BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that dexamethasone can reduce type Ⅱ collagen and increase type I collagen in articular cartilage surface matrix, but the action mechanism of glucocorticoid to articular chondrocyte proliferation remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of dexamethasone sodium phosphate on rabbit articular chondrocytes cultured in vitro. DESIGN: Comparative observation.MATERIALS: New Zealand rabbits, 1 month old, were used for chondrocyte isolation and culture.METHODS: Rabbit articular chondrocytes cultured in vitro were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. Cells of the control group were cultured in DMEM media without dexamethasone sodium phosphate. Cells of experimental groups were cultured in DMEM media with different concentrations of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (0.02, 0.1, 0.5 g/L), respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary and passage chondrocytes were observed. Flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry were used to observe the effect of dexamethasone sodium phosphate on cell proliferation and type Ⅱ collagen synthesis. The ultrastructural changes of cultured chondrocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The attachment and proliferation of experimental group chondrocytes was slower than control group. There average gray scale values of the experimental groups were significantly greater than the control group (P < 0.05). The cellular proportions of S phase and G_2+M phase of the experimental groups decreased but the cellular proportions of G0/G1 period increased. Under transmission electron microscope the amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria of the experimental groups decreased. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone sodium phosphate inhibited articular chondrocyte proliferation, possibly due to the decrease of type Ⅱcollagen and protein synthesis ability of chondrocyte.

Objective To discuss the surgical treatment of the ankle and the foot soft tissue defects. Methods 41 cases of the ankle and the foot soft tissue defects were treated with different types of pedicle flaps transfer 9 types of flaps were used in all patients. Results 36 flaps of 41 cases were completely survived, 2 ease with superficial necrosis and 3 cases with distal edge partially necrosis and these 5 cases all healed by dressing change. All the easeswere followed up 3 to 36 months(averaged 12 months). The flaps completely survived. Conclusion The study showed that the soft tissue defects in ankle and foot can be constructed satisfactory by selecting a reasonable pedicle flap, especially the sural neurocutaneons island flaps.

The present study retrospectively analyzed 13 patients with fibrous dysplasia of the adult proximal femur who received treatment at the Department of Orthopedics,Shenzhen Hospital,Peking University between March 2000 and June 2006.These patients comprised 6 males and 7 females,with an age of 21-35 years.Among 11 patients suffering from mild hip pain,6 presented with mild limping due to worsened pains,and 2 exhibited obvious manifestations of bone fracture.All patients underwent X-ray,CT examinations,and 3 were subjected to MRI examinations,prior to bone grafting and internal fixation.Monostotic lesion was observed in 10 patients and polystotic lesion in 3 patients,but endocrine disturbance was not observed in any patient.Nine patients suffered from lesions in the femoral neck and 4 from lesions in the femoral rotator.Curettage,autogenous and allogeneic bone grafting,and internal fixation with dynamic hip screws and proximal femoral nails were successfully performed in each patient.Internal fixation time averaged 165 minutes (range 120-210 minutes).During the early stage after surgery,weight-bearing activities were not permitted.Bone fracture healed after an average of 3 months.Eighteen to forty-eight months of follow-up demonstrated that clinical symptoms were relieved,with good hip joint function and basically normal gait.X-ray plains showed thickened cortical bone,as well as compacted ossification shadow in bone grafting region.In addition,partial bone absorption,but not recurrent clinically,was observed in 4 patients.These findings imply that thorough curettage,autogenous and allogeneic bone grafting,and internal fixation with dynamic hip screws and proximal femoral nails is a reliable method to treat fibrous dysplasia of the adult proximal femur and it can acquire satisfactory curative effects.

OBJECTIVETo establish a simple extraction, isolation and purification method for ginkgolide B from ginkgo leaf.

METHODThe optimum conditions of extraction, isolation and purification were studied by taking the transfer rate of ginkgolide B as index.

RESULTGinkgo leaf was extracted with 70% ethanol for three times, the extracts were concentrated to remove ethanol and diluted by water till the crude drug density reached 0.1 g x mL(-1). The dilution was adsorbed with HPD-450 macroporous resin. The impurities were eluted with 20% ethanol and ginkgolide B was eluted with 80% ethanol. Then the 80% ethanol eluant was concentrated and crystallized. Finally the crude crystals were recrystallized with isopropanol. The purity of the ginkgolide B recrystallization was 95%.

CONCLUSIONThe process was stable and easy to operate, which was suited to industrialized production.

Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Ginkgolides ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Lactones ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

The rat model of dysmenorrhea, pelvic inflammation disease (PID), and uterine myoma were established to observe the effect ofGui-Zhi Fu-Ling Capsule (GZFLC) with the changes of main components. The molecular imprinted technology was used to quantitatively knock out main components in GZFLC (the knocked-out ratios were 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%). And the observation was made on the writhing times, latency, and effects on ET-1 and PGF2α of uterine tissues in the pitocin-induced dysmenorrhea rat model. Effects on TNF-α and IL-2 were observed in PID rat model induced by mixed bacteria plus mechanical damages. Effects on the weight and index of uterus, levels of E2 and P in serum were detected on the uterine myoma rat model induced by estrogen-burden. The results showed that the GZFLC efficacy was decreased with gradient knockout of 15 main components. When 10%-40% was knocked out, there was still significant difference compared to the model group (P < 0.01). However, when 50%-90% was knocked out, there was no significant difference compared to the model group (P > 0.05). Meanwhile, the GZFLC efficacy was decreased significantly compared to the GZFLC group (P <0.05, orP < 0.01). It was concluded that 15 chemical compounds, which included gallic acid, paeoniflorin, paeonol, and etc., may be the main material basis of GZFLC. Meanwhile, it provided a useful reference for the quality control of main components in GZFLC.

Objective To analyze and compare the pathological changes of lung tissue in mice infected with the novel H7N9 influenza virus and 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus, respectively, and to preliminarily study the mecha-nisms of acute lung injury induced by those virus infection .Methods SPF 6-week old BALB/c mice ( body weight 18-20 g, male∶female=1∶1) (n=3 in each subgroup) were intranasally infected with H7N9 virus and H1N1 virus, respec-tively.The behavior and survival time of mice after virus infection were observed and the survival rates were analyzed .The heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, intestines, and brain were collected at indicated time points for histopathological exami-nation using H&E staining .The distribution of virus antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry .The neutrophil infiltra-tion was also observed .The correlation of lung injury with virus replication and host immune responses was analyzed .Re-sults The lung and spleen injury of mice infected with H 7N9 virus was slighter and their survival rate (100%) was high-er than those of mice infected with H1N1 virus.The damages of the lung and spleen in H1N1virus-infected mice were more severe than that in H7N9 virus-infected mice, and all the 10 mice in this group died within 9 days after virus inoculation . The distributions of both the virus antigens were mainly in the bronchial epithelial cells , a few stromal cells and alveolar ep-ithelial cells .The levels of virus replication in the two groups were not significantly different .There were more intense neu-trophil infiltration in the lung and inflammatory response in the H 1N1 virus-infected mice than those in the H7N9 virus-in-fected mice .Conclusions There are some differences of the pathological characteristics and extent of lung injury in the mice infected with H7N9 virus and H1N1 virus, respectively.The virus replication is a precipitating factor but not the deci-sive factor of the lung injury , and there is a close relationship between the host immune responses and acute lung injury .

Objective:To explore the impact of whole blood organophosphate esters (OPEs) flame retardant exposure on thyroid function-related hormones in healthy older adults.Methods:In this panel study, five repeated population-based epidemiological surveys and biological sample collection were conducted from September 2018 to January 2019, with 76 healthy older adults aged 60-69 years in the Dianliu Community of Jinan, Shandong Province. Information on the sociodemographic characteristics, diet, and health status of the respondents was systematically gathered through questionnaires and physical examinations. Fasting venous blood was collected to determine the levels of OPEs, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T 3), and thyroxine (T 4). A linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the impact of OPEs exposure on thyroid function-related hormones in healthy older adults. Results:Each of the 76 subjects participated in at least two follow-up visits, resulting in a total of 350 person visits. The age of the study participants was (65.07±2.76) years, with 38 participants of both sexes. A total of eight OPEs were included with a detection rate exceeding 50%, and the M ( Q 1, Q3) for ∑OPEs was 3.85 (2.33, 5.74) ng/ml, with alkyl-OPEs being the major type of OPEs with an M ( Q 1, Q3) of 1.27 (0.64, 2.50) ng/ml. The M ( Q 1, Q3) for TSH, T 3, and T 4 was 3.74 (2.55, 5.69) μIU/ml, 1.32 (1.10, 1.60) ng/ml, and 45.04 (36.96, 53.27) ng/ml, respectively. Linear mixed-effects model showed that TSH was significantly decreased by 9.93% (95% CI:-15.17%, -4.36%) and 11.14% (95% CI:-15.94%, -6.06%) in older adults for each quartile level increase in TnBP and TEHP exposures, respectively. Gender-stratified analysis indicated that TEHP exposure was negatively associated with TSH levels in male older adults, whereas a decrease in TSH levels among female older adults was associated with TnBP exposure. Conclusion:Exposure to whole blood OPEs is associated with decreased TSH levels among healthy older adults, with notable gender differences.

Objective:To explore the impact of whole blood organophosphate esters (OPEs) flame retardant exposure on thyroid function-related hormones in healthy older adults.Methods:In this panel study, five repeated population-based epidemiological surveys and biological sample collection were conducted from September 2018 to January 2019, with 76 healthy older adults aged 60-69 years in the Dianliu Community of Jinan, Shandong Province. Information on the sociodemographic characteristics, diet, and health status of the respondents was systematically gathered through questionnaires and physical examinations. Fasting venous blood was collected to determine the levels of OPEs, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T 3), and thyroxine (T 4). A linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the impact of OPEs exposure on thyroid function-related hormones in healthy older adults. Results:Each of the 76 subjects participated in at least two follow-up visits, resulting in a total of 350 person visits. The age of the study participants was (65.07±2.76) years, with 38 participants of both sexes. A total of eight OPEs were included with a detection rate exceeding 50%, and the M ( Q 1, Q3) for ∑OPEs was 3.85 (2.33, 5.74) ng/ml, with alkyl-OPEs being the major type of OPEs with an M ( Q 1, Q3) of 1.27 (0.64, 2.50) ng/ml. The M ( Q 1, Q3) for TSH, T 3, and T 4 was 3.74 (2.55, 5.69) μIU/ml, 1.32 (1.10, 1.60) ng/ml, and 45.04 (36.96, 53.27) ng/ml, respectively. Linear mixed-effects model showed that TSH was significantly decreased by 9.93% (95% CI:-15.17%, -4.36%) and 11.14% (95% CI:-15.94%, -6.06%) in older adults for each quartile level increase in TnBP and TEHP exposures, respectively. Gender-stratified analysis indicated that TEHP exposure was negatively associated with TSH levels in male older adults, whereas a decrease in TSH levels among female older adults was associated with TnBP exposure. Conclusion:Exposure to whole blood OPEs is associated with decreased TSH levels among healthy older adults, with notable gender differences.