AIM:Sodium aescinate can protect the vessel wall while clearing free radical in body.This study was designed to approach the protective effects of preconditioning with sodium aescinate on ischemia/reperfusion injury of the limbs induced by tourniquet.METHODS:Forty patients undergoing elective lower limb operation were selected from the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2006 to February 2007.They were randomly divided into 2 groups:20 in treated group received sodium aescinate(5 mg/100 mL) by intervenous drop infusion,while 20 cases in control group received equal dose of Sodium Chloride at 30 minutes before fastening tourniquet.Blood samples(4 mL) were obtained before fastening tourniquet and at 5,10,20 minutes after release of tourniquet to measure superoxide dismutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA),lactic acid(Lac) and nitrogen monoxidum(NO).Meanwhile the blood pressure and heart rate were recorded in two groups.RESULTS:All of 40 patients were involved in the result analysis.①In the control group,diastolic blood pressure after 5 and 10 minutes of release was significantly less than that before(P

Objective To investigate the effects of preconditioning with extract of Ginkgo Biloba (EGB) on the tourniquet-induced ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury to the limb. Methods Forty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients aged 17-64 yr weighing 46-72 kg undergoing lower limb operation under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 20 each) : group A control and group B EGB. CSEA was performed at L2,3 or L3,4 interspace. The height of sensory block was kept below T10. Group B received EGB 0.3 mg/kg in 100 ml normal saline (NS) injected over 20 min via an intravenous line in the forearm as soon as the tourniquet was inflated while control group received plain NS 100 ml without EGB. Venous blood samples were obtained before tourniquet was inflated (To baseline) and at 5, 10, 20 min after tourniquet was released (T_1 , T_2, T_3) for measurement of blood lactate and MDA concentrations and SOD activity. BP (SP, DP) and HR were continuously monitored and recorded at the above time points. Results In control group DP and SOD activity were significantly decreased while blood lactate and MDA concentrations were significantly increased after tourniquet release as compared with the baseline values before tourniquet was inflated. In EGB group there was no significant change in DP, blood lactate and MDA concentrations and SOD activity after tourniquet was released as compared with the baseline. Conclusion Pretreatment with EGB can protect against tourniquet-induced I/R injury to the limb.

Objective To observe the changes of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress related protein GRP78 and CHOP in CCl4 induced liver fibrosis and to explore their effects on hepatic fibrosis.Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, 4 and 8 weeks liver fibrosis group (hypodermic injection of 40% CCl4).Pathological changes of liver tissue was observed by HE staining.The techniques of real-time PCR was applied to detect mRNA of GRP78 and CHOP in liver.Detected expression of Akt1, phospho-Akt1, GRP78 and CHOP protein by western blot.Meanwhile, the cell apoptosis in liver was detected by TUNEL.Results Compared with the normal control group, GRP78 and CHOP mRNA and protein in 4 and 8 weeks liver fibrosis group was increased(P<0.05), while expression of Akt1, phospho-Akt1 in 4 and 8 weeks liver fibrosis group was lower than that in normal control group(P<0.05).Compared with normal control group, the apoptosis of hepatocytes in 4 and 8 weeks liver fibrosis group was elevated (P<0.05).Conclusions PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress may play important roles in the induction of apoptosis of hepatocytes in rats with hepatic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: At present, the meniscus injury is very common, and can lead to serious injury of the knee joint.Meniscus biomechanics has been reported, but no studies have concerned the biomechanical characteristics of the meniscus in knee buckling during gait under different loading conditions.OBJECTIVE: To simulate and analyze the biomechanical characteristics of the knee joint meniscus under different loading conditions using finite element method.METHODS: Based on the knee magnetic resonance imaging data of normal adult volunteers, three-dimensional finite element model of knee joint was reconstructed. The stress, distribution and changes in the meniscus under different flexion angles were analyzed at 300 N, 400 N and 500 N.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Under the respectively loading conditions of 500 N, 400 N and 300 N, the maximum stress point all from the place of posterior horn of medial meniscus anterior surface of tibia moved to the posterior margin of the anterior tibial attachment of the lateral meniscus, and the maximum displacement all from the place of midpoint of the inner edge of the medial meniscus moved to front outer edge of the lateral meniscus during normal dynamic buckling process of 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°, and the range of stress and displacement of lateral meniscus was greater than that of medial meniscus; simultaneously, the distribution range of stress and displacement was proportional to the size of the loading and the angle of the buckling. (2) The three-dimensional finite element model of the knee joint meniscus can be used to effectively dynamically simulate the distribution of force and displacement under different loading conditions, and can provide evidence for speculation of the mechanism of the injury of the meniscus in clinic.

Objective To establish the quality standards for Shufeng Zhike Extract;To improve the controll ability of the extract and ensure medicine efficacy. Methods To establish a HPLC method for simultaneous differentiation of Paeoniae Radix Alba, Saposhnikoviae Radix, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizomaet Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Belamcandae Rhizoma and Bupleurum in Shufeng Zhike Extract. Phenomenex Kintex C18 column (4.6 mm×100 mm, 2.6 μm) was used. Acetonitrile-0.05%phosphoric acid was as the mobile phase in gradient elution (0–25 min, 10%acetonitrile; 25–26 min, 10%→14% acetonitrile; 26–35 min, 14% acetonitrile; 35–36 min, 14%→34% acetonitrile;36–55 min, 34%acetonitrile) at flow rate of 0.8 mL/min, and column temperature was 40 ℃. The detection wavelength was 250 nm. To establish a HPLC method for simultaneous determination of Paeoniflorin and Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin in Shufeng Zhike Extract, Phenomenex Luna C18 column (4.6 mm×150 mm, 5 μm) was used; acetonitrile-0.05%phosphoric acid (12:88) was as the mobile phase at flow rate of 1 mL/min; column temperature was 40 ℃; the detection wavelength was 250 nm. Results The chromatographic peak separation with HPLC method for simultaneous differentiate of Paeoniae Radix Alba, Saposhnikoviae Radix, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Belamcandae Rhizoma and Bupleurumin in Shufeng Zhike Extract was clear and negative control had no interference. The linear range of Paeoniflorin was 0.035 93–2.514 8 μg (r=0.999 5), and the average recovery was 100.54%(n=6). The linear range of Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin was 0.006 7–0.67 μg (r=0.999 5), and the average recovery was 100.39%(n=6). Conclusion The established quality standards are simple, reliable, and accurate. It can rapidly identificate Paeoniae Radix Alba, Saposhnikoviae Radix, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizomaet Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Belamcandae Rhizoma and Bupleurum, and suitable for rapid determination of Paeoniflorin and Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, which can provide the basis for the quality inspection of Shufeng Zhike Extract.

BACKGROUND:At present, although the study of three-dimensional finite element biomechanical analysis of knee joint meniscus has been reported and we have a certain understanding of the biomechanical changes of the meniscus, but the dynamic simulation of the knee meniscus in the same load conditions in the process of biomechanical analysis of the knee meniscus is less reported. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the biomechanical characteristics of the knee joint meniscus under different flexion angle by using analogue simulation of finite element method. METHODS:Based on knee MRI data of the normal adult volunteers, the medicine finite element simulation software Mimics10.01 and reverse engineering software Rapidform XOR3 were utilized to reconstruct three-dimensional finite element model of knee joint meniscus. The advanced finite element analysis software Abaqus6.10-1 was utilized for analogue simulation and for analyzing biomechanical changes during flexion under vertical load of 300 N. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) While the knee joint flexed at 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°, with the increase of angle, maximum stress point moved from the anterior edge of tibia attachment surface of the medial meniscus posterior angle to the posterior edge of tibia attachment surface of the lateral meniscus anterior angle, and the stress range of lateral meniscus was greater than that of the medial meniscus. (2) The maximal displacement point moved from the midpoint of inner edge of the medial meniscus to the front outer-upper edge of the lateral meniscus at knee flexion of 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°. Moreover, the range of displacement of lateral meniscus was bigger than the medial meniscus. (3) These findings suggest that the meniscus is the major bearing structure in the process of knee flexion. The lateral meniscus injury rate is greater than the medial meniscus in process of exercise, which is associated with large stress and displacement.

It has been demonstrated that the combination of abnomal expression of gastrin with its receptor can promote cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis in colorectal neoplasms via signal transduction pathways,which is related with the abnormal expression of miRNA.Researches show that there are multiple intersections between the molecule mechanisms of miRNA and the signaling pathway of gastrin in promoting colorectal cancer cell proliferation.It may exist a gastrin-miRNA-target gene signaling transduction pathway.Knowing the mechanism of the signaling pathway and controlling the related factors will open another avenue for the gene targeted therapy of colorectal neoplasms.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy between needling peri-ocular points plus abducens oculi and needling peri-ocular points alone in treating abducens paralysis, for evaluating the effectiveness and advantage of needling peri-ocular points plus abducens oculi.MethodFollowing the random number table, 86 patients with postnatal unilateral abducens oculi were divided into two groups: 43 cases in the control group were intervened by conventional acupuncture at peri-ocular points including bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN5), Cuanzhu (BL2), Fengchi (GB20), Hegu (LI4) and Waiguan (TE5), plus Baihui (GV20), Sizhukong (TE23) and Tongziliao (GB1) on the affected side; 43 cases in the treatment group were intervened by acupuncture at peri-ocular points and abducens oculi, i.e. to puncture the abducens oculi (1~3 mm behind the attached point of the extrarectus to eyeball) in addition to the treatment given to the control group. After 3 treatment courses, the total effective rate, average recovery time and improvement of strabismus angle were observed.ResultThe total effective rate was 93.0% in the treatment group, significantly higher than 81.4%in the control group (P<0.05); of the 28 cured patients in the treatment group, the average recovery time was (34.51±7.91)d, versus (41.88±7.87)d in the 22cured patients in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). There was a significant difference in comparing the improvement of strabismus angle between the two groups (P<0.01); after treatment, the strabismus angle was (11.23±6.32)° in the treatment group versus (14.14±6.85)° in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).ConclusionNeedling peri-ocular points and abducens oculi can improve the strabismus angle, shorten treatment duration and reduce patient’s sufferings in treating postnatal abducens paralysis, significantly superior to conventional acupuncture at peri-ocular points.

Objective To observe curative effect of the rat nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment on anterior ischemic op?tic neuropathy(AION). Methods Patients with AION (n=78) were randomly divided into mouse NGF treatment group (treatment group):39 cases (39 eyes) and conventional treatment group (control group):37 cases (37 eyes). Patients in control group were given Actovegin 1.2 g intravenously, once a day while patients in treatment group were given 18μg mouse NGF once a day. Milton insurable were given orally at 0.5 mg, 3 times per day at both groups. Dexamethasone of 3 mg were given retrobulbarly once a day upon onset of symptoms and the extend of edema for 3 to 5 days. Rat nerve growth factor were given for consecutive14 days as a period of treatment, and the curative effect was observed after 28 days of treatment. Results In the treatment group:treatments were obviously effective in 28 eyes (71.79%), effective in 7 eyes (17.95%) and ineffective in 4 eyes (10.26%), so the total effective rate was 89.74%; In control group: treatments were obviously effective in 11 eyes (29.73%), effective in 15 eyes (40.54%) and ineffective in 11 eyes (29.73%), so the total effective rate was 70.27%. Curative effects in these 2 groups were of statistical significance (Z=3.552, P<0.05). Vision acuity and average light sensitivity in vi?sual field are better in treatment group than those control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Mouse NGF is effective in the treat?ment of AION and can improve vision acuity and visual field, therefore is worth promoting.

Sphingolipids are essential components of cellular membrane , regulating important physiologic function of cells .Al-terations of sphingolipid metabolism are closely related to the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases .Ceramide biogenesis , the center of sphingolipid metabolism , includes de novo ceramide synthesis , ceramide formation via breakdown of complicated sphingolipids and so on . Recent studies found that aberrant sphingolipid metabolism is strongly linked to insulin resistance associated with obesity .The review fo-cuses on recent advances about aberrant sphingolipid metabolism in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance associated with obesity .