Clinical observation on wrist-ankle acupuncture for shoulder-hand syndrome phaseⅠafter stroke / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy between wrist-ankle acupuncture and conventional acupuncture on shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) phaseⅠafter stroke.@*METHODS@#A total of 64 patients with SHS phaseⅠafter stroke were randomized into a wrist-ankle acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, 32 cases in each group. On the basis treatment of internal medicine and conventional rehabilitation, wrist-ankle acupuncture was applied at upper 4 area, upper 5 area and upper 6 area on the affected side in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group, while acupuncture was applied at Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10), etc. on the affected side in the conventional acupuncture group. The treatment was given 30 min each time, once a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks in both groups. Before and after treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, degree of hand swelling, shoulder-hand syndrome scale (SHSS) score, Fugl-Meyer assessment for upper extremity (FMA-UE) score and modified Barthel index (MBI) score were observed, and the clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated in both groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the VAS scores, degree of hand swelling and SHSS scores were decreased (P<0.05), and the FMA-UE scores and MBI scores were increased (P<0.05) compared before treatment in both groups; in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group, the VAS score, degree of hand swelling and SHSS score were lower (P<0.05), and the FMA-UE score and MBI score were higher (P<0.05) than those in the conventional acupuncture group. The total effective rate was 96.9% (31/32) in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group, which was superior to 90.6% (29/32) in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Wrist-ankle acupuncture can effectively relieve pain and hand swelling, improve motor function of upper extremity and self-care ability of daily life in patients with shoulder-hand syndrome phaseⅠafter stroke, the therapeutic effect is superior to conventional acupuncture.

Recent development in hypertension gene study / 中国实用内科杂志

Genetic as well as genomic study has advanced the development of precision medicine. We are marching on the road for right patients who are receiving more and more right treatment at right time. In hypertension field, precision medicine is available, actionable and affordable. First and the most practical advancement is monogenic hypertension, the disease-genes have been found for at least 17 types of monogenic hypertension. These patients can be precisely treated according to their carried gene mutation. Secondly, pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic guided anti-hypertensive drug selection, very promising but lack of clinic outcome data to support widely clinical application. Majority of hypertension are due to multiple genetic and environmental factors. GWAS fund some genetic variants related to primary hypertension, but these variants can only be responsible for 1-10% of blood pressure variation. We have a long way to go in exploring the real cause of primary hypertension.

Liver enzymes of 191 dengue cases with fatty liver / 中国人兽共患病学报

We explored the liver enzymes characteristics of dengue patients with fatty liver in Xishuangbanna,providing evi-dences for local dengue fever effective treatment program.The clinical data of 1 9 1 dengue patients with fatty liver and 1 9 1 ran-domized controls was retrospectively analyzed on the patients'mainly liver enzymes indicators in Xishuangbanna Prefecture from 2013 to 2015.Results showed that the 191 cases with fatty liver,the growth rate of such as alanine aminotransferase was 84.8%,aspartate aminotransferase was 90.1%,gamma glutamyltransferase was 76.8% and bilirubin index was 20.4%,except bilirubin index,the other 3 indicators in dengue patients with fatty liver were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The liver injury was serious for the dengue cases with fatty liver in Xishuangbanna,of those alanine aminotransferase,aspar-tate aminotransferase and gamma glutamyltransferase were significantly increased.These results suggested that doctors should pay attention to above 3 enzymes changes and take related treatments immediately as soon as dengue cases with fatty liver were detected.

Placental site nodule: a clinicopathological study of 20 cases / 临床与实验病理学杂志

Purpose To investigate the clinical manifesta-tions and morphologic features of placental site nodules (PSNs), and its clinical significance. Methods Twenty patients diag-nosed as PSNs were collected, then a retrospective analysis was conducted, and the characteristics of clinical data and follow-up results were analyzed,including of clinical manifestations, ultra-sonographic evaluation, morphologic and immunohistochemical features. Results The age of patients ranged from 25 to 41 years (32. 48 ± 4. 77 years in average). Three fifths of patients had pregnancy history for at least two times and the interval time to the last pregnancy ranged from 5 to 37 months (15. 33 ± 8. 05 months on average). 15 (75% ) patients went to the hospital because of abnormal vaginal bleeding. In our study, most of the samples showed a membrane-like structure without definite nod-ule. Microscopically, single or multiple, well-circumscribed and oval small nodules were found in endometrial tissue. In most ca- ses, the hyalinization was generally uniform in the center of the nodules, more or less intermediate trophoblasts appeared on the edge of the nodules. Immunohistochemically, the strong diffuse expressed CK (AE1/AE3), CAM5. 2, EMA, GATA-3, Cyclin E and p63 were detected in most of all cases, and PLAP showed strong focal expression, α-inhibin and hPL showed faint focal expression, Ki-67 staining for proliferative index was less than 4% . Conclusion PSN is a benign lesion of the intermediate trophoblast at the chorionic leave. Some diseases including hya-linized decidua, epithelioid trophoblastic tumor, and squamous cell carcinoma with hyalinization need to be identified. Some im-munohistochemical markers may be certain helpful in distinguis-hing as necessary.

Three-year retrospective clinical evaluation of pulp-less molars with defects of varying degree repaired by cast ceramic onlays of three marginal types / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of pulp-less molars with defects of different degrees repaired by cast ceramic onlays of three marginal types.@*METHODS@#A total of 165 endodontically treated molars of 105 patients were included in this study and were divided into three kinds of defect (mild, moderate, severe) according to the number of remaining axial walls. Each defect was divided into three groups according to the shape of edge to edge, bevel edge, and concave shoulder. After tooth preparation, the casting of ceramic onlays was performed. Treatment follow-up was done for the evaluation of the success and survival rates of three groups under the same defect.@*RESULTS@#The average follow-up was 925.44 days. Under the mild defect, the success and survival rates of the edge to edge onlays were respectively 100% and 100%; bevel edge onlays, 100% and 100%; and concave shoulder onlays, 94.4% and 100%. Under the moderate defect, the success and survival rates of the edge to edge onlays were respectively 96.0% and 100%; bevel edge onlays, 80.0% and 93.3%; and concave shoulder onlays, 95.2% and 95.2%. Under the severe defect, the success and survival rates of the edge to edge onlays were respectively 95.2% and 100%; bevel edge onlays, 73.7% and 89.5%; and concave shoulder onlays, 73.3% and 80.0%. Under different defects, the success or survival rates of the three kinds of onlays had no significant difference (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The edge to edge type is the most preferable way of onlay tooth preparation and can achieve good clinical results in the mild, middle, and severe tooth defection with root canal treatment.

Clinicopathological study of eight cases of atypical placental site nodule / 临床与实验病理学杂志

Purpose To investigate clinical and pathological features,diagnosis and differential diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of the atypical placental site nodules (APSN).Methods 8 cases of APSN were analyzed retrospectively.Their gross and microscopic features and immune phenotypes were observed,and the clinical histories and followed up were also reviewed.Results The patients were 26 to 42 years old (mean 32.8 years old).Clinical symptoms included occupation disease in uterine cavity,irregular vaginal bleeding,etc.Some patients were checked by hysteroscope and showed pale-yellow space-occupying lesions.Microscopically,the lesions consisted of single to multiple nodules or plaques of hyalinized extracelluar matrix,in which chorionic-type intermediate trophoblasts with mild atypia were haphasardly distributed.All the lesions were without myometrial invasion.Chorionic-type intermediate trophoblasts of the 3 cases expressed CK (AEI/AE3),p63,HLA-G,β-catenin,GATA-3 and the Ki-67 labelling index was 8％ ～ 15％.One of the 8 patients had a hysterectomy.Other seven patients were managed by lesionectomy under the hysteroscopy.8 patients were followed up with ultrasonography,curetting endometrium and endocervical mucosa and all of the patients were alive without the progress of the lesion.Conclusion APSN is easily misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma,epithelioid leiomyosarcoma and other gestational trophoblastic diseases.It is important to understand the pathological features of APSN and we can avoid misdiagnosing for other benign or malignant tumours.Misdiagnosis will influence the clinical treatment.

Clinical Significance of Serum IL-23 Levels in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome(PCOS) / 现代检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate and detect serum IL-23 levels in patients with PCOS.Methods A total of 50 PCOS patients in the Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University as the observed group and 50 healthy women as control group were studied in this research.Serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured through biochemical analyzer;White blood cell (WBC) was measured through automatic blood cell counter;The expression of serum IL-23 were measured by ELISA.Results Serum WBC levels were significantly higher in observed group than those in control group (8 056.1±2 473.6 mm3 and 6 286.2±1 071.4 mm3,t=4.642,P＜0.001).Besides,serum hs-CRP in two groups were no significant difference (observed group 4.2 ±3.7 mg/L and control group 3.9±3.2 mg/L,t=0.434,P=0.665).Furthermore,compared with control group,serum IL-23 levels were significantly higher in observed group and there was significant difference between the two groups (59.6±40.1 pg/ml and 29.7±20.5 pg/ml,t=4.695,P＜0.001).The best cutoff value for serum IL-23 concentration to diagnose PCOS was 31.05 pg/ml (sensitivity 74.0 ％,specificity 62.0 ％,and AUC 0.729,95 ％ CI:0.630～0.827,P＜0.001).Conclusion Women with PCOS had higher serum IL-23 levels and there were significantly positive correlated.IL-23 could be a biomarker for PCOS diagnosis.

Formulation of dried lignans nanosuspension with high redispersibility to enhance stability, dissolution, and oral bioavailability / 中国天然药物

Herpetospermum caudigerum lignans (HTL), one of the potential drugs with anti-hepatitis B virus and hepatoprotective effects, has limited clinical applications because of poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. Both herpetrione (HPE) and herpetin (HPN) are the most abundant ingredients in HTL and exhibit weak acidity. The purpose of the present study was to produce dried preparations of HTL (composed of HPE and HPN) nanosuspensions (HTL-NS) with high redispersibility using lyophilization technology. The HTL-NS was prepared by utilizing precipitation-combined homogenization technology based on acid-base neutralization reactions, and critical formulation and process parameters affecting the characteristics of HTL-NS were optimized. The resultant products were characterized by particle size analysis, SEM, XRD, stability, solubility, dissolution and in vivo bioavailability. HTL-NS showed near-spherical-shaped morphology and the size was 243 nm with a narrow PDI value of 0.187. The dried preparations with a relatively large particle size of 286 nm and a PDI of 0.215 were achieved by using 4% (W/V) mannitol as cryoprotectants, and had a better stability at 4 or 25 °C for 2 months, compared to HTL-NS. In the in vitro test, the dried preparations showed markedly increased solubility and dissolution velocity. Besides, in the in vivo evaluation, it exhibited significant increases in AUC, CMRT and a decrease in T, compared to the raw drug. In conclusion, our results provide a basis for the development of a drug delivery system for poorly water-soluble ingredients with pH-dependent solubility.

Rat intestine absorption kinetics study on cucurbitacin B-sodium deoxycholate/phospholipid mixed nanomicelles with in vitro everted gut sacs model / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the absorption kinetics of Cu B-SDC/PLC-MMs in rat different intestinal segments and compared with the absorption of Cu B suspension. The in vitro everted gut sacs model was established to study the absorption characteristics of Cu B-SDC/ PLC-MMs in rat duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon, and the content of cucurbitacin B was detected by HPLC method, and the effects of concentrations on intestinal absorption were evaluated as well. The results showed that the absorption of Cu B-SDC/PLC-MMs was linearity at different intestine segment and different concentrations (R2 > 0.9), which was consistent with zero order rate process. The Ka of different intestine segments showed a concentration-dependent increasing along with the raised concentration of Cu B-SDC/ PLC-MMs, indicating that it was likely to be a mechanism of passive absorption. The best absorption site of Cu B-SDC/PLC-MMs was ileum, and its absorptions in different intestinal segments were superior to cucurbitacin B suspension. SDC/PLC-MMs could significantly enhance the intestinal absorption of cucurbitacin B, and the study of intestinal absorption kinetics of Cu B-SDC/PLC-MMs had gave a support to its further reasonable solidfication.

Bioassay for enrich-blood bioactivity of Agelicae Sinensis Radix / 中国中药杂志

Danggui, Agelicae Sinensis Radix, is a widely used Chinese herb to enrich blood, but its quality cannot be effectively assessed by the known chemical markers such as ferulic acid, ligustilide, polysaccharides, etc. A new bioassay was therefore developed to quantify the Enrich-Blood Bioactivity (EBB) for the quality assessment of Danggui raw materials. Danggui sample was first extracted with ethanol and water, respectively. Then the ethanolic extract and water extract were mixed as a test sample to quantify the amount of EBB by mice experiment. The blood deficiency mode in mice was developed by intraperitoneal injecting cyclophospharmide and phenylhdrazine hydrochloride. The quantity of red blood cell was chosen as EBB marker. Cyclosporine A was chosen as a control substance. EBB in analytes was quantified by the amount reaction of parallel line analysis (3, 3') method. The results indicated that the reliability test for quantifying EBB was passed through and the measured value was valid. The analytes showed the significant EBB (P < 0.05). The correlation coefficient was 0.9984 (n=5) between the amount of cyclosporine A (0.035-0.56 g x kg(-1)) and the increased number of red blood cell. The relative standard deviation (RSY) on the amount of EBB was estimated to be 6.15% (n = 6) by six replicated tests, and the confidence limit rate was 26.68% (n = 6). Five Danggui samples, which were collected from different cultivation areas with various morphological characters, showed the variety of EBB in the range of 21.95-44.16 U x g(-1). It is concluded that the developed method is accurate to quantify the EBB of Danggui raw materials, and is therefore suitable to assess its quality.

Study on the consistency of reflux score evaluated by three different level of throat physicians / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The consistency of reflux finding score (RFS) was studied by three different level of throat physicians.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and ten laryngeal photos were chosen to assess the RFS test-retest reliability on two separate occasions at least more than one week.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean total RFS scores for doctor A were 9.05 ± 2.54, doctor B were 8.80 ± 2.20, doctor C were 8.98 ± 2.21 at the initial screening, and 9.20 ± 2.47, 9.03 ± 2.14 and 8.91 ± 2.30 respectively at the repeat evaluation. The test-retest reliability of total RFS scores of three doctors were 0.860, 0.800 and 0.837 respectively, P all <0.001. The test-retest reliability of each item scores for doctor A were from 0.662 to 1.000, doctor B were from 0.486 to 1.000 and doctor C were from 0.613 to 1.000. There were no differences in the total RFS scores comparing among each evaluation of the three doctors (χ(2) = 1.553, P = 0.907). Total RFS scores more than 7 were considered as abnormal. The interobsever consistency was as follows: A with B was 83.6% (κ = 0.617, P = 0.000), A with C was 85.5% (κ = 0.644, P = 0.000),B with C was 89.1% (κ = 0.720, P = 0.000). The intraobserver consistency was 91.8% (κ = 0.807, P = 0.000), 81.8% (κ = 0.534, P = 0.000), 90.9% (κ = 0.741, P = 0.000) respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The result of this study shows that the assessment of RFS is not influenced by different educational backgrounds and clinical experience.RFS can be applied widely in China.</p>

Central composite design-response surface method optimize of fang-bing nasal inhalant from components of traditional Chinese medicine for sedative and sleep aiding / 药学学报

To obtain the optimal preparation technology of Fang-bing nasal inhalant from components of traditional Chinese medicine by central composite design, with an apparatus containing nasal inhalant that simulated the expiration and inspiration of nose, the dissolution in vitro of different optimized inhalant samples designed through central composite design were investigated. The accumulative release of linalool, borneol, menthol was detected with GC. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the conditions of preparation technology by establishing multiple linear regression and second-order quadratic models. Then, deviation was carried out through comparing the observed and predicted values. It was showed that the coefficient of correlation of second-order quadratic model was high. The related coefficient reached 0.999 3, 0.998 0, 0.944 9, separately. The optimum conditions of preparation technology were as following: 84.39% of alcohol concentration, the weight of starch 1.45 g and the weight of carmellose sodium (CMC-Na for short) 1.22 g. The deviations between observed and predicated values showed -0.36%, 1.52%, 2.40%, separately. In this experiment, the established model can describe the good relation between factors and indexes from preparation technology of Fang-bing nasal inhalant and the outcome of prediction is well. This optimal Fang-bing nasal inhalant was used to study its in vivo effect on model rats deprived from sleep and showed sedative and sleep aiding, which will bring an instruction on inhalants of components from traditional Chinese medicine.

Comparison on content of ligustilides in different danggui samples / 中国中药杂志

Bioactivity of Danggui is linked to the content of ligustilide, but the relationship between ligustilide with herb shape, cultivating areas and plant species is still unknown. The relationship was investigated by quantifying on the amounts of Z-ligustilide and E-ligustilide by HPLC-DAD-MS method, and then comparing the content of ligustilides (the sum of Z-ligustilide and E-ligustilide) among forty-four various "Danggui" samples containing thirty Chinese Danggui (CDG), six Japanese Danggui (JDG), four Korea Danggui (KDG) and four European Danggui (EDG). Results showed that the content of ligustilides in CDG samples (Angelica sinensis) was in the range of 5.63-24.53 mg x g(-1) with the mean of 11.02 mg x g(-1) (n = 30). Ligustilides amounts were varied among samples cultivated in different areas in China, i. e. 13.90 mg x g(-1) (n = 6) in Yannan, 12.51 mg x g(-1) (n = 6) in Sichuan and 10.04 mg x g(-1) (n = 13) in Gansu. It was also found that ligustilides content was related to the shape, color and fragrance of herb, e. g. the relative larger amount of ligustilides was in the small main root, long rootlet and perfumed sample. Further, ligustilides contents were estimated to be 1.00 mg x g(-1) (n = 6) in JDG samples (A. acutiloba and A. acutiloba var. sugiyamae) and 2.78 mg x g(-1) (n = 2) in EDG samples (lovage root, Levisticum officinale). However, ligustilides could not be detected in the four KDG samples (A. gigas) and two EDG samples (angelica root, A. archangelica). It has been concluded that ligustilide is significant variant among plant species, which may result in the variety of bioactivity and therapeutic effect.

Influence of auricular point sticking on incidence of nausea and vomiting and analgesia effect after gynecological laparoscopy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the influence of auricular point sticking on incidence of nausea and vomiting and analgesia effect after gynecological laparoscopy, and provide evidence for clinical application of auricular point sticking.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of selective gynecological laparoscopy under general anesthesia were randomly divided into an auricular point sticking group and a placebo group, 60 cases in each group. In the auricular point sticking group, the auricular point sticking with vaccaria seeds was applied at Shenmen (TF 4), Wei (CO 4) and Jiaogan (AH 6a) before the operation and 1, 5, 9, 23 h after the operation, which were pressed 5 min each point each time. The two ears were proceeded at the same time. In the placebo group, the same point selection, sticking paste was used as the auricular point sticking group, but no sticking or pressing with vaccaria seeds was adopted. The incidence of nausea and vomiting, the usage rate of tropisetron and morphine within 24 hours of the operation, as well as the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and other adverse reactions at 2, 6, 10, 24 h after the operation were observed respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the placebo group, the incidence of nausea and vomiting [31.7% (19/60), 16.7% (10/60) vs 58.3% (35/60), 35.0% (21/60)], the usage rate of tropisetron [21.7% (13/60) vs 48.3% (29/60)] and morphine [18.3% (11/60) vs 38.3% (23/60)], the VAS scores at all different time points in the auricular point sticking group were all decreased (all P < 0.05), and no adverse reaction was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The auricular point sticking could significantly decrease the incidence of nausea and vomiting in patients of gynecological laparoscopy and has positive analgesic effect.</p>

Chinese version of the reflux symptom index was evaluated for reliability and validity / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the Chinese version of reflux symptom index (RSI) scale's reliability, validity and clinical value.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the Chinese version of RSI scale on the ENT outpatients. There are one hundred and seven patients, included thirty-five patients with common throat (non-suspected) and seventy-two patients with clinically suspected throat reflux. 107 patients are to complete the two scales before and after one week. Thirteen patients with common throat(non-suspected) diseases and forty-one with suspected throat reflux also received RSI testing. Among the thirty-four confirmed acid reflux disease patients, thirty patients received pharmaceutical treatments and self-performed post-RSI testing after three months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The RSI Scale internal reliability consistency included the test-retest reliability (0.750 - 0.971), discriminant validity and construct validity. RSI total targeting percentage of 66.7%, targeting percentage is 80.8%, discriminant validity using 2 independent samples Wilcoxon test, RSI total score compared to Z = -3.266, P = 0.001. The before and after treatment self-control chi-square test (P < 0.05), difference was statistically significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>RSI Simplified Chinese version has good reliability and validity, and can be used for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) diagnostic screening along with the efficacy for the treatment of patients with appropriate LPRD aids.</p>

Effect of bronchoscopic cryosurgery in twenty-two children with lower airway stenosis / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the effect and safety of bronchoscopic cryosurgery in children with lower airway stenosis caused by granulation and fiber hyperplasia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Twenty-two patients had undergone bronchoscopic examination and cryosurgery, 18 patients with atelectasis caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, 2 patients with endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB), 1 patient with atelectasis caused by granulation tissue after bronchial foreign body, and 1 case who had severe dyspnea, with tracheal stenosis after long-term endotracheal intubation during surgery for heart disease. All the patients under went bronchoscopic cryosurgery for several times, 1 case with severe tracheal stenosis was operated by electric coagulation before cryosurgery. Before and after the treatment, all the patients were evaluated based on clinical symptoms, tracheal lumen by bronchoscopy, chest CT for atelectasis and pulmonary function for tracheal stenosis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The patients were treated with cryosurgery for 1-4 times. Sixteen cases were markedly improved, clinical symptoms disappeared completely, no granulation and fiber hyperplasia were found during bronchoscopy, and all the atelectasis were cured. After the treatment, the bronchial lumen diameter of the patient with tracheal stenosis was increased from 2 mm to about 5 mm, the tidal volume increased from 3.0 ml/kg to 8.8 ml/kg. Five cases were effectively improved, the clinical symptoms also disappeared, during bronchoscopy and bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL), no granulation and fiber hyperplasia were found, but some distal bronchial tubes were atresia or narrowed, the lumen was patent, the atelectasis recovered partially. In 1 case the treatment was ineffective, as the clinical symptoms and granulation disappeared, but because almost all distal bronchi were atresia or narrow, the lumen was not patent during BAL, there was no change on chest CT. The total effective rate was 21/22 (95.5%). No severe complications occurred during and after the procedures. All the patient were followed up for 1 - 12 months, no case had recurrence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment with bronchoscopic cryosurgery is a safe and effective methods to tracheal stenosis caused by granulation tissue and fiber hyperplasia in children.</p>

CT and MRI diagnosis of congenital stenosis of the internal auditory canal / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate multiple slice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of congenital stenosis of the internal auditory canal (CSIAC) and improve the ability for diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Thirteen cases with fifteen ears were studied. In all cases a MSCT and MRI was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eleven cases were unilateral, and 2 cases were bilateral. MSCT could show the narrowness of IAC. Three cases were isolated, but the others were combined with inner ear malformations. One ear had inner, middle and outer ear malformations. One ear had inner, middle, and outer ear malformations with a frontal bone malformation. MRI demonstrated that all of the vestibulocochlear nerves were hypoplastic. The cochlear nerve in seven ears was not present, in seven ears the nerve was thinner, and in the last case it was poorly visualized. The facial nerve in two ears was hypoplastic. Volume rendering (VR) could present the degree of the narrowed internal auditory canals, combined with other inner ear anomalies.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MSCT will show the degree of the narrow internal auditory canals and combined anomalies, while the MRI can further demonstrate the nerves' development.</p>

Directional differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells into endothelial cells / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the possibility of directional differentiation of human adipose stem cells (hADSCs) into endothelial cells (EC), so as to provide seed cells for tissue engineered vessels.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>hADSCs were isolated from human adipose tissue by collagenase digestion, cultured and amplified by adherence to flasks. Then hADSCs were directionally induced to differentiate into EC by a combination of fibronectin (FN), endothelial cells support liquid (EGM2-MV) containing various growth factors and high concentration of VEGF165 (50 ng/ml). Then, the cells morphology, phenotype and function were identified.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Highly homologous hADSCs were obtained, and then hADSCs were directionally differentiated into EC. CD31 and CD34, the specific markers for EC, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (KDR) were positive by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR. In addition, unique Weibel-Palade bodies in EC were observed under transmission electron microscope. Functionally, hADSCs could swallow Dil-Ac-LDL and form tube-like structures in matrigel after endothelial differentiation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>hADSCs can be successfully induced to differentiate into endothelial cells in vitro.</p>

Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on tumor neovascularization / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The effect of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on tumor neovascularization were studied.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>hMSCs were isolated from human bone marrow by density gradient fractionation and adherence to plastic flasks. hMSCs-EGFP were obtained by pLEGFP-N1 retroviral vector. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell surface antigen and the differentiation potential of hMSCs-EGFP was investigated under conditioned media. The effect of hMSCs on tumor neovascularization were observed by establishing solid tumor models in BALB/C nude mice. In addition, effect of the conditioned medium used for tumor cells and endothelial cells (EC) cultivation was collected, to detect its effect on the growth and migration rates of hMSC. hMSCs were induced to differentiate into EC in vitro and the migratory effect on HUVEC was also evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>hMSCs-EGFP, like hMSC, exhibited a fibroblast-like morphological feature, and both had the similar cell surface antigens. They could be induced into osteocytes or adipocytes under the conditioned media. The results not only suggested that hMSCs contributed to tumor neovascularization, but also indicated that most of vessels were host-derived angiogenesis mediated by hMSCs. The mean vascular density (MVD) in suspension group (13.67 ± 1.53) was strikely higher than that in MCF-7 group (5.33 ± 1.42), which showed statistical significance (P < 0.05). Only very few vessels were attributed to hMSCs transdifferentiation into ECs. Tumor cells and ECs can promote hMSCs proliferation and migration through paracrine action. Furthermore, hMSCs were positive for CD31 after 2 weeks induction and HUVEC migration can be facilitated by hMSCs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MSCs have the effect of promoting tumor neovascularization.</p>

Inhibition of malignant phenotype of HeLa cells by RNA interference of the telomerase activity / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the biology of HeLa cells upon inhibition of human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) gene by RNA interference in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four shRNAs (A, B, C and D) targeting hTERT gene were designed and prepared by in-vitro transcription. The expression of hTERT gene was evaluated by immunofluorescent staining and telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) ELISA (TRAP-ELISA), after transient transfection of shRNAs by lipid formulation. Through the initial selection, shRNA (B) was noticed as the most efficient one in down-regulating hTERT gene and therefore was chosen as the ultimate shRNA used in the experimental groups. Those transfected by non-silencing RNAi were chosen as the control groups. Cell spreading and migration were studied by microscopy and cell adhesion to fibronectin (FN) was assayed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Cell invasion was assessed by Boyden chamber assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cell spreading study revealed that the rates of spreading cells in the experimental groups were (5.6 +/- 2.3)% at 30 min, and (26.3 +/- 6.1)% 2 h after the inoculation, respectively, whereas the rates of spreading cells in the control groups were (31.3 +/- 7.9)% and (79.4 +/- 4.8)%, respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01). However, most of the cells in both groups became spreading after 24 h. Cell adhesion assay demonstrated that the rate of adhesion cells on FN in experimental groups was (67.2 +/- 2.8)%, less than that in control groups (83.7 +/- 5.4)% (P < 0.05). The relative migration distance was (27.1 +/- 6.2)% in the experimental group, lower than that of the control group (58.7 +/- 15.0)%. The invasion assay revealed that the invading cells were 75.7 +/- 14.5 in the experimental group, in contrast to 165.1 +/- 11.0 in the control group after 4 h incubation on matrigel. The difference between these two groups was significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In vitro shRNA silencing of hTERT gene can down-regulate the telomerase activity, leading to an inhibition of the malignant phenotype of HeLa cells, including decreased ability of cell spreading and adhesion, reduction of cell migration, and declined invasive ability through Matrige assay.</p>