BACKGROUND: Under indirect co-culture conditions, chondrocytes can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into chondrocytes. Osteocytes are the seed cells of chondrocytes, but co-culture of osteocytes with chondrocytes is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To induce the chondrogenic differentiation of periosteum-derived cells (PDCs) by indirect co-culture with chondrocytes. METHODS: Chondrocytes were isolated from the rabbits by trypsin and collagenase Ⅱ digestion. Rabbit PDCs were obtained by the explants culture method. Passage 2 chondrocytes and PDCs underwent indirect co-culture at 1:1 in Transwell system as experimental group. PDCs cultured alone were as control group. After 2 weeks of culture, the cellular morphological changes were observed by inverted contrast phase microscope. The expression levels of collagen type Ⅱ and proteoglycan were detected by collagen type Ⅱ immunohistochemistry and toluidine blue staining. The mRNA expression levels of proteoglycan, collagen type Ⅱ and SRY-related protein-9 were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 2 weeks of culture, PDCs in the experimental group were gradually transformed to chondrocyte-like cells, while PDCs in the control group still remained long spindle-shaped. Collagen type Ⅱ immunohistochemistry staining and toluidine blue staining were positive in the experimental group, while the results were negative in the control group. Additionally, RT-PCR results indicated that the relative mRNA expression levels of proteoglycan, collagen type Ⅱ and SRY-related protein-9 in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Therefore, chondrocytes can induce PDCs to differentiate into chondrocytes under indirect co-culture conditions.

BACKGROUNDParoxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is a rare movement disorder characterized by recurrent dystonic or choreoathetoid attacks triggered by sudden voluntary movements. Under the condition of psychological burden, some patients' attacks may get worsened with longer duration and higher frequency. This study aimed to assess nonmotor symptoms and quality of life of patients with PKD in a large population.

METHODSWe performed a cross-sectional survey in 165 primary PKD patients from August 2008 to October 2016 in Rui Jin Hospital, using Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), World Health Organization Quality of Life-100 (WHOQoL-100), Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. We evaluated the differences of SCL-90-R and WHOQOL-100 scores in patients and Chinese normative data (taken from literature) by using the unpaired Student's t-test. We applied multivariate linear regression to analyze the relationships between motor manifestations, mental health, and quality of life among PKD patients.

RESULTSCompared with Chinese normative data taken from literature, patients with PKD exhibited significantly higher (worse) scores across all SCL-90-R subscales (somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism; P= 0.000 for all) and significantly lower (worse) scores of five domains in WHOQoL-100 (physical domain, psychological domain, independence domain, social relationship domain, and general quality of life; P= 0.000 for all). Nonremission of dyskinesia episodes (P = 0.011) and higher depression score (P = 0.000) were significantly associated with lower levels of quality of life. The rates of depression and anxiety in patients with PKD were 41.2% (68/165) and 26.7% (44/165), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSDepression, anxiety, and low levels of quality of life were prevalent in patients with PKD. Co-occurrence of depression and anxiety was common among these patients. Regular mental health interventions could set depression and anxiety as intervention targets. Considering that the motor episodes could be elicited by voluntary movements and sometimes also by emotional stress, and that symptoms may get worsened with longer duration and higher frequency when patients are stressed out, intervention or treatment of depression and anxiety might improve the motor symptoms and overall quality of life in PKD patients.

We induced percutaneous spinal cord injuries (SCI) using a balloon catheter in 45 rats and transplanted human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) at the injury site. Locomotor function was significantly improved in hUCB-MSCs transplanted groups. Quantitative ELISA of extract from entire injured spinal cord showed increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). Our results show that treatment of SCI with hUCB-MSCs can improve locomotor functions, and suggest that increased levels of BDNF, NGF and NT-3 in the injured spinal cord were the main therapeutic effect.
Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/*genetics ; *Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Nerve Growth Factor/genetics ; Rats ; Spinal Cord Injuries/*therapy

Here, percutaneous spinal cord injury (SCI) methods using a balloon catheter in adult rats are described. A balloon catheter was inserted into the epidural space through the lumbosacral junction and then inflated between T9-T10 for 10min under fluoroscopic guidance. Animals were divided into three groups with respect to inflation volume: 20 microL (n = 18), 50 microL (n = 18) and control (Fogarty catheter inserted but not inflated; n = 10). Neurological assessments were then made based on BBB score, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology. Both inflation volumes produced complete paralysis. Gradual recovery of motor function occurred when 20 microL was used, but not after 50 microL was applied. In the 50 microL group, all gray and white matter was lost from the center of the lesion. In addition, supramaximal damage was noted, which likely prevented spontaneous recovery. This percutaneous spinal cord compression injury model is simple, rapid with high reproducibility and the potential to serve as a useful tool for investigation of pathophysiology and possible protective treatments of SCI in vivo.
Animals ; Balloon Embolectomy/*methods ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Compression/*therapy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Mini-probe endoscopic ultrasonography (mEUS) is a useful diagnostic tool for accurate assessment of tumor invasion. The aim of this study was to estimate the accuracy of mEUS in patients with early colorectal cancer (ECC). METHODS: Ninety lesions of ECC underwent mEUS for pre-treatment staging. We divided the lesions into either the mucosal group or the submucosal group according to the mEUS findings. The histological results of the specimens were compared with the mEUS findings. RESULTS: The overall accuracy for assessing the depth of tumor invasion (T stage) was 84.4% (76/90). The accuracy of mEUS was significantly lower for submucosal lesions compared to mucosal lesions (p=0.003) and it was lower for large tumors (> or =2 cm) (p=0.034). The odds ratios of large tumors and submucosal tumors affecting the accuracy of T staging were 3.46 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 11.39) and 6.25 (95% CI, 1.85 to 25.14), respectively. When submucosal tumors were combined with large size, the odds ratio was 14.67 (95% CI, 1.46 to 146.96). CONCLUSIONS: The overall accuracy of T stage determination with mEUS was considerably high in patients with ECC; however, the accuracy decreased when tumor size was >2 cm or the tumor had invaded the submucosal layer.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Endosonography ; Humans ; Odds Ratio

Objective To summarize and explore the clinical value of selective partial neurotomy of muscular branch of triceps in the treatment of spastic talipes equines.Methods Forty-two cases were included in our study from Aug.2000 to Des.2007,all these cases accepted the operation of selective partial neurotomy muscular branch of triceps.In this study,29 cases were male,13 cases were female.Muscle force of legs,muscular tension,pathologic reflex,gesture and function of legs after operation were compared with that of before operation.Results The mean fallow-up was 18 months.During the fallow-up of this study,muscular tension degraded,the function of ankle joints and the gesture of extremitas inferior were improved obviously.The effective power was about 90% after 12 months follow-up.Conclusions Selective partial neurotomy of muscular branch of triceps is a effective method for the treatment of spastic talipes equines.The operation procedure is simple and effective,and could be generalized in the primary level hospital.

Cutaneous metastasis from bladder cancer is very rare. A 48-year-old man presented with a 5 month history of a dome-shaped nodule on his scalp. Histopathologic examination of the skin lesion revealed the proliferation of atypical cells, which were similar to those of urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. We herein report on a case of cutaneous metastasis from urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder with a review of the Korean literature.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Scalp ; Skin ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

Xanthogranuloma is a benign, fibrohistiocytic lesion that presents as a yellowish, cutaneous papule or nodule. Although the head, neck, and trunk are the most common sites for xanthogranuloma, it can appear at any site on the body. We report a rare solitary xanthogranuloma on the palm of 24-year-old man.
Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Young Adult

Eccrine porocarcinoma is a very rare, locally-aggressive, potentially fatal, malignant cutaneous neoplasm that arises from the intraepithelial ductal portion of the eccrine sweat gland. Eccrine porocarcinoma may develop either spontaneously or from a longstanding benign eccrine poroma. Herein, we describe two cases of eccrine porocarcinoma and review the related literature.
Eccrine Porocarcinoma* ; Poroma ; Sweat Glands

A benign metastasizing leiomyoma is a rare condition that affects women with a history of uterine leiomyoma, usually after a myomectomy or hysterectomy. Typical radiographic findings include well-circumscribed solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter and scattered among the normal interstitium. We report a case of a benign metastasizing leiomyoma that manifested with multiple cavitary nodules in a 46-year-old woman with no previous history of a myomectomy or hysterectomy.
Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma* ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Uterus