Objective To assess the efficacy of itopride on treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) overlapping constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS). Methods Patients who met criteria for FD and FD overlapping C-IBS were randomly assigned into FD treatment group (group A), FD control group (group B), FD overlapping C-IBS treatment group (group C) and FD overlapping C-IBS control group (group D). The patients in group A and group C received 100 mg of itopride 3 times daily for 8 weeks. Dyspeptic symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, early satiety and constipation, were evaluated before and after treatment. Ultrasonic monitoring of gastric emptying function was performed in group A and group C before and two weeks after treatment.ResultsThe symptoms of FD were relieved in both group A and group C (P<0.05), while better results were shown in group C. The significant improvement of constipation was seen in group A and group C. Besides, after medication, gastric emptying was improved in group A and group C in comparison with group B and group D. Conclusion Itopride is an effective therapeutic option in the treatmentping of patients with overlapping of FD and C-IBS.

Objective To investigate the influence of chondrocytes originating from different source on early chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in isolated co-culture system.Methods We applied hanging cell culture system to culture chondrocytes of different origin (osteoarthritis chondrocyte cells,nomal chondrocyte cells,infant chondrocyte cells) and controls.These chondrocytes and MSCs of the same origin were cultured in the common medium in a separated condition,and observed by microscope at 3,6,9,12 day after co culture.Expression levels of aggrecan,collagen type Ⅱ (Col 2),cartilage-specific transcription factor (Sox-9) in MSCs of different origin were determined by Real-time PCR.Results MSCs showed obviously morphological differentiation induced by chondrocytes of different origin at 12 day after coculture as compared with controls.Real-time PCR analysis showed that SOX9 mRNA level was stimulated by 1.7-fold,1.6-fold and 1.2-fold (all P＜0.05) and aggrecan mRNA level was increased by 2.8-fold,2.2-fold and 1.3-fold (all P＜0.05) in infant chondrocytes group,nomal chondrocytes group,osteoarthritis chondrocytes group respectively as compared with controls while COL2 mRNA level had no significant differences among the four groups.Corresponding protein signal level had obvious differences among the four groups,especially in infant chondrocytes as compared with osteoarthritis chondrocytes and nomal chondrocytes.Conclusions Isolated co-culture system may indirectly promote MSCs differentiation to chondrocytes by local micro-environment regulation.Chondrocytes of different origin have different effects on MSCs differentiation,but they could promote MSCs differentiation to chondrocytes.

Objective To study the long-term effect of argon plasma coagulation (APC) combined with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) on Barrett esophagus (BE). Methods A total of 36 patients, histologically proven as having BE from 2004 to 2007, were enrolled to underwent a therapy of APC plus PPI. The patients were re-examined on endoscopy at 1, 6 and 12 months after first APC and once a year thereafter.Results A total of 48 APC sessions were given to 36 patients with a mean number at 1. 33 per patient. The effective rate of reversal of BE was 100%. The follow-up was accomplished for all patients in 14-51 months with a median of 36months. The total recurrence rate (RR) of BE reached 16. 7% (6/36). The 1-year and 2-year RRs were 2. 8% (1/36) and 11.1% (4/36), respectively. The logistic regression analysis suggested that 2-year and total RRs were related to APC sessions ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion The therapy of APC combined with PPI for BE is safe and of long-term effects.

Objective To provide epidemiological evidence for the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physique differentiation to the disease control and prevention, Chinese medicine health care, public education and so on in the elderly population. Methods TCM physique types of the elderly population aged over 65 years old from one University community in Tianhe district of Guangzhou city were analyzed by one-on-one questionnaire investigation with the Classification and Identification Scale for Senile Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution, and the correlation of TCM physique types with gender, age group was also explored. Results (1) In the 65-year-old elderly population of 777 cases, 231(29.7％) were classified into phlegm-damp physique, 129(16.6％) into blood-stasis physique, and 71(9.1％) into harmony physique, which contributed to the major physique types. (2) Physique types varied in the gender. The male was dominated by phlegm-damp physique and damp-heat physique, and the female was dominated by yang-deficiency constitution, Qi-stagnation physique and interweaved physique. The differences of the constitution ratio of physique types in the gender were significant (P<0.01). (3) In various age groups, the leading 3 physique types were the same, and they were phlegm-damp physique, blood-stasis physique, and interweaved physique (P<0.01). With the increase of age years, the ratio of deficiency physique type showed an increasing trend while that of the non-deficiency physique type showed a decreasing trend. Conclusion The investigation revealed the distribution of TCM physique types of the elderly population from one University community in Guangzhou, which has important practical value for the intervention of the elderly population with Chinese medicine.

Objective To study the effects of different sources of dendritic cells (DCs) on root resorption and healing after allo-geneic tooth transplantation in rats .Methods The BN rats and Lewis rats were respectively used as the donor and recipient teeth for establishing the animal experimental transplantation models and randomly divided into 4 groups ,20 cases in each group :the syn-geneic transplantation group(A) and the allogeneic transplantation groups(B ,C ,D) .The group A and B were infused with PBS buffer solution 0 .5 mL on 7 d before operation .The group C and D were infused with 1 × 106 donor or recipient tolerogenic DCs on 7 d before operation .5 rats randomly selected from each group were sacrificed for performing the pathological examinations of transplanted teeth at the end of 1 ,2 ,4 and 8 weeks .Results The inflammatory cellular infiltration was most severe in the group B , slightest in the group A and moderate in the group C and D .The root resorption was minimal in the group A ,maximal in the group B and moderate in the group C and D (P<0 .05);the root resorption at 2 ,4 weeks had no statistical difference between the group C and D(P>0 .05) ,but which at 8 weeks in the group D was lower than that in the group C .The periodontal membrane healing points at 8 weeks in the group C and D was less than that in the group A ,but more than that in the group B (P<0 .05);the inflam-matory absorption was highest in the group B(P<0 .05);the alternative absorption was lowest in the group A (P<0 .05) .Conclu-sion The two different sources of tolerogenic DCs all could reduce the rejection reaction of allogeneic tooth transplantation ,reduce the root resorption and promote the healing of periodontal membrane .Recipient tolerogenic DCs could reduce the root resorption in late stage even more .

Objective To discuss the differential diagnostic value of confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE)for benign and malignant non-protruding gastric lesions.Methods A total of 37 patients with nonprotruding gastric lesions diagnosed by conventional gastroscopy underwent CLE.Fluorescein sodium was intravenously injected,and target biopsy was obtained.Malignant lesionss diagnosed with CLE or biopsy were treated by endoscopy or surgery.Patients with benign lesions were give routine medication and followed up every 3 months until the lesions were cured.Results CLE diagnosed 11 malignant and 26 benign lesions.However,1 of 11 cancers was confirmed as benign by histopathology,while 1 of 26 benign lesions was confirmed cancer.Lesions in 12 patients were resected,with 3 by endoscopy,and 9 by surgery,and findings of post-operative pathology were consistent with those of target biopsy.No malignancy was found during the follow-up of benign lesions,and all lesions were healed after 3.16(3.58 ± 1.20)months.The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of CLE in diagnosis of malignant non-protruding gastric lesion were 90.9％,96.2％,and 90.9％,respectively.The positive and negative predictive values were 90.9％ and 96.2％,respectively.The Kappa value of CLE and histopathology was 0.871.Conclusion CLE is of significant value for the diagnosis of non-protruding gastric lesions,and may replace biopsy in real-time histological diagnosis.

Objective To improve the management of dyspepsia by evaluating the potential role of pretreatment gastric histology as predictive factors on the symptomatic response after Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD).Methods 240 FD patients with H. pylori infection out of 920 consecutive patients receiving gastroendoscopy due to dyspepsia were investigated, including 190 patients enrolled as the therapy group and administered with anti-H. pylori triple therapy. In addition, 50 patients were enrolled as the control group, in which omeprazole was an alternative to the triple therapy. The course of therapy in both groups was 7 days. Pretreatment gastric histology was evaluated by the updated Sydney system. C~ 13 urea breath test was performed to evaluate the H. pylori eradication results one month (both therapy group and control group) and six months (therapy group) after therapy. For each patient, the baseline, month 1 and month 6 symptom scores were assessed by a questionnaire of dyspepsia, including 12 symptom items of dyspepsia with scoring of severity. The relationship between pretreatment gastric histology and good symptom responses after H. pylori eradication was then analyzed.Results Of 35.3% and 42.6% patients with successful H. pylori eradication in the therapy group had a good symptomatic response one month and six months after the triple therapy respectively, higher than those from the patients who failed H. pylori eradication (month 1:35.3% vs 12.2%, P

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of endoscopic cryotherapy for Barrett's esophagus (BE). Methods A total of 22 consecutive patients, who were diagnosed as BE from January 2008 to May 2009, underwent endoscopic cryotherapy by using pressurized gas of C02. The data including effective rate, therapy courses and procedure related complications were retrospectively analyzed.Results Except for 2 cases of withdrawal, the other 20 patients completed the treatment with a total therapy number of 42 times (mean 2. 1 times/patient) and were followed up for 6 months. Complete histologic reversal of BE mucus was achieved in all 20 patients after 1-3 times of cryotherapy, among whom complete endoscopic reversal was obtained in 9 and effective endoscopic reversal in 11. Histologic recurrence was observed in 3 cases during the follow-up, including 2 of occult intestinal metaplasia and 1 of mild intestinal metaplasia, which achieved a BE mucosal reversal rate of 85% (17/20). Procedure related complications included 1 case of esophageal ulcer and 3 cases of mild or severe esophagitis, which were all cured after acid suppression treatment. Conclusion Endoscopic cryotherapy in BE is effective and safe, with the advantages of easy manipulation, less complications and good compliances.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of YANG's pricking-cupping therapy for knee osteoar thritis (KOA). Methods This was a multi-center randomized parallel controlled trial. One hundred and seventy one patients with KOA were randomly allocated to a pricking-cupping group (89 cases) and a conventional acu puncture group (82 cases). Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35) and ashi points were selected in the two groups. Patients in the pricking-cupping group were treated with YANG's pricking-cupping therapy; the seven-star needles were used to perform pricking at acupoints, then cupping was used until slight bleeding was observed. Patients in the conventional acupuncture group were treated with semi-standardized filiform needle therapy. The treatment was given for 4 weeks (from a minimum of 5 times to a maximum of 10 times). The follow-up visit was 4 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were adopted for the efficacy assessments.

RESULTSThe pain score, stiffness score, physical function score and total score of WOMAC were all reduced after 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit in the two groups (all P<0. 0001). Except that the difference of stiffness score between the two groups was not significant after 4-week treatment (P>0. 05), each score and total score of WOMAC in the pricking-cupping group were lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group after 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit (P<0. 0001, P<0. 01). After 2-week treatment, 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit, the VAS was all reduced compared with that before treatment (all P<0. 0001) ; with the increase of the treatment, the reducing trend of VAS was more significant (P<0. 0001). The scores of VAS in the pricking-cupping group were lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group after 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit (P < 0. 01, P <0. 0001). CONCLUSION The YANG's pricking-cupping and conventional acupuncture therapy can both significantly improve knee joint pain and function in patients with KOA, which are relatively safe. The pricking cupping therapy is superior to conventional acupuncture with the identical selection of acupoints.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthralgia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Simple nanotube surface modification of titanium implant has been shown to promote adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. Collagen coating can promote osteoblast adhesion and osseointegration in vivo. OBJECTⅠVE: To observe the effects of type collagen combined titanium dioxide nanotube composite coating modified titanium surface on osteoblast adhesion in vitro and osseointegration in vivo. METHODS: The titanium dioxide nanotube was fabricated on the pure titanium surface, then type Ⅰ collagen was combined with the nanotube structure to form composite coating. Scanning electron microscope observation was used to characterize the surface topography of the pure titanium, titanium dioxide nanotube and type Ⅰ collagen combined titanium dioxide nanotube surfaces. Contact angle test was employed to evaluate the hydrophilicity of different samples. MC3 T3-E1 murine preosteoblasts were seeded on the three kinds of materials for 4 hours. Cell adhesion morphology was examined by scanning electron microscope. Adherent cell counting was detected under inverted fluorescence microscope. Expression of actin cytoskeleton and vinculin was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope. The gene expression of vinculin and osteoprotegerin mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The three kinds of samples were implanted into the tibia of Sprague-Dawley rats (provided by Laboratory Animal Center, Ⅰnstitute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences) , and tibia samples were removed after 4 weeks of implantation for biological push-out test and histological observation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSⅠON: (1) Scanning electron microscope: There was mechanical scratch on the pure titanium surface. There was controllable, and uniform vertical arrangement of nanotubular structures with a diameter of approximately 70 nm on the titanium dioxide nanotube surface, and collagen adhered surrounding the nanotubular structures on the type Ⅰ collagen combined titanium dioxide nanotube substrate, and partial tubule orifices were closed. (2) The hydrophicility of type Ⅰ collagen combined titanium dioxide nanotube was significantly larger than those of the other two materials (P < 0.05) . (3) Compared with the pure titanium and titanium dioxide nanotube surfaces, the type Ⅰ collagen combined titanium dioxide nanotube substrate displayed increased adherent cell number, much well-organized cytoskeleton, enhanced immunofluorescence intensity of vinculin protein staining, and increased expression levels of vinculin and osteoprotegerin mRNA levels (all P < 0.05) . (4) Ⅰn vivo test revealed that the maximum push-out force in the type Ⅰ collagen combined titanium dioxide nanotube group was significantly higher than that in the pure titanium and titanium dioxide nanotube groups (P < 0.05) . Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that there were few bones, but many fibrous connective tissue surrounding the implant in the pure titanium group; there were more newly-born bones, and less fibrous connective tissue surrounding the implant in the titanium dioxide nanotube group; there were dense newly-born bones, and few thin fibrous connective tissue surrounding the implant in the type Ⅰ collagen combined titanium dioxide nanotube group. (5) These results indicate that type Ⅰ collagen combined titanium dioxide nanotube surface can facilitate osteoblast cell adhesion and promote osseointegration in vivo.