Objective To review the common methods of isolation and purification of porcine islets and research progress. Methods Domestic and abroad literature concerning the isolation and purification of porcine islets was reviewed and analyzed thoroughly. Results The efficacy of the isolation and purification depends on the selection of donor, the procurement and cryopreservation of high-quality donor pancreas, and the selection and improvement of the operation. Conclusion The shortage of transplanted islets could be resolved by the establishment of standardized and optimal process, which may also promote the development of porcine islet xenograft.
Objective To investigate the characteristics of blood supply of popliteal fossa middle artery pedicled flaps and the feasibility of reconstruction of postburn popliteal fossa contractures using the flaps in children. Methods Between January 2008 and October 2010, 6 cases of postburn popliteal fossa contractures were recontructed using popliteal fossa middle artery pedicled flaps. Of them, 2 were boys and 4 were girls, aged from 2 years and 2 months to10 years. All burns were caused by hot water. The wound ranged from 5 cm × 4 cm to 10 cm × 8 cm after scar relaxation. The size of the flap ranged from 6 cm × 4 cm to 11 cm × 9 cm. Donor sites were covered with split-thickness skin graft in 5 cases, and sutured directly in 1 case. Results All the flaps and the skingraft survived; no vascular crisis or flap necrosis occurred. All incisions at donors and wounds healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-24 months. The color, texture, and appearance of the flaps were good. Hyperplastic scar was found at incision of popliteal fossa in 1 case at 6 months after operation; the range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint was 0-175°, and no obvious change was observed at 15 months after operation. The others had no functional disturbance of the knee joints or claudication; the ROM of the knee joint was 0-180°. Conclusion The popliteal fossa middle artery pedicled flap has reliable blood supply, simple operative procedure, and good results in reconstruction of popliteal fossa contracture.
Objective To study the effect of low-dose cyclophosphamide (CY) on apoptosis of lung parenchyma cells in the early severe burn stage in rats. Methods Ninety clean SD male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the normal group (n=10), the experimental group (n=40) and the burn group (n=40). The model of degree III with 30% burn area was made in the experimental group and the burn group. CY (2 mg/kg) was injected into the abdominal cavity right after burn in the experimental group. No treatment was done in the normal group and burn group. Lung tissues were obtained at 3, 6, 12and 24 hours, respectively, after burn, and were observed by HE staining. Apoptosis of lung parenchyma cells was observed by TUNEL. Results Lung tissues were observed under the opticalmicroscopy in the normal group: the pulmonary structure was clear, and there were no inflammatory cells and exudation in the alveolar space and bronchial lumen. Besides, a few RBCs were seen. Pathological changes of lung tissues were observed under the opticalmicroscopy in the burn group: alveolar septum was obviously widened; alveolar wall was destroyed; interstitial edema and atelectasis occurred; and pathological lesion was gradually aggravated as time passed by. The pathological lesion of lung tissues mentioned above in the experimental group was better than those in the burn group. Compared with the normal group, the apoptosis ratio of lung parenchyma cells continuously increased in the burn group from the 3 hour after burn, and reached the peak at 12 hours. There were significant differences between the two groups (P lt; 0.05). However, in the experimental group, the apoptosis ratio of lung parenchyma cells increased at 3 hours after burn, cut down to normal at 6 and 12 hours, respectively, and notably decreased at 24 hours. There were significant differences between the experimental group and the normal group (P lt; 0.05). Compared with the burn group, the apoptosisrate of lung parenchyma cells in the experimental group began to decrease strikingly from the 6 hours after burn, and there were significant differences between the two groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Low-dose CY can restrain the apoptosis of lung parenchyma cells in the early severe burn stage in rats and alleviate the injury of the lung.