ABSTRACT
Objective:To design a new type of assistive chopsticks for the hand disorders, such as hand weakness and poor fine movement, etc. Methods:The assistive chopsticks were palm-control operative, integrated structure designed, and bending stamping processing technology was adopted. The key parts such as the bends and joint, holding parts were improved. The prototype was tested with finite element analysis and mechanical testing, and used on trial by a three years old boy. Results:The gripping force needed was related to the bending radius, material, section size and holding position. It required less dexterity and force for particular fingers, and was not easy to drop down. They could bounce off automatically and were suitable for left hand. Conclusion:The new type of assistive chopsticks may help the patients with hand dysfunction to have meals with chopsticks, to improve the quality of life. However, it is also suitable for Westerners with less experience.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#A rapid fixation device is developed to solve the problems of emergency fixation and transportation of patients with spinal injury.@*METHODS@#Through the analysis of the function,3D modeling design, finite element analysis and optimization design based on ANSYS Workbench, tensile strength verification experiment, we produced the prototype, and tested it, conducted a simulated rescue experiment.@*RESULTS@#The fixation device designed can meet the demand of spinal injury patients for safe rescue after accidents, and the quality of the rapid fixation device was lighten by about 30% without reducing the intensity.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The method based on optimal design can obviously improve the structure design, and has reference significance for other related rescue equipment design.
Subject(s)
Humans , Equipment Design , Finite Element Analysis , Tensile StrengthABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the antimicrobial resistance ,molecular phenotypes ,virulence gene profiles of Salmonella A gona (S .A gona) isolated from patients with acute diarrhea ,and to better understand its epidemic trend ,prevention and treatment .Methods Clinical data and stool samples of patients with acute diarrhea during April to October in 2013 and 2014 from the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were collected .Enrichment culture ,biochemical identification and serotyping analysis were used to isolate and identify S .A gona strains .The isolated strains were further analyzed with antibiotics susceptibility test ,pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) ,multiple locus sequence typing (MLST ) , Quinolone resistance determining region (QRDR) .Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) and β-lactamases genes (TEM ,SHV ,OXA ,and CTX-M) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing .The representative genes carried by Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPI) 1 — 6 ,9 — 12 and virulence plasmids were amplified by PCR .And the clinical characteristics of S .Agona infection were analyzed .Results Among 119 non-repetitive (non-typhoidal salmonella ,NTS) isolates during the two years ,eight isolates (6 .7％ ) of S .A gona were identified . The resistance rate of S .A gona strains to streptomycin was 100 .0％ , those to ampicillin and gentamicin were 62 .5％ ,to levofloxacin ,ciprofloxacin and nalicixic acid were 25 .0％ ,to chloramphenicol ,amoxillin/clavulanic acid and piperacillin tazobactam were 12 .5％ .The strains were susceptible to other drugs .All 8 isolates had the identical ST13 genotype .PFGE showed 5 clones ,and 4 out of 5 isolates had the exact same patterns of PFGE and drug susceptibility .Two (fluoroquinolones ,FQ) resistant strains carried gyrA mutation leading to amino acid substitutions at position 87 in GyrA ,and no PMQR genes was detected ,while one of which was sensitive to ciprofloxacin by K-B method .All five ampicillin-resistant isolates were positive for TEM-1b gene and one isolate of them was resistant to β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor complex .The representative genes carried by SPI 1 — 6 , 9 ,11 ,12 (hilA ,sseL ,mgtC ,siiE ,sopB ,pagN ,bapA ,pagC and sspH2) were 100 .0％ positive ,while the genes carried by SPI10 (sef A ) virulence plasmids (spvB , prot6E) were negative . Two patients with FQ resistant strains infection were clinically diagnosed with bacillary dysentery ,and the remaining six cases with FQ susceptible strains infection were clinically diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis .Conclusions FQs-resistant and multi-drug resistant S .A gonaisolates have emerged in clinical settings .These isolates carry a variety of virulence genes .Resistance to FQ of S .Agonamay cause more severe illness .ST13 might be the dominant genotype of S . A gona in China ,and we should try to prevent the infection outbreak of S .A gona .
ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the nutritional status and respiratory function of the patients with mechanical ventilation in Intensive Care Unit after high fat and low carbohydrate enteral nutrition treatment.Methods:271 patients with mechanical ventilation in Intensive Care Unit were randomly divided into two groups:study group and control group.The study group was given high fat and low carbohydrate enteral nutrition treatment,while the control group with Enteral Nutritional Suspension.Thealbumin,prealbumin,blood gas analysis(PaC02,Pa0) and RQ,VC02,V02,IgG,CD4,CD4/CD8 were observed.Results:After nutritional support,nutritional status of two groups were improved,but there was no significant difference regarding the serum albumin and prealbumin.The PaO2,VO2,VCO2,RQ,IgG,CD4,CD4/CD8 and the total time of mechanical ventilation were improved,and the study group was superior to the control group.Conclusion:High fat and low carbohydrate enteral nutrition improves the nutritional status and respiratory function of the patients with mechanical ventilation in Intensive Care Unit,and decreases the total time of mechanical ventilation and total medical expenses.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in diagnosis of urinary tract infection(UTI) in elderly patients.Methods 114 elderly patients with UTI in the department of infectious diseases of a hospital from January 2013 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively, clinical data of patients with abnormal and normal serum PCT were compared, PCT levels in patients with positive and negative blood cultures were compared, PCT receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the diagnosis of bacteremia were drawn.Results Among 114 elderly patients with UTI, 46 were with abnormal PCT, 68 were with normal PCT.In abnormal PCT group, the proportions of patients with highest body temperature within 24 hours of admission, white blood cell count, neutrophil granulocyte percentage, C-reactive protein (CRP), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine(Cr), and urinary tract obstructive disease were all higher than those with normal PCT (all P<0.05).Among 42 patients with blood culture, PCT level in positive blood culture group(n=12) was higher than negative blood culture group(n=30)(1.93 [0.57-8.32] μg/L vs 0.36[0.15-1.01]μg/L, P=0.028).The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the patients with bacteremia diagnosed by PCT was 0.72(95%CI:0.54-0.90),at the optimal value of 0.52 g/L, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 83.3%, 63.3%, 47.6%, and 90.5% respectively.Conclusion Serum PCT level can well reflect the severity of elderly patients with UTI, and is of great value in early diagnosis of bacteremia in elderly patients with UTI.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate antibiotics resistance of Proteus mirabilis isolated from stools of patients with acute diarrhea for the prevention and treatment of its infection and the rational use of antibiotics. Methods Stool samples of acute diarrhea patients were collected in the diarrhea outpatient clinic of the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University and Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from 2013 to 2014. Enrichment culture and biochemical identification were used to isolate and identify Proteus mirabilis, which were further performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing and class 1 integron detection. Extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) phenotype and ESBLs genes (TEM, OXA and CTX-M) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequencing were carried on in parts of suspected isolates. ESBLs-positive strains were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results A total of 277 strains of non-repetitive Proteus mirabilis were isolated, and 268 of them were performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing (the remaining 9 strains failed to recover). Relative higher resistant rates were trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (30.2%), ampicillin (25.4%), nalidixic acid (25.7%), streptomycin (21.6%) and chloramphenicol (21.3%). The multiple drug resistance rate was 24.6% (66/268). The positive rate of class 1 integron was 22.8%(61/268). Resistance rates to third-generation cephalosporin, ciprofloxacin and imipenem were less than 10%, but 4 isolates were resistant to imipenem, third-generation cephalosporin, fluoroquinolones, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and chloramphenicol simultaneously. Three cefotaxime-resistant strains (1062, 1505 and 1650) were positive for ESBLs phenotype and harbored CTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes, among them 2 strains also carried TEM and/or OXA β-lactamase genes. The clustering analysis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) displayed that the similarities between 1505 and 1650 were 85.7%, and the similarity with 1062 was 58.1%. Conclusion Proteus mirabilis isolated from patients with acute diarrhea in our city show significant multidrug resistance, high positive rate of class 1 integron, and emergence of ESBLs-positive strains resistant to imipenem and fluoroquinolones, which pose a threat to public health. Rational use of antibiotics is important in both clinical and nonclinical settings.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate antimicrobial resistance and ceftriaxone resistance mechanisms in clinically isolated nontyphoidal Salmonella(NTS),and provide evidence for the prevention and control of NTS infection and rational use of antimicrobial agents.Methods 108 NTS isolates were isolated from stool specimens of outpatients with acute diarrhea in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University and Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from May to October of 2014,NTS were performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing;non-ceftriaxone-susceptible isolates were typed by serological,multilocus sequence (MLST),and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)methods,extended-spectrumβ-lactamase (ESBL)detection and AmpC genes were detection.Results Among 108 NTS isolates,mono-drug resistance rate to 11 antimicrobial agents was 49.07% (n= 53),multidrug resistance rate was17.59% . Susceptibility rates to nalidixic acid,levofloxacin,ciprofloxacin,ceftriaxone,and ertapenem were 61.11% ,66.67% ,68.52% ,97.22% ,and 100.00% respectively. Three non-ceftriaxone-susceptible NTS isolates were detected,2 were ST11 Salmonellaenterica serotype (Sa8709,Sa8771),1 was ST34 Salmonellatyphimurium serotype(Sa8763). Cluster analysis of PFGE revealed that Sa8709 was highly similar to Sa8771 strains(91 .70% ), but the similarity to Sa8763 was low(55.80% );Sa8709 strain carried CTX-M gene,Sa8771 strain carried CTX-M and TEM genes,Sa8763 strain carried OXA gene. Conclusion Clinically isolated NTS in this area are low resistant to fluoroquinolones,multidrug resistant strains carrying ESBLs have emerged.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the antibiotic susceptibilities and the profiles of virulence genes of clinically isolated Salmonella enterica serovars Schwarzengrund ( S. Schwarzengrund) strains for bet-ter understanding the epidemiological trend of this type of non-typhoidal Salomonella and to provide guide-lines for the prevention and treatment of S. Schwarzengrund infection. Methods Stool samples and clinical data of patients with acute diarrhea who received treatment in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical Univer-sity during May, 2014 to October, 2014 were collected for this study. Enrichment culture and biochemical identification were used to isolate and identify the S. Schwarzengrund strains. The isolated strains were fur-ther analyzed with serotyping analysis, drug susceptibility test, pulsed field gel electrophoresis ( PFGE) and multiple locus sequence typing ( MLST ) . The representative genes carried by Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPI) 1-5, SPI regulators and virulence plasmids were amplified by PCR. The coding genes of CdtB-islet, which were cdtB, pltA and pltB were amplified and sequenced. Results In total, 16 (14. 8%) out of 108 non-typhoidal Salmonella strains were identified as S. Schwarzengrund strains and all of them were sus-ceptible to 11 kinds of antibiotics such as fluoroquinolone, ampicillin, ceftriaxone and trimethoprim-sulfame-thoxazole. PFGE categorized the 16 S. Schwarzengrund strains into 3 clusters including A clone ( 14 strains), B clone (1 strain) and C clone (1 strain). The strains that isolated from 8 patients who ate the same food belonged to one cluster ( A clone ) , suggesting that it was an outbreak of infection. The 16 S. Schwarzengrund strains showed identical MLST type, which was ST241. The representative genes carried by SPI1-5 ( invA, sitC, hilA, sseL, sifA, mgtC, siiE and sopB) , the regulatory gene ( phoP) and the cytole-thal distending toxin islet (CdtB-islet) coding genes (cdtB, pltA and pltB) were positive, while the genes carried by virulence plasmids (pefA, prot6E and spvB) were negative. The similarities in CdtB-islet coding genes and amino acids sequences between Salmonella typhi and S. Schwarzengrund strains in this study were more than 97% and 98%, respectively. Conclusion In this study, polyclonal S. Schwarzengrund strains of ST241 type were isolated from the patients. They were susceptible to common antibiotics, but carried the virulence genes contained in SPI1-5 and CdtB-islet coding genes and might cause an outbreak of infection. Attention should be paid to the tendency and threat of clinical S. Schwarzengrund infection and continuous surveillance and investigation should be performed.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the incidence and clinical significance of abnormal neuroendocrine hormone in patients with the syndrome of brain injury.Methods 67 cases with the syndrome of brain injury were included in the study group,and 95 cases without the post traumatic syndrome after brain injury were included in the control group.The level of FT3,FT4,TSH,growth hormone(GH),andrenocortico hormone(ACTH),cortisol (Cor),prolactin(PRL),testosterone (T),estradiol (E2),follicular stimulating hormone (FSH),luteotropic hormone (LH),and progesterone (P) in peripheral blood were measured by radioimmunoassay.The incidence of the abnormal neuroendocrine hormone after brain injury was statistically analyzed.Patients with abnormal hormone were given hormone replacement therapy and the curative effects were observed.Results The incidence of neuroendocrine hormone abnormalities was 38.8％ in patients with the syndrome of brain injury,while it was 10.5％ in the control group.There was significant difference between the 2 groups(P＜0.05).The symptom remission rate was 88.5％ after hormone treatment.Conclusions There was a high incidence of abnormal neuroendocrine hormone secretion in patients with the syndrome of brain injury.The hormone level may be used as an important index to guide clinical therapy.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To study the effect of omeprazole combined with glutamine in the prevention of stress ulcer. Methods:To-tally 106 cases of severe patients admitted in ICU of our hospital were divided into the observation group and the control group with 53 ones in each according to the admission order. The patients in the control group were treated with glutamine, and those in the observa-tion group were treated with sodium omeprazole combined with glutamine. The pH change in gastric juice, adverse reactions and inci-dence of stress ulcer after the treatment were observed and compared between the two groups. Results:After the 4-day treatment, the pH value of gastric juice in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P0. 05). Conclusion:Omeprazole combined with glutamine in the prevention of ulcers stress shows promising clinical efficacy, which can effectively inhibit gastric acid secretion and rapidly increase pH value of gastric juice with low incidence of adverse reactions, mild symptoms and high se-curity, and is worthy of wide use in clinics.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to observe the apoptosis-inducing effect and mechanism of baicalin on human cervical cancer HeLa cells. The inhibitory effect of baicalin on the growth of HeLa cells was measured by MTT assay, and cell proliferation and migration was analyzed by cell scratch assay. Morphological changes of apoptotic cells were viewed by the light microscope and electron microscope, and cell growth arrest was confirmed by flow cytometry. Moreover, Western blot was used for investigating the expression of apoptosis related proteins; spectrophotometry was used to examine Caspase-3 activation. Our results showed that baicalin could inhibit the proliferation of HeLa Cells via induction of apoptosis in a time and dose-dependent manner [P<0.01]. Apoptotic signaling induced by baicalin was characterized by up-regulating Bax, Fas, FasL and Caspase-8 protein expression, and down-regulating of Bcl-2 protein expression. These results indicated that baicalin-induced apoptosis involved activation Caspase-3 in HeLa cells through the intracellular mitochondrial pathway and the surface death receptor pathway
Subject(s)
Apoptosis , HeLa Cells , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms , In Vitro Techniques , Caspase 3ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the rational treatment course of proton pump inhibitor omeprazole for critical patients in order to improve the prognosis and reduce the hospital stay and treatment expense. Methods:Totally 180 critical patients with APACHEⅡ>10 and mechanical ventilation >48 hours in ICU were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups treated by omeprazole for 1 day, 3 days and 5 days , respectively. The incidence rate of stress ulcer, gastrointestinal hemorrhage and ventilator-associated pneumonia ( VAP) in the three groups was studied, and the ICU stay and expense were also investigated. Results:The incidence rate of stress ul-cer and gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the group with treatment course of 3 days and 5 days were significantly lower than those in the group with 1 day treatment(P<0. 05). The incidence rate of VAP with 3-days treatment was the lowest, compared with 1 day and 5 days treatment, the different was satatistically significant(P<0. 05). The ICU hospitalization time and treatment expense were also significantly different among the three groups, and that in 3-days, group was the lowest(P<0. 05). Conclusion:The 3-day treatment is the most reasonable, which can not only prevent stress ulcer and gastrointestinal bleeding in critical patients, but also reduce the in-cidence of VAP with lowered hospital stay and expense.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical and physical factors that might give rise to radiation-induced esophagitis in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To collect the clinical and physical records and follow-up information of 106 NSCLC patients without undergoing surgery in our hospital. χ(2) test, linear tendency test and analysis of variance were employed to analyze the relationship between occurrence of radiation-induced esophagitis and clinical and physical treatment. Logistic analysis was also used for multivariate analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 47 cases of radiation-induced esophagitis, 31 cases were of grade I, 11 of grade II, 5 of grade III, and with a total occurrence rate of 44.3% (47/106). Radiation-induced esophagitis was correlated with Karnofsky scores, radiation sensitization and tumor location (χ(2) = 11.30, 8.45, 7.67, P < 0.05). Radiation-induced esophagitis was correlated with the length of irradiated esophagus and average dose of irradiated esophagus (F = 20.82, 83.08, P < 0.001). With the increase of the irradiated volume percentage from V20, V30, V40 up to V50, the occurrence rate of radiation-induced esophagitis was also increased, almost with a linear trend (P < 0.05). Application of all the above factors to logistic model indicated that radiation sensitization,length of irradiated esophagus, average dose and V50 were all statistically significant foactors in the occurrence of radiation-induced esophagitis (OR = 0.321, 2.850, 7.307 and 8.558, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Radiation sensitization,length of irradiated esophagus, average dose of irradiated esophagus and V50 are independent factors in the occurrence of radiation-induced esophagitis. V50 is of greater importance in the judgement of occurrence of radiation-induced esophagitis.</p>
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung , Radiotherapy , Esophagitis , Esophagus , Pathology , Follow-Up Studies , Lung Neoplasms , Radiotherapy , Multivariate Analysis , Radiation Injuries , Radiation Tolerance , Radiotherapy Dosage , Radiotherapy, Conformal , Methods , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) is integrally involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling and has a requisite role in the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). The exact mechanisms that lend perfluorocarbon (PFC) liquids a cytoprotective effect have yet to be elucidated. Therefore we examined in an in vitro model the cytoprotective effect of PFC on LPS-stimulated alveolar epithelial cellls (AECs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>AECs (A549 cells, human lung adenocarcinoma cell line) were divided into four groups: control, PFC, LPS and LPS + PFC (coculture group) groups. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was detected by ELISA, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were detected by radioimmunological methods. The expression of TLR-4 mRNA and protein was detected by real time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The activation of NF-κB was detected by Western blotting (proteins of I-κBa and NF-κB p65).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ICAM-1, TNF-α and IL-8 were significantly increased in LPS-stimulated AECs groups. The expression of TLR-4 mRNA and protein in LPS-stimulated groups was markedly increased. Meanwhile, NF-κB was activated as indicated by the significant degradation of IκB-α and the significant release of NF-κB P65 and its subsequent translocation into the nucleus. There were no significant effects of PFC alone on any of the factors studied while the coculture group showed significant downregulation of the secretion of ICAM-1, TNF-α and IL-8, the expression of TLR-4 mRNA and the activity of NF-κB.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Taken together, our results demonstrate that LPS can induce AEC-related inflammatory injury via the activation of TLR-4 and subsequent activation of NF-κB. PFC is able to protect AECs from LPS-induced inflammatory injury by blocking the initiation of the LPS signaling pathway, which is indicated by the significant decrease of TLR-4 expression and NF-κB activation.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Blotting, Western , Cell Line, Tumor , Epithelial Cells , Allergy and Immunology , Fluorocarbons , Pharmacology , Inflammation , Allergy and Immunology , Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 , Genetics , Metabolism , Interleukin-8 , Genetics , Metabolism , Lipopolysaccharides , Pharmacology , NF-kappa B , Genetics , Metabolism , Pulmonary Alveoli , Cell Biology , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Toll-Like Receptor 4 , Genetics , Metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , Genetics , MetabolismABSTRACT
Objective To explore whether the degree of 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) uptake in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) could be correlated with the treatment response to three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy.Methods A total of 102 patients with NSCLC were studied with 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT before radiotherapy.The patients were classified by a follow-up CT as responders (complete or partial remission) and non-responders (stable or progressive disease).After intravenous administration of 740 MBq 99Tcm-MIBI, SPECT imaging at 10-30 min (early) and 2-3 h (delayed) were performed.Region of interest (ROI) was placed over the tumors and contralateral normal lung tissue.The uptake ratio of tumor to contralateral normal lung (T/N) was obtained from both early (ER) and delayed (DR) SPECT images.The retention index (RI) was measured as:RI = (DR - ER)/ER×100%.Statistical analysis was performed by two independent-sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test using software SPSS 13.0.Results 99Tcm-MIBI uptake was significantly higher in responders than in non-responders:2.36 ±0.17 vs 1.82 ±0.14 (ER) and 2.48 ± 0.20 vs 1.94 ± 0.16 (DR), respectively (t = - 13.1,- 12.7, both P＜ 0.05).The median RI in the responders group was also significantly higher than that in the non-responders group (6.60% vs 5.13%, z = - 6.83, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion ER, DR and RI of 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT might be useful to estimate the treatment response to three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in patients with NSCLC.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>There are no reports on exnografting cultured human fetal neocortical cells in this infracted cavities of adult rat brains. This study was undertaken to observe whether cultured human cortical neurons and astrocytes can survive and grow in the infarcted cavities of adult rat brains and whether they interconnect with host brains.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The right middle cerebral artery was ligated distal to the striatal branches in 16 adult stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats. One week later, cultured cells from human embryonic cerebral cortexes were stereotaxically transferred to the infarcted cavity of 11 rats. The other 5 rats receiving sham transplants served as controls. For immunosuppression, all transplanted rats received intraperitoneal injection of cyclosporine A daily starting on the day of grafting. Immunohistochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), synaptophysin, neurofilament, and microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP-2) was performed on brain sections perfused in situ 8 weeks after transplantation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Grafts in the infarcted cavities of 6 of 10 surviving rats consisted of bands of neurons with an immature appearance, bundles of fibers, and GFAP-immunopositive astrocytes, which were unevenly distributed. The grafts were rich in synaptophysin, neurofilament, and MAP2-positive neurons with long processes. The graft/host border was diffuse with dendrites apparently bridging over to the host brain, into which neurofilament immunopositive fibers protruded.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cultured human fetal brain cells can survive and grow in the infarcted cavities of immunodepressed rats and integrate with the host brain.</p>