Recent advances of acellular cartilage matrix in cartilage regeneration / 中华骨科杂志

Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease, and cartilage damage is often considered an early factor in irreversible joint degeneration. Repairing damaged cartilage remains a medical challenge due to its limited ability to self-repair and regenerate. In recent years, the application of tissue engineering strategies to treat cartilage defects has been recognized as an emerging therapeutic avenue. Acellular cartilage matrix (ACM) is an ideal material for cartilage repair and regeneration as it retains the extracellular matrix structure and bioactive components of natural cartilage, mimicking the extracellular environment of natural cartilage to the greatest extent. Type II collagen is the main type of hyaline cartilage and plays an important role in regulating the mechanical properties of cartilage tissue. It has been shown that type II collagen, growth factors and the hypoxic microenvironment play important roles in promoting cartilage regeneration. Type II collagen induces cell aggregation and chondrogenic differentiation in a specific way; Various growth factors contained in the ACM induce Sox9 expression and promote chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells; The hypoxic microenvironment upregulates the expression of type II collagen (COL2A1), Sox9 and maintains chondrocyte phenotype. In addition, ACM has been widely used in cartilage regeneration studies, either as a decellularized scaffold, hydrogel or 3D bioprinting technique for the repair of defective cartilage. Although the ACM-derived biomaterials discussed in this paper have many advantages, there are still some difficulties in their practical applications, such as loss of ACM components and reduced scaffold performance, which are still worth exploring in depth.

Clinical characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia patients with TET2 gene mutation and effects of TET2 mutation on therapeutic efficacy and prognosis / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To investigate clinical features of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with TET2 gene mutation and effects of TET2 mutation on therapeutic efficacy and prognosis.Methods:A total of 123 newly diagnosed adult AML patients (except for acute promyelocytic leukemia) admitted to Jining No.1 People's Hospital from March 2017 to April 2021 were selected. Mutations of 24 AML-related genes including TET2 mutation were detected by using second-generation sequencing technology. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of TET2 mutation: TET2 mutation group and TET2 wild type group. The differences in clinicopathological characteristics, short-term efficacy and survival of both groups were compared.Results:Among 123 patients, TET2 mutation was detected in 28 cases (22.8%). Compared with TET2 wild type group, the patients were older [(59±15) years vs.(49±16) years, t = 2.984, P = 0.003], French-American-British (FAB) Corporative Group M 4 and M 5 subtypes were more common [75.0% (21/28) vs. 51.6% (49/95), χ2 = 4.838, P = 0.028], and the positive rate of CD34 in AML patients was lower in TET2 mutation group [46.4% (13/28) vs.72.6% (69/95), χ2 = 6.685, P = 0.010]. Moreover, TET2 mutation was more likely to be accompanied with ZRSR2 mutation [10.7% (3/28) vs. 1.1% (1/95), P = 0.037] and NPM1 mutation [35.7% (10/28) vs.17.9% (17/95), χ2 = 4.008, P = 0.045], but less likely to be accompanied with IDH1/2 mutation [0 vs.17.9% (17/95), P = 0.012]. However, there were no statistically significant differences in gender, peripheral blood leukocyte count at initial diagnosis, hemoglobin level, platelet count, bone marrow blasts ratio, cytogenetics and the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) risk stratification between the two groups (all P>0.05). In addition, there were no significant differences in the overall response rate (ORR) of 1 cycle chemotherapy [75.0% (12/16) vs. 66.7% (42/63), χ2 = 0.410, P = 0.522] and demethylation therapy [66.7% (4/6) vs. 44.4% (8/18), P = 0.640]. The difference in overall survival (OS) of both groups was not statistically significant [median OS time: 23 months (95% CI 5-41 months) vs. 35 months (95% CI 18-52 months, P = 0.498]. Conclusions:In AML patients, TET2 mutation is associated with advanced age, M 4 and M 5 subtypes, and low expression of CD34 on AML blasts. TET2 mutation is commonly accompanied by ZRSR2 and NPM1 mutation, but not IDH1 or IDH2 mutation. TET2 mutation may have no significant effects on therapeutic efficacy and survival in the whole cohort of AML patients without risk stratification.

Opportunities and challenges in gene therapy of liver cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Gene therapy has emerged as an efficient modality to treat human diseases.This method is based on the transfer of genetic material to tissues to induce a curative effect.Gene therapy vectors are molecular constructs used to facilitate the penetration of genomic sequences inside the cells.Viral vectots have however several limitations when administered directly to the patient.They may cause significant toxicity by activating innate immunity or by eliciting an adaptive immune response against viral proteins.In addition,targeting the vector to the desired site is an issue when given systemically.The use of cells as vehicles for gene therapy vectors has many advantages.The combination of cell-viro-gene therapy has been thought as a new and promising strategy for therapy of cancer.The targeting vector to cancer stem cells will become a new direction in the field of gene therapy.In this article,we will introduce progressions,limitations and future directions of gene therapy of liver cancer.

Experimental studies of formulated Chinese medicinal herbs as a vascular embolizing agent / 医学研究生学报

Objective: To study the efficacy,safety and relative characteristics of formulated Chinese medicinal herbs as a vascular embolizing agent. Methods: We prepared a mixture as a vascular embolizing agent from several Chinese medicinal herbs,they served as anticarcinogen and/or coagulant according to the Chinese Pharmacopeia.We studied the characteristics of the mixture through embolizing the hepatic artery in eight pigs with it. Results: The mixture was prepared as a suspension.It was easily injected through catheters and showed good histocompatibility and hemo-compatibility without pyrogenetic response and toxicity.The mixture mainly embolized peripheral arteries,maintaining occlusion for 5 weeks and without formation of collateral circulation.We found injuries of normal hepatic tissues as slight hepatocyte hydrops and focal endochyloma necrosis through optical and electronic microscope. Conclusion: This suspended mixture of Chinese medicinal herbs is safe and effective as a potential peripheral embolizing agent.

Study of the tumor-microvessel variation after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization / 医学研究生学报

Biological behavior of tumor has a close relationship with its blood supply from the tumor microvessels.The microvessel density of tumor can affect the progressiveness and prognosis of tumor directly. The application of TACE can kill the tumor cell, destroy its blood vessel, and obstruct its blood supply. The advancement of the tumor micro- vessel variation after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is reviewed.

Advance and application of interventional embolic agents / 医学研究生学报

The development and application of embolic agents is a very important step to vascular embolotherapy and many studies about it have been done at home and abroad.We must know their characteristics very well and choose situable embolic agents and interventional methods.Besides we also need to manufacture even ideal embolic agents.This text reviews the advance and application of many kinds embolic agents.

The experimental studies of Chinese herbs as a vascular embolization agent for the hepatic arteries / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To study the efficacy,safety and correlative characteristics of Chinese herb as a vascular embolization agent.Methods Vascular embolization agent combined from several kinds of Chinese herb was manufactured and served as anticarcinogen and coagulant according to the chinese Pharmacopeia.The characteristics of the combination embolization agent through embolizing the hepatic arteries in eight pigs were studied. Results The combination agent was a non-homogenous suspension,easily to be injected through 5-F catheter with hyper attenuation under fluoroscopy;simultaneously with good histocompatibility and hemo-compatibility and without feverish response and toxicity.The combination agent mainly embolized the peripheral arteries with maintaining occlusion for 5 weeks and without formation of collateral circulation.Slight injuries of normal hepatic tissues with hepatic cytonecrosis and endochyloma focal necrosis were found through optical and electronic microscopy.Conclusions The Chinese herb combination agent is safe and effective in experimental application with good angioembolic function and a potential peripheral embolization agent.