Adipokines regulate mesenchymal stem cell osteogenic differentiation

Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)can differentiate into various tissue cell types including bone,adipose,cartilage,and muscle.Among those,osteogenic differentiation of MSCs has been widely explored in many bone tissue engineering studies.Moreover,the conditions and methods of inducing osteogenic differentiation of MSCs are continuously advancing.Recently,with the gra-dual recognition of adipokines,the research on their involvement in different pathophysiological processes of the body is also deepening including lipid metabolism,inflammation,immune regulation,energy disorders,and bone homeostasis.At the same time,the role of adipokines in the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs has been gradually described more completely.Therefore,this paper reviewed the evidence of the role of adipokines in the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs,emphasizing bone formation and bone regeneration.

Surgical Treatment of Double Outlet Right Ventricle Complicated by Pulmonary Hypertension

Background： Double outlet right ventricle （DORV） is a group of complex congenital heart abnormalities. Preoperative pulmonary hypertension （PH） is considered an important risk factor for early death during the surgical treatment of DORV. The aim of this study was to report our experience on surgical treatment of DORV complicated by PH. Methods： From June 2004 to November 2016, 61 patients （36 males and 25 females） aged 2 weeks to 26 years （median： 0.67 years and interquartile range： 0.42-1.67 years） with DORV （two great arteries overriding at least 50%） complicated by PH underwent surgical treatment in our center. All patients were categorized according to surgical age and lesion type, respectively. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure （PASP）, pulmonary artery diastolic pressure （PADP）, and mean pulmonary artery pressure （mPAP） were measured directly before cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB） was established and after CPB was removed. An intracardiac channel procedure was performed in 37 patients, arterial switch procedure in 19 patients, Rastelli procedure in three patient, Senning procedure in one patients, and Mustard procedure in one patient. The Student＇s t-test and Chi-squared test were performed to evaluate clinical outcomes of the surgical timing and operation choice. Results： Fifty-five patients had uneventful recovery. PASP fell from 55.3 ± 11.2 mmHg to 34.7±11.6 mmHg （t = 14.05, P 〈 0.001）, PADP fell from 29.7 ± 12.5 mmHgto 18.6± 7.9 mmHg （t = 7.39,P〈 0.001）, and mPAP fell from 40.3 ± 10.6 mmHgto25.7 ± 8.3 mmHg （t= 11.85, P 〈 0.001）. Six （9.8%） patients died owing to complications including low cardiac output syndrome in two patients, respiratory failure in two, pulmonary hemorrhage in one, and sudden death in one patient. Pulmonary artery pressure （PAP） dropped significantly in infant and child patients. Mortality of both infants （13.9%） and adults （33.3%） was high. Conclusions： PAP of patients with DORV complicated by PH can be expected to fall significantly after surgery. An arterial switch procedure can achieve excellent results in patients with transposition of the great arteries type. Higher incidence of complications may occur in patients with ventricular septal defect （VSD） type before 1 year of age. For those with remote VSD type, VSD enlargement and right ventricle outflow tract reconstruction are usually required with acceptable results. The degree of aortic overriding does not influence surgical outcome.

MicroRNA-375 Suppresses the Tumor Aggressive Phenotypes of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinomas through Regulating YWHAZ

Background： MicroRNAs （miRNAs） are key regulators during tumor initiation and progression. MicroRNA-375 （MiR-375） has been proven to play a tumor-suppressive role in various types of human malignancies; however, its biological role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma （ccRCC） remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the biologic role as well as the underlying mechanism of miR-375 in ccRCC progression. Methods： Quantitative polymerase chain reaction （qPCR） was applied to test the expression of miR-375 in tissues and cell lines by t-test. Functional experiments were used to investigate the biological role of miR-375 utilizing a gain-of-function strategy. The target of miR-375 was investigated by bioinformatic analysis and further verified by luciferase reporter assay, qPCR, Western blotting, and functional experiments in vitro. Results： Our study demonstrated that miR-375 was significantly downregulated in ccRCC tissues （cancer vs. normal, 0.804 ±0.079 vs. 1.784 ± 0.200, t = 5.531 P 〈 0.0001 ） and cell lines, and loss ofmiR-375 expression significantly associated with advanced Fuhrman nuclear grades （Grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ vs. Grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ, 1.000 ± 0.099 vs. 1.731 ± 0.189, t = 3.262 P = 0.003）. Functional studies demonstrated that miR-375 suppressed ccRCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion （all P 〈 0.05 in both 786-0 and A498 cell lines）. Multiple miRNA target prediction algorithms indicated the well-studied oncogene YWHAZ as a direct target ofmiR-375, which was further confirmed by the luciferase reporter assay, qPCR, and Western blotting. Moreover, restoration of YWHAZ could rescue the antiproliferation effect ofmi R-375. Conclusions： The data provide the solid evidence that miR-375 plays a tumor-suppressive role in ccRCC progression, partially through regulating YWHAZ. This study expands the antitumor profile ofmiR-375, and supports its role as a potential therapeutic target in ccRCC treatment.

Surgical Treatment of Complete Transposition of the Great Arteries in Newborn

INTRODUCTION Complete transposition of the great arteries （TGAs）is a common cyanotic congenital heart defect,with an incidence rate of 0.02%,accounting for 5-7% of congenital heart diseases.[1] After birth,infants with TGA largely rely on ventricular septal defect （VSD）,atrial septal defect （ASD）,and patent ductus arteriosus （PDA）to sustain life.Without systemic-pulmonary shunt and surgical correction,these infants will probably die on the day after birth.

Numerical analysis on zone-divided deep excavation in soft clays using a new small strain elasto–plastic constitutive model

Accurate prediction of displacements associated with deep excavations is essential to ensure safety and stability of the excavation and to prevent any damage and distress to the adjoining infrastructures.This paper presents a numerical approach for prediction of ground displacements related to a zone-divided deep excavation construction executed in Shanghai soft clays based on a new elasto–plastic con-stitutive model(small-strain Shanghai model)that incorporates small strain stiffness.This model can describe the mechanical properties and structural and over-consolidated characteristics of natural clays.The model is implemented into a finite element analysis software.Numerical analysis on the deep excavation in Shanghai using zone-divided method is conducted.A comparison between monitored and simulated results of horizontal displacements along the diaphragm wall,the settlements in the surroundings,and the effects on the adjoin-ing metro tunnel due to excavation construction is carried out.Special attention is paid to the stiffness degradation of representative elements in the ground.The simulated displacements show a good agreement with the monitored data.Overall,this study provides an integrated solution for predicting displacements related to deep excavation in soft clays.

Surgical Treatment of Large Left Ventricular Fibroma in Children

Primary cardiac tumors are rare in children,with the prevalence of 0.0017-0.28% in autopsy series.[1] Benign tumors account for over 90% of the total.Cardiac fibromas （CFs） represent the second most common benign cardiac tumor in the pediatric population following rhabdomyomas.Patients can be asymptomatic or present with palpitations,cardiac murmur,arrhythmias,congestive heart failure,and even sudden death according to the size and location of the tumor.Surgical resection should be considered as the best option in symptomatic patients.[2,3] This study reported four surgical cases of large left ventricular fibroma in children.