Erythropoietin （EPO） is known as a classical hematopoietic growth factor, which has been used to treat anemia caused by different reasons. In recent years, EPO＇s non-hematopoietic biological effects have gradually become a focus. Among these effects, EPO＇s tissue protection is most attractive and EPO has been proved to protect many different tissues and organs. Myocardial protection has always been the important and key topic in the field of cardiovascular diseases. Reports about EPO＇s myocardial protective effects have been published in the recent two years, which direct the research about myocardial protection with new ideas. In this article, the discoveries and unsolved problems associated with EPO＇s myocardial protection were reviewed.
Objective To explore the role of thrombus precursor protein(TPP) in the monitoring of anticoagulation in the patients with atrial fibrillation (Af) after mechanical heart valve replacement, and suggest the reasonable anticoagulant range. Methods Ninety patients were divided into Af group (n=45), sinus rhythm group (SR group, n=45), and control group (20 patients with non-valvular heart diseases), according to whether Af exist after mitral valve replacement. TPP concentrations and International Normalized Ratio(INR) in the anticoagulant patients were analyzed. Results In patients after mechanical mitral valve replacement, plasma TPP concentrations in both SR group and Af group were lower than that in control group (Plt;0.05,0.01), their INR value were higher than that in control group (Plt;0.01), and Af group had higher plasma TPP concentrations than that in SR group((Plt;)0.05). It was found that there existed contradictions between INR and plasma TPP concentrations in Af group. There were 28 patients with plasma TPP concentrations below 6 μg/ml and without spontaneous bleeding complications in the group with Af, who might be at the optimal anticoagulant status. Their 95% confidence of INR value was 1.90-2.30 and their plasma TPP concentration was 4.29±0.75μg/ml. Conclusion Patients with Af after mechanical heart valve replacement might have higher risk of thromboembolism, INR between 1.90 - 2.30 and plasma TPP concentration between 2.84-6.00 μg/ml might be the optimal anticoagulant therapeutic range.
Objective To investigate the preparation of decellularized Achilles tendons and the effect of co-culture of human fibroblasts on the scaffold so as to provide a scaffold for the tissue engineered ligament reconstruction. Methods Achilles tendons of both hind limbs were harvested from 10 male New Zealand white rabbits (5-month-old; weighing, 4-5 kg). The Achilles tendons were decellularized using trypsin, Triton X-100, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and then gross observation, histological examination, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation were performed; the human fibroblasts were seeded on the decellularized Achilles tendon, and then cytocompatibility was tested using the cell counting kit 8 method at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 days after co-culture. At 4 weeks after co-culture, SEM, HE staining, and biomechanical test were performed for observing cell-scaffold composite, and a comparison was made with before and after decellularization. ResultsAfter decellularization, the tendons had integrated aponeurosis and enlarged volume with soft texture and good toughness; there was no loose connective tissue and tendon cells between tendon bundles, the collagen fibers arranged loosely with three-dimensional network structure and more pores between tendon bundles; and it had good cytocompatibility. At 4 weeks after co-culture, cells migrated into the pores, and three-dimensional network structure disappeared. By biomechanical test, the tensile strength and Young’s elastic modulus of the decellularized Achilles tendon group decreased significantly when compared with normal Achilles tendons group and cell-scaffold composite group (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found between normal Achilles tendons group and cell-scaffold composite group (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in elongation at break among 3 groups (P gt; 0.05). ConclusionThe decellularized Achilles tendon is biocompatible to fibroblasts. It is suit for the scaffold for tissue engineered ligament reconstruction.
ObjectiveTo investigate changes in anal dynamics and anorectal sensory function in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and detect its status of basin’s myoelectric pressure. MethodsThirty-six patients with IBS-C (IBS-C group) and 28 healthy volunteers (control group) were collected. The rectal-anal canal pressure and the change of the basin’s myoelectric status were detected by the ZJ-D3 gastrointestinal motility tester and bio-stimulus feedback instrument, respectively. The anal canal resting pressure, rectal resting pressure, anorectal pressure difference, length of anal canal high pressure area, rectal sensation threshold, rectal compliance, and basin’s myoelectric voltage were compared between these two groups. ResultsThere were no significant differences in the rectal resting pressure and anal canal resting pressure between the IBS-C group and the control group (t=–2.312, P=0.851; t=–5.464, P=0.283), but the difference value of anorectal pressure of the IBS-C group was significantly higher than that of the control group (t=4.371, P=0.017), and the length of the anal canal hypertension area in the IBS-C group was significantly longer than that of the control group (t=6.180, P=0.042). The maximal and minimum basin’s myoelectric voltage and frequency of the basin’s myoelectric voltage in the IBS-C group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t=3.386, P=0.031; t=5.763, P=0.042; t=8.410, P<0.001). ConclusionAnorectal dynamics and rectal sensory dysfunction are one of important causes of IBS-C, it might be existed abnormal changes in basin’s myoelectric voltage.
Objective Based on evidence-based medicine systematic research and literature analysis methods, to make a quantitative and qualitative analysis on Chinese and No-Chinese literatures with subject of Medical Ethics. Concise and analyze the law and trends of subject development, to provide baseline data and decision-making reference for the relevant decision-making and follow-up study. Method We analyzed keywords in medical ethics articles in PubMed and CNKI database, and developed subject charts, research field relationship charts, and strategy coordination charts using word co-occurrence, PFNET algorithms, and visualization methods. Result Literatures collected from PubMed is six times than that from CNKI. Medical ethics research in China, starting later than abroad almost 35 years, is still at the preliminary stage of development. Eight matured research fields are formed as Morals, Ethical review, Physician-Patient relations, clinical trial, euthanasia, medical ethics education, clinical ethics, and health policy outside of China. Comparatively, in China there are only five fields are developed such as Morals, Physician-Patient relations, medical ethics education, bioethics, and medical research. Conclusion Foreign countries more focus on how to employ medical ethics to solve new problems occurred in clinics and medical research, with morals, ethical review, and Physician-Patient relations as the center of research net. Researchers in China pay more attentions on morals and education with morals as the only research net center. So an urgent need is called to make a transition from simply moral research into applied research stressing on both moral education and ethic review.