Objective To construct a new type of self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffolds—RGDmx, and to study the cell compatibility of the new scaffolds and the proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of precartilaginous stem cells(PSCs) in scaffolds. Methods PSCs were separated and purified from newborn Sprague Dawley rats by magnetic activated cell sorting and indentified by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining. The RGDmx were constructed by mixing KLD-12 and KLD-12-PRG at volume ratio of 1 ∶ 1. PSCs at passage 3 were seeded into the KLD-12 scaffold (control group) and RGDmx scaffold (experimental group). The proliferation of PSCs in 2 groups were observed with the method of cell counting kit (CCK) -8 after 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after culture. The RGDmx were constructed by mixing KLD-12-PRG and KLD-12 at different volume ratios of 0, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% and the prol iferation of PSCs was also observed. The complete chondrogenic medium (CCM) was used to induce chondrogenic differentiation of PSCs in different scaffolds. The differentiation of PSCs was observed by toluidine blue staining and RT-PCR assay. Results PSCs were separated and purified successfully, which were identified by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining methods. The results of CCK-8 showed that the absorbance (A) value in the experimental group increased gradually and reached the highest at 7 days; the A value in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 7 days and 14 days (P lt; 0.05). Meanwhile, the A value in the RGDmx scaffold with a volume ratio of 40% was significantly higher than those in others (P lt; 0.05). After 14 days of induction culture with CCM, the toluidine blue staining results were positive in 2 groups; the results of RT-PCR showedthat the expression levels of collagen type II and the aggrecan in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold—RGDmx is an ideal scaffold for tissue engineer because it has good cell compatibility and more effective properties of promoting the differentiation of PSCs to chondrocytes.
Objective o compare the differences in the choroidal thickness at 1500 μm nasal or temporal to the fovea between three measurements of different imaging modes. Methods In this retrospective study, 21 eyes from 20 patients diagnosed with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), whose retinas tilt over 5.0 degree to the horizontal line were included (retina tilt group). The control group (retinal horizontal group) also included 21 eyes from 20 individuals whose retinas are horizontal indicated by retinal tilt angle measurement. There were no statistical significance (t=0.00, -0.345, 0.489; P＞0.05) in gender, age and spherical equivalent distributions between the two groups. The choroidal thickness at 1500 μm nasal or temporal to the fovea was measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (COT) enhanced depth scanning under three modes (1∶1 pixel, 1∶1 micron and continuous measurement). The differences of choroidal thickness between these three measure modes were analyzed by a paired t test. Results The choroidal thickness was (304.81±87.74), (342.86±91.43), (307.86±89.35) μm respectively measured by 1∶1 pixel, 1∶1 micron and continuous measurement modes in retinal tilt group. The choroidal thickness measured by 1∶1 pixel was increased compare to that by 1∶1 micron, the difference was statistically significant (t=-8.499, P＜0.01). The choroidal thickness measured by continuous measurement mode was the same of that by 1∶1 micron, the difference was not statistically significant (t=-0.790, P＞0.05). In retinal horizontal group, the choroidal thickness measured by these 3 modes was the same, the difference was not statistically significant (t=-1.521, -1.822; P＞0.05). Conclusions Spectralis OCT with 1∶1 pixel mode exhibits horizontally compressed image, the values of choroidal thickness under tilted retinas measured by this condition were significantly greater than the true ones. The choroidal thickness measured by 1∶1 micron mode measurement is more accurate. Continuous measurement mode provides more accurate and convenient choroidal thickness measurement during follow up of patients.
ObjectiveThrough measuring fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and eosinophil levels of peripheral blood in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with different phenotype of acute exacerbation frequency, to predict the therapeutic effect of glucocorticoid therapy and guide the clinical treatment of different subtypes patients with acute exacerbations of COPD.MethodsA total of 127 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD in Suining Central Hospital from February 2017 to October 2019 were recruited. They were divided four groups according to the number of acute exacerbations in the past one year and the treatment scheme, ie. a frequent acute exacerbation with glucocorticoid treatment group (34 cases), a frequent acute exacerbation with non-glucocorticoid treatment group (31 cases), a non-frequent acute exacerbation with glucocorticoid treatment group (30 cases), and a non-frequent acute exacerbation with non-glucocorticoid treatment group (32 cases). FeNO value, eosinophil ratio in peripheral blood, COPD assessment test (CAT) score, and interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentration were measured before and on the 10th day of treatment, and the differences within group and between groups before and after treatment were compared.ResultsCAT score, FeNO, eosinophil ratio and IL-8 level in the four groups were significantly improved on the 10th day after treatment (all P<0.05). The declines of FeNO value, eosinophil ratio, and IL-8 level on the 10th day of treatment compared with those before treatment in the frequent acute exacerbation with glucocorticoid treatment group and the frequent acute exacerbations with non-glucocorticoid treatment group were larger than those in the non-frequent acute exacerbation with glucocorticoid treatment group and the non-frequent acute exacerbation with non-glucocorticoid treatment group (all P<0.05). The declines of FeNO value, blood eosinophil ratio and IL-8 level in the frequent acute exacerbation with glucocorticoid treatment group were also statistically significantly larger than those in the frequent acute exacerbations with non-glucocorticoid treatment group (all P<0.05). The improvement of CAT score in the frequent acute exacerbation with glucocorticoid treatment group was greater than that in other three groups (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in CAT score between the non-frequent acute exacerbation with glucocorticoid treatment group and the non-frequent acute exacerbation with non-glucocorticoid treatment group (P>0.05).ConclusionsThe degree of airway inflammation is more obvious in patients with frequent acute exacerbation phenotype of COPD. FeNO value can reflect the level of airway inflammation in patients with frequent acute exacerbation of COPD and evaluate the response to glucocorticoid therapy.