Decellularized porcine conjunctiva as an alternative substrate for tissue-engineered epithelialized conjunctiva

PurposeThe long-term success of visual rehabilitation in patients with severe conjunctival scarring is reliant on the reconstruction of the conjunctiva with a suitable substitute. The purpose of this study is the development and investigation of a re-epithelialized conjunctival substitute based on porcine decellularized conjunctiva (PDC).MethodsPDC was re-epithelialized either with pre-expanded human conjunctival epithelial cells (PDC + HCEC) or with a human conjunctival explant placed directly on PDC (PDC + HCEx). Histology and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate epithelial thickness, proliferation (Ki67), apoptosis (Caspase 3), goblet cells (MUC5AC), and progenitor cells (CK15, ΔNp63, ABCG2). The superior construct (PDC + HCEx) was transplanted into a conjunctival defect of a rabbit (n = 6). Lissamine green staining verified the epithelialization in vivo. Orbital tissue was exenterated on day 10 and processed for histological and immunohistochemical analysis to examine the engrafted PDC + HCEx. A human-specific antibody was used to detect the transplanted cells.ResultsFrom day-14 in vitro onward, a significantly thicker epithelium and greater number of cells expressing Ki67, CK15, ΔNp63, and ABCG2 were noted for PDC + HCEx versus PDC + HCEC. MUC5AC-positive cells were found only in PDC + HCEx. The PDC + HCEx-grafted rabbit conjunctivas were lissamine-negative during the evaluation period, indicating epithelial integrity. Engrafted PDC + HCEx showed preserved progenitor cell properties and an increased number of goblet cells comparable to those of native conjunctiva.ConclusionPlacing and culturing a human conjunctival explant directly on PDC (PDC + HCEx) enables the generation of a stable, stratified, goblet cell-rich construct that could provide a promising alternative conjunctival substitute for patients with extensive conjunctival stem and goblet cell loss.     

Reflection of neuroblastoma intratumor heterogeneity in the new OHC-NB1 disease model

Accurate modeling of intratumor heterogeneity presents a bottleneck against drug testing. Flexibility in a preclinical platform is also desirable to support assessment of different endpoints. We established the model system, OHC-NB1, from a bone marrow metastasis from a patient diagnosed with MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma and performed whole-exome sequencing on the source metastasis and the different models and passages during model development (monolayer cell line, 3D spheroid culture and subcutaneous xenograft tumors propagated in mice). OHC-NB1 harbors a MYCN amplification in double minutes, 1p deletion, 17q gain and diploid karyotype, which persisted in all models. A total of 80–540 single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) was detected in each sample, and comparisons between the source metastasis and models identified 34 of 80 somatic SNVs to be propagated in the models. Clonal reconstruction using the combined copy number and SNV data revealed marked clonal heterogeneity in the originating metastasis, with four clones being reflected in the model systems. The set of OHC-NB1 models represents 43% of somatic SNVs and 23% of the cellularity in the originating metastasis with varying clonal compositions, indicating that heterogeneity is partially preserved in our model system.     

缺血修饰性白蛋白在急性缺血性胸痛中的诊断价值

目的 评价缺血修饰性白蛋白（ischemia modified albumin，IMA）对急性缺血性胸痛（ICP）的早期诊断价值。方法 时206例发病〈12h、表现为急性胸痛的患者立即行12导联心电图（ECG）检查，并抽血进行IMA、肌钙蛋白I（cTnI）、肌酸激酶同工酶MB（CK-MB）测定。将ECG、IMA、cTnI、CK-MB的结果单独或结合与最终诊断为非缺血性胸痛（NICP）及ICP的相互关系进行比较。结果 最后诊断为ICP98例，NICP108例，ICP发病〈3h和3-6h组IMA水平明显升高，与NICP组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．001）；ICP发病〉6h组IMA水平与NICP组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。IMA诊断发病〈3hICP的敏感性和阴性预测值（NPV）为89．1％和88．8％，明显高于ECG、cTnI和CK-MB，四者结合为97．6％和96．9％；IMA诊断发病3～6hICP的敏感性和NPV为71．7％和74．5％，也高于ECG、cTnI、CK-MB，四者结合为95．5％和94．2％；但IMA对于发病〉6h的ICP则无诊断作用。结论 IMA是诊断ICP的早期敏感生化指标，对于发病〈6h（尤其是〈3h）的ICP诊断具有较高的敏感性和NPV，优于ECG、CK-MB、cTnI；将IMA与其他指标结合，可进一步提高对ICP的诊断价值。     

中央型肺癌术后螺旋CT检查价值探讨

目的探讨螺旋CT对于监测中央型肺癌术后局部复发及胸内淋巴结转移的价值。方法回顾性地对55例110人次中央型肺癌术后胸部增强螺旋CT资料进行分析。结果支气管残端或吻合口复发9例,12人次。胸内淋巴结26例33人次淋巴结短径≥1 cm,其中14例结合临床及CT诊断为淋巴结转移。结论对中央型肺癌术后复发的监测,螺旋CT是最好手段之一,但对肿大淋巴结性质的评价有一定局限性。