Preparation and characterization of laser microporous acellular osteochondral scaffolds / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Preparing a scaffold with cartilage derived components and good initial mechanical strength is the direction of tissue engineering cartilage research. OBJECTIVE: To prepare porous acellular osteochondral scaffolds, and to explore their mechanical properties and cell compatibility. METHODS: Osteochondral bone from the porcine knee joint was taken, and then porous osteochondral scaffolds were made by laser microporation technology. Subsequently, the scaffolds were decellularized chemical methods. Scaffold structure was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and the compression modulus of the scaffolds was determined. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in L-DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum (control group) and cultured in the medium extract of porous acellular osteochondral scaffolds (experimental group), respectively. Cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 method within 5 days of culture. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were seeded on the porous acellular osteochondral scaffolds, and within 28 days of co-culture, cell growth was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and toluidine blue staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Observation under scanning electron microscopy: The porous acellular osteochondral scaffolds had the smooth surface with evenly distributed pores. The pores of the scaffold extended longitudinally into the subchondral bone. (2) Mechanical properties: The average compressive modulus of porous acellular osteochondral scaffolds was 0.77 MPa, which was close to the compression modulus of the normal cartilage (1.15 MPa). (3) Cell counting kit-8 test: There were no differences in cell proliferation between the control and experimental groups at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days of culture. (4) Cell-scaffold co-culture: A large amount of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were observed to be adherent to the scaffold after 1 day of culture through hematoxylin-eosin and toluidine blue staining. However, as time went on, a few cells adhered to the pore wall or grew into the pores at 7 and 21 days of culture. There were also some adherent cells but a large amount of cell masses formed in the pores at 28 days of culture. To conclude, the porous acellular osteochondral scaffold has good mechanical properties and cell compatibility.

Intra-articular migration of transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in rats with articular cartilage injury / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: The application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of cartilage damage has become a hot spot of research. Further studies on the distribution of MSCs in the body after injection and on the underlying mechanism of action are needed. OBJECTIVE: To observe the migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) after injection into the region of osteochondral defect. METHODS: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups (n=15 per group). In the control group, the femoral tochlear was exposed but an osteochondral defect was not made; and after the suture, PKH26-labeled BMSCs were directly injected into the articular cavity of rats. In the experimental group, a cartilage defect of 1 mm in diameter and 1 mm in depth was made in the rat femoral trochlea, and 5×106PKH26-labeled BMSCs were injected into the defect after operation. At 1, 3 and 7 days after injection, the femoral condyle was taken to make frozen sections followed by DAPI staining. The distribution of BMSCs was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the control group, PKH26-labeled BMSCs were not transferred to the subchondral bone. In the experimental group, BMSCs were detected in the subchondral bone area at 1, 3 days after injection of PKH26-BMSCs in the bone cartilage defect area, and the BMSCs were also found in the bone marrow cavity at 7 days after injection. In conclusion, BMSCs in the articular cavity cannot migrate into the subchondral bone and bone marrow cavity unless the cartilage of the femoral condyle is damaged.

Treatment of infantile vascular malformations associated with airway obstruction / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the clinical features of vascular malformations complicated with airway obstruction and to evaluate the therapeutic methods of these disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-seven children with airway obstruction and dyspnea (25 males, 22 females) were treated from Jun 1985 to Dec 2007, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Among 47 patients, there were 27 cases of venous malformations, 17 cases of macrocystic lymphatic malformations, and 3 cases of microcystic lymphatic malformations. Injection with absolute alcohol were performed in 20 patients with venous malformations, whereas both surgery and injection were performed in 7 patients with extensive or multiple lesions. Seventeen patients with macrocystic lymphatic malformations were treated with pingyangmycin injection. While surgery combined with pingyangmycin injection were used in other 3 patients with microcystic lymphatic malformations. According to the degree of airway obstruction and therapeutic conditions, tracheal intubation was performed in 27 patients, urgent preoperative tracheotomy was performed in 3 patients, prophylactic tracheotomy was performed in 2 patients, and postoperative tracheotomy was performed in 1 patient.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Tracheal intubation was remained for 24 to 48 hours in 30 patients, whose intubation was removed successfully in 29 patients except 1 patient who occurred dyspnea after removal of tracheal intubation resulting in tracheotomy. Tracheal cannula was successfully removed in all 6 patients 3 weeks to 4 months after the tracheotomy. There were 9 patients treated once, whereas injections were repeated 2 to 5 times in 38 patients. Necrosis of mucosa occurred in 2 cases after the injection with absolute alcohol, while temporary hemoglobinuria one occurred in 1. There were 5 cases of light or mediate fever after the pingyangmycin injection who recovered well after the symptomatic treatment. Follow-up lasted 1 to 23 years, 38 patients cured, 9 patients valid, and no patient invalid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is suggested that sclerotherapy should be the first choice in the treatment of vascular malformations complicated with airway obstruction, in which absolute alcohol should be used in venous malformations compared to pingyangmycin in lymphatic malformations. Combined therapy should be carried out in patients with extensive lesions in order to shorten the course of treatment and to get good therapeutic result.</p>

Treatment of infantile parotid hemangioma with propranolol / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the short-term results and safety of propranolol for the treatment of infantile parotid hemangioma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Oral propranolol was administered to 17 infants with parotid hemangioma at a dose of 1.0-1.5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. The patients were revisited once a week. The changes of the tumor size, texture and colour were monitored and recorded at a regular interval. The adverse effects after medication were observed and managed accordingly. The short-term results were evaluated using a 4 scales system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 17 patients treated, the follow-up time was 5 to 10 months. The overall response was scale I in 0 patient, scale II in 0 patients, scale III in 5 patients, and scale IV in 12 patients. No serious adverse effects were encountered.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Oral propranolol at a lower dose is a safe and effective method for the treatment of infantile parotid hemangioma. The short-term results were excellent and the side effects minimal.</p>

A study on clinical differential diagnosis between hemangioma and vascular malformation in infant / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the main points of clinical differentiation between hemangioma and vascular malformation in infant.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on Mulliken and Waner's classification, from March, 1997 to February, 1999, 81 baby patients with hemangioma were included in this study. Thirty-eight cases, 43 cases received medical treatment of steroids.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were followed up from 5 to 7 years. Thirty-eight cases of red strawberry-like lesions limited in the skin began to involute within two years old. Of the 30 patients with strawberry-like lesions and subcutaneous mass, 20 cases involuted in varying degree; 10 cases' subcutaneous mass grew gradually and didn't involute, in 4 cases biopsy was performed, 3 cases were confirmed as hemangioma accompanied with venous malformation by pathology, 1 case was hemangioma accompanied with arteriovenous malformation. Of 13 cases with light blue or normal skin and subcutaneous mass, 7 cases involuted in varying degree; 6 cases grow gradually and didn't disappear, 2 cases were confirmed as venous malformation by biopsy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Hemangioma in infant begins to involute within two years old. Vascular malformation or hemangioma with deep vascular malformation grows persistently and does not disappear. Skin temperature of lesion surface and dilative veins on the skin artery pulsation, are indexes compressibility, for differentiation between hemangioma and vascular malformation in clinical diagnosis.</p>

The clinical classification and treatment of arteriovenous malformations of maxilloface / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical classification and ideal therapy for maxillofacial AVMs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the clinical characteristics, 106 patients with maxillofacial AVMs were divided into the 4 types Of them, 38 cases were cystic dilatation lesions, 22 cases were limited thicken lesions, 42 case were diffuse thicken lesions, 4 cases were central maxillary hemangioma. 106 patients with maxillofacial AVMs were treated in our hospital, of them, 8 cases received operation (group 1); 23 cases received embolization of supplying artery alone (group 2); 37 cases received embolization of supplying artery plus hardener intra-tumorous injection (group 3); 38 cases received embolization of supplying artery plus tumor resection (group 4).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of all the patients were followed up 1 - 11 years, In group 1, 2, 3, and 4, the cure rates is 62.50%, 17.39%, 89.19%, and 97.37% respectively. one patient died of embolization of abnormal communication branches between external carotid and intra-cranical arteries.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>(1) This new clinical classification is beneficial for selecting method of treatment. (2) It is necessary that a good digital subtraction angiography for maxillofacial AVMs. (3) The embolization of tumor supplying artery alone could cure the small AVM with single branch terminal blood supply. (4) The embolization of supplying artery plus hardener intratumorous injection or the embolization of supplying artery plus tumor resection is an effective method for maxillofacial AVMs.</p>