BACKGROUND: Dlx gene family is highly expressed in the cranial neural crest cells, and regulates the cranial neural crest cel migration and differentiation. OBJECTIVE: To review the mechanism that the highly-expressed Dlx genes mediate the cranial neural crest cel migration and differentiation. METHODS: An online search of CNKI and Medline databases was performed for articles published before 2013 using keywords of “cranial neural crest cells, migration of cranial neural crest cells, Dlx, Dlx overexpression, Fgf, chodrogenesis, osteogenesis” in Chinese and English, respectively. Relevant articles were summarized from three aspects: the migration of cranial neural crest cells, Dlx over-expression’s impact on the migration of cranial neural crest cells, interaction between the environment and Dlx genes. A total of 63 articles were included. According to inclusion criteria, 43 articles were retained at last. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Dlx abnormal-expression wil lead to cel -cel adhesion. Dlx over-expression wil induce most of the cranial neural crest cells aggregate and migrate to a wrong place, and result in skeletal dysmorphology. Dlx over-expression wil also lead to ectopic chondrogenesis, and the interaction between cel factors can be the possible reason for this.

Objective To illustrate that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-αt) / nuclear factor of activated T cells pathway is the main function way that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) inhibit proliferation of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells during treating pulmonary hypertension (PH).Methods MSC from human umbilical cord was used to treat PH rat models induced by monocrotaline.Rats were divided into the control group,the PH model group and the MSC group.The general conditions of the rats were observed.Haemodynamics was detected.Pathological sections and immunohistochemistry method were used to detect the lung structure and tissue changes.Changing conditions of TNF-αt/NFAT were detected.Results Compared with rats in the PH model group,the general conditions of the MSC group tended to be normal evidently:the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) dropped [(30.37 ±3.13) mmHg vs.(47.90 ± 3.45) mmHg,1 mmHg =0.133 kPa],the aortic pressure (MAoP) increased [(115.03 ± 16.01) mmHg vs.(92.78 ± 16.28 mmHg)],the thickening condition of arterial intima-media was evidently relieved [(17.22 ±1.21)％ vs.(31.68 ±2.26)％],the plasma TNF-α level decreased obviously [(842 ±76) ng/L vs.(245 ±24)ng/L],and the lung tissue TNF-o level decreased (0.172 ±0.024 vs.0.248 ± 0.051),and all the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).The activation of pulmonary artery NFATc2 in the MSC treatment group was apparently inhibited.Conclusions MSC therapy may perform the treating effect in PH by inhibiting the over-proliferation of inflammation related pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells via TNF-oα/NFAT pathway.

OBJECTIVEThis study evaluates piezosurgery for surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) under local anesthesia.

METHODSSARME was performed on adults with maxillary transverse deficiency under local anesthesia with a piezosurgical device. Fourteen patients (six males and eight females) underwent lateral maxillary osteotomies, midpalatal osteotomies, and bilateral pterygomaxillary disjunction. The feelings of patients during the operation were determined through questionnaires.

RESULTSAll patients underwent SARME in the out-patient operating room. The surgical procedures were completed under local anesthesia. All patients exhibited satisfactory tolerance. Ultrasonic bone-cutting surgery was recently introduced as a feasible alternative to the conventional tools of cranio-maxillofacial surgery for its technical characteristics of precision and safety. The device used was unique in that cutting action occurred when the tool was employed on mineralized tissues, but stoped on soft tissues. The results of the questionnaires showed that eight (57.14%) patients felt a mild sensation of ultrasonic vibration, tweleve (85.7 1%) felt mild tolerable pain and tooth soreness during surgery, and eleven (78.57%) felt little fear and hardly heard the ultrasonic sound. Preoperative and postoperative six months later measurements showed an evident effect of expansion.

CONCLUSIONPiezosurgery enabled patients to undergo all the steps of SARME under local anesthesia, but more cases and longer follow-up are needed to verif ' the results.

Objective To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of 17 cases with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PD) deficiency in Guizhou,China.Methods The clinical features of 17 patients with G6PD deficiency were analyzed,DNA samples were obtained from the patients and some mothers,and the exons and flanking intronic sequences of the G6PD gene were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction and sequencing.Results The cases had diverse phenotypes,these patients had acute haemolytic anaemia triggered by eating broad beans,infections,ingestion of specific drugs or the neonatal period and chronic nonspherocytic haemolytic anaemia.Three cases of the patients had concomitant diseases for α Mediterranean anemia,acute myeloid leukemia M2 type and neonatal anal membrane stenosis,respectively.G1376T,G1388A and A95G were the commonest G6PD variants in patients in Guizhou,China.G1376T,G1388A and A95G mutations were observed in 82.4％ cases.Two patients had only compound variants(c.1311 C ＞ T,IVS11 nt 93 T ＞ C).One case in the Rongjiang County,Guizhou Province had novel compound variants (c.G1388A,IVS10-10 T ＞ G) in the world.A patient's mother in the Guiyang City,Guizhou Province,China had compound variants (c.1376 G ＞ T,1311 C ＞ T,IVS11 nt 93 T ＞ C) as a carrier.Conclusions G6PD deficiency has a wide range of clinical heterogeneity.A novel G6PD compound variant haplotype c.G1388A,IVS10-10 T ＞ G was first found in the world,and the SNP spectrum of G6PD was enlarged.There may be a G6PD compound variant haplotype c.1376 G ＞ T,1311 C ＞ T,IVS11 nt 93 T ＞ C in Guizhou.

Objective To study the effects of marrow mesenchymal stem cells on heart functions and ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction in rats. Methods Myocardial infarction model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in adult SD rats. 4 and 8 weeks after MMSCs implantation, he-modynamic evaluations, left ventricular weight/body weight ratio and heart weight/body weight ratio were determined. HE staining was performed for counting microvasculars and Van Gieson staining was used for measurements and calculation of the myocardial fibrillar collagen. Then we investigated the migration and evolution of MSCs in vivo by fluorescent microscope. Results HR was significantly decreased in transplantation MMSCs group. Eight weeks after transplantation, body weight in transplantation MMSCs group reached that of control group. At the same time, SBP, DBP and MBP were significantly increased in transplantation MMSCs group. HR was significantly decreased in transplantation MMSCs group. Secondly, left ventricular weight/body weight ratio and heart weight/body weight ratio were significantly decreased 4 weeks after transplantation MMSCs. Then the ratio was significantly decreased 8 weeks after transplantation MMSCs. Thirdly density of microvasculars was increased at the boundary of infarction site in the animals transplanted MMSCs. Finally, total volume of the myocardial fibrillar collagen was reduced in the MMSCs treated groups after MI. Conclusion Transplanting MMSCs can improve the ventricular remodeling and heart functions in acute MI rat models.

Objective To study the effects of marrow mesenchymal stem cells on heart functions and ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction in rats. Methods Myocardial infarction model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in adult SD rats. 4 and 8 weeks after MMSCs implantation,hemodynamic evaluations,left ventricular weight/body weight ratio and heart weight/body weight ratio were determined. HE staining was performed for counting microvasculars and Van Gieson staining was used for measurements and calculation of the myocardial fibrillar collagen. Then we investigated the migration and evolution of MSCs in vivo by fluorescent microscope. Results HR was significantly decreased in transplantation MMSCs group. Eight weeks after transplantation,body weight in transplantation MMSCs group reached that of control group. At the same time,SBP,DBP and MBP were significantly increased in transplantation MMSCs group. HR was significantly decreased in transplantation MMSCs group. Secondly,left ventricular weight/body weight ratio and heart weight/bodyweight ratio were significantly decreased 4 weeks after transplantation MMSCs. Then the ratio was significantly decreased 8 weeks after transplantation MMSCs. Thirdly density of microvasculars was increased at the boundary of infarction site in the animals transplanted MMSCs. Finally,total volume of the myocardial fibrillar collagen was reduced in the MMSCs treated groups after MI. Conclusion Transplanting MMSCs can improve the ventricular remodeling and heart functions in acute MI rat models.

Objective Lamins are the major components of nuclear lamina underneath the inner nuclear membrane (INM).Lamins express in most cells and are involved in the whole process of growth, also play a major role in cell stability and embryonic development.Mutant in human LMNA gene may lead to a series of disorders, which are similar to progeria or other aging-associate syndrome.In this study, we report a new lmna knockdown animal model generated in our laboratory in order to provide a useful tool for studying laminopathies.Methods Two plasmids tagged to zebrafish lmna gene were designed based on morpholino oligonucleotides technology.Co-microinjected the plasmids into zebrafish embryos to knockdown lmna gene.Imagining and western blot detection were used to identify the mutants.Results Two different proteins, Lamin A/C, were expressed in the zebrafish embryos.Two plasmids lmna-MO and lmna-EGFP-pCS 2 + were generated and co-microinjected into embryos.The results of imagining and western blot showed that the expression of lmna gene was downregulated in the zebrafish embryos.Conclusions Lamin A/C are expressed in zebrafish.lmna gene can be knocked down by the injection of lmna-MO and lmna-EGFP-pCS 2 +.This new animal model may be a powerful tool for study on laminopathies.

BACKGROUND:Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-volerate (PHBV) is a noticeable tissue engineering material of polyhydroxyalkanoates family. It has the properties of low immune rejection response and good biocompatibility, and its degradation products are non-toxic.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the biocompatibility of PHBV membrane material and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s in vitro.
METHODS:Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s at passage 3 were seeded upon PHBV membrane as experimental group and upon conventional culture plates as control group. Then we calculated the adherent cel number of two groups at 1, 2 and 4 hours and got the cel adherent rate. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide assay was used at days 2, 4, 6, 8 to observe the cel proliferation of two groups. Fluorimetric method with the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258 was used to detect the DNA content of cel s at days 3, 6, 9 and 12 in both groups. After cel s were seeded upon PHBV membrane for 5 days, the cel growth upon the material was examined under a scanning electron microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:When the cel s were cultured for 1 hour, the adherent rate in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group;but there were no significant differences between two groups at the other two periods. No difference was found in the cel proliferation and the DNA content between the two groups. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s seeded upon PHBV membrane for 5 days grew wel with spindle morphology and the intercel ular connections were tight and more extracel ular matrices were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Taken together, PHBV membrane material shows a good biocompatibility with human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s.

Objective To observe the effects of TLR9 on the nude mouse transplanted tumor growth of human pancreanc cancer and its drug resistance.Methods The nude mouse transplated tumor of human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 was established and randomly divided into 6 groups for conducting the experiment:sterile normal saline group,TLR9 agonist,TLR9 inhibitor group,gemcitabine group,TLR9 inhibitor plus gemcitabine Bin group,TLR9 agonist plus gemcitabine.The tumor size and growth situation were recorded by the vernier caliper.The immunohistochemical method was used to detect tumor TLR9 receptor expression.The tumor growth,metastasis and paracancerous nssue invasion situation were observed by the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Results The volume and growth speed of resected tumor mass in the gemcitabine group,TLR9 agonist + gemcitabine group,TLR9 inhibitor plus gemcitabine group was significantly smaller than those in other groups (P＜0.05),which in the TLR9 agonist + gemcitabine group were significantly greater than those in the TLR9 inhibitor plus gemcitabine group and gemcitabine group (P＜0.05),the difference between the TLR9 inhibitor plus gemcitabine group and gemcitabine group had statistical significance (P＜0.05),while the difference among the TLR9 agonist group,TLR9 inhibitor group and normal saline group had no stastistical significance (P＞0.05).The tumor in mice at 7 weeks after planting showed oval shape with clear boundary by MRI observation,no obvious metastais and paracancerous invasion were seen in paracancerous nssues no statistically significant,5 weeks,6 weeks after planting,seven weeks mice observed in MRI,the tumor into an,state clearly that the transfer of the surrounding tissue,no significant vascular invasion,heart,liver,kidney disease.The TLR9 expression on the surface of tumor tissue was detected and identified.Conclusion Pancreatic cancer nude mouse transplated tumor has definitely positive expression of TLR9,TLR9 activation can significantly decrease the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer to chemotherapy,increases the drug resistance of tumor,on contrary promotes the tumor growth.

Objective To explore the dietary intakes of carotenoids in Chinese adults.Method One hundred and eighty four 30-60 year-old adults(84 males and 100 females) from three different communities were recruited in the investigation.The dietary samples were collected by double-servings in every season of the year respectively.The double sample comprised all the foods of continuous 3 d at equal variety and quantity,and were analyzed by HPLC for the contents of ?-carotene,?-carotene,?-cryptoxanthin,lycopene,and lutein/zeaxanthin.Results The dietary samples were collected and analyzed from 184,184,169,and 161 subjects in summer,autumn,winter and spring respectively.The dietary intakes of ?-carotene,?-carotene,?-cryptoxanthin,lycopene,and lutein+zeaxanthin in the investigated subjects in summer were 2.48?2.71mg,276.6?469.4 ?g,86.9?241.4 ?g,2.16?3.38 mg,and 1.48?1.65 mg respectively.Those in autumn were 3.39?4.10 mg,271.7?462.8 ?g,339.9?1016.8 ?g,0.25?1.34 mg and 2.07?3.00 mg respectively.Those in winter were 2.85?3.76 mg,302.7?622.6 ?g,108.8?142.3 ?g,0.36?1.46 mg and 1.97?3.00 mg.and those in spring were 3.76?3.35 mg,162.4?413.9 ?g,42.1?93.8 ?g,0.86?1.39 mg and 6.10?6.26 mg respecfively.The lycopene intakes were relatively higher in summer,?-cryptoxanthin higher in autumn,and lutein/ zeaxanthin higher in spring.The intakes of ?-and ?-carotene were relatively less fluctuated by seasons.Generally,the subjects from the central urban community consumed more carotenoids than those from the outskirt community and the rural village,with the only exception of lutein/zeaxanthin intake in spring.Conclusion The dietary carotenoids intakes in Chinese adults were studied,and the data would be helpful for further researches about carotenoids nutrition among Chinese population.