To explore the feasibility of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) acting as seed cells in tissue engineering, we isolated human bone marrow MSCs and differentiated them into vascular endothelial-like cells (ELCs) in vitro. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMSCs) were isolated by the method of percoll density centrifugation, and seeded in Dulbecco Modified Eagle Medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. MSCs were purified through multiple adherent cultures, and differentiated into ELCs induced by endothelial cell growth medium-2 (EBM-2) medium containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), human fibroblast growth factor (hFGF), insulin like growth factors 1 (IGF-1), and human epidermal growth factor (hEGF). The relative biologic characteristics of ELCs including cell morphology and phenotype were studied by inverted microscope and flow cytometry. The induced cells were identified by immunofluorescence with CD31 and Von Willebrand factor (vWF). The results showed that the morphology of MSCs was long-spindle and vortex-like growth. After induction of differentiation, the cells were round, and similar to vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Flow cytometric analysis revealed that ELCs expressed ECs specific surface markers of CD31 and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), but not CD133. Immunofluorescence results also confirmed that ELCs expressed CD31 and vWF. The results suggested that ELCs possed similar cell biological characteristics with ECs. In one word, human MSCs derived from bone marrow have the potential to differentiate into ECs in vitro,and show clinical feasibility acting as ideal donor cells of vascular tissue engineering.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the effect of selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) on the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). MethodsWe electronically searched PubMed, EMbase, CBM, Wanfang, CNKI and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from the date of its establishment to September 2013. We also hand-searched some relevant references of included studies. Two independent reviewers screened the studies for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed trial quality. Meta-analysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.1 software. ResultsTen randomized controlled trials involving 2 791 patients were included. Results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with control group, SOD could reduce the incidence of VAP[RR=0.53, 95% CI (0.43, 0.65), P<0.000 01]. No statistical differences between the two groups were found for all cause mortality, average duration of receiving mechanical ventilatory assistance or length of stay in intensive care unit. No severe adverse event related to study participation was identified. ConclusionSOD can reduce the occurrence of VAP effectively and safely. Consequently, it may be considered as a good choice in the prevention of VAP.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy between key hole approach versus large trauma craniotomy for patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. MethodsSuch databases as The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2013), PubMed, EMbase, WangFang Data, CNKI and VIP was searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on key hole approach versus large trauma craniotomy for patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage from January 2005 to June 2013. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2. ResultsA total of 13 studies involving 1 324 patients was included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, key hole approach was superior to large trauma craniotomy with significant differences in the fatality rate (OR=0.29, 95%CI 0.19 to 0.45, P < 0.000 01), incidence of postoperative complications (OR=0.35, 95%CI 0.21 to 0.57, P < 0.000 1), recovery time of consciousness (MD=-4.52, 95%CI-5.84 to-3.20, P < 0.000 01), neurologic impairment score after 1-month treatment (MD=-12.63, 95%CI-16.36 to-8.90, P < 0.000 01), total effectiveness (OR=3.79, 95%CI 2.54 to 5.66, P < 0.000 01), and postoperative living ability (ADL Grade I, Ⅱ). ConclusionKey hole approach is better than large trauma craniotomy for patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, the abovementioned conclusion still needs to be verified by conducting more high quality studies, especially conducting multicenter blinding RCTs with large sample-size.
ObjectiveTo observe the changing patterns of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) levels before and after hip replacement surgery, and explore their clinical significances. MethodsNinety-seven consecutive patients enrolled in clinical pathway in our hospital for hip replacement from April 2011 to May 2013 were included in the present study. ESR, CRP and SAA levels were investigated preoperatively and post-operatively at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, Month 1 and 3. All the cases were followed up, among which there were 14 cases of total hip replacement, 56 cases of cementless hemianthroplasty, and 27 cases of biotype hemianthroplasty. ResultsAll three of ESR, CRP and SAA levels were elevated post-operatively. Levels of CRP and SAA peaked at day 3 after surgery, and then subsided gradually to pre-operative levels after 1 month. ESR level peaked at day 7 postoperatively, and then subsided gradually to pre-operative levels after 3 months. There was a significant correlation between levels of CRP and levels of SAA. ConclusionCompared with ESR and SAA, CRP appears to be a faster and more sensitive parameter. Cementless hemianthroplasty is associated with changes of SAA levels but not with CRP levels. Close monitoring of evolutionary changes in ESR, SAA and CRP levels may help to diagnose and treat early infection after hip replacement surgery.
The transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad3 signal pathway is related to mutiple physiological and pathological generation mechanism of human being. Up to date, however, the spacial and time information on the phosphorylated Smad3 is still unclear. In this study, the process of Smad3 phosphorylation was observed under the physiological state in the living cells. Firstly, the ECFP-Smad3-Citrine (Smad3 biosensor) fusion protein expression vector was constructed and identified. Then the Smad3 biosensor was transfected into 293T cells. The transfection efficiency and the expressions of fusion proteins were observed in 24 hours. Thirdly, Smad3 biosensor flurorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was observed with the inversion fluorescence microscope and measured by the MetaFlour FRET 4.6 software. Smad3 biosensor transfection efficiency was nearly 40% and the fusion protein was seen under the fluorescence microscope. The FRET ratio of Smad3 biosensor in living 293T cells was decreased after 10 minutes incubation with the ligand of TGF-β1. The period of decreasing CFP and enhancing Citrine signals was about 300 seconds. With the technology of FRET, the TGF-β1/Smad3 signal pathway could be real time monitored dynamically under the physiological condition in living cells.
ObjectiveTo summarize the cardiac-vascular abnormalities and clinical results in patients with Fontan operation for heterotaxy syndrome. MethodWe retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 81 patients who underwent the Fontan operation with heterotaxy syndrome between September 2008 and September 2013. There were 49 male and 32 female patients at age of 3.79 (range 2.07-13.02) years with preoperative room air saturation of 81% (range 63%-97%) and weight of 14.8 (10.0-36.0) kg. ResultsThere were 70 patients in the right atrial isomerism group and left in 11 patients. Dextrocardia was seen in 16 patients, and single atrium in 50 patients. Single ventricle was found in 44 patients, conotruncal defects in 40 patients, pulmonary stenosis in 72 patients, pulmonray atresia in 8 patients, common atrioventricular valve in 61 patients, and bilateral superior vena cava in 54 patients. The staged Fontan procedure was applied in 57 patients and one stage in 24 patients. Operation strategies were included intra/extracardiac conduit (n=17), extracardiac conduit (n=48), lateral tunnel (n=14) and direct cavopulmonray connection (n=2).There were 15 early deaths. Postoperative complications included low cardiac output in 15 patients, hepatic insufficiency in 35 patients, renal insufficiency in 55 patients required peritoneal dialysis and arrhythmia in 28 patients. The room air saturation was 89% (range 78%-98%) before discharge and time of follow-up was from 2 months to 6 years in 64 patients. Thromboembolic events were found in 2 patients who had accomplished conduit replacement operation. ConclusionCompared with reported literatures in western countries, heteraotaxia patients are mostly with right atrial isomerism. Fontan palliation is still the main treatment option and strict indication was needed for satisfactory clinical results.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of the dissociative saphenous arteria flap in repairing upper limbs soft tissue defect. MethodsBetween June 2012 and April 2014, 10 cases of skin and soft tissue defects at the upper limbs were treated, including 6 males and 4 females with an average age of 42 years (range, 23-58 years). The causes of injury was the machine injury in 9 cases, the interval of injury and operation was 2 hours to 32 days (mean, 5.5 days); the locations were the dorsal radial side in 3 cases and the dorsal forearm in 6 cases. Skin defect with tendon exposure was observed in 1 case after contracture of the first web space resection. The defect size varied from 5 cm×3 cm to 16 cm×9 cm. The size of the flaps ranged from 6.0 cm×3.6 cm to 19.2 cm×10.8 cm. In 7 cases, the saphenous nerve was anastomosed with the nerve of the donor (cutaneous nerve, radial nerve, or ulnar nerve); in 5 cases, tendon defect was repaired by sartorius muscle tendon bridge. The donor sites were repaired by free skin graft or suture. ResultsThe other flaps survived and obtained healing by first intention except 1 flap which had partial necrosis with healing by second intention. The skin graft at donor site survived. All patients were followed up 5-17 months (mean, 12 months). The flaps had good color and texture without contracture. At last follow-up, the sensation recovered to S1-S3+; in 7 cases undergoing nerve anastomosis, the sensation reached S3-S3+, and it was better than that not undergoing nerve anastomosis (S1-S2); in 5 cases receiving sartorius muscle tendon bridging, the hand function recovered satisfactorily except 1 case of total active movement (TAM) value >75% of contralateral TAM at last follow-up. According to the Chinese Medical Society of Hand Surgery function evaluation standards, the results were excellent in 8 cases and good in 2 cases. ConclusionThe dissociative saphenous arteria flap is an effective way to repair skin defects of the upper limbs because of reliable blood supply and simple surgical procedure.
ObjectiveTo assess the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of medical calcium sulfate (OsteoSet) mixed with powder for injection of rifampicin after radical debridement in the treatment of sacroiliac joint tuberculosis. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data from 27 patients with sacroiliac joint tuberculosis who underwent debridement surgery and local bone graft of OsteoSet artificial bone impregnated with powder for injection of rifampicin between August 2006 and August 2010. There were 10 males and 17 females with an average age of 35.2 years (range, 16-64 years). The mean disease duration was 7.5 months (range, 1.5-16 months). The left sacroiliac joint was involved in 16 cases, the right side in 10 cases, and both sides in 1 case; Of them, 18 cases had iliac fossa abscess and 6 cases of buttocks abscess. According to the classification system by Kim, there were 9 cases of type Ⅲ and 18 cases of type ⅠV. The preoperative Majeed score was 61.23±6.49, including good in 4 patients, general in 19 patients, and poor in 4 patients. ResultsAll patients achieved wound healing by first intention; no complications of pelvic infection, peripheral nerve injury, and lower extremity deep vein thrombosis occurred. Twenty-six patients were followed up 16 months on average (range, 12-24 months). All the patients had normal sense and movement of both lower limbs; no perineum sensory disturbance was found. One case of multi-drug resistant had local recurrence at 3 months after operation, which was cured after adjusting anti-tuberculosis drugs, nutritional support, enhancing immunity with thymopentin, and second operation. Bone union was observed at 10.5 months on average (range, 9-12 months) in 25 patients, and clinical symptoms disappeared with no recurrence or complication, and they returned to previous work. The Majeed score at last follow-up was 92.31±3.36, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t=-32.76, P=0.00). The results were excellent in 22 patients, good in 4 patients, and the excellent and good rate was 100%, showing significant follow-up was 92.31±3.36, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t=-32.76, P=0.00). The results were excellent in 22 patients, good in 4 patients, and the excellent and good rate was 100%, showing significant difference compared with the preoperative one (χ2=31.93, P=0.00). ConclusionBone graft interbody fusion surgery with rifampicin loaded OsteoSet is one of the effective methods to treat sacroiliac joint tuberculosis.
ObjectiveTo summarize clinical experience and surgical indications of open stented elephant trunk (sET) procedure for the treatment of complex acute Stanford type B aortic dissection (AD). MethodsFrom February 2009 to April 2013, 25 patients with complex acute Stanford type B AD underwent open sET procedure in Beijing Anzhen Hospital. There were 22 male and 3 female patients with their age of 46.92±9.12 years (range, 30 to 66 years). There were 16 patients with hypertension and 3 patients with preoperative acute renal failure. All the patients received sET implantation via an aortic arch incision under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Concomitant procedures included extra-anatomic bypass grafting in 11 patients, Bentall procedure in 1 patient, aortic valve replacement in 3 patients, and ascending aorta plasty in 3 patients. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed before discharge and during follow-up for all the patients. ResultsOperation time was 4-7 (5.5±0.7) hours, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 93-206 (137.64±30.02) minutes, aortic cross-clamping time was 28-109 (57.96±21.05) minutes, and selective cerebral perfusion time was 15-76 (26.76±11.88) minutes. There was no in-hospital death. Postoperatively, there were 2 patients with pulmonary complications, 2 patients with type I endoleak, 1 patient with acute renal failure, 1 patient with temporary neurological disorder, 1 patient with sudden ventricular fibrillation, and 1 patient with delayed wound healing. Mean follow-up time was 6-54 (25.76±16.15) months, and 2 patients were lost during follow-up. The follow-up rate was 92%.There was no late death during follow-up. ConclusionsOpen sET procedure is a reliable and efficacious therapeutic strategy for patients with complex acute Stanford type B AD. Surgical indications include complex Stanford type B AD without enough landing zone, type B AD with ascending aortic disease, aortic root disease, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease and congenital heart defects, and type B AD caused by genetic connective tissue disorder.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the outcomes of drug-eluting balloon (DEB) in treating coronary artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) by using meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA). MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library（Issue 4, 2016）, CNKI, CBM, VIP and WanFang Data to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the treatment of ISR by DEB from inception to April 2016. After two reviewers independently screened citations, extracted data and assessed the bias risk of included studies, we carried out meta-analysis and TSA analysis by using RevMan 5.3 version and TSA v0.9 respectively. ResultsA total of 10 RCTs involving 1909 patients were included. Seven-hundred and forty-seven patients were included with regard to the comparison between DEB and POBA, 1162 patients were recruited to compare DEB and drug-eluting stents (DES). The results of meta-analysis revealed that DEB was associated with decreased mortality (OR=0.36, 95%CI 0.14 to 0.93, P=0.04), compared with that of plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA). And TSA showed that cumulative Z-curve strode the conventional threshold value but not the TSA threshold value which suggested a false positive result of meta-analysis. In comparison with that of POBA, DEB had a lower incidence of target lesion revascularization (TLR) (OR=0.16, 95%CI 0.07 to 0.38, P＜0.01). And the result of TSA displayed that the cumulative Z-curve strode both the conventional and TSA threshold value which validated the result of meta-analysis. Besides, the results of meta-analysis showed that there were no significant differences in mortality (OR=0.84, 95%CI 0.41 to 1.72, P=0.63) and TLR (OR=1.55, 95%CI 0.76 to 3.16, P=0.22) between DEB and DES. However, the result of TSA revealed that the cumulative Z-curve did not strode both the conventional and TSA threshold value, and the included sample size less was than required information size which suggested that the reliability of the meta-analysis needed more studies to confirm. While the subgroup analysis of EES revealed that DEB had a higher incidence of TLR than that of DEB (OR=3.37, 95%CI 1.59 to 7.15, P＜0.01). And the result of TSA displayed that the cumulative Z-curve strode both the conventional and TSA threshold value which validated the result of meta-analysis. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows, EES is superior to DEB in decreasing the incidence of TLR in patients with ISR, while DEB is superior to POBA. However, the comparison of DEB and other strategies on reducing of mortality in patients with ISR still needed more studies to prove.