BACKGROUND:Col agen type II and proteoglycan loss are two most obvious manifestations of cartilage damage in the onset of osteoarthritis. Changes in col agen type II and proteoglycan as the main components of cartilage matrix directly lead to cartilage degeneration and subsequently result in osteoarthritis. How to reverse or prevent the development of this process becomes the focus of medical research. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of warming yang and benefiting marrow recipe on the expression of col agen type II and proteoglycan in the articular cartilage of knee osteoarthritis rabbits as wel as to further explore the mechanism underlying chondrocyte protection. METHODS:Ninety-six New Zealand rabbits, aged 9 months old, male and female, were selected to prepare osteoarthritis models in extension position using cast immobilization method, and were randomly divided into four groups:blank group (untreated), model group (simple modeling), Chinese medicine group (intragastric administration of extracts of warming yang and benefiting marrow recipe, 24 mL/kg/d) and western medicine group (intragastric administration of glucosamine hydrochloride, 24 mL/kg/d). Intragastric administration was done once a day for 6 weeks. RT-PCR technology was used to observe the effect of warming yang and benefiting marrow recipe on the expression of col agen type II and proteoglycans in the articular cartilage, and pathological examination was also done. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The cartilage surface was smooth in the blank group and Chinese medicine group, with uniform toluidine blue staining, but in the model group and western medicine group, the cartilage surface was rough and the toluidine blue staining was extremely uneven with obvious loss of surface and middle layer dying. The expressions of cartilage proteoglycan and col agen type II in the model group were significantly lower than those in the blank group (P<0.01) as wel as in the Chinese medicine group and western medicine group (P<0.05). In addition, the expressions of cartilage proteoglycan and col agen type II in the Chinese medicine group were higher than those in the western medicine group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that the recipe of warming yang and benefiting marrow can enhance the expressions of col agen type II and proteoglycan, which can maintain the normal col agen phenotype and protect the articular cartilage.

Objective:To develop a convenient,economical and stable model of acute lung inflammation in mice.Methods:BALB/c mice were inhaled intranasally with 50 ?L of LPS(1 g/L) or sterile PBS,and sacrificed at different time points after being anaesthetized.The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) was collected,and the lungs were separated and homogenated or embedded and sliced to 5 ?m sections,which were then stained by HE to determine the severity of inflammation.The inflammatory cell infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage was counted and IL-1?,the pro-inflammatory cytokine,measured by ELISA in lung homogenate and BALF.Results:The data showed that administration with 50 ?g of LPS(1 g/L) for 2 h resulted in significant inflammation in the lung.LPS mainly stimulated the recruitment of neutrophils within 24 h.And LPS was a quick revulsant of IL-1? production in BALF and in lung tissue between 4 and 24 h.Macrophages and lymphocytes recruited after 1 day,and sustained for at least 3 days.Conclusion:The results indicate that intranasal administration of LPS can induce a rapid and stable acute inflammatory model in mice.

Objective The results and side effects of nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by combined external radiotherapy and Californium -252 neutron after loading intracavitary radiotherapy. Methods From November 2005 to March 2007, 30 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with staged T1 and T2 by 1992 Fuzhou staging system, were treated by external beam radiotherapy combined with Californium-252 neutron after loading intraeavitary radiotherapy. Results All patients were followed up for 2 years. 2 cases recurred in the nasopharynx. 4 cases developed distant metastases. 2 cases developed trismus. No perforations in hand and soft palate occurred. Conclusion External beam radiotherapy combined with Californian-252 neutron after loading intracavitary radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is indicated for boosting the dose to the nasopharyngeal cavity; reducing the dose for external irradiation. It can improve local control rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and reduce occur rate for the trismus.

Congenital biliary atresia is considered a neonatal rare disease with multiple causes and phenotypes, whose pathogenesis remains unclear. At present, the etiological study of congenital biliary atresia mainly focuses on viral infection, immune disorder, and dysplasia. This paper summarizes the main etiological hypotheses about congenital biliary atresia nowadays and the connections between them. The research progress provides valuable clues and evidence for the etiology and control of this disease.

ObjectiveTo observe and compare the electrocardiogram index， myocardial morphology， and connexin 43 （Cx43） expression of two rat models of acute cerebral infarction （ACI） due to stasis combined with toxin complicated with cerebral-cardiac syndrome （CCS）， and to provide experimental evidence for the research on the occurrence mechanism of cardiac diseases induced by ACI and the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CCS. MethodSixty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomized into six groups （n=10）： normal ， syndrome of stasis combined with toxin induced by carrageenin combined with dry yeast （CA/Y）， multi-infarct induced by micro-embolism （ME）， middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO）， CA/Y+ME， and CA/Y+MCAO groups. The model of syndrome of stasis combined with toxin was established by intraperitoneal injection with carrageenan （CA） at 10 mg·kg^-1 on the first day and subcutaneous injection with dry yeast （Y） suspension （2 mg·kg^-1） on the second day of modeling. Twenty-four hours after the modeling of ACI， the electrocardiograms （ECGs） of rats in each group were collected and the number/percentage （%） of abnormal ECG was calculated. The infarct area of the brain was evaluated by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining， and myocardial injury was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Immumohistochemical staining and Western blot were employed to determine the expression of Cx43 in the myocardium. ResultA certain number of rats in each model group presented abnormal ECG. Compared with the normal group and CA/Y group， CA/Y+MCAO group had the highest rate of abnormal ECG （P<0.01）. Compared with the normal， CA/Y， ME， and CA/Y+ME groups， the CA/Y+ME and CA/Y+MCAO groups showed decreased amplitudes of P-wave and T-wave， shortened P-R interval， and extended Q-T interval， which were particularly obvious in the CA/Y+MCAO group （P<0.05， P<0.01） and in accordance with the cerebral infarction area and pathological changes. The expression of Cx43 was up-regulated in both CA/Y+ME and CA/Y+MCAO groups， especially in the CA/Y+MCAO group （P<0.01）. ConclusionThe two rat models of ACI due to stasis combined with toxin complicated with CCS can be used to study the mechanism of heart diseases caused by cerebrovascular diseases and the therapeutic effects of Chinese medicines with the functions of resolving stasis and detoxifying. Moreover， the CA/Y+MCAO method has higher abnormal electrocardiogram rate， severer myocardial pathological injury， and higher expression of Cx43 protein. The models can be chosen according to specific experimental purpose.