Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential for cardiac repair following myocardial injury, but this approach is limited by their poor viability after transplantation. The present study was to investigate whether trimetazidine (TMZ) could improve survival of MSCs in an ex vitro model of hypoxia, as well as survival, differentiation, and subsequent activities of transplanted MSCs in rat hearts with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MSCs at passage 3 were examined for their viability and apoptosis under a transmission electron microscope, and by using flow cytometry following culture in serum-free medium and exposure to hypoxia (5% CO(2), 95% N(2)) for 12 h with or without TMZ. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n=10 each group), including group I (AMI control), group II (MSCs transplantation alone), and group III (TMZ+MSCs). Rat MSCs (4×10(7)) were injected into peri-infarct myocardium (MSCs group and TMZ+MSCs group) 30 min after coronary artery ligation. The rats in TMZ+MSCs group were additionally fed on TMZ (2.08 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)) from day 3 before AMI to day 28 after AMI. Cardiac structure and function were assessed by echocardiography at 28th day after transplantation. Blood samples were collected before the start of TMZ therapy (baseline), and 24 and 48 h after AMI, and inflammatory cytokines (CRP, TNF-α) were measured. Then the survival and differentiation of transplanted cells in vivo were detected by immunofluorescent staining. The cellular apoptosis in the peri-infarct region was detected by using TUNEL assay. Furthermore, apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax) within the post-infarcted myocardium were detected by using Western blotting. In hypoxic culture, the TMZ-treated MSCs displayed a two-fold decrease in apoptosis under serum-free medium and hypoxia environment. In vivo, cardiac infarct size was significantly reduced, and cardiac function significantly improved in MSCs and TMZ+MSCs groups as compared with those in the AMI control group. Combined treatment of TMZ with MSCs implantation demonstrated further decreased MSCs apoptosis, further increased MSCs viability, further decreased infarct size, and further improved cardiac function as compared with MSCs alone. The baseline levels of inflammatory cytokines (CRP, TNF-α) had no significant difference among the groups. In contrast, all parameters at 24 h were lower in TMZ+MSCs group than those in MSCs group. Furthermore, Western blotting indicated that the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was up-regulated, while the pro-apoptotic protein Bax was down-regulated in the TMZ+MSCs group, compared with that in the MSCs group. It is suggested that implantation of MSCs combined with TMZ treatment is superior to MSCs monotherapy for MSCs viability and cardiac function recovery.

To quantitatively evaluate the upper-limb spasticity of stroke patients in recovery stage, the relationship between surface electromyography (sEMG) characteristic indexes from biceps brachii and triceps brachii and the spasticity were explored, which provides the electrophysiological basis for clinical rehabilitation. Ten patients with spasticity after stroke were selected to be estimated by modified Ashworth (MAS) assessment and a passive elbow sinusoidal motion experiment was carried out. At the same time, the sEMG of biceps and triceps were recorded. The results shows that the reflex electromyographic threshold could reflect the physiological mechanism of spasticity and had significant correlation with MAS scale which showed that sEMG could be prosperous for the clinical quantitative evaluation of spasticity of stroke patients.
Electromyography ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; physiopathology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiopathology ; Stroke ; physiopathology

Objective To study the application of ultrasonically activated scalpel in laparoscopic intestinal adhesion release.Methods Intestinal adhesion release with ultrasonically activated scalpel under laparoscope was performed in 29 patients suffered from intestinal adhesive obstruction after gynecological operation. Results All operations were successfully performed, and none of them converted into open surgery. Intestinal disruption occurred durring operation in 2 patients with extensive intestinal denseadhesion which were mended successfully under laparoscope. The operative duration was 30-150 min (mean 45 min). Postoperative complications such as bowel leak age, bleeding, abdominal infection were not experienced. Postoperative hospital stay was 3-7 days (mean 4 days). No case had relapse symptom such as abdominal distention or pain after 1-24 months of follow up. Conclusion Compared with electric scalpel, ultrasonically activated scalpel can improve the operative safety, lessen tissue damage, shorten operative time, and reduce the chance of relapse in laparoscopic operation in gynecology.

ObjectiveTo study the method,indications, advantage and shortcoming of laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia. MethodsFrom Jun. 1995 to Jun. 2000,50 patients with inguinal hernia were treated with laparoscopy. There were 34 indirect inguinal hernia, 9 direct inguinal hernia and 7 concealed hernia. The transabdominal preperitoneal laparoscopic mesh repair of hernia(TAPP) was performed in 34 patients. Closure of the internal orifice of hernia was performed in 7 patients. Totally extraperitoneal repair was performed in 9 patients. ResultsAll cases were operated successfully. The mean operation time was 59.3(15～180) mins. The average length of postoperative stay was 5.4(3～7)days. There were no death record and no conversion operation. There was one early failure owing to the use of too small a piece of mesh. There has been no long-term recurrence. ConclusionThe results indicate that mesh repair of hernias is a satisfactory technique with a low recurrence rate and a low major complication rate.

Objective To observe the rat cardiac size and cardiac function changes before and after trimetazidine administration plus bone-marrow stem cells transplanting through echocardiography.Methods Forty wistar rats were divided into the following 4 groups randomly:control group (T),myocardial infarction group (Ⅱ),bone marrow stem calls transplantation group (Ⅲ),and bone marrow stem cells transplantation plus trimetazidine administration group(Ⅳ).The rats' left anterior coronary artery in group Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳwas ligated to produce myocardial infarction model,then bone-marrow stem cells were injected around the infarcted area into the later two groups.Furthermore,rats in group Ⅳ were administrated with trimetazidine.The size and systolic function of the hearts were measured 4 weeks after transplantation.The left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP) and the end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP) were also measured at the end of experiment.Results The left ventricular diameter of rats in group Ⅲ and Ⅳ was smaller than that in group Ⅱ,and the ventricular systolic function increased,LVSP increased and LVEDP decreased statistically in group Ⅲ and Ⅳ.the amelioration of cardiac size and function was significantly notable in group Ⅳ than that in group Ⅲ.Conclusions Bone marrow stem cells transplantation can release the enlargement of left ventricle and improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction.The therapeutic efficacy can be further elevated if administrated with trimetazidine simultaneously.

AIM: To examine T-lymphocyte rDNA transcription activity in peripheral blood of patients with gastrointestinal maliganant tumor and to clarify its clinical significance.METHODS: T-lymphocyte rDNA transcription activity in peripheral blood of 48 cases of patients with stomach-intestine tract malignant tumor were measured.RESULTS: Before surgery, the T-lymphocyte rDNA transcviption activity was obviously lower than that after surgery, also lower than that of the normal control( P

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential for cardiac repair following myocardial injury,but this approach is limited by their poor viability after transplantation.The present study was to investigate whether trimetazidine (TMZ) could improve survival of MSCs in an ex vitro model of hypoxia,as well as survival,differentiation,and subsequent activities of transplanted MSCs in rat hearts with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).MSCs at passage 3 were examined for their viability and apoptosis under a transmission electron microscope,and by using flow cytometry following culture in serum-free medium and exposure to hypoxia (5％ CO2,95％ N2) for 12 h with or without TMZ.Thirty Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n=10 each group),including group Ⅰ (AMI control),group Ⅱ (MSCs transplantation alone),and group Ⅲ (TMZ+MSCs).Rat MSCs (4×107) were injected into peri-infarct myocardium (MSCs group and TMZ+MSCs group) 30 min after coronary artery ligation.The rats in TMZ+MSCs group were additionally fed on TMZ (2.08 mg·kg-1·day-1) from day 3 before AMI to day 28 after AMI.Cardiac structure and function were assessed by echocardiography at 28th day after transplantation.Blood samples were collected before the start of TMZ therapy (baseline),and 24 and 48 h after AMI,and inflammatory cytokines (CRP,TNF-α) were measured.Then the survival and differentiation of transplanted cells in vivo were detected by immunofluorescent staining.The cellular apoptosis in the peri-infarct region was detected by using TUNEL assay.Furthermore,apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2,Bax) within the post-infarcted myocardium were detected by using Western blotting.In hypoxic culture,the TMZ-treated MSCs displayed a two-fold decrease in apoptosis under serum-free medium and hypoxia environment.In vivo,cardiac infarct size was significantly reduced,and cardiac function significantly improved in MSCs and TMZ+MSCs groups as compared with those in the AMI control group.Combined treatment of TMZ with MSCs implantation demonstrated further decreased MSCs apoptosis,further increased MSCs viability,further decreased infarct size,and further improved cardiac function as compared with MSCs alone.The baseline levels of inflammatory cytokines (CRP,TNF-α) had no significant difference among the groups.In contrast,all parameters at 24 h were lower in TMZ+MSCs group than those in MSCs group.Furthermore,Western blotting indicated that the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was up-regulated,while the pro-apoptotic protein Bax was down-regulated in the TMZ+MSCs group,compared with that in the MSCs group.It is suggested that implantation of MSCs combined with TMZ treatment is superior to MSCs monotherapy for MSCs viability and cardiac function recovery.

OBJECTIVETo determine the immune repertoires of peripheral CD4+T cell receptor (TCR) Vb CDR3 in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and analyze TCR diversity and preferred usage at sequence-level resolution.

METHODSARM-PCR and high-throughput sequencing were used to obtain millions of TCR Vb CDR3 sequences from peripheral CD4+T cells isolated from 7 patients with PBC and healthy volunteers. All sequencing data were analyzed, together with corresponding clinical information, by bioinformatic software. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe PBC patients showed a lower level of diversity among the peripheral CD4+TCR Vb CDR3 than the healthy volunteers, and patients with higher level progression of the disease showed a greater lack of diversity. In addition, 4 specific preferred-usage amino acid sequences were discovered for the PBC patients: ASSFTGGPVEQY, ASSLISSGNNEQF, ATSRDTLAGGPGDTQY, and SASLEGNTEAF; these sequences were also found in higher frequencies in patients with later stages of PBC.

CONCLUSIONSDecreased TCR Vb CDR3 diversities and specific preferred usage of TCR CDR3 sequences in peripheral CD4+T lymphocytes in PBC suggest that clonal expansion of a large number of CD4+T cells may be an important factor for PBC progression. These data provide a better understanding about the general characteristics of CD4+T cells in PBC patients and related to pathogenesis of the disease, and may provide useful insights into potential targets for immunotherapy.

Objective: The purpose is to investigate the validity of a surgical technique that utilizes autologous costal cartilage grafts in primary rhinoplasty for female patients. Methods: From July 2015 to July 2017, 137 cases received primary rhinoplasty with various types of grafts originated from autologous costal cartilage to correct the unpleasant nasal appearances including low dorsum, poorly defined nasal tip and wide alar base. Results: With 6 to 36 months follow-up, six patients(4.3%) exhibited noticeable changes in nasal contour due to graft warping. Revision surgeries were commenced to correct those minor deformities, resulting in satisfactory outcome.All other cases presented significant improvements of the nasal appearance. Conclusions Autologous costal cartilage is a good source for primary rhinoplasty cases.

Objective:To introduce a method of combining autologous rib graft and a silicone plate as a composite graft for augmentation rhinoplasty.Methods:Twenty-two female patients were included in this series. Eleven cases had unsatisfactory nasal appearance Nine cases were admitted for postoperative graft warping, and refused to harvest a second costal cartilage, thirteen cases had limited amount of rib graft for harvest. When cartilage was insufficient for a full dorsal onlay graft, a L-shaped silicone nasal implant would be used and carved into a plate-like, so as to make into a composite graft with the cartilage on top of the silicone plate.Results:Up to 12-month follow-up was conducted, averaged 6.2 months. One case exhibited temporary ischemic signs at the incisions, resolved by compressive taping at day 5.For all other 21 cases aesthetic outcomes were satisfactory with no graft infection, extrusion or other complications. The dorsal only graft did not significantly transilluminate.Conclusions:Rib-silicone composite dorsal graft is an applicable and safe method in augmentation rhinoplasty surgeries, particularly when there is limited amount of cartilage available.