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OBJECTIVES: It is very important that the effects of surface modified titanium on osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the process of bone regeneration. The bio-function of modified titanium could be affected by the inflammatory micro-environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of modified titanium on osteogenic differentiation in the inflammatory conditions and the osteogenic properties of the modified titanium dental implant in vivo. METHODS: The medical pure titanium metals (PT-Ti) subjected to Anodic Oxidation (AO-Ti), Sand Blasting/acid etching (SLA-Ti) and Plasma-sprayed HA coating (HA coating-Ti) were used for regulating the osteogenic properties of MSCs in the normal and inflammatory conditions. RESULTS: The amount of the MSCs in the inflammatory environment were more similar to that in the non-inflammatory environment after cultured on AO-Ti samples for 7D. However, the proliferation of the MSCs was obviously inhibited on the other groups in the inflammatory condition. The morphology of MSC cells on the modified titanium surface was affected in the inflammatory conditions and the AO-Ti was more conducive to maintain the skeletal morphology of MSCs. The results of osteogenic related proteins expression showed that the amount of BMP-2 on AO-Ti group was the highest in the inflammatory conditions, and followed the order of AO-Ti > HA coating-Ti > SLA-Ti > PT-Ti. What's more, the AO-Ti samples were more beneficial to promote the expression of osteogenic genes ALP, OCN, COL-I and Runx2 in the inflammatory conditions. The results of osteogenic properties in vivo showed that the gingival depth of the AO-Ti group was smaller than that on the other groups. Some new bone could be observed around the AO-Ti implant at two weeks. The bone binding rates on AO-Ti group was the highest of 81.3% after implanted for one year. SIGNIFICANCE: The AO-Ti was beneficial to osteogenic differentiation than other modified titanium metals in inflammatory condition. The anodic oxidation is an effective surface modification method on titanium to promote bone regeneration.
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Osteogenesis , Titanium , Bone Regeneration , Cell Differentiation , GingivaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nurses have been at the center of managing the COVID-19 outbreak through direct bedside care in respiratory, emergency and intensive care environments, managing hospital units, providing Covid-19 testing, vaccination and contact tracing. Thus, the present study aimed to analysis the strategies used by Iranian nurses for management of Provided Care for patients with COVID- 19. METHODS: The present study was conducted based on the conventional content analysis method and Graneheim & Lundman approach. The participants included the nurses working in the COVID-19 wards and were recruited by purposeful sampling and based on inclusion criteria. The data were collected by conducting semi-structured, in-depth, one-to-one interviews until reaching data saturation. RESULTS: In-depth interviews with 10 nurses represented four main categories and fifteen subcategories. Four main categories emerged in this study i.e. "justice in human resources management", "The art and science of comprehensive nursing care", "managers as agents of change in crisis" and "challenges and its management". CONCLUSION: The nurses' experiences of management strategies showed that paying attention to the financial, psychological, educational, equipment needs of nurses and maintaining their safety make the suitable environment for providing high quality care for patients with covid-19.
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The differentiation of pluripotent stem cells has been used to study disease mechanisms and development. We previously described a method for differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into salivary gland epithelial progenitors (SGEPs). Here, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) knockout hPSCs were differentiated into SGEPs derived from CFTR knockout hESCs (CF-SGEPs) using the same protocol to investigate whether the hPSC-derived SGEPs can model the characteristics of CF. CF—a disease that affects salivary gland (SG) function—is caused by mutations of the CFTR gene. Firstly, we successfully generated CFTR knockout hPSCs with reduced CFTR protein expression using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. After 16 days of differentiation, the protein expression of CFTR decreased in SGEPs derived from CFTR knockout hESCs (CF-SGEPs). RNA-Seq revealed that multiple genes modulating SG development and function were down-regulated, and positive regulators of inflammation were up-regulated in CF-SGEPs, correlating with the salivary phenotype of CF patients. These results demonstrated that CFTR suppression disrupted the differentiation of hPSC-derived SGEPs, which modeled the SG development of CF patients. In summary, this study not only proved that the hPSC-derived SGEPs could serve as manipulable and readily accessible cell models for the study of SG developmental diseases but also opened up new avenues for the study of the CF mechanism.
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Objective:To analyze the MRI features of medulloblastoma (MB) in children, and screen out the key signs that can predict the risk of MB before surgery.Methods:Clinical and radiological data of 62 children with MB confirmed by pathology in Shenzhen Children′s Hospital from December 2012 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the diagnosis and treatment guidelines for children with MB (2021 edition), the patients were divided into standard risk group (43 cases) and high risk group (19 cases). MRI features of MB were observed and recorded, including tumor site, location of tumor center, tumor morphology, signal intensity of T 1WI, T 2WI and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), enhancement pattern, cystic lesion size, location and number, peritumoral edema and hydrocephalus, and the maximum diameter of tumor was measured. The χ 2 test or Fisher exact probability method was used to compare the differences in age, gender and MRI signs between the two groups. The t test of two independent samples was used to compare the differences in the maximum diameter of tumors between the two groups. The indicators with statistically significant differences were included in binary logistic regression analysis to obtain independent influencing factors associated with the risk groups. The receiver operation characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy. Results:There were significant differences in age ( P=0.026), enhancement pattern ( P=0.018), cystic lesion size ( P=0.005), location ( P=0.011) and number ( P=0.003) between standard risk group and high risk group. There were no significant differences in gender, tumor site, location of tumor center, tumor morphology, signal intensity of T 1WI, T 2WI and DWI, peritumoral edema, hydrocephalus and maximum diameter of tumor between the two groups ( P>0.05). Binary logistic regression results showed the age (OR=0.207, 95%CI 0.040-0.983, P=0.042) and the number of cystic lesions (OR=0.215, 95%CI 0.073-0.630, P=0.005) were the protective factors for MB in high risk group, the enhancement pattern Ⅲ (OR=5.226, 95%CI 1.516-52.920, P=0.048) was the dangerous factor for MB in high risk group. The area under the curve of the combined diagnosis of high risk MB was 0.845 (95%CI 0.741-0.949). Conclusions:The age and MRI signs the pattern of tumor enhancement Ⅲ and the number of cystic lesion can be used to predict the risk grouping of MB preoperatively. When the child is younger and MB enhancement pattern is mainly peripheral enhancement without obvious cystic change, it may indicate high risk MB.
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Objective:To review the scope of related factors that affect the elderly′s participation in digital health intervention, and to provide a certain reference for the application and development of smart elderly technology.Methods:Based on the scope review guidelines issued by the Joanna Briggs Institute in Australia in 2019, the inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined according to the PCCS principles. Chinese and English literatures were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, JBI, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang database and Chinese biomedical literature database. The search time limit was from the establishment of the database to November 30, 2021. Two researchers independently read, and used EndNoteX9 and Excel tables to extract relevant data from the literature for summary and analysis.Results:Totally 20 articles were selected, including 2 mixed studies, 10 cross-sectional studies, 6 qualitative studies, and 2 quasi-experimental studies. Relevant factors affecting the participation of the elderly in digital health interventions involved the developers, users and the user himself of digital health intervention systems, including the degree of system integration of system development, the degree of autonomy of the elderly, the credibility and accessibility of system equipment and ease of use; the degree of compatibility of equipment in the process of use, the degree of digital infrastructure configuration, the degree of Internet penetration, the availability and reliability of health information resources, the degree of training and education, the degree of communication with the elderly in the process of participation, financial payment, etc.; the four inherent factors of the elderly included the cost of technology use, technical anxiety, privacy and safety, and health needs.Conclusions:The elderly, medical staff, developers and other stakeholders should jointly participate in decision-making on the development and management of the digital health intervention system for the elderly, especially by inviting and empowering the elderly , and improve the training and feedback of the system application and use process, accelerate the popularization and promotion of technical resources, and increase social capital and financial payment incentives to reduce the burden on the elderly and the medical system.
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Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) and serum ferritin in females from the United States. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 4,182 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We used METS-IR and serum ferritin as the independent and dependent variables in this study and investigated the relationship by using multiple linear regression and verified the non-linear relationship with a smooth curve fit and threshold effect model. Results: There was a positive relationship between METS-IR and serum ferritin, with an effect value of (ß = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.14-0.44) in a fully adjusted model adjusted for potential confounders. This positive correlation became more significant as METS-IR increased (p for trend < 0.001). Subsequent subgroup analyses showed that sensitive cohorts were those aged ≥40 years, black, and with a body mass index (BMI) < 24.9 kg/m2. In a smoothed curve fit analysis, the correlation between METS-IR and serum ferritin was a straight linear relationship in all participants included in this study, but when stratified by age, race, and BMI, this positive correlation in the participants who were aged ≥40 years old, other race, and had a BMI < 24.9 kg/m2 was non-linear. Conclusions: There was a positive association between METS-IR and serum ferritin in United States females, and this positive association was more pronounced in participants aged ≥40 years, black race and BMI < 24.9 kg/m2. This positive association was non-linear in the subgroups aged ≥40 years, white race and BMI < 24.9 kg/m2, with inflection points for METS-IR of 69.97, 67.84 and 35.84 in these respective subgroups.
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A novel uncapped mRNA platform was developed. Five lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA constructs were made to evaluate several aspects of our platform, including transfection efficiency and durability in vitro and in vivo and the activation of humoral and cellular immunity in several animal models. The constructs were eGFP-mRNA-LNP (for enhanced green fluorescence mRNA), Fluc-mRNA-LNP (for firefly luciferase mRNA), S{delta}T-mRNA-LNP (for Delta strain SARS-CoV-2 spike protein trimer mRNA), gDED-mRNA-LNP (for truncated glycoprotein D mRNA coding ectodomain from herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2)) and gDFR-mRNA-LNP (for truncated HSV2 glycoprotein D mRNA coding amino acids 1~400). Quantifiable target protein expression was achieved in vitro and in vivo with eGFP- and Fluc-mRNA-LNP. S{delta}T-mRNA-LNP, gDED-mRNA-LNP and gDFR-mRNA-LNP induced both humoral and cellular immune responses comparable to those obtained by previously reported capped mRNA-LNP constructs. Notably, 25, 50 and 100 g of S{delta}T-mRNA-LNP all elicited neutralizing antibodies in hamsters against the Omicron and Delta strains. Additionally, gDED-mRNA-LNP and gDFR-mRNA-LNP induced potent neutralizing antibodies in rabbits and mice. The mRNA constructs with uridine triphosphate (UTP) outperformed those with N1-methylpseudouridine triphosphate (N1m{psi}TP) in the in vivo expression of luciferase and the induction of antibodies via S{delta}T-mRNA-LNP. Our uncapped, process-simplified, and economical mRNA platform may have broad utility in vaccines and protein replacement drugs.
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Objective:To investigate clinicopathological and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of pediatric cardiac tumors.Methods:The clinical, pathological and MRI data of 7 patients with pediatric cardiac tumors confirmed by pathological examination in Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from February 2012 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:There were 3 males and 4 females with first diagnosis age ranging from 1 month to 3 years. As for clinical presentation, most cases were featured with cardiac murmur and enlarged cardiac boundary; only 1 case had acute cerebral infarction, and 1 case did not show any abnormal performance. Pathological findings showed that 6 cases of benign tumors (including 2 cases of fibroma, 1 case of rhabdomyoma, 1 case of myxoma, 1 case of lipoma and 1 case of hemangioma), 1 case of malignant tumor (primitive neuroectodermal tumor of pericardium). MRI results showed that the signal intensity of malignant tumor was higher than that of normal myocardium in each sequence; significant differences were found in benign tumors; first-pass perfusion, cardiac cine image and late gadolinium enhancement were the most obvious.Conclusions:The clinical presentations of pediatric cardiac neoplasms are atypical. Each tumor type has pathognomonic pathological features. MRI has great advantages in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cardiac tumors especially for benign tumors.
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Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) combined with paracervical block in percutaneous microwave ablation(PMWA) of uterine fibroids.Methods:Twenty-four patients with uterine fibroids who underwent PMWA after ultrasound-guided TAP combined with paracervical block in Sichuan Cancer Hospital from October 2021 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The success rate and adverse reactions of TAP combined with paracervical block were recorded, and the types and doses of rescue analgesics used during and after operation were recorded. The pain degree of patients was recorded by NRS(numeric rating scales) during and 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours after operation, and the satisfaction of patients was recorded.Results:The success rate of TAP combined with paracervical block was 100%, and there were no adverse reactions during and after operation. During the operation, 5 patients(20.83%) had mild pain, which was tolerable and did not need intervention, 4 patients(16.67%) presented with moderate pain, and the NRS scores were 4, 4, 5 and 6 respectively, the symptoms were relieved after rescue analgesia. All patients completed one ablation, no ablation failure or secondary ablation. Some patients had mild pain after operation, which could be tolerated without intervention, and all were relieved naturally within 6 hours. All patients returned home on the day of ablation and were 100% satisfied with the analgesic effect.Conclusions:Ultrasound-guided TAP combined with paracervical block in PMWA of uterine fibroids is safe and effective, which is worthy of clinical promotion.
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Objective@#To investigate the image quality of ultralow-dose CT (ULDCT) of the chest reconstructed using a cycle-consistent generative adversarial network (CycleGAN)-based deep learning method in the evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis. @*Materials and Methods@#Between June 2019 and November 2019, 103 patients (mean age, 40.8 ± 13.6 years; 61 men and 42 women) with pulmonary tuberculosis were prospectively enrolled to undergo standard-dose CT (120 kVp with automated exposure control), followed immediately by ULDCT (80 kVp and 10 mAs). The images of the two successive scans were used to train the CycleGAN framework for image-to-image translation. The denoising efficacy of the CycleGAN algorithm was compared with that of hybrid and model-based iterative reconstruction. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Wilcoxon signedrank test were performed to compare the objective measurements and the subjective image quality scores, respectively. @*Results@#With the optimized CycleGAN denoising model, using the ULDCT images as input, the peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity index improved by 2.0 dB and 0.21, respectively. The CycleGAN-generated denoised ULDCT images typically provided satisfactory image quality for optimal visibility of anatomic structures and pathological findings, with a lower level of image noise (mean ± standard deviation [SD], 19.5 ± 3.0 Hounsfield unit [HU]) than that of the hybrid (66.3 ± 10.5 HU, p 0.908). The CycleGAN-generated images showed the highest contrast-to-noise ratios for the pulmonary lesions, followed by the model-based and hybrid iterative reconstruction. The mean effective radiation dose of ULDCT was 0.12 mSv with a mean 93.9% reduction compared to standard-dose CT. @*Conclusion@#The optimized CycleGAN technique may allow the synthesis of diagnostically acceptable images from ULDCT of the chest for the evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis.
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Objective@#To investigate the image quality of ultralow-dose CT (ULDCT) of the chest reconstructed using a cycle-consistent generative adversarial network (CycleGAN)-based deep learning method in the evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis. @*Materials and Methods@#Between June 2019 and November 2019, 103 patients (mean age, 40.8 ± 13.6 years; 61 men and 42 women) with pulmonary tuberculosis were prospectively enrolled to undergo standard-dose CT (120 kVp with automated exposure control), followed immediately by ULDCT (80 kVp and 10 mAs). The images of the two successive scans were used to train the CycleGAN framework for image-to-image translation. The denoising efficacy of the CycleGAN algorithm was compared with that of hybrid and model-based iterative reconstruction. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Wilcoxon signedrank test were performed to compare the objective measurements and the subjective image quality scores, respectively. @*Results@#With the optimized CycleGAN denoising model, using the ULDCT images as input, the peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity index improved by 2.0 dB and 0.21, respectively. The CycleGAN-generated denoised ULDCT images typically provided satisfactory image quality for optimal visibility of anatomic structures and pathological findings, with a lower level of image noise (mean ± standard deviation [SD], 19.5 ± 3.0 Hounsfield unit [HU]) than that of the hybrid (66.3 ± 10.5 HU, p 0.908). The CycleGAN-generated images showed the highest contrast-to-noise ratios for the pulmonary lesions, followed by the model-based and hybrid iterative reconstruction. The mean effective radiation dose of ULDCT was 0.12 mSv with a mean 93.9% reduction compared to standard-dose CT. @*Conclusion@#The optimized CycleGAN technique may allow the synthesis of diagnostically acceptable images from ULDCT of the chest for the evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis.
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Objective:A comparative study of non-invasive hemodynamics and echocardiography in 139 cases of heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) at baseline and one year follow-up to explore its value on diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis in patients with HFpEF.Methods:The baseline and one year follow-up data of 139 patients with HFpEF in Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University patients who had been enrolled in the China PEACE 5P-HF from June 2016 to May 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The general data were collected which contented age of the study subjects is (30 - 80) y, average age (64.0 ± 12.3) y, and 63.31% male, (88/139) and 36.69% female (51/139), 56.8% smokers (79/139). t-test way was used to analyze the baseline and one year follw-up data, The indexs included blood pressure (BP), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and 6-munites walk test (6MWT). Non-invasive hemodynamic indicators included stroke volume (SV), ejection fractions (EF), cardiac index (CI), index of contratility (IC), pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PCWP), maximum angiectatic velocity(AMPC), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), left ventricular isovolumetric relaxation time (LVLVIVRT), pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection fractions (PEP/LVET), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and left cardiac work index (LCWI). Hemodynamic indicators included left ventricular end diastolic dimension(LVEDd), left ventricular end systolic dimension (LVEDs), interventricular septal thickness at diastole (IVSD), left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) and E/e′.Results:There was no significant difference between the baseline and one year follow-up data in SBP, DBP, NT-proBNP, eGFR, 6MWT ( P>0.05). There were significant increase in SV, EF, CI, IC in one year′ follow-up compared with that in baselinee [(73.39 ± 29.47) ml vs. (63.39 ± 30.08) ml, (64.87 ± 9.16)% vs. (61.81 ± 9.02)%, (3.06 ± 1.10) ml/(min·m 2) vs. (2.62 ± 1.06) ml/(min·m 2), (0.039 ± 0.037) L/s vs. (0.028 ± 0.015) L/s] ( P<0.05). PCWP in one year′ follow-up was significantly decreased compared with that in baselin [(9.21 ± 3.34) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (9.87 ± 3.13) mmHg]( P<0.05), However, AMPC, LVE, LVLVIVRT, PEP/LVET, LVEDP, LCWI in baseline and one year′ follow-up showed no significant difference ( P>0.05). The Hemodynamic indicators in baseline and one year′s follow-up were as followed: LVEF in one year′ follow-up was significantly elevated compared with that in the baseline [(63.53 ± 8.39)% vs. (61.02 ± 7.16)%]; E/e′ in one year′s follow-up was significantly decresed compared with that in the baseline [12.89 ± 5.86 vs. 14.32 ± 6.61]( P<0.05); there were no significant differences in LVEDd, LVEDs and IVSD in baseline compared with those in one year′s followed-up ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Hemodynamic indicators including SV, EF, CI, IC and PCWP could be new reflections of early diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis on HFpEF. The combination of non-invasive hemodynamics and echocardiography on HFpEF can be more significant in reflecting the changes of myocardial remodeling and cardiac function.
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Objective:To analyze the correlation and diagnostic value of serum homocysteine (Hcy), methionine (Met) and cysteine (Cys) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods:One hundred and seventy-eight patients with acute decompensation CHF (CHF group) and 70 healthy persons (healthy control group) from October 2018 to September 2019 in Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University were continuously enrolled. In CHF group, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) was in 53 cases, heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) was in 50 cases, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was in 75 cases. Serum levels of Hcy, Met and Cys were detected by tandem mass spectrometry. Serum level of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP) was detected by electrochemical luminescence immunity. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESd) and early diastolic peak blood flow velocity of mitral valve annulus/early diastolic peak velocity of mitral annulus (E/e′) were detected by echocardiography, then left ventricular eject fraction (LVEF) was calculated. Correlation was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn, and the area under curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the efficacy of serum Hcy, Met, Cys, NT-proBNP and LVEF in the diagnosis of CHF.Results:The Hcy, Met, Cys, NT-proBNP, LVEDd and E/e′ in CHF group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group: (12.64 ± 5.02) μmol/L vs. (8.71 ± 3.47) μmol/L, (23.38 ± 5.75) μmol/L vs. (20.52 ± 4.18) μmol/L, (343.45 ± 44.49) μmol/L vs. (290.53 ± 48.38) μmol/L, (5 759.43 ± 3 806.22) pg/L vs. (40.24 ± 31.91) pg/L, (52.67 ± 12.27) mm vs. (46.41 ± 12.27) mm and (17.32 ± 5.61)% vs. (9.54 ± 2.64)%, the LVEF was significantly lower than that in healthy control group: (45.27 ± 4.93)% vs. (62.37 ± 5.41)%, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or <0.05). The Hcy and Cys in patients with HFmrEF and HFrEF were significantly higher than those in patients with HFpEF: (16.29 ± 8.18) and (18.68 ± 8.99) μmol/L vs. (13.75 ± 6.48) μmol/L, (346.64 ± 51.85) and (361.40 ± 52.34) μmol/L vs. (329.35 ± 55.16) μmol/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); there were no statistical differences between patients with HFmrEF and patients with HFrEF ( P>0.05). The serum Met in patients with HFrEF was significantly higher than that in patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF: (28.74 ± 8.22) μmol/L vs. (24.76 ± 7.60) and (25.15 ± 6.96) μmol/L, and there was statistical difference ( P<0.05); there was no statistical difference between patients with HFpEF and patients with HFmrEF ( P>0.05). Pearson correlation analysis result showed that serum Hcy, Met and Cys were positively correlated with NT-proBNP ( r = 0.632, 0.206 and 0.455; P<0.01), positively correlated with E/e′( r = 0.463, 0.198 and 0.346; P<0.01), and negatively correlated with LVEF ( r = -0.491, -0.152 and -0.330; P<0.05 or <0.01). ROC curve analysis result showed that ROC the cut-off value for the diagnosis of CHF with serum NT-proBNP based on the maximum Youden index (0.994) was 120 pg/L, and AUC was 0.994 (95% CI was 0.997 to 1.000); the cut-off value for the diagnosis of CHF with serum Hcy based on the maximum Youden index (0.646) was 10.56 μmol/L, and AUC was 0.899 (95% CI 0.859 to 0.939); the cut-off value for the diagnosis of CHF with serum Met based on the maximum Youden index (0.218) was 25.58 μmol/L, and AUC was 0.637 (95% CI 0.563 to 0.711); the cut-off value for the diagnosis of CHF with serum Cys based on the maximum Youden index (0.391) was 298.05 μmol/L, and AUC was 0.765 (95% CI 0.700 to 0.830); the AUC of LVEF less than 0.5. Conclusions:Serum Hcy, Met and Cys levels in patient with CHF are significantly increased, which are positively correlated with NT-proBNP and E/e′, negatively correlated with LVEF. Moreover, serum Hcy has certain application value in the diagnosis of CHF.
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BACKGROUND: Bone tissue engineering based on pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is a new approach to deal with bone defects. Protocols have been developed to generate osteoblasts from PSCs. However, the low efficiency of this process is still an important issue that needs to be resolved. Many studies have aimed to improve efficiency, but developing accurate methods to determine efficacy is also critical. Studies using pluripotency to estimate efficacy are rare. Telomerase is highly associated with pluripotency. METHODS: We have described a quantitative method to measure telomerase activity, telomeric repeat elongation assay based on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). To investigate whether this method could be used to determine the efficiency of in vitro osteogenic differentiation based on pluripotency, we measured the pluripotency pattern of cultures through stemness gene expression, proliferation ability and telomerase activity, measured by QCM. RESULTS: We showed that the pluripotency pattern determined by QCM was similar to the patterns of proliferation ability and gene expression, which showed a slight upregulation at the late stages, within the context of the general downregulation tendency during differentiation. Additionally, a comprehensive gene expression pattern covering nearly every stage of differentiation was identified. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this assay may be powerful tools for determining the efficiency of differentiation systems based on pluripotency. In this study, we not only introduce a new method for determining efficiency based on pluripotency, but also provide more information about the characteristics of osteogenic differentiation which help facilitate future development of more efficient protocols.
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Bone and Bones , Down-Regulation , Gene Expression , In Vitro Techniques , Methods , Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells , Osteoblasts , Pluripotent Stem Cells , Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques , Telomerase , Up-RegulationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Increasing evidence suggests an association between elevated serum aminotransferase levels and metabolic disorders (metabolic syndrome, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus). However, the significance of relatively low levels of aminotransferases in relation to metabolic disorders has not been fully investigated in the general population. We investigated the association between serum aminotransferase levels and metabolic disorders using data from a survey in Jilin Province, China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2007, a prospective survey was conducted throughout Jilin, China, covering both urban and rural areas. A total of 3835 people, 18-79 years old, were undergoing real-time ultrasonography, blood tests, and interviews with a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Serum aminotransferase levels within the normal range were associated with metabolic syndrome independent of age, occupation, cultural and educational level, income, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, and alcohol intake. Compared with the lowest level (< 20 IU/L), the adjusted odds ratios for alanine aminotransferase levels of 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, and >50 IU/L were 1.92, 2.50, 2.97, and 3.52 in men, and 1.38, 1.54, 3.06, and 2.62 in women, respectively. Near-normal serum aminotransferase levels associated with hyperlipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes mellitus were also found in the study. CONCLUSIONS: Normal to near-normal serum aminotransferase levels are associated with metabolic disorders. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels of 21-25 IU/L for men and 17-22 IU/L for women are suggested as cut-off levels that detect metabolic disorders affecting the liver.
