bFGF and IGF-1 promotes differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocyte-like cells and its related mechanisms / 中国药理学通报

Aim To elucidate the biological effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 ( IGF-1 ) and basic fibro-blast growth factor (bFGF) alone or in combination on the differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into cardiomyocytes (CMs), and to explore the mechanism in the differentiation process of BMSCs into CMs induced by IGF-1 or bFGF. Methods After four weeks of BMSCs induced by induction differentiation medium ( with or without LY294002) containing IGF-1 and/or bFGF, the expression levels of proteins associated with the cardiomyogenic phenotype in BMSCs were detected via immunocytochemistry, immuno-fluorescence staining, and Western blot. Meanwhile, the expression levels of pathway related proteins were detected by Western blot. The cell ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) . The expression levels of myocardial specific genes were measured via RT-qPCR. Results Compared with the control group, the expression levels of myocardial specific proteins and genes significantly increased in the IGF-1, bFGF and combination groups and were the highest in the coinduction group. The TEM of the conduction group showed parallel myofilaments, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and so on. The additon of LY294002 decreased the expression levels of myocardial specific proteins, genes and phosphorylation Akt. Conclusions The effect of IGF-1 combined with bFGF on the differentiation of BMSCs into CMs is markedly better than that induced by IGF-1 or bFGF a-lone, and the differentiation process may depend on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Effect of banxia xiexin decoction on gastric antral interstitial cells of Cajal and stem cell factor in diabetic rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXD) on expression of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and stem cell factor (SCF) in the antrum of rats with diabetes mellitus (DM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally sixty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the BXD group, and the Western medicine group (WM, treated by domperidone), 15 in each group. Diabetic rat models were established by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 55 mg/kg). Those in the BXD group were perfused with BXD at the daily dose of 5.4 g/kg. An equal volume of distilled water was given by gastrogavage to those in the WM group and the control group for 8 successive weeks. The body weight and blood glucose of all rats were detected, and the gastric residual rates were detected with semisolid nutrient paste by gastrogavage. The expression of positive ICCs and SCF were observed by immunohistochemical method and quantified image analyzer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group,the body weight reduced, blood glucose and gastric residual rates increased, and the mean optical density of positive ICCs and SCF significantly decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group,symptoms such as polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria were relieved, spirits improved, the body weight and mean optical densities of positive ICCs and SCF significantly increased (P < 0.05), and gastric residual rates significantly decreased in the BXD group and the WM group (P < 0.05). The blood glucose significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the BXD group. The mean optical density of positive ICCs was higher in the BXD group than in the WM group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BXD could promote the expression of positive ICCs and SCF. It could improve the gastric motility in DM rats by partially inverting abnormal changes of gastric antral ICCs and SCF.</p>

Application of lumbar-pelvic fixation in lumbosacral reconstruction after resection of sacral tumors / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the short-term clinical results of a new approach of lumbar-pelvic fixation for lumbosacral reconstruction after resection of sacral tumors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifteen patients with sacral tumors underwent lumbar-pelvic fixation using TSRH-3D, CDH-M8 or ISOLA with iliac screws. The lumbosacral stability was evaluated according to the X-ray result to assess the feasibility and therapeutic effect of this approach.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>X-ray showed that high lumbosacral stability was achieved in all the 15 cases after the operation, and satisfactory therapeutic effect was obtained.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lumbar-pelvic fixation with iliac screw is feasible for lumbosacral reconstruction after resection of the sacral tumors, which provides strong internal fixation and produce good clinical outcomes.</p>

Lumbar interspinous non-fusion techniques: comparison between Coflex™ and Wallis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the short-term clinical outcome of non-fusion techniques using interspinous implantation Coflex(TM) and Wallis treatment in patients with lumbar spine degenerative diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-one cases of lumbar stenosis, 18 of lumbar disc herniation, and 34 of lumbar stenosis with lumbar disc herniation were evaluated. Among the 43 cases receiving Coflex(TM) implantation, 41 had operations in one segment and 2 in 2 segments. In the other 50 cases with Wallis implantation, 47 had fixation of 1 segment and 3 had 2 segments fixed. JOA Score, Oswestry Disable Index (ODI) and VAS were used to evaluate the short-term clinical results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average operating time was 64.55 min in Coflex(TM) implantation with an average blood loss of 81.82 ml. The average operating time was 82.71 min in Wallis implantation, which caused an average blood loss of 89.66 ml. Significant improvements in the JOA Score, ODI and VAS were noted after the operations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The two interspinous non-fusion techniques, Coflex and Wallis, produce good short-term clinical outcome in the treatment of lumbar spine degenerative diseases.</p>