Comparison of endothelial differentiation capacity of adipose-derived stem cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compared the differentiation capacity of rat adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into endothelial cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat BMSCs and ASCs were isolated, cultured and identified for cell surface markers using flow cytometry. The cell growth curves were drawn by CCK-8 assay, and the cells in active growth were induced for endothelial differentiation following standard protocols. On day 21 of induction, the cells were examined for mRNA expressions of endothelial cell specific markers CD31, KDR, and vWF using qPCR. Immunostaining was performed to observe the expression of CD31 on the cells. The induced cells were also tested for Dil-labeled acetylated low-density lipoprotein (ac-LDL) uptake ability. The tube-forming ability of the induced cells was verified on Matrigel.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We successfully isolated rat ASCs and BMSCs. Morphologically, ASCs were similar with BMSCs, both having long spindle-shaped and fibroblast-like morphology. Flow cytometry showed that both BMSCs and ASCs had high expressions of mesenchymal markers CD29 and CD90 and a low expression of hematopoietic cell surface markers CD45. CCK-8 assay showed that ASCs proliferated more quickly than BMSCs. The cells with induced endothelial differentiation exhibited increased levels of CD31, KDR, and vWF mRNA expressions and immunofluorescent staining identified CD31 antigen expression on the cell membrane. Fluorescence microscopy revealed red fluorescence in the induced cells suggesting uptake of Dil-Ac-LDL by the cells. The induced cells were capable of forming tube on Matrigel, confirming their identity of endothelial cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both rat BMSCs and ASCs can be induced to differentiate into endothelial cells, but ASCs differentiate more quickly into endothelial cells and possess a stronger proliferation ability, suggesting its greater potential than BMSCs in future applications.</p>

Effect of short-term intensive therapy with glimepiride and metformin in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of short-term intensive therapy on blood glucose control, BETA-cell function, and blood lipid levels in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Out-patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled for intensive treatment with sulfonylureas and metformin for 12 weeks, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the intensive treatment, FPG, 2 hPG, and HbA1c decreased significantly (P<0.01); HOMA-IR decreased and HOMA-B increased significantly (P<0.01), and TG, CHOL, LDL decreased significantly (P<0.01) after the treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Short-term intensive treatment with glimepiride combined with metformin is safe and effective in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients with HbA1c>9%.</p>

Quality of life in patients with esophageal carcinoma undergoing thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy and circular stapled cervical esophagogastric anastomosis via retrosternal route / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in patients with esophageal carcinoma after thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy and circular stapled cervical esophagogastric anastomosis via retrosternal route or three-incision open surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 63 patients with middle-upper esophageal carcinoma who underwent radical surgical resection from January 2009 to October 2010 were enrolled in this study. Thirty-three patients underwent combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery and 30 three-incision open surgery. The EORTC questionnaire QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OES18 were used to evaluate the QOL.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in the clinical data between the two groups except for anastomosis method(P>0.05). In the endoscopy group, there was one patient developed anastomotic leakage(3.0%, 1/33), 1 postoperative wound infection in the neck (3.0%, 1/33), and 1 anastomotic stricture(3.0%, 1/33). In the open group, 8 patients had anastomotic leakage (26.7%, 8/30), 2 had anastomotic stricture (6.7%, 2/30), 1 had wound infection in the neck (3.3%, 1/30), and 6 had pulmonary infection (20.0%, 6/30). All the complications were managed by conservative treatment. The two groups differed in dysphagia, food intake, pain, obstruction, dyspnea, anorexia, fatigue, financial condition, physical function, role function, emotional function, cognitive function, social function and global health level and were more favorable in the endoscopy group(P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in the other dimensions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The postoperative complication rate is low after thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy. Stapled anastomosis is associated with lower rate of anastomotic leak. QOL is better in patients following thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy as compared to those following three-incision open surgery.</p>

Sweat function evaluation for early diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical value of sweat function examination in early diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-eight hospitalized type 2 diabetic patients with or without DPN (DN and DC groups) according to Michigan Diabetic Neruopathy Score (DNS) and 40 healthy volunteers (NC group) were evaluated for their sweat function of the feet in relation to the peripheral autonomic nerve with sweat printing method using Neuropad. The Neuropad color-changing time was recorded to assess the sensitivity and specificity of sweat printing methods relative to DNS for DNP evaluation, and the correlation of the Neuropad color-changing time to DNS score was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average Neuropad color-changing time was 4.0-/+0.6, 4.3-/+1.2 and 23.0-/+6.1 min in NC, DC, and DN groups, respectively, showing significant differences between the 3 groups (P<0.05). The morbidity rate detected by sweat printing method was 62.2%, similar to that detected by DNS (57.1%, P>0.05). The sensitivity of the sweat printing method for DPN diagnosis was 92.8%, with specificity of 78.5%, positive predictive value of 93.2%, and negative predictive value of 78.6%. DNS showed significant positive correlation with the Neuropad color-changing time (r=0.46, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sweat printing method provides an objective, simple and reliable method for sweat function evaluation of the feet of type 2 diabetic patients to help in early DPN diagnosis, and quantification of the results of sweat printing method can be indicative of the DPN severity.</p>