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Background: Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is caused by overdistension of the alveoli by the repetitive recruitment and derecruitment of alveolar units. This study aims to investigate the potential role and mechanism of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a metabolic regulator secreted by the liver, in VILI development., Methods: Serum FGF21 concentrations were determined in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation during general anesthesia and in a mouse VILI model. Lung injury was compared between FGF21-knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice. Recombinant FGF21 was administrated in vivo and in vitro to determine its therapeutic effect., Results: Serum FGF21 levels in patients and mice with VILI were significantly higher than in those without VILI. Additionally, the increment of serum FGF21 in anesthesia patients was positively correlated with the duration of ventilation. VILI was aggravated in FGF21-KO mice compared with WT mice. Conversely, the administration of FGF21 alleviated VILI in both mouse and cell models. FGF21 reduced Caspase-1 activity, suppressed the mRNA levels of Nlrp3, Asc, Il-1β, Il-18, Hmgb1 and Nf-κb, and decreased the protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, IL-1β, IL-18, HMGB1 and the cleaved form of GSDMD., Conclusions: Our findings reveal that endogenous FGF21 signaling is triggered in response to VILI, which protects against VILI by inhibiting the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway. These results suggest that boosting endogenous FGF21 or the administration of recombinant FGF21 could be promising therapeutic strategies for the treatment of VILI during anesthesia or critical care., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A hemostatic sponge should perform rapid hemostasis and exhibit antibacterial properties, whilst being non-toxic, breathable, and degradable. This study prepared a hemostatic sponge (CQTC) with microchannels, specifically a microchannel structure based on quaternized chitosan (QCS) and carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (CCNF) obtained by using tannic acid and Cu 2+ complex (crosslinking agent). The sponge had low density and high porosity, while being degradable. The combination of microchannels and three-dimensional porous structure of CQTC leads to excellent liquid absorption and hemostasis ability, based on a liquid absorption rate test and in vitro hemostasis experiment. In addition, CQTC exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, and it promoted wound healing. In conclusion, this porous and microchannel hemostatic sponge has broad application prospects as a clinical wound hemostatic material., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Infection represents a major clinical barrier that delays wound healing, while the overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance. Hence, it is of particular important to develop a new type of dressing to combat bacterial resistance. Herein, a carbon nitride-polydopamine‑silver complex (C 3 N 4 -PDA-Ag) was prepared using the photocatalyst C 3 N 4 and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to achieve a synergistic antimicrobial effect. The solution casting method was then employed to further modify the C 3 N 4 -PDA-Ag complex by compounding it with chitosan (CS), thereby forming a C 3 N 4 -PDA-Ag@CS film. The results revealed that the C 3 N 4 -PDA-Ag@CS film exhibits superior antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to the CS group. The hemolysis, cytotoxicity, and in vivo implantation experiments indicated that the composite film possesses excellent in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility. In addition, the composite dressing promoted wound healing in infected mice by facilitating collagen deposition and accelerating epidermal regeneration. Collectively, the findings of this study clearly demonstrate that the C 3 N 4 -PDA-Ag@CS composite dressing has excellent antibacterial properties, biocompatibility, and enhances wound healing, thus providing a strategy for the application of photocatalytic materials for the treatment of infected wounds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Porous microsphere hemostatic materials, which possess rapid hemostatic, antibacterial, and wound healing-promotion properties, have key advantages over hemostatic dressings with a single hemostatic function. Using rod-shaped cellulose nanocrystals as the supporting framework, sodium alginate/cellulose nanocrystal porous microspheres (SA/CNC) were prepared using an inverse emulsion method. After SA/CNC self-assembly with the antibacterial polymer ε-polylysine, the hemostatic porous microspheres (PSLMs) showed high porosity, high liquid absorption capacity, and excellent coagulation properties. The in vitro and in vivo coagulation properties of PSLMs were evaluated and compared with those of the commercially available chitosan hemostatic powder. PSLMs had marked hemostatic effects in the following mouse hemorrhage models: caudal (81.20 s), liver (48.44 s), and femoral artery (71.66 s). After the introduction of ε-polylysine with excellent antibacterial properties to PSLMs, PSLMs effectively inhibited the activities of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) are effective drug delivery carriers because of their adjustable large pore size and high porosity. In this study, complex nanoparticles containing disulfide bonds (SS) were designed and prepared as curcumin (Cur) carriers by using fucoidan (FUC) and MSN as the polymer matrix. The product was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and an N 2 adsorption and desorption test. When the mass ratio of MSN to FUC was 2:1, the nanospheres particle size was the smallest (295.6 ± 0.98 nm, -35.2 ± 0.8 mV). Furthermore, the curcumin encapsulation rate by MSN-Cur-SS-FUC was over 90%, and the cumulative release rate in 24 h was over 80% due to the combined effect of weak acidity and high glutathione concentration in the tumor site microenvironment. When the Cur concentration was 50 μg/mL, the cell viability of free Cur was 63.8%, the cell viability of MSN-Cur-SS-FUC was 14.5%, and the cell viability of MSN-SS-FUC at the same concentration remained above 74.6%. MSN-SS-FUC composite nanoparticles showed a good delivery of Cur, a lipid-soluble active compound, and provides a new delivery route for other lipid-soluble and poorly bioavailable active compounds., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, which may manifest as neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, is the most prevalent erythrocytic enzyme-related disease in the world., Objective: To investigate the association between neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and co-inheritance of G6PD deficiency and 211 G to A variation of UGT1A1 in Chaozhou city of eastern Guangdong province, the effects of G6PD deficiency and UGT1A1 gene variant on the bilirubin level were determined in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia., Method: The activity of G6PD was assayed by an auto-bioanalyzer. PCR and flow-through hybridization were used to detect 14 common G6PD mutations in G6PD deficient neonates. 211 G to A variation of UGT1A1 was determined by PCR and sequencing. The data of neonatal bilirubin was collected and analyzed retrospectively., Results: Seventy four cases of the 882 hyperbilirubinemia neonates were G6PD deficiency (8.39%) while 12 cases of the 585 non-hyperbilirubinemia neonates (control group) were G6PD deficiency (2.05%). The rate of G6PD deficiency in the hyperbilirubinemia group was higher than that of the control group. Moreover, the peak bilirubinin of the G6PD-deficient group of hyperbilirubinemia neonates was 334.43 ± 79.27 μmol/L, higher than that of the normal G6PD group of hyperbilirubinemia neonates (300.30 ± 68.62 μmol/L). The most common genotypes of G6PD deficiency were c.1376G > T and c.1388G > A, and the peak bilirubin of neonates with these two variants were 312.60 ± 71.81 μmol/L and 367.88 ± 75.79 μmol/L, respectively. The bilirubin level of c.1388G > A was significantly higher than that of c.1376G > T. Among the 74 hyperbilirubinemia neonates with G6PD deficiency, 6 cases were 211 G to A homozygous mutation (bilirubin levels 369.55 ± 84.51 μmol/L), 27 cases were 211 G to A heterozygous mutation (bilirubin levels 341.50 ± 63.21 μmol/L), and 41 cases were wild genotypes (bilirubin levels 324.63 ± 57.52 μmol/L)., Conclusion: The rate of G6PD deficiency in hyperbilirubinemia neonates was significantly higher than that of the non-hyperbilirubinemia neonates in Chaozhou. For the hyperbilirubinemia group, neonates with G6PD deficiency had a higher bilirubin level compared to those with normal G6PD. For hyperbilirubinemia neonates with G6PD deficiency, there was a declining trend of bilirubin levels among 211 G to A homozygous mutation, heterozygous mutation, and wild genotype, but there was no significance statistically among the three groups., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia causing jaundice is common in East Asian population. Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase isoenzyme (UGT1A1) glucuronidates bilirubin and converts the toxic form of bilirubin to its nontoxic form., Method: A retrospective study was conducted to review clinical information of ABO hemolysis neonates (ABO HDN) admitted to the Department of Neonatology, referred for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, in a large general hospital of southern China from 2011 to 2017. Variation status of UGT1A1 was determined by direct sequencing or genotype assays., Result: Sixty-nine ABO HDNs were included into the final analysis. UGT1A1 c.211 G > A mutation (UGT1A1*6, p.Arg71Gly, rs4148323) was significantly associated with the increased bilirubin level in ABO HDNs, after adjusted by age, sex and feeding method (P = 0.019 for TBIL, P = 0.02 for IBIL). Moreover, heterozygous and/or homozygous UGT1A1 mutations in the coding sequence region were significantly associated with the increased risk of developing hazardous hyperbilirubinemia (as defined by TSB > 427 umol/L) as compared those with a normal UGT1A1 genotype (OR adj  = 9.16, 95%CI 1.99-42.08, P = 0.002) in the study cohort., Conclusion: UGT1A1 variant in coding region is actively involved in the pathogenesis of ABO hemolysis related neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Genetic assessment of UGT1A1 may be useful for clinical diagnosis of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Context.—: The pandemic of a novel coronavirus, termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has created an unprecedented global health burden., Objective.—: To investigate the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity and other poor obstetrical outcomes., Design.—: All suspected cases of pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted into one center in Wuhan from January 20 to March 19, 2020, were included. Detailed clinical data of those pregnancies with COVID-19 were retrospectively collected and analyzed., Results.—: Twenty-seven pregnant women (4 early pregnancies included) with laboratory or clinically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 24 neonates born to the 23 women in late pregnancy were analyzed. On admission, 46.2% (13 of 27) of the patients had symptoms, including fever (11 of 27), cough (9 of 27), and vomiting (1 of 27). Decreased total lymphocytes count was observed in 81.5% (22 of 27) of patients. Twenty-six patients showed typical viral pneumonia by chest computed tomography scan, whereas 1 patient confirmed with COVID-19 infection showed no abnormality on chest computed tomography. One mother developed severe pneumonia 3 days after her delivery. No maternal or perinatal death occurred. Moreover, 1 early preterm newborn born to a mother with the complication of premature rupture of fetal membranes, highly suspected to have SARS-CoV-2 infection, was SARS-CoV-2 negative after repeated real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing. Statistical differences were observed between the groups of women in early and late pregnancy with COVID-19 in the occurrence of lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia., Conclusions.—: No major complications were reported among the studied cohort, though 1 serious case and 1 perinatal infection were observed. Much effort should be made to reduce the pathogenic effect of COVID-19 infection in pregnancies., (© 2020 College of American Pathologists.)

Objective: To analyze the phenotype and genotype in two pedigrees with hereditary coagulation factor Ⅺ (FⅪ) deficiency, and investigate the molecular mechanisms of FⅪ deficiency., Methods: Two patients with hereditary coagulation FⅪ deficiency were admitted to Chaozhou Central Hospital in Nov 2014 and Jan 2018. The prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), FⅪ activity (FⅪ∶C) and FⅪ antigen (FⅪ∶Ag) were tested for phenotypic diagnosis. All the exons and exon-intron boundaries of FⅪ gene of proband were analyzed by PCR and sequencing. The family members were tested for the mutant site of proband. Then the mRNA of FⅪ in the proband was analyzed with RT-PCR., Results: The proband-1 was a 7-year-old boy, PT was 10.7 s and APTT was 97.4 s (reference range: 9-12.8 s; 24-40 s), FⅪ∶C (0.6%) and FⅪ∶Ag<1% (reference range: 65%-150%; 72.1%-122.3%). The proband-2 was a 30-year-old female, and showed the PT (11.7 s), APTT (71.3 s), FⅪ∶C (0.7%) and FⅪ∶Ag<1%. FⅧ∶C, FⅨ∶C and FⅫ∶C of two proband were within the normal range. DNA sequencing showed that the proband-1 had a combined mutation of c.326-1G>A and c.1107C>A (p.Tyr351X) in exon 10. His grandmother, mother and brother had a heterozygous splicing mutation of c.326-1G>A, his grandmother and father had a homozygous mutation of c.1107C>A. FXI mRNA was undetected in the proband-1. The proband-2 had a homozygous mutation of c.841C>T (p.Gln263X) in exon 8, and this mutation was also found in her father, mother, daughter and son., Conclusion: The c.326-1G>A, c.1107C>A(p.Tyr351X) and c.841C>T (p.Gln263X) might be the molecular pathogenesis for two probands with hereditary coagulation factor Ⅺ deficiency., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Science Edition).)

Diclofenac sodium (DS) is an emerging contaminant that is toxic and remains at high concentrations in natural aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to fabricate a novel spherical polymeric adsorbent composed of cross-linked chitosan beads grafted by polyethylenimine (PEI) to remove DS from water. The adsorbents were thoroughly characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analyses, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A cross-linking step was expected to enhance adsorption. The experimental data obtained from a series of adsorption experiments were fit well by the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order model. The epichlorohydrin-PEI adsorbent (EPCS@PEI) showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 253.32 mg/g and removal efficiency of nearly 100% for the DS in the initial 50 mg/L solution. Therefore, EPCS@PEI is proposed as a potential adsorbent for DS removal, where these initial findings are expected to promote further design and fabrication of effective adsorbents for practical applications., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Residual diclofenac sodium (DS) in water is a potential hazard. The electrostatic attraction between amino group of adsorbents and carboxyl group of DS under acidic conditions can effectively remove DS from water. Herein, a novel core-shell adsorbent of poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan/amino-grafted silica@polyethylenimine (PVA/CS/SAP@PEI) gel bead was prepared to efficiently uptake DS from wastewater. In this study, the gel bead was characterized using FTIR, XPS, SEM, EDS, and 13 C NMR. The experimental data shows that there is a strong correlation between adsorption capacity. The adsorption data fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order model. The results of thermodynamics show that the adsorption process is spontaneous, endothermic, and increases entropy. The maximum adsorption capacity for DS was calculated as 493.81 mg/g at pH 5 (308 K). The adsorbent still exhibited excellent adsorption capacity after recycling five times, showing it has excellent potential for practical applications., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hypothesis: We synthesized composite microspheres from cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and sodium alginate (SA), which were modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI) to introduce a high density of active amino sites onto the surface via the Schiff base reaction. We hypothesized that these (SA/CNC/PVA)@PEI microspheres would have a high adsorption capacity for aqueous diclofenac sodium (DS)., Experiments: The PEI-modified composite microspheres were characterized and assessed and optimized for aqueous DS adsorption. In addition, the morphology and synthesis mechanism of the adsorbent were studied., Findings: The adsorption process showed a good fit with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (i.e., the process is driven by a chemical adsorption mechanism) and Langmuir adsorption isotherm model (i.e., adsorption follows a single-layer process). Under the optimum experimental conditions (pH: 4.5, adsorption time: 50 min, temperature: 303 K), the maximum adsorption capacity was 418.4104 mg/g, which was relatively high compared to other reported adsorbents. Importantly, after five adsorption-desorption cycles, (SA/CNC/PVA)@PEI showed only a slight loss in adsorption capacity. Compared with other reported adsorbents, the core-shell composite has a good DS adsorptive capacity and high recyclability., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Groundwater contaminated by arsenic endangers our health. Therefore, in this work, a novel composite adsorbent consisting of magnetic chitosan (MCS), zinc oxide (ZnO), and sodium alginate (Alg) was prepared to remove arsenic from groundwater. First, chitosan was coated on the surface of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles by coprecipitation. Then, MCS/ZnO@Alg gel beads were fabricated by combining MCS with ZnO and Alg, and crosslinking the composite material in the presence of Ca 2+ ions. The MCS/ZnO@Alg beads were characterized by SEM, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, VSM, and XPS. The adsorption experiments revealed that the MCS/ZnO@Alg magnetic gel beads have high stability and As(V) adsorption capability, and adsorbed As(V) through chemical adsorption. The maximum As(V) adsorption capacity as determined from the Langmuir model was 63.69 mg/g. In addition, MCS/ZnO@Alg exhibited good recyclability and high sustainability. This work proves that the MCS/ZnO@Alg gel beads are an ideal candidate for addressing the grievous environmental threats caused by water pollution., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The performance of Fe 3 O 4 /attapulgite (APT) nanoparticles in Pb(II) adsorption from aqueous solutions could be improved by modifying the particles with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) and then combining with chitosan (CS) into beads. After preparing the APTS-Fe 3 O 4 /APT@CS beads, their surface morphology and crystal phases were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The magnetic properties of APTS-Fe 3 O 4 /APT@CS were studied by a vibrating sample magnetometer, while their heat resistance and stability were characterized by thermal weight analysis. A recycling test and comparison of adsorption capacities were also carried out. The adsorption capacity of Fe 3 O 4 /APT was improved by the modification with APTS and CS. The adsorption process conforms to the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models. The adsorption of Pb(II) reaches a maximum of 625.34 mg/g, which compares favorably with other reported adsorbents. The results show that APTS-Fe 3 O 4 /APT@CS is a promising hybrid adsorbent for effective removal of Pb(II) from water., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this work, composite hydrogel beads based on magnetic bentonite/carboxymethyl chitosan/sodium alginate (Mag-Ben/CCS/Alg) were fabricated and their ability to adsorb copper ions in water was studied. The structure and properties of the composite were characterized via SEM, FTIR, XPS, TGA, VSM, and Zeta potential tests. The effects of the adsorbent dosage, adsorption time, pH, temperature, and initial concentration of Cu(II) on the adsorption results were studied. The results showed that Mag-Ben/CCS/Alg reached equilibrium after 90 min of adsorption, the removal rate of Cu(II) was 92.62 ± 0.39%, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 56.79 mg/g (30 °C). The removal rate of Cu(II) by Mag-Ben/CCS/Alg still remained above 80% after recycling four times. The adsorption process of Cu(II) by Mag-Ben/CCS/Alg occurred in accordance with the quasi-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A large-scale dengue fever (DF) outbreak occurred in Chaozhou, Guangdong province, China 2015. In our study, 528 dengue-positive patient samples were collected for clinical and laboratory data analysis. 491 cases (93.0%) were primary dengue fever (PDF), 22 cases (4.2%) were dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and 15 cases (2.8%) were diagnosed with severe dengue fever (SDF). All cases were infected by dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2), and the isolated strains belonged to cosmopolitan genotype, which were grouped closely with Malaysia strains from 2010 to 2014. Moreover, the study showed that laboratory indices have significantly difference in PDF, DHF and SDF patients. A comprehensive analysis of these data could assist and guide the clinical diagnosis for DF, which has an important significance for the control of dengue virus infection.

A new pH-sensitive drug carrier based on alginate (Alg), chitosan (Cs), and kappa-carrageenan (kC) marine biopolymers was developed, comprising a dual-layered polyelectrolyte complexes microbead structure. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the structures, thermal stability, and morphological changes, respectively, of the microcapsules we developed. In the intestinal environment (pH 7.4), the stability and swelling of Alg microbeads were enhanced after generation of the dual-layered polyelectrolyte complexes. The in vitro release profiles of 5-fluorouracil under simulated GI conditions were also examined. At gastric pH (1.2), the cumulative 5-FU release percentage was decreased by introduction of the additional kC layer from 14% in Alg/Cs microbeads to 7% in the dual-layered Alg/Cs/kC microbeads. Additionally, the release profiles were greatly improved under simulated intestinal and colon conditions. Finally, the microbeads were all biodegradable and showed no cytotoxicity in Chang liver cells. Our results clearly indicate that the dual-layer pH-sensitive Alg/Cs/kC microbeads could be used effectively for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs to the colon., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, a MT(Al)/calcium alginate [MT(Al)@CA] microsphere structure was prepared using sodium alginate (SA) and MT(Al). In order to achieve [MT(Al)@CA] microspheres with a high stability and chemical resistance, glutaraldehyde was used as the crosslinking agent to graft the microspheres and ethylenediamine (ED) into a new type of ED-functionalized MT(Al)@CA microsphere structure similar to a core-shell-type structure [MT(Al)@CA-ED]. This core-shell/bead-like structure was characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The adsorption performance of the core-shell/bead-like structure for As(V) in solution was studied. The effects of the initial As(V) concentration, reaction time, pH, and different reaction temperatures on the reaction process were studied. The results indicate that at a pH of 4, the removal rate of As(V) by the core-shell/bead-like MT(Al)@CA-ED could reach 94.85% after 150 min. The adsorption process is highly consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model (R 2  = 0.9983) and pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R 2  = 0.9973). The maximum adsorption capacity could reach 61.94 mg/g. Regeneration experiments showed that the adsorption efficiency of As(V) after six cycles was >80%., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this work, amino-functionalized Santa Barbara Amorphous-15/calcium alginate (ASBA-15@CA) microspheres were fabricated and characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA, and XPS analyses. The Pb(II) adsorption properties of the ASBA-15@CA microspheres were studied in terms of the effects of the adsorption time, adsorbent dose, solution pH, temperature, and initial concentration of Pb(II) on the adsorption capacity. At pH 6 and 298 K, the adsorption reached equilibrium after 100 min and the sample exhibited a good adsorption effect, affording a maximum adsorption capacity of 1029.58 mg/g and a removal rate as high as 98.99%. The adsorption process conformed to the Langmuir model (R 2  = 0.9937) and followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics model (R 2  = 0.9995). Regeneration experiments showed that the removal rate of the sample reached 75% even after 6 cycles. Overall, this study provides new insights into the development of novel, highly efficient, and repeatable degradation materials for the removal of Pb(II)., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, we synthesized an effective Pb(II) adsorbent from magnetic carboxyl-functionalized attapulgite (McAPT) and sodium alginate (Alg) by simple mechanical agitation at room temperature. The novel McAPT@Alg composite was systematically characterized using a number of instrumental techniques, and the effects of adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of Pb(II), adsorption time, pH, and temperature on the adsorption capacity were investigated by performing batch experiments. The obtained results demonstrated that adsorption equilibrium could be reached within 1.5 h, with the maximum adsorption capacity being 471.20 mg g -1 while the temperature was 297.2 K. The experimental data were suitable for application to the Langmuir isotherm model, and the adsorption kinetics agreed with the pseudo-second-order model. More importantly, a Pb(II) removal efficiency of >70% could be achieved after 6× adsorbent recycling, which demonstrated the excellent potential of McAPT@Alg for removing Pb(II) from contaminated water., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) receives a dense dopaminergic innervation and expresses dopamine receptors. However, little is known about the effect of dopamine on GABAergic transmission in this region of the brain. In this study, we recorded GABAA receptor-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) by using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Application of dopamine at 10 μM and 100 μM significantly increased the frequency and amplitude of sIPSCs. This effect of dopamine is primarily mediated by acting at D1-like dopamine receptors, but not D2-like and α1 adrenergic receptors, since dopamine-induced increased in frequency and amplitude of the sIPSCs was completely blocked by D1-like, but not D2-like or α1 adrenergic, receptor antagonist. However, application of dopamine did not affect the frequency and amplitude of the mIPSCs, implying that the effect of dopamine on the GABAergic transmission is action potential-dependent. Together, these findings reveal an indirect mechanism by which activation of D1-like receptors could inhibit the excitability of layer III pyramidal neurons in the MEC.

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene polymorphism can affect APOE gene transcription, serum lipid levels and repair of tissue damage, which could place individuals at serious risk of cardiovascular disease or certain infectious diseases. Recently, high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis was reported to be a simple, inexpensive, accurate and sensitive method for the genotyping or/and scanning of rare mutations. For this reason, an HRM analysis was used in the present study for APOE genotyping in the Southern Chinese Han and African Fang populations. A total of 100 healthy Southern Chinese Han and 175 healthy African Fang individuals attended the study. Polymerase chain reaction-DNA sequencing was used as a reference method for the genotyping of these samples. The six APOE genotypes could all be rapidly and efficiently identified by HRM analysis, and 100% concordance was found between the HRM analysis and the reference method. The allele frequencies of APOE in the Southern Chinese Han population were 7.0, 87.5 and 5.5% for ɛ2, ɛ3 and ɛ4, respectively. In the African Fang population, the allele frequencies of APOE were 24.3, 65.7 and 10.0% for ɛ2, ɛ3 and ɛ4, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between the allele frequencies between the populations (P<0.05). In conclusion, the present study revealed the molecular characterization of APOE gene polymorphism in the Han population from the Chaozhou region of Southern China and the Fang population from Equatorial Guinea. The findings of the study indicated that HRM analysis could be used as an accurate and sensitive method for the rapid screening and identification of APOE genotypes in prospective clinical and population genetic analyses.

Objective: To introduce a new modified technique for radial artery catheterization., Materials and Methods: A prolongated needle was made by using routine Vasocan Braunule needle and 1 ml syringe. A table of random digits was used for randomization of 32 interns. 14 interns were involved in group T and 18 interns were in group M. Each intern accomplished 20 cases. Then 640 patients were divided into 2 groups: group T included 280 patients with traditional direct technique, group M included 360 patients with 1 ml hollow tube-assisted technique., Results: Satisfactory results were obtained for 107 patients in group T and 292 patients in group M (P < 0.05). The success rates for catheter insertion after one attempt were 38.2% in group T and 81.1% in group M (P < 0.001). The blood flow times for observation were 1.7 ± 0.2 s in group T and 19.6 ± 1.8 s in group M (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The authors suggested the use of 1 ml hollow tube-assisted radial artery cannulation technique rather than a direct technique. This modified technique provided easy, safe, quick and less cost cannulation.

Gliomas are the most common tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) and a frequent cause of death. The treatment of malignant gliomas is often palliative due to their high recurrence rate. A growing body of evidence suggests that glioma may arise from cancer stem cells (CSC) correlated with neural stem cells (NSC), with the capacity for self-renewal and multipotency. CSCs have been isolated from human gliomas and numerous other solid tumors. It is assumed that a number of established malignant cell lines also contain a rare subpopulation of stem cells. This study was designed to investigate the proportion of CSCs in the human glioma cell line SHG44 and to study the limitations of CD133 immunophenotyping in glioma stem cell research. SHG44 cells were cultured in both serum-containing and serum-free medium. The similar shape in growth curves (in the exponential growth phase) revealed that most cells participated in the population amplification. Time gradient BrdU labeling and monoclonal assay revealed that almost every single cell participated in the division growth (98.82%) and possessed the ability to form clones (96.19%). No significant difference was found in the proportions of CD133+ cells in the serum-containing and serum-free groups (38.25%/37.92%). In addition, no significant difference was noted in the proportions of CD133+ cells among monoclones selected randomly in the serum-containing group. These results suggested that CD133- cells generate CD133+ cells and have the ability to form clones. Thus, we concluded that most SHG44 cells were CSCs and serum-free medium was not necessary for the generation of CSCs. In this line, CD133- cells also possessed clonogenic, self-renewal capacities and were also CSCs.

In this study we report three cases of Hb Ube-1, one case of Hb Ube-2 and one case of Hb Ube-4 in mainland China. One case of Hb Ube-1 had the clinical manifestation of hemolytic anemia. Hb Ube-2 and Hb Ube-4 did not appear to be associated with clinical or hematological abnormalities. The variants were detected by Hb electrophoresis during a thalassemia screening. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood leukocytes of Hb specimens. α1, α2 and β-globin genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All variants were confirmed by DNA sequence analysis and the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay.

Hemoglobin (Hb) Ottawa [α15 (A13) Gly→Arg], also known as Hb Siam, was first described in an 82-year-old Canadian in 1974. The same year, a second case was reported in a 28-year-old Chinese male living in Thailand. A third case was found in 1986 in a Chinese female living in the Hubei province of China. Since then, there have been no reports of Hb Ottawa in mainland China in the English literature. Hb Ottawa results from a GGT→CGT mutation in codon 15 of the α1 or α2-globin gene. Hb Ottawa carriers do not present any clinical symptoms or hematological changes, and are often diagnosed during a health examination and thalassemia screening. In a hemoglobin survey of 9745 students in Chaozhou, Guangdong, China, we identified four cases of Hb Ottawa in a thalassemia screening by Hb electrophoresis, and confirmed it to be the result of a GGT→CGT mutation in codon 15 of the α2-globin gene by DNA sequence analysis.

The cellular origin of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) is not fully understood. The cancer stem cell hypothesis presumes that tumors originate from the malignant transformation of stem cells. As a type of multipotent stem cell, adipose tissue-derived stromal/stem cells (ADSCs), which possess an unexpected degree of plasticity and often reside in other tissues, may represent a potential source of soft tissue sarcoma. To ascertain whether ADSCs are responsible for the formation of STSs, ADSCs from mice were cultured and treated with 3-methycholanthrene to derive transformed cells. These transformed ADSCs were then injected subcutaneously into immunodeficient mice to test their tumorigenic potential. We found that they generated several types of STSs, including synovial sarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and fibrosarcoma. This is the first study to report that ADSCs may be the potential initiating cells for synovial sarcoma. Our findings indicate that STSs might originate from malignantly transformed ADSCs.

Hemoglobin (Hb) G-Chinese [α30 (B11) Glu↷Gln], also known as Hb G-Honolulu, Hb G-Hongkong or Hb G-Singapore, was first identified in a Chinese woman in Singapore, and was subsequently observed in several Chinese families. This Hb variant results from a GAG↷CAG mutation at codon 30 of the α-globin gene. The aim of the present study was to identify the Hb G-Chinese mutation in three Cantonese individuals. The presence of the Hb variant was confirmed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. DNA analysis based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing were conducted to confirm the presence of the mutation in the α-globin gene. A G↷C substitution at codon 30 of the α2-globin gene was observed. According to a previous study, the G↷C substitution in Hb G-Chinese creates a PstI restriction site; we amplified the α2-globin gene, then digested the PCR products with PstI. The results indicated that only the PCR product of Hb G-Chinese α2-globin was cut by PstI. The digestive products were 120 and 730 bp, respectively. Therefore, we determined that the three cases were of the heterozygous Hb G-Chinese variant.

Two erythrodiol triterpene fatty esters, 3beta-dodecanoyl erythrodiol (1) and 3beta-tetradecanoyl erythrodiol (2), were isolated from Scorzonera mongolica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of IR, MS and extensive 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 was identified to be a new compound and 2 was confirmed to be a new natural compound. Their antitumor effects in vitro were evaluated with MTT and SRB assays, but compounds 1 and 2 only showed moderate cytotoxicities on A-549 cell line.

Aim: To investigate the infection and replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in primarily cultured human fetal hepatocytes (HFHs)., Methods: The human fetal hepatocytes were cultured in serum-free medium, HBV-positive serum was added into the medium to study the susceptibility of hepatocytes to HBV infection. The supernatant was collected for ELISA assay of HBsAg and HBeAg, and quantitative fluorescence PCR for HBV-DNA assay daily. Albumin and HBcAg, CK8 and CK18 expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry in cultured hepatocytes. Content of lactate dehydrogenate (LDH) was measured to find out the integrity of the cell membrane., Results: A stable hepatocyte culture system was established. HBV could infect the hepatocytes and replicate, and HBcAg expression could be detected by immunohistochemistry in hepatocyte-like cells. HBV-DNA in the supernatant could be detected from d 2 to d 18 and HBsAg and HBeAg were positive on d 3-d 18 after HBV infection. HBV in medium increased from d 0 to d 6 and subsequently decreased as the cells were progressively loosing their hepatocyte phenotypes., Conclusion: HBV could infect human fetal hepatocytes and replicate. This in vitro model allowed a detailed study on early events associated with human HBV entry into cells and subsequent replication.

Objective: To investigate the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) into neuron-like cells and to explore their potential use for neural transplantation., Methods: BMSC from rats and adult humans were cultured in serum-containing media. Salvia miltiorrhiza was used to induce human BMSC (hBMSC) to differentiate. BMSC were identified with immunocytochemistry. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine mRNA expression of neurofilamentl (NF1), nestin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in rat BMSC (rBMSC). Rat BMSC labelled by Hoschst33258 were transplanted into striatum of rats to trace migration and distribution., Results: rBMSC expressed NSE, NF1 and nestin mRNA, and NF1 mRNA and expression was increased with induction of Salvia miltiorrhiza. A small number of hBMSC were stained by anti-nestin, anti-GFAP and anti-S100. Salvia miltiorrhiza could induce hBMSC to differentiate into neuron-like cells. Some differentiated neuron-like cells, that expressed NSE, beta-tubulin and NF-200, showed typical neuron morphology, but some neuron-like cells also expressed alpha smooth muscle protein, making their neuron identification complicated. rBMSC could migrate and adapted in the host brains after being transplanted., Conclusion: Bone marrow stromal cells could express phenotypes of neurons, and Salvia miltiorrhiza could induce hBMSC to differentiate into neuron-like cells. If BMSC could be converted into neurons instead of mesenchymal derivatives, they would be an abundant and accessible cellular source to treat a variety of neurological diseases.

Objective: To search for culture conditions in which the cells from human amnion could diferentiate into neural cells and hence to explore a new cell source for neural transplantaion., Methods: Amnion cells from human were cultured with tissue piece method, passaged by trypsin digestion and identified with immunocytochemistry., Results: Amnion cells migrated from explants and primary culture was established; they could multiply and expand steadily in a short time, and they could be passaged by trypsin digestion. When cultured in serum-free neural stem cell media, these cells could form the same spheroid shape as the neurospheres of neural stem cells. They could express alpha smooth muscle actin and differentiate into smooth muscle cells spontaneously, and could express nestin and vimentin, the markers for neural progenitors. Moreover, they could he stained by anti-beta III-tubulin, anti-neurofilament 200 and anti-NSE; the majorities could he stained by antityrosine hydroxylase, the marker for dopaminergic neurons. Lower than 0.1% of the total cells were stained by GFAP, indicating the existence of astrocytes. The amnion cells could also differentiate into adipocytes under specific induction., Conclusion: Amnion cells could differentiate into adipocytes and smooth muscle cells; they could express the protein for neural cells; thus may represent an alternative stem cell source for CNS cell transplantation.

Objective: To investigate the isolation and expansion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly and their biological identities, and explore the possibility of inducing human umbilical cord-derived MSCs to differentiate into neurocyte-like cells., Methods: The growth and proliferative abilities of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were observed, and their immunophenotypes were determined by flow cytometry. Salvia miltiorrhiza and beta-sulfhydryl alcohol were adopted to induce the cells to differentiate. The differentiated and undifferentiated cells were identified with immunocytochemistry. The pleiotrophin and nestin genes were measured by RT-PCR., Results: A population of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were isolated from human umbilical Wharton's jelly; they were processed to obtain a fibroblast-like population of cells and could be maintained in vitro for extended periods with stable population doubling, and they were expanded as undifferentiated cells in culture for more than 10 passages, indicating their proliferative capacity. The human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were positive for CD(29), CD(44), CD(59), CD(105), but negative or weakly expressed the markers of hematopoietic cells such as CD(14), CD(33), CD(34), CD(28), CD(45) and CD(117). The important GVHD correlation markers were negative or weakly expressed, including CD(80) (B7-1), CD(86) (B7-2), CD(40) and CD(40L). Salvia miltiorrhiza beta-sulfhydryl alcohol could induce the MSCs to express nestin, a marker of neuronal precursor stem cells at early stage of differentiation. Later, they exhibited neural phenotypes, expressing beta-tubulin III and neurofilament (NF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). It was confirmed by RT-PCR that the MSCs could express pleiotrophin either before or after the induction of salvia miltiorrhiza, furthermore, after the induction the expression was markedly enhanced and the nestin gene was also expressed., Conclusion: The human MSCs could be isolated from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly, and it was easy to propagate these MSCs. The negative GVHD correlated markers might result from the fact that MSCs had no HLA barrier, which may suggest potential clinical significance. The MSCs are capable of differentiating into neurocyte-like cells and they may represent an alternative stem cell source for CNS cells transplantation.

Objective: To explore the culture and subculture conditions for glioma stem cells(GSCs) and to investigate the differentiation potential of GSCs., Methods: The cells from human glioma were mechanically dissociated. Cells were cultured in N2 or B27 medium with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), and they were identified by immunocytochemistry., Results: Glioma stem cells from human glioma have been successfully cultured. They formed typical neurospheres in suspension, and they could be cultured and passaged steadily in vitro. The majorities of the cells expressed vimentin and nestin, which were the markers for neural stem cells. They could differentiate into neurons and astrocytes, and express glial fibrillary acidic protein and beta III-tubulin respectively., Conclusion: Human glioma stem cells could be cultured from gliomas in vitro, and they could differentiate into neurons and astrocytes, thus providing a basis for further studies.

Background: The two most basic properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the capacities to self-renew indefinitely and differentiate into multiple cells and tissue types. The cells from human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly have properties of MSCs and represent a rich source of primitive cells. This study was conducted to explore the possibility of inducing human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly-derived MSCs to differentiate into nerve-like cells., Methods: MSCs were cultured from the Wharton's Jelly taken from human umbilical cord of babies delivered after full-term normal labor. Salvia miltiorrhiza and beta-mercaptoethanol were used to induce the human umbilical cord-derived MSCs to differentiate. The expression of neural protein markers was shown by immunocytochemistry. The induction process was monitored by phase contrast microscopy, electron microscopy (EM), and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The pleiotrophin and nestin genes were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)., Results: MSCs in the Wharton's Jelly were easily attainable and could be maintained and expanded in culture. They were positive for markers of MSCs, but negative for markers of hematopoietic cells and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-related cells. Treatment with Salvia miltiorrhiza caused Wharton's Jelly cells to undergo profound morphological changes. The induced MSCs developed rounded cell bodies with multiple neurite-like extensions. Eventually they developed processes that formed networks reminiscent of primary cultures of neurons. Salvia miltiorrhiza and beta-mercaptoethanol also induced MSCs to express nestin, beta-tubulinIII, neurofilament (NF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). It was confirmed by RT-PCR that MSCs could express pleiotrophin both before and after induction by Salvia miltiorrhiza. The expression was markedly enhanced after induction and the nestin gene was also expressed., Conclusions: MSCs could be isolated from human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly. They were capable of differentiating into nerve-like cells using Salvia miltiorrhiza or beta-mercaptoethanol. The induced MSCs not only underwent morphologic changes, but also expressed the neuron-related genes and neuronal cell markers. They may represent an alternative source of stem cells for central nervous system cell transplantation.

Objective: To explore the migration and distribution of human neural stem cells (NSCs) after they were transplanted into lateral cerebroventricles of embryonic rats., Methods: This study was conducted with the proxy consent and the permission from the Hospitals Ethical Review Committee. The cells from the embryonic human cortices were mechanically dissociated. N2 medium was used to culture and expand the cells. And the cells were identified by immunocytochemistry; then after being labelled with BrdU or adenovirus carrying LacZ gene, they were implanted into the lateral cerebroventricles of embryonic rats. The rats were sacrificed after they were born and the brain sections were examined by immunocytochemistry at different time points., Results: NSCs from embryonic humans were successfully cultured; they formed typical neurospheres in suspension, and the majorities of the cells expressed nestin, which was the marker for neural progenitor cells, and the cells could differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. NSCs could steadily expressed exogenous gene in vivo and in vitro; after transplantation into embryonic rat brains, the fetal human NSCs incorporated individually into all major compartments of the brains, generating widespread CNS chimerism and having a wide distribution in the host fore-, mid-, and hindbrain., Conclusion: NSCs could express foreign gene steadily and were the ideal cell sources for cell and gene therapy. These cells could incorporate into developing brains and generate widespread chimerism. These chimeras provide a unique model for studying human neural cell migration and differentiation in a functional nervous system.

Objective: To investigate the differentiative capability of adult human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into Schwann-like cells., Methods: Bone marrows were aspirated from healthy donors and mononuclear cells were separated by Percoll lymphocytes separation liquid (1.073 g/ml) with centrifugation, cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 (1:1) medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 20 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF) and 20 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Cells of passage 1 were identified with immunocytochemistry., Results: Mononuclear cells separated by Percoll's were passaged 10 times by trypsin/ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) digestion in 40 days, and BMSCs increased about 6x10(7) times in this short period. Immunohistochemistry identified that BMSCs were CD34- and CD31-, but they expressed neuron specific enolase; 0.01%-0.02% of total cells expressed nestin, the marker for neural progenitor cells; 40%-50% cells stained heavily by neurofilament 200; and no glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive cells were identified; S100 expression was detected among 0.1%-0.2% cells., Conclusions: Bone marrow contains the stem cells with the ability of differentiating into Schwann-like cells, which may represent an alternative stem cell sources for neural transplantation.

Objective: To investigate the neural differentiating capability of the umbilical cord tissue-derived stromal cells (UCSCs) in the attempt to find a new cell source for neural transplantation., Methods: UCSCs from umbilical cord of human were cultured with tissue piece method, passaged by trypsin digestion. And Salvia miltiorrhiza was used to induce the cells to differentiate. Cells were identified with immunocytochemistry., Results: Stromal cells that migrated from explants and primary culture were obtained. These cells could differentiate into smooth muscle cells spontaneously and expressed smooth muscle actin; they could be passaged by trypsin digestion. Salvia miltiorrhiza could induce these cells to differentiate into the neuron-like cells, which displayed typical neuron morphology, expressed nestin, beta III-tubulin and NSE at the early stage of differentiation, and were stained by anti-neurofilament 200 at the late stage of differentiation. With optimal conditions, about 90% of UCSCs expressed neuronal phenotypes, lower than 1% of the differentiated cells expressed GFAP, and no myelin basic protein expression was detected in the differentiated cells, indicating the absence of oligodendrocyte differentiation from stromal cells., Conclusion: The data supported the hypothesis that umbilical cord contains the stem cells with the ability of differentiating into neurons, which may provide an alternative stem cell source for CNS cell transplantation.

Objective: To investigate exogenous gene expressing ability of adipose tissue-derived stromal cell (ADSCs) and cell distribution after they were transplanted into brains, and to get the genetically modified cells for autografting., Methods: ADSCs were transfected by Ad5beta gal adenovirus containing a report gene, LacZ gene, then they were transplanted into the adult brain of rats, or ADSCs labeled by Hoechst33258 were transplanted into the adult brain of rats to investigate the migration and distribution of cells., Results: ADSCs showed a good expression of LacZ with X-gal staining after transfecting and transplantation into adult brains, and they could incorporate into the host brain tissues and no disruption was observed. These cells showed good compatibility with the host brains., Conclusion: The results indicate that ADSCs could incorporate into host brains and express exogenous gene steadily when they were transplanted into adult brain tissues, no overproliferation and gliosis were identified, and ADSCs may be used as a therapeutic gene delivery vehicle in treating CNS disorders in humans.

Objective: To investigate the culture method of skin-derived precursors (SKPs) and to explore a new cell source for cell transplantation of central nervous system., Methods: Cells from skins of juvenile and adult mice were isolated and cultured in serum-free medium. A mechanical method was chosen to passage these cells and they were identified by the immunocytochemistry assay., Results: SKPs could be isolated from adult and neonatal skins. They could be maintained in vitro for long periods with stable proliferation, and expanded as undifferentiated cells in culture for more than 12 passages. About 50% of SKPs expressed nestin and majority of these cells expressed fibronectin when they were plated on polyornithine and laminin coated plates. About 5% cells showed neuronal differentiation and expressed neurofilament-M (NF-M) and NSE when SKPs were plated in serum-containing medium, and these cells could also differentiate into adipocytes and fibroblast-like cells., Conclusions: The data support the hypothesis that adult skin contains stem cells capable of differentiating into neurons, adipocytes, and fibroblast-like cells. They may represent an alternative autologous stem cell source for CNS cell transplantation.

Background: Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) can be greatly expanded in vitro, and induced to differentiate into multiple mesenchymal cell types, including osteogenic, chondrogenic, myogenic, and adipogenic cells. This study was designed to investigate the possibility of ADSCs differentiating into neurons., Methods: Adipose tissue from rats was digested with collagenase, and adherent stromal cells were cultured. A medium containing a low concentration of fetal bovine serum was adopted to induce the cells to differentiate. ADSCs were identified by immunocytochemistry, and semi-quantitative RT-PCR was applied to detect mRNA expression of neurofilament 1 (NF1), nestin, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE)., Results: Nestin-positive cells were found occasionally among ADSCs. ADSCs were found to express NSE mRNA and nestin mRNA, but not NF1 mRNA. ADSCs could differentiate into neuron-like cells in a medium composed of a low concentration of fetal bovine serum, and these differentiated cells displayed complicated neuron-like morphologies., Conclusions: The data support the hypothesis that adipose tissue contains stem cells capable of differentiating into neurons. These stem cells can overcome their mesenchymal commitment, and may represent an alternative autologous stem cell source for CNS cell transplantation.

Objective: To explore the culture conditions of human neural stem cells and to investigate the ultrastructure of neurospheres., Methods: The cells from the embryonic human cortices were mechanically dissociated. N2 medium was adapted to culture and expand the cells. The cells were identified by immunocytochemistry and EM was applied to examine the ultrastructure of neurospheres., Results: The neural stem cells from human embryonic brains were successfully cultured and formed typical neurospheres in suspension, and most of the cells expressed vimentin, which was a marker for neural progenitor cells, and the cells could differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. In vitro myelin formation in neurospheres were observed at an early stage of culture., Conclusions: Human neural stem cells can be cultured from embryonic brains, can form the typical neurospheres in suspension in vitro and have the ability of myelinating, and may be potential source for transplantation in treating myelin disorders.