Objective:To establish the determination method for icariin in Zhuyun Capsules. Methods: The main active component icariin of Herba Epimedii was determined by TLC scanning. Results: This methods was quick, simple, accurate and reproducible. Conclusion: This method can be used as one of quality control standards for Zhuyun Capsules.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose prednisone combined with methotrexate (MTX) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods In this 12-week study,150 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were randomly divided into two groups:prednisone group (70 cases who were received prednisone 5 ～ 10 mg/d + MTX 10 mg/w +HCQ 0.2 g/d) and control group (80 cases who were treated by Meloxicam 7.5 mg/d + MTX 10 mg/w +Leflunomide (LEF) 20 mg/d).The primary end-points were tender and swollen joint counts,visual analogue scales (VAS),and global physician and patients assessments of disease.The secondary end-points were morning stiffness time,C-reactive protein,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ),DAS28 and ACR20,ACR50.Results After 12 weeks,in terms of primary endpoints,tender and swollen joint counts,VAS and global physician assessments in the prednisone group were improved significantly [(4.5 ± 2.5),(3.2 ± 3.36),(21 ± 15),(24.2 ± 16.4),(20.2 ± 10.4) vs (6.4 ±5.84),(6.6±5.5),(46±14),(37.9±19.7),(34.1±12.4),P ＜0.05orP ＜0.01].In terms of secondary end-points,the prednisone group produced higher response rates [HAQ score (0.93 ± 0.52),CRP(10.2 ± 5.8) mg/L,ESR(30 ± 14) mm/h,morning stiffness time (32.0 ± 32.3) min,DAS 28 score (3.1±0.9) vs (1.22 ±0.81),(16.3±10.1)mg/L,(33±29)mm/h,(54.7±45.4)min,(4.9±1.9),P ＜0.05 orP ＜0.01].The incidence of adverse events was similar between two groups (43％ vs 49％,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Low-dose prednisone combined with MTX and HCQ produced rapid and relevant improvements in RA signs and symptoms.

Objective To investigate the regulation of B-lymphocyte stimulator(BLyS) levels in response to IFN-γand IL-6. Methods Flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, ELISA and Western blot were applied to examine the expression level of BLyS in response to IFN-γ and IL-6 . Results IFN-γand IL-6 induced BLyS expression in KM3 cells. After treated with BAY11-7082, an IkB-α phospho- rylation inhibitor, the up regulation of BI,yS induced by IFN-γ was completely inhibited. Inhibiting the nu-clear faetor-kB (NF-kB) and mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK) activation in KM3 cells reduced BLyS protein and gene expression. Conclusion MAPK and NF-kB pathways are involved in the regulation of BLyS expression, which suggests that MAPK and NF-kB might be used for the treatment of multiple mye- loma.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of thromboelastography (TEG) in guiding the proper use of blood components in patients after liver transplantation. MethodsThe blood samples from 35 patients after liver transplantation who visited our hospital from November 2013 to April 2014 were collected, in which TEG and conventional coagulation test were performed. The TEG parameters, such as reaction time of coagulation (R), clot formation time (K), Angle, and the maximum amplitude (MA), and coagulation parameters were subjected to bivariate linear regression analysis. The use of blood components and amount of blood transfusion following TEG′s instruction were compared with the clinical application. Comparison of continuous data was made by paired t test. ResultsActivated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time were positively correlated with R (r=0.69 and 0.41, P=0.001 and 0.030, respectively). Fibrinogen was negatively correlated with K (r=-0.03, P=0.008). Platelet was positively correlated with Angle and MA (r=0.46 and 0.68, P=0.029 and 0.000, respectively). Fibrinogen was positively correlated with MA (r=0.33, P=0.040). There was a significant difference in R value of TEG before and after the heparanase neutralization (P=0.027). ConclusionTEG has a clinical value in guiding the proper use of blood components in patients after liver transplantation.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of Diana automated blood grouping analyzer in blood grouping and cross matching.Methods 2 300 patients′ABO and RhD blood groups were examined by conventional tube test and the fully auto-mated blood grouping analyzer and 900 patients′samples were tested using Diana automated blood grouping for blood cross matc-hing,and it was compared with polymatching method.Results The analyzer′s accuracy rate of blood grouping by two methods were 99.87% and 100.00%.The incompatibility occurred in 30 specimens in automatic blood type instrument,in 3 specimens in manual polymatching method.Conclusion The results of Diana automated blood grouping analyzer used for blood grouping and cross matc-hing blood testing are reliable.Its experimental operation is normalized and standardized with an advantage of low incidence of human er-ror.Moreover,the experimental results can be permanently preserved,which provides a convenience to search for medical proof.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of self-replication and multi-directional differentiation, which are very important for the development and reconstruction of mesenchymal tissue. Bone tissue damage repair involves the participation of various cells and molecules. The recovery of bone mass requires sufficiently many MSCs to migrate to the damaged site to perform the reconstruction function. The local inflammatory response at the injury site can recruit MSCs and promote new bone formation. Simultaneously, niche changes during the migration of MSCs will affect their biological performance and initiate the phase of directed differentiation. This article explores the relevant mechanisms that mediate the migration of MSCs in the process of bone injury repair, including the regulation of immune cells and chemotactic signaling molecules in the inflammatory response in the bone repair stage through signaling pathways such as BMP/Smads. Then, it summarizes the mechanism by which the high matrix stiffness upregulates the expression of the integrin and focal adhesions to promote the MSCs migration and osteogenic differentiation. Simultaneously, the migration ability of MSCs can be regulated through drugs or genetic modification to promote the bone injury repair. The improvement of MSCs migration ability can shorten the time of bone tissue damage repair and improve the bone quality. This article reviews the role of the MSCs migration ability in bone tissue injury repair to provide a reference for the application of MSCs with high migration ability in the fields of stem cell therapy for bone related diseases and bone tissue engineering.

Objective : To explore the relationships among pharyngeal airway morphology, craniocervical posture, and anterior teeth position in hyperdivergent skeletal Class Ⅱ female adults and provide a reference for orthodontic clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 104 untreated skeletal Class Ⅱ (ANB ≥ 4.7°) female adults were included and divided into a hyperdivergent group (MP-SN ˃ 37°) (n = 52) and a normodivergent group (29° ≤ MP-SN ≤ 37°) (n = 52) by mandibular plane angle. The pharyngeal airway sagittal size, craniocervical angulation and anterior teeth position of the two groups were measured. Results : Compared to the normodivergent group, hyperdivergent subjects exhibited narrower nasopharyngeal, velopharyngeal, and glossopharyngeal airways (P<0.05) and larger craniocervical angulations (P<0.05). In the hyperdivergent group, the nasopharyngeal airway sagittal size was negatively correlated with craniocervical angulations (P<0.05), while the hypopharyngeal airway sagittal size was positively correlated with craniocervical angulations in the hyperdivergent group and normodivergent group (P<0.05). In both groups, craniocervical angulations were negatively related to the labiolingual inclination of the upper incisors (P<0.05) but positively related to the inclination of the occlusal plane (P<0.05). Conclusion Hyperdivergent skeletal Class Ⅱ female adults had narrower upper airways and more extended craniocervical posture, which was correlated with pharyngeal airway morphology and anterior teeth position simultaneously. These results suggested that there were correlations among respiratory efficiency, craniocervical posture and dentofacial morphology.

Objective: To investigate the features of alveolar bone morphology of mandibular central incisors in high-angle adult females using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and evaluate the influence of aging in these patients. Methods: CBCT and lateral cephalometric images of 142 untreated adult female patients were selected and grouped by facial growth pattern. The number of high-angle cases was increased to 164 to further explore the difference within high-angle adult females who were divided into two groups according to age. The indexes of alveolar bone height and thickness in the lower incisor region and inclination of the lower incisors were measured by Dolphin software. The data was statistically analyzed. Results: Compared with the average-angle group, the high-angle group had a lower alveolar bone attachment level (P < 0.05) and less bone thickness at the root apex level (P < 0.05). The thickness of lingual alveolar bone decreased with labial inclination of the lower incisors in both the high-angle and average-angle groups (r = -0.251, P = 0.025; r = -0.428, P = 0.001, respectively). In hyperdivergent female patients, the middle-aged group had a lower attachment level of alveolar bone than the young group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference in bone thickness at the root apex level (P > 0.05) was found between the two groups Conclusion High-angle adult females had thinner mandibular anterior alveolar bone with significantly lower attachment levels. Aging and inclination of lower incisors influenced bone morphology and should be taken into careful consideration.

Bone formation and deposition are initiated by sensory nerve infiltration in adaptive bone remodeling. Here, we focused on the role of Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), expressed by sensory nerves, in mechanical loads-induced bone formation and nerve withdrawal using orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) model. Firstly, bone formation was activated after the 3rd day of OTM, coinciding with a decrease in sensory nerves and an increase in pain threshold. Sema3A, rather than nerve growth factor (NGF), highly expressed in both trigeminal ganglion and the axons of periodontal ligament following the 3rd day of OTM. Moreover, in vitro mechanical loads upregulated Sema3A in neurons instead of in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) within 24 hours. Furthermore, exogenous Sema3A restored the suppressed alveolar bone formation and the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLCs induced by mechanical overload. Mechanistically, Sema3A prevented overstretching of F-actin induced by mechanical overload through ROCK2 pathway, maintaining mitochondrial dynamics as mitochondrial fusion. Therefore, Sema3A exhibits dual therapeutic effects in mechanical loads-induced bone formation, both as a pain-sensitive analgesic and a positive regulator for bone formation.
Humans ; Bone Remodeling ; Cell Differentiation ; Osteogenesis ; Semaphorin-3A/pharmacology* ; Trigeminal Ganglion/metabolism*