Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry

Objective To investigate the analgesic effect of intrathecal(IT)human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(hMSC)genetically modified with human proenkephalin gene(PENK)in a rat model of neuropathic pain.Methods Forty male SD rats weighing 160-180 g in which IT catheters were successfully implanted without complication were randomly divided into 4 gorups(n = 10 each): group A normal control;group B neuropathic pain(NP);group C NP + hMSC-pBABE and group D NP + hMSC-PENK.Neuropathic pain was induced with chronic constrictive injury(CCI).Four loose ligatures were placed on the main stem of sciatic nerve with 4-0 chronic catgut.IT normal saline 10 μl,hMSC-pBABE cell suspension 10 μl(2 × 108-3 × 108/μl)and hMSCPENK cell suspension 10 μl(2 × 108-3 × 108/μl)were injected in group B,C and D respectively on the 3rd day after operation.Paw-withdrawal latency(PWL)to noxious thermal stimulation was measured before(baseline)and at 3,5,7,9 and 14 d after operation.The animals were killed on the 14th day after last PWL measurement.RNA was extracted from the spinal cord for determination of proenkephalin mRNA expression.Results PWL was significantly decreased after operation as compared with the baseline values before operation in group B,C and D.PWL was significantly longer at 7,9,14 d after operation in group D than in group B and C but there was no significant difference in PWL after operation between group B and C.PENK mRNA expression was significantly lower in group B and C than in group A,but was significantly higher in group D than in group B and C.There was no significant difference in PENK mRNA expression between group B and C.Conclusion Intratheccal human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells genetically modified with human proenkephalin gene can relieve neuropathic pain in rats.

The establishment of induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs)has been a major breakthrough in the field of stem cell research since 2006,and it made possible for the use of stem cells in treating retinal degenerative diseases.Research showed that fibroblast,B lymphocytes,neural stem cells,hair corneous cells,pancreatic cells,mesenchymal cells of umbilical cord stroma and amniotic membrane can be reprogrammed as iPSCs,and they are capable of differentiating into specific types of cells.Some novel developments in iPSCs study in ophthalmology also were observed over the past few years.Induced iPSCs can differentiate into retinal pigment epithelial cells,photoreceptors and other retinal cells,which lay a foundation for the therapy of retinal degenerative diseases.Differented from traditional treatment of stem cells,the generation of iPSCs makes it possible to utilize somatic cells derived from patients for stem cell therapy without provoking ethical and immunological problems.The generation of iPSCs,the current research about iPSCs in the ophthalmic field,the limitations of iPSCs in the clinic and their future development and application were reviewed.

Objective To determine the placental transfer of epidural levobupivacaine for cesarean section. Methods Sixty parturients (ASA ⅠorⅡ) aged 24-35 yr weighing 60-80 kg undergoing elective cesarean section under epidural anesthesia were studied. Epidural anesthesia was performed at L1,2 or L1,3 interspace. The catheter was advanced 3 cm cephalad into the epidural space. A test dose of 0.5% levobupivacaine 5 ml with 1:200 000 epinephrine was injected. If there were no signs of subarachnoid injection in 5 min, 9-12 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine was administered twice at 5 min interval. Arterial blood samples were taken from the double- clamped umbilical cord segment at delivery for determination of blood pH. Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min after birth were recorded. Blood samples were taken from maternal and umbilical vein for determination of plasma levobupivacaine concentration by high performance liquid chromatography ( HPLC). Results The pH of the umbilical arterial blood was ≥ 7.25. The Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min after birth were ≥ 7.0. The levobupivacaine concentration of maternal and umbilical venous blood was 0.35±0.24 and (0.24 ±0.21) μg/ml respectively at the time of delivery. The ratio of umbilical and maternal venous blood levobupivacaine concentration was 0.7 ± 0.3. Conclusion Epidural levobupivacaine can cross the placenta during cesarean section. The ratio of umbilical and maternal venous blood levobupivacaine concentration is 0.7.

Objective To explore different socio-demographic and clinical characteristics for early onset patients (EOP) with psoriasis and late onset patients (LOP) with psoriasis in Chinese population and to provide scientific evidences for establishing comprehensive prevention and treatment strategy for psoriasis.Methods Cross-sectional study was performed.A total of 942 diagnosed psoriasis patients who paid a visit to outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital in China from 12th September 2013 to 19th May 2015 was consecutively enrolled and investigated.Exploratory analysis was conducted to detect the association between disease onset age and patients features.Results Among 942 enrolled psoriasis outpatients,the average age was (40.6 ± 13.6) years with a range from 5 to 80 years.The sex ratio was 2.1 in favor of male.The most observed type of psoriasis in the present study was psoriasis vulgaris (98.3％).The average psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) for patients were 9.47 ±7.63.Comorbidity was combined in 20.2％ cases.Patients with EOP had a significantly higher likelihood of family history of disease.Compared EOP to LOP,LOP had a significantly higher likelihood of comorbidities involvement (P ＜ 0.05) and significant higher BMI index (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The present study supports the hypothesis that there are clinical differences between EOP and LOP in Chinese population.Both dermatologists and patients should pay more attention to psoriasis-associated features,such as family history and comorbidity diseases involvements.

The ?-radioactive seed brachytherapy source has been widely employed in the implantation therapy for the prostatic carcinoma and the ophthalmic lesions.In this study the dosimetric parameters for characterization of a low-energy interstitial brachytherapy source 125I were calculated according to dose calculation formalism recommended by AAPM TG-43U1.For data processing,a 0.28 cm active length was used for the geometry function.The dosimetry parameter air-Kerma strength,dose rate constant,radial dose function and anisotropy function were estimated by means of the EGS5 Monte Carlo code.The results obtained from this study are in good agreement with the corresponding values recommended by TG-43U1 and with the data reported by Dolan,et al.

Objective To investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) pathway in the protective effect of remifentanil or ischemic preconditioning (IPC) against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods One hundred and forty-four male SD rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly assigned into 6 group ( n =24 each):sham operation group (group S),I/R group,remifentanil group (group R),IPC group,SB203580 (a specific p38MAPK inhibitor) + remifentanil group (group SB + R),and SB + IPC group.The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 20％ urethane 1 mg/kg.Partial liver ischemia was produced by clamping the hepatic pedicle supplying left lobe and middle lobe for 30 min,followed by 120 min reperfusion.In group R,remifentanil was infused intravenously at 2μg· kg- 1 · min- 1 starting from 30 min before ischemia until the end of reperfusion.In IPC group,the rats were subjected to 3 episodes of 5 min ischemia at 5 min intervals before I/R.SB203580 0.2 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 5 min before remifentanil infusion or IPC in groups SB + R and SB + IPC,and the equal volume of normal saline was given in the other groups.Six rats in each group were selected at 30,60,90 and 120 min of reperfusion and venous blood samples were taken from inferior vena cava for measurement of serum ALT and AST activities and concentrations of TNF-a and 1L-1β.The rats were then sacrificed and liver tissues were taken for microscopic examination and determination of phosphor-p38MAPK expression by Western blot.Results Compared with group S,serum AST and ALT activities and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased at each time point (P ＜ 0.05) and pathological injury was aggravated in group I/R.Compared with group I/R,serum AST and ALT activities and serum levels of TNF-a and IL-lβ were significantly decreased and phosphor-p38MAPK expression was up-regulated at 90 min of reperfusion in groups R and IPC ( P ＜ 0.05).The serum AST and ALT activities and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased,phosphor-p38MAPK expression was down-regulated at 90 min of reperfusion ( P ＜ 0.05),and pathological injury was aggravated in group SB + R compared with group R,and in group SB + IPC compared with group IPC.Conclusion Activation of p38MAPK pathway and inhibition of inflammatory response may be involved in the mechanism by which remifentanil or IPC reduces the hepatic I/R injury in rats.

Objective To study the MRI characteristics of osteoblastoma and to discuss its diagnostic value. Methods Nine patients with osteoblastoma proved by pathology were examined with T_2WI, nonenhanced T_1WI and Gd-DTPA enhanced T_1WI MR imaging before operation MR finding were analyzed. Results Of nine patients, tumor originated from spine in five patients, from skull in three patients and from pelvis in one patient. Of these patients, benign osteoblastoma were in six patients and malignant were in three patients. On MRI, the tumor was an expanded osteolytic lesion, osteoid production formation was low or equal signal intensity on T_1WI and medial or high signal intensity on T_2WI. MRI showed low signal intensity of the calcification or ossification in osteoblastoma on T_2WI, and low or equal signal intensity on T_1WI. The ossified ring of tumor was low signal intensity on both T_1- and T_2WI. The adjacent soft tissue masses were showed on MRI. All patients given gadolinium showed enhancement within the osteoid production and the adjacent soft tissue mass, and no enhancement with ossification and calcification, cystoid and the ossified ring on MRI. The boundary of malignant osteoblastoma was obscure, and adjacent tissue could be invaded.Conclusion MR imaging can show all the characteristics of osteoblastoma well . It is of important value in diagnosis, operative orientation and staging of osteoblastoma, especially for the lesion originated from spine and skull.

Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; physiology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Snail Family Transcription Factors ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; physiology ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

The big-data era has arrived, which involves all professions and trades. Its impact on the medical field has gradually revealed. With the characteristics of big data "4V" (volume, velocity, variety, value) and its theory generality with TCM (holistic thinking, correlativity) as well as regularity of disease development, combined with present status of acupuncture clinical research, the influences of big-data era on trial design, data collection, analysis and sharing of acupuncture clinical research are discussed in this paper, aiming to provide references for solving the difficulties of study design and determining the future research direction of acupuncture clinical research.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Biomedical Research ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Database Management Systems ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional