BACKGROUND: Shuangshen oral liquid consisting of renshen and danshen is firstly used to treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: To establish a rat osteoporosis model through glucocorticoid and to observe the preventive effects of shuangshen oral liquid (SS) on bone substance and bone mass. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A completely randomized controlled grouping animal experiment was performed in the Animal Experimental Center and Department of Pharmacology, Guangdong Medical College from June to September in 2008. MATERIALS: High-dose SS consisted of 3.6 kg danshen, 5 kg renshen, and then prepared by water extraction twice, and the concentration was 870g/L. On this basis, high-dose SS was diluted three times to obtain low-dose SS with a concentration of 290 g/L. The prednisone acetate raw medicine was purchased from Zhejiang Xian Ju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. METHODS: Thirty-two 3-month-old male SPF rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, and every group had 8 rats. The normal control group rats were fed with distilled water 5 mL/(kg?d) by gavage. Rats in prednisone group were treated with 0.7 g/L prednisone suspension (5 mL/kg per day) by gavage. SS group rats were treated with 0.7 g/L prednisone suspension (5 mL/kg per day) by gavage and then given the high does and low does SS (5mL/kg per day) respectively by gavage 3 hours later. The rats were sacrificed by heart hemospasia 88 days later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body mass, bone mineral content and bone hydroxyproline content per unit bone, bone mineral density in the left femur, biomechanics indexes of the right femur. RESULTS: The long-term administration of prednisone restrained the increasing of rats body mass (P

Focal adhesion kinase is a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase with molecular weight 125 ku and regarded as the foundmental molecule of integrin-dependent signal transduction pathway. Active focal adhesion kinase regulates cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation by interacting with Src family kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, cytoskeletal proteins, Graf and adoptor proteins through the phosphorylated tyrosines and the proline-rich sequences.

Objective: To analyze the incidence of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR),post-operation characteristics and operation indications of Marfan patients with severe aortic regurgitation and giant left ventricle. Methods: The clinical data and the follow-up data of 19 Marfan patients with severe aortic regurgitation (≥10 ml) and giant left ventricle (LVEDd≥7.0 cm), who were treated from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2007,were analyzed retrospectively. Results: All patients received Bentall operation and there was no perioperation death. Follow-up was 72 patient-year (ranging 3 months-7 years). The degree of FMR decreased obviously after operation, with an improvement rate of 87.5%, and the FMR almost disappeared 6 months to 1 year later. Conclusion: Bentall achieves good outcome in Marfan patients with severe aortic regurgitation and giant left ventricle. Mild to moderate FMR(< 10 ml) disappears with the decrease of the left ventricle size. For patients with severe FMR (≥ 10 ml) complicated with dysfunction of left ventricle, managed ventricular pacing is suggested.

Objective To evaluate immune protective effects of Treponema pallidum(Tp)pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine delivered through different inoculation routes against Tp-induced skin infection in New Zealand rabbits. Methods A total of 108 New Zealand rabbits were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups:A1 and A2 groups treated with intramuscular injection of empty plasmids pcD and pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine respectively for 2 sessions, B1, B2, C1 and C2 groups firstly treated with intramuscular injection of the pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine for 1 session for primary immunization, then receiving nasogastric feeding with pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine, pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine+cytosine-phosphate-guanine(CpG)oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), and recombinant Tp92 protein, and recombinant Tp92 protein+CpG ODN respectively for booster immunization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was conducted to detect the serum level of anti-Tp92 IgG antibody at week 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 after immunization, the SIgA level in the nasopharyngeal region and vaginal mucosa at week 8 after immunization, as well as levels of interleukin-2(IL-2)and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)in the culture supernatant of rabbit spleen cells at week 8 after immunization, and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay was performed to estimate proliferative activity of rabbit splenic lymphocytes in three rabbits from each group. At week 10 after immunization, other 15 rabbits from each group were subcutaneously inoculated with Tp standard strain, and changes of skin lesions at the inoculation site during early-stage infection were observed and recorded. Results At week 8 after immunization, the C2 group showed significantly higher serum level of anti-Tp92 IgG antibody(1.825 ± 0.175), supernatant levels of IL-2 (154.7 ± 14.6)and IFN-γ(277.4 ± 24.4), and proliferative activity of T cells(3.57 ± 0.24)compared with the A2(1.372 ± 0.322, 112.3 ± 13.4, 232.8 ± 25.3, 3.08 ± 0.22, respectively, all P<0.05), B1(0.893 ± 0.297, 76.6 ± 21.5, 165.7 ± 22.6, 2.12 ± 0.14, respectively, all P<0.05)and B2(1.294 ± 0.124, 97.3 ± 18.7, 211.3 ± 24.6, 2.88 ± 0.18, respectively, all P<0.05)groups. In addition, effective immunoprotection was achieved in the C2 group with more production of mucosa-specific SIgA antibody, as well as the lowest Tp-positive rate (6.67%) and ulcer formation rate (6.67%) in skin lesions at the inoculation sites. Conclusion The effective vaccination strategy, namely intramuscular injection of the pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine for primary immunization followed by nasogastric feeding with mucosal adjuvant CpG ODN combined with recombinant Tp92 protein for booster immunization, can induce the strongest mucosal immune responses and immune protective effects.

Forms and Records Control ; methods ; Humans ; Pathology, Clinical ; methods

Objective:To study the stress distribution of Magsoft (cushion type) and Magnedisk magnetic attachment. Methods: 2 overdentures were prepared on each of 5 edentulous jaw models. The overdentures were pared and retained with Magnedisk and Magsoft magnetic attachments respectively.Photoelastic analysis was used to study the stress distribution for the implanted complete overdentures. Results: Under the same load, around the implants, the stress under the overdentures retained with Magsoft was lower than that with Magnedisk. Compared with Magnedisk, the stress around the abutments under the overdenture retained with Magsoft were distributed in a more even manner. Conclusion: Magsoft magnetic attachment has better biomechanical characteristic than Magnedisk and can distribute stress more evenly throughout the whole supporting structure for its special cushioned design.

Objective Spastic pelvic floor syndrome (SPFS) is a common chronic functional constipation characterized by irregular defecation,low defecation frequency,difficult defecation,and discomfort and pain in the anus and perineum.The pathophysiologic mechanism of the disease has not yet been clearly understood,so there is no targeted treatment.At present,biofeedback therapy is an effective,safe and non-invasive method for the treatment of spastic pelvic floor syndrome,which is often combined with Chinese medicine and psychological intervention in clinical treatment.

Angiogenesis is the process of capillary formation from the existing blood vessels, which is regulated by many cytokines.Balance of these cytokines plays an important role in angiogenesis.Unbalance of these cytokines, lead-ing to excessive or insufficient blood vessel, relates to a variety of diseases, such as tumor, ophthalmic diseases and wound healing.Recently, it has been observed that angiogenesis is also involved in Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. This review mainly discusses the molecular mechanism of angiogenesis and related diseases, and emphasizes the value of targeting angiogenesis as a strategy to develop drugs for those diseases.

Objective To study the biological effects of sinusoidal electromagnetic fields(EMFs)on proliferation and extracellular matrix(ECM)formation by annulus fibrosus(AF)cells in rats.Methods AF cells isolated from rats were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group.The cells in the experimental group were stimulated with an EMF,while those in the control group were held under the same culture conditions but with no EMF.Flow cytometry and MTT were performed to observe the effects on the ceU cycle and proliferation.Collagen and aggrecan expression were examined after amplification with a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RTPCR).Sulfated glycosaminoglycan(sGAG)content wag detected by applying the Alcian blue method. Results AF cell proliferation was not significant until after 4 days of stimulation.Compared with the control group,the expression of type Ⅰ and Ⅱ collagen and Aggrecan were up-regulated,and sGAG content Was increased in the experimental group.Conclusion AF cell proliferation was enhanced by EMF.Gene expression of collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅱ and Aggrecan increased.a8 well as sGAG levels.The results suggest an approach for treating of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the serum ferritin levels and disease activity of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods One hundred and forty-six patients with SLE and 65 healthy volunteers were involved.Serum ferritin,C-reactive protein (CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (dsDNA) were measured in two groups.The activity of SLE was evaluated by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score.The data were recorded and analyzed.SPSS 19.0.statistical software was used in statistical analysis.Analysis of variance was employed in comparison between groups using,t test was used in further pairwise comparisons,Pearson correlation test was adopted to evaluate the correlation between two groups.Results The level of serum ferritin in patients with SLE group was significantly higher than that of control group (505.4 ±408.9) ng/ml and (72.4 ±42.8) ng/ml,respectively,t =6.67,P ＜0.01.57.5％ (84/146) patients with SLE had elevated serum ferritin.Patients with high SLEDAI scores had significantly higher ferritin concentrations than other patients (807.6 ± 412.3) ng/ml and (96.0 ± 44.7) ng/ml,t =6.56,P ＜0.01.The levels of serum ferritin in SLE patients were positively correlated with SLEDAI score and serum CRP (r =0.396,P ＜ 0.01 ; r =0.351,P ＜ 0.01),and it was not related with ESR or dsDNA (r =0.111,P=0.09;r =0.078,P =0.23).Conclusion The level of serum ferritin could reflect the disease activity of patients with SLE,and it might be used as a new biomarker for disease activity of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.