Objective To study the difference of attentional bias towards general negative words between non-mediated obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients and healthy controls.Methods Event-related potentials (ERPs) were collected from 26 non-mediated OCD patients and 24 normal controls while they performed an emotional Stroop task.Results Compared to healthy controls,OCD patients showed significantly longer reaction time (OCD:(467 ± 14.88) ms,Controls:(409.65 ± 15.49) ms,P＜ 0.01),and had significantly larger P2 and P3 amplitude to all three types of words (P2 amplitude:OCD:(10.41±0.49) μV,Controls:(8.89±0.48) μV,P＜0.05;P3 amplitude:(10.04±0.68) μV,Controls:(7.68±0.67) μV,P＜0.05).In addition,the P2 peak latency of the frontal area in OCD patients was significantly longer than that in healthy controls(OCD:(190.09±4.71) ms,Controls:(179.60±4.72) ms,P＜0.05).Conclusion Current findings suggest that OCD patients are characterized by a general attentional inhibition deficit but not an attentional bias to the negative words.

BACKGROUND:Surgical treatment for pigmented vil onodular synovitis can maximize the excision of synovial lesions and recovery of joint function.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the knee joint function and relapse rate fol owing treatment of pigmented vil onodular synovitis with total knee replacement and arthroscopic synovectomy.
METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 34 cases of knee pigmented vil onodular synovitis admitted for surgical treatment in the Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, China from December 2006 to December 2011. In these cases, 24 patients received arthroscopic synovectomy and 10 patients were subjected to total knee replacement. Adjuvant radiotherapy was conducted according to postoperative patient’s conditions. Lysholm scoring was employed in the arthroscopic synovectomy group, and American Knee Society scoring was used in the total knee replacement group. Knee function in two groups was compared before and after treatment. Fol ow-up observation was performed to compare knee function recovery and relapse rate between two groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Thirty-four patients were effectively fol owed up for 12-66 months, mean 41.3 months. Statistical analysis showed that in the arthroscopic synovectomy group, the postoperative Lysholm score was (86.3± 10.3) points, significantly higher than the preoperative score which was (55.5±13.2) points (t=3.81, P=0.016, P<0.05). In the total knee arthroplasty group, the American Knee Society score was increased from (40.7±2.2) points preoperatively to (90.2±1.1) points postoperatively (t=6.27, P<0.01). In the arthroscopic synovectomy group, the American Knee Society score was increased from (34.2±3.9) points preoperatively to (80.8±1.9) points postoperatively (t=16.58, P<0.01). Arthroscopic synovectomy combined with adjuvant radiotherapy can achieve better outcomes in pigmented vil onodular synovitis patients, while the total knee replacement for advanced with advanced knee diffuse pigmented vil onodular synovitis is better to restore knee function and the recurrence rate is low.

Objective To observe the effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields(PEMFs)of different daily treatment durations on biomechanical properties of femur in ovariectomized rats,so as to find out the optimal daily treatment time.Methods Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups:(1)SHAM control(no PEMFs treatment),(2)OVX control(no PEMFs treatment),(3)OVX I(PEMFs treatment at 8Hz fre- quency with 3.8 mT intensity,20 min daily for 30 days),(4)OVX 11(PEMFs treatment at 8 Hz frequency with 3.8 mT intensity,40 min daily for 30 days),and(5)OVXⅢ(PEMFs treatment at 8Hz frequency with 3.8 mT in- tensity,60 rain daily for 30 days).All the rats were subject to bilateral overiectomy except those in the SHAM control group.The biomechanical properties of the femur were assessed after 30 days of PEMFs treatment.Results The values of the parameters of the biomechanical properties obtained with the OVX control group were significantly lower than those of the other 4 groups(P0.05).Conclusion PEMFs of the three different daily treatment durations can maintain the biomechanical properties of the femur in ovariectomized rats.Under certain in- tensity(3.8 mT)and frequency(8 Hz),PEMFs of the three different treatment durations can significantly maintain biomechanical properties of femur in ovariectomized rats approximately to the nomal level,but among the three groups,the difference is not significant.It was shown that exposure to PEMFs for 20 to 60 minutes daily had similar effect of maintaining biomechanical properties of the femur in ovariectomized rats.

Objective To observe the effect of intensive scapular control training on pain, upper limb motor function and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with post-stroke shoulder pain. Methods 58 patients with hemiplegia after stroke were randomly assigned into routine exercise group (group A, n=27) and intensive scapular control training group (group B, n=31). They were assessed with visual analogue scale for pain, simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment and modified Bathel Index before and 8 weeks after treatment. Results All the assessment appeared better in group B than in group A after treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Intensive scapular control training can promote the recovery of motor function and ADL, relieve the pain in patients with post-stroke shoulder pain.

Objective To analyze the efficacy and tolerance of methotrexate(MTX)in remission maintenance of Crohn′s disease (CD).Methods From June 2012 to August 2015 ,49 CD patients who received MTX as mainly treatment medication to maintain remission were enrolled.The pre-medication history,efficacy,dosage and side effects of MTX were analyzed.The effects of inducing strategy on disease recurrence were analyzed.Chi-square test and t test were used for statistical analysis.Results Among the 49 patients,34 (69.4%)received steroids for remission inducing,nine (18.4%)received infliximab for remission inducing and six (12.2%)achieved remission after operation.In the 44 patients treated with azathioprine (AZA)before,the median treatment time was one month and the dosage for withdrawal of AZA was (42.0 ± 14.8)mg/d.The most common reason was leucopenia (81 .8%, 36/44).Till the time point of follow-up,46 of the 49 CD patients still took MTX orally with a median treatment time of 16 months,and the weekly dosage was (12.7 ±2.0)mg.Thirty-one cases (67.4%) achieved clinical stability,while 15 cases (32.6%)underwent clinical recurrence.The median Crohn′s disease activity index (CDAI)was 123.5 ± 66.6.The weekly dosage of clinical stability group was (12.5 ±2.1)mg,and that of clinical recurrence group was (13.0 ±1 .7 )mg,there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (t =0.802,P =0.426 ).The recurrence rate of steroids-induced remission group was 41 .2% (14/34 ),which was higher than that of infliximab and surgery-induced remission group (1/15),and the differnce was statistically significant (χ2 =5 .177,P =0.023 ). The common side effects were gastrointestinal reaction (26.5 %, 13/49 ), impaired liver function (20.4%,10/49)and leukopenia (12.2%,6/49).Only three cases could not tolerate the side effects and underwent medication withdrawal.Conclusions As a second-line immunosuppressant for maintanence remission in CD,MTX is effective and well-tolerated in patients.So it can be an important option during the long course of CD.

OBJECTIVETo explore the antitumoral effect of indirubin on androgen-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cells and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSWe measured the inhibitory effect of indirubin on the proliferation of prostate cancer PC-3 cells using MTT assay, detected their cell cycles by flow cytometry, and determined the expressions of the cell cycle regulatory protein cyclin D1 and its related downstream gene c-myc by Western blot.

RESULTSThe viability of the PC-3 cells was significantly decreased by indirubin in a concentration-dependent manner, reduced to 52. 2% and 13. 6% at 5 and 10 µmol/L, respectively. The cell cycle of the PC-3 cells was markedly inhibited by indirubin at 5 µmol/L, with the cells remarkably increased in the G0 and G1 phases and decreased in the S and G2/M phases. Meanwhile, indirubin also inhibited the expressions of cyclin D1 and c-myc in the Wnt signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONIndirubin can suppress the proliferation of androgen-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cells, which may be associated with its inhibitory effect on the cell cycle and Wnt signaling pathway.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Coloring Agents ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Genes, myc ; Humans ; Indoles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; Tetrazolium Salts ; Thiazoles

The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility and superiority of using rapid expansion of supercritical solution (RESS) technology in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. The extract of magnolia bark (EMB) was obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide (SCF-CO2) extraction technology. Microparticles of EMB were manufactured by RESS technology. The effects of operating temperature and pressure on the contents of the active ingredient in the particles were evaluated by HPLC. The effect of expansion conditions on the particle size distribution of EMB particles was investigated. The smallest sample (mean size: 4.7 microm) was obtained under the RESS condition: pressure of 25 MPa, temperature of 50 degrees C and a nozzle size of 100 microm. The characteristics of microparticles were also studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and image analysis. The dissolution rate study showed that microparticles had a significantly faster dissolution rate than normal material particles. After oral raw EMB suspension, the mean areas under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUC(0-t)) of honokiol and magnolol were found to be (4.23 +/- 0.36) and (5.46 +/- 0.57) mg x h x L(-1), respectively, which were increased significantly, i.e. (5.41 +/- 0.63) and (7.24 +/- 0.83) mg x h x L(-1) when micronized EMB suspension was administered orally in SD rats (P < 0.05). Similarly, the mean maximum plasma concentrations of honokiol and magnolol increased from (1.55 +/- 0.22) and (2.35 +/- 0.14) mg x L(-1) (raw EMB) to (2.31 +/- 0.17) and (2.84 +/- 0.21) mg x L(-1) (micronized EMB), respectively. The results of t-test demonstrated that AUC(0-t) and Cmax value for honokiol and magnolol was significantly increased with the micronization compared to raw EBM (P < 0.05). This study demonstrated that the RESS was applicable for preparing microparticles of EMB at low operating temperature. The process was simple, free of environment pollution and without residual solvent.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biphenyl Compounds ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Lignans ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Magnolia ; chemistry ; Male ; Microspheres ; Particle Size ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Solubility

Objective To explore the correlation between the incidence of abdominal and pelvic artery distortion and age using dig-ital three-dimensional reconstruction,in order to assess risk in uterine artery embolization surgical approach.Methods Collecting the CTA datasets of 475 patients,group A aged 11-27 (n=40),group B aged 28-44(n=218),group C aged 45-61(n=197), group D aged 62-78(n=20).The 3D model of pelvic arteries was reconstructed by mimics software,and the arterial distortion was recorded by rotating and observing the 3D model,which was further classified into three categories.One was the distortion of the aorta only,the second was the distortion of iliac artery,and the third being distortion of both sturctures.the number of cases appeared arterial distortion in every age group was calculated and the ratio of the total cases to each age group was counted.Results There were 128(26.9%)cases appeared arterial distortion,the last 347(73.1%)were not found distortion in any artery.Of the 128 cases,the occurrence rates of arterial distortion in each age group were 2.5%、11.9%、44.7%、65% for group A,B,C and D respec-tively.Pearson linear correlation analysis showed that the incidence of arterial distortion positively correlated with age (r=0.404,help of three-dimensional reconstruction.The occurrence rate of artery distortion is increased with age and the iliac artery distortion occurrence is higher than that of the aorta artery.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the expressions of p53, DKK (the inhibitor of Wnt pathway) and phosphorylated tau in rat bilateral hippocampus after beta-amyloid peptide (beta-AP) (25-35) injection, and observe the effect of saponin B from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (SAaB) in this model.

METHODSAfter bilateral injection of beta-AP (25-35) into the hippocampus of rats, RT-PCR was performed for observing the changes in p53 and DKK mRNA expressions and immunochemistry carried out to detect the changes in phosphorylated tau protein.

RESULTSRT-PCR showed increased p53 and DKK mRNA expression and immunochemistry revealed increased phosphorylated tau-positive cells in rat hippocampus after beta-AP (25-35) injection, and administration of SAaB significantly ameliorated these changes.

CONCLUSIONSAaB can significantly ameliorate beta-AP-induced tau hyperphosphorylation by inhibiting increased p53 and DKK mRNA expressions in response to beta-AP injection.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; pharmacology ; Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Animals ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; tau Proteins ; metabolism

Aim Toexaminethecombinedeffectsof 5-ALA and metformin on diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin( STZ) in mice, and to discuss the mech-anisminitially.Methods Thediabeticmiceinduced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ were treated with 5-ALA and/or metformin for 30 days. Physical signs, fasting blood glucose ( FBG ) , fasting plasma insulin ( FIns) , plasma leptin ( Lep) , glucose tolerance, and histological changes of liver and pancreas were as-sessed. Insulin resistance was evaluated by the homeo-stasismodelassessment(HOMA).Results There were more significant effects when 5-ALA combined with metformin than only using metformin on lowering FBG, FIns and Lep. And 5-ALA combined with met-formin could improve glucose tolerance and the insulin sensitivity. Microscopic analysis demonstrated that sig-nificant changes in pancreatic islet and characteristic feature of the vacuolization phenotype in liver was ob-served on diabetic mice, and use of 5-ALA could in-hibit shrinking pancreatic islet number and hepatic morphological changes, especially in combination with metformin.Conclusions Asynergisticeffectof5-ALA and metformin is observed. Combined therapy of 5-ALA and metformin can decrease FBG and improve glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and islet ? cells function and morphology.