Objective To look for an appropriate dietary pattern of early nutritional intervention, which does not only meet the need of catch-up growth but also avoids or reduces the incidence of insulin resistance (IR) in adulthood of rats born with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Methods The model of IUGR in rats was established by maternal nutrition restriction. Sixty newborn female rats with IUGR were randomly divided into 5 groups: (1) IUGR control group fed with common diet. (2) IUGR high-carbohydrate diet group. (3) IUGR high-fat diet group. (4) IUGR high-protein diet group. (5) IUGR low-protein diet group. The IUGR newborn rats were breast-fed for 3 weeks, while the mother rats were fed with the above different diets with the same caloric amount. Twelve normal newborn female rats served as a normal control group and were fed with common diet. All newborn rats were fed routine diet starting from the 4th week of experiment. The body weight, perirenal fat weight and the serum leptin, blood glucose, insulin concentration were measured and the insulin sensitive index (ISI) were calculated at the 4th week and the 12th week of life. Results The IUGR rats fed with high-protein diet showed a catch-up growth without the increase of perirenal fat at the 4th week, a normal level of perirenal fat, leptin and ISI at the 12th week compared with the normal control group, and did not show IR. The groups fed with high carbohydrate diet and high fat diet also showed a catch-up growth, but did the same as the IUGR control group in other aspects, they all showed increased perirenal fat, higher levels of leptin, lower ISI and IR at adulthood. The group fed with low protein diet did not show IR, but kept a small body size with increased perirenal fats. The serum leptin level of rats was positively correlated to body weight at the 4th week of life and was positively correlated to the weight of perirenal fat and negatively correlated to ISI at the 12th week of life. Conclusion High protein diet is an appropriate early nutritional intervention for rats with IUGR. The serum leptin level at the 12th week of life seems to be an index of IR in adult rats with IUGR.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of progressive brain contusion and to evaluate their impact on patients' outcome.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty two patients with traumatic brain contusion were enrolled in the study, including 70 cases with progressive contusion and 62 cases with non-progressive contusion. The risk factors were investigated with univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe univariate analysis showed that Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) at admission, contusion volume at the first brain CT scans, midline shift, combined with skull fracture, subarachnoid hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, location of brain contusion, D-dimer levels, combined with type 2 diabetes were associated with progressive brain contusion. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that GCS at admission, contusion volume at the first CT scans, combined with subarachnoid hemorrhage, combined with type 2 diabetes were the independent risk factors for disease progression. The outcome in the progressive group was more aggravated than that in non-progressive group (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONPatients with disturbance of consciousness, the larger contusion volume, combined with subarachnoid hemorrhage and diabetes are at risk for progressive brain contusion and unfavorable outcome.

Brain Injuries ; complications ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Disease Progression ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial ; complications ; Hematoma, Subdural ; complications ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective:To explore the effects of secondary pulmonary hypertension(SPH)on postoperative outcomes of lung transplant recipients.Methods:The hospitalization data of 309 patients undergoing lung transplant were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into normal(mPAP <25 mmHg, 56 cases), low-pressure(mPAP: 25 mmHg≤mPAP<40 mmHg, 155 cases)and high pressure(mPAP ≥40 mmHg, 98 cases)groups.Three groups were compared with regards to general profiles, intraoperative status, postoperative outcomes and survival rates. The postoperative patient survival was plotted by Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test performed. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to explore the influencing factors of postoperative survival.Results:The distribution of chronic lung disease(CLD)was statistically different among 3 groups( χ2=30.837, P=0.001). Patients with different levels of pulmonary artery pressure had different decisions supported intraoperatively by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)( χ2=28.205, P<0.001). The 2-year survival rates of normal, low-pressure and high-pressure groups were 58.9 %, 63.9 % and 69.4 % respectively and there were no statistically significant differences( P=0.513). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that preoperative cardiac function was an independent risk factor for postoperative survival. The postoperative risk of mortality was 1.796 (95 %CI: 1.078~2.991)folds higher in patients with cardiac function grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ than those with grade Ⅰ/Ⅱ( P=0.025). Conclusions:Preoperative classification of cardiac function should be emphasized in SPH patients. And surgery during early decompensated stage of cardiac function may confer a better survival.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny biological nanovesicles ranging from approximately 30-1000 nm in diameter that are released into the extracellular matrix of most cell types and in biofluids. The classification of EVs includes exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, dependent on various factors such as size, markers, and biogenesis pathways. The transition of EV relevance from that of being assumed as a trash bag to be a key player in critical physiological and pathological conditions has been revolutionary in many ways. EVs have been recently revealed to play a crucial role in stem cell biology and cancer progression via intercellular communication, contributing to organ development and the progression of cancer. This review focuses on the significant research progress made so far in the role of the crosstalk between EVs and stem cells and their niche, and cellular communication among different germ layers in developmental biology. In addition, it discusses the role of EVs in cancer progression and their application as therapeutic agents or drug delivery vehicles. All such discoveries have been facilitated by tremendous technological advancements in EV-associated research, especially the microfluidics systems. Their pros and cons in the context of characterization of EVs are also extensively discussed in this review. This review also deliberates the role of EVs in normal cell processes and disease conditions, and their application as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Finally, we propose future perspectives for EV-related research in stem cell and cancer biology.
Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Cell-Derived Microparticles/metabolism* ; Exosomes ; Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism* ; Humans ; Neoplasms/metabolism*