BACKGROUND:The pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis is stil not very clear, and there is a lack of early diagnosis methods. Because it is more common in middle-aged women, it is suggested that the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis may be closely related to serum estradiol levels in the human body. OBJECTIVE:To explore the correlation between the level of serum estradiol and the severity of osteoarthritis in female patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS:Seventy-six female patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from February 2012 to December 2013 were enroled, and divided into premenopause group (n=42) and postmenopause group (n=34). According to Kelgren-Lawrence (K-L) grading, both two groups were subdivided into K-L 0, II and IV groups. The knee function was evaluated with Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Knee Score Standard in USA, the serum estradiol levels were detected with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Then, the correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The serum estradiol levels of the premenopause group and postmenopause group were decreased significantly with the increase of K-L grade and age (P < 0.05). Under the same K-L grade, the serum estradiol levels in the postmenopausal patients were significantly lower than those in the premenopausal patients. Linear regression analysis showed that there was a negative relationship between age and serum estradiol level (R2=0.222,P < 0.05), and there was a positive correlation between HSS scores and serum estradiol levels (R2=0.415,P < 0.05). The severity of knee osteoarthritis in female patients shows a negative correlation with the level of serum estradiol but a positive correlation with age.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of bladder extracellular matrix (BACM) seeding with autologous cultured vaginal smooth muscle cells (VSMC) repaired rabbit vaginal defect.Methods This study included 24 female rabbits.BACM and vaginal acellular matrix (VACM) were obtained from 8 rabbits by decellularization process.The other 16 rabbits were randomly divided into experimental and control groups.Vaginal tissue biopsies ( ～ 1 cm2) were harvested from female New Zealand rabbits.VSMC were cultured and stained with a-smooth muscle actin antibodies. Cultured VSMC cells were seeded on BACM ( experimental group) or VACM ( control group) at a cell density of 1 × 107 cells/cm2.The cell-seeded matrixes were cultured for 5days.In experimental group of 8 rabbits,a 2 cm segment of vagina was resected and replaced with BACM seeding with VSMC.Then the regenerative segment was studied with histological technique by hematoxylin-eosin staining after 3,6 and 12 weeks postoperative aud vaginography was performed at 12 weeks postoperative.The 8 rabbits in control group underwent the exact same procedure as above but the vaginal defect was repaired with VACM seeding with VSMC,Results The prepared BACM and VACM were transparent,HE staining and scanning electron microscopy showed the two acellular matrix was both consisted of abundant network of fibers with the regular arrangement,without cellular debris.Primary culture of VSMC was successfully established and passaged,and was uniformly spindle-shaped in the confluent state and showed a characteristic hill and valley'formation.Immunohistochemical staining showed VSMC in culture stained positively with a-smooth muscle actin antibodies.VSMC began to adhere to the BACM 5 hour after implanting and the number of the adhered cells increased with time.Cells gradually expanded and showed the typical morphology of smooth muscle cells.Three weeks after implantation in vivo,the luminal surface of matrix was completely covered by vaginal epithelial tissue,a layer of smooth muscle cells was formed in the outer surface of the matrix.Multilayered vaginal epithelial and improved development of organized muscle bundles was observed after 6 weeks.The regenerative tissue was equivalent to the normal vaginal tissue at 12 weeks postoperatively.Vaginography demonstrated the maintenance of full patency and a wide vaginal caliber without fibrosis and graft rejection.There was no significant difference in all evaluated items between experimental and control groups.Conclusions BACM has the same regenerative process as VACM in the replacement of vaginal defect.Moreover,BACM has wider source and appears to be an suitable material for vaginal replacement.

Objective To analyze the serum inflammation related factors of influenza A ( induced by sub-type H1N1 virus) patients with epidemic febrile damp-heat syndrome and warm-heat syndrome. Results Fifty-six patients confirmed as influenza A ( H1N1) were differentiated into epidemic febrile damp-heat syndrome ( 36 cases) and epidemic febrile warm-heat syndrome (20 cases) . And then we observed the serum immune globulins IgM and IgG, interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-ɑ), tumor growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), lipolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) levels of the influenza A patients. Results Insignificant differences of serum IgM, IgG, IL-8, TNF-ɑand TGF-β1 levels were shown between epidemic febrile damp-heat syndrome patients and epidemic febrile warm-heat syndrome patients (P>0.05), but the differences of LBP, TLR4 and sCD14 were significant (P<0.05) .Conclusion Influenza A (H1N1) patients with epidemic febrile damp-heat syndrome have higher serum LBP, TLR4 and sCD14 levels than patients with epidemic febrile warm-heat syndrome, indicating that inflammatory reaction is severer in influenza A (H1N1) patients with epidemic febrile damp-heat syndrome.

Based on the physical characteristic of ultrasound, the images of body tissues can be obtained through ultrasonic medical technology, which is another flourishing cross-linked branch of BME after X ray technology. Being non-invasive, painless and reusable, ultrasonic medical technology is suitable for the examination and treatment of the soft tissue. This paper introduces such of ultrasonic technology as its basic principle, developing prospect and application to clinical medicine.

In the field of medical engineering, ultrasonic Doppler technology develops rapidly and gains wide application. MICS-51 is one of the main series of MCU family and has been widely used in China. In this paper, the ultrasound Doppler error detection equipment based on MCS-51 is introduced.

In order to assess the feasibility of subcutaneous administration of Triptorelin with 6-week intervals for the suppression of pituitary-gonadal axis and changes of clinical signs in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP), 46 girls with ICPP were treated with GnRHa. Triptorelin (Decapeptyl, 3.75 mg) was administered subcutaneously (SC) at 6-weeks intervals or intramuscularly (IM) at 4-weeks intervals randomly for more than 12 months consecutively. During GnRHa therapy, clinical parameters and laboratory data, including height, weight, pubertal stage, bone age, uterine volume and ovarian size, serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2), were monitored and analyzed. It was found that both treatment regimes led to regression of precocious puberty and reversal of secondary sexual characteristics. Breast developments regressed. Uterine volume was decreased after treatment, but there was no statistically significant difference. Mean ovarian volume did not change significantly during treatment. The height velocity was decreased significantly from 6.3+/-1.4 cm/year to 5.8+/-1.2 cm/year in group SC and 6.7+/-1.3 cm/year to 5.4+/-1.0 cm/year in group IM, respectively. The rate of bone maturation was reduced significantly during treatment. The ratio of deltaBA/deltaCA was 1.2+/-0.2 or 1.3+/-0.3 at the onset of therapy and decreased significantly after the treatment to 0.7+/-0.2 or 0.9+/-0.1, respectively. The predicted adult height was increased significantly and progressively during therapy. The levels of serum LH, FSH and E2 returned to the prepubertal condition. No significant side effects of therapy were noted. The most common side effect during SC treatment was that a non-irritating, 1 cm in diameter mass was palpated at the site of subcutaneous injection in the abdominal wall of patients, which disappeared after 6-12 weeks. Two girls had minimal withdrawal vaginal bleeding episodes after the first injection. It was concluded that both IM and SC triptorelin administrations were clinically effective. They induce profound suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis while stabilizing height velocity, slowing bone maturation and increasing predicted adult height. These results suggest that subcutaneous injection of triptorelin in 6-weeks intervals at a dosage of 3.75 mg be a safe and acceptable regimen for ICPP

Objective To analyze the impact of rs3826392 polymorphism in MKK4 promoter on prognosis of colorectal cancer cases (CRC) receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods The associations between rs3826392 genotype of 203 CRC cases receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and clinicopathologic factors,overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS) were analyzed retrospectively. Results No association was found between rs3826392 genotype and clinicopathologic factors (P > 0.05). TG+GG genotype had better OS (P = 0.018) and DFS (P =0.019) when compared with TT genotype. Cox multivariate model showed rs3826392 TG+GG genotype remained independent favorable factor for OS(HR = 0.389;95%CI = 0.177-0.855) and DFS(HR=0.491;95%CI = 0.271-0.890) respectively. Conclusion -1304G variant genotypes (i.e., TG+GG) in rs3826392 may be the biomarker of better prognosis in CRC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

Quantitative proteomics is a novel subject of proteomics research. There are several new techniques employed for the protein quantitative study. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technology for protein quantitation using mass spectrometry is a recent powerful means of determining relative and absolute protein levels in up to four samples simultaneously. The iTRAQ reagent produced high quality, reproducible result in enriched complexes, organelles, and whole cell lysates. The status of the recent promising techniques and their possible future evolution were reviewed.

BACKGROUND: There is no any mature and complete system to repair nerve tissue after segmental injury due to particularity of nerve tissue regeneration. Using tissue-engineering technique to solve this problem is difficult and challenged.OBJECTIVE: To research an artificial nerve bridging substance in application of repairing nerve injury on clinic and obverse its microcosmic spatial structure at the same time.DESIGN: Open experiment.SETTING: Orthopaedic Research Institute, Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERTALS: The experiment was carried out in the Orthopaedic Research Institute, Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from November 2001 to January 2003. CollagenⅠ, collagen Ⅳ and gelatin were provided by Sigma-aldrich Company, USA.METHODS: Establishment of bridging substance: Collagen Ⅰ (65.53%) and collagen Ⅳ (32.77%) were added into 0.05 mol/L acetic acid solution, respectively; and then, two suspensions were mixed together and stirred at 4℃. The suspension of collagen and heparin sulfate was pumped, held still and poured into silica gel tube with bore of 3 mm.Continuously, two ends of tube were enclosed and suffered from cold drench and mold at five various speeds. General observation was done. Composites were intercepted cross section, vertical section and 45° section for observation by optic microscope at different speeds of 10×10-5 m/s, 5×10-5 m/s, 2.5×10-5 m/s, 1.0×10-5 m/s and 1.0×10-6 m/s; meanwhile, interior structure of microtubule was observed with scanning electron microscope. Interior diameter of microtubule was calculated as the following formula: actual aperture = (magnification × area of microtubule) ÷ (length of guage × perimeter of aperture).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① General observation; ② observation with microscope; ③ observation with scanning electron microscope and interior diameter of microtubule.RESULTS: ① General observation: Models were regular cylinders and had symmetrical features. Flexility was wonderful,texture was well-proportioned, and elasticity was strong. ② Results of optic microscope: Structure of external surface was completely blocking without any poricidal dehiscence. Surface was smooth and had good continuity. ③ Results of electron microscope: External surface shaped like terrace tile; asides, interior structure of microtubule was average and its courser was coincident and parallel to each other. Microtubules with longitudinal courser were independence on each other. The structure was blocking and did not connect to each other. This was as the same as courser of nerve fibrous bands of organis. Cross section of interior microtubule was general round and regular, and the diameter was average. Interior microtubule had groat continuity without breaks or transection. Trabeculae of microtubule also had groat continuity,and its surface was smooth. Interior diameter of microtubule ranged from 197.3 μm to 258.8 μm.CONCLUSION: Nerve bridging substance is made of collagen and gelatin which are characterized by groat compatibility and degradation after mixture, lysis and cold drench, It has singly longitudinal microtubule and microstructure of high imitation by normal nerves, so nerve bridging substance can be used in basic researches and repair nerve injury on clinic.

Objective To study the anti-inflammatory effects of idazoxan (IDA) on endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged mice in vivo and activated macrophages in vitro,and explore its potential molecular mechanisms.Methods To do the experiments in vivo,30 adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,and low,medium and high doses IDA groups (IDA-L,IDA-M,and IDA-H groups),n =6 in each group.The inflammatory model was reproduced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS 10 mg/kg,and the control group was injected with the same amount of normal saline.The IDA groups received LPS (10 mg/kg) and IDA 0.3,1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg,respectively.The blood samples of mice in each group were collected at 6 hours after the reproduction of the model.For the in vitro experiments,primary peritoneal macrophages were collected from 20 adult male C57BL/6 mouse cells and they were divided into control group,LPS group (10 mg/L) and LPS+IDA-L,IDA-M,IDA-H groups (10 mg/L LPS + 5,25,100 μmol/L IDA,respectively).Cell culture supernatants were collected at 24 hours after the reproduction of the model.Detection methods:enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin-6 (IL-6),monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and nitric oxide (NO).Western Blot was used to determine the effect of IDA on the expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in macrophages.Results ① For the in vivo experiment,the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly elevated in the model group as compared with those in the control group [TNF-o (ng/L):403.96 ± 40.98 vs.17.50 ± 8.68;IL-6 (ng/L):61 400.31 ± 7 826.61 vs.2 436.30 ± 448.89;both P ＜ 0.01].IDA treatment could inhibit the elevation of inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner,with the most significant decrease in LPS+IDA-H group [TNF-α (ng/L):170.09 ± 28.53 vs.403.96 ± 40.98,IL-6 (ng/L):16 570.81 ± 1 083.65 vs.61 400.31± 7 826.61;both P ＜ 0.01].② For the in vitro experiment,the levels of TNF-α,IL-6,MCP-1,and NO secreted by LPS-stimulated macrophages were distinctly higher in the LPS group than those in the control group [TNF-α (ng/L):7 259.14 ± 320.70 vs.28.50±27.08,IL-6 (ng/L):14809.60±5852.73 vs.1 113.47±465.53,MCP-1 (ng/L):20847.37± 1 788.33 vs.447.37± 395.69,NO (μmol/L):1 900.00 ± 144.31 vs.603.03 ± 102.18;all P ＜ 0.01].However,IDA intervention could lower the secretion of TNF-α,IL-6,MCP-1 and NO in a dose-dependent manner,with the most notable decrease in the LPS+IDA-H group [TNF-α (ng/L):784.40±281.90 vs.7259.14±320.70,IL-6 (ng/L):1 802.96± 1 534.18 vs.14 809.60± 5 852.73,MCP-1 (ng/L):2005.26± 1 534.28 vs.20847.37 ± 1 788.33,NO (μ mol/L):654.54± 150.21 vs.1 900.00 ± 144.31;all P ＜ 0.05].In addition,IDA at the concentration of 100 μmol/L could promote the translocation of NF-κBp65 in macrophages into the nucleus 15 minutes early and lead to increased NF-κBp65 expression (gray value:18.70 ± 2.29 vs.1.09 ± 0.36,P ＜ 0.05),hut significantly reduce the expression levels of NF-κBp50 in the nucleus at 45 minutes after treatment (gray value:1.99 ± 0.14 vs.2.94 ± 0.54,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions IDA could significantly reduce inflammation of mice challenged with LPS and inhibit inflammatory cytokines and mediators secreted by macrophage in a dose-dependent manner.High concentration of IDA (100 μmol/L) exhibited the greatest anti-inflammatory effects.The anti-inflammatory effect of IDA may be worked through NF-κB signaling pathway.