novellpt Chapter 1450 Six Extraordinary Things
Chapter 1450 Six Extraordinary Things
Chapter 1450 Six Extraordinary Things
Yang Ping discussed some experimental details with Mainstein, then left the cell lab and went to Weber's place.
Weber's office door was open, but he wasn't there. Yang Ping asked a student nearby, who said that Weber had gone to the animal room to treat the laboratory animals.
Yang Ping then went to the animal room.
The animal facility is not located within the research institute, but rather in a temporary steel-framed building. It is a closed-off area where entry and exit require wearing protective gowns, masks, and gloves. Yang Ping changed into his gear in the changing room and swiped his card to enter.
The animal room was quiet, with only the occasional animal call. Weber was standing in front of an operating table, holding a syringe, preparing to give a rat a tail vein injection.
Yang Ping didn't disturb him, but stood quietly to the side and watched.
Weber's movements were steady; he held the rat steady with his left hand, held the syringe in his right, accurately inserted the needle into the tail vein, returned blood, injected the drug, and withdrew the needle. The whole process took no more than ten seconds, clean and efficient.
"Good technique," Yang Ping said after he finished.
Weber turned around, saw Yang Ping, and smiled: "Professor Yang, what brings you here?"
"Let's check on your experiment's progress." Yang Ping walked over. "Yesterday you mentioned that proto-cells promote neural-directed differentiation of stem cells. Is that experiment finished?"
“It’s done.” Weber tore a page from the notebook next to the control panel and handed it to Yang Ping. “These are the preliminary results. Take a look.”
Yang Ping took the chart and saw it was a bar chart. The vertical axis represented the proportion of neurons, and the horizontal axis represented the different treatment groups. The data for the control group, the stem cell therapy group, the original cell therapy group, and the stem cell therapy combined with the original cell therapy group were clearly displayed.
The results showed that the proportion of neurons in the stem cell combined with progenitor cell therapy group was the highest, significantly higher than the other three groups, and the difference was statistically significant.
“This result is very good,” Yang Ping said. “Have you done any dose gradient experiments? Different concentrations of progenitor cells may have different effects on stem cell differentiation.”
“Not yet,” Weber said. “That’s the next step.”
“Then do it as soon as possible,” Yang Ping said. “If you can find the optimal dosage, the value of this paper will double.”
“Okay, I’ll arrange it right away,” Weber said.
Yang Ping stayed in the animal room for more than half an hour, watched several experiments conducted by Weber, and then left.
It was almost midnight when I got back to the office.
Yang Ping sat in his chair, looked at the results of the morning, read through Mainstein's paper, discussed Weber's experimental results, dealt with the cases of Director He and Xia Shu, and talked with Lu Xiaolu about the deputy director's affairs.
The efficiency is pretty good.
The afternoon was also packed. At 2 p.m., Tang Shun organized interviews for new PhD candidates, and he had three candidates to interview. At 3:30 p.m., the institute's weekly meeting was held, where each research group reported on the week's progress and plans for the following week. At 5 p.m., he spoke with Dean Xia on the phone to confirm the revised plan for the new institute.
I had lunch at the institute's cafeteria, and the afternoon interview went very smoothly.
The three candidates included two PhDs from top domestic universities and one postdoctoral researcher who had returned from studying abroad. Each of them had their own strengths. Yang Ping, Tang Shun, and Lu Xiaolu interviewed each of them, asking many professional questions, as well as some questions about their research philosophy and career plans.
After the interview, the three of them closed the door and discussed it.
“I think that overseas returnee postdoctoral fellow is quite good.” Lu Xiaolu was the first to speak. “He studied under a top expert abroad, published several high-impact papers, and his experimental techniques are very comprehensive.”
Tang Shun shook his head: "I don't think much of him. Although his papers have high scores, they are all co-authored with others. He is not the first author of any of them, which shows that his independent research ability may not be good."
"What about the two in China?" Yang Ping asked.
"The first PhD student had a solid foundation, but his thinking was a bit rigid and not flexible enough," Tang Shun said. "The second PhD student had an active mind, but his foundation was not solid enough, and he was not very skilled in experimental procedures."
"So each has its advantages and disadvantages," Yang Ping summarized. "The independent abilities of overseas-trained postdoctoral fellows are questionable; the first doctoral graduate has rigid thinking; and the second doctoral graduate has a weak foundation. Which disadvantage do you find most difficult to accept?"
The three of them remained silent for a moment.
"I think the hardest thing to accept is a weak foundation," Lu Xiaolu said. "You can cultivate an active mind, but it's very difficult to make up for a weak foundation. You can't go far on the path of scientific research without a solid foundation."
“I agree,” Tang Shun said. “It’s hard to change rigid thinking, but compared to a weak foundation, at least rigid thinking won’t lead to basic mistakes. You never know what kind of mistakes someone with a weak foundation will make when conducting experiments.”
Yang Ping thought for a moment and said, "My thoughts are exactly the opposite of yours. Having an active mind is the most difficult thing. Everything else can be made up for through hard work, but it is very difficult to make up for an active mind through hard work. What we need are talents with a spirit of questioning and innovative thinking. As for other shortcomings, such as a weak foundation, they can be made up for by continuing to learn on the job."
Tang Shun and Lu Xiaolu were slightly taken aback. After carefully considering the professor's words, they realized that they made sense.
“Then should we all stay? Let them complement each other. We need those who are innovative and those who are honest and hardworking,” Tang Shun suggested.
Yang Ping nodded: "That's what I mean too. We'll keep anyone with expertise and unique characteristics so they can complement each other."
"Okay!" Tang Shun and Lu Xiaolu both agreed.
After the interview, Yang Ping returned to his office to prepare for the weekly meeting.
The weekly meeting is a tradition at the institute, held once a week, where each research group reports on its progress for the week and its plans for the following week. Yang Ping attaches great importance to this meeting because it allows him to understand the dynamics of each research group and promptly identify and resolve problems.
At 3:30, the conference room was full of people.
Tang Shun, Lu Xiaolu, Einstein, Weber, Jiang Jitong, and several newly arrived research group leaders, along with their students and postdoctoral fellows, filled the conference room to the brim.
Yang Ping sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
“Let’s begin,” he said.
The first to report was Tang Shun, who reported on the progress of the cell laboratory. Breakthroughs had been achieved in optimizing the culture processes of various protocells, with the yield per batch now 30% higher than last month, and the purity exceeding 95%. This progress signifies a crucial step forward in the large-scale production of protocells. Protocells are cells generated within tissues by the body's own repair mechanisms, identical to the original tissue.
After listening, Yang Ping nodded: "Very good, but 95% purity is not enough. Clinical translation requires more than 99%. Continue to optimize the process and strive to reach the goal within three months."
Next was Lu Xiaolu. He reported on the progress of the tumor laboratory, noting that the application of the three-dimensional guided gene theory in lung cancer treatment had yielded some preliminary results, but were not yet ideal. They had designed several different gene-editing strategies, some effective, some ineffective, and some even counterproductive.
After listening, Yang Ping pondered for a moment: "This shows that our understanding of the three-dimensional guided gene theory is not deep enough. Don't rush to find applications; first, figure out the mechanism. Once the mechanism is clear, the applications will naturally emerge."
Jiang Jitong, now a key member of the team, reported on the progress of vaccine promoter research. They designed several new promoter sequences and verified their activity at the cellular level, with two sequences showing better results than existing reports. After listening, Yang Ping said, "Conduct animal experiments as soon as possible to see the effects in vivo. If the animal experiments also show better results than existing reports, then apply for a patent."
Next was Mainstein, who reported on the research progress of protocellular repair of spinal cord injury, focusing on the data and papers that Yang Ping had reviewed that morning. He explained in great detail, from experimental design to data results, from statistical analysis to conclusion derivation, clarifying every step clearly.
After listening, Yang Ping added a few words: "Maninstein's experiment still needs to be supplemented with some mechanism experiments. If anyone has any good suggestions, please feel free to communicate with him at any time."
Mannstein smiled and nodded to everyone.
Finally, Weber reported on his research regarding the promoting role of stem cells in the repair of spinal cord injuries by progenitor cells. His data and conclusions were clear: progenitor cells can promote the neural-directed differentiation of stem cells, and the combined application of the two is more effective than either application alone. As for the underlying mechanisms, he is still investigating them.
After listening, Yang Ping said, "Weber's discovery is very valuable. The next step is to conduct dose gradient experiments to find the best combination of applications. At the same time, we need to start writing the paper."
Weber couldn't hide the smile on his face.
The meeting lasted for more than an hour, and it was almost 5 p.m. when it ended.
Yang Ping returned to his office and called Dean Xia to confirm the renovation plan for the new research institute. Dean Xia said the drawings had been sent to the design institute and the construction drawings would be available next week, with construction expected to begin next month.
After hanging up the phone, Yang Ping leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.
I've finally finished my work for today.
The next morning, as soon as Yang Ping arrived at his office, the phone on his desk rang.
"Professor Yang, this is Xia Shu." The voice on the other end of the phone sounded a little hurried. "The results of that patient's coagulation function retest are in."
Yang Ping's heart tightened: "How is it?"
"PT and APTT have basically returned to normal, but platelet function is still somewhat poor. Thromboelastography shows that the platelet inhibition rate is still above 60%. At this rate, it will take at least another two or three days to reach a level acceptable for surgery."
Yang Ping was silent for a moment. Two or three days might sound easy, but for a patient with 90% stenosis of the left main coronary artery and several angina attacks a day, two or three days could mean countless near-death experiences, or even a fatal myocardial infarction.
"What are the patient's angina symptoms?" Yang Ping asked.
"He had another attack last night, which lasted for almost ten minutes. It was only relieved by taking nitroglycerin. When I was making rounds this morning, the patient told me that he's afraid to sleep now, afraid that if he falls asleep, he won't wake up." Xia Shu's voice was clearly tired, indicating that he hadn't slept well last night either.
Yang Ping quickly weighed the various options in his mind.
Continuing to wait carries the risk that the patient may suffer an acute myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death at any time. Not waiting carries the risk of potentially fatal bleeding during and after the procedure, as well as acute thrombosis at the anastomosis site due to platelet dysfunction.
The lesser of two evils.
“Alright,” Yang Ping decided. “This morning, make sure the preparation of blood, platelets, and clotting factors are all in place. Then, have a multidisciplinary consultation with the anesthesiology, intensive care, and blood transfusion departments to develop a detailed perioperative management plan. If everything goes smoothly, the surgery will be tomorrow morning.”
"Tomorrow morning?" Xia Shu's voice carried a hint of uncertainty. "Given the patient's current blood clotting condition, is it really possible to do it tomorrow?"
“It can be done!” Yang Ping said, “but not in the usual way; a special strategy is needed. First, intraoperative medication is used to reverse the effects of antiplatelet drugs. Although this increases the risk of bleeding, it ensures the safety of the anastomosis. Second, platelets and cryoprecipitate are continuously transfused intraoperatively and postoperatively to maintain coagulation function. Third, complete hemostasis is achieved before closing the chest, leaving no potential bleeding points. Fourth, postoperative anticoagulation is delayed, and antiplatelet drugs are administered only after the anastomosis has become endothelialized. These four steps are indispensable.”
The sound of Xia Shu flipping through his notebook came from the other end of the phone; he was taking notes word for word.
"Professor, what antiplatelet drugs are used to reverse platelet reversal? The traditional approach is to use platelet transfusions, but the effect is unstable."
“Using recombinant activating factors in combination with platelet transfusions, we’re taking a two-pronged approach,” Yang Ping said. “I’ve read some literature before, and this regimen has the best reversal effect. Although it’s a bit more expensive, it’s worth it for this patient.”
"Okay! I'll contact the pharmacy right away to see if they have any medicine."
"If not, have the pharmacy department procure it urgently. Just say what I said, this patient needs it tomorrow."
"understand!"
Xia Shu hung up the phone, and Yang Ping also put down the receiver. He sat in the chair for a while, going over the surgical plan for tomorrow in his mind again.
The difficulty of this surgery lies not in its complexity, but in the fact that every step is like walking a tightrope. Anesthesia induction could lead to cardiac arrest, splitting the sternum could cause aortic rupture, harvesting the bypass graft could lead to coagulation failure, anastomosis could cause vascular rupture, chest closure could cause massive bleeding, and returning to the intensive care unit could lead to bypass graft blockage... Every step could go wrong, and every problem could be fatal.
He had to dress himself before going on stage, just in case.
Yang Ping stood up, walked out of the office, and headed towards Tang Shun's laboratory.
Tang Shun was observing cells under a microscope when he saw Yang Ping enter. He looked up and asked, "Professor, is something the matter?"
"I have surgery tomorrow, which may take four or five hours."
Tang Shun put down the pipette in his hand and wiped his hands: "What kind of surgery requires you to perform it personally?"
"Xia Shu's patient, the one with porcelain aorta, diffuse small vessel disease, and coagulation dysfunction, the one with six 'very's'."
Tang Shun whistled: "Six extraordinary things? That patient is really going to do it? I thought Xia Shu was just talking. What's going on between this guy and Li Ze? Are they planning to break the world record again?"
"Perhaps. They might want to prove to the world that they are world-class, surpassing Cleveland, because they recently performed surgery on three very special patients there. Besides, this patient really couldn't wait any longer; waiting any longer could lead to a heart attack at any moment," Yang Ping said. "Without surgery, this patient basically has no chance of survival. With surgery, at least there is a glimmer of hope."
“Okay, you can go to the surgery tomorrow without worry. I’ll take care of things here,” Tang Shun said. “By the way, about the deputy director you mentioned yesterday, I talked to Lu Xiaolu, and he agreed.”
Yang Ping nodded: "That's good. I'm at ease with you two working together."
"There's one more thing." Tang Shun picked up a document from the table and handed it to Yang Ping. "Weber's paper that he submitted yesterday was accepted directly by Nature. They didn't ask for additional experiments, just some language revisions."
Yang Ping took the document and looked at it. It was Weber's paper on the co-culture of progenitor cells and stem cells. He had read the first draft before; the data was solid, the conclusions were novel, and it was indeed the level of a top journal.
“This is good news.” Yang Ping handed the document back to Tang Shun. “Congratulate Weber and ask him to send me the final version of the paper.”
"it is good!"