Objective To investigate the mechanical properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (CF/PEEK)composite materials and to evaluate the biocompatibility and bioactivity of CF/PEEK after implanted into mandibula.Methods 27 adult Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into experimental group (n=9) and control group (n=18),CF/PEEK was implanted into bilateral mandibula of the rabbits in experimental group, autologous bone was implanted into left mandibula of the rabbits in positive control group (n=9 )while the right sides were taken as blank control group (n=9 )without implants. The materials-bone interface of samples were collected to make the observation of gross,imaging and histology and to analyze the histological score after 8,12, and 16 weeks.Results All the animals and no infection had secondary fractures.Obviously callus formation was observed on the edge of the defect in both experimental group and positive control group in the imaging observation, while the rabbits in blank control group had no obvious change.Compared with 8 weeks after operation, the score evaluation of local cellular immune response showed significant decreasing in 12 weeks after operation(P<0.01), the data was the minimum in 16 weeks(P<0.05).At the same time,the score evaluation of local cellular immune response in three groups showed no significant difference (P> 0.05).Trabecular bone and osteoblasts could be observed in the bone defect of both experimental group and positive control group after 16 weeks,and blank control group was filled with fibrous connective tissue.The osteogenesis rates in experimental group and positive control group were increased with the prolongation of time, and they were better than that in blank control group (P<0.01).Conclusion CF/PEEK material has good mechanical property,biocompatibility and bioactivity;and it has light immune response after implantation.

Objective To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of different subtypes of breast cancer patients with bone metastasis.Methods For this study, we recruited 300 primary breast cancer patients with bone metastasis treated at the Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi`an Jiaotong University, between September 1, 2007 and September 1, 2011.We also retrospectively analyzed their clinical and follow-up data.Results The percentage of Luminal A, Luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) overexpression and triple negative subtypes in all the bone metastatic breast cancer patients was 59.0％, 16.0％, 13.7％ and 11.3％, respectively.Age, tumor size and histologic grade significantly differed among the four subtypes (P<0.05).However, there were no significant differences in menopausal status, lymph node metastasis, histological type or lymphovascular invasion among different subtypes (P>0.05).The median survival time of Luminal A breast cancer patients with bone metastasis was 28.6 months, longer than Luminal B (26.9 months), HER-2 overexpression (20.9 months) and triple negative breast cancer patients (12.0 months) with bone metastasis.The overall survival significantly differed among the patients with four subtypes of breast cancer.Conclusion Different subtypes of breast cancer patients with bone metastasis have different clinical characteristics and prognosis.Luminal A breast cancer patients with bone metastasis have better prognosis whereas triple negative subtype has poorer prognosis.

Objective To describe a new kind of Y-shaped metallic stent delivery system and evaluate its feasibility and preliminary effect for managing multiple airway stenoses involving the lower trachea and the tracheal carina.Methods The Y-shaped metallic stent delivery system consisted of three- tier structure.The inner-tier was composed of four parallel guiding tubes,which was used for two guidewires and two threads passing through,the middle-tier was delivery catheter,which contained the four guiding tubes,and the outer-tier was introducer sheath.Under the fluoroscopic guidance,15 patients with multiple stenoses involving the lower trachea and the tracheal carina were treated with the new covered self-expandable Y-shaped metallic stents.Results Stent placement in the tracheo-bronchial tree was technically successful in all patients with obliteration of the dyspnea immediately after stent placement,and SaO_2 was increased form preoperative 75%—89% to postoperative 96%—99%.During follow-up a period of 3—58 weeks (M 22 weeks),all stenosis were resolved without stent-related complications,and the general physical of all 15 patents was improved with no occurrence of obviously dyspnea and bleeding.Karnofsky performance status(KPS)was improved from preoperative 26%—45% to postoperative 72%—95%.Five patients died of the following causes unrelated to stent insertion:multiple organ failure(n=3),cachexia(n=1)and pulmonary infection caused by gastrobronchial fistula(n=1),and the remaining 10 patients were alive with no evidence.of dyspnea at the time of this report.Conclusion Deployment of the covered Y-shaped metallic stent with the use of Y metallic stent delivery system in the management of airway stenoses involving the lower trachea and the tracheal earina was a simple and safe procedure and with a good short-term clinical efficacy.

Objectives： The current study was designed to identify mimic polypeptide epitopes of lung cancer-related antigen WLA-Ag1 through screening random peptide library which was on display in phages, and provide useful information for further study of the characterization of WLA-Ag1 antigen and the potential chance for developing new diagnostic or therapeutic methods for lung cancer. Methods： Through affinity enrichment and immunoscreening of phage-displayed fifteen-peptide libraries with a monoclonal antibody named WLA2C4 against WLA-Ag1, the enriched phages was obtained and plated on agar plates. Some positive clones picked at random were confirmed by ELISA using WLA2C4 monoclonal antibody and DNA sequencing. The homologous comparison of amino acid sequences of positive clones was conducted through searching the protein sequence databank on Internet. The digestion analyses of amino acid sequences were also conducted by a software. Results： Twelve positive clones have been found with a consensual DNA sequence, that is, 5′ -GCT GGT TGG ATT ACT TTT CAT CGT CGT CAT CAT GAT CGT GTT CTT-3′ . Amino acid sequence was AGWITPHRRHHDRVL, with three trypsinase-digestible sites. This coincided with our previous finding that WLA-Ag1 can be digested by trypsinase. Conclusions： The amino acid sequence found in this study might be the epitope of WLA-Ag1. Screening of bioactive peptides from random peptide libraries using monoclonal antibodies as the ligands is an effective method to identify the epitopes of cancer-related antigens.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and primary therapeutic effect of inverted Y-shaped self-expandable metal stent for complex airway stenosis.Methods On the standpoint of the peculiar anatomic structure and the pathological changes of complex airway stenosis,we designed the inverted Y-shaped self- expandable metal stent.Under the fluoroscopic guidance,7 stents were implanted in 7 cases of airway complex stenosis.Results The inverted Y-shaped self-expandable metal stents were placed seccussfully,with instantaneous relief of dyspnea and improvement of living quality.Conclusion The placement of inverted Y- shaped self-expandable metal stent is feasible and safe for treating airway complex stenosis.(J Intervent Radiol, 2007,16:92-94)

AIMTo evaluate the therapeutic effects of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) on pump failure caused by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in dogs.

METHODSThe pump failure caused by AMI was established in 18 dogs, 9 of them were treated with a LVAD that could expel the autoblood from the left ventricle into the aorta and named the experimental group, and the rest of them were treated with intravenous infusion and served as the control group. The changes of arrhythmia, mortality, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), peripheral artery pressure and the diameter of left ventricular chamber were observed.

RESULTSThe ratio of ventricular extrasystole and the mortality resulted from ventricular fibrillation of the experimental group were lower than that of the control group. The systolic blood pressure of peripheral artery of the control group was significantly lower (< 100 mmHg) than that of the experimental group (>100 mmHg, P < 0.01). The PCWP and LVEDP of the experimental group during all the stages 45 minutes after the procedures were significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.01). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter of the control group was larger than that of the experimental groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTo assist circulation by expelling autoblood from left ventricle into aorta in dogs with AMI could reduce the frequency of ventricular fibrillation, improve hemodynamics, and prevent the enlargement of left ventricle. Therefore, it could play an important role in assisting the left ventricular functions.

Animals ; Assisted Circulation ; methods ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Heart-Assist Devices ; Hemodynamics ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Ventricular Function, Left

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of cord blood dendritic cells (DCs) on the in vitro proliferation capability, immunophenotype changes, level of secreted cytokines and activity against leukemia cells of the homologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells. DCs and CIK cells were induced from cord blood mononuclear cells. They were co-cultured at the ratio of 1:5, and CIK cells from cord blood or DC-CIK cells from peripheral blood were cultured as controls. Immunophenotypic changes were analyzed by flow cytometry, increased number of cells were counted by trypan-blue staining, the killing activity to leukemia cells was assayed by MTT, the levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) in the cultured supernatant were detected by ELISA. The results showed that the proliferation capability of cord blood DC-CIK cells was significantly higher than that of cord blood CIK cells and peripheral blood DC-CIK cells (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05). Under the same condition, the rate of double positive cells with CD3(+)CD8(+) and CD3(+)CD56(+) in CIK cells was significantly enhanced by co-culture with cord blood DCs (p < 0.05). The level of IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in cultured supernatants of cord blood DC-CIK cells increased noticeably on day 3 as compared with CIK cells cultured alone (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). Within the effector-target ratio range between 2.5:1 to 20:1, the activity of cord blood DC-CIK cells against all subtypes of acute leukemia cells was much higher than that of CIK cells (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference among all subtypes of acute leukemia cells, which was the same with the killing effect of peripheral blood DC-CIK cells against leukemia cells. It is concluded that the proliferation capability and anti-leukemia effect of the homologous CIK cells can be enhanced by cord blood DCs. The proliferation capability of cord blood DC-CIK cells is stronger than that of peripheral blood DC-CIK cells, but there is no significant differences of cytotoxicity between DCs and CIK cells. As the cord blood is easily gained and does not easily cause a serious graft rejection, the DC-CIK cells should be clinically applied more extensively as novel immune therapy.
Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; cytology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Leukemia ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of dendritic cells (DC) on the proliferation capability, immunophenotype changes, level of secreted cytokines and activity against leukemia of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells in vitro. DCs and CIK cells were induced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy volunteers. They were co-cultured meanwhile CIK cells were cultured alone as controls. Increased number of cells were counted by trypan-blue staining; the killing activity was detected by MTT assay; immunophenotype changes were analyzed by flow cytometry; the IL-12 and INF-gamma levels of the cultured supernatants were detected by ELISA kits. The results showed that the proliferation capability of DC-CIK cells was significantly higher than that of CIK cells (p < 0.05). Under the same condition, the ratio of double positive cells such as CD3(+) CD8(+), CD3(+) CD56(+) in CIK cells was significantly enhanced by co-cultured with DC cells (p < 0.05). The levels of IL-12 and INF-gamma in cultured supernatants of DC-CIK cells increased noticeably on day 3 as compared with CIK cells cultured alone (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). Within the effector-target ratio range between 5:1 to 40:1, the activity of DC-CIK cells against leukemia cells were much higher than that of CIK cells (p < 0.05), and this effect showed a positive correlation with the effector-target ratio. It is concluded that the proliferation capability of DC-CIK cells, the level of their secreted cytokines and their activity against leukemia cells are significantly higher than those of CIK cells. This research may suggest an approach for clinical immunotherapy against leukemia with DC-CIK cells.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism

Objective To explore the clinical features and gene mutations of antenatal form leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter disease (VWM).Methods The clinical data and genetic test results in a patient with antenatal form of VWM were retrospectively analyzed.Results A three months old patient was admitted to our hospital with intermittent convulsions commenced from the first month after birth.The baby had low birth weight (1900g) and asphyxia at birth.Developmental retardation and cataracts in both eyes were found on physical examination,and the patient couldn't stare,gaze-following,be amused and raise his head.In addition,he showed hypermyotonia of both lower extremities.Diffused and symmetrical abnormal signals same as that of the cerebrospinal fluid in the cerebral white matter were observed by brain CT and MRI scanning,and the lesions were gradually enlarged.Moreover,a missense mutation (c.1016G＞A) and a frameshift mutation (c.1809delC) in EIF2B5 gene inherited from his parent were detected by DNA sequencing.Conclusions VWM is one of the most prevalently inherited childhood white matter disorders,but the case of antenatal form is very rare.The diagnosis should be based on clinical manifestations and EIF2B genetic analysis.To our knowledge,the frameshift mutation c.1809delC has never been reported to date.

AIM To establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous content determination of four constituents in Yangxin Dingji Capsules (a cardiac tonic for palpitation,containing Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle,Cinnamomi Ramulus,Rehmanniae Radix,etc.).METHODS The analysis of 50％ methanol extract of Yangxin Dingji Capsules was performed on a 40 ℃ thermostatic Diamonsil C1s column (250 mm × 4.6 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of 0.1％ formic acid-acetonitrile flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 265 nm.RESULTS Liquiritin,glycyrrhizic acid,cinnamic acid and cinnamic aldehyde showed good linear relationships within the ranges of 1.00-80.24 μg/mL (r=0.999 0),2.52-100.70 μg/mL (r--0.999 7),0.50-40.40 μg/mL (r =1.000 0) and 0.66-52.96 μg/mL (r =1.000 0),whose average recoveries were 97.74％,100.97％,101.48％ and 99.49％ with the RSDs of 0.45％,1.11％,1.27％ and 1.66％,respectively.CONCLUSION This simple,accurate and reproducible method can be used for the quality control of Yangxin Dingji Capsules.