BACKGROUND: Experiments have demonstrated that autologous vascular endothelial cells if transplanted onto artificial vascular cavosurface, can enhance the patency rate of vasotransplantation. Whether seeding of prostheses interposition grafts with bone marrow-derived endothelial cells is effective for in vivo endothelialization of artificial vessels remains unclear.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of endothelialization of vascular prosthesis by seeding prostheses interposition grafts with bone marrow-derived endothelial cells in animals.DESIGN: A controlled animal experimental study.SETTING: Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital.MATERIALS: This study was carried out in the Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital between September 2000 and October 2001. Twenty hybrid dogs from Shanghai, of either gender, aged 1.0 to 2.0 years old, weighing (18.7±2.3) kg, were involved in this study.METHODS: Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells were isolated from the dogs. The endothelialization of ePTFE prostheses interposition grafts (4 mm×4 cm and 8 mm×5 cm)was carried out. Common carotid artery transplantation:Ten laboratory dogs were involved. Common carotid artery of 4 cm was resected from each dog. ePTFE prostheses interposition grafts of 4 mm×4 cm was transplanted into the bilateral common carotid artery, and prostheses interposition grafts were performed endothelialization, namely experimental group. Those prostheses interposition grafts, which were not performed endothelialization, were named as control group. Five dogs were used in each group. Patency rate and blood flow rate of transplanted vessels were detected with a color ultrasonograph 2 weeks and 2 months after operation.Inferior caval vein transplantation: Six of the rest 10 dogs were used for experiments. Under the anesthesia, 8-10 cm inferior caval vein was dissociated from each dog. Its two ends were blocked, and about 5 cm inferior caval vein was resected. ePTFE endothelialized vascular prosthesis with 8 mm in diameter and 5 cm in length was anastomosed end to end with 5-0 Prolene. The other 4 dogs were used for control experiment. ePTFE vascular prosthesis with the same specification was used as prostheses interposition graft. Vascular patency rate was determined 2 months after operation.At the same time, coverage rate and intimal thickness of transplanted vascular endothelial cells and vascular intimal thickness were determined.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①The patency rate and blood flow rate of transplanted vessels at different time points. ②Coverage rate of transplanted vascular endothelial cells and vascular intimal thickness.RESULTS:① At 2 weeks and 2 months after common carotid artery transplantation, the patency rate of experimentalside was 100%(5/5)and 60%(3/5), respectively, and that of control side was 40%(2/5)and 0%(0/5), respectively. At postoperative 2 months, the mean blood flow rate in the experimental group was obviously smaller than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05). At 2 months after inferior caval vein transplantation, the patency rate of experimental group and control group was 83%(5/6)and 50%(2/4), respectively. ②At 2 weeks after common carotid artery transplantation and inferior caval vein transplantation, the coverage rate of vascular endothelial cells in the experimental group was significantly larger than that in the control group, separately (P ＜ 0.05). At 2 months after each transplantation, the vascular intimal thickness in the experimental group was significantly smaller than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Seeding of ePTFE prostheses interposition grafts with bone marrow-derived endothelial cells can rapidly accomplish in vivo endothelialization and inhibit intimal hyperplasy; Circulating endothelial cells, as the potential source of endothelial cells, have certain clinical application values.

Objective To determine the value of helical computed tomography (HCT) and color doppler flowing imaging (CDPI) in evaluating the resectability of pancreatic cancer. Methods The clinical data of 114 patients with pancreatic cancer who had been admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from January 1995 to December 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. The values of HCT and CDPI in assessing the resectability of pancreatic cancer were determined according to the results of operation and pathological examina-tion. All the data were analyzed by chi-square test and Fisher exact probability. Results Of all patients, 109 were examined by HCT, 97 by CDPI and 96 by HCT+CDPI. For patients examined by HCT, the resection rates of pancreatic head cancer, pancreatic body and tail cancer and total pancreatic cancer were 45.3% (39/86), 26.3% (5/19) and 0 (0/9), respectively. The resection rate of pancreatic head cancer was higher than that of pancreatic body and tail cancer (χ2=8.965, P<0.05). With the increase of tumor size, the invasion rate and metastasis rate were increased and the resection rate was decreased (z=6.15, 5.35, 7.18, P<0.01). The sensitivity rate and specificity rate were 77.8% and 82.2% of HCT, 73.3% and 80.6% of CDPI, 90.6% and 92.4% of HCT+CDPI in assessing the resectability of pancreatic cancer. The values of Kappa identity test of HCT, CDPI and HCT+CDPI were 0.58, 0.52 and 0.82, respectively. Conclusions Combined application of HCT and CDPI can further improve the accuracy in assessing the resectability of pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND:With the medical development, prognostic outcomes of spinal cord injuries have not been improved significantly, and most patients also suffer from severe complications. Nowadays, lots of laboratories and clinical researches have suggested that celltherapy has a great potential, especial y the application of umbilical cord blood stem cells in nervous system diseases. OBJECTIVE:To explore the feasibility and clinical effect of umbilical cord blood neural stem cells transplantation for patients with obsolete spinal cord injury. METHODS:Umbilical cord blood was harvested from newborns under aseptic condition, and differentiated into neural stem cells in vitro that were prepared into cellsuspension at a concentration of 109/L. The cellsuspension (3 mL) was injected via the L 3-4 or L 4-5 into the subarachnoid space. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores and the residual urine were assessed before and 3 months after transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After transplantation, al the patients showed a stable life indication. Three months later, ASIA scores were increased and the residual urine decreased, which significantly differed from those before transplantation (P<0.05). These findings indicate that umbilical cord blood neural stem cells transplantation is a new treatment that can improve the limb function and life quality of patients with obsolete spinal cord injury.

Objective To prospectively compare the clinical efficacy between high versus low viscosity bone cement in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF).Methods A prospective study was conducted in 61 old patients with single severe OVCF who had sought medical attention in our hospital from August 2014 to October 2015.They were randomly assigned to group H (n =30) to receive PVP using high viscosity bone cement and group L (n =31) to receive PVP using low viscosity bone cement.The 2 groups were compared preoperatively and postoperatively in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS),Oswestry disability index(ODI),short Form-36 General Health Survey(SF-36),Kyphosis cobb's angle,height of the injured vertebra,and volume and leakage of bone cement.Results Significant improvements in VAS,ODI and SF-36 score were noted after operation in both groups,but there were no significant differences between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).The 2 groups made significant improvements after operation in cobb's angle and height recovery rate of the injured vertebra;improvements in group H (14.7° ± 3.4° and 28％ ± 8％) were significantly greater than in group L (16.5° ± 2.5° and 22％ ± 7％) (P ＜ 0.05).The bone cement volumes in groups H and L were 4.94 ± 0.72 mL and 4.89 ±0.75 mL respectively,showing no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).The leakage rate in group H was significantly lower than that in group L (13.33％ versus 35.48％) (P ＜ 0.05).All the patients were followed up for a mean time of 12 months (range,from 3 to 17 months).Cauda equina symptoms were observed in one patient and compression fracture of the adjacent vertebra happened in 2 patients,but no infection or pulmonary embolism occurred in any patient.Conclusions Both high viscosity cement PVP and low viscosity cement PVP can relieve back pain and improve quality of life in patients with severe OVCF,but the former may increase the efficacy and safety of PVP obviously in correction of cobb's angle,height restoration of the injured vertebra and reduction of cement leakage.

AIMTo evaluate the best individualized prostate biopsy strategies for Chinese patients with suspected prostate cancer.

METHODSThe present study included 221 Chinese patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies for the first time. All patients underwent the same 10-core biopsy protocol. In addition to the Hodge sextant technique, four more biopsies were obtained from the base and middle regions of bilateral peripheral zones. The differences between 10-core and sextant strategies in cancer detection among patients with different prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels were evaluated. The relationship between PSA level, number of positive biopsy cores and organ-confined cancer rate in prostate cancer patients was also analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall prostate cancer detection rate was 40.7% in the 221 patients. The 10-core strategy increased cancer detection by 6.67% (6/90) in our patients (P < 0.05). The increased cancer detection rates decreased significantly when the patient PSA level increased from 0-20 ng/mL to 20.1-50 ng/mL and > 50 ng/mL (P < 0.01). The number of positive biopsy cores in prostate cancer patients increased significantly with increasing patient PSA level (P < 0.01). The rate of organ-confined prostate cancer decreased significantly with increasing patient PSA level (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe extended 10-core strategy is recommended for Chinese patients with PSA = or < 20 ng/mL and the sextant strategy is recommended for those with PSA > 50 ng/mL. For patients with PSA ranging from 20.1 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL, the 10-core strategy should be applied in patients with life expectancy = or > 10 years and the sextant strategy should be applied in those with life expectancy < 10 years.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy, Needle ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology

For microbial production of lycopene, the lycopene synthetic genes from Pantoea agglomerans were integrated into Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain BY4742, to obtain strain ZD-L-000 for production of 0.17 mg · L(-1) lycopene. Improving supplies of isoprenoid precursors was then investigated for increasing lycopene production. Four key genes were chosen to be overexpressed, inclu- ding truncated 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase gene (tHMG1), which is the major rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, a mutated global regulatory factor gene (upc2.1), a fusion gene of FPP synthase (ERG20) and endogenous GGPP synthase (BTS1), which is a key enzyme in the diterpenoid synthetic pathway, and GGPP synthase gene (SaGGPS) from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Over-expression of upc2.1 could not improve lycopene production, while over-expression of tHMGI , BTS1-ERG20 and SaGGPS genes led to 2-, 16. 9- and20. 5-fold increase of lycopene production, respectively. In addition, three effective genes, tHMG1, BTS1-ERG20 and SaGGPS, were integrated into rDNA sites of ZD-L-000, resulting in strain ZD-L-201 for production of 13.23 mg · L(-1) lycopene, which was 77-fold higher than that of the parent strain. Finally, two-phase extractive fermentation was performed. The titer of lycopene increased 10-fold to 135.21 mg · L(-1). The engineered yeast strains obtained in this work provided the basis for fermentative production of lycopene.
Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Carotenoids ; biosynthesis ; Genes, Synthetic ; Genetic Engineering ; Pantoea ; enzymology ; genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible roles of adenosine and the cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-10 in the pathogenesis of acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) in rats.

METHODSForty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into groups A (ABP), B (ABP + theophylline intervention), C (sham) and D (blank control). ABP models were established by injecting Escherichia coli 0157 into the prostate, and those in group B were treated by intraperitoneal injection of theophylline immediately after modeling. At 4 and 14 days, the prostate tissues of the rats were collected for detection of the expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-10 by immunohistochemistry and the concentration of adenosine by high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTSAt 4 and 14 days, the concentrations of adenosine were significantly higher in group A ([48.38 +/- 17.27] and [26.54 +/- 11.22] microg/g) than in C ([0.45 +/- 0.25] and [0.46 +/- 0.29] microg/g) and D ([0.41 +/- 0.23] and [0.43 +/- 0.27] microg/g) (P < 0.05), and so were the expressions of TNF-alpha in A (0.23 +/- 0.08 and 0.21 +/- 0.03) than in C (0.07 +/- 0.03 and 0.07 +/- 0.01) and D (0.07 +/- 0.06 and 0.07 +/- 0.06) (P < 0.05), and those of IL-10 in A (0.13 +/- 0.03 and 0.25 +/- 0.01) than in C (0.07 +/- 0.03 and 0.07 +/- 0.03) and D (0.07 +/- 0.01 and 0.07 +/- 0.02) (P < 0.05). Compared with group A, the rats in group B showed significant increases at 4 and 14 days in the severity of inflammation, concentration of adenosine ([86.64 +/- 32.87] and [51.17 +/- 22.96] microg/g, P < 0.05) and expression of TNF-alpha (0.37 +/- 0.08 and 0.32 +/- 0.06, P < 0.05), but exhibited no remarkable difference in the expression of IL-10 (0.12 +/- 0.06 and 0.15 +/- 0.06, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdenosine may affect the progression of inflammation by regulating the expressions of the cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-10 in ABP rats through the adenosine receptor signaling pathway.

Adenosine ; physiology ; Animals ; Escherichia coli O157 ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Male ; Prostate ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Theophylline ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Cannula ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Duodenal Diseases ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/surgery*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of antibiotic-PMMA (polymethyl-methacrylate) beads combined with external fixator in treatment of infected fracture nonunion.

METHODSTwenty-two cases of infected fracture-nonunions were reviewed involving 20 male and 2 female with an average age of 34.68 years (ranging 21 to 74 years). The data consisted of 9 cases of tibial fractures, 2 distal fractures of the femur, 6 femoral shaft fractures, 3 intertrochanteric fracture of the femur and 2 humeral shaft fractures. The procedure included thorough debridement to wipe out dead bone and granulation tissue, then antibiotic-PMMA bead chains imbedded into the dead space. One week later, secondary debridement was performed, antibiotic-PMMA bead chains were changed according to result of bacterial culture and susceptibility test, and fractures were stabilized with external fixator. Three months after debridement, antibiotic-PMMA bead chains were taken out and bone graft with autogenous iliac cancellous bone chips was performed.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up period was 19.98 months (ranging 15 to 28 months). Infection was controlled in 20 cases. One tibial fracture and 1 intertrochanteric fracture of the femur needed repeated debridement 2 and 3 months after bone grafting respectively,because of infection recurrence and sinus formation. All 22 cases achieved bony union averaged 15.09 weeks after bone grafting with a range of 8 to 24 weeks.

CONCLUSIONThorough debridement, imbedding antibiotic-PMMA bead chains combined with external fixator and staged bone grafting has proven to be effective and simple for treatment of infected fracture nonunion. The antibiotic bead delivers high tissue levels,obliterates dead space, aids bone repair.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bone Diseases, Infectious ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; surgery ; Bone Transplantation ; External Fixators ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Bone ; complications ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Fractures, Ununited ; complications ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; chemistry ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the metastatic characteristics of HCCLM3 cells and SMCC-7721 cells in nude mice model.

METHODSNude mice were divided into two groups (n = 8, each), mice were transplanted with HCCLM3 cells (group A) and SMMC-7721 cells (group B). Tumor size, metastasis rate and other clinical parameters were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed with the help of SPSS 16.0 for Windows computer software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). P values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTSIntrahepatic metastases rate was 100% (8 / 8), mean intrahepatic primary tumor volume was (6954+/-1945) mm(3) in group A, Intrahepatic metastases rate was 62.5% (5/8), and mean intrahepatic primary tumor volume was (6034+/-2035) mm(3) in the group B. There was no statistical difference in the primary liver tumor size and intrahepatic metastases rate (P = 0.20; t = 6.38, P = 0.37, respectively). The numbers of intrahepatic metastases and the involved lobes, and the volume of tumor were 4.5 (median), 3, and 975 mm(3) (median) respectively, in group A, and these were 1 (median), 1 and 274 mm(3) (median) respectively in group B. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (Z values, -2.818, -2.289, and -1.975, respectively).The rate of lung metastasis and other organ metastasis in the A group was significantly higher than that in group B (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.041, respectively).

CONCLUSIONHCCLM3 cells have higher metastatic potential than SMMC-7721 cells in nude mice.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; secondary ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays