OBJECTIVETo study clinical outcomes of Chinese medidine fumigation and massage therapy for the treatment of knee stability and functional recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction operation,and to explore the effect on tendon-bone healing.

METHODSTotal 50 patients were divided into two groups: the control group (normal rehabilitation therapy group),the treatment group (Chinese medicine fumigation and manipulation group). There were 25 patients in the control group, including 16 males and 9 females, who were treated with isometric muscle training, with the gradually enlarging amplitude of flexion and progressive loading of bearing training for knee recovery. There were 25 patients in the treatment group, including 15 males and 10 females,who were treated with the conventional rehabilitation therapy combined with Chinese medicine fumigation and massage therapy. The Chinese herbs named as Haitongpi decoction was steamed by a special equipment to fumigate the knee after operation; Based on the biomechanical parameters of the ligament reconstruction, the massage therapy was designed to control the degree of the knee flexion and release the adhesion for early recovery of knee functions. The Lysholm knee function evaluation system was used, and MRI examination was performed to measure the change in width of ligament tunnel in femur and tibia to evaluate the safety and stability of the treatment.

RESULTSLysholm system showed that two groups both had improving results from the 1st month after operation to the 3rd month (treatment group, F=36.54, P<0.05; the control group, F=28.12, P<0.05), and the results of the treatment group was better than that of the control group at the observation point (the 1st month, t=0.105, P<0.05; the 3rd month, t=5.361, P<0.01). There was no difference between the two groups when evaluating the bone and tendon healing 3 and 12 months after operation (P>0.05), indicating that Chinese rehabilitation therapy was a safety treatment without the influence on the loosing of tendon.

CONCLUSIONChinese medicine fumigation and massage therapy can early improve the knee function after the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction operation without the disturbance of the knee stability.

Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; surgery ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Case-Control Studies ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Female ; Fumigation ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Knee Joint ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Massage ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Recovery of Function

"Wise men could recognize similarities, but the fool only recognizes differences" in Su-wen, which expounded clinical thinking methods of Chinese medicine (CM). "To recognize similarities and differences simultaneously" is of important clinical significance in understanding the laws of diseases. CM pays much attention to recognize similarities, while modern medicine emphasizes the differences observed. In order to develop integrative medicine (IM), similarities recognition and differences identification must be combined together to innovate new thinking methods of IM.
Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; standards ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

The implantation of an intravascular stent has become a widely used minimally invasive treatment for coronary heart diseases due to its minimal invasiveness and high efficiency.But the long-term outcomes are often compromised by in-stent restenosis (ISR),which severely restricts its practical effectiveness.In this paper,the formation mechanism of ISR was discussed,and the effects of mechanical environment on ISR were analyzed from the view of solid mechanics.The research progress of stent expansion in vessels with 4 different shapes,including straight vessel,tapered vessel,bifurcation vessel and curved vessel was reviewed.Moreover,the correlations between vessel stress and vessel shape change caused by stent expansion and ISR were reviewed.Finally,based on the influence of different vessel shapes on stent expansion,a multi-objective optimization design method was proposed to improve the stent expansion performance and reduce the occurrence of ISR.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical changes of midface skeleton protraction at its medium position in the craniofacial complex, using the three-dimensional finite element method (FEM).

METHODSA three-dimensional FEM model was developed from the CT scan images by the technologies of three-dimensional reconstruction, image processing and meshing. The protraction forces were applied to the following locations: the first molar, full maxillary arch, and the floor of aperture piriforms. Biomechanical changes from different position protraction were investigated by means of finite element analyses.

RESULTSProtraction forces at the level of the floor of aperture piriforms produced a more forward movement of the upper maxilla in sagittal direction. Vertical and lateral displacements were less than those in loading with teeth or denture. Compressive stress on the radix nasi decreased obviously in midface skeleton protraction at its medium position.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with traditional orthopedic protraction, midface skeleton protraction at its medium position could advance maxilla en bloc, decrease the counterclockwise rotation of the maxilla, and reduce the constriction of the anterior part of the palate.

Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Maxilla ; surgery ; Skull ; surgery ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo explore the epidemic distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Beijing, Guangdong and Ningxia, and to determine M. tuberculosis strains of the "Beijing Family".

METHODSTwo hundred and six IS6110 DNA fingerprinting patterns of M. tuberculosis strains from three provinces (city) were transferred to digital data, compared with the world M. tuberculosis DNA fingerprinting database, and then clustered by Gel compare 4.1 software. The clustering values in different patients with tuberculosis were compared by chi(2) test. Risk factors for recent transmission were calculated using odd ratios.

RESULTSNo M. tuberculosis strains were found the same as those of DNA fingerprint database. 56.8% (117/206) fingerprinting patterns of M. tuberculosis shared by least two-thirds of the IS6110 fragments and their Spoligotyping fingerprinting patterns were consistent with those of M.tuberculosis strains of the "Beijing Family". There were significant differences between female and male, different age groups (< 42 years old) and older (>or= 42 years old) (P < 0.05). Odd ratio was 5.06 in the group younger than 42 years old (95% CI: 1.00 - 34.34) and was 4.43 (95% CI: 0.94 - 28.76) in males.

CONCLUSIONM. tuberculosis strains of "Beijing Family" were popular in Beijing, Guangdong and Ningxia. Men and younger age group (< 42) were shown to be infected by identical strains more often than women and older aged which might play an important role in the recent transmission of tuberculosis in these areas. IS6110 DNA fingerprinting of M. tuberculosis could be used to trace the source of tuberculosis infection.

Adult ; Age Factors ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Fingerprinting ; methods ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sex Factors ; Tuberculosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; transmission

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to explore suppositional sutural construction and protraction in the three-dimensional finite element model of craniofacial complex.

METHODSCombining spiral CT scanning technology with the three-dimensional finite element method, three-dimensional FEM model of craniofacial complex was developed for analysis. In the model, craniofacial sutures were constructed through the MSC. Patran program and different mechanical properties of sutures were applied. Under the same loading condition, bone displacements of the maxilla were calculated.

RESULTSA three-dimensional FE model of craniofacial complex, comprising teeth and craniofacial sutures, was developed. The displacement of the skeletal structures with sutures was significantly larger than that without sutures.

CONCLUSIONSThe construction of craniofacial sutures in the three-dimensional finite element model of craniofacial complex could improve the accuracy of finite element model, which set up good foundation for biomechanical studies of craniofacial complex.

Cephalometry ; methods ; Child ; Cranial Sutures ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Materials Testing ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biomechanical changes with different directions distraction at midface.

METHODSAn anteriorly directed 500 g force was applied to the floor of apertura piriforms in different directions to the occlusal plane. Three-dimensional finite element analysis was used to evaluate the biomechanical change of craniofacial complex.

RESULTSAs the force direction was moved downward, the sagittal distraction length of the craniofacial complex decreased and vertical movement changed from upward to downward. The craniofacial complex was moved anteriorly when the downward force was applied about 20-30 degrees to the occlusal plane. The forces could generate the uniform stress distribution in the craniofacial sutures and avoid counterclockwise rotation of the maxilla.

CONCLUSIONSThe craniofacial complex can be effectively distracted anteriorly when the downward force is applied to the floor of aperture piriforms in direction of 20-30 degrees to the occlusal plane.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Computer-Aided Design ; Cranial Sutures ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Mandible ; physiology ; surgery

To clarify the important functional residues in the active site of N-myristoyltransferase (NMT), a novel antifungal drug target, and to guide the design of specific inhibitors, multiple sequence alignments were performed on the NMT family and thus evolutionary trace was constructed. The important functional residues in myristoyl CoA binding site, catalytic center and inhibitor binding site of NMT family were identified by ET analysis. The trace residues were mapped onto the active site of CaNMT. Trpl26, Asn175 and Thr211 are highly conserved trace residues and do not interact with current NMT inhibitors, which are potential novel drug binding sites for the novel inhibitor design. Pro338, Leu350, Ile352 and Ala353 are class-specific trace residues, which are important for the optimization of current NMT inhibitors. The trace residues identified by ET analysis are of great importance to study the structure-function relationship and also to guide the design of specific inhibitors.
Acyl Coenzyme A ; metabolism ; Acyltransferases ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Conserved Sequence ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligopeptides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanical property of intact long bone through three-point bending test of rabbit tibia according to mechanics of materials.

METHODSTen pairs of normal rabbits tibia were treated on three-point bending test with 80 mm supporting distance in order to corroborate the virtual loading test on bone model.

RESULTSBending stiffness and strength of 10 pairs of normal rabbit tibia were obtained. The maximum flexibility of the right and the left tibia was (2.737 +/- 0.262) mm and (2.739 +/- 0.233) mm respectively. The maximum load, which indicated the bending strength, of the right and the left tibia was (17.803 +/- 2.675) kg and (18.366 +/- 2.653) kg respectively. The area under the load-flexibility curve before fail of the right and the left tibia was (23.829 +/- 4.413) kg/mm and (24.725 +/- 4.101) kg x mm respectively. The slope of the load-flexibility curve which indicate the stiffness of the right and the left tibia was (7.545 +/- 1.310) kg/mm and (7.631 +/- 1.174) kg x mm respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe discrepancy between different animal body is larger than conventionally required. It's suggested for performing three-point bending test of long bone of the body both sides in pair.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Rabbits ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tibia ; physiology ; Weight-Bearing

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of combined testing of urinary bladder cancer antigen(UBC),hyaluronic acid(HA)and survivin in the detection of bladder cancer.Methods This study included 64 bladder cancer patients and 20 urinary benign disease patients.The examinations of urine UBC by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),HA by radioimmunology assay,survivin by RT-PCR and urine cytology were performed in them.Results The sensitivity of UBC(85.9%,55/64),HA (89.1%,57/64)and survivin(93.8%,60/64)was significantly higher than that of urine cytology (40.6%,P＜0.01).The specificity of UBC,HA,survivin and urine cytology was 85.0%(17/20),80.0% (16/20),95.0%(19/20)and 95.0%(19/20),respectively;there was no significant difference among these 4 methods(P＞0.05).The sensitivity of UBC,HA and survivin was also significantly higher than that of urine cytology in different histologic stages and grades(P＜0.05).The sensitivity of UBC and survivin was not significantly different among different histologie stages and grades(P＞0.05).With regard to HA test, the sensitivity in G_2 and G_3 groups was significantly higher than G_1 group(P＜0.01),but there was no differ- ence between G_2 and G_3 groups(P＞0.05);and no difference among different histologic stages(P＞0.05). However,the sensitivity of cytology was improved with the higher grade of bladder cancer(P＜0.01);there was no difference among histologic stages(P＞0.05),By combined use of UBC,HA and survivin,both the sensitivity and specificity were 100%.Conclusions The study indicates that UBC,HA and survivin are better diagnostic markers for the early detection of urinary bladder cancer.These tests are simple,feasible and noninvasive with higher sensitivity and specificity.In addition,combined use of them can improve the diag- nostic sensitivity and specificity.