ObjectiveTo introduce a new medical heat preservation device, and to explore the application value and effectiveness in replantation of severed fingers. MethodsThe medical heat preservation device was design, water was used as the heating medium, and temperature was set and controlled by microcomputer. Between November 2010 and January 2014, 421 cases undergoing replantation of severed fingers were divided into 2 groups. Within 9 days after operation, the medical heat preservation device was used in 210 cases (experimental group), and the conventional heat lamp was used in 211 cases (control group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury cause, the interval between injury and admission, injury finger side, and operation time between 2 groups (P>0.05). The vascular crisis rate, success rate of replantation of severed fingers, comfort, sleep quality, and the influence on roommates were compared. ResultsThe comfort and the influence on roommates were good in 188 cases (89.52%) and 201 cases (95.71%) in the experimental group, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (25/211, 11.85%; 145/211, 68.72%). According to Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) for sleep quality, the results were good in 105 cases, fair in 85 cases, and poor in 20 cases in the experimental group; the results were good in 45 cases, fair in 95 cases, and poor in 71 cases in the control group. Blood vessel crisis occurred in 35 cases (16.67%) of the experimental group, which was significantly lower than that in the control group (76/211, 36.02%) (P<0.05). The survival rate of replantation in the experimental group (196/210, 93.3%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (181/211, 85.78%) (P<0.05). Significant differences were found between 2 groups (P<0.05) in above indexs. ConclusionMedical heat preservation device for replantation of severed fingers can improve the comfortable degree of patients and the quality of sleep, increase the survival rate of finger replantation, and reduce the occurrence of vascular crisis after operation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of overexpressing the Indianhedgehog (IHH) gene on the chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in a simulated microgravity environment. MethodsThe 2nd generation BMSCs from rabbit were divided into 2 groups: the rotary cell culture system (RCCS) group and conventional group. Each group was further divided into the IHH gene transfection group (RCCS 1 group and conventional 1 group), green fluorescent protein transfection group (RCCS 2 group and conventional 2 group), and blank control group (RCCS 3 group and conventional 3 group). RCCS group cells were induced to differentiate into chondrocytes under simulated microgravity environment; the conventional group cells were given routine culture and chondrogenic induction in 6 well plates. During differentiation induction, the ELISA method was used to detect IHH protein expression and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and quantitative real-time PCR to detect cartilage and cartilage hypertrophy related gene expressions, and Western blot to detect collagen typeⅡ, agreecan (ANCN) protein expression; and methylene blue staining and Annexin V-cy3 immunofluorescence staining were used to observe cell slide. ResultsAfter transfection, obvious green fluorescence was observed in BMSCs under fluorescence microscopy in RCCS groups 1 and 2, the transfection efficiency was about 95%. The IHH protein levels of RCCS 1 group and conventional 1 group were significantly higher than those of RCCS 2, 3 groups and conventional 2, 3 groups (P < 0.05); at each time point, ALP activity of conventional 1 group was significantly higher than that of conventional 2, 3 groups (P < 0.05); ALP activity of RCCS 1 group was significantly higher than that of RCCS 2 and 3 groups only at 3 and 7 days (P < 0.05). Conventional 1 group expressed high levels of cartilage-related genes, such as collagen typeⅡand ANCN at the early stage of differentiation induction, and expressed high levels of cartilage hypertrophy-related genes, such as collagen type X, ALP, and Annexin V at the late stage (P < 0.05). RCCS 1 group expressed high levels of cartilage-related genes and low levels of cartilage hypertrophy-related genes at all stages. The expression of collagen typeⅡprotein in conventional 1 group was significantly lower than that of conventional 2 and 3 groups at 21 days after induction (P < 0.05); RCCS 1 group expressed high levels of collagen typeⅡand ANCN proteins at all stages (P < 0.05). Methylene blue staining indicated conventional 1 group was stained lighter than conventional 2 and 3 groups at 21 days after induction; while at each time point RCCS 1 group was significantly deeper than RCCS 2 and 3 groups. Annexin V-cy3 immunofluorescence staining indicated the red fluorescence of conventional 1 group was stronger than that of conventional 2 and 3 groups at each time point. The expression of red fluorescence in each RCCS subgroup was weak and there was no significant difference between the subgroups. ConclusionUnder the simulated microgravity environment, transfection of IHH gene into BMSCs can effectively promote the generation of cartilage and inhibit cartilage aging and osteogenesis. Therefore, this technique is suitable for cartilage tissue engineering.