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Abstract: We have previously demonstrated that human adipose‐derived stem cells (hADSCs) can be differentiated into lymphatic endothelial like cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of utilizing the induced lymphatic endothelial like cells and decellularized arterial scaffold to construct the tissue‐engineered lymphatic vessel. The hADSCs were isolated from adipose tissue in healthy adults and were characterized the multilineage differentiation potential. Decellularized arterial scaffold was prepared using the Triton x‐100 method. ADSCs were differentiated into lymphatic‐like endothelial cells, and the induced cells were then seeded onto the decellularized arterial scaffold to engineer the lymphatic vessel. The histological analyses were performed to examine the endothelialized construct. The decellularized arterial scaffold was successfully obtained and was able to maintain its vessel morphology. The isolated ADSCs can be differentiated into osteocytes and adipocytes. After seeding onto the scaffold, the seeded cells attached and grew well on the decellularized arterial scaffold. Our preliminary results demonstrated that the induced lymphatic endothelial like cells combined with decellularized arterial scaffold could be utilized to successfully engineer the lymphatic vessel. Our findings may be helpful for the development of tissue‐engineering of the lymphatic graft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) may provide a suitable number of progenitors for the treatment of lymphatic edema; however, to date the protocols for inducing hADSCs into this tissue type have not been standardized. We wished to investigate the induction of hADSCs into lymphatic endothelial-like cells using vascular endothelial growth factor-C156S (VEGF-C156S) and other growth factors in vitro. hADSCs from healthy adult adipose tissue were purified using enzyme digestion. Differentiation was induced using medium containing VEGF-C156S and bovine fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Differentiation was confirmed using immunostaining for lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor (LYVE-1) and fms-related tyrosine kinase 4 (FLT-4), two lymphatic endothelial cell markers. The expression levels of LYVE-1, prospero homeobox 1 (PROX-1), and FLT-4 throughout induction were assessed using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction. hADSCs were successfully obtained by trypsin digest and purification. Flow cytometry showed these cells were similar to mesenchymal stem cells, with a high positive rate of CD13, CD29, CD44, and CD105, and a low positive rate of CD31, CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR. Induction to lymphatic endothelial-like cells was successful, with cells expressing high levels of LYVE-1, PROX-1, and FLT-4. Adipose-derived stem cells can be induced to differentiate into lymphatic endothelial-like cells using a medium containing VEGF-C156S, bFGF, and other growth factors. This population of lymphatic endothelial-like cells may be useful for lymphatic reconstruction in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the stability of seeker disturbance rejection rate parasitic loop, models of disturbance rejection rate transfer function and parasitic loop were established for a typical gimbaled seeker. Two kinds of experiment systems for evaluating the stability of disturbance rejection rate parasitic loop were also proposed. Then, the characteristic of disturbance rejection rate transfer function was analyzed by using frequency domain methods. The effect of guidance parameters on the parasitic loop stability region was studied by employing Routh criteria. For an infrared imaging seeker with particular parameters, the disturbance rejection rate transfer function and stability of parasitic loop were analyzed under typical flight condition and the effectiveness of proposed test method for inspecting parasitic loop's stability was experimentally verified. The results show that the parasitic loop may go unstable in the middle frequency mostly. Both the guidance parameters and amplitude-phase characteristic of the disturbance rejection rate transfer function affect the stability of parasitic loop significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: We retrospectively reviewed 115 cases of living donors for right lobes of liver transplants, not including the middle hepatic veins, in our hospital. The weights and volumes of the right lobe liver grafts were measured and recorded in the surgery. The actual total volume of liver was calculated from the right lobe graft volume divided by the proportion of the right lobe as indicated in the computed tomography. Simple linear regression analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis were undertaken to develop a formula for calculating the total liver volume, which was compared with other existing formulae., Results: The liver donors had a mean age of (35.97 +/- 9.6) years old, and a female to male ratio of 60:55. The computed tomography detected a mean volume of (727.47 +/- 136.17) mL of right lobe, which occupied 55.59% +/- 6.70% of the entire livers. The right lobe grafts had an actual volume of (581.73 +/- 96.137) mL and the donors had an actual total liver volume of (1053.08 +/- 167.56) mL. A formula was developed for calculating the standard liver volume: SLV(mL) = 11.508 x Body Weight + 334.024. The HongKong formula underestimated, whereas all of the other formulae overestimated the actual liver volume of the donors. Conclusion The standard liver volume of Chinese adults can be calculated as: SLV = 11.508 x Body Weight + 334.024.

Objective: To evaluate the donor risks and potential recipient benefits of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for adult patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)., Methods: From January 2002 to December 2006, a total of 27 LDLT for HCC patients were performed in our center, of which 25 received right lobe grafts and 2 received dual grafts. The clinical and follow-up data of these 27 recipients and 29 donors were analyzed retrospectively., Results: Of the 29 donors, the overall complication rate was 17.24% (5 cases). Two cases (6.90%) experienced major complications (one with intra-abdominal bleeding and one with portal vein thrombosis) and three cases (10.34%) experienced minor ones (fat necrosis and infection of the surgical skin wound in one, pleural effusion in another and transient chyle leakage in the third). All donors were fully recovered and returned to their previous work. No recipients developed small-for-size syndrome. The overall HCC patients survival rate at 1- and 3-years was 84.01% and 71.40%, respectively, similar to that of patients undergoing LDLT for various nonmalignant diseases during the same period (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Although further study is needed to fully assess the risks and benefits of LDLT for the HCC patients and donors, our present results preliminarily suggest that LDLT offers an acceptable chance and duration of survival in patients with HCC, and it is a relatively safe procedure.