Due to the poor repair and regeneration capacity of articular cartilage, traditional treatment cannot get satisfactory curative effect on it. However, tissue engineering provides a new way for repairing articular cartilage defects. Present research focus has come down to the following issues: the stability of cell characters and phenotypes during mass amplification of seed cells, the control of directional differentiation, the combination of multi-scaffold materials, the synergistic effect of multi-growth factors, the gene transfer technology for maintaining the expression of growth factors, etc. This article reviews the advances in seed cells, scaffold materials, growth factors of articular cartilage tissue engineering, pointing out their advantages and disadvantages as well as the research direction in the future.

Objective To evaluate the effects of inhaled nitric oxide(INO) in the early period after Fontan operation. Methods Twenty children receiving INO [(10 ～ 25) × 10 -6] after fight heart bypass for congenital heart disease were evaluated. The changes of hemodynamic and respiratory parameters were observed at two different intervals. The levels of methemoglobin (MetHb)and nitrogen dioxide(NO2)were monitored. Results In INO therapy group,CVP decreased from (20.8±4.8) mm Hg to (14.3±1.8) mm Hg,TPG decreased from (16.3 ±3.0) mm Hg to (8.8±2. 1) mm Hg,PaO2/FiO2 increased from (70.3±16.9) mm Hg to (120.5 ±14.0) mm Hg,and arterial oxygen saturation increased from 0. 78 ±0. 14 to 0. 91 ±0. 09 ,blood lactic acid level decreased from (3.98 ± 0. 86) mmol/L to (1.29 ± 1.60) mmol/L. No toxic side effect was observed. Conclusion INO has no significant long-term effect on patients after Fontan operation, but it can improve respiratory function, and reduce the incidence of low cardiac output syndrome and high cava pressure caused by reactive elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance in the early postoperative period after Fontan operation.

Objective To evaluate the effects of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) in management of postoperative pulmonary hypertension in the patients with congenital heart disease. Methods Thirty-two children with refractory pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary hypertensive crisis after open heart operations for congenital heart disease were treated with iNO. The changes of hemodynamics were observed. Results In iNO therapy group,the mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP) decreased from (38.0 ±3.2) mm Hg to (28.0 ±2.1) mm Hg,pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) decreased from (62.2 ±6.7) kPa/(L·S) to (49.9 ±5.6) kPa/(L·S) ,PaO2/FiO2increased from (67.0 ±30. 1 ) mm Hg to (92. 6 ±25.0) mm Hg,and arterial oxygen saturation increased from 0. 78 ±0. 14 to 0. 84 ±0. 09 respectively. No toxic side effect was observed.Conclusion iNO is effective, safe to reduce pulmonary hypertension. It may play an important role in the treatment of postoperative pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary hypertensive crisis in the patients with congenital heart disease.

Objective To examine the differences in the structure of brain white matter among deficit schizophrenia, nondeficit schizophrenia and healthy controls by using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Methods Ten deficit schizophrenic patients, eleven nondeficit patients and fifteen healthy comparison subjects participated in the study. All the subjects were scanned by GE Twin Speed 1.5T MRI system. Whole brain, voxel-wise analyses of regional white matter volume were conducted by the VBM toolbox on the Matlab7.6 and SPM5. t -test was then used for the comparison between groups. Results Compared to the healthy controls, nondeficit schizophrenic patients significantly decreased the density of gray matter in the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital lobe and basal ganglia , while the deficit patients showed the characteristically broad and significant decreasion in the frontal lobe, including left medial frontal gyrus, bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and left orbital gyrus (Cluster ≥ 30 mm3, P<0.01). Moreover, deficit patients showed the decreasion in the temporal cortex and the limbic lobe (right insula). Relative to the nondeficit schizophrenic patients, deficit patients had significant regional gray matter decreases in the left medial frontal gyrus, bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, and right superior temporal gyrus (Cluster ≥ 30 mm3, P<0.01). Conclusion Structural heterogeneity in schizophrenia may relate to specific patterns of gray matter density reductions in deficit and nondeficit patient. However the two subtype of schizophremia patients share a common prefrontal-temperal pattern of structural brain alterations.

Background Lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) is a progressive disease,whose clinical features are varied in different stages.It is rarely be reported that clinical findings of different stages and factors of promoting the occurrence and development on LCD in a family.Objective The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of the pedigree and clinical features of different stages in a LCD family,and further to discuss its influence factors.Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in this study.A Chinese family with LCD was enrolled in Shenzhen Eye Hospital from 2015 to 2016.Questionnaires for disease-related history,visual acuity measurement,ocular anterior segment examination and color photography were carried out for all the members of the family.In addition,anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT),laser scanning confocal microscope and corneal endothelium microscope were used to observe the morphology of corneal stroma and changes of corneal endothelial cells.The pedigree chart was drawn by Cyrillic2.1 software and analyzed based on Mendel law.Results This family included 5 generations of 73 members.Patients with LCD were found in each generation with similar morbidity in different gender,which followed the law of autosomal dominant inheritance.Eleven patients were found in 49 members related with Ⅲ1 of this family with the prevalence rate of 22.45％ and onset age at 21-50 years old,and the course of disease was 3-34 years.All of the members had no systemic disease except for two patients (Ⅲ 1 and Ⅲ 5) with hypertension.In the early stage of LCD,some bifurcate striolae appeared in the patients' corneal stroma without symptoms for many years.In the progressive stage,there was corneal irritation symptom accompanying with vision's decrease in the eyes with LCD.The bifurcate striolae were increased,widened and interwoven into lattice lines that the boundaries gradually became fuzzy,then corneal macula was formed because of recurrent corneal infiltration,and eventually resulted in corneal leucoma.High reflection corresponding to the pathologic region was showed by laser scanning confocal microscope and AS-OCT.No significant differences were found in corneal endothelial cell density and the percentage of hexagonal cells between LCD patients and normal phenotype families (t =1.887,P=0.075;t=-0.719,P =0.481).Penetrating keratoplasty was performed in a patient with corneal opacity and serious corneal opacity occurred near the surgical incision one year after the surgery.One patient was diagnosed as LCD 2 years after laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis.One patient was a welder.Conclusions LCD is autosomal dominant inheritance in the family.The clinical manifestations of LCD in the early,progressive and late stage can be seen in the pedigree,which offers a reference for ophthahnologists.Corneal surgery and lesion may induce the onset or aggravation of LCD.

Objective To explore the features of coronary artery morphological changes and left ventricular function indicators of resident population in plateau .Methods 50 plateau healthy adults and 50 plain‐and Dalian‐healthy volunteers completed coronary CTA examination .We measured the pipe diameter of left main coronary atery and right coronary artery and their branches ,respec‐tively .Furthermore ,SV and EF value of left ventricular cardiac function indexes and the wall thickening of free ventricular wall at left ventricular end systolic were measured .Results The average diameter of proximal right coronary of plain‐and Dalian‐healthy volun‐teers thicker than plateau group ,with statistical difference ;Other coronary artery branch did not exhibit any significant between‐group differences ;The two groups did not show significant between‐group differences with heart function indexes .Conclusion The body circulation system have adaptability and compensatory changes of resident population in plateau ,and their coronary artery mor‐phology and left ventricular function are as similar as plain people .

The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) miRNA plasmids on the expressive levels of CTGF, transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) and type I collagen of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) which are stimulated by high glucose. The rat HSCs which were successfully transfected rat CTGF miRNA plasmids and the rat HSCs which were successfully transfected negative plasmids were cultured in vitro. After stimulus of the TMP and the high glucose, the protein levels and gene expressive levels of CTGF, TGF-beta and type I collagen were tested. The results indicated that high glucose increased the expression of CTGF mRNA, CTGF protein, TGF-beta mRNA,TGF-beta protein and type I collagen (P < 0.05). The expressive levels of CTGF mRNA, CTGF protein, TGF-beta mRNA, TGF-beta and type I collagen in TMP group were lower than those in high glucose group and showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Compared with high glucose group, the expressive levels of CTGF mRNA, CTGF protein, TGF-beta mRNA, TGF-beta and type I collagen in rat CTGF miRNA plasmid interference group were significantly lower (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found in CTGF mRNA and CTGF protein levels between TMP group and CTGF miRNA group (P > 0.05), while type I collagen levels showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). It is concluded that high glucose could promote the expressions of CTGF, TGF-beta and type I collagen, and TMP and rat CTGF miRNA plasmids could reduce the expressions of CTGF, TGF-beta, type I collagen.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the relationship between the levels of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on circulating B cells and disease severity as well as renal injury of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) .Methods 50patients with SLE were enrolled from May 2015to May 2017, and 20healthy individuals were enrolled as the control group.All patients were scored for their disease severity and renal injury.The expression of PD-L1on circulating B cells were evaluated by flow cytometery.Results In the group of patients with active SLE, the percentage of CD19+in B cells was (11.35±3.65) ％and the percentage of in CD19+B cells was (2.47±0.89) ％, both of which were significantly higher than that in the group of patients with non-active SLE and control group (P<0.05) .In addition, patients with SLE were divided into lower group and higher group according to the median percentage of CD19+and CD19+/PD-L1Bcells.The incidence of kidney lesion was robustly increased in the high group, and CD19+/PD-L1Bcells, LNⅣwere independent risk factors of renal insufficiency in lupus nephritis.Conclusion The level of peripheral CD19+/PD-L1in SLE patients increased significantly and was closely related to the activity degree and renal injury of the disease, which was an independent risk factor for renal insufficiency in patients.

This paper demonstrates the successful application of a novel approach to the computer aided design (CAD) of removable partial denture (RPD) framework. Firstly, we get the data of the partially edentulous cast, a mandibular Kennedy Class II, through a 3D-optical grating measuring system after corresponding pretreatment. Then, the reverse engineering software and 3D CAD software was used to design basis, big conjunction, clasp, small conjunction of the RPD framework. Finally 3D surface model of the RPD framework was created in preparation for direct manufacture using rapid prototyping (RP) methods and foundry. The result indicated that the RPD framework was fabricated successfully and the resulting frameworks provided a satisfactory fit.
Computer-Aided Design ; Dental Alloys ; Dental Casting Technique ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; methods ; Denture Design ; methods ; Denture, Partial, Removable ; Humans

Objective:To identify and characterize two Balneatrix alpica strains isolated from a patient′s blood sample (strain X117) and the natural hot spring water in the patient′s residential district (strain GN-1), and to provide experimental evidence for the pathogenic diagnosis of clinical infection caused by this rare pathogen. Methods:Biochemical phenotypic identification, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), 16S rRNA gene sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, and genome-wide analysis were performed to accurately determine the taxonomic status of the isolates X117 and GN-1 by using Balneatrix alpica DSM 16621 T as a reference. Microdilution broth method was used to test their antimicrobial susceptibility. The virulence genes carried by them were annotated and analyzed using the virulence factor database (VFDB). Results:Strains X117 and GN-1 formed light yellow or tan colonies with mottled surfaces on Columbia blood agar and chocolate agar plates after 4 d of culture. They were Gram-negative rods and positive for oxidase and indole tests, which were consistent with the characteristics of Balneatrix alpica DSM 16621 T. The phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene showed that the isolates X117 and GN-1 were both Balneatrix alpaca. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between the two isolates and Balneatrix alpica DSM 16621 T were 98.44% and 98.41%, respectively, and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were both 87.1%. The SNP distance between the two strains was 13, indicating that X117 and GN-1 might belong to the same clone. The antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that all of the three Balneatrix alpica strains were sensitive to the commonly used antibiotics against Gram-negative rods. The virulence genes carried by the three Balneatrix alpica strains were mainly involved in adhesion, invasion, flagella and biofilm formation. Conclusions:This study identified a case of bloodstream infection caused by Balneatrix alpica which was closely related to natural hot spring water. Natural hot spring water migh be an important source of clinical infections caused by this species.