Polystyrene substratum for bulk culture of anchorage dependent cells

Twisted ribbons made of polystyrene were used as a packing material for the cultivation of anchorage dependent cells. Normal human fibroblast cells grown on this support in a laboratory scale reactor reached densities of about 5–7×10⁵ cells/ml. The cells adhered strongly to the carrier and no cell detachment was observed upon transfer to serum free medium. The properties of this packing material and its potential use are discussed.     

Micrometric segregation of fluorescent membrane lipids: relevance for endogenous lipids and biogenesis in erythrocytes

Micrometric membrane lipid segregation is controversial. We addressed this issue in attached erythrocytes and found that fluorescent boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) analogs of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) [glucosylceramide (BODIPY-GlcCer) and monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1BODIPY)], sphingomyelin (BODIPY-SM), and phosphatidylcholine (BODIPY-PC inserted into the plasma membrane spontaneously gathered into distinct submicrometric domains. GM1BODIPY domains colocalized with endogenous GM1 labeled by cholera toxin. All BODIPY-lipid domains disappeared upon erythrocyte stretching, indicating control by membrane tension. Minor cholesterol depletion suppressed BODIPY-SM and BODIPY-PC but preserved BODIPY-GlcCer domains. Each type of domain exchanged constituents but assumed fixed positions, suggesting self-clustering and anchorage to spectrin. Domains showed differential association with 4.1R versus ankyrin complexes upon antibody patching. BODIPY-lipid domains also responded differentially to uncoupling at 4.1R complexes [protein kinase C (PKC) activation] and ankyrin complexes (in spherocytosis, a membrane fragility disease). These data point to micrometric compartmentation of polar BODIPY-lipids modulated by membrane tension, cholesterol, and differential association to the two nonredundant membrane:spectrin anchorage complexes. Micrometric compartmentation might play a role in erythrocyte membrane deformability and fragility.     

食管癌患者术前营养风险评估及与术后吻合口瘘和住院时间的关系研究

摘要 目的：评估食管癌患者术前营养风险及其影响因素,并分析其与术后吻合口瘘和住院时间的关系。方法：回顾性分析2017年1月至2020年12月在合肥市第二人民医院胸外科行手术治疗的105例食管癌患者的临床资料,患者术前均完善营养风险筛查表-2002（NRS-2002）对其营养风险的评估,根据评估结果分为营养风险组（≥3分,43例）和无营养风险组（＜3分,62例）,采用单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析食管癌患者术前营养风险的影响因素,比较不同术前营养风险状态患者术后吻合口瘘发生率以及住院时间的差异。结果：食管癌患者的术前营养风险较高,营养风险发生率为40.95%（43/105）。单因素分析结果显示,营养风险组年龄≥65岁、入院体质量指数＜18.5 kg/m²、术前接受过新辅助放化疗、过去1周膳食摄入不足、术前白蛋白＜35 g/L的患者比例高于无营养风险组（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,术前接受过新辅助放化疗、过去1周膳食摄入不足、术前白蛋白＜35 g/L是食管癌患者术前存在营养风险的危险因素（P＜0.05）。营养风险组术后胸腔吻合口瘘、颈部吻合口瘘发生率高于无营养风险组（P＜0.05）,住院时间长于无营养风险组（P＜0.05）。结论：术前新辅助放化疗、过去1周膳食摄入情况、术前白蛋白水平是食管癌患者术前营养风险的影响因素,术前营养风险会增加患者术后吻合口瘘发生风险,延长患者住院时间。     

Root anchorage of inner and edge trees in stands of Maritime pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis> Ait.) growing in different podzolic soil conditions

Static winching tests were carried out in order to determine the mechanical resistance of Maritime pine to overturning. The tested stands were selected according to podzolic soil conditions: wet Lande, characterised by a shallow ground water table and a hard pan horizon, and dry Lande, with a deeper ground water table and a hard pan absent or broken up. As this soil horizon limits the vertical growth of tree roots, anchorage resistance was investigated with regards to the presence or absence of a hard pan underneath each tree. To determine if mechanical behaviour differed within a stand, trees from inside the stand and edge trees at the border exposed to prevailing winds were also tested. The critical turning moment (TM_crit,total) at the base of the stem was positively related to the variable (H × DBH²) (H, total tree height; DBH, tree diameter). Linear regression analyses between TM_crit,total and (H × DBH²) showed that the presence of a hard pan had no significant effect on anchorage resistance in uprooted trees. Stem failure occurred for 82% of trees on dry Lande when (H × DBH²) < 1 m³. Moreover, stem failure type on dry Lande indicated that trees were better anchored. On soil with a hard pan, edge trees were found to be 20% more resistant to overturning than inner trees. Edge trees differed from inner trees in that the soil-root plate was two times larger and also possessed a larger surface area on the windward side.     

Electrochemistry of cytochrome c immobilized on cardiolipin-modified electrodes: A probe for protein–lipid interactions

Electrochemistry of cytochrome c (cyt c) immobilized on a cardiolipin (CL)/phosphatidylcholine (PC) film supported on a glassy carbon electrode was investigated using variable-frequency AC voltammetry. At low ionic strength, we observed two redox-active subpopulations characterized by distinct values of potential (E_1/2) and electron transfer rate constant (k_ET). At high ionic strength, only one subpopulation was detected, consistent with the existence of very stable cyt c–CL adducts, most probably formed by hydrophobic interactions between the protein and the fatty acid (FA) chains carried by CL. This subpopulation exhibits a comparatively high k_ET value (> 300 s^− 1) apparently changing with the structure of the FA chains of CL, i.e. 18:2(n − 6) or 14:0. Our study suggests that electrochemistry can be a useful technique for probing protein–lipid interactions, and more particularly the role played by the specific structure of the FA chains of CL on cyt c binding.     

Perfusion culture apparatus for suspended mammalian cells

A variety of processes have been proposed for mammalian cell culture in the commercial production of useful substances (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic and diagnostics proteins). Among them, the perfusion culture of suspended non-immobilized cells is the most advantageous. Perfusion culture can be classified by the separation process of suspended cells from the culture mixture into three types, namely filtration, gravitational settling and centrifugation. From a commercial point of view, the present situation and technical problems of suspended-cell perfusion culture will be reviewed based on the three types, The recent development of perfusion culture has been carried out mainly on the filtration separation process, but the centrifugation process seems to have a promising future because of operation stability and scale-up feasibility. The reasons will be explained in details.     

带线锚钉修复三角韧带损伤的效果及对患者踝关节功能的影响

目的:研究带线锚钉修复三角韧带损伤在踝关节骨折内固定治疗中的作用及对踝关节功能的影响。方法:回顾性分析2012年9月至2016年8月本院收治的72例裸关节骨折并三角韧带损伤患者并且行切开复位钢板置入内固定,及采取带线锚钉内固定方式修复三角韧带损伤视为观察组;另选取同期在本院进行踝关节骨折内固定治疗但不修复三角韧带的72例患者视为对照组。分析患者治疗前、治疗后1个月、3个月、6个月踝关节功能恢复情况,观察患侧内踝间隙和不良反应。结果:观察组在治疗后1个月、3个月、6个月的AOFAS评分显著高于对照组(P0.05)。观察组在治疗后6个月后的患侧内踝间隙显著小于对照组(P0.05)。结论:带线锚钉修复三角韧带损伤在踝关节骨折内固定治疗中,可明显降低患侧内踝间隙距离,可促进患者踝关节功能恢复,无严重不良反应,值得进一步广泛推广使用。     

The development of symmetry,rigidity and anchorage in the structural root system of conifers

The stability of shallowly rooted trees can be strongly influenced by the symmetry of the ‘structural’ system of woody roots. Root systems of forest trees are often markedly asymmetric, and many of the factors affecting symmetry, including root initiation and the growth of primary and woody roots, are poorly understood. The internal and environmental factors that control the development, with respect to symmetry and rigidity, of shallow structural root systems are reviewed and discussed with particular reference to Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Bong. Carr.). Areas where there is insufficient knowledge are highlighted. A scheme is proposed that represents the root system as a set of spokes that are variable in number, size and radial distribution. Rigidity can vary between and along each of the spokes. The root system is presented as a zone of competition for assimilates, where allocation to individual roots depends upon their position and local variations in conditions. Factors considered include the production of root primordia of different sizes, effects of soil conditions such as the supply of mineral nutrients and water on growth of primary and woody roots, and the effect of forces caused by wind action on growth of the cambium, giving rise to roots which, in cross section, resemble I- or T-beams, and efficiently resist bending. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

NA22598, a Novel Antitumor Compound, Reduces Cyclin D1 Levels, Arrests Cell Cycle at G1 Phase, and Inhibits Anchorage-Independent Growth of Human Tumor Cells

NA22598, a novel antitumor compound isolated from a microbial cultured broth, inhibited the growth of human colon cancer DLD-1 cells in suspension cultures (anchorage-independent growth) severalfold more strongly than in substratum-attached monolayer cultures. It arrested the cell cycle progression at early G1 phase under both these culture conditions. Rb phosphorylation, cyclin D1 expression, and cdk2 activation in G1 progression were all inhibited by NA22598, but the amounts of cdk2 and p27 were not affected. Among these effects the inhibition of cyclin D1 expression was most prominent, and NA22598 was found to inhibit the synthesis of cyclin D1 without affecting mRNA expression or protein degradation. p27 binding to cdk2 was more markedly increased in suspension cultures than in attached cultures by NA22598, but the compound had no effect on total p27. Apparently, the decrease of cyclin D1 induced redistribution of p27 from the cyclin D1/cdk4 to the cyclin E/cdk2 complexes during G1 phase in the suspension cultures. Because p27 is upregulated during suspension culture, a greater amount of it was associated with cyclin E/cdk2, thus producing greater growth inhibition. An agent, like NA22598, which induces the downregulation of cyclin D1 might offer a new anticancer strategy.     

Numerical Analysis of An Anastomotic Device

The explicit dynamic finite element method was utilized to investigate the deformation behaviour of a woven wire mesh tubular device that is used in a side-to-side anastomotic procedure for achieving gastrointestinal anastomosis. The numerical model was initially verified by comparison to experimental results that were obtained using a specialized testing mechanism. Once validated, the finite element model (FEM) was parameterized to ascertain the influence of several device parameters on its deformation behaviour. The importance of these parameters, as related to its optimal design for use in minimally invasive surgery (MIS), was subsequently ascertained and discussed.