Alterations in skin properties during rapid and slow tissue expansion for breast reconstruction.

This study comprises 23 women who had had mastectomies because of breast cancer. They were randomly divided into two groups when they were admitted for breast reconstruction by tissue expansion. The first group was expanded rapidly, i.e., every day, and the other group was expanded slowly, i.e., every week. There were no other differences in the treatment between the two groups. Three months after completion of expansion, the expander was replaced by a permanent prosthesis. The follow-up time was up to 6 months after the second operation. Three different parameters--distensibility, elasticity, and hysteresis--were measured noninvasively on the breast skin and at a control site on several occasions throughout the treatment. During the treatment period there were no differences in skin properties between rapidly and slowly expanded patients. Of the three parameters, distensibility showed the most prominent changes: decreasing during the expansion period, increasing after the expander had been replaced by a permanent prosthesis, and decreasing during the following 6 months. Elasticity did not change significantly, except decreasing after insertion of the permanent prosthesis, and the hysteresis increased at the same time. These findings indicate that tissue expansion alters breast skin only to a small extent and that the mechanical resistance sometimes encountered during tissue expansion is due to deeper structures such as underlying muscles or capsule formation.     

Synthesis of lens capsule and plasma membrane glycoproteins by lens epithelial cells and fibers in the rat

The lens of the eye possesses a capsule which is a greatly hypertrophied basement membrane. To investigate the synthesis of glycoproteins destined for this capsule, 3H-fucose was injected into the vitreous body of intact rats weighing approximately 200 gm. The animals were killed from 10 min to 14.5 months later, and their lenses were processed for electron microscope radioautography. At 10 min after injection, more than 58% of the silver grains were localized to the Golgi apparatus of the lens epithelial cells. By day 1, the heaviest sites of reaction were the plasma membrane (more than 50% of total label), the basal cytoplasm, and the adjacent lens capsule, where a heavy band of reaction was seen. The remainder of the capsule exhibited a lighter diffuse reaction. In the lens fibers, the label was at first localized to clusters of vesicles but then migrated to the plasma membrane and to the region of the capsule adjacent to the basal surface of these fibers. Light microscope radioautographs of the lens capsule at later time intervals revealed that by 1 month after injection the diffuse reaction had disappeared, and only the strongly labeled band remained. By 14.5 months after injection, this band had migrated partially across the lens capsule, but the capsule itself had increased considerably in thickness. On the other hand, the distance between the labeled band and the free edge of the capsule had decreased from that seen at the time of injection.     

Thiazolidinedione response in familial lipodystrophy patients with LMNA mutations: a case series

Type 2 familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD2) patients show impaired glucose and lipid metabolism resulting from lipodystrophic 'lipid pressure' and an intrinsic defect in skeletal muscle metabolism. Since mutated lamin A may interfere with peroxisome proliferator activator gamma (PPARγ) expression, we hypothesized that PPARγ stimulation improves fat distribution and metabolic abnormalities in these patients. 5 nondiabetic FPLD2 patients were treated with rosiglitazone over 12 months. We assessed body composition, body fat distribution, and skinfold thickness/subcutaneous tissue thickness. We also determined venous glucose, insulin, and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations, and respiratory quotient (RQ) before and during oral glucose tolerance testing. Adipose tissue and muscle fasting and postprandial metabolism were studied by microdialysis. Within 12 months treatment, hip circumference increased from 93.6±2.78 cm to 96.2±2.3 cm (p<0.05). Rosiglitazone reduced fasting glucose levels and liver transaminases. Baseline and postprandial FFA concentrations were significantly lower after 12 months treatment. RQ and muscle interstitial pyruvate and lactate did not respond to treatment. We conclude that PPARγ stimulation with rosiglitazone modestly improves glucose metabolism in FPLD2 patients presumably through proximal adipose tissue expansion. The intrinsic muscular metabolic defect does not respond to rosiglitazone.     

Tanshinon IIA Injection Accelerates Tissue Expansion by Reducing the Formation of the Fibrous Capsule

The tissue expansion technique has been applied to obtain new skin tissue to repair large defects in clinical practice. The implantation of tissue expander could initiate a host response to foreign body (FBR), which leads to fibrotic encapsulation around the expander and prolongs the period of tissue expansion. Tanshinon IIA (Tan IIA) has been shown to have anti-inflammation and immunoregulation effect. The rat tissue expansion model was used in this study to observe whether Tan IIA injection systematically could inhibit the FBR to reduce fibrous capsule formation and accelerate the process of tissue expansion. Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into the Tan IIA group and control group with 24 rats in each group. The expansion was conducted twice a week to maintain a capsule pressure of 60 mmHg. The expansion volume and expanded area were measured. The expanded tissue in the two groups was harvested, and histological staining was performed; proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were examined. The expansion volume and the expanded area in the Tan IIA group were greater than that of the control group. The thickness of the fibrous capsule in the Tan IIA group was reduced with no influence on the normal skin regeneration. Decreased infiltration of macrophages, lower level of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β, less proliferating myofibroblasts and enhanced neovascularization were observed in the Tan IIA group. Our findings indicated that the Tan IIA injection reduced the formation of the fibrous capsule and accelerated the process of tissue expansion by inhibiting the FBR.     

Chemically assisted capsulectomy in the rabbit model: a new approach

Capsular contracture remains the most common adverse sequela of aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery when breast implants are used. Capsulectomy may be technically difficult and can result in damage to the neighboring tissues. The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of sodium 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (mesna) as a facilitator of periprosthetic dissection when instilled locally at the time of capsulectomy. Two 40-cc textured saline implants were placed dorsally into each of 20 rabbits. After 5 months, capsulectomy was performed after the removal of the implants. Mesna was used to highlight the junction between scar and normal tissue and to help separate the tissues during the capsulectomy in one of the two capsules in each rabbit. Saline was used for the same purpose in the other. The blood loss, duration of operation, and difficulty of dissection as experienced by the surgeon were recorded during the course of the operation. The capsules were also examined histologically for their thickness and graded according to their degree of intactness at the conclusion of the procedure. The histological grading based on the intactness of the removed capsule (p = 0.005), the operating time (p = 0.003), and the subjective evaluation of the difficulty of the procedure (p = 0.003) were significantly better in the mesna group. There was no significant difference in the blood loss between the two groups. Because of its ability as a chemical dissector, mesna may be a useful aid in capsulectomy. Clinical studies to confirm this evidence are required.     

Dacron fabric-enveloped hydroxyapatite prosthesis for sternal tumor defect: an autopsy report

A 38-year-old housewife with solitary plasmacytoma of the manubrium who underwent a subtotal sternectomy treated by resection of the lesion is reported. This was followed by replacement with a Dacron fabric-enveloped hydroxyapatite prosthesis. The Dacron fabric was sutured to the surrounding tissues, and then the clavicle was passed through the cylindrical-shaped Dacron fabric to form a sternoclavicular joint capsule. The patient returned to her daily life 3 months after the operation. She had no trouble in her daily living, without any dislocation of the sternoclavicular joints or any displacement of the artificial sternum. The autopsy examination about 1 year after the operation showed that the Dacron fabric enveloping the artificial sternum became stronger with time. The sternoclavicular joint also was stably fixed, and the Dacron fabric fulfilled its function as an artificial articular capsule and biologic fixation of the surrounding supporting tissues.     

Kidney complications in EMC virus-induced diabetes in conventional DBA/2 male mice

Conventional DBA/2 male mice of about 9 weeks of age were inoculated by intraperitoneally injecting EMC virus M variant (10(4) TCID50/0.1 ml/animal) which is passaged in mice. The mice which tested positive for glycosuria and hyperglycemia were examined histopathologically 2 or 5 months after inoculation. The kidneys were examined for thickening of Bowman's capsule and the mesangial matrix. These changes were more clearly observable 5 months after inoculation than they were 2 months after inoculation.     

Epithelial Thickness and Labelling Index in Young and Old Mice1

The Labelling Index (L.I.), thickness and number of cell layers in the stratum corneum of various epithelia of groups of eight-week-old and two-year-old mice were compared. Arbitrarily selected subgroups of 5 animals were injected with 1μ Ci/gm body weight of ³H-TdR at 6 hourly intervals. Two hours after injection, specimens of skin from ear and footpad and of mucosa from tongue and palate were removed and either prepared for autoradiography or frozen for cryotomy and histological assessment. Most tissues showed a significant diurnal variation in L.I. In the older animals the L.I. was lower in all tissues except the palate (no change) and ear epidermis (higher). The thickness of the epithelium of the old animals was less in the palate but greater in the ear and footpad. The number of cell layers of the stratum corneum, when visualized by alkaline expansion, was unchanged in the footpad but significantly increased in the ears of the old mice.     

MMP-2、MMP-9及P53的表达在肝移植后肿瘤复发与转移预测中的价值研究

目的：探讨MMP-2、MMP-9及P53的表达在预测肝癌行肝移植后肿瘤复发与转移中的价值。方法：选择肝癌行全肝移植患者85例,应用免疫组化方法检测其切除的肝癌组织中MMP-2、MMP-9及P53的表达,并对患者进行移植术后随访,观察术后肝癌复发与转移情况。分析MMP-2、MMP-9及P53的表达与移植后肝癌复发与转移之间的关系和意义。结果：肝癌组织中MMP-2、MMP-9及P53阳性表达率均明显高于癌旁组织（P〈0.01）。MMP-2表达与肝癌肿瘤直径、TNM分期、病理分级及门静脉癌栓显著相关性（P〈0.05）,MMP-9表达与肝癌肿瘤直径、TNM分期、门静脉癌栓及肿瘤包膜显著相关性（P〈0.05）,P53表达与肝癌肿瘤直径、门静脉癌栓及肿瘤包膜显著相关性（P〈0.05）。MMP-2、MMP-9在未复发和转移组中的表达明显低于复发和转移组（P〈0.05）,而P53在两组间的表达差异无显著性（P〉0.05）。肝癌组织中MMP-2、MMP-9高阳性表达均是预测肝癌患者肝移植后肿瘤复发和转移的独立预见因子,而P53未显示其具有预测意义。结论：MMP-2、MMP-9及P53在肝癌组织中呈高表达,MMP-2、MMP-9的表达水平可以有效预测肝癌患者肝移植后肿瘤复发和转移。     

Systemic treatments with the low-calcemic 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) analogs JKF or QW increase both the morphological and biochemical responses to estradiol-17beta in rat tibiae

We demonstrated previously that daily injection for 3 days of the less calcemic vitamin D analogs: JK 1624 F(2)-2 (JKF) and QW 1624F(2)-2 (QW) followed by estradiol-17beta (E(2)) in female rats upregulated creatine kinase-specific activity (CK) in skeletal tissues. In this study, we evaluated both histomorphological and biochemical changes due to a regime of 4 days treatment with JKF or QW, followed by injection of E(2) on day 5, repeated for 2.5 months. Ovariectomized female rats (Ovx) were injected 2 weeks after surgery, with JKF or QW at 0.2 ng/g BW followed by injections of E(2) (1 microg/rat) on day 5 of each week for 2.5 months. Rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last injection and bones were analyzed. JKF alone decreased growth plate width, increased % total bone volume (%TBV), with no change in cortical thickness. In contrast, QW restored growth plate width and %TBV with no change in cortical thickness. Combined with E(2), JKF restored %TBV and growth plate width but with no change in cortical thickness, while QW restored significantly all parameters including cortical thickness. Moreover, there was also an increase in the responsiveness of CK to E(2) in epiphyseal cartilage and diaphyseal bone but not in uterus. Thus, vitamin D less calcemic analogs increased responsiveness to E(2) morphologically as well as biochemically. We, therefore, conclude that combined treatment of less calcemic analogs vitamin D and E(2) might be superior for treatment of bone damage caused by ovariectomy in female rats and might be applied for post-menopausal osteoporosis.     

Influence of Molecular Sizes of Cryptococcus neoformans Capsular Polysaccharide on Phagocytosis

The role of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) of Cryptococcus neoformans in phagocytosis by murine alveolar macrophages was investigated in four strains of C. neoformans serotype A, YC-11, YC-5, YC-27 and YC-13. Phagocytosis rates increased markedly after adding 10% mouse serum, compared to fetal calf serum. The reverse relation between capsular thickness of C. neoformans and phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages was observed except in YC-27, which had thin capsules and high virulence. The phagocytosis rate in mice serum was 17.3% in YC-11 (capsule thickness 2.8-3.5 μm), 39.8% in YC-5 (capsule size 0.8-1.5 μm), 20.3% in YC-27 (capsule size 0.6-1.1 μm), and 62.8% in YC-13 (capsule not detected microscopically). The CPS of YC-11, YC-5, and YC-27 analyzed by gel-filtration using CL-2B showed high molecular fractions near the void volume. However, the CPS of YC-13 showed only low molecular fractions. The widely eluted CPS of YC-11 was separated into 3 fractions and each fraction was added in the phagocytosis assay of YC-13. Phagocytosis was markedly suppressed particularly by the addition of a higher molecular fraction. These results suggest that phagocytosis of C. neoformans by alveolar macrophages is influenced by the molecular sizes of the CPS.     

培菲康联合乳杆菌治疗老年细菌性阴道病

目的 观察口服培菲康联合阴道用乳杆菌治疗老年细菌性阴道病的疗效。方法 选取2016年1月至2017年8月我院就诊的114例老年细菌性阴道病患者,随机分为联合治疗组、乳杆菌组和对照组各38例,联合治疗组给予口服培菲康联合阴道用乳杆菌活菌胶囊,乳杆菌组给予阴道用乳杆菌活菌胶囊,对照组给予阴道用甲硝唑栓。观察三组患者治疗效果、复发情况以及阴道pH的变化。结果 联合治疗组和乳杆菌组的治疗总有效率均明显高于对照组(χ2=4.290 3、4.069 9,均P<0.05),联合治疗组治疗有效的患者3、6个月内复发率均明显低于对照组(χ2=5.526 0、6.983 7,均P<0.05),联合治疗组治疗有效的患者6个月内复发率明显低于乳杆菌组(χ2=5.499 4,P<0.05),治疗6个月后联合治疗组阴道pH值明显低于乳杆菌组和对照组(t=3.736 1、4.353 8,均P<0.05)。结论 口服培菲康联合阴道用乳杆菌治疗老年细菌性阴道病,不仅能提高近期疗效,对于长期预防也有明显的效果。     

坤泰胶囊联合米非司酮治疗围绝经期功能失调性子宫出血的疗效及对bFGF、VEGF水平的影响

摘要 目的：分析坤泰胶囊联合米非司酮治疗围绝经期功能失调性子宫出血（DUB）的疗效及对碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）、血管内皮细胞生长因子（VEGF）水平的影响。方法：选取2021年10月-2022年10月在合肥市第一人民医院滨湖院区妇科门诊就医的88例围绝经期DUB患者作为研究对象,采用随机数据表法将其分为研究组和对照组,每组各44例,两组患者入组后均给予常规对症治疗,对照组患者在此基础上给予口服米非司酮胶囊,用量为每日1次,每次10 mg。研究组患者在对照组疗法的基础上给予口服坤泰胶囊,用量为每日3次,每次2 g。两组患者均连续服用3个月。对两组患者的疗效指标及治疗前和治疗3个月时的子宫内膜厚度、血清卵泡刺激素（FSH）、黄体生成素（LH）、泌乳素（PRL）、雌二醇（E₂）、bFGF、VEGF水平进行比较。对两组患者治疗期间的不良反应进行比较。结果：研究组患者的疗效等级分布优于对照组,有效率高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组患者治疗前的子宫内膜厚度及血清性激素、bFGF、VEGF水平的差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）,在治疗3个月末,两组患者的子宫内膜厚度及血清FSH、LH、PRL、E₂水平均较治疗前降低,血清bFGF、VEGF水平均较治疗前升高（P<0.05）,研究组患者在治疗3个月末的子宫内膜厚度及血清FSH、LH、PRL、E₂水平均低于对照组,血清bFGF、VEGF水平均高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应均为轻度,在未经治疗的情况下患者可耐受,未见因不良反应而中断治疗的患者。两组各项不良反应发生率和不良反应总发生率的差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论：在围绝经期DUB的治疗中,采用坤泰胶囊联合米非司酮的中西医治疗方案,在临床疗效优于单用米非司酮方案,能够更加显著地改善血清激素水平、抑制子宫内膜增生、提升bFGF、VEGF等血管生成因子的表达水平。     

Characterizing molecular diffusion in the lens capsule

The lens capsule compartmentalizes the cells of the avascular lens from other ocular tissues. Small molecules required for lens cell metabolism, such as glucose, salts, and waste products, freely pass through the capsule. However, the lens capsule is selectively permeable to proteins such as growth hormones and substrate carriers which are required for proper lens growth and development. We used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to characterize the diffusional behavior of various sized dextrans (3, 10, 40, 150, and 250 kDa) and proteins endogenous to the lens environment (EGF, γD-crystallin, BSA, transferrin, ceruloplasmin, and IgG) within the capsules of whole living lenses. We found that proteins had dramatically different diffusion and partition coefficients as well as capsule matrix binding affinities than similar sized dextrans, but they had comparable permeabilities. We also found ionic interactions between proteins and the capsule matrix significantly influence permeability and binding affinity, while hydrophobic interactions had less of an effect. The removal of a single anionic residue from the surface of a protein, γD-crystallin [E107A], significantly altered its permeability and matrix binding affinity in the capsule. Our data indicated that permeabilities and binding affinities in the lens capsule varied between individual proteins and cannot be predicted by isoelectric points or molecular size alone.     

左炔诺孕酮宫内节育系统联合桂枝茯苓胶囊对子宫腺肌症患者性激素、血脂及血清hs-CRP、VEGF水平的影响

摘要 目的：探讨左炔诺孕酮宫内节育系统联合桂枝茯苓胶囊对子宫腺肌症患者超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、性激素、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）以及血脂的影响。方法：选取2016年4月~2019年8月期间我院接收的90例子宫腺肌症患者,按照随机数字表法分为对照组（45例,左炔诺孕酮宫内节育系统治疗）和研究组（45例,对照组的基础上联合桂枝茯苓胶囊治疗）,比较两组患者疗效、性激素、血脂、血清hs-CRP、VEGF水平、子宫内膜厚度、痛经视觉模拟评分法（VAS）评分以及不良反应。结果：治疗6个月后研究组临床总有效率较对照组高（P<0.05）。两组治疗6个月后卵泡刺激素（FSH）、hs-CRP、黄体生成素（LH）、VEGF水平以及子宫内膜厚度、痛经VAS评分均较治疗前下降,且研究组较对照组低（P<0.05）;雌二醇（E2）水平较治疗前升高,且研究组较对照组高（P<0.05）。两组治疗6个月后总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）水平对比未见统计学差异（P>0.05）。两组不良反应发生率对比无差异（P>0.05）。结论：左炔诺孕酮宫内节育系统联合桂枝茯苓胶囊治疗子宫腺肌症安全有效,可改善机体性激素、血清hs-CRP、VEGF水平及子宫内膜厚度,减轻痛经症状,且对机体血脂情况影响轻微。     

Experimental study of tissue response to ruptured gel-filled mammary prostheses.

Miniature "soft gel" filled breast prostheses were implanted into rats, and half of these were purposefully ruptured upon insertion. At sacrifice of the animals later, the position of the exuded gel, the variability of the capsule thickness, and the extent of the capsule formation were evaluated. The capsule thickness was significantly increased around the ruptured prostheses, in response to the exuded gel. Also, the gel migrated through the fibrous capsule and into the surrounding tissue, eliciting an inflammatory response there to produce capsule thickening.     

Taenia taeniaeformis: inhibition of metacestode development in the rat by gossypol

The effect of gossypol, a polyphenolic compound, on developing Taenia taeniaeformis larvae in the rat liver was examined. Five groups of rats were used. In group 1, subcutaneous injection of gossypol at 10 mg/kg was started 5 days prior to administration of tapeworm eggs. In group 2, gossypol injections were started 5 days after administration of eggs. Groups 3 and 4 were infected and noninfected rats, respectively, which received the vehicle (10% ethyl alcohol in 0.85% NaCl) only. Group 5 rats were noninfected but received gossypol. From each group, 5 rats were killed on days 7, 12, and 22 of infection, respectively. The number and size of larvae and the size of the livers were much less in rats gossypol injected 5 days before infection than those in the vehicle-treated group. Administration of gossypol 5 days after infection resulted in less inhibition. The size and the thickness of the fibrous capsule around larvae of the gossypol-treated rats were much smaller than those of the control-infected group. The actively developing larvae excrete or secrete a sulfated glycosaminoglycan which is specifically stained with alcian blue. There was much more alcian blue-positive substance around the larvae and the capsule of the control-infected liver compared to the gossypol-treated infected animal. The percentage body weight of the spleen was significantly greater in the gossypol-treated rats in both infected and noninfected groups. These results suggest that gossypol may directly inhibit tapeworm larval development or that elimination of the tapeworm may be resulted from gossypol-induced stimulation of host cell-mediated immunity.     

大黄蛰虫胶囊联合维生素C钠治疗黄褐斑的疗效及对血清和血液流变学的影响

目的:研究大黄蛰虫胶囊联合维生素C钠治疗黄褐斑的临床疗效及对血清和血液流变学的影响。方法:选取2012年8月到2013年8月我院收治的黄褐斑患者140例,按照随机数字表法平均分成研究组和对照组,每组70例,研究组给予大黄蛰虫胶囊联合维生素C钠治疗,对照组给予大黄蛰虫胶囊治疗,两组均治疗1个月。3个月后比较两组临床疗效,并检测两组患者的血清睾酮(T)、雌二醇(E2)、孕酮(P)、过氧化脂质分解产物丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)以及血液流变学水平的变化。结果:研究组总有效率85.7%(60/70)显著高于对照组的57.1%(40/70),两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与治疗前和对照组相比,治疗后研究组SOD、E2显著升高,MDA、T显著降低,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组P水平均无明显变化;治疗后研究组血液流变学各指标较治疗前和对照组显著下降,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论:大黄蛰虫胶囊联合维生素C钠治疗黄褐斑具有较好的临床疗效,可以调节患者的性激素水平,改善患者的血流变学。     

Gemmules of sponges from a warm lake

1. Two types of gemmules were found, each in a different species of sponge, from the warm monomictic Lake Kinneret: (i) clustered gemmules, sharing the pneumatic layer of the gemmular capsule and resembling gemmules of Eunapius ; (ii) gemmules that develop non-synchronously, containing amphidisc spicules within the gemmular capsule and resembling those of Ephydatia . Algal cells were not detected within either type of gemmule although they exist in the developed sponges.
2. Sponges began producing gemmules in the lake with the onset of lake drawdown and ceased when lake level was minimal. The gemmules hatched when the lake level began to rise.
3. Under experimental conditions gemmules hatched between 13 and 35 °C. Germination was optimal at 20–25 °C. Chilling of young gemmules prior to incubation at 25 °C improved germination rate.
4. The percentage of germinating dry gemmules diminished 4–6 months after their collection from the lake. None germinated after 10 months. Submerged gemmules maintained high viability with ageing (up to 100% germination 18 months after collection). Desiccation influenced gemmule viability over time, by both decreasing the percentage of germinating gemmules and increasing the lag time before onset of germination.
5. Gemmules kept in the dark germinated significantly less than those illuminated for 12 h day