BACKGROUND: Chondron is a basic microanatomical unit of articular cartilage. lncreasing evidence suggests that the pericellular matrix (PCM) is a distinct functional compartment in articular cartilage, influencing the metabolic, micromechanical environment, and degeneration of chondrocytes. But the precise functions and action mechanism need further investigation.OBJECTIVE: To review the literature pertinent to the morphology, function, isolation of the chondron in articular cartilage, and its degenerative events during the progression of osteoarthritis (OA).METHODS: This review summarized the articles published in the PubMed database before July 2009. In addition, recent data and figure of our laboratory on the morphology and biomechanics of chondron and chondrocyte were supplemented. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The PCM is primarily characterized by the presence of type Ⅵ collagen, and these components are widespread in the expansive extracellular matrix (ECM) in newborns, while in mature the components are mainly localized to a narrow pericellular zone. The three-dimensional morphology of chondron has been recently quantified in situ with fluorescence confocal microscopy, and the mechanical properties of the isolated individual chondrons and their PCM are measured using the micropipette technique and atomic force microscopy. More studies have shown that the presence of the PCM in chondrons has a profound influence on chondrocyte gene expression. At the same time, structural, histochemical and biomechanical studies indicate the chondron and their PCM may undergo degenerative processes with osteoarthritis, similar to those occurring in the ECM, Although the precise function of the PCM is unknown, increasing evidence in vivo or in vitro suggests that the PCM is a basic microanatomical unit in articular cartilage, influencing the metabolic and micromechanical environment of chondrocytes.Department of Orthopedics, the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Bone and Soft Tissue Injury Repair,Taiyuan 030001,Shanxi Province,China

Objective:To study the effects of Naoling tablet on Aristolochia acid A from Aristolochia fangchi,preliminary explore the deintoxication of Aristolochia fangchi.Methods:Absorption value of Aristolochhia aicd A was determined by HPLC after Aristolochi fangchi decocted with Naoling tablet,the change of content of Aristolochia acid A was observed .Results:the content of Aristolochia acid A from Aristolochia fangchi was markedly decreased after Naoling tablet was added.Conclusion:Naoling tablet can markedly decreased the content of Aristolochhia aicd A from Aristolochia fangchi.

Objective To explore a suitable mode of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of fetal malformations with early neonatal surgical treatment. Methods Nine fetus with surgical malformations diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound in our hospital from Mar. 1998 to Dec. 2000 were analysed. Results There were two cases diagnosed in the second trimester, 7 in the third trimester, including 1 duodeneal atresia with annular pancreas, 1 abdominal wall defect, 1 congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 1 huge omphalocele, 1 high imperforate anus, 4 hydronephrosis (2 mild and 2 severe). Six cases were operated in neonatal period, two were treated conservatively, and one did induced abortion. All cases recovered except 1 death. Conclusions The mode of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis with surgery in early neonatal period is a suitable way in China before the fetal surgery is applied. It is important to make effort to increase sensitivity of sonographic diagnosis of fetal malformation and to get early treatment in perinatal period.

ObjectiveTo explore the application of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC)and central venous catheter (CVC) in the surgical parenteral nutrition.MethodThe operation time,success rate,indwelling duration,abnormal biopsy,and adverse reactions of PICC and CVC were retrospectively compared.ResultsCVC had significantly shorter operation time than PICC groups [ (28.67 ±5.13) min vs.(45.20 ±6.89)min,P =0.035 ).The mean indwelling duration was significantly longer in PICC group than in CVC group [ ( 114.85 ± 10.29) d vs.(24.78 ± 8.42) d,P =0.033 ].PICC group was superior to CVC group in terms of five complication items,while only phlebitis was more frequent/severe in CVC group.ConclusionsPICC may be more suitable for long-term ( ＞4 weeks) catheter-based nutrition.CVC has short operation time and fast flow rate,and therefore is most suitable for rescue treatment for critically ill patients.

Objective To study the effects of Ziyin Bushen Pill on Aristolochia acid A in Aristolochia fangchi,and preliminary study on reducing poisonous effects of Ziyin Bushen Pill to Aristolochia fangchi.Methods Absorption of Aristolochhia acid A in the mingled decoction of Aristolochia fangchi and Ziyin Bushen Pill by HPLC,and the change of Aristolochia acid A was observed.Results Aristolochia acid A content of Aristolochia fangchi was markedly decreased after Ziyin Bushen Pill was added.Conclusion Ziyin Bushen Pill can markedly decreased Aristolochhia acid A content of Aristolochia fangchi.

Objective To investigate the effects of arsenic trioxide (ATO) on the expression of autoan-tibody and interleukin (IL)-10 IL-12 in MRL/lpr mice. Methods MRL/lpr mice wereseparated into 3 different groups. The 3 groups received arsenic trioxide (ATO, 0.4 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), cyclophosphamide (CTX,50 mg/kg) and sodium chloride (NS, volume weight-determined) abdominal injection respee-tively. The treatment stopped 2 months later. Afterwards, the rates of CD3~+(T) cells, CD3~+CD4~+(Th) cells and the CD3~+CD4~+cells which produced IL-10 and IL-12 were detected using single-cell measurement of intr-acellular eytokines by flow cytometry after polyclonal stimulation with PMA and ionomycin for 4 hours in 5% CO_(2.)Serum levels of IL 10 and IL-12 were assessed using the Mouse cytokines ELISA Kit. One-way ANOVA LSD test and paires t test were used for statistical analysis.Results ①The level of anti-dsDNA antibody after treatment was 0.92±0.06, while it was 1.14±0.58 before treatment. So the ds-DNA antibody level was significantly decreased in ATO group (P<0.01), while it was dramatically increased in the NS groups (P<0.05) after the treatment;②ATO group had significantly less CD3~+ cells and CD3~+CD4~+ cells[(44±4)% and (20±4)%]compared withNS group [(59±5)%and(30±3)%](P<0.01).③The serum level of IL-12 in the ATO group was (84±12) pg/ml,while it was (103±13)pg/ml in the NS group (P=0.018).④The intracellular levels of IL-10 and IL-12 produced by CD3~+CD4~+ (Th) cells in the ATO group were ( 1.5±0.4)% and (2.43±0.42)%, which was significantly lower than those in the NS group respectively (2.5±0.5)% and (3.24±0.40)%(P<0.01). Conclusion Arsenic trioxide can reduce the production of anti-dsDNA antibody,inhibit the activation and proliferation of both T cells and Th subsets in the MRLApr mice, and hence decrease the serum levels of IL-12 and the levels of IL-10, IL-12 produced by Th cells.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGF-A) on placenta tissue from pre-eclampsia.Methods The expression of PDGF-A in the placenta of 38 pre-eclampsia patients and 22 normal pregnant women at third trimester was detected by immunohistochemistry method.Results (1)PDGF-A was mainly expressed in the cytomembrane and cytoplasm of cytotrophoblasts and the endothelial cell of capillary in placenta.(2) The rates of PDGF-A expression of cytotrophoblasts were 63% (24/38) in pre-eclampsia group and 32% (7/22) in normal pregnancy group,which exhibited significant difference (P ＜0.05).(3) The rates of PDGF-A expression of endothelial cell were 68% (26/38) in pre-eclampsia group and 27% (6/22) in normal pregnancy group,which also showed significant difference (P ＜0.01).(4)The rates of PDGF-A expression of cytotrophoblasts were 39% (7/18) in mild pre-eclampsia patients and 85% (17/20) in severe pre-eclampsia,which reached statistical difference (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The increasing expression of PDGF-A in cytotrophoblast and endothelial cell in placenta might confer the occurrence and progression of preeclampsia.

Objective To discuss the efficacy of a modified single posterior fixation of complicated acetabular fractures with a percutaneous cannulated screw and a reconstruction plate in comparison with traditional bilateral approaches (ilioinguinal and Kocher-Langerbeek). Methods From April 2004 to May 2007, 48 cases of complicated acetabular fracture were treated surgically. By Letoumel classification, 22 were transverse and posterior wall fractures, 16 fractures of both columns, 3 fractures of anterior column and posterior wall, 3 T shape fractures and 4 anterior column and posterior hemi-transverse fractures. Of them, 22 cases were treated through the bilateral approaches and 26 cases through the modified single posterior approach by which a percutuneous cannulated screw was applied, going askew through skin and ischial tuberosity, to fix the anterior column and a reconstruction plate to fix the posterior column. Results Forty patients were followed up for 6 to 37 months(average, 18 months) . There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups as fax as the following factors were concerned: anatomic reduction rate and functional good-to-excellent rate. But there were significant differences in operation time and volume of hemorrhage during operation. Conclusion In treatment of complicated acetabular fractures, the modified singl eposterior approach simplifies traditional bilateral approaches so that surgery procedures, perioperative bleeding and postoperative complications can be reduced without sacrificing the treatment efficacy.

Objective To discuss the influence of comprehensive rehabilitative nursing by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)the neural function impairment, activity of daily living(ADL)and accompanying complications of patients in acute phase of cerebral apoplexy. Methods 238 patients from 3 cooperative hospitals from September in 2004 to September in 2006 were randomly chosen and divided into the test group(117 cases)and the control group(121 cases).The medication treatment in the two groups were basically the same. The comprehensive rehabilitative nursing with traditional Chinese medicine was adopted in the test group and the control group received routine nursing intervention. The clinical nerve function limitation score(CNS)and the ADL were evaluated within the first week and the 4th week after intervention. The incidence rate of complications was also determined. Results The CNS and ADL results in the observation group were better than those in the control group(P＜0.01).The incidence rate was lower than that in the observation group. Conclusion The comprehensive rehabilitative nursing by TCM could facilitate the functional recovery of limbs and improve activity of daily living.This intervention could be applied in clinic, family and community because of its characteristics such as simplicity, feasibility and little adverse effect.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide (ATO) on anti-dsDNA antibody and the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1-mRNA and CD11a-mRNA in lupus MRL/lpr mice.Methods MRL/lpr mice were divided into three groups:the ATO group,the sodium chloride(NS) group,and the cyclophosphamide(CTX) group.The control group consisted of 20 syngeneic normal C57/BL mice,which were subdivided into the ATO group and the NS group.After two-month treatment,all mice were sacrificed.Blood routine test was conducted by SYSMEX KX21.The anti-dsDNA antibody in the serum were detected by ELISA.The expression of DNMT1 and CD11a was determined by RT-PCR.ANOVA and paired t test were used for statistical analysis.Results① The serum level of anti-dsDNA antibody(0.89±0.07) and the gray scale value of CD11a-mRNA(0.43±0.25) in the ATO group were much lower than those in the NS group of MRL/lpr mice(1.77±0.28,P＜0.01; 0.99±0.31,P＜0.05),while the gray scale value of DNMTI-mRNA (0.32±0.30) was significantly higher than that in the NS group(0.16±0.26,P＜0.05 ).② The serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibody was low in both the ATO group and the CTX group (0.90±0.07,0.66±0.22),and it was higher in the ATO group than that in the CTX group (P＜0.05).The gray scale value of DNMT1 mRNA in the ATO group (0.32±0.30) was higher than that in the CTX group (0.16±0.18,P＜0.05) in MRL/lpr mice,and the gray scale value of CD11a mRNA in the ATO group(0.43±0.25) was lower than that in the CTX group (0.86±0.31,P＜0.05) in MRL/lpr mice.③ There was no difference in above parameters between the ATO-group and NS group in C57/BL mice(P＞0.05).ConclusionArsenic trioxide can reduce the serum level of auto-antibody and reverse low methylation.But it has no effect on normal mice.