Recent research on neurodevelopmental disorders in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in children are a group of chronic developmental brain disorders caused by multiple genetic or acquired causes, including disorders of intellectual development, developmental speech or language disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental learning disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, tic disorders, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. With the improvement in the research level and the diagnosis and treatment techniques of NDDs, great progress has been made in the research on NDDs in children. This article reviews the research advances in NDDs, in order to further improve the breadth and depth of the understanding of NDDs in children among pediatricians.

Does Prior Cancer Have an Influence on the Survival Outcomes of Patients with Localized Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors? / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Objective To investigate the impact of prior non-pancreatic cancer on the survival outcomes of patients with localized pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs). Methods We reviewed the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and selected patients with localized PanNETs diagnosed between 1973 and 2015. We divided the patients into two groups according to the presence or absence of prior non-pancreatic malignancy. Before and after propensity score matching, we compared the clinicopathological characteristics and studied the overall survival and cancer-specific survival. Results A total of 357 (12.9%) of 2778 patients with localized PanNETs had prior cancer. A total of 1211 cases with only a localized PanNET and 133 cases with a localized PanNET and prior cancer had complete data and met the inclusion criteria of the current study. Patients with prior cancer were associated with advanced age (>65 years, 57.9% prior cancer

Using a Nomogram to Preoperatively Predict Distant Metastasis of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor in Elderly Patients / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Objective To establish a nomogram for predicting the distant metastasis risk of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) in elderly patients. Methods We extracted data of patients with diagnosis of pNETs at age ≥65 years old between 1973 and 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. All eligible patients were divided randomly into a training cohort and validation cohort. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed on the training cohort to identify independent factors for distant metastasis. A nomogram was developed based on the independent risk factors using rms packages of R software, and was validated internally by the training cohort and externally by the validation cohort using C-index and calibration curves. Results A total of 411 elderly patients were identified, of which 260 were assigned to training cohort and 151 to validation cohort. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated the tumor site (body/tail of pancreas: odds ratio [

Pure Laparoscopic Liver Resection for Malignant Liver Tumor: Anatomic Resection Versus Nonanatomic Resection / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has been considered to be safe and feasible. However, few studies focused on the comparison between the anatomic and nonanatomic LLR. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the perioperative factors and outcomes of the anatomic and nonanatomic LLR, especially the area of liver parenchymal transection and blood loss per unit area.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, surgical and oncological data of patients underwent pure LLR procedures for malignant liver tumor were prospectively collected. Blood loss per unit area of liver parenchymal transection was measured and considered as an important parameter. All procedures were conducted by a single surgeon.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During nearly 5 years, 84 patients with malignant liver tumor received a pure LLR procedure were included. Among them, 34 patients received anatomic LLR and 50 received nonanatomic LLR, respectively. Patients of the two groups were similar in terms of demographic features and tumor characteristics, despite the tumor size was significantly larger in the anatomic LLR group than that in the nonanatomic LLR group (4.77 ± 2.57 vs. 2.87 ± 2.10 cm, P = 0.001). Patients who underwent anatomic resection had longer operation time (364.09 ± 131.22 vs. 252.00 ± 135.21 min, P < 0.001) but less blood loss per unit area (7.85 ± 7.17 vs. 14.17 ± 10.43 ml/cm 2 , P = 0.018). Nonanatomic LLR was associated with more blood loss when the area of parenchymal transection was equal to the anatomic LLR. No mortality occurred during the hospital stay and 30 days after the operation. Moreover, there was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications. The disease-free and overall survival rates showed no significant differences between the anatomic LLR and nonanatomic LLR groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both anatomic and nonanatomic pure LLR are safe and feasible. Measuring the area of parenchymal transection is a simple and effective method to estimate the outcomes of the liver resection surgery. Blood loss per unit area is an important parameter which is comparable between the anatomic LLR and nonanatomic LLR groups.</p>

Analysis and management of the biliary complications after liver transplantations / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the relevant factors of biliary complications after liver transplantation and to investigate the value of comprehensive management for the complications.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The data of 366 patients undergoing liver transplantation from October 2000 to March 2012 was analyzed retrospectively, and the risk factors were analyzed by univariate analysis and Stepwise Logistic regression. The cases with biliary leak were administered thorough drainage. The cases with anastomotic biliary stricture were administered sacculus dilatation through percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) and endoscopicretrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). If necessary, some cases were placed biliary tract brackets. The patients with nonanastomotic biliary stricture were treated with PTC plus choledochoscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the 366 patients were followed up for 58.5 (10 to 129) months. Biliary complications after liver transplantation were diagnosed in 42 cases among these patients. The incidence for biliary complications was 11.5%. The univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the second warm ischemia period and the blood loss and the damage of blood supply and the diameter of biliary anastmosis were significantly associated with biliary complications after liver transplantations (Wald = 9.474 to 17.208, P < 0.05). Twelve cases with biliary leak were cured through abdominal and nasobiliary drainage. Twenty-two cases with anastomotic biliary stricture were administered sacculus dilatation through ERCP or PTC and were cured, including 6 cases were placed biliary tract brackets. Among 8 cases with nonanastomotic biliary stricture, 6 cases were cured through PTC associating with choledochoscope. One case was treated second liver transplantation and another case got worse.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ischemic injury and the diameter of anastmosis are risk factors for biliary complications after liver transplantations. The interventional management of biliary stricture and bile leakage after liver transplantation is safe and effective.</p>

Laparoscopic liver tumor resection of clinical experience in 126 patients / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical application technology of completely laparoscopy hepodectomy (LH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2006 to December 2011, the 126 cases of LH were performed, the data including operating time, blood loss and postoperative complications, etc, were analyzed retrospectively. The patients included 87 males and 39 female and they were 28-83 years old with an average age of 44.5 years old. The parenchyma was transected using laparoscopic ultrasonic scalpel and ligasure, accomplished with endoscopic linear stapler. Of all the patients, the diseases performed LH including primary liver carcinoma (45 cases), liver hemoangioma (58 cases), colon carcinoma with livermetastasis (23 cases), liver focar (5 cases), liver granuloma (1 case), liver adenoma (4 cases). The operations included left hemihepatectomy (n = 17), left lateral lobectomy (n = 34), right hemihepatectomy (n = 15), segmentectomy (n = 22), local resection (n = 59).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of all the patients, mean blood loss was 180 ml (10-1250 ml), mean surgical time was 142 minutes (43-220 minutes), mean postoperative hospital day was 2.2 days (3-12 days). Postoperative complications including eight cases of bile leakage, recovered after 1-3 weeks by appropriately draining. The patients with malignant tumor were followed up for 18 months (12-46 months), recurrence happened in 12 cases and four cases was died of recurrence and metastasis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LH is a safe, feasible and effective procedure for the treatment of benign liver disease and malignant liver neoplasm as long as the patient is properly selected, it should be recommended for radical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.</p>

A clinical study on multi-disciplinary team and surgery for resectable colorectal cancer with liver metastases / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To analyze the survival outcomes of the surgery for colorectal cancer with liver metastases (CRCLM), and study the mode of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) for CRCLM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The retrospective analysis was conducted for 38 patients with CRCLM received MDT management and surgical treatment from January 2009 to August 2011. The peri-operative and survival outcomes of MDT and surgery were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the cases met the present criteria of resetability for CRCLM, but only 4 cases (10.5%) met the previous one. Coloproctectomy and hepatectomy were performed in all cases, with 39 colorectal neoplasms and 155 liver lesions removed. One case died of postoperative septic shock. Colorectal and hepatic specific complications were absent in the others patients except one case of biliary leak which was treated with conservative management. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was arranged in 13 cases. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered for every patient. After a mean follow-up of (22 ± 10) months according to the finding time of liver metastases, recurrence and metastases were observed in 16 cases and 6 cases died of late-stage cachexia. The 1-, 2- and 3-overall survival rate were 94.4%, 85.3% and 75.8% respectively, and the 1-, 2- and 3-disease-free survival rate were 70.1%, 54.2% and 54.2% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MDT mode for resectable CRCLM is recommendable. Surgical resection of CRCLM is feasible and safe, which seems to achieve favourable short-middle oncologic outcomes. And long-term survival is expected.</p>

Clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and treatment with solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas: a report of 33 cases / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features, biological behavior, diagnosis and treatment of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective clinical and clinicopathologic analysis was made on 33 cases of SPTP admitted from May 2001 to 2010 July. There were 7 male and 26 female patients, aging from 13 to 66 years with a mean of 34.3 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The tumor was located in pancreatic head of 10 patients, in pancreatic neck of 5 patients, in pancreatic body and tail of 18 patients. Of the 33 patients treated with surgery, 8 underwent simple resection of pancreatic tumor, 6 underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, 3 underwent tumor resection plus pancreaticojejunostomy, 1 underwent tumor resection plus pancreaticogastrostomy, 11 underwent distal pancreatectomy, 4 underwent distal pancreatectomy plus spleen resection (1 underwent mesohepatectomy for hepatic metastasis). Sixteen of the 33 operations were completed by laparoscopy. Histologically, tumors were composed of papillary and microcystic solid structures, with uniformed population of cells. The pancreas and blood vessels invasion were identified in 3 cases, one of them was combined with liver metastasis, and they are male. Immunohistologically, the tumors were positive for α1-antitrypsin, α1-antichymotrypsin, β-catenin, CD10, CD56 and vimentin (all cases), neuron-specific enolase (3 cases), synaptophysin (6 cases), chromogranin A (4 cases), progesterone receptor (28 cases), estrogen receptor (3 cases), S-100 (6 cases). Totally 33 cases were followed up with a median period of 49 months without tumor recurrence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SPTP is of low graded malignancy. It primarily affects young women. It may be located in any part of pancreas. Immunohistochemistry is very important for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SPTP. Surgical resection is recommended as the treatment of choice. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy or tumor resection is feasible and safe for some selected patients, and the prognosis is good.</p>

The influential factors and clinical significance of acute renal failure complicated to orthotopic liver transplantation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the risk factors for acute renal failure (ARF) early after liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The data of 362 patients undergoing liver transplantation from August 2000 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed, including 71 patients with ARF (ARF group) and 291 without ARF (non-ARF group). Thirty-six variables, including clinical and experimental variables, were analyzed by t test for continuous variables and χ(2) test for discrete variables. The variables with significance (P < 0.05) were then analyzed with Stepwise logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twelve variables, including pretransplant serum creatinine, hemoglobin, thrombinogen activity, total bilirubin, MELD scores, total operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion, preoperative urine output, preoperative hepatic encephalopathy, intraoperative low blood pressure and postoperative infection, had significant difference between two groups (F = 10.30 - 182.70, P = 0.000 - 0.041). The Stepwise logistic regression analysis for 12 variables demonstrated that the high level of pretransplant serum creatinine, the low pretransplant thrombinogen activity, the high MELD scores, the large volume of intraoperative blood loss, postoperative infection were the independent risk factors of ARF complicated to orthotopic liver transplantation (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Early ARF is a key negative factor for the survivors after orthotopic liver transplantation. The reason for ARF complicated to OLT is multiple. The high level of pretransplant serum creatinine, the low pretransplant thrombinogen activity, the high MELD scores, the large volume of intraoperative blood loss, postoperative infection were the independent risk factors of ARF complicated to orthotopic liver transplantation.</p>

The pathological feature of primary hepatic carcinoma on explanted liver and its significance / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the pathological feature of primary hepatic carcinoma and the clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August 2000 to December 2007, there were 89 patients with cirrhosis and carcinoma of liver who accepted whole liver resection. The whole liver was cut into 10 mm slices to examine the tumor size, number, distribution, capsule, satellite nodes, portal vein tumor thrombi (PVTT). The invaded adjacent tissue and lymph nodes were recorded, the distance from satellite to major tumor was measured, then histological examinations were carried out, and the final diagnosis was made by pathologists.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total of 89 cases included hepatocellular carcinoma in 86 cases and cholangiocarcinoma in 3 cases; 53 cases with multiple tumors and 36 cases with solitary tumor; complete capsule only in 14 cases, no obvious margin in 11 cases, 13 cases had a major tumor in the right lobe and a small tumor in the left lobe; 8 of 25 cases with gross invaded tissue were confirmed by histological examination, 7 of 16 cases with swollen lymph nodes were infiltrated by cancer cells. There were 47 cases with PVTT (47.2%) and 39 cases with satellite nodes (43.8%). PVTT and satellite nodes increased with the increase of sizes and the numbers of the tumors. The distance from satellite node to major tumor mostly were 0.5 - 3.0 cm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The whole explanted liver can completely reflect the characteristics of growth and infiltration of hepatic carcinoma. Attention must be paid to the small cancer lesions in another lobe, distal satellite nodes from major tumor, and tumor thrombi in a small branch of portal vein, which can not be found by imaging, and might influence the curative effectiveness after liver resection or transplantation.</p>

Influence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection on the outcome of kidney transplantation / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the long-term survival of renal transplantation recipients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 443 patients who received renal allografts from 1992 to 2002 were analyzed. Outcome and survival were compared among four groups retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twelve patients were positive for both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV antibody (anti-HCV) (group 1), 18 were HBsAg-positive and anti-HCV-negative (group 2), 26 were HBsAg-negative and anti-HCV-positive (group 3) and 387 were negative for both markers (group 4). The mean follow-up period was 6.1 +/- 2.8 years (range, 0.5-10 years) for all patients. Group 2 had significantly higher liver-related complications (38.9%) and liver-related death (16.7%) than did group 4 (0%, P < 0.01). Among all patients, 4 HBsAg-positive patients had fulminant hepatitis and died within two years of transplantation. Three patients (group 2) who died were seropositive for HBeAg and/or HBV DNA and none had a history of or positive serologic marker to indicate hepatitis of other etiologies. One (group 1), two (group 2), and one patient (group 3) developed liver cirrhosis respectively, and hepatocellular carcinoma occurred in two patients (group 2) and one patient (group 3). Despite high liver-related mortality in HBV-infected patients, no significant differences among the four groups in the long-term graft and patient survivals were demonstrated. The presence of HBsAg or anti-HCV was not associated with poor prognosis as determined by Cox regression analysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBV or HCV infection is not a contraindiction to kidney transplantation in Chinese patients. However, it should be noted that serious liver-related complications may occur and limit survival in patients infected with HBV and/or HCV after kidney transplantation.</p>

Effects of nitric oxide on reperfusion injury following pancreaticoduodenal transplantation in rats / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on reperfusion injury following pancreaticoduodenal transplantation in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The homologous male Wistar rat model of heterotopic total pancreaticoduodenal transplantation was used. The L-arginine (L-Arg) group received intravenous injection of L-Arg 5 minutes before and after reperfusion at a dose of 200 mg/kg while the N-Nitro-L-Arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) group received intravenous injection of L-NAME at a dose of 10 mg/kg, and control group received saline. The amount of NO in the pancreas graft was measured. Serum concentration of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, expression of CINC mRNA detected by Northern blot assay, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the pancreas graft were measured. Histological observation was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The amount of NO in the L-Arg group was higher than in the control group, while in the L-NAME group was lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). The peak of serum CINC concentration occurred 3 hours after reperfusion with significant difference among groups. Expression peak of CINC mRNA in the pancreas graft occurred 3 hours after reperfusion. The expression level in the L-Arg group was lower than in the control group, the L-NAME group was higher than control group (P < 0.05). MPO activity in the L-Arg group obviously decreasd compared with other groups. The pancreas inflammation was ameliorated in L-Arg group, and pancreas damage was aggravated in L-NAME group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>L-Arg can increase the amount of NO and inhibit the elevation of CINC, CINC mRNA expression, and early neutrophil accumulation in the transplanted pancreas. NO has protective effects on the ischemia/reperfusion injury of pancreaticoduodenal transplantation.</p>

Metallothionein and its isoform genes expression in the human pancreatic cancer cell strains and their function / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the expression of metallothionein (MT) genes and proteins in six human pancreatic cancer cell strains and two human pancreatic cancer drug-resistant cell strains and to explore the relationship between the expression of the MT and pancreatic cancer cell chemo-resistance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the MT isoform-specific mRNA, and cadmium/hemoglobin saturation-electrochemistry to determine MT protein levels.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MT protein expression in the pancreatic cancer cell strains was encoded by MT-1A, MT-1B, MT-1E, MT-1F, MT-1G, MT-1X, and MT-2A genes. The expression of MT proteins was upregulated and MT-1B, MT-1E, MT-1X, MT-2A genes overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer drug-resistant cell lines (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Expressions of MT proteins and genes correlate with the proliferation and chemoresistance of human pancreatic cancer cell strains.</p>

The changes of Oddi sphincter motility after canine pancreas transplantation with bladder drainage / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes of canine Oddi sphincter (SO) function after pancreas transplantation with bladder drainage and the effect on the graft function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Normal canine SO, transplant canine SO and canine SO in vitro manometry were performed by triple lumen catheter. At the same time, pancreas endocrine and exocrine function after transplantation were determined. After transplantation, anti-reflux function of graft SO was also measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Endocrine and exocrine function of all the transplanted dogs showed that pancreas graft function was good. Basal pressure of SO in control group was (18.5 +/- 2.8) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa). The contraction frequency was (9.7 +/- 1.5) per min, the contraction amplitude was (47.1 +/- 5.5) mm Hg, the motility index was (236 +/- 56). After transplantation, basal pressure increased to (27.8 +/- 2.8) mm Hg, frequency increased to (13.1 +/- 1.9) per min, amplitude decreased significantly to (8.3 +/- 1.8) mm Hg. There was no significant difference of motility index. Basal pressure of SO in vitro increased significantly to (37.2 +/- 5.1) mm Hg. Phasic contraction was not absent. After transplantation, the pressure in the bile duct residual did not increase in accordance with the increase of bladder pressure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>After pancreas transplantation with bladder drainage, Basal pressure and frequency of canine SO could increase while amplitude could decrease, which provide the anti-reflux function of graft SO and may serve as an obstacle to pancreatic juice flow.</p>

Investigation of in vitro hematopoietic differentiation of embryonic stem cell line established from C57BL/6 mice / 中国实验血液学杂志

Embryonic hematopoiesis in mammals is characterized by successive temporal and spatial changes. Previous investigations indicate that in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ES cells) derived from 129 mice can mimic embryonic hematopoiesis to some extent. To investigate the in vitro hematopoietic differentiation capacity of ES cells derived from C57BL/6 mice, the authors initially established the murine ES cell line with standard identification methods employed. Next, two-step culture system was utilized for embryoid bodies formation and the appearance of different hematopoietic precursors was confirmed by CFC assay, cellular chemical staining as well as RT-PCR. The results demonstrated that the ES cell line MES-1 fulfilled the criteria of ES cell line and its progeny after in vitro differentiation included primitive and definitive erythrocyte precursors, mixed colony-forming cells and granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed the molecular consistence of transcription factors and hematopoietic markers with cellular event. In conclusion, MES-1 established from C57BL/6 mice was able to differentiate in vitro to a variety of hematopoietic precursors, thus could partly recapitulate embryonic hematopoiesis.

Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on hematopoietic differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), precursors of diverse stromal cells, can support hematopoiesis in vitro and can promote the implantation of hematopoietic stem cells in vivo when co-transplanted with CD34(+) cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effect of MSCs on the hematopoietic development of embryonic stem cells (ES cells) and the feasibility of a novel system in which ES cells will be co-cultured with MSCs. The murine bone marrow MSCs were isolated and cultured and then their phenotype and differentiation function were identified with FCM and histochemical technique. The CCE cells, murine ES cell line, were co-cultured with the isolated MSCs and the hematopoietic differentiation of CCE cells was observed with hematopoietic clonogenic assay and RT-PCR. The results showed that the morphology of MSCs became gradually homogeneous with the passage culture of cells. After passage 4, the marker of Sca-1, CD29, CD44 and CD105 were highly expressed, however, CD34 and CD45, the specific marker of hematopoietic and endothelial cells, could hardly be identified. The isolated MSCs differentiated into adipocytes and osteoblasts in specific induction culture system. After maintaining culture on mouse embryonic fibroblasts, CCE cells were plated in suspended culture system with only differentiation inductive agents and co-culture system in which MSCs were added. Compared with CCE cell suspended culture, the cells differentiated into embryoid body were obviously enhanced and there were no colony-forming cells in the co-culture system of ES cells and MSCs. In addition, transcription factor Oct-4 in co-cultured CCE cells was expressed and hematopoietic markers, Flk-1, GATA-1 and beta-H1, were negative. The ability of embryoid bodies derived from the co-culture system to produce hematopoietic colonies was markedly higher than that from the suspended culture system. It is concluded that MSCs inhibit the initial differentiation of ESC and enhance hematopoietic differentiation ability of the co-cultured ES cells.

Experimental study on effect of Astragalus extractum on canine isolated kidney during hypothermia perfusion and preservation / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Astragalus Extractum on canine isolated kidney during hypothermia perfusion and preservation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Isolated kidneys in the control group were hypothermia perfused and preserved using conventional hypertonic adenine citrate solution (HC-A), and for those in the experimental group, using HC-A plus Astragalus extract instead. The changes of renal tissue construction were observed with light microscopy and electron microscopy. Moreover, the kidney transplantation model of dog was established to determine the changes of biochemical parameters before and after transplantation. Data were analysed synthetically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ultrastructural injury in preserved kidney of the experimental group was significantly milder than that in the control group. Parameters determined in the early stage of transplantation showed that the blood creatinine level was significantly lower and the endogenous creatinine clearing value was higher in the experimental group than that in the control group, the difference was significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>When Astragalus extractum is used in preserving kidney with hypothermia perfusion, it shows definite protective effect on the ischemic reperfusion injured kidney.</p>

Expansion of bone marrow LTC-ICs in vitro by mouse fetal liver-derived stromal cell lines / 生物工程学报

As main component of fetal liver hematopoietic microenvironment, different stromal cells may play distinct roles in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation. It is a unique approach to establish stromal cell lines for analyzing the interaction of hematopoietic cells with the stroma on the clonal level to dissect the function of hematopoietic microenvironment. In this study two immortal stromal cell lines-A4, B3 were established from mouse embryonic day 12.5 fetal liver by transfection of pSV3 neo plasmid. A4 exhibited a fibroblast-like morphology, 25 hours population doubling time as well as high levels of CD29, CD44, UEA-1 and low levels of CD105 expression. In contrast B3 displayed an epithelium-like morphology, 37 hours population doubling time along with high levels of CD105 and low levels of UEA-1 expression. In addition no or low levels of CD31, CD34, CD45 and CD144 expression were found in the two cell lines. These results indicate that A4, B3 are two discriminating cell lines in terms of morphological characters, growth behaviors and surface molecular expression types. Next functional assays using Limited-Diluted Assay(LDA) and Bulk-LTC-IC were done: both stromal cell lines had similar ability to maintain the survival proportion of inoculated mouse bone marrow-derived Long-Term Culture-Initiating Cells (LTC-ICs), and they could also support LTC-ICs expansion up to 4 weeks by co-culture in vitro. More strikingly, B3 could expand the absolute number of LTC-ICs over 13-fold at week 4 than that of week 0, and the ability of B3 to expand absolute number of LTC-ICs was over 8-fold of that of A4. Proportions of LTC-ICs in proliferating cell populations in two long-term culture systems was similar at week 4, no matter with or without extra cytokines. Further study indicated that the ability of LTC-ICs to yield CFCs was held as the number 6( +/- 1.2) after 4 weeks co-culture. Extra cytokines-SCF + IL-3 + IL-6 + Epo had no influence in the maintenance and expansion of LTC-ICs, but expanded the absolute number of CFCs and proliferating cell populations, and maintained similar proportions of LTC-ICs and CFCs in the end in two culture systems at week 4. Take together, these results implicate that B3 may act as an important functional component in embryonic day 12.5 fetal liver microenvironment to effectively expand primitive hematopoietic cells, yield more committed hematopoietic progenitor cells and mature hematopoietic cells to meet the need of quick development especially in the early phase of embryonic development. Alternatively A4 can probably function as being a structural element. Moreover the function of hematopoiesis-associated cytokines employed in this investigation was not to expand LTC-ICs, but to modulate the limited-proliferation and differentiation of CFCs. The maintenance and proliferation of LTC-ICs may depend on the type of the stromal cell as well as the interaction between stromal cells and LTC-ICs. It is suggested that B3 with cytokines including SCF, IL-3, IL-6, EPO in vitro can mimic embryonic day 12.5 hematopoietic microenvironment to investigate the mechanism of interaction between hematopoietic microenvironment and hematopoietic cells in clonal level.