Bruch’s-Mimetic Nanofibrous Membranes Functionalized with the Integrin-Binding Peptides as a Promising Approach for Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Transplantation

Background: This study aimed to develop an ultrathin nanofibrous membrane able to, firstly, mimic the natural fibrous architecture of human Bruch’s membrane (BM) and, secondly, promote survival of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells after surface functionalization of fibrous membranes. Methods: Integrin-binding peptides (IBPs) that specifically interact with appropriate adhesion receptors on RPEs were immobilized on Bruch’s-mimetic membranes to promote coverage of RPEs. Surface morphologies, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, contact angle analysis, Alamar Blue assay, live/dead assay, immunofluorescence staining, and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the outcome. Results: Results showed that coated membranes maintained the original morphology of nanofibers. After coating with IBPs, the water contact angle of the membrane surfaces varied from 92.38 ± 0.67 degrees to 20.16 ± 0.81 degrees. RPE cells seeded on IBP-coated membranes showed the highest viability at all time points (Day 1, p < 0.05; Day 3, p < 0.01; Days 7 and 14, p < 0.001). The proliferation rate of RPE cells on uncoated poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) membranes was significantly lower than that of IBP-coated membranes (p < 0.001). SEM images showed a well-organized hexa/polygonal monolayer of RPE cells on IBP-coated membranes. RPE cells proliferated rapidly, contacted, and became confluent. RPE cells formed a tight adhesion with nanofibers under high-magnification SEM. Our findings confirmed that the IBP-coated PCL membrane improved the attachment, proliferation, and viability of RPE cells. In addition, in this study, we used serum-free culture for RPE cells and short IBPs without immunogenicity to prevent graft rejection and immunogenicity during transplantation. Conclusions: These results indicated that the biomimic BM-IBP-RPE nanofibrous graft might be a new, practicable approach to increase the success rate of RPE cell transplantation.     

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller as a source of bioactivity compounds for health and nutrition

Plants with beneficial properties are known in traditional medicine. Nowadays, in spite of widespread availability of synthetic compounds, the search goes towards natural compounds to lower cost and few side effects. The increasing interest in preventive medicine encourages use of nutraceuticals, bioactive compounds of vegetable origin with important nutritional values. Among the medicinal plants, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller (Family Cactaceae, subfamily Opuntiodeae, Genus Opuntia, subgenus Platyopuntia, species Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller) is widely known for its beneficial properties. The aim of the present review is to stress the major classes of Opuntia components and their medical interest through emphasis on some of their biological effects, particularly those having the most promising expected health benefits and therapeutic impacts on fish and mammals.     

The potential use of mesenchymal stem cells in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

In the last 10 years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a therapeutic approach to regenerative medicine, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and many more due to their potential to differentiate into various tissues, to repair damaged tissues and organs, and also for their immunomodulatory properties. Findings in vitro and in vivo have demonstrated immune regulatory function of MSCs and have facilitated their application in clinical trials, such as those of autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases. There has been an increasing interest in the role of MSCs in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), including hematopoietic stem cell engraftment and the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and their therapeutic potential has been reported in numerous clinical trials. Although the safety of clinical application of MSCs is established, further modifications to improve their efficacy are required. In this review, we summarize advances in the potential use of MSCs in HSCT. In addition, we discuss their use in clinical trials of the treatment of GVHD following HSCT, the immunomodulatory capacity of MSCs, and their regenerative and therapeutic potential in the field of HSCT.     

恩替卡韦治疗失代偿期肝硬化疗效观察

目的观察恩替卡韦治疗失替偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化的疗效。方法对2006年3月至2007年6月18例来我院就诊乙型肝炎肝硬化失代偿期患者给予口服恩替卡韦治疗剂量0．5mg／次，1次／d，基本疗程1年。观察HBV-DNA定量，肝纤维化指标（HA、LN、POⅢ、Ⅳ—C），肝功能指标（ALT、AST、TBIL）变化情况。结果所有患者临床症状明显改善，肝功能指标、HBV—DNA定量、肝纤四项指标改善有非常显著差异（P〈0．01）。结论恩替卡韦治疗乙型肝炎失代偿期肝硬化可有效抑制病毒复制，改善肝功能，阻止肝纤维化进展，防止病情恶化。     

Chromatographic determination of some biomarkers of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients

Metabolomics has been shown to be an effective tool for disease diagnosis, biomarker screening and characterization of biological pathways. A total of 140 subjects were included in this study; urine metabolomes of patients with liver cirrhosis (LC, n = 40), patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; n = 55) and healthy male subjects (n = 45) as a control group were studied. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry‐based urine metabolomics profiles were investigated for all participants. Diagnostic models were constructed with a combination of marker metabolites, using principal components analysis and receiver operator characteristic curves. A total of 57 peaks could be auto‐identified of which 13 marker metabolites (glycine, serine, threonine, proline, urea, phosphate, pyrimidine, arabinose, xylitol, hippuric acid, citric acid, xylonic acid and glycerol) were responsible for the separation of HCC group from healthy subjects. Also, eight markers metabolites (glycine, serine, threonine, proline, citric acid, urea, xylitol and arabinose) showed significant differences between the LC group and healthy subjects. No significant difference was detected between HCC and LC groups regarding all these metabolites. Metabolomic profile using GC–MS established an optimized diagnostic model to discriminate between HCC patients and healthy subjects; also it could be useful for diagnosis of LC patients. However, it failed to differentiate between HCC and LC patients.     

病例教学法在肝胆外科学教学中的应用

病例教学法作为一种非常有效的教学方法传入我国已有多年,现已应用于我国医学教学的各个领域.把握肝胆外科学的课程特点和教学方法,运用课堂教学和临床病例相结合的教学方法,充分凋动学生的学习积极性,增强学生临床思维能力及解决问题的能力,对于完成肝胆外科学教学任务,提高教学质量非常重要.     

Metabolic characterization of the early stage of hepatic fibrosis in rat using GC‐TOF/MS and multivariate data analyses

The aim of this study was to explore the changes in the urine metabolic spectrum in rats with the early stage of liver fibrosis using gas chromatography–time of flight/mass spectrometry (GC‐TOF/MS), try to search for potential biomarkers and elucidate the probably metabonomic pathogenesis. The early stage of liver fibrosis was established with a single subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride twice each week for 4 weeks continuously. At the end of the experiment, GC‐TOF/MS technology with multivariate statistical approaches such as principal component analysis, partial least squares‐discriminant analysis and orthogonal partial least squares‐discriminant analysis was used to analyze the changes in the metabolic spectrum trajectory and identify potential biomarkers. Twelve potential biomarkers in the model group, such as succinic acid, threonine and lactose, were selected, which indicate that the metabonomic pathogenesis of the early stage of liver fibrosis may be related to disorders of energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism.     

Flow dynamics analyses of pathophysiological liver lobules using porous media theory

Blood flow inside the liver plays a key role in hepatic functions, and abnormal hemodynamics are highly correlated with liver diseases. To date, the flow field in an elementary building block of the organ, the liver lobule, is difficult to determine experimentally in humans due to its complicated structure, with radially branched microvas-culature and the technical difficulties that derive from its geometric constraints. Here we established a set of 3D com-putational models for a liver lobule using porous media theory and analyzed its flow dynamics in normal, fibrotic, and cirrhotic lobules. Our simulations indicated that those approximations of ordinary flow in portal tracts (PTs) and the central vein, and of porous media flow in the sinusoidal network, were reasonable only for normal or fibrotic lobules. Models modified with high resistance in PTs and collateral vessels inside sinusoids were able to describe the flow fea-tures in cirrhotic lobules. Pressures, average velocities, and volume flow rates were profiled and the predictions compared well with experimental data. This study furthered our under-standing of the flow dynamics features of liver lobules and the differences among normal, fibrotic, and cirrhotic lobules.     

FK506在同种异体兔角膜缘移植中的应用

目的：研究FK506对同种异体兔角膜缘移植术后免疫排斥反应的抑制效应。方法：建立48只新西兰白兔角膜缘于干细胞缺陷症动物模型，随机分成FK506治疗组、环孢霉素A治疗组和非治疗组，同种异体角膜缘移植术后分别给予质量分类为0．5％FK506滴眼液、1％环孢霉素A滴眼液和生理盐水点眼，用药4周。术后持续观察10周，以角膜缘植片水种、混浊程度、排斥反应发生时间、角膜新生血管和假性胬肉作为眼表评估指标。结果：观察期内，FK506组上皮排斥反应发生率、移植排斥指数均低于环孢霉素A组，差异有显著性（P＜0．05）；而两组成新生血管和假性胬肉指数方面，无显著性差异（P＞0．05）。结论：同种异体角膜缘移植术后早期应用FK506眼液点眼可以抑制排斥反应发生。     

平阳霉素碘油乳剂治疗肝海绵状血管瘤28例报告

目的 :探讨平阳霉素碘油乳剂栓塞治疗肝海绵状血管瘤 (CHL)的疗效及安全性。方法 :全组 2 8例 39个肝海绵状血管瘤 ,瘤体直径 3 0～ 2 8 0cm ,平均为 (6 3± 4 5 )cm。超选择插管至肿瘤供血动脉 ,注入平阳霉素碘油乳剂。其中 4例术后 3个月再次行栓塞治疗。结果 :术后病灶内碘油沉积良好 ,无严重并发症 ;2 8例 39个病灶术后 3个月、6个月复查结果显示 :瘤体缩小 >5 0 %者 18例 (6 4 3% ) ,缩小 30 %～ 5 0 %者 10例 (35 7% )。结论 :平阳霉素碘油乳剂栓塞治疗CHL安全有效 ,可作为CHL的首选治疗方法