THROMBIN IMMOBILIZATION TO METHACRYLIC ACID GRAFTED POLY(3-HYDROXYBUTYRATE) AND ITS IN VITRO APPLICATION

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) is nontoxic and biodegradable, with good biocompatibility and potential support for long-term implants. For this reason, it is a good support for enzyme immobilization. Enzyme immobilization could not be done directly because poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) has no functional groups. Therefore, modification should be done for enzyme immobilization. In this study, methacrylic acid was graft polymerized to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and thrombin was immobilized to polymethacrylic acid grafted poly(3-hydroxybutyrate). In fact, graft polymerization of methacrylic acid to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and thrombin immobilization was a model study. Biomolecule immobilized poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) could be used as an implant. Thrombin was selected as a biomolecule for this model study and it was immobilized to methacrylic acid grafted poly(3-hydroxybutyrate). Then the developed product was used to stop bleeding.     

Fine structure of the urnulae of Balaustium mites (Actinotrichida: Erythraeidae) representing peculiar defense organs

The urnulae, until now the enigmatic paired dorsal protrusions on idiosoma dorsum in active postlarval forms of Balaustium mites, were studied using electron microscopy. They consist of walls made of unmodified integument, which form a cylinder covered by a roof of thin cuticle. At the posterior border of the urnula, the roof has a crescent slit. On its inner surface, a rather large muscle inserts with several tendons. The roof forms a flap under which the modified columnar epidermal cells containing numerous lipid inclusions are located. These lipids are probably secreted through pore canals of the overlying cuticle. Materials mainly originating from an extensive vesicular tissue situated underneath the columnar cells of the urnula and under the adjacent unmodified epidermis are extruded through the mentioned slit. Our results support previous studies that have suggested a function of the urnulae as defensive organs. Our study further suggests that the agent that provides the repellent effect comes mainly from the vesicular tissue, whereas the columnar cells with their lipid secretions are likely to restore the external secretion layer of the epicuticle after its destruction during the repellent release. Further structural and functional details are discussed and compared with other putative defensive secretory organs.     

Mesenchymal stem cells isolated from human uterine cervix cancer tissues

In the present study, MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) were successfully isolated and identified from hUCC (human uterine cervix cancer) tissues. The morphological appearance, immunophenotype, growth curve, cell cycle, cytogenetic features and differentiation potential of these cells were investigated. Results showed that cells isolated from the uterine cervix cancer tissues displayed fibroblast‐like morphology and grew into colonies. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry revealed that the isolated cells were positive for CD13, CD29, CD44, CD105 and HLA‐I, while negative for CD10, CD14, CD31, CD34, CD38 and HLA‐DR. The cells kept a normal karyotype by chromosome analysis. At the third passage, the percentages of cells in G₀‐/G₁‐, 2‐/M‐ and S‐phase were 84.94, 8.36 and 6.71%, respectively. Under appropriate induction conditions, these cells can differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic cells and hepatocytes. Taken together, MSCs were confirmed to exist in hUCC tissues, which may provide a new target for clinical cancer therapy.     

B超引导下子宫内膜消融术治疗更年期功血51例临床分析

目的：探讨在B超引导下子宫内膜消融术治疗更年期功血的效果。方法：扩张宫颈至6．5号,吸宫,在B超监视下由子宫右前壁始向外刮凝,依次顺时针方向刮凝宫腔2周。结果：治愈31例（60．8％）,有效19例（37．3％）,好转1例（1．9％）,无效0例。结论：电凝刀子宫内膜消融术与其他更年期功血治疗方法相比,消融的范围及深度由B超监视,安全性高,创伤小,不开刀,恢复快,并且治愈率高,更容易在临床上推广。     

常州地区妇女HPV 感染状况调查

目的:研究常州地区普通妇女人群中HPV感染状况,为宫颈癌的预防及治疗提供理论依据。方法:采用PCR与基因芯片技术,对常州地区参加妇科体检的744名妇女进行HPV分型检查,并对不同分型感染情况进行统计学分析。结果:744名妇女中共检出HPV阳性者157例,感染率为21.10%。在高危型HPV感染妇女中,共计83.64%的妇女感染了以下六种亚型,依次是16型46例,58型28例,33型24例,18型18例,31型11例以及52型11例。结论:鉴于高危型HPV与宫颈癌发生的密切关系,对普通妇女人群展开HPV检测具有预防与治疗意义。     

Intestinal microbiota and secretory immunoglobulin A in feces of exclusively breast-fed infants with blood-streaked stools

Episodes of blood‐streaked stools are not uncommon in exclusively breast‐fed infants under 6 months of age. Such bleeding is thought to be associated with food protein‐induced proctocolitis, however the pathomechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate intestinal microbiota and secretory immunoglobulin A in the feces of exclusively breast‐fed infants with blood‐streaked stools. Fecal specimens from 15 full‐term infants with blood‐streaked stools and 15 breast‐fed healthy infants were studied and the results compared. All infants had been delivered vaginally and exclusively breast‐fed. The fecal microbiota were investigated by phylogenetic analysis combined with culture methods for some bacterial species, and feces were assessed for the presence of fecal secretory immunoglobulin A by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Phylogenetic cluster analysis revealed four major clusters of fecal bacteria, cluster A being found only in healthy infants. The Bacteroides fragilis group was observed more frequently in controls than in patients (P < 0.05). In the controls, the predominant species belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae group was Escherichia coli, whereas in the patients it was Klebsiella (P < 0.05). Concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A were high in one third of the healthy controls. In conclusion, the pathomechanism of rectal bleeding in exclusively breast‐fed infants may be related to differences in the composition of their intestinal flora.     

Characterization of the tissue‐level Ca2+ signals in spontaneously contracting human myometrium

In the labouring uterus, millions of myocytes forming the complex geometrical structure of myometrium contract in synchrony to increase intrauterine pressure, dilate the cervix and eventually expel the foetus through the birth canal. The mechanisms underlying the precise coordination of contractions in human myometrium are not completely understood. In the present study, we have characterized the spatio‐temporal properties of tissue‐level [Ca²⁺]_i transients in thin slices of intact human myometrium. We found that the waveform of [Ca²⁺]_i transients and isotonic contractions recorded from thin slices was similar to the waveform of isometric contractions recorded from the larger strips in traditional organ bath experiments, suggesting that the spatio‐temporal information obtained from thin slices is representative of the whole tissue. By comparing the time course of [Ca²⁺]_i transients in individual cells to that recorded from the bundles of myocytes we found that the majority of myocytes produce rapidly propagating long‐lasting [Ca²⁺]_i transients accompanied by contractions. We also found a small number of cells showing desynchronized [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations that did not trigger contractions. The [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations in these cells were insensitive to nifedipine, but readily inhibited by the T‐type Ca²⁺ channel inhibitor NNC55‐0396. In conclusion, our data suggest that the spread of [Ca²⁺]_i signals in human myometrium is achieved via propagation of long‐lasting action potentials. The propagation was fast when action potentials propagated along bundles of myocytes and slower when propagating between the bundles of uterine myocytes.     

Rho‐kinase mediates diphosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain in cultured uterine,but not vascular smooth muscle cells

Phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) triggers contraction in smooth muscle myocytes. Dephosphorylation of phosphorylated RLC (pRLC) is mediated by myosin RLC phosphatase (MLCP), which is negatively regulated by rho‐associated kinase (ROK). We have compared basal and stimulated concentrations of pRLC in myocytes from human coronary artery (hVM), which has a tonic contractile pattern to myocytes from human uterus (hUM), which has a phasic contractile pattern. Our studies reveal fundamental differences between hVM and hUM regarding the mechanisms regulating phosphorylation RLC. Whereas hVM responded to stimulation by phosphorylation of RLC at S19, hUM responded by forming diphosphorylated RLC (at T18 and S19; ppRLC), which, compared to pRLC, causes two to threefold greater activation of myosin ATPase that provides energy to power the contraction. Importantly, the conversion of pRLC to ppRLC is mediated by ROK. In hUM, MLCP has high activity for ppRLC and this is inhibited by ROK through phosphorylation of the substrate targeting subunit (MYPT1) at T853. Inhibitors of ROK significantly reduce contractility in both hVM and hUM. We demonstrated that inhibition of ppRLC in phasic myocytes (hUM) is 100‐fold more sensitive to ROK inhibitors than is pRLC in tonic myocytes (hVM). We speculate that these differences in phosphorylation of RLC might reflect evolution of different contractile patterns to perform distinct physiological functions. Furthermore, our data suggest that low concentrations of ROK inhibitors might inhibit uterine contractions with minimal effects on vascular tone, thus posing a novel strategy for prevention or treatment of conditions such as preterm birth.     

超声引导经阴道射频消融治疗症状性子宫肌瘤的临床价值

目的:探讨超声引导经阴道射频消融治疗症状性子宫肌瘤的安全性和有效性。方法:选择39例症状性子宫肌瘤患者进行经阴道射频消融治疗。术前超声测量肌瘤体积,采用子宫肌瘤症状和生存质量调查表对患者的子宫肌瘤相关症状的严重程度以及生活质量情况进行评分,观察治疗前和治疗后3、6、9、12个月肌瘤体积缩小率、临床症状及生活质量的改善情况和治疗前后卵巢功能的变化情况。结果:射频消融平均手术时间25分钟,术中及术后均未见明显并发症。本组术前肌瘤体积为65.2±49.3 cm~3;术后3、6、9、12个月肌瘤体积分别为32.2±27.6 cm~3、21.2±18.2 cm~3、15.3±12.1 cm~3、10.3±9.8 cm~3,与术前相比均显著缩小(P0.05)。术前SSS评分为60.23±13.2,术后3、6、9、12个月SSS评分分别为42.2±11.4、21.1±10.2、15.4±10.3、12.2±9.7,与治疗前相比均明显下降(P0.05)。术前QOL评分为58.24±16.24,术后3、6、9、12个月QOL评分分别为70.3±20.3、81.4±8.6、86.3±7.6、88.2±9.1,与治疗前相比逐渐上升,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。手术后3、6、9、12个月后患者的FSH、LH、E2水平与术前相比,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:超声引导下经阴道射频治疗子宫肌瘤可以有效缩小肌瘤体积,改善患者的临床症状,并提高患者的生活质量。