OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the impact of cell spreading area on odontoblast polarization and differentiation using micropatterned surfaces ge-nerated by photolithography. METHODS: Micropatterned surfaces with differential adhesive properties were prepared using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA)-ba-sed photolithography. Human dental pulp stem cells (hD-PSCs) were isolated into single cells and cultured on micropatterned surfaces with areas of 1 800, 2 700, and 3 600 μm². Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe cell morphology and analyze the relocating of the golgi apparatus and nucleus. Alkaline phosphatase staining was preformed to examine odontogenic differentiation. RESULTS: The hDPSCs were successfully isolated and cultured on micropatterned surfaces mimicking the morphology of polarized odontoblasts. Phalloidin staining confirmed that the isolated hDPSCs successfully recapitulated the morphology of predesigned micropatterns. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the polarization and differentiation levels of the hDPSCs with a 3600 μm² area were significantly higher than those with 1 800 and 2 700 μm² areas (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The polarization and differentiation of single hDPSCs increased with the cell areas on micropatterned surfaces.
Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Dental Pulp/cytology* ; Odontoblasts/cytology* ; Stem Cells/cytology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Polarity ; Surface Properties

Objective:To explore any effect of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the upper limb motor function and cerebral cortex activation of stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group, each of 30. In addition to routine rehabilitation training (including drug therapy, comprehensive hemiplegic limb training and physical factor therapy), the intervention group received 15 minutes of rTMS daily, five days a week for 4 weeks while the control group was given false rTMS. Upper limb motor function was evaluated before and after the treatment using the Fugl Meyer upper limb motor function rating scale (FMA-UE). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to detect and compare the activation (β values) of the prefrontal cortex, the motor cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex in the 2 groups. The correlation between the FMA-UE scores and the β values was quantified.Results:①There was no significant difference in the average FMA-UE scores between the two groups before the treatment. Afterward, though both groups′ average scores had increased significantly, there was significantly greater improvement in the treatment group. ②There was also no significant difference in average β value between the two groups before the experiment, but afterward the average βs of channels 27 and 13 in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group. Moreover, in patients with lesion in the left brain, the β-values of CH27 and CH13 were also significantly higher than the control group ( P<0.05). ③The FMA-UE scores of the intervention group were moderately correlated with the CH27 and CH13 β values, but those of the control group were only weakly correlated with the β values of CH27. Conclusion:Transcranial magnetic stimulation activates a lesioned left brain region, improving upper limb motor function. The improvement is correlated with the activation of the left prefrontal cortex and the left primary somatosensory cortex.

Objective:To explore the predictability cytokines in aqueous humor affecting optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out.Twenty eyes of 20 patients with PCV were included in Xuzhou First People's Hospital from July 2017 to July 2020.All PCV eyes were treated by intravitreal injection of conbercept (IVC) following 3+ PRN regimen.One hundred μl of aqueous humor was collected before treatment and before the third injection, respectively.Thirteen kinds of cytokines in the aqueous humor were detected with Luminex bead-based multiplex array.The aqueous humor of 16 eyes of 16 cataract patients with age and gender matched were collected in the same way during phacoemulsification surgery as control.The values of center macular thickness (CMT), subretinal fluid height (SRFH), pigment epithelial detachment height (PEDH) and pigment epithelial detachment diameter (PEDD) of the eyes in the PCV group were examined with OCTA system.The target cytokines in aqueous humor affecting OCTA parameter change values (the difference between before and after treatment) was analyzed.This study protocol was approved by an Medical Ethic Committee of Xuzhou First People's Hospital (No.xyyll[2020]27) and complied with Declaration of Helsinki.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to any medical invention.Results:The concentration of interleukin-8 (IL-8), Leptin, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), endothelin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) were significantly higher in aqueous humor of the PCV group before treatment than those in the cataract group (all at P<0.05). After treatment, the concentration of VEGF-A in aqueous humor of the PCV group was significantly lower than that before treatment ( P<0.001). The values of CMT, SRFH, PEDH and PEDD were significantly reduced in comparison with before treatment, showing statistical significances (all at P<0.05). The concentration of VEGF-A in aqueous humor was positively correlated and endothelin-1 in aqueous humor was negatively correlated with the change value of CMT ( r=0.592, -0.485, both at P<0.05). The concentration of IL-8 and HGF were positively correlated with SRFH change value ( r=0.492, 0.466, both at P<0.05). VEGF-A and IL-8 concentraions of aqueous humor before treatment were the risk factor of the change value of CMT and SRFH.Every 1pg/ml increase of baseline VEGF-A, the CMT change value reduced 0.836 μm ( P=0.006), and every 1pg/ml increase of baseline IL-8, the SRFH change value reduced 12.522 μm ( P=0.028). Conclusions:The concentrations of VEGF-A and IL-8 in aqueous humor might predict the CMT and SRFH improvement in PCV eyes after anti-VEGF therapy.

Objective To observe the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) based on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) for circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH).Methods A retrospective observational case series study was performed.Seventeen eyes of 17 patients were diagnosed with CCH and then underwent PDT based on ICGA image in Xuzhou Municipal Hospital from August,2010 to May,2018.The size of the treatment spot was decided according to ICGA images.The period of mean follow-up visit ranged from 6 to 36 months,with an average of (23.3± 1 1.8) months.Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),sub-retinal fluid (SRF) and central retinal thickness (CRT) based on optical coherence tomography (OCT),the tumor diameter based on ICGA and the tumor thickness based on coloured doppler imaging (CDI) before and after treatment were analyzed.Results Sixteen cases received only one PDT session,one case had ever received PDT and another case had ever received focal laser photocoagulation.The mean BCVA (LogMAR) was 0.99±0.52,1.09±0.50,0.97±0.53,0.81±0.66,0.79±0.69,and the mean CRT was (440.76±281.34),(329.18± 175.02),(274.24± 169.55),(271.53 ± 150.00),(291.06 ± 201.41)μm before PDT,at 1 week,1 month,3 months and the last visit after treatment,with significant differences among the follow-up time (F =6.965,P =0.006;F =8.784,P =0.002).The decimal visual acuity was increased by at least 2 lines in 9 eyes (52.9％),fluctuated within 2 lines in 7 eyes (41.2％),while decreased by at least 2 lines in one eye (5.9％).SRF of all patients was involved in macular area.The absolute absorption of SRF was found in 7 eyes (41.2％) and partial absorption in 8 eyes (47.1％) at 3 months follow-up visit.In the last follow-up visit,the absolute absorption of SRF was found in 12 eyes (70.6％),partial absorption was found in 3 eyes (17.6％) and 2 eyes (11.8％) underwent no change.On FFA and ICGA,the decrease of tumor size was found in 15 patients,while the others underwent no change.All patients underwent less enhanced hyperfluorescent after treatment.The mean tumor height was (3.80± 1.13)mm before PDT and (3.42± 1.14)mm on the last visit,with a significant difference between them (t=4.101,P=0.010).Conclusions PDT with verteporfin for CCH can promote the improvement of visual acuity,the absorption of SRF,the anatomical reposition of the retina and the decrease of tumor size.The majority of patients can get therapeutic effect after one PDT session.

Objectives To investigate the relationship between atherosclerotic acute myocardial infarction (AMI),acute cerebral infarction (ACI)and homocysteine (Hcy). Methods Three hundred and twenty consecutive patients with primary acute myocardial infarction (AMI)(group A)were admitted to the Department of Cardiology,310 patients with primary large artery atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (group B)were admitted to the Department of Neurology,and 327 healthy individuals without cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (group C)at the Department of Physical Examination,Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University were enrolled retrospectively from March 2010 to October 2011. The age and sex were matched in the 3 groups. All the clinical data of subjects were colleted in detail and then were compared and analyzed. Results (1)The Hcy levels (μmol/L)of group A,B,and C were 15. 10 (12. 43, 19.47),15. 80 (13. 10,20. 83),and 13. 20 (11. 00,16. 50;median [interquartile range]),respectively. There were significant differences among the 3 groups (P<0. 05). The incidences of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy)were 92. 8%(n=297),97. 1%(n=301),and 84. 7%(n=277)(P<0. 05). (2)Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for ACI were HHcy (OR 8. 97,95% CI 3. 01-26. 71),hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia and blood ureanitrogen;the independent risk factors for AMI were HHcy (OR 4. 36,95% CI 1. 70-11. 21),hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,and total blood cholesterol. Conclusion HHcy is an independent factor for ACI and AMI,which have closer relationship with ACI. ACI and AMI have some common risk factors,but their degrees of action are different.

Objective To analyze the incidence of stress hyperglycemia and its influential factors in patients with acute myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. Methods The case data of 1630 consecutive patients with incipient myocardial infarction without cerebrovascular disease admitted in the department of cardiology and 1338 patients with atherosclerotic acute cerebral infarction without cardiovascular disease admitted in the department of neurology,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 2009 to December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 2048 patients without diabetes mellitus were selected from them,among them 1165 patients were in an acute myocardial infarction group and 883 were in a cerebral infarction group. The fasting blood glucose >7. 8 mmol/L in the next morning after admission was defined as hyperglycemia. Single factor and multifactor logistic regression analyses were used to compare the incidence of stress hyperglycemia and its influential factors of both groups. Results ( 1 ) Of the 1165 patients with myocardial infarction,the incidence of stress hyperglycemia was 17. 2% (n=201);of the 883 patients with cerebral infarction,the incidence of stress hyperglycemia was 5.4% (n=48). There was significant difference between the 2 group (χ2= 65.677;P < 0. 01). (2) Comparing the general information of the patients with stress hyperglycemia (n=249) and those without stress hyperglycemia ( n=1799) of the cardio-cerebrovascular diseases showed that there were significant differences in hyperlipidemia, drinking history, family history of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, age, heart rate, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol,leukocyte count,blood urea nitrogen,and triacylglycerols between the 2 groups (P<0. 05). (3) Multivariate Logistic analysis showed that heart rate ( OR,1. 013,95%CI 1.002-1.024),leukocyte count (OR,1.109,95%CI 1.508-1.163),and triacylglycerols(OR,1.174, 95%CI 1. 042-1. 322) were the independent risk factors for stress hyperglycemia in myocardial infarction. (4) Systolic blood pressure (OR,1. 019,95% CI 1. 006-1.033) and leukocyte count (OR,1. 132,95%CI 1. 009-1. 268) were the independent risk factors for stress hyperg lycemia in cerebral infarction. Conclusion The incidence of stress hyperglycemia in patients with myocardial infarction is higher than that in patients with cerebral infarction,and the increased leukocyte count is a common independent risk factor for both.