BACKGROUND:Tougu Xiaotong capsule is the clinical prescription for the treatment of osteoarthritis in Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the previous studies mainly focus on effect to cartilage.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of Tougu Xiaotong capsule on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts as wel as the expressions of bone remodeling correlated factors.
METHODS:Rat osteoblast-like cel line ROS17/2.8 cel s were incubated with Tougu Xiaotong capsule. The ROS17/2.8 cel s were divided into blank control group and Tougu Xiaotong capsule groups with different
concentrations. The cel proliferation was determined by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. Osteoblast differentiation biomarkers alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin and bone mineralized nodules were measured with colorimetry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and alizarin red staining, respectively. The real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect the expressions of bone remodeling factors osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factorκB ligand.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, the Tougu Xiaotong capsule with the
concentration of 0.25-2 g/L could significantly promote the ROS17/2.8 cel proliferation (P<0.05), up-regulate the alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin expression level and mineralized nodules area, and increase the
percentage of bone remodeling factors osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factorκB ligand (P<0.05). The mechanism of Tougu Xiaotong capsule protecting osteoarthritis may partly result from the regulation of
proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and bone remodeling.

BACKGROUND:Mineralized nodules are the mature marker of osteoblast differentiation, and the observation methods mainly use alizarin red staining.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the observation results of mineralized nodules by three methods, and to explore their characteristics and advantages, as wel as further application in the research of bone disease.
METHODS:The rat osteoblast-like cellline UMR-106 were cultured in the fresh medium that was changed every day, for 14 days. Alizarin red staining-light microscope, tetracycline fluorescence labeling-laser confocal scanning microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe mineralized nodules. The calcium content of mineralized nodules was quantified using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. In addition, tumor necrosis factor alpha that could inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts was used as the control.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The three morphology methods could be used to observe the mineralized nodules of normal osteoblasts. As for tumor necrosis factor alpha, no mineralized nodules of osteoblasts were observed by alizarin red staining-light microscopy;smal mineralized nodules were observed by tetracycline staining-laser scanning confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, suggesting tetracycline staining and scanning electron microscopy were more sensitive in the observation. Scanning electron microscopy could be used to observe the submicroscopic structures of mineralized nodules in the osteoblasts, and the formation of mineralized nodules, including the calcium secretion. Additional y, scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis can successful y quantify and position the mineralized nodules, indicating a potential application in the research of bone diseases.

Objective To investigate the influence of processed total motile sperm (PTMS) count of husband on clinical pregnan-cy rate of intrauterine insemination(IUI) .Methods We retrospectively analyzed a total of 229 cycles of IUI among 131 patients in our hospital during the past three years .The cycles were divided into 5 groups according to the PTMS count :group A(<5 × 106 ) , group B(5 × 106 - <10 × 106 ) ,group C(10 × 106 - <20 × 106 ) ,group D(20 × 106 - <30 × 106 ) ,group E(≥30 × 106 ) .The clinical pregnancy rates among different groups were compared .Results The clinical pregnancy rates among 131 patients of IUI was 26 .72% .The clinical pregnancy rates among 229 cycles of IUI was 15 .28% .The clinical pregnancy rate of group A was 23 .08% , the clinical pregnancy rate of group B was 15% ,the clinical pregnancy rate of group C was 18 .18% ,the clinical pregnancy rate of group D was 13 .46% ,the clinical pregnancy rate of group E was 13 .48% .There was no significant difference(P>0 .05) among five groups .Conclusion Ideal clinical pregnancy can be achieved when the PTMS count is between 3 × 106 and 5 × 106 .

Microscopic and histochemical methods were used to investigate flavonoids localization in the leaf and the stem of the Sarcandra glabra. The results indicated that flavonoids distributed mainly in epidermis, collenchyma, vascular bundles, secretory cells and palisade tissue of leaf. In the stem, they distributed mainly in epidermis, collenchyma, phloem and secretory cells. Histochemical localization of flavonoids using 5% solution of NaOH is convenient, rapid and reliable. The content of flavonoids in the leaf was higher those than in the stem. For sustainable utilization of the resources we suggested that only the leaves could be harvested.
Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Magnoliopsida ; metabolism ; Microscopy ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; metabolism