BACKGROUND: The feasibility and the mechanism of human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cel transplantation for the treatment of liver cirrhosis need to be discussed in-depth. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cel transplantation through portal vein on the liver function and tissue pathological changes of the rats with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Carbon tetrachloride was used to prepare rat model of liver cirrhosis. After the success of modeling, the rats in the cel transplantation group received portal vein injection of 1 mL 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine -labeled human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (5×106), the model group was injected with the same volume of PBS; the normal rats received 1 mL human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cel transplantation via the portal vein were as the control group. At 4 weeks after transplantation, the rat tail vein blood and liver tissue were obtained for testing. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 4 weeks after cel transplantation, compared with the model group, levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin in the cel transplantation group were significantly decreased, while the albumin level was increased significantly (P < 0.01); the liver cel inflammatory necrosis, steatosis and liver fibrosis were improved significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining showed that human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cel colonization could be seen in the rat liver tissues of the cel transplantation group and control group, but the number of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-positive cells in cel transplantation group was significantly larger than that in the control group. Reverse transcription-PCR test result showed that the expressions of cytokeratin 18 and albumin mRNA could be observed in the rat liver tissue of the cel transplantation group, but no expression could be seen in the control group. It is visible that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells can improve liver function and pathological damage of liver cirrhosis rats in a certain extent, which may relate with the intrahepatic homing colonization and hepatocyte-like cel differentiation of the transplanted cells in the liver cirrhosis rats.

Objective To investigate clinical efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) combined with interferon α-2b in treatment of chronic hepatitis B.Methods During Jan 2008 to Dec 2014,ninety patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided into adefovir dipivoxil group (33 cases),interferon group (28 cases),and adefovir dipivoxil combined with interferon α-2b group (29 cases).Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization rate,negative rate of HBV-DNA,and HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion rates were evaluated among three groups.Results After 48 weeks of treatment,HBeAg negative rate,HBV-DNA negative rate,and ALT normalization rate of combination group were significantly higher than that of interferons αt-2b group and adefovir dipivoxil group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Adefovir dipivoxil combined with interferon α-2b treatment can inhibit the hepatitis B virus,increase the negative rate of HBV-DNA and HBeAg,and reduce liver cell damage.

This study was aimed to analyze the formulas and classify the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by Dr. Huang Chunlin based on the data mining method. A total of 63 CKD outpatients' medical records by Dr. Huang were collected. And 226 formulas prescribed in the medical records were put in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System (TCMISS). Data mining techniques were applied in the study of as-sociation rule mining algorithm and complex system entropy cluster, the usage frequency and the correlation of each single Chinese medicinal in order to sort out the prescription pattern of CKD. The results showed that to for-tify the spleen and tonify the kidney were found to be the basic method of CKD treatment . Through the applica-tion of TCMISS, the Chinese medicinals used in Dr. Huang's CKD treatment were Astragalus root, Eucommia, Epimedium, Cuscuta, Agastache, Danshen Root, Ligustrum. It was concluded that the TCMISS is of great value in the summarization of clinical experiences of well-known TCM doctors.

Objective To investigate the changes of brain function in moderate and high myopia patients using fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF),and discuss the correlation between brain function changes and clinical data of patients with myopia.Methods Totally 21 moderate and high myopia patients (myopia group),and 21 healthy volunteers (normal control group) who were matched with myopia patients in age and gender,were selected to take rs-fMRI examination.The difference of fALFF of brain functional activity in patients with myopia and normal controls was compared,and the correlation between the changes of fALFF and clinical data of patients with myopia was analyzed,Results Compared with normal control group,the fALFF values of myopia group in the region of the left inferior frontal gyrus,putamen and right inferior frontal gyrus,putamen and insula were significantly lower (all P ＜ 0.05,AlphaSim corrected).However,in bilateral cingulate gyrus,bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus,left postcentral gyrus,left superior parietal lobule and region,fALFF values were increased (all P ＜ 0.05,AlphaSim corrected).Conclusion Patients with myopia are accompanied by abnormal neuronal activity in many brain areas,which may reflect the dysfunction of language understanding and attention control in myopic patients.

Thirty four patients with decompensated cirrhosis received umbilical blood stem cell transplantation via hepatic artery from December 2008 to August 2009. The symptoms and biochemical testing results were observed before and after stem cell transplantation. One month after the transplantation,appetite was improved in 32 patients ( 94% ), physical capacity improved in 29 patients ( 85% ) and the abdominal distention relieved in 28 patients (82%). Abdominal B-ultrasonography showed that ascites decreased in 15 cases(60% ), and disappeared in 9 cases(36% ). Six month later the mean serum albumin levels were increased from ( 30. 9 ± 0. 6) g/L to ( 35.5 ± 2. 5 ) g/L( P ＞ 0. 05 );alanine aminotransferase levels decreased from (57 ±7) U/L to (46 ± 10) U/L(P ＞0. 05);total bilirubin decreased from (47 ±5 )μmol/L to (25 ±4) μmol/L(P =0. 017);prothrombin time decreased from ( 17.9 ±0. 7) s to ( 16. 4 ±1.3) s (P ＞ 0. 05 ). Hemophagocytic syndrome developed in one case but no severe adverse reactions occurred. The results indicate that umbilical blood stem cell transplantation may improve liver function in various degrees with safety for patients with liver cirrhosis.

Objective To evaluate the effects of sirolimus on scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in rats.Methods Thirty male Wistar rats,aged 3 months,weighing 200-250 g,were equally randomized into 3 groups:normal saline group (NS group),scopolamine group (SC group) and scopolamine + sirolimus group (SS group).Normal saline,scopolamine 0.8 mg/kg and sirolimus 3.5 mg/kg + scopolamine 0.8 mg/kg were injected intraperitoneally in groups NS,SC and SS,respectively,and the injection was continued for 14 consecutive days.The cognitive function was assessed by Morris water maze test on 15th day.After behavior test,the rats were sacrificed and the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were harvested for determination of amyloid β protein (Aβ) and Tau protein expression.Results Compared with NS group,the escape latency was significantly prolonged,the ratio of time spent in the target quadrant was decreased,Aβ expression in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus was upregulated and Tau protein expression in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus was down-regulated in group SC (P ＜0.05 or 0.01).Compared with SC group,the escape latency was significantly shortened,the ratio of time spent in the target quadrant was increased,Aβ expression in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus was down-regulated and Tau protein expression in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus was up-regulated in group SS (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion Sirolimus can significantly improve scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in rats and the changes in the expression of Aβ and Tau protein in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus may be involved in the mechanism.

Objective To investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided serratus plane (SP) block on efficacy of postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing radical mastectomy.Methods From February 2012 to October 2016,sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients scheduled for radical mastectomy under general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups (n =30 each):SP block group (observation group) and control group.After induction of anesthesia,ultrasoundguided homolateral SP block was performed,and 0.375％ ropivacaine 20 ml was injected in observation group,while the equal volume of normal saline was used instead in control group.The patients received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with sufentanil after operation in the two groups.The scores of prince henry pain scale (PHPS) were evaluated at 2,4,8,12 and 24 hours (T1,T2,T3,T4,T5) after operation.The consumption of sufentanil,propofol and remifentanil were recorded,meantime the times of successfully delivered doses (D1) and attempts (D2) within 24 h after operation were added up,calculating D1/D2.The adverse effects were also recorded.Results The scores of PHPS at T1 [(1.4 ± 0.6) scores vs (3.1 ±0.7) scores],T2 [(1.5 ±0.7) scores vs (2.9 ±0.9) scores],T3 [(1.7 ±0.6) scores vs (2.8±0.8) scores],and the consumption of sufentanil [(53.4 ± 16.8) μg vs (87.8 ±24.6) μg],remifentanil [(288.7 ±42.2) μg vs (376.5 ±61.7) μg] were significantly lower in observation group than in control group,while D1/D2 (0.89 ±0.13 vs 0.57 ±0.19) was higher (P ＜0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the observation group (0 vs 23.3 ％) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Ultrasound-guided SP block reduces the consumption of perioperative opioids and enhances the efficacy of postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing radical mastectomy.

Identification of the risk factors for conversion to cesarean section during labor can significantly improve the mother and infant outcomes. Though advocated by the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG), intrapartum ultrasound is not widely practiced in managing labor progress. The Obstetrics and Gynecology Center of Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University has carried out intrapartum ultrasound in recent years. We summarize the clinical key point and the significance of measuring the major sonographic parameters during labor and illustrate the role of occiput-spine angle, a new sonographic index, in predicting fetal head descent during the first stage of labor.

Intestinal fibrosis associated stricture is a common complication of inflammatory bowel disease usually requiring endoscopic or surgical intervention. Effective anti-fibrotic agents aiming to control or reverse intestinal fibrosis are still unavailable. Thus, clarifying the mechanism underpinning intestinal fibrosis is imperative. Fibrosis is characterized by an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins at the injured sites. Multiple cellular types are implicated in fibrosis development. Among these cells, mesenchymal cells are major compartments that are activated and then enhance the production of ECM. Additionally, immune cells contribute to the persistent activation of mesenchymal cells and perpetuation of inflammation. Molecules are messengers of crosstalk between these cellular compartments. Although inflammation is necessary for fibrosis development, purely controlling intestinal inflammation cannot halt the development of fibrosis, suggesting that chronic inflammation is not the unique contributor to fibrogenesis. Several inflammation-independent mechanisms including gut microbiota, creeping fat, ECM interaction, and metabolic reprogramming are involved in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. In the past decades, substantial progress has been made in elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of intestinal fibrosis. Here, we summarized new discoveries and advances of cellular components and major molecular mediators that are associated with intestinal fibrosis, aiming to provide a basis for exploring effective anti-fibrotic therapies in this field.

Myasthenia gravis(MG)is a B cell-mediated,T cell-dependent,complements-involved autoimmune disease.Ocular myasthenia gravis(OMG)is a typical MG,with its symptoms limited to the extraocular muscles.The occurrence and development of a variety of autoimmune diseases including OMG are closely associated with the imbalanced expression of follicular regulatory T cells(Tfr cells).Therefore,Tfr cells may be a new research topic for OMG.
Complement System Proteins ; Humans ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Oculomotor Muscles ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory