BACKGROUND:Previous research has demonstrated human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(HMSCs)differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells;however,biological characteristics and differentiation mechanism remain unclear,and differentiation system remains immature.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the feasibility of hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)and epidermal growth factor(EGF)to induce the differentiation of HMSCs into hepatocyte-like cells.METHODS:HMSC5 were obtained from patients with esophageal cancer and were separated by density gradient centrifugation combined with attachment method.The phenotypes of MSCs were identified by flow cytometry.The third-passage HMSCs were divided into four groups:HGF(adding 20 μg/L HGF),EGF(adding 20 μg/L EGF),HGF+EGF,and blank control groups.Morphology was observed using inverted microscope.At days 7 and 14 after induction,α-fetoprotein and albumin mRNA expressions were detected using RT-PCR assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The HMSCs did not express hematopoietic cell CD34 and CD35,but strongly expressed β1-integrin CD29 and matrix receptor CD44.HMSCs changed from long fusiform shape to polygon or similar round shape in the HGF,EGF,and HGF+EGF groups.At days 7 and 14 after induction,α-fetoprotein and albumin mRNA expressions were positive.However,polygon cells were not observed in the blank control group,and α-fetoprotein and albumin mRNA expressions were negative.This suggested that HGF,EGF,and HGF+EGF could induce the differentiation of HMSCs into hepatocyte-like cells;however,their differentiation ability still needs to be further semi-quantitatively analyzed using immunohistochemical staining.

Objective To detect the neurofibromin expression and observe the biological features of the osteoblasts of patients with type 1 neurofibromatosis and scoliosis. Methods 10 cases of congenital scoliosis and 8 cases of NF1 scoliosis were chosen. The two groups were with the similar age(with the average of 11.7 years and 12.5 years) and Cobb angle(with the average of 85? and 94?). Cancellous bone was harvested from the ilia and the bone explants culture system was used. Proliferation of the osteoblasts, and also the specific differentiation index including alkaline phosphatase, type Ⅰ collagen and osteocalcin was assayed in sewnd generation osteoblasts. Neurofibromin expression in the two kinds of osteoblasts was detected with immunoprecipitation followed by Western blot. Results Compared to the osteoblasts of patients with congenital scoliosis, lower level of neurofibromin was expressed in osteoblasts of patients with NF1 scoliosis, (the OD value was 1.05?0.06 and 2.59?1.40 respectively, P=0.002). The level of alkaline phosphatase, type Ⅰ collagen and osteocalcin were significant lower in osteoblasts of patients with NF1 scoliosis than those of CS patients (44.69 IU/mg vs 51.38 IU/mg, P=0.019; 226.34 ng/mg vs 249.93 ng/mg, P=0.014; 7.41 ng/mg vs 8.87 ng/mg, P=0.049). But the proliferation rate of the NF1 osteoblasts was significant higher than that of the CS osteoblasts (3.34 and 2.70 respectively, P=0.049). Conclusion With the decrease of neurofibromin expression, the NF1 osteoblasts show some defects in their function, these function defects may contribute to varieties of skeletal abnormalities as dystrophic change and decreased bone density.

Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Preoperative Care ; Safety

Cysts ; complications ; Exophthalmos ; complications ; Frontal Sinus ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paranasal Sinus Diseases ; complications

Adolescent ; Cyanosis ; complications ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure

Objective To study CT diagnosis and differential diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis and central lung cancer.Methods CT features and differential diagnosis in 48 cases with pulmonary lesions confirmed by clinical and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results Of 48 cases,21 cases were endobronchial tuberculosis and 27 cases were central lung cancer including 20 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 7 cases of small-cell lung cancer.On CT,showing bronchiartia,nodules inside the lumen,the bronchial walls thickened,bronchus involved longer,not accompanied with masses around the affected bronchus,atelectasis and obstructive pneumonia with the bronchiectasis or cavities and calcification,which were strongly promised the endobronchial tuberculosis.And it pointed out the central lung cancer if bronchiartia was shorter,the bronchial walls were thickened clearly and accompanied with masses around the affected bronchus and atelectasis with homogeneous density.Conclusion CT is of certain value in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis and central lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recently emerged immunosuppressive scheme combined with basiliximab following liver transplantation, such as the early steroid withdrawal or half amount of steroid. Many studies demonstrated that it would not increase the rejection rate in reducing the use of steroid. However, there were rare reports addressing whether it was safe and effective to replace the steroid by basiliximab. OBJECTIVE: Through the application of non-steroid and early steroid withdrawal immunosuppressive scheme in patients of hepatocellular carcinoma following liver transplantation, to evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of two treatments. METHODS: A total of 80 patients of hepatocellular carcinoma receiving liver transplantation were divided into the experimental and control group. In the experimental group, 33 patients were applied with non-steroid treatment (Tacrolimus+mycophenolate mofetil+basiliximab); additionally 47 patients were applied with early steroid withdrawal treatment (Tacrolimus+mycophenolate mofetil+ steroid). Steroid was reduced gradually from the first day after transplantation to discontinuation after 1 month. The rates of rejection, infection, cancer recurrence and 1 -year survival were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared to the control group, the rates of infection and cancer recurrence were significantly smaller in the experimental group (P < 0.05). However, there was no significantly difference between 2 groups in the rates of rejection and 1 -year survival (P > 0.05). It revealed that the non-steroid treatment can be safely and effectively applied in the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following liver transplantation. The non-steroid treatment can significantly cut down the infection rate and cancer recurrence rate, which has no effect on the rejection and 1 -year survival rate.

Objective To investigate the effects of the sense and antisense testes-signal transduction and activator of RNA (T-STAR) gene on the colon cancer cell line HCT-116. Methods The sense and antisense T-STAR gene was stably transfected into HCT-116 cells with lipofectamine. The expression level of T-STAR in those cells was detected by Western blotting and the growth velocity and proliferation of those cells by cytokinetics. Results The growth velocity and proliferation decreased after transfection of the sense T-STAR gene, but increased after transfection of the antisense T-STAR gene. Conclusion T-STAR gene can inhibit the growth velocity and proliferation of HCT-116 cells.

Objective To investigate the changes of telomerase activity after knocking down endogenous expression of T-STAR (testes-signal transduction and activator of RNA) gene in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 by antisense strategy. Methods The mRNA and protein expression of T-STAR gene were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, and the telomerase activity was measured by PCR-ELISA, after transfection of T-STAR antisense gene into A549 cells with lipofectamine. Sense pcDNA-STAR and blank pcDNA3.1 transfection served as control. Results The expression of T-STAR gene was significantly inhibited at mRNA and protein level, and the telomerase activity was significantly decreased. Conclusion The down-regulation of telomerase activity may result from inhibition of T-STAR gene expression in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic implantation of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMs) for malignant colorectal obstruction. Methods A total of 108 patients who had undergone endoscopic SEMs implantation for malignant colonic obstruction from January 2011 to May 2014 were enrolled. The clinical suc-cess rates and the complications were reviewed. Results The clinical success rates were 92.59%(100/108). Abdomi-nal pain, perforation and bleeding were the most common post-procedure complications, the rates of which were 16.67% (18/108), 7.41% (8/108), 6.48% (7/108), respectively. The abdominal pain in most patients was self-reliev-ing except for 6 patients with perforation of colon. Patients with perforation were cured by emergency surgery. The 7 patients developing bleeding recovered themselves. Conclusion The success rate of endoscopic SEMs implantation is satisfactory in the study. As a bridge to surgery or a palliative care method, endoscopic SEMs implantation is effec-tive and safe for malignant colorectal obstruction.