Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, non-coding RNA are reversible, heritable alterations which are induced by environmental stimuli. Major risk factors of diabetes and diabetic complications including hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products, can lead to abnormal epigenetic modifications in retinal vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelium cells. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema and neovascularization of diabetic retinopathy (DR), as well as diabetic metabolic memory. The heritable nature of epigenetic marks also playsakey role in familial diabetes mellitus. Further elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms in DR can open the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets to prevent DR progression.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical result of repairing degloving injury of hand with abdominal bipedicled subdermal vascular-network flap in emergence. METHODS: From 1994 to 1997, 19 cases with degloving injury of hand were treated with two flaps, one flaps with the inferior epigastric artery as pedicle, another with superficial epigastric artery. The two skin flaps were designed oppositely to cover the injured hands. RESULTS: All the flaps survived. Followed up for 1 to 3 years, the contour of hands were fine. Extension of fingers was normal and opponers of thumbs was good. Range of flexion of metacarpo-phalangeal joints was from 45 to 60 degrees, and the proximal interphalangeal joints was from 10 to 25 degrees. CONCLUSION: For the subdermal vascular network, the bipedicled flaps of abdomen in repair of degloving injury of hand have sufficient blood supply, b resistance to infection, high survival rate, and good contour.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the heart anatomic and histological structure of the Banna mini-pig inbred-lined and to provide the morphological data for heart xenotransplantation and breeding transgens pig. METHODS: Ten Banna mini-pigs (12-18 months old) were affused and fixed by common coratid artery. The heart were observed and measured by gross anatomy and histology. RESULTS: There were many similarities between the Banna pig heart and the human heart in anatomy and histology. However, the following differences were observed in the Banna pig heart: 1. Azygos vein directly drew into right atrium cordis. 2. The intercalated disk of cardiac muscle was less than that of human. 3. The Purkinje’s fibre was bigger than that of human. CONCLUSION: On the morphology and histology, the structure of Banna pig heart is similar to the heart of human being. It is possible that Banna minipig heart becomes organ donors for xenotransplantation.
OBJECTIVE: To isolate and characterize mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow of Banna minipig inbred line (BMI). METHODS: BMI-MSCs was isolated from bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation and cultured in DMEM (containing 15% bovine serum) at 37 degrees C with humidified 5% CO2. These cultured stem cells were characterized in clonal growth, expression of specific markers and capability of differentiation. RESULTS: Mesenchymal stem cells were proliferative and could be expanded rapidly in vitro. Clonal growth of these cells can be observed when small amount of cells was inoculated. These cells were SH2, SH3, SH4, SB10 and SB21 positive. And it was proved that these cells possess osteo-differentiation ability, up-regulated alkaline phosphatase expression and calcium secretion after osteosupplement was added into the media for several days. CONCLUSION: Mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow of BMI possess the general characters of stem cell.
ObjectiveTo observe confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO) based retinal imaging and color fundus camera in pigment epithelial detachment (PED) of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).MethodsPED of 30 patients (32 eyes) were recruited from June 2016 to June 2017 in the Beijing Tongren Hospital who were detected in high-definition OCT (HD-OCT) and diagnosed as PCV by FFA and ICGA. There were 16 males (17 eyes) and 14 females (15 eyes); aged from 50-83 years, with the mean age of 66.59 years. The photographs of ocular fundus including color fundus camera, cSLO imaging, HD-OCT, FFA and ICGA were analyzed. Multimodal imaging results were regarded as gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated in serous and hemorrhagic PED diagnosis using color fundus camera and cSLO imaging. The positive number of PED was used to compare between two modes fundus imaging by using χ2 test.ResultsTwenty serous PED eyes, 3 hemorrhagic PED eyes and 9 serous/hemorrhagic PED eyes were determined using multimodal imaging. The sensitivity and specificity of color fundus camera were 45% and 100% in detecting serous PED and 100% and 91% in detecting hemorrhagic PED. The sensitivity and specificity of cSLO imaging were 83% and 100% in detecting serous PED and 50% and 86% in detecting hemorrhagic PED. The positive number of serous PED in cSLO imaging was significantly higher than color fundus camera (χ2=7.752, P=0.011). The positive number of hemorrhagic PED in cSLO imaging shows no obvious difference compared with color fundus camera (χ2=1.164, P=0.419).ConclusionThe sensitivity and positive number of detecting serous PED with PCV in cSLO fundus imaging were higher than the color fundus camera technology.
Objective To evaluate a new alternative method for thereconstruction of vagina with deep inferior epigastric perforator(DIEP) flap. Methods From January 2004 to May 2005, DIEP flaps were used for vaginal reconstruction in 5 patients(19 to 40 years), including 4 cases of congenital vaginal agenesis and 1 case of vaginal tumor. Before operation, the perforators were detected by theDoppler and the flaps based on the perforators ranged from 10 cm×9 cm to 12 cm×11 cm. DIEP flaps were elevated and then transferred to reconstruct the vagina. Results Deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps were used in 5 patients. Only 1 patient developed haematoma in the posterior aspect of thereconstructed vagina, but the flap was viable. The wounds healed secondarily after conservative therapy. All the flaps survived completely. No complication occurred at donor site of abdominal wall. Conclusion Despite technical difficulties in elevatingthe deep inferior epigastric perforator flap, the flap is a good choice for vaginal reconstruction.
ObjectiveTo observe the expressions of miR-183 and retinal dehydrogenase 11 (RDH11) in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC), and to preliminarily explore their targeting relationship and their effects on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. MethodsBMSC from C57BL/6 (C57) mice were isolated and cultured, and BMSC-derived exosomes were identified. BMSC were divided into blank group, simulation blank control group (mimic-NC group), miR-183 simulation group (miR-183-mimic group). C57 mice and retinal degeneration 10 (rd10) mouse RPE cells were cultured with reference to literature methods. RPE cells from rd10 mice were transfected with BMSC exosomes and co-cultured and divided into control group, exosome group, mimic-NC-exosome group (mimic-NC-exo group), miR-183-mimic-exosome group (miR-183-mimic-exo group). The relative expression levels of miR-183, RDH11 mRNA and protein in C57 mice, rd10 mice and RPE cells in each group were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The targeting relationship between miR-183 and RDH11 was analyzed by bioinformatics website and dual luciferase reporter. Cell counting kit 8 was used to detect the effect of miR-183 on BMSC exosomes on RPE cell proliferation; in situ labeling end labeling method was used to detect RPE cells apoptosis. One-way ANOVA was used to compare multiple groups. ResultsCompared with C57 mouse RPE cells, the relative expression of miR-183 in rd10 mouse RPE cells was down-regulated, and the relative expression of RDH11 mRNA was up-regulated, and the differences were statistically significant (t=5.230, 8.548; P=0.006, 0.001). Compared with the blank group and the mimic-NC group, the relative expression of miR-183 mRNA in the exosomes of the miR-183-mimics group was significantly increased (F=60.130, P＜0.05). After 24 h of co-culture, exosomes entered RPE cells. Compared with the mimic-NC-exo group, the relative expression of miR-183 mRNA in RPE cells in the miR-183-mimic-exo group was significantly increased, the proliferation ability was enhanced (t=7.311, P=0.002), and the number of apoptotic cells was decreased (F=10.949, P=0.012), and the differences were statistically significant (t=4.571, P=0.002). Bioinformatics website and dual-luciferase report confirmed that miR-183 has a targeting relationship with RDH11. Compared with the mimic-NC group, the relative expression of RDH11 mRNA and protein in the exosomes of the miR-183-mimic group was decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (t=5.361, 6.591; P=0.006, 0.003). After co-culture, compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in the relative expression of RDH11 mRNA and protein in RPE cells in the exosome group (t=0.169, 1.134; P=0.874, 0.320); The relative expressions of RDH11 mRNA and protein in RPE cells in -183-mimic-exo group were decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (t=5.554, 5.546; P=0.005, 0.005). ConclusionUp-regulation of BMSC-derived exosomal miR-183 promote the proliferation of RPE cells in vitro by targeting the expression of RDH11 and reduce the number of apoptosis.
Cilia are hair-like protuberance on cells of the human body that play a vital role in organs generation and maintenance. Abnormalities of ciliary structure and function affect almost every system of the body, such as the brain, eyes, liver, kidney, bone, reproductive system and so on. Retinal photoreceptor cells are one of sensory neurons which convert light stimuli into neurological responses. This process, called phototransduction, takes place in the outer segments (OS) of rod and cone photoreceptors. OS are specialized sensory cilia, and disruptions in cilia genes, which are causative in a growing number of non-syndromic retinal dystrophies, such as retinitis pigmentosa, Leber’s congenital amaurosis. These syndromes are genetically heterogeneous, involving mutations in a large number of genes. They show considerable clinical and genetic overlap. At present, there are few researches on retinal ciliopathies and clinical treatment strategy. This review shows a comprehensive overview of ciliary dysfunction and visual development related diseases, which contributes to understand the characteristics of these diseases and take early intervention in clinic.
ObjectiveTo explore the construction of heart preservation model of empty beating donor based on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). MethodsFrom January 2022 to August 2023, 20 Guangxi Bama miniature pigs weighing 25-30 kg were selected, half male and half female. Under general anesthesia and heparinization, a midline thoracotomy was performed. The pericardium was cut after freeing the anterior and posterior vena cavae, and a perfusion needle was inserted near the brachiocephalic artery in the ascending aorta, connected to a blood collection bag to collect 500-600 mL of blood. The anterior and posterior vena cavae were ligated, the aorta was blocked and perfused with HTK solution to stop the heart beating. The superior and inferior vena cavae were cut off, the right pulmonary vein was decompressed, the aorta and left and right pulmonary arteries and veins were cut off, and the whole heart was removed. An ECMO device was used to continuously perfuse a cardioprotective solution mainly composed of oxygenated warm blood, maintaining the isolated pig heart beating for 8 hours, monitoring (once/hour) ECMO perfusion parameters, blood gas indicators, perfusate electrolytes, detecting inflammatory factors, myocardial enzymes, myoglobin, and troponin levels. Myocardial tissue was taken for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to observe myocardial cell damage and evaluate the quality of heart preservation. ResultsAmong the 20 isolated beating preservation pig hearts, 17 successfully resumed beating, 3 experienced ventricular fibrillation, resuscitated after intracardiac electrical defibrillation, and all 20 pig hearts successfully beat for 8 hours. There was no statistical difference in ECMO perfusion parameters, blood gas indicators, perfusate electrolytes, and inflammatory factors at each time point (P>0.05). There were statistical increases in myocardial enzymes, myoglobin, and troponin levels (P<0.05). HE staining results suggested that there was no severe myocardial damage. ConclusionECMO technology can be used for pig heart preservation with good results, and this study provides experimental evidence for improving heart preservation research in clinical heart transplantation.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the general situation of the native pig breeds and the relative present study conditions for better development of xenotransplantation in China. METHODS By comparing the profits between the pigs and the non-human primates as the potential donors for xenotransplantation and emphasizing the source of the pigs as the organ donors from the transplantation studies, we analyzed the possible values of the native pig breeds as the donors. RESULTS As one of the richest resources in the world, the species variation and relative genetic stability of Chinese native pig breeds could be the very valuable resources for xenotransplantation study and utilization. As a reverse, the xenotransplantation could provide opportunity for more economically and environmentally utilization of the pigs besides as the meat supply. CONCLUSION As a very valuable and potential resource of organ donor, the native pig breeds of China might be noticed by the xenotransplantation colleagues in the world. It is necessary, to keep the balance among the risk vs. benefit and the protection vs. utilization of this valuable resource.