Objective To compare the efficacies of electrothermal needle acupuncture versus nimesulide in treating knee osteoarthritis and the relieving effects of them on the pain and explore the possible mechanism of electrothermal needle treatment for knee osteoarthritis.Method Eighty patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to electrothermal needle and Western medicine groups, 40 cases each.The electrothermal needle group received electrothermal needle therapy and the Western medicine group took nimesulide sustained-release tablets.The therapeutic effects were compared after thecompletionof treatment.Therelieving effects of the two treatments on the pain were evaluated using the Pain Visual Analogue Scale(VAS).Serum SOD and MDA were measured in all the subjects before and after treatment.Result The marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate for knee osteoarthritis were higher in the electrothermal needle group than in the Western medicine group.There was no significant post-treatment difference in the VAS pain score between the electrothermal needle and Western medicine groups.After treatment, serum SOD increased and MDA decreased in the electrothermal needle group and they did not change significantly in the Western medicine group.Conclusion Electrothermal needle therapy can well relieve the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.Its relieving effect on the pain is equal to that of nimesulide.The mechanism of electrothermal needle treatment for knee osteoarthritis may be relatedto its improving bodilyoxidative stress levels.

Objective To explore the impact and mechanism of miR-200 b on intestinal epithelial tight junction. Methods The negative-lentivirus and human-miR-200 b-lentivirus were employed to infect the Caco-2 cell thus establishing two stable cell lines which were then stimulated by 10 ng/mL human tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) to establish the model of the intestinal epithelial injury. Those Caco-2 cells were divided into NC, NC+TNF-α, 200b, and 200b+TNF-αgroups.The tight junction permeability was detected by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (FITC-dextran). The protein alterations myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)/phosphorylated myosin light chain (P-MLC) pathways were measured by Western blot analysis. Results Compared to NC group, NC+TNF-αgroup had lower TEER, higher FITC-dextran, and up-regulated expressions of MLCK and P-MLC proteins (P

PBL teacheing mode has satisfactory postive influence to the learning motivation,because it has a different characteristic compared with the traditional teaching mode,and can stimulate the curiosity and the desire of learning more effectively,thus arousing the initiative of the students. It can also cultivate their spirit of master and consciousness of responsibility more effectively,and it is beneficial to teaching students in accordance with their aptitude and developing their personality.In the course of the PBL teaching mode,the principles of moderate difficulty,precise occasion,in association with practice and encourage by feedback should be paid enough attention to.

BACKGROUND:Under hypoxic environment, hypoxia inducible factor-1 plays an important role in regulation of hypoxia-induced gene expression in the intervertebral disc. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 consists of α and βsubunits, and which hypoxia inducible factor-1α determines the stability and activity of hypoxia-inducible factor-1. OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α in the human lumbar nucleus pulposus of different herniated types and to judge their relationships. METHODS:A total of 60 nucleus pulposus samples were harvested from the lumbar vertebra, including 41 from L4-5 and 19 from L5-S1, and then divided into protruded group and sequestered group, with 30 cases in each group. Meanwhile, another 10 samples of lumbar nucleus pulposus served as controls. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex immunohistochemical technique were used to observe the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α in the human lumbar nucleus pulposus in different groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expression level of hypoxia inducible factor-1α was (58.2±7.5)% in the sequestered group, (27.3±2.3)% in the protruded group, and (10.5±4.7)% in the control group, which was significantly higher in the sequestered group than the other two groups (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α in the lumbarnucleus pulposus is associated with the herniated types, which is the highest in the prolapse sequestered type.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction and autophagy abnormality play important roles in the mechanism of inflammatory bowel disease, however, whether autophagy has effect on intestinal barrier dysfunction has not been reported.Aims: To explore the effect of autophagy inducer pp242 on intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).Methods: Model of intestinal epithelial monolayer barrier was established with Caco-2 cells in Transwell chambers, and then randomly divided into four groups: control group (without any intervention), TNF-α group (10 ng/mL TNF-α), pp242 group (1 μmol/L pp242), TNF-α+pp242 group (10 ng/mL TNF-α+1 μmol/L pp242).The intestinal barrier function was evaluated by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and flux of FITC-dextran.The protein expressions of autophagy related protein LC3B-Ⅱ and p62 were detected by Western blotting.Results: Compared with control group, TEER was significantly decreased (P<0.05), flux of FITC-dextran, protein expressions of LC3B-Ⅱ and p62 were significantly increased in TNF-α group (P<0.05).Compared with TNF-α group, TEER was significantly increased (P<0.05), protein expression of LC3B-Ⅱ was significantly increased (P<0.05) while protein expression of p62 was significantly decreased in TNF-α+pp242 group (P<0.05).Conclusions: Autophagy inducer pp242 relieves TNF-α-induced intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction via activating autophagy flux.

OBJECTIVE:To prepare Baicalin proliposomes (PBA) containing sodium deoxycholate (SD) with optimized for-mulation,and to study pharmacokinetics of it in rats in vivo. METHODS:PBA were prepared by spray drying method. Response surface method based on Box-behnken design was adopted to optimize the formulation of PBA with the amount of HSPC,cholester-ol and SD as factors using entrapment efficiency of PBA as index. The particle size,morphology,leakage rate and stability of the optimal PBA were evaluated along with the pharmacokinetics of it(compared to raw materials)in rats after ig administration of 15 mg/kg. RESULTS:The optimal formulation of PBA was that the amounts of baicalin,HSPC,cholesterol and SD were 100,214, 68 and 53 mg,respectively;the predicted and practical values of entrapment efficiency were 86.42% and 84.32%,respectively, and particle size of the optimal PBA was 358.4 nm. The leakage rate of reconstituted liposomes was low and the stability of PBA was good. Compared with baicalin raw material,t1/2,tmax,MRT,cmax and AUC0-t of PBA were all increased significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01 or P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:PBA were prepared successfully using the spray drying method. This method is simple and easy,and the optimized formulation is feasible and can improve the oral bioavailability of baicalin.

BACKGROUND:Under hypoxic environment, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α plays a dualregulatory role in cel apoptosis. Severity of hypoxia is the key to determine whether cels appear to have apoptosis or adapt to survive. When the cels are exposed to chronic or extreme hypoxia, a lack of protection mechanisms from hypoxia-inducible factor-1α can induce cel apoptosis. OBJECTIVE: To research the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α in human lumbar nucleus pulposus of different herniated types and its relationships with cel apoptosis. METHODS: The nucleus pulposus was harvested from 60 cases of herniation of lumbar intervertebral discs, L4-5 in 41 cases and L5-S1 in 19 cases. The nucleus pulposus tissues were equaly divided into protruded and sequestered groups. Meanwhile, the nucleus pulposus tissues from another 10 cases of lumbar spine fracture were taken as control group. Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and apoptosis of lumbar nucleus pulposus cels were observed and detected with immunohistochemical technique and TUNEL method. Correlation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and apoptosis in human lumbar nucleus pulposus of different herniated types was analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α was visualized in each case, but it was significantly higher in the sequestered group than in the protruded group and control group (P < 0.01). Apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cels were found in al the three groups, but the apoptotic rate was also higher in the sequestered group than in the protruded group and control group (P < 0.01). Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α was positively correlated with cel apoptosis in human lumbar nucleus pulposus (P < 0.01). Overal, the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor1α in degenerative human lumbar nucleus pulposus is associated with herniated types, which is the highest in the sequestered type. The relationship between hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and apoptosis is positive.

Objective To compare the efficacy of ozone injection plus electrothermal acupuncture versus oral glucosamine and nimesulide in treating knee osteoarthritis and investigate the effects of the two treatments on the WOMAC total score and the pain, stiffness and physical function scores.Method Eighty patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to combination and Western medicine groups, 40 cases each. The combination group received a combined treatment with intra-articular ozone injection and electrothermal acupuncture and the Western medicine group took glucosamine hydrochloride and nimesulide sustained-release tablets. The WOMAC score was recorded in the patients before and after treatment. The therapeutic effects were evaluated using the WOMAC score. Result The control and marked efficacy rate of ozone injection plus electrothermal acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis was higher than that of Western medicine. The WOMAC score decreased in both groups after treatment (P<0.05) but decreased more in the combination group than in the Western medicine group (P<0.05). There were no significant post-treatment differences in the pain and stiffness scores between the combination and Western medicine groups (P>0.05). The physicalfunction score decreased more in the combination group than in the Western medicine group (P<0.05).Conclusion Ozone injection plus electrothermal acupuncture is more effective than Western medicine in treating knee osteoarthritis. It is more effective in improving knee function but not in relieving the pain and joint stiffness in comparison with Western medicine.

Objective To investigate the serum levels of soluble CD23 ( sCD23 ) and thrombopeietin (TPO) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and their correlation with other prognostic factors. Methods The serum levels of sCD23 and TPO of 25 CLL patients were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Flow cytometry was employed to determine the expression of CD38 and ZAP-70 protein. Results TPO level in CLL patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls 67.22 - 1881.77 ng/L and 70. 29 - 147. 98 ng/L respectively, P =0. 003. sCD23 level in CLL patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls 129. 80-405. 31 U/ml and 0. 65 -32. 99 U/ml respectively, P =0. 000. TPO level was significantly correlated with Binet stage and CD38 expression. Patients in stage B and C had higher level of TPO than those in stage A 140. 57 -457.48 ng/L and 121.92 - 163.83 ng/L respectively, P =0.014,while TPO level was higher in patients with higher CD38 expression than in patients lower CD38 expression 113.23- 199. 10 ng/L and 141.34 -454. 92 ng/L respectively, P = 0. 033. No significant correlation of sCD23 and TPO levels with ZAP-70 protein, sex, age, peripheral lymphocyte count and lactate dehydrogenase were observed. Conclusion Serum TPO level might be a prognostic factor in CLL.

Objective To explore the true psychological experience of youthful patients with breast cancer in the period of diagnosis. Methods Using qualitative research based on employed phenomeno-logical methods,12 young patients of breast cancer were deep-interviewed, the literal data of interview were processed and analyzed by Colaizzid analysis method. Results 5 themes were found by analysis:change of self identification, serious uncertainty, change of self role, worry about working and social value and shortage of knowledge and ability for early diagnosis. Conclusions The clinical workers should under-stand the real psychological experience of young patients with breast cancer in diagnosis period and help them overcome the difficult period in their life.