Biocompatibility of a novel cavernous nickel-titanium alloy with rat bone marrow stromal cells in vitro / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the biocompatibility of a novel cavernous nickel-titanium alloy with rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat BMSCs were cultured on the surface of compact, microporous and macroporous nickel-titanium alloys, and the cell proliferation on day 3 during the culture was assessed using MTT assay. On day 7 of the cell culture, the cells were labeled with Hoechst33342 for cell counting under a fluorescence microscope. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed on day 7 of cell culture to observe the morphological changes of the cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cell proliferation rate and cell numbers differed significantly between the cavernous alloy groups and the compact alloy group (P<0.05), but similar between the former two groups (P>0.05). SEM showed that compared with the compact alloy, microporous and macroporous nickel-titanium alloys had better biocompatibility with the BMSCs, and the cells on the surface of the cavernous alloys had normal cell morphology.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cavernous nickel-titanium alloy has good biocompatibility and can promote the adhesion, aggregation and proliferation of rat BMSCs in vitro.</p>

Correlation between power Doppler vascularity index and microvessel density in high-grade gliomas and adjacent edema / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between power Doppler vascularity index (PDVI) and microvessel density (MVD) and evaluate the angiogenesis in high-grade gliomas and the adjacent edema in patients with glioma using intraoperative power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) during gross total resection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In 25 cases of high-grade gliomas undergoing gross total tumor resections, PDUS was performed intraoperatively and the regions of interest within the tumor and the adjacent edema were analyzed with Photoshop software to measure the tumoral and peritumoral blood flow quantified as PDVI. The tumoral and adjacent MVD were determined using immunohistochemical staining for CD34. The correlation between PDVI in the gliomas and the adjacent edema and MVD in the corresponding areas were analyzed using Spearman correlation test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The measurement of both PVDI and MVD revealed significant difference in vascularity between the gliomas and the adjacent edema (t=0.000, P<0.01), and PDVI was positively correlated to MVD measurement (r=0.7248 in the tumors and r=0.6608 in the adjacent edema).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The difference in the vascularity between the tumor and adjacent edema allows their distinction by PDUS during operation for high-grade glioma. Intraoperative PDUS provides an accurate and reliable means for measuring vascularity in the glioma and the adjacent edema tissue.</p>

Evaluation of peritumoral brain edema in intracranial meningiomas using CT perfusion imaging / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the perfusion characteristics of the peritumoral brain edema of intracranial meningiomas using 16-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Dynamic contrast-enhanced single-location sequence CT scan was performed in 19 patients with intracranial meningiomas and peritumoral brain edema. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and the mean transit time (MTT) were calculated for the peritumoral brain edema and the contralateral white matter and comparatively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rCBF and rCBV in the peritumoral brain edema were significantly lower than those of the contralateral white matter in patients with meningiomas (rCBF: 14.26-/+7.44 vs 26.92-/+15.71 ml/100 g tissue.min, P<0.05; rCBV: 0.96-/+0.35 vs 2.47-/+1.69 ml/100 g tissue, P<0.05). But the MTT showed no significant difference between the peritumoral brain edema and the contralateral white matter (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The rCBF and rCBV are significantly lowered in the peritumoral brain edema in comparison with those of the contralateral white matter. Vascular compression by the edema fluid may have a major effect on the tissue blood flow and blood volume.</p>

Application of virtual imaging technique in diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of virtual imaging technique in diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-four cases of 54 intracranial aneurysm diagnosed by three-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CTA) examinations were enrolled in this study. Three-dimensional virtual images of the skull and cerebral vessels were acquired by three-dimensional reconstruction of the original CT images using the surgical planning system, and the location, size and shape of the aneurysms and their anatomical relationship with the adjacent tissues were observed and measured from several angles. All the patients underwent surgical planning and simulated surgical operations using the virtual surgical instruments available in the system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the 54 cases had successful three-dimensional virtual image reconstruction and the surgical planning operations. The virtual imaging system generated clear and vivid three-dimensional virtual images which clearly visualized the location and size of the aneurysms and their precise anatomical relations to the parent arteries and skull. This virtual reality imaging system also allowed simulation of simple surgical procedures.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The surgical planning system based on the virtual reality imaging can serve as a useful means to assist the diagnosis and provide precise imaging details of intracranial aneurysms.</p>

Combined application of virtual imaging techniques and three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography in diagnosing intracranial aneurysms / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The diagnostic value of virtual imaging combined with three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography (3D-CTA) for intracranial aneurysms has not been fully elucidated yet. This study aimed to evaluate the value of combined application of virtual imaging techniques and 3D-CTA in diagnosing patients with aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) at the acute stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty patients with non-traumatic SAH received 3D-CTA examinations. The raw CT data of these patients were reconstructed and transferred into the 3D mode through the surgical plan system based on virtual reality (VR) image, and the 3D virtual images of skulls and brain blood vessels were acquired. The location, size and shape of aneurysms and their anatomic relationship with adjacent tissues were measured from many points of view.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seventy-three aneurysms were detected in 68 of the 80 patients, but 2 aneurysms were detected in 2 of the 5 patients who had been found free of aneurysms previously and had received 3D-CTA examinations for a second time one month later. The 3D virtual images produced by the virtual imaging system were clear and vivid, and they could reveal the location and size of the aneurysm and its relations to the parent artery and skull directly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The imaging of 3D-CTA is convenient, reliable and fast in diagnosing intracranial aneurysms and can be regarded as the first choice for the diagnosis and treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Combined with the surgical plan system based on the VR image, 3D-CTA may obtain more imaging information about aneurysms.</p>

Melittin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of malignant human glioma cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-tumor effects of melittin against malignant human glioma cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two malignant human glioma cell lines (U87 and U251) were treated with melittin at various concentrations, and the cell growth inhibition and apoptosis were evaluated using MTT assay, flow cytometry and agarose gel electrophoresis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Melittin could obviously inhibit the proliferation of the two glioma cell lines (P<0.05). At the concentrations of 1, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 200 mg/L, melittin resulted in U87 cell apoptosis rates of 12.80%, 16.92%, 22.69%, 34.05%, 41.82%, 59.87%, and 80.25%, and in U251 cell apoptosis rate of 11.61%, 16.21%, 22.03%, 30.57%, 41.10%, 58.33%, and 79.12%, respectively, showing a dose-dependent effect in its action of inducing cell apoptosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Melittin inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of malignant human glioma cell lines in vitro.</p>

Evaluation of cerebral vasospasm resulting from subarachnoid hemorrhage with 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the value of (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) in evaluating cerebral vasospasm resulting from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six dogs were subjected to autologous non-heparinized blood injection via cisternal puncture twice at one-day interval to establish models of SAH, and another 6 received injections with normal saline in an identical manner. (1)H-MRS scan was performed on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after the injections to measure the changes of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho). After the (1)H-MRS scan, all the dogs underwent brain digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for determining the basilar artery diameter.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DSA results on day 3 presented development of obvious vasospasm of the basilar artery, which was most evident on day 7 and recovered obviously on day 14. (1)H-MRS results demonstrated obvious changes of NAA, Cho and Cr on days 3 and 7 in SAH model group, and NAA declined to the lowest level on day 3 followed by gradual ascending till reaching the normal level on day 14. Cho decreased slightly on day 3, then increased and reached the peak level on day 7 and then decreased. Cr rose steadily from day 3 to 14, but since day 7, the rise slowed down obviously and Cr maintain a level not significantly different from that on day 14 (P>0.05). The functional results of (1)H-MRS were consistent with the DSA results.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1)H-MRS can be used to monitor the development of cerebral vasospasm resulting from SAH as a good evaluation method for functional imaging.</p>

Effect of N-acetyl-cysteine and depakine pretreatment on ferrous chloride-induced membrane potential and peroxidate changes in rat cortex neurons / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and depakine (DP) on the changes of membrane potential and peroxidate in rat cortex neurons exposed to ferrous chloride (FeCl(2)).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cultured cortex neurons of newly born SD rats were randomly divided into control group (PBS group), model group (FeCl(2) group), NAC pretreatment group (NAC group), DP pretreatment group (DP group) and NAC+DP pretreatment group (NAC+DP group). In the latter three groups, NAC (0.08 mg/ml) and DP (0.1 mg/ml) were added in the cell culture 2 and 3 h before FeCl(2) (1 mmol/L) exposure, respectively. After exposure to FeCl(2), the membrane potential of the neurons was detected with fluorescent dye DiBAC4(3) (bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol), and the peroxidate level with 2,7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (H(2)DCF) by laser confocal scanning microscope (LCSM) and nuclear factor-KappaB (NF-KappaB) level with immunocytochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with FeCl(2) group, the expression of NF-KappaB and peroxidate level in the neurons were decreased significantly in NAC and NAC+DP groups (P<0.01), but not in DP group (P>0.05). FeCl(2) depolarized the membrane potential and increased the expression of NF-KappaB in the neurons. Compared with FeCl(2) group, significant changes in the membrane potential were observed in DP and NAC+DP groups (P<0.01) but not in NAC or PBS group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both NAC and DP can protect the neurons from FeCl(2)-induced damage but through different pathways, and their combined use can significantly alleviate neuronal damages due to FeCl(2) exposure. Antioxidants such as NAC in combination with antiepileptic drugs may produce favorable effect in prevention and treatment of posttraumatic epilepsy.</p>

The study of 3-dimensional structures of IgG with atomic force microscopy / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect 3-dimensional images of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor Nr1 (NMDAr1) polycolonal IgG affixed on mica in physiological environment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The images and data were obtained from a contact mode and commercial Si3N4 probed tip by using atomic force microscope (AFM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The anti-NMDAr1 polycolonal IgG has a characteristic structure described as an ellipse spherical shape of 136.4 A x 62.8 A x 26.1 A. On the section of the ellipse edge there were two peaks about 13 nm in width.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Using AFM to investigate biomacromolecule can make us deeply understand the structure of IgG, which will instruct us to detect the membrane receptor protein as a labelling agent.</p>