Neural differentiation of human Wharton＇s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells improves the recovery of neurological function after transplantation in ischemic stroke rats

Human Wharton＇s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells（h WJ-MSCs）have excellent proliferative ability,differentiation ability,low immunogenicity,and can be easily obtained.However,there are few studies on their application in the treatment of ischemic stroke,therefore their therapeutic effect requires further verification.In this study,h WJ-MSCs were transplanted into an ischemic stroke rat model via the tail vein 48 hours after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.After 4 weeks,neurological functions of the rats implanted with h WJ-MSCs were significantly recovered.Furthermore,many h WJ-MSCs homed to the ischemic frontal cortex whereby they differentiated into neuron-like cells at this region.These results confirm that h WJ-MSCs transplanted into the ischemic stroke rat can differentiate into neuron-like cells to improve rat neurological function and behavior.

Elastic modulus affects the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells

It remains poorly understood if carrier hardness, elastic modulus, and contact area affect neural stem cell growth and differentiation. Tensile tests show that the elastic moduli of Tiansu and SMI silicone membranes are lower than that of an ordinary dish, while the elastic modulus of SMI silicone membrane is lower than that of Tiansu silicone membrane. Neural stem cells from the cerebral cortex of embryonic day 16 Sprague-Dawley rats were seeded onto ordinary dishes as well as Tiansu silicone membrane and SMI silicone membrane. Light microscopy showed that neural stem cells on all three carriers show improved adherence. After 7 days of differentiation, neuron specific enolase, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and myelin basic protein expression was detected by immunofluorescence. Moreover, flow cytometry revealed a higher rate of neural stem cell differentiation into astrocytes on Tiansu and SMI silicone membranes than on the ordinary dish, which was also higher on the SMI than the Tiansu silicone membrane. These findings con- firm that all three cell carrier types have good biocompatibility, while SMI and Tiansu silicone membranes exhibit good mechanical homogenization. Thus, elastic modulus affects neural stem cell differentiation into various nerve cells. Within a certain range, a smaller elastic modulus re- sults in a more obvious trend of cell differentiation into astrocytes.

High-mobility group box 1 expression and lymph node metastasis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

AIM:To evaluate the prognostic value of high-mobility group box 1(HMGB1) expression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(IHCC) and the possible underlying mechanism.METHODS:Tissue microarray was constructed from 65 IHCC patients.Immunohistochemistry was performed to validate expression of HMGB1 and Vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGF-C).Realtime PCR and Western blot analyses were used to study transcript and protein levels.The interaction between HMGB1 and VEGF-C was evaluated by si RNA,real-time PCR,and enzyme-linked immuno assays.The correlation between HMGB1 expression and other clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed byχ2 test,and the univariate as well as multivariate analyses were accomplished by Kaplan-Meier method and Coxregression model,respectively.RESULTS:Overall,overexpression of HMGB1 was found in 38/65(58.8%)IHCCs,whereas VEGF-C overexpression was present in 30/65(46.2%)cases.Overexpression of HMGB1 was significantly correlated with lymphatic microvessel density(P=0.031,r=0.268)and VEGF-C expression(P=0.041,r=0.254).With univariate analysis,both HMGB1(P=0.001)and VEGF-C(P=0.004)were identified to be significantly associated with overall survival rate.Multivariateanalysis indicated that HMGB1 could be served as an unfavorable independent prognostic factor in IHCCs(P=0.005).si RNA knockdown of HMGB1 inhibited transforming growth factor-β-induced epithelialmesenchymal transition(EMT)by elevating E-Cadherin expression and reducing expression of N-Cadherin,Vimentin and Snail in RBE cells.Further in vitro study revealed that HMGB1 silencing significantly decreased the level of VEGF-C,whereas the recombinant HMGB1increased the VEGF-C level in RBE cells(both P<0.05),which suggested that HMGB1 could promote lymphatic microvessel density,and subsequently lymphatic invasion,via promoting VEGF-C expression.CONCLUSION:Our results define an important role of HMGB1 in the progression of cholangiocarcinoma,and HMGB1 may serve as a prognostic marker for IHCC patients.

Clinical significance of nerve growth factor and tropomyosin-receptor-kinase signaling pathway in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

AIM:To investigate the correlation between nerve growth factor-tropomyosin-receptor-kinase(NGF-TrkA)signaling pathway and prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(IHCC).METHODS:NGF and TrkA expression in 83 samples of IHCC was assessed by immunohistochemistry.Correlations between NGF-TrkA expression and clinicopathological features were analyzed byχ2 test.Moreover,we evaluated the association between NGF-TrkA and overall survival by univariate and multivariate analysis.With experiments in vitro,we investigated the crucial role of NGF-TrkA on proliferation and invasion of IHCC cells with recombinant NGF-βstimulation.RESULTS:We found that NGF and TrkA expression was significantly related with differentiation(P=0.024)and intraneural invasion(P=0.003),respectively.Additionally,double higher expression of NGF and TrkA was identified as an independent prognostic factor in IHCC(P=0.003).Moreover,we demonstrated that NGF-TrkA signaling pathway can promote IHCC proliferation and invasion.CONCLUSION:NGF-TrkA double higher expression is an independent prognostic factor in IHCC.NGF-TrkA pathway can promote IHCC progression,indicating that NGF-TrkA may become a potential drug target.

Pair distribution function analysis: Fundamentals and application to battery materials

Battery materials are of vital importance in powering a clean and sustainable society.Improving their performance relies on a clear and fundamental understanding of their properties,in particular,structural properties.Pair distribution function(PDF)analysis,which takes into account both Bragg scattering and diffuse scattering,can probe structures of both crystalline and amorphous phases in battery materials.This review first introduces the principle of PDF,followed by its application in battery materials.It shows that PDF is an effective tool in studying a series of key scientific topics in battery materials.They range from local ordering,nano-phase quantification,anion redox reaction,to lithium storage mechanism,and so on.

氮杂环单体的分子结构对共聚芳醚酮酮性能的影响

合成4,4’-二苯基-7,7’-双(2,2’,3,3’)二氮杂萘(1,1’)酮(7,7-DBD)与4,4’-二苯基-6,7’-双(2,2’,3,3’)二氮杂萘(1,1’)酮(6,7-DBD)2种杂环单体,探究2种单体和4-(4-羟基苯基)-2,3-二氮杂萘酮与1,4-二(4-氟苯甲酰基)苯的共聚行为,得到2种侧苯基位置不同的氮杂环聚芳醚酮酮P-CDs与P-TDs.两者的特性黏度介于0.5~1.1 dL/g,P-CDs的特性黏度更高,制备更容易.P-CDs的玻璃化转变温度介于254~296℃,250℃的储能模量保持率高达67%,均高于相同共聚组成的P-TDs.2种聚合物可溶于N-甲基吡咯烷酮与1,1,2,2-四氯乙烷等有机溶剂中;拉伸模量介于1.56~1.78 GPa,拉伸强度介于50.1~102.9 MPa,断裂伸长率介于11.0%~18.1%,绝缘性基本一致.P-CDs的耐热性、溶解性、机械性能均优于P-TDs.故调整主链上侧基分布方式可以明显改变聚合物的耐热性、机械性能、溶解性和可制备性,为制备耐热等级更高且可溶解的高性能聚合物提供参考.

Clinicopathological features and prognosis of membranoproliferative-like Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis in children

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to defi ne the clinical manifestations, pathological features and prognosis of children with membranoproliferative-like Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN), representing International Study of Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC) grade VI. Methods: Among 245 patients with HSPN treated in our hospital between 2008 and 2010, nine patients (3.7%) were diagnosed with HSPN of ISKDC grade VI (males=5, females=4, age: 9.5±2.03 years, mean±SD). The clinical features, laboratory and pathologicalfi ndings, treatment and outcome of the 9 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Of the 9 patients, 7 (78%) presented with hematuria and nephrotic syndrome, and were treated with steroids (oral prednisone or intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy) and immunosuppressants (oral tripterygium glycosides or intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy). One (11%) patient had hematuria and nephrotic range proteinuria (>50 mg/kg per 24 hours) and was treated with oral prednisone and tripterygium glycosides. Another (11%) patient presented with hematuria and moderate proteinuria (25-50 mg/kg per 24 hours) and was treated with oral tripterygium glycoside only. Histopathological examination showed diffuse glomerular mesangial and endocapillary proliferation, mesangial interposition, double-contour formation, podocyte hypertrophy, shedding, and cytoplasmic absorption droplets. The percentages of glomeruli with small cellular crescents varied from 4%-25% in 6 of 9 patients. Follow-up for 2 to 4 years showed excellent recovery in all patients. Conclusions: The main clinical feature of ISKDC grade VI HSPN in children is a nephrotic syndrome with hematuria. The excellent prognosis of the disease was probably related to early diagnosis and treatment with steroids and/or immunosuppressants, and mild degree of glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial damage.

A simple,universal and multifunctional template agent for personalized treatment of bone tumors

Bone tumors occur in bone or its accessory tissues.Benign bone tumors are easy to cure and have good prognosis,while malignant bone tumors develop rapidly and have poor and high mortality.So far,there is no satisfactory treatment method.Here,we designed a universal template vector for bone tumor therapy that simultaneously meets the needs of bone targeting,tumor killing,osteoclast suppression,and tumor imaging.The template is composed of a polydopamine(PDA)core and a multifunctional surface.PDA has excellent biosafety and photothermal performance.In this study,alendronate sodium(ALN)is grafted to enable its general bone targeting function.PDA core can carry a variety of chemotherapy drugs,and the rich ALN group can carry a variety of metal ions with an imaging function.Therefore,more personalized treatment plans can be designed for different bone tumor patients.In addition,the PDA core enables photothermal therapy and enhanced chemotherapy.Through template drug Doxorubicin(DOX)and template imaging ion Fe(II),we systematically verified the therapeutic effect,imaging effect,and inhibition of bone dissolution of the agent on Osteosarcoma(OS),a primary malignant bone tumor,in vivo.In conclusion,our work provides a more general template carrier for the clinical treatment of bone tumors,through which personalized treatment of bone tumors can be achieved.

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F is efficacious in the treatment of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis in children

Our retrospective study was aimed to define the clinical manifestations,pathological features and prognosis of children with grade VI HSPN,our results also showed that tripterygium glycosides(T glycosides)alone or combined with glucocorticoid had nephroprotective effects on grade VI HSPN in children.