BACKGROUND:Col agen and silk fibroin materials for construction of spinal cord scaffolds have been proven to repair or partial y repair damaged spinal cord nerve function. OBJECTIVE:To introduce partial characteristics of the col agen and silk fibroin and to review the recent progress and application as scaffolds in spinal cord tissue engineering. METHODS:A computer-based search of CNKI and PubMed databases (2003-01/2012-10) was performed for articles addressing the application of col agen and silk fibroin scaffolds in spinal cord injury with the keywords of“col agen, silk fibroin, scaffold, spinal cord injury”in Chinese and English, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Col agen has low antigenicity, good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Col agen and its degradation products can cause no inflammatory reactions in the body, but have the disadvantages of rapid degradation and poor mechanical properties. Silk fibroin has good biocompatibility and excellent mechanical properties, but its degradation is slow. The col agen and silk fibroin are compounded using an electrostatic spinning technology to improve the physical properties of the material on the basis of maintaining good biocompatibility. At present, fibroin or col agen materials in terms of nervous system repair have been studied, laying some foundation for spinal cord tissue engineering. Considering the similar characteristics and mechanics performance to the spinal cord tissue, col agen/silk fibroin composite materials are expected to become the ideal scaffold materials for spinal cord tissue engineering.

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Muscular Dystrophies ; complications ; congenital ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; complications

BACKGROUND:Neural stem cel s with self-proliferation and differentiation potential are the ideal seed cel s for central nervous tissue engineering. Although col agen and silk fibroin as biological scaffold materials have been widely used, both of them used alone have certain shortcomings. Is it possible to combine the two materials to build a novel neural tissue-engineered scaffold? What is the effect of this novel scaffold on the growth and differentiation of neural stem cel s? OBJECTIVE:To observe the growth and differentiation of neural stem cel s seeded onto the novel composite scaffold. METHODS:The rat embryonic neural stem cells were inoculated onto new composite scaffolds, and then, their growth and differentiation were observed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Neural stem cells were cultured in conventional suspension culture as control group. Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect viability of neural stem cells in the two groups. Three-dimensional composite scaffolds carrying neural stem cells were slic ed into paraffin sections to observe the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Neural stem cel s cultured on the new composite scaffold grew and differentiated wel , and interconnected synapses were observed. Cel counting kit-8 assay showed that neural stem cel s on the scaffold grew wel , and the cel viability was significantly higher in the composite scaffold group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining of paraffin sections further provided evidence for good growth and differentiation of neural stem cel s on the scaffold. These results indicate that the novel composite scaffold with good biocompatibility benefits the growth and differentiation of neural stem cel s, promising a favorable application prospect.

OBJECTIVETo study and compare the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture and probiotics combine Deanxit in treating diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS).

METHODSTotally 64 D-IBS patients accompanied with anxiety and/or depression were randomly assigned to the Western medicine group (Group A) and the electroacupuncture (EA) group (Group B), 30 patients in Group A and 34 patients in Group B. Patients in Group A took Bacillus licheniformis and Deanxit, while those in Group B received EA. Four weeks consisted of one therapeutic course. Three-month follow-up was carried out. The scoring for the digestive tract symptoms, HAMA score, and HAMD score were evaluated before and after treatment. The recurrence in the 3-month follow-up was also observed.

RESULTSThe total effect rate was 86.67% in Group A and 88.24% in Group B with no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in the scoring for the digestive tract symptoms, HAMA score, and HAMD score (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the improvement of defecation frequency score, HAMA score, HAMD score between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). Better effects on improving abdominal pain score and abdominal distention score was obtained in Group B (P < 0.01), while better effects on improving the stool form score and mucus score were obtained in Group A (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups within the two-month follow-up (P > 0.05). The recurrence rate within the 3-month follow-up was obviously lower in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA and Western medicine (probiotics combined Deanxit) could effectively treat D-IBS patients accompanied with anxiety and/or depression. Both of them had different superiorities in improving symptoms. But EA had better long-term therapeutic effects.

Adult ; Anthracenes ; therapeutic use ; Diarrhea ; therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Flupenthixol ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of a new type silicone rubber for maxillofacial prosthesis, which was developed by the present authors. According to the GB/T16886. 5- 2003, the samples were prepared and tested with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, the relative growth rate (RGR) was calculated, and morphology of L929 cells were observed by scanning electron microscope and phase contrast microscope. The results showed that RGR of L929 cells were 91.65% (24 h), 87.03% (48 h), 87.30% (72 h), respectively, and the level of cytotoxicity was grade 1. The L929 cells showed typical fusiform shape and their morphology did not changed significantly after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. These data indicated that the newly-developed silicone rubber material, as a maxillofacial prosthesis material, should be a safe biomaterial.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Maxillofacial Prosthesis ; Mice ; Silicone Elastomers ; toxicity

OBJECTIVEThe biological safety of a new developed silicone rubber for inflatable silastic prosthesis (SRISP) was evaluated.

METHODSFollowing the GB/T 16886.10-2005 standard, YY/T 0127.13-2009 standard, and GB/T 16886.11- 2011 standard, samples were prepared and tested by animal experiments, such as guinea pig maximization test, oral mucous membrane irritation test, and short-term systemic toxicity test (oral route).

RESULTSNo obvious erythema and edema in the guinea pig abdominal skin were observed after 24, 48, and 72 h of stimulating touch, thus indicating that SRISP does not cause potential skin sensitivity. No local response to SRISP was found, and the visual observation and pathological findings of oral mucosa were normal and similar to that of the control group. Therefore, SRISP had no irritation response to oral mucosa. No clinical signs of toxicity were observed in rats, and no significant differences in weight and weight relative growth rate between extract group and blank control group (P > 0.05) were found. Thus, SRISP had no short-term systemic toxicity.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicated that SRISP met the requirement of biomedical materials and had good bio- security.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cosmetics ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes ; Guinea Pigs ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rats ; Silicone Elastomers ; Toxicity Tests

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effects of circumcision and the foreskin-deglove plus shaft-fix (FDSF) procedure in the treatment of phimosis or redundant prepuce in obese adult males (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 28 kg/m²).

METHODSForty-four obese adult men with phimosis or redundant prepuce underwent circumcision (n = 24) or FDSF (n = 20) according to their own wishes. The patients in the circumcision and FDSF groups were aged (26.38 ± 4.24) and (26.90 ± 3.14) years, with BMIs of (27.77 ± 0.77) and (28.07 ± 2.28) kg/m² and penis lengths of (3.51 ± 0.46) and (3.50 ± 0.59) cm, respectively. The operations were performed under local anesthesia with lidocaine plus ropivacaine mesylate.

RESULTSThe operation time of circumcision was (28.04 ± 2.65) min and that of FDSF was (45.45 ± 3.49) min. At 6 months after surgery, normal penile erection was found in all the patients, the penis length was significantly longer in the FDSF than in the circumcision group ([5.01 ± 0.73] vs [3.70 ± 0.47] cm) , and the rate of satisfaction with penile appearance was markedly higher in the former than in the latter group (3.25 ± 0.71 vs 2.83 ± 0.56).

CONCLUSIONThe foreskin-deglove plus shaft-fix procedure under local anesthesia with lidocaine and ropivacaine mesylate may achieve desirable penile erection and appearance in the treatment of phimosis or redundant prepuce in obese adult patients.

Adult ; Amides ; Anesthetics, Local ; Body Mass Index ; Circumcision, Male ; methods ; Foreskin ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Male ; Mesylates ; Obesity ; complications ; Operative Time ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; abnormalities ; Phimosis ; surgery

Objective To compare the infectivity between laboratory adapted human inununodefi- ciency virus(HIV-1) and primary HIV-1 isolates for different mucosal epithelial cell lines. Methods Mu-cosal epithelial cells Caco-2, T-84, HeLa and lymphocyte MT-4 were infected with laboratory adapted HIV-1 SF33 and 2 primary HIV-1 isolates (02010561, 02010141). Culture supernatant and cells were collected respectively on 3-4 days interval after virus inoculation. The former was tested for HIV-1 antigen P24 level and viral load, and the latter was tested for total viral DNA and integrated viral DNA. Results All 3 virus strains could infect MT-4 cells and integrate into their genome. Only HIV-1 SF33 could infect Caco-2 cells but could not integrate into their genomic DNA. Both HIV-1 SF33 and 02010561 infected HeLa cells but only integration of HIV-1 SF33 was detected. All the 3 HIV-1 strains infected T-84 cells but only the integra-tion of HIV-1 SF33 and 02010141 was observed. Conclusion Although laboratory adapted and primary HIV-1 strains are able to infect human mucosal epithelial cell lines, transient or productive infection estab-lished in different mucosal epithelial cells is dependent on the character of cells and virus strains.

Objective To establish a detection technique for H.pylori(HP) infection in Mongolian gerbils using nested PCR technique.Methods H.pylori was cultured in vitro and inoculated into Mongolian gerbils.At the 10th week after infection, the HP in the gastric juice of Mongolian gerbil was detected by conventional PCR assay and the gastric juice, gastric mucosa, duodenal contents and colon stool were examined by nested PCR.Rapid urease test and ELISA were used to analyze the accuracy of the nested PCR assay.All of the PCR products were verified by sequencing.Results The positive rate of gastric juice detected by conventional PCR was 30%, while the positive rates of gastric juice, gastric mucosa, duodenal contents and colon stool detected by nested PCR were 100%, 100%, 90%, and 10%, respectively.The positive detection rates of rapid urease test and serum ELISA were 100% and 0%, respectively.Comparing the results of different methods, both the positive rates of gastric juice and gastric mucosa detected by nested PCR and the detection rate of rapid urease test were 100%, but the results of conventional PCR detection of gastric juice, the nested PCR detection result of stool in colon and of serum ELISA assay were lower than other methods.Conclusions Due to its high accuracy and sensitivity, the nested PCR assay of gastric juice can be used for the long-time detection of H.pylori infection in Mongolian gerbils, especially useful in the experiments of prevention and treatment of H.pylori infection.

BACKGROUND:The traditional method of preparing tissue-engineered conduit has the defects of complex shape manufacturing and uncontrolable inner space structure, which cannot meet the requirements of some micro-catheters.
OBJECTIVE:To prepare a bionic spinal catheter and analyze its performance.
METHODS:The data model of the conduit was established using Solid Works software, and platform scan path was generated onthree-dimensionalprinter to produce the bionic spinal catheter with fibroin and colagen as raw materials. Then the water absorption, porosity, mechanical properties and celular compatibility of the conduits were detected. Next, the conduits were implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of rats and taken out at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery, respectively, to observe the degradation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The porosity of the conduit was (53.6±1.0)%, the water absorption was (1347±19.4)%, and the compression modulus was (0.60±0.12) MPa. The micropores distributed uniformly with different size ranging from 10 to 240 μm. Spherical or fusiform stem cels survived in the pores and densely adhered to the conduit with pseudopodia. The degradation rate ofthe conduit was 20%, 59%, 74%and 100% at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery, respectively. These findings indicate that the artificial bionic spinal catheter has good biocompatibility and degradability.