Amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells as a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of fulminant hepatic failure in rats

As a potential alternative treatment for terminal liver diseases, amniotic fluid derived mesenchymal stem cells (AFMSCs) have many advantages over other stem cells: avoiding much ethical controversy and decrease in both quantity and differentiation potential with age. However, the therapeutic role of AFMSC for fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) has not yet been clearly elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the reparation effects of transplanted AFMSCs in rats with FHF. AFMSCs were transplanted into injured liver via the portal vein in the rat FHF model. Therapeutic effect was evaluated after cell transfusion by histologic pathology, hepatic enzyme levels and animal survival. Cryostat sections were prepared and directly assessed for green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression and localization, and in vivo differentiation of AFMSC was confirmed by double-immunostaining analyses. Our results show that AFMSCs prevented liver failure and reduced mortality in rats with FHF. These animals also exhibited improved liver function and animals survival after injection with AFMSCs using GFP, we demonstrated that the engrafted cells and their progeny incorporated into injured livers and produced albumin. We found that AFMSCs transplantation modestly promoted the repair of FHF in rats. AFMSCs implanted in the injured liver may be a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of FHF.Key words: Amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells, fulminant hepatic failure, cell transplantation, treatment, hepatogenic differentiation

Core-Shell Nano-Antenna Configurations for Array Formation with More Stability Having Conventional and Non-Conventional Directivity and Propagation Behavior

The enhancement of optical characteristics at optical frequencies deviates with the choice of the arrangement of core-shell nanoparticles and their environment. Likewise, the arrangements of core-shell nanoparticles in the air over a substrate or in liquid solution makes them unstable in the atmosphere. This article suggests designing a configuration of an active spherical coated nanoparticle antenna and its extended array in the presence of a passive dielectric, which is proposed to be extendable to construct larger arrays. The issue of instability in the core-shell nanoantenna array models is solved here by inserting the passive dielectric. In addition to this, the inclusion of a dielectric in the array model reports a different directivity behaviour than the conventional array models. We found at first that the combination model of the active coated nanoparticle and passive sphere at the resonant frequency can excite a stronger field with a rotated polarization direction and a propagation direction different from the incident plane-wave. Furthermore, the extended 2D array also rotates the polarization direction and propagation direction for the vertical incident plane-wave. The radiation beam operates strong multipoles in the 2D array plane at resonant frequency (behaving non-conventionally). Nevertheless, it forms a clear main beam in the incident direction when it deviates from the resonance frequency (behaving conventionally). The proposed array model may have possible applications in nano-amplifiers, nano-sensors and other integrated optics

Laparoscopic excision of congenital choledochal cyst in children and modified hepaticojejunostomy with an unequal length of the jejunal loop: Laparoscopic excision of choledochal cyst in children

Introduction: Complete excision biliary-enteric reconstruction is necessary for a congenital choledochal cyst (CC) to prevent recurrent cholangitis, acute pancreatitis, and cholangiocarcinoma. Among various reconstructions, this study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effect of unequal length jejunal loop for the biliary reconstruction of congenital choledochal cyst.   Method: The clinical data of 56 cases of congenital choledochal cyst treated in the pediatric surgery department of Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zheng Zhou University were retrospectively analyzed. All cases were treated with choledochal cyst resection and unequal length jejunal loop biliary reconstruction, including 51 cases with laparoscopic surgery and 5 cases with traditional surgery.   Result: Choledochal cyst resection and unequal length jejunal loop biliary reconstruction were successfully completed in all cases. One case of laparoscopic operation developed biliary fistula on the 3rd day after the operation, and the biliary fistula healed after conservative treatment for 8 days. The other cases recovered smoothly without obvious complications. No contrast agent bile loop reflux was found in upper gastrointestinal angiography.   Conclusion: The modified jejunal loop biliary reconstruction has many advantages over the traditional biliary reconstruction, which is worthy of clinical application