ObjectiveTo assess the prognosis of asymptomatic pulmonary sarcoidosis with normal lung function. MethodsEighty-two patients with asymptomatic pulmonary sarcoidosis,diagnosed in Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases between July 2007 and November 2013,were followed for 24 months.The clinical data were collected and analyzed. Results31.7% of the patients showed spontaneous remission without therapy,whereas 39.0% deteriorated and 29.3% remain stable.There was no significant difference between the remission group and the progressive sarcoidosis group with regard to FEV1.17.1% of patients in the progressive sarcoidosis group had a decline in FEV1,while 73.8% had a reduced FVC,and 28.3% had a reduced DLCO.At the beginning of observation,TNF-α level was higher in the progressive sarcoidosis group compared with the remission group and the stable group[(173.5±37.8) μg/mL vs.(102.6±82.7) μg/mL and(131.7±57.9) μg/mL,P<0.05].In the progressive sarcoidosis group,TNF-α at the end time of the observation was higher than that at the beginning[(229.2±76.7) μg/mL vs.(173.5±37.8) μg/mL,P<0.05].The neutrophil in BALF was significantly higher in the progressive sarcoidosis group compared with the remission group[(10.6±4.6)% vs.(8.68±5.2)%,P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the progressive sarcoidosis group and the remission group with regard to CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio and the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) in lung tissue.Non-necrotizing granulomas rate in endobronchial biopsy was 63.6% in the progressive sarcoidosis group,54.9% in the remission group,and 58.4% in the stable group,respectively,without significant difference between three groups(P>0.05) but was significantly different between three groups at the end time of the observation(69.1% vs.12.7% and 36.2%,P<0.05). ConclusionNearly 40% asymptomatic pulmonary sarcoidosis are likely to deteriorate.The increase of TNF-α and BALF neutrophils may indicate the progress of sarcoidosis.
ObjectiveTo review the research progress of different cell seeding densities and cell ratios in cartilage tissue engineering. MethodsThe literature about tissue engineered cartilage constructed with three-dimensional scaffold was extensively reviewed, and the seeding densities and ratios of most commonly used seed cells were summarized. ResultsArticular chondrocytes (ACHs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are the most commonly used seed cells, and they can induce hyaline cartilage formation in vitro and in vivo. Cell seeding density and cell ratio both play important roles in cartilage formation. Tissue engineered cartilage with good quality can be produced when the cell seeding density of ACHs or BMSCs reaches or exceeds that in normal articular cartilage. Under the same culture conditions, the ability of pure BMSCs to build hyaline cartilage is weeker than that of pure ACHs or co-culture of both. ConclusionDue to the effect of scaffold materials, growth factors, and cell passages, optimal cell seeding density and cell ratio need further study.