Objective: To observe the efficacy of mild moxibustion combined with arthroscopic meniscal repair in the treatment of meniscal injury and to explore its action mechanism. Methods: Ninety-eight patients with meniscal injury were divided into a surgery group and a moxibustion plus surgery group by the random number table method, with 49 cases in each group. Both groups received arthroscopic meniscal repair, and the moxibustion plus surgery group was treated with add-on mild moxibustion. The Lysholm score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and mobility of the affected knee were measured before and after treatment, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) levels were measured in the fluid of the affected knee joint. The healing of the meniscus was recorded at a follow-up visit 3 months after the surgery. Results: After treatment, the Lysholm score increased, the VAS score decreased in both groups, and the intra-group differences in both groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The Lysholm score was higher in the moxibustion plus surgery group than in the surgery group, and the VAS score was lower in the moxibustion plus surgery group than in the surgery group. The differences between groups in both scores were statistically significant (P<0.05). The mobility of the affected knee joint increased in both groups (P<0.05), and it was greater in the moxibustion plus surgery group than in the surgery group (P<0.05). When compared with pretreatment, the levels of TGF-β1 and PDGF in the fluid of the knee joint increased in both groups (P<0.05), and the levels of TGF-β1 and PDGF in the fluid of the affected knee joint were higher in the moxibustion plus surgery group than in the surgery group (P<0.05). The healing of the meniscus in the moxibustion plus surgery group was significantly better than that in the surgery group at the follow-up visit 3 months after the surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion: The effect of mild moxibustion combined with arthroscopic meniscal repair is better than the surgery alone in improving knee function, relieving pain, increasing mobility of the affected knee, and promoting meniscal healing, which may be related to the up-regulation of TGF-β1 and PDGF levels in the fluid of knee joint.

Objective To investigate the changes of autonomic nerve function of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with panic disorder(PD). Methods All the subjects who met with the diagnostic code of CHD and PD were divided into CHD group(n=40) ,PD group(n=36) ,comorbid CHD and PD group(n=27) ,and 40physical examinee were recruited as normal control group. They had a 24 hours Holter ECG monitoring by time and frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability. ANOVA analysis was utilized to statistic the collected data. Results Compared with normal controls,the patients of others groups had every indexs of HRV were reduced. The indexs of HRV of comorbid CHD and PD were lower than the patients of CHD or PD group. The score of time domain SDNN(70.40 ± 14.74)ms,SDANN(91.72 ± 24.46)ms,PNN50(2.83 ±2.07)%, RMSSD( 15.66 ±7.45)ms,frequency domain LF(647.54 ± 129.24)ms2, HF(596. 16± 127.66) ms2 in comorbid CHD and PD. There were significant differences with others groups(P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusion The autonomic nervous functional of the patients with CHD and PD were in disorder. The autonomic nervous functional disorder of the patients with comorbid CHD and PD was more severe.

Objective To evaluate whether the comparability of 3 automatic blood cell analyzers meet the clinical requirements by conducting the comparative study on the detection results of these instruments.Methods With the Sysmex 2100 automatic blood cell analyzer as the reference instrument,Sysmex 1000i and Abbott 1800 as the experimental instrument,the original quality control provided by the instrument factory and the patient′s fresh anticoagulant blood samples in the laboratory were adopted to monitor for continuous 40 d by these three instruments and the detection results of WBC,RBC,HGB,HCT and PLT were analyzed.Results The detection results of these 3 instruments were statistically tested by the F test,the differences showed no statistical significance (P >0.05)and the bias was in 1/2 of the maximum permissible error range in America department clinical test revised regulations (CLIA′88).Conclusion The detection results by these 3 instruments are comparable and can meet the clinical requirements.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of all-trans retinoic acid(ATRA) on melanin content,activity and protein expression of tyrosinase,mRNA expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase(SOD) in A375 cells irradiated with ultraviolet B(UVB).MethodsCultured A375 cells were classified into 6 groups:ATRA+UVB group treated with ATRA after UVB irradiation,hydroquinone+UVB group treated with hydroquinone after UVB irradiation,UVB group and ATRA group treated with UVB irradiation and ATRA respectively,negative control group receiving no treatment.Melanin content and tyrosinase activity were determined by NaOH solubilization assay and dopa-oxidation assay respectively at 24,48 and 72 hours after the addition of ATRA into medium.Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression of tyrosinase,and real-time quantitative PCR to measure the mRNA expressions of tyrosinase and Cu/Zn SOD in A375 cells after 24-hour culture with ATRA.ResultsThe melanin content and tyrosinase activity decreased in UVB-irradiated cells after being treated with ATRA for 24,48 and 72 hours.The protein (gray scale) and mRNA (2-△△Ct value) expression levels of tyrosinase were 0.72 ± 0.070 and 1.400 ± 0.135 respectively at 24 hours after UVB irradiation,decreased to 0.42 ± 0.056(P ＜0.01) and 0.810 ± 0.062(P ＜ 0.01 ) respectively after additional treatment with ATRA.The mRNA expression level of Cu/Zn SOD was 0.323 ± 0.066 in A375 cells at 24 hours after UVB irradiation,and increased to 0.625 ±0.103 (P ＜ 0.01 ) after additional treatment with ATRA.ConclusionATRA can suppress UVB-induced increase in melanin synthesis and elevate Cu/Zn SOD level in A375 cells,likely through tyrosinase pathway.

Objective To study the relationship of bladder residual urine volume and renal function and urinary tract infection in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). Methods Eighty-one BPH eases from September 2005 to September 2008 were studied retrospectively. All the cases were divided into group A (53 cases, the residual urine volume <60 ml), group B (18 cases, the residual urine volume 60-200 ml),and group C (10 cases, the residual urine volume 200 ml). Blood urea nitrogen(BUN), serum ereatinine (Cr) and urine bacterial culture were observed. Results The BUN and serum Cr in group A, B and C were (5.90 ± 3.01) mmol/L, (90.13 ± 25.08)μmol/L, (7.85±3.53) mmol/L, (128.36 ±30.25) μmol/L and (10.57 ± 4.01)mmol/L, (152.11 ± 36.68) μmol/L, respectively. The BUN and serum Cr in group C were higher than those in group A and B (P < 0.01 or < 0.05). And there was significant difference between group A and group B (P< 0.05). The incidence of urinary tract infection in group A ,B and C was 28.3%(15/53), 44.4%(8/18), 50.0%(5/10), respectively. There was significant difference between group A and group B, C (P < 0.05). But there was no significant difference between group B and group C (P 0.05). Eacherichia was the main bacteria in urinary tract infection. Conclusion The increase of bladder residual urine volume in patients with BPH enhances renal failure and urinary tract infection.

Objective:To generate rabbit-anti B16 melanocyte polyclonal antibodies and study the effect on melanocyte proliferation.Methods:Rabbits was immunized with B16 melanocytes to produce rabbit anti-B16 melanocyte polyclonal antibody(pAb).The titer of the antiserum was then detected using the tube agglutination assay;The antiserum was purified through the G protein affinity chromatograph,and the molecular weight of the purified Ab was identifed through SDS-PAGE.The effect of purified IgG on B16 melanocytes proliferation was detected using MTT assay.Results:The titer of the antiserum reaches 1∶1 280;SDS-PAGE shows that the heavy chain molecular weight of the purified IgG is 66.2 kD;MTT assay shows that the IgG fraction inhibited the proliferation of B16 melanocytes with signifancent difference when compared to none IgG or no purified antiserum.Conclusion:The rabbit anti-B16 melanocytes pAb with high titer is preparated successfully.The purified IgG can inhibit proliferation of B16 melanocytes.It could be useful in studying the effect of this antibody on melanocyte growth and pigment metabolism,it also be useful in studying the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of group cognitive-behavioral therapy (GCBT) to generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).Methods:In this randomized controlled trial,the control group (n =23) and the intervention group (n =33) were included,all of the participants received duloxetine (30-120 mg/d) as pharmacotherapy.The intervention group received 8 group cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions weekly,90 minutes for each time.Assessments were conducted with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA),Hamilton Depression Scale (HMAD) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) at baseline,mid-treatmentand post-treatment.CGI included three factors,the severity of illness (SI),the globalimprovement (GI) and the efficacy index (EI).Results:The repeated measures analysis of variance of HAMA showed that,there were statistical significance on the HAMA for interaction between measure time and group processing (F =4.35,P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the intervention group got higher decreased scores of HAMA at the 4th week and 8th week,and higher prevalence of being cured and efficient at the 4th week.At the 8th week,the decreased scores of HMAD were higher in the intervention group than in the control group,and the scores of CGI-SI and the CGI-IE were lower in the intervention group.Conclusion:It suggests that group cognitive-behavioral therapy combined with pharmacotherapy could be earlier to be effective,and the symptoms of anxiety,depression and the state of illness could be improved more significantly compared with pharmacotherapy alone.

Objective To explore the dynamic expressions and the significance of Notch/Jagged signal pathway in rat model of hepatic fibrosis. Methods A total of 42 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=6) and model group (n= 36). The model group was further divided into six subgroup according to different time points: subgroups of 4 days, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks with six rats in each subgroup. The rat model of hepatic fibrosis was induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspertate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (Alb) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were detected dynamically after 4 days, 1,2,4,6 and 8 weeks of injection. The liver tissues were observed under optical microscope after HE and Masson staining. Notch-1, Jagged-1 mRNA and protein in liver were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The comparison of means among groups was done by univariate ANOVA. Results The hepatic fibrosis model was successfully induced by DMN injection and pseudolobules were found after 4 weeks of injection. The serum levels of ALT, AST, Alb and HA were all increased after 4 day of injection and peaked at week 4 which were all significantly higher than those in control group (F=83.10, 104.63, 54.24, 203.81,respectively; all P＜0.05). The expressions of Notch-1, Jagged-1 mRNA and protein in model group were all significantly increased than those in control group (F=282. 44, 369.14, 374.17, 256. 14,respectively;P＜0. 01). And the expressions of Notch-1, Jagged-1 were closely correlated with the hepatic fibrosis stages and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) expression (r=0. 821, 0. 917,0. 767,0. 844, respectively; P＜0. 01 ). Conclusions The Notch/Jagged pathway may participate in the development of hepatic fibrosis, which is closely correlated with the progression and severity of liver fibrosis.

The effect of oxymatrine on high-fructose-feeding induced insulin resistance and liver steatosis in rats was observed and the underlying mechanism in improving the hepatic lipid metabolism was explored.The results demonstrated that high fructose feeding decreased the glucose tolerance and increased hepatic lipid accumulation in rats,while oxymatrine could improve glucose tolerance and alleviate hepatic steatosis in rats.High fructose feeding stimulated the protein expressions of key lipid-synthesis enzymes,which were decreased by oxymatrine intervention.Both high fructose feeding and oxymatrine intervention had no significant effect on protein expressions of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation enzymes.

Objective To investigate the dynamic expressions of exchange protein directly activated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) (Epac) in rat model of hepatic fibrosis(HF).Methods Forty-two male SD rats were divided into control group (n = 6) and model group (n = 36)which was divided into six subgroups of day 4, week 1, week 2, week 4,week 6 and week 8 with six rats in each subgroup. The rat model of HF was established by intraperitoneal injection of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). The pathological changes of liver were observed by Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson staining. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),immunohistochemistry and Western blot were employed to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Epac1, Epac2 and transforming gronth factor (TGF)β1 during the process of modeling and localization in the liver. The statistical analysis was done using one-factor ANOVA, LSD-t test,Dunnett T3 test and Pearson linear correlation analysis. Results Rat model of liver fibrosis was established successfully. In control group, Epac1 (0. 031 28±0. 008 96) and Epac2 protein (0.034 43±0. 002 45) mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. In model group, the level of Epac1 decreased at day 4 (0. 023 97±0. 003 81) and week 1 (0. 015 81±0. 002 48) ,then began to increase at week 2 of modeling and peaked at week 6 (0. 039 54±0. 001 43), which had statistical significance compared to the control group (t= 5.47,11.58 and - 6.18, respectively; all P＜0.05). Epac2 protein expression declined after modeling, reached the lowest level at week 4 (0. 011 21 ±0. 001 32), which had statistical significance compared to the control group (t= 24. 50, P＜0. 05). TGFβ1 protein expression increased after modeling and peaked at week 4 (0. 011 30±0.001 03) which had statistical significance (t= -23. 36, P＜0. 05) compared to the control group (0. 002 08 ±0. 000 18). The expressions of Epac1, Epac2 and TGFβ1 mRNA were consistent with the trend of protein levels.Correlation analysis showed that Epac1 protein was positively correlated with the course of HF (r =0. 703, P＜0.01 ), while Epac2 protein was negatively correlated (r = - 0. 409, P＜0.05). Conclusions During the progression of HF, Epac1 expression tends to decrease firstly and increase afterwards,while Epac2 expression declines continually. Epac may be involved in the pathogenesis of HF.