owed up after treatment. The recovery of limb function was evaluated according to Majeed standard. Repair effects, the excel ent and good rates of fracture healing and cal us growth were evaluated in the last fol ow-up.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:During the last fol ow-up, the total efficiency was 81%in the internal fixation group, 69%in the conservative treatment group, and 71%in the external fixation group, and results were significantly better in the internal fixation group than in the other two groups (P<0.05). The Lindahl and Majeed scores were significantly higher in the internal fixation group than in the other two groups (P<0.05). These results suggest that internal fixation for unstable pelvic fracture obtained better recovery effects and efficiency than conservative treatment and external fixation. Thus, the internal fixation is more suitable for patients with unstable pelvic fractures.

Objective: To observe the effect of different moxibustion durations on rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to evaluate the relationship between moxibustion amount and moxibustion efficacy.Methods: Eight rats were randomly selected as a normal group from the 40 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and the other 32 rats were used to establish typeⅡ collagen-induced RA models. After successful modeling, the 32 rats were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion for 20 min group, a moxibustion for 40 min group and a moxibustion for 60 min group, with 8 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group did not receive modeling and moxibustion intervention; rats in the model group did not receive moxibustion after modeling; rats in the moxibustion for 20 min group, the moxibustion for 40 min group and the moxibustion for 60 min group were treated with moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) for 20 min, 40 min and 60 min, respectively. Six days were a course of treatment, with a total of 3-course treatments and a 1-day rest between the courses of treatment. After treatment, the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, arthritis index (AI) scores, toe volumes and pathological score of synovitis were evaluated in the rats.Results: Compared with the normal group, the serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels, and the toe volumes in the model group were increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01), before the treatment. Compared with the model group, the serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels, toe volumes and arthritis index (AI) scores were significantly decreased in the moxibustion for 20 min group, the moxibustion for 40 min group and the moxibustion for 60 min group (P<0.05 orP<0.01 ). Compared with the moxibustion for 20 min group and the moxibustion for 60 min group, serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels, toe volumes and AI scores were decreased more significantly in moxibustion for 40 min group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05 orP<0.01). There were no significant differences in serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels, AI scores and toe volumes between the moxibustion for 20 min group and the moxibustion for 60 min group (allP>0.05). The synovial histopathological improvement was the most obvious in the moxibustion for 40 min group, when the synovial histopathological changes were compared among the moxibustion for 20 min group, moxibustion for 40 min group and moxibustion for 60 min group.Conclusion: The therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion for 40 min in RA rats was more significant than that of moxibustion for 20 min and moxibustion for 60 min, indicating that the duration of moxibustion is the main factor affecting its therapeutic efficacy.

Objective To establish a simple and sensitive method for the determination of serum copper by spectrophotometry.Methods Nitro-PAPS was used as a coloring agent for serum copper in the presence of surfactants Tween-80 and Triton X-100 and the formed complex was measured by spectrophotometry.Results The maximum absorption wavelength of the complex was 570 nm and the molar absorption coefficient was 7.95?10~4 L/(mol?cm).The lineafity of the method was up to 63.0 ?mol/L and the recoveries ranged from 98.6% to 103.1%.The within-run and between-run CVs were 2.1%-3.3% and 2.7%-3.8%.The method(Y)was compared with an AAS method(X)and a correlation of Y=1.01X -0.27(r=0.998 2)was obtained.A reference interval(x~-?2s)determined with this method on 68 individuals was 9.7-24.1 ?moL/L.Conclusions A simple and sensitive method for serum copper has been established.It may used for the analysis of serum copper in clinical laboratories.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical safety and efficacy of laparoscopic versus open colorectal resection in octogenarians. Methods Studies comparing laparoscopic colorectal resection with open colorectal resection in octogenarians were identified from the Medline, Embase, Ovid, and Cochrane databases from 1990 to 2012. The methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed to determine studies suitable for inclusion. Meta-analysis was performed by fixed or random effects model.

RESULTSFive observational studies with a total of 685 patients (330 laparoscopic colorectal resections and 355 open colorectal resections) were identified. Laparoscopic colorectal resection was associated with a prolonged operative time (WMD=27.89, P<0.01) and a lower rate of overall complications (OR=0.58, P<0.01), wound infection (OR=0.50, P<0.05), cardiovascular complication(OR=0.53, P<0.05), quicker bowel function return (WMD=-0.83, P<0.01), and shorter length of hospital stay (WMD=-3.60, P<0.05). No differences were found with regard to anastomotic leak (OR=1.13, P>0.05), prolonged ileus (OR=0.71, P>0.05), respiratory complication (OR=0.59, P>0.05),mortality (OR=0.67, P>0.05), and reoperation (OR=0.85, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic colorectal resection is as safe as open colorectal resection, and is more favorable in terms of length of hospital stay and bowel function return in octogenarians.

Aged, 80 and over ; Anastomotic Leak ; Colectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEThe study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of astragaloside IV (ASI) on the activation of microglial cells.

METHODAfter pre-incubated with ASI for 2 h, microglial cells BV-2 were stimulated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) for 1. 5 h and 24 h, respectively. Secretion of nitric oxide (NO) in the medium was measured by Griess method. Production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was detected by ELISA approach. Cellular gene expressions of CD11b, TNF-α, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were examined by quantitative-PCR analysis. Total and phosphorylation of STAT1, IκB and NF-κB was analyzed by Western blot method.

RESULTASI could significantly inhibit the increased secretion of TNF-α and NO from BV-2 cells upon IFN-γ stimulation (P < 0.001). Further study showed that ASI significantly down-regulated gene expression of IL-1β and TNF-α (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and exhibited a trend to reduce that of iNOS. IFN-γ and ASI have no obvious effect on gene expression of CD11b. Moreover, ASI inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT1, IκB and NF-κB elicited by IFN-γ stimulation.

CONCLUSIONASI could restrain microglial activation through interfering STAT1/IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway, reducing gene expres- sion of IL-1β and TNF-α, and thus inhibiting the production of proinflammatory mediators such as NO and TNF-α.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; I-kappa B Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; metabolism ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study 3 different strategies of urine drainage following hypospadias urethroplasty, the clinical nursing in their application, and their effects.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 595 cases of hypospadias treated by urethroplasty. After surgery, 133 of the patients underwent urine drainage by suprapubic cystostomy (group A), 202 by urethral stent- tube indwelling (group B), and 260 by early initiative micturition with the urethral stent-tube (group C). All the patients received routine postoperative nursing care required for hypospadias repair.

RESULTSOperations were successfully completed in all the cases. Group C showed a remarkably shorter hospital stay and lower incidence rates of urinary fistula and urethral stricture than groups A and B (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in the three indexes between A and B (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor urine drainage following hypospadias repair, early initiative micturition with the urethral stent-tube can significantly reduce postoperative complications, decrease difficulties and workload of nursing care, and shorten the hospital stay of the patient.

Cystostomy ; Drainage ; methods ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; prevention & control ; Urinary Fistula ; prevention & control ; Urine ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male