Objective To investigate the factors relevant to the vascular calcification in uiemic patients.Methods Eighty-five uiemic patients were enrolled in this study.The levels of fetuin-A,serum calcium,serum phosphorus,C-reactive protein and other parameters related to calcification were examined.B-ultrasound was used to detect carotid plaques.Results The Fetuin-A levels in patients with vascular calcification were significantly lower than those with non-vascular calcification[(2.34±0.95) μg/L vs (3.79±1.19) μg/L,t=5.94,P＜0.01],but serum calcium,serum phosphorus and C-reactive protein were higher than those non-vascular calcification [serum phosphorus (1.97±0.23) mmol/L vs (1.80±0.33) mmol/L,t=2.05,P＜0.05;calcium and phosphorus product (50.04±6.61) mg~2/dl~2 vs (44.84±9.75) mg~2/dl~2,t=2.05,P＜0.05;C-reactive protein (33.45±25.11)mmol/L vs (20.65±13.43) mmol/L,t=2.03,P＜0.05].Linear correlation analysis indicated that low fetuin-A level was correlated with C-reactive protein (r=-0.43,P＜0.01),calcium-phosphorus product (r=-0.32,P＜0.01),serum albumin concentration (r=0.37,P＜0.05) and phosphorus level (r=-0.36,P＜0.05).Conclusions The risk factors relevant to the vascular calcification are high serum phosphorus,calcium and phosphorus product and the micro-inflammatory status in uiemic patients.Vascular calcification is also correlated with low fetuinA level,adding exogenous Fetuin-A may become an effective means in preventing vascular calcification.

Although autoallergic neural transplantation Is a gold standard to repair neurologic defect, nerve tissue engineering becomes an ideal replacement due to a limited collection of nerve. Nerve tissue-engineering release-controlled system promotes axonal regeneration via a scaffold to slowly release nerve growth factor and to create a suitable microenvironment for nerve growth. There are various materials and methods for creating nerve tissue-engineering release-controlled system; therefore, choosing a good material and a good method to control nerve growth factor and to cause excellent repairing effect are hot topics for researching nerve tissue-engineering release-controlled system. The aim of this review is to introduce the new methods and technologies applied in the delivery system of nerve growth factors in recent years. This review also attempts to classify the strategies of drug delivery of nerve growth factor in a new way.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of implementing the 24 hours treatment and management model of children with cerebral palsy in Shanghai,in order to provide a set of effective and saving manpower,material and financial rehabilitation and management model for children with cerebral palsy.Methods Firstly,the 10 exports engaged in cerebral palsy rehabilitation were selected as the in depth interviewees by the sampling method of grounded theory.Secondly,applying in depth interviews,the 10 exports were interviewed by designing interview outline and subjects.Last,the interview data were collected and analyzed.Results By analyzing the interview data in three-stage coding mode,three factors affecting the feasibility of 24 hours treatment and management model of children with cerebral palsy in Shanghai were obtained,including the favorable factors,obstacles and necessary factors.Conclusions The 24-hour treatment and management model of children with cerebral palsy in Shanghai is feasible,but it will encounter some obstacles in the implementation process.Through the policy support for health care and education sectors,the feasibility of the pattern will be greatly enhanced.

Scaffold is one of the key elements required for tissue engineering. Porous scaffolds have several special advantages for muscle tissue engineering, and they are beneficial to cell survival, myogenic differentiation, and vascular ingrowth. The performance of porous scaffolds is closely related to the property of the biomaterials used. Additionally, the pore size and porosity may affect cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. This review focuses on the application of porous scaffolds in muscle tissue engineering, including their categories, application, and advantages.
Biocompatible Materials ; Cell Adhesion ; Humans ; Muscles ; physiology ; Porosity ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

Objective To explore the influence of XTP4 on genomic expression profile of hepatocyte through screening and cloning of genes trans-regulated by XTP4-expressing plasmid. Methods The expressive vector pcDNA3.1(-)-XTP4 was constructed by routine molecular biological methods, and suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) method was employed to detect the mRNA differentially expressed by the HepG2 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1(-)-XTP4 and pcDNA3.1(-), respectively, using lipofectamine. The twice enriched PCR products were subcloned into T/A vectors to set up the subtractive library. Amplification of the library was carried out in E. coli strain JM109. The screened cDNA were sequenced and analyzed in GenBank with Blast search after PCR. Results The amplified subtractive library containd 21 positive clones. Colony PCR analysis showed that there were 16 clones containing 200-1000bp inserts. Sequence analysis was performed and 9 kinds of encoding sequences were achieved. These genes trans-regulated by XTP4 protein involved in hepatic fibrogenesis, tumorgenesis, mitochondrial function, and cell growth regulation. Conclusions The findings obtained by SSH provide significant data for a preliminary understanding of the biological function of a new identified gene-XTP4. These results will pave the way for the study of the molecular mechanism of the transactivating effects of HBxAg and the development of new therapy for chronic hepatitis B.

Objective To review the experience of one stage surgical repair of pulmonary atresia with homologous monocuspid valve patch. Methods From October 1996 to May 2002,twenty-eight patients,4 months to 20 years of age (mean 35.3 months),received surgical repair wih homologous monocuspid valve patch in right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. 17 patients had ventricular septal defect,others had intact ventricular septum. ResultsTwo patients died of low cardiac output syndrome with a hospital mortality of 7.14%. The leading complications were atelectasis,infection,anoxic encephalopathy,capillary leakage syndrome,residual shunt. Conclusion The repair with homologous monocuspid valve patch for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in pulmonary atresia provided good early results and minimizes pulmonary insufficiency. Surgical technique emphasized.

Objiective To prepare pingyangmycin water-soluble wax stick and to establish its content determination method. Method The formula was optimized by orthogonal experiment and the content of pingyangmycin in wax stick was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results The formula of pingyangmycin wax stick matrix was optimized as 1 g of alcohol ethoxylate and 1 g of S 40. Pingyangmycin was added when the temperature of the matrix raised to 70℃and stirred for 20 min. The linear range of pingyangmycin determined by HPLC was 34.4~172μg/mL,the regression equations was y=8298.9 x-34996(r=0.9999),and the average recovery of pingyangmycin was 102.67%(n=9). Conclusion The Preparing procedure of pingyangmycin water-soluble wax sticks is simple and stable. The HPLC method for determining the content of pingyangmycin in water-soluble wax sticks is simple, fast and accurate.

ObjectiveTo summarize the experience of right mini-thoracotomy in the treatment of congenital cardiac defects.MethodsA total o f 1258 patients with congenital cardiac defects received right thoracotomy approach correction u nder cardiopulmonary bypass between October 1994 and March 2003. The cardiac def ects included 293 cases of atrial septal defect, 604 cases of ventricular septal defect, 98 cases of atrial septal defects associated with ventricular septal de fects, 177 cases of Fallot's Tetralogy, 29 cases of partial endocardial cushion defects, and 57 cases of other defects. Complicating anomalies were as follows: patent ductus arteriosus, left superior vena cava, mitral insufficiency, anomalo us pulmonary venous connection, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, etc .ResultsAmong the 9 fatal cases (0.7%) in the study, 5 succu mbed to low card iac output, 2 to severe pulmonary infection, 1 to perfusive lung injury, and 1 t o pulmonary hypertension crisis. Postoperative complications occurred in 36 case s (2 9%). The cardiopulmonary bypass time was (60 3?32 1) min (range, 15 min ～359 min), the aortic crossclamping time was (37 7?24 6) min (range, 3 min～ 205 min ), the duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation was (19 7?34 4) hours ( range, 1 5 hours～401 hours), and the postoperative hospital stay was (8 0?12 1) days (range, 5 days～300 days).ConclusionsRight mini-thorac otomy is minimall y invasive, without impairing the integrity of the bony thorax. It gives excelle nt cosmetic results and prevents patients from postoperative pigeon chest.

Objective To construct a subtractive cDNA library of genes differentially expressed in human lymphoma cell line Jurkat cells treated with glycyrrhizin (GL), and to clone genes associated with its immunological regulation, and to further elucidate the molecular immune mechanism of GL. Methods The mRNA was isolated from Jurkat cells treated with either GL or 0.9 percent sodium chloride as a control, then cDNA was synthesized. Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) method was employed to analyze the differentially expressed DNA sequence between the two groups. The cDNA was sequenced and analyzed in GenBank with Blast search after the amplification of the subtractive library by PCR. Results The amplified library contained 28 positive clones. Colony PCR analysis showed that there were 22 clones containing 200-1 000 bp inserts. Sequence analysis was performed, and the full length sequences were obtained with bioinformatics method. Altogether 11 kinds of encoding sequences were achieved, including interleukin-12, interleukin-18, and thymosin ?1, etc. Conclusions A subtractive cDNA library of genes differentially expressed in Jurkat cells treated with GL using SSH technique was constructed successfully, and it might give some new clues for the study of the immune regulation mechanism of GL.

Objective To clone amastin coding genes from different strains of Leishmania parasites. Methods Using amastin cDNA sequence as the reference, dbEST data base established by National Center Biotechnology Information (NCBI), USA, was searched by BLAST tool. A 309 bp DNA fragment of Leishmania major was found and used as the probe for the screening of a DNA library. The amastin gene of Leishmania major Abdou was cloned and sequenced. Specific primers were designed and amastin genes for Leishmania mexicana WR972, Leishmania brizeliensis and Leishmania amazonensis joseph were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Results The amastin genes from 4 strains of Leishmania parasites were cloned and sequenced. It was found that all 4 amastin genes contained unique open reading frame of 552 bp and encoded amastin protein of 183 amino acid residues. Conclusion The amastin genes of 4 strains of Leishmania parasites were successfully cloned.