BACKGROUND:Advancement in bioengineering based upon tissue engineering techniques may offer the possibility of repairing degenerative intervertebral disc.
OBJECTIVE:To summarize the research progress in the scaffolds of tissue engineered intervertebral disc.
METHODS:A computer-based retrieval was performed to search manuscripts describing tissue engineered intervertebral disc scaffolds published between January 1st, 1900 and December 31st, 2012 in PubMed database with the key words of“tissue engineering, intervertebral disc, scaffold”in English.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Scaffold is an important part of tissue-engineered research. There are three kinds of materials for intervertebral disc scaffolds:natural biomaterials, synthetic materials, and composite materials. A variety of scaffold materials have their own advantages and disadvantages. Up to now, none of these scaffold materials is accepted as the most suitable one. The selection of scaffold materials is stil to be further studied. The study and development of nanoscale biomaterials is an inevitable trend. Otherwise, with the help of bionics, improving scaffolds is also an inexorable trend in progress of simulating human intervertebral disc. Furthermore, injectable scaffold is also an research hot spot, and the selection range of injectable scaffold materials mainly focuses on chitosan, typeⅡcolagen,hyaluronic acid,fibrin,elastin,and alginate.C urrently, studies on chitosan as a scaffold material are relatively more.

BACKGROUND: There are different methods to isolate and culture human nucleus pulposus cells, and the differences in digestive enzymes components and digestion time quite are significant. So how to rapidly and efficiently harvest human nucleus pulposus cells has become a research hotspot. OBJECTIVE: To optimize the digestive enzymes components and digestion methods for the preparation of human nucleus pulposus cells. METHODS: Nucleus pulposus tissue specimens were selected from three adult discs in the Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University. The acute traumatic disc tissues that outstanding to the spinal canal were taken under aseptic conditions, and then the peripheral white annulus and jel y-like nucleus pulposus in the center could be seen. According to different mixed enzyme concentration ratio, the samples were divided into two groups. The enzyme Ⅰ group was treated with 0.2% Ⅱ col agenase; and the mixed enzymeⅡ group was digested with 0.25% trypsin for 30 minutes, and then treated with 0.2% Ⅱ col agenase. According to digestion time, each group was divided into three subgroups: 2 hours group, 4 hours group, and overnight group. Final y, suspended cel volume was decided as 2 mL to count cells. Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium containing fetal bovine serum was used for cel culture in vitro. Trypan blue staining was performed to count total cel number and ratio of living cells. Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay was used to detect the growth curve of nucleus pulposus cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Based on the two digestion enzyme concentration, the number of digested cells in the enzyme Ⅰ group was larger than that in the enzyme Ⅱ group after digested for 2 and 4 hours, but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Overnight, cellsurvival rate was decreased in the enzyme Ⅰ group after digested for 2 and 4 hours when compared with the enzyme Ⅱ group, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). After digested for 4 hours, tissue blocks disappeared, and the number of cells reached maximum. The results indicate that enzyme Ⅰgroup composite with Ⅱ col agenase is benefit for the separation of nucleus pulposus cells, and the digestion time is appropriate to 4 hours. This condition has the advantages of simple operation, high efficiency and low cost, and it considered that digestion of nucleus pulposus tissues with 0.2% Ⅱ col agenase for 4 hours is the best condition to obtain nucleus pulposus cells.

OBJECTIVE To investigate thechanges and clinical significance of serum Nesfatin-1 in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).METHODS 25 OSAHS cases who visited the department of otolaryngology, pneumology department, endocrinology department, physical examination center and sleep monitoring room from December 2014 to April 2015 were assigned as OSAHS group, and 25 patients with OSAHS and T2DM as OSAHS combination T2DM group, and 25 other patients as control group. All patient were took polysomnography, and the height, waist, neck circumference and BMI with all subjects were recorded. The serum Nesfatin-1 and fast blood glucose levels of all patients were measured.RESULTS The gender, age, height, waist and neck circumference had no statistical difference among all groups. The height and BMI in OSAHS group and OSAHS combination T2DM group were statistically significant difference compared with the control group (P<0.05); the FBG in OSAHS combination T2DM group and OSAHS group were significantly higher than that of the control group, and the FBG in OSAHS combination T2DM group were significantly higher than that of the OSAHS group, with statistically significant(P<0.05); The AHI in OSAHS combination T2DM group were significantly higher than that of the OSAHS group, with statistically significant(P<0.05); the serum Nesfatin-1 in OSAHS combination T2DM group and OSAHS group were significantly higher than that of the control group, with statistically significant(P<0.05); FBG, AHI and Nesfatin-1 were positively correlated with each other.CONCLUSION The serum Nesfatin-1 in patients with OSAHS combination T2DM are in a high level.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of vastus medialisoblique enhancement plus electroacupuncture intervention in treating patellar chondromalacia.MethodFifty-two patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 32 cases and a control group of 20 cases. The treatmentgroup received vastus medialis oblique enhancement plus electroacupuncture intervention and the control group, electroacupuncture intervention alone. Both groups were treated once daily, 10 times as a course, for four consecutive courses. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was counted in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated in the two groups.ResultThe VAS score improved significantly in both groups of patients after treatment compared with before(P<0.05). It improved significantly more in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The cure rate and the total efficacy rate were 37.5% and 96.9%, respectively, in the treatment group, which were higher than a cure rate of 20.0% and a total efficacy rate of 75.0% in the control group, respectively. ConclusionVastus medialis oblique enhancement plus electroacupuncture intervention can improve the clinical symptom of pain more markedly and heighten the clinical therapeutic effect in patients with patellar chondromalacia. Its effect is better than that of electroacupuncture intervention alone.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and adverse reaction of the first line therapy with rabbit-antithymocyte globulin (ATG) combined with Cyclosporine (CsA) in children with acquired severe aplastic anemia.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed.The clinical data included 44 children with acquired severe aplastic anemia treated with ATG combined with CsA in Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University between June 2006 and December 2013.The SPSS 19.0 statistical package was used for data analysis.Results Sixteen cases were severe aplastic anemia,and 28 cases were very severe aplastic anemia.The median age of treatment with ATG was 8 years old and 10 months.The median follow-up period was 24 months.The hematologic response rate was 66％ (29/44 cases) in 6 months after ATG treatment,and the overall response rate was 77％ (34/44 cases) at the endpoint of follow-up.The median time of partial remission (PR) was 3 months,of complete remission (CR) was 12 months.Eighty-five percent (29/34 cases)effective cases achieved PR during 6 months,while 56％ (15/27 cases)cases achieved CR in 12 months.There was no significant difference between the response rate with ATG treatment and gender,severity of disease,age,interval from clinical onset to ATG treatment,and ratio of CD4 +/CD8 +.The response rate in children without serum sickness was superior to that with serum disease(P =0.006).Thirty-four cases (77％) manifested immediate side-effects with ATG infusion.The side-effects included fever,chill,rash,gastrointestinal distress and irritable cough.The overall 2-year survival rate was 87.3％ (39/44 cases) and the 2-year transplantation-free survival rate was 82.5％ (37/44 cases) (x2 =0.34,P =0.56).Conclusions The response rate with rabbit-ATG combined with CsA in children with acquired severe aplastic anemia was 77％.The adverse reactions were minor.The immunosuppressive therapy should begin as soon as possible in children without chance for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of using stroke volume variation (SVV) as the left ventricular preload to draw the cardiac function curve.Methods Twenty-seven patients of both sexes,aged 18-64 yr,with body mass index of 18-30 kg/m2,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ (New York Heart Association Ⅱ),with abnormal cardiac function,scheduled for elective offpany coronary artery byp grafting,were enrolled in this study.Twenty-five patients,aged 18-64 yr,with body mass index of 18-30 kg/m2,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ (New York Heart Association Ⅰ),with normal cardiac function,scheduled for elective non-cardiac surgery,were also enrolled in this study.SVV and SV were monitored by using a FloTrac/VigileoTM system.The patients were in the supine position from the end of anesthesia induction to the beginning of surgery.After the hemodynamics was kept stable for 5 min,SVV and SV were recorded.6％ hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 500 ml was intravenously infused over 20 min.SVV and SV were recorded after volume expansion.Spearman rank-order correlation was used to analyze the relationship between SVV and SV.The quadratic regression analysis was used to draw the SVV-SV curve,and the SVV-SV curve was compared with the Frank-Starling curve.Results Compared with the value before volume expansion,SVV and HR were significantly decreased,and SV was increased after volume expansion in the patients with normal cardiac function,and SVV was decreased after volume expansion in the patients with abnormal cardiac function (P＜0.01).SVV was negatively correlated with SV in the patients with normal cardiac function,and r=-0.467 (P＜0.05).SVV was negatively correlated with SV in the patients with abnormal cardiac function,and r=-0.378 (P＜0.05).The mirror symmetry was found between the SVV-SV curve in the patients with normal cardiac function and the normal Frank-Starling curve,and the general trend was close.The symmetry was not detected between the SVV-SV curve in the patients with abnormal cardiac function and the Frank-Starling curve in the patients with decreased myocardial contractility,and the general trend was not close.Conclusion For the patients with normal cardiac function,SVV can be used as the left ventricular preload to draw the cardiac function curve.

Objective To assess the changes in heart geometry and function during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG).Methods Thirty ASAⅡorⅢpatients(24 males,6 females)aged 50-78 undergoing elective off-pump CABG were studied.After induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation a catheter which was connected to the monitor measuring continuous cardiac output(CCO),mixed venous blood oxygen saturation(S(?)O_2)and CEDV was placed via right internal jugular vein and the probe of multi-phase transesophageal echocardiograph(TEE)(Sonos HP 2500)was inserted in the esophagus.The distance between the probe and the incisors was between 34-45 cm.The hemodynamic variables and TEE parameters were recorded when epicardium was opened(T_1,baseline)when the octopus tissue stabilizer was placed during anastomosis between the graft vessel and left anterior descending artery(LAD)(T_2)left circumflex artery(LCX)(T_3)and right coronary artery(RCA)(T_4)and when the anastomoses between the vessel grafts and aorta was completed (T_5).Results At T_2 the mitral valve deceleration time(DT_1)and the blood flow through the mitral valve(Q_1) were decreased significantly as compared with the baseline(T_1);MAP was significantly decreased while HR and CVP were increased(P＜0.05).At T_3 the left and right ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD,RVEDD), tricuspid valve diameter(TVD)and the blood flow through Q_1 and tricuspid valve(Q_2)were significantly decreased as compared to the baseline values at T_1.The mitral valve E/A ratio was increased while the tricuspid valve E/A ratio was decreased(P＜0.05).The MAP,S(?)O_2,right ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic volume(RVESV,RVEDV)and right ventricular ejection fraction were significantly decreased while HR and CVP were increased at T_3 as compared to the baseline at T_1.At T_4 LVESD,LVEDD,MVD,tricuspid valve E/A ratio and Q_1 were significantly decreased as compared to the baseline at T_1(P＜0.05).MAP,MPAP,SV,S(?)O_2, RVEF,RVESV and RVEDV were significantly decreased while HR and CVP were increased(P＜0.05).At T_5 all the TEE and hemodynamic parameters returned to the baseline valves at T_1.Conclusion During anastomoses between graft vessels and LAD,LCX and RCA,both left and right ventricles are compared to some extent and the heart function is impaired temporarily but returns to the baseline after the anastomoses are completed.

OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention effects of electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) on rats with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide experiment references for acupuncture to treat T2DM.

METHODSAmong seventy male Wistar clean-grade rats, 8 rats were randomly selected into a control group; the rest rats were made T2DM model. Fifty-two rats which were successfully made T2DM model, according to randomized block method, were divided into a model group (10 rats), a medication group (10 rats), an electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (11 rats), an electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group (10 rats) and an electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group (11 rats). Seven days after successful establishment of model, the rats in the model group were fixed in the self-made rat bag without receiving any treatment; the rats in the medication group, according to body mass (10 mL/kg), were treated with intragastric administration of glimepiride; the rats in all the electroacupuncture groups were treated with electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Yishu" (EX-B 3), respectively. The continuous wave was selected with a frequency of 15 Hz and a current intensity of 4 to 6 mA. The treatment was given 20 min per treatment, once a day, 5 treatments per week for continuous 4 weeks. Before the establishment of model and continuous 4 weeks after the intervention, blood samples were collected from rats' caudal vein, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured with FBG device each week. After the last intervention, the rats were killed and hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal gland were collected. The colorimetric method was applied to measure the contents of triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C); radioimmunoassay was used to test the contents of glycated serum protein (GSP), fasting insulin (FINS), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortin (CORT).

RESULTSFour weeks after the intervention, except that the rat's body mass in the normal group continued to increase, body mass in the model group, medication group and each electroacupuncture group were significantly reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the FBG in the electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group and electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group were obviously reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01); FBG in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group was lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (both P<0.05). The contents of TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group were reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), the content of TG was significantly lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (both P<0.05), the content of LDL-C was significantly lower than that in electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (P<0.05). Insulin sensitivity index (ISI) in the medication group, electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group and electroacupuncture at "Yishu (EX-B 3)" group were evidently increased (P<0.05, P<0.01); ISI in the medication group was lower than that in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group (P<0.05). The content of CRH in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group was lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (P<0.05, P<0.01); the content of CORT in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group was lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) could reduce the level of CORT to improve the insulin resistance in rats with T2DM, improve insulin sensitivity index, regulate blood lipid metabolism and relieve the hyperactivity of the HPA axis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Background The current evaluation of corneal optical quality after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is based on the single factor,such as scattering,diffraction or aberration,and all of them are not comprehensive and objective methods.Modulation transfer function (MTF) and Strehl ratio (ST) are novel parameters of corneal optical quality,which can be used to assess the optical quality comprehensively.Objective This study was to evaluate the change of MTF and SR under the photopic and scotopic environment (3 mm and 6 mm pupil size,respectively) after SMILE procedure.Methods The study protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Tianjin Eye Hospital,and written informed consent was obtained from each patient before any medical procedure.A series cases-observational study with self-control design was carried out.Sixty-three eyes of 32 myopia or myopic astigmatism patients who underwent SMILE surgery in Tianjin Eye Hospital were included from December 2013 to March 2014.The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA),best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (LogMAR),the effective index (postoperative UCVA/preoperative BCVA) and refractive diopter were examined,and the MTF,SR and root mean square (RMS) on the anterior corneal surface were measured under the 3 mm and 6 mm pupil size at different spatial frequencies (10,20,30,40,50 and 60 c/d) by Sirius anterior analyzer before surgery and 1 week,1 month and 3 months after surgery,respectively.Results UCVA was ≥0.8 in 59,62 and 63 eyes in 1 week,1 month and 3 months after SMILE,with the percentage of 93.65％,98.41％ and 100％,and the effective index was 1.104± 0.128,1.126±0.145 and 1.158±0.208,respectively.The refractive diopter was normal in the eyes at postoperative 3 months.The MTFs of various spatial frequencies on the vertical and horizontal meridian under the 3 mm pupil size after SMILE were significantly higher than those before SMILE,while under the 6 mm pupil size,the MTFs were higher only on vertical meridian and 10,20,30 and 40 e/d,and there were not significant differences on the horizontal meridian (all at P＜0.05).The SRs under the 3 mm and 6 mm pupil size showed increasing softly after surgery in comparison with before surgery,and the SRs were higher under the 3 mm pupil size than those under the 6 mm pupil size at various time points (all at P＜0.05).There were not significant differences in RMS among different time points under both 3 mm pupil size and 6 mm pupil size (3 mm pupil size:F =1.348,P =0.184;6 mm pupil size:F=1.990,P=0.137).Conclusions SMILE provides a great improvement in corneal optical quality for myopia or myopic astigmatism patients,which is more distinct in photopic condition than that in scotopic condition.

This study reported the analysis of plasma phospholipid metabolism of the rats and the pathological biomarkers between the type 2 diabetes model control group (MC) and the normal control group (NC). SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: NC and MC. To investigate state of plasma metabolite profiling in normal body, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model group using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS which was used as analysis tool in this research. The compounds were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS based on MS/MS fragment ions information, element composition in MassLynx 4.1 and the Lipid Maps database. The sign of two groups of samples in specific markers for screening was through a software package in R software (BioMark software). The results show that the pathological markers were mainly phosphatidylcholine (PC) and triglycerides (TG); the 2-acyl PC in the MC group was less more obviously than that in the NC group; high carbon number and high degree of unsaturation of the TG was reduced under the condition of type 2 diabetes. In the state of type 2 diabetes, metabolic changes occurred in rat plasma phospholipids obviously, which had a close relationship with the occurrence and development of T2DM.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; Metabolome ; Phospholipids ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry