A new method of primary engineering of esophagus using orthotopic in-body tissue architecture

PurposeTissue engineering of esophagus is required for management of long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA). Collagenous connective tissue membranes fabricated by in-body tissue architecture (iBTA), called biosheets, can repair esophageal defects and generate tissues similar to native esophagus. However, iBTA requires second-stage surgery because of heterotopic preparation of biosheets. Our aim was to develop orthotopic iBTA for primary engineering of the esophagus by interposing a tubular mold to the esophageal defect.MethodThe cervical esophagus of six rats was transected. An acrylic tube (internal diameter 2.6 mm, length 7.0 mm) was inserted and fixed between the ends of the upper and lower esophagus, and a 3 mm-long esophageal defect was created. Four weeks later, the rats were sacrificed for histological analysis.ResultsPostoperatively the rats could intake liquid food. After four weeks, the esophageal defects were filled with regenerated tissues. Histologically the new esophageal walls stained positive for collagen type I. The inner surfaces were covered with stratified squamous epithelium that expressed pan-cytokeratin. In only one of six rats, regeneration of muscular-like tissue was suggested by positive immunohistochemical staining for desmin.ConclusionOrthotopic iBTA can regenerate a substitute esophagus with esophageal epithelium and collagenous wall. This technique may be a novel treatment for esophageal atresia with gaps of various lengths including LGEA.     

Nutrient-induced thermogenesis (NIT) following amino acid infusion

Nutrient-induced thermogenesis (NIT) induced by parenteral infusion of amino acid (AA) mixtures of different composition and of the same AA mixtures given via different routes (parenteral or intraportal infusion) were investigated in rats using a small animal indirect calorimeter. When 8 different AA solutions of differing composition but with the same total concentration were infused parenterally, both standard NIT (each AA is assumed to generate 3.28 kcal/g) and specific NIT (heat energy of each AA is calculated assuming that it is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water, and metabolised to urea and sulphuric acid) values of the leucine (Leu)-rich and the glycine (Gly)-rich solutions were significantly greater than those of the control solution. Removal of Leu or Gly from the respective AA solutions reversed the increase of both NIT values down to control levels. When the parenteral and portal infusion routes were used in one rat, both NIT values for parenteral infusion of the Leu-rich solution were again significantly greater than those of the control. Likewise, both NIT values for intrportal infusion of the Leu-rich solution were also significantly greater than those of the control. However, no difference in NIT values was found between parenteral and portal infusion of either solution. The result of this study indicated that Leu and Gly may be thermogenic AAs, and the thermogenic effect of Leu is not dependent upon the route of infusion.     

中药有效成分研究与复方新药开发

１０００００首方剂是开发中药复方新药的宝库。１２７７２种中药及其复方中的有效成分是开发中药复方新药的基础。逆向思维、利用文献、研究有效成分动态变化和综合作用是开发中药复方新药的几种途径     

Mitral valve replacement in the presence of massive posterior annular calcification

Replacement of the mitral valve in the presence of extensive calcification of the posterior annulus is a technical challenge. The heavily calcified annulus often results in difficulties of seating the prosthesis and later periprosthetic leakage. A radical calcium debridement may leave a friable and thin annulus that contributes to the risks of prosthesis dehiscence and ventricular perforation. To avoid technical difficulties and associated catastrophic complications, we devised a new technique of mitral valve replacement that allows a surgeon to implant a prosthesis securely. This technique involves inserting a larger single tilting disc mechanical valve (Medtronic Hall disc) with intra-atrial anchorage over the posterior sector of the calcified annulus, orienting the working (major) orifice of the mechanical valve anteriorly, and thereby tilting the lesser occluder segment of the disc upward into the atrium and away from the calcification in diastole. By utilizing this method, we have successfully performed mitral valve replacement in two patients who exhibited massive calcification of the posterior mitral annulus. Postoperative transeosophageal echocardiography showed excellent hemodynamic performance of the implanted valves. We therefore recommend this simple, safe, and time-saving procedure as a feasible method to deal with this surgical dilemma.     

Reduction of tumorigenicity by an interferon-γ-gene-transduced tumor on another syngeneic tumor in a murine model

To evaluate the effect of interferon-γ-genetransduced cells, DS mice were inoculated into their footpads with syngeneic mammary adenocarcinoma SC42 admixed with interferon-γ producing mammary adenocarcinoma SC115Kγ, which had been established by an interferon-γ-gene transduction in another syngeneic mammary adenocarcinoma SC115 using retroviral vectors. These mice rejected both tumor cells and developed resistance to subsequent challenges with either SC115 or SC42 cells inoculated into their opposite posterior footpads. These results thus indicate that systemic immunological memory to each of the independent tumor cell lines developed in these mice. Although the SC42 cells admixed with irradiated SC115Kγ cells were rejected by these mice, the SC42 cells admixed with irradiated SC115neoR, in which the neo-gene had been transduced, were observed to proliferate. Tumor rejection was reversed by an in vivo administration of anti-interferon-γ antibody, thus suggesting that locally produced interferon-γ plays an important role in tumor elimination and immunological memory induction. In conclusion, interferon-γ-gene-transduced tumor cells are therefore considered to have a therapeutic potential for other types of malignant tumor cell lines.     

Monomeric Indole Alkaloids from Kopsia officinalis.

Ten monomeric indole alkaloids have been identified from the roots of KOPSIA OFFICINALIS. Four of them are known: (-)-kopsinine 1, (+)-5,22-dioxokopsane 2, (-)-tetrahydroalstonine 4, and (-)-quebrachamine 3; and six are new: (-)-isoeburnamine 5 (enantiomer of the known alkaloid (+)-isoeburnamine), (-)-N-methoxycarbonyl-12-methoxykopsinaline 7, (-)-N-methoxycarbonyl-11,12-methylenedioxy kopsinaline 8, (-)-N-methoxycarbonyl-11,12-dimethoxykopsinaline 9, (-)-11,12-methylenedioxykopsinaline 10, and (-)-12-methoxykopsinaline 11.     

常温下肝脏缺血/再灌注损伤及其机制的实验研究

目的　研究常温下肝脏缺血 /再灌注损伤及其机制。方法　 2 4只兔随机均分为缺血组和对照组。组织气体分析仪持续测定兔肝组织氧压 (HepatictissueoxygeonpressurePtiO2 ) ;光镜及电镜观察肝脏组织病理改变 ;全自动生化仪测定血清丙氨酸氨基转氨酶 (ALT)。结果　缺血组兔肝脏在缺血后肝PtiO2 值开始下降、30min降至 2 0 1± 2 8,再灌注后的肝PtiO2 值开始恢复 ,再灌注 6 0min肝PtiO2 未恢复正常 (P <0 0 5 )。肝细胞出现变性、坏死 ,血清ALT值显著升高 ,在肝脏再灌注 6 0min时最为严重。结论　常温下用Pringle氏法阻断入肝血流可导致肝脏缺血/再灌注后肝细胞功能障碍和病理损害。其作用机制与缺血期肝细胞缺氧、再灌注期肝脏微循环障碍和肝细胞线粒体的损伤有关。     

Trace Metals' abnormalities in hemodialysis patients: relationship with medications

A multicenter collaborative study was performed to investigate the prevalence of abnormal blood contents of 6 trace metals, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg), in hemodialysis (HD) patients and to analyze their relationship with the medications, such as CaCO3, Ca acetate, Al containing phosphate-binding agents, 1,25-dihydroxy vitD3, 1-hydroxy vitD3, and erythropoietin (EPO), as well as hematocrit level, by chi-square statistics. From 6 medical centers in Taiwan, we included 456 patients in maintenance HD for more than 4 months for this study, and they had continued the previously mentioned medications for at least 3 months. Blood samples were collected before initiating HD, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure plasma levels of Cu, Zn, and Al as well as whole blood levels of Pb, Cd, and Hg. Three hundred seventy-five (78%) of the HD patients had low plasma Zn levels, that is, <800 microg/L, and the mean (+/-SD) concentration was 705.8 (+/-128.23) microg/L in all subjects. One hundred forty-one (31%) of the HD patients had high plasma Al, that is, >50 microg/L, and the mean (+/-SD) was 44.30 (+/-28.28) microg/L in all subjects. Three hundred thirty-three (73%) of the dialysis patients had high Cd levels, that is, >2.5 microg/L, and the mean (+/-SD) was 3.32 (+/-1.49) microg/L in all subjects. The majority of HD patients had normal blood levels of Cu, PB, and Hg. Only 21 (4. 6%), 5 (1.1%), and 3 (0.06%) patients had elevated blood levels of Cu, Pb, and Hg, respectively. Their mean (+/-SD) blood concentration of Cu, Pb, and Hg were 1,049.78 (+/-233.25) microg/L, 7.45 (+/-3.95) microg/dL, and 3.17 (+/-25.56) microg/L, respectively. Three patients had elevated plasma Hg concentrations, that is, 546, 12.6, and 24.0 microg/L, respectively. In the 152 normal healthy age and sex matched control group, the blood levels of Al, Cd, and Pb were all significantly lower than the HD patients. However, the levels of Cu and Zn were higher in the control group. The Hg level was not significantly different in both groups. There was no statistical difference between patients with normal and abnormal blood levels of trace metals in various medications except Al containing phosphate binder. The Al containing phosphate binder users had significantly higher plasma Al levels (54.71 +/- 26.70 versus 41.15 +/- 28.03 microg/L, p < 0.001) and hematocrit levels (29.61 +/- 4.61 versus 27. 81 +/- 3.91, p < 0.0005). There was no statistical correlation between erythropoietin (EPO) dose and hematocrit level in these patients. In conclusion, the blood level of trace metals of these HD patients except Al was not related to their medications. However, caution must be exercised in interpreting this result as dose and duration of medication; efficiency of HD and water treatment may play an important role. Otherwise, environmental factors, diet, and the aging process may contribute to the trace metal burden in uremia. Thus, Zn and Cu are abundant in seafood, and Cd is abundant in contaminated plants such as rice.