OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of total flavonoids of Herba Epimedium (FHE) on BMP-2/RunX2/OSX signaling pathway in promoting osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).

METHODSPassage 3 BMSCs were randomly divided into the control group, the experimental group, and the inhibitor group. BMSCs in the control group were cultured in 0.2% dimethyl sulfoxide + Osteogenuxic Supplement (OS) fluid + DMEM/F12 culture media. BMSCs in the experimental group were intervened by 20 microg/mL FHE. BMSCs in the inhibitor group were intervened by 20 microg/mL FHE and 1 microg/mL NOGGIN recombinant protein. At day 9 alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured. Calcium nodules were stained by alizarin red staining and the density was observed. The transcription expression of osteogenic differentiation-related proteins (type I collagen, osteocalcin, and osteopontin) and related factors of BMP-2/RunX2/OSX signaling pathway was assayed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, ALP activities were enhanced and the density of calcium nodules significantly increased; type I collagen, osteocalcin, and osteopontin expression levels were increased in the experimental group. The expression of osteogenesis-related transcription factor was also increased in the experimental group. Noggin recombinant protein inhibited FHE promoting BMSCs osteogenesis in the inhibitor group. Compared with the experimental group, ALP activity decreased (P < 0.05), the density of calcium nodules was lowered, expression levels of type I collagen, osteocalcin, osteopontin significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the inhibitor group.

CONCLUSION20 microg/mL FHE promoted osteogenic differentiation process of BMSCs by BMP-2/RunX2/OSX signaling pathway.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Osteocalcin ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sp7 Transcription Factor ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

AIM:To investigate the effect of renal denervation ( RDN) by radiofrequency catheter ablation on the expression of aquaporins ( AQP) in dog kidneys .METHODS:Adult Chinese Kunming dogs ( n=12 ) were randomly divided into RDN group and control group (6 for each group).The dogs in RDN group underwent bilateral RDN using ra-diofrequency catheter ablation , and radiofrequency catheter was positioned in bilateral renal artery without ablation in con -trol group.The levels of norepinephrine (NE) and AQP1~3 in the renal tissues were detected 1 month after RDN, and blood pressure (BP) measurements were performed at baseline and 1 month after RDN.RESULTS: The level of NE in RDN group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.01).The expression of AQP1~3 in the renal cortex and medulla was lower in RDN group than that in control group .RDN also caused a substantial BP reduction (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:RDN substantially decreases the tissue levels of NE and AQP in dog kidneys , and also decreases BP sig-nificantly , which might be involved in the mechanism of BP reduction by RDN .Renal sympathetic nerve plays an excitatory role in the regulation of AQP in the kidney.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy and feasibility of endoscopic surgery to manage the tumors involving naso-ethmoidal complex and anterior skull base.METHODS 19 cases of tumors involving nasal cavity,ethmoid sinus and anterior skull base were summarized retrospectively, including 3 cases of ethmoidal squamous carcinoma, 3 cases of esthesioneuroblastoma,3 cases of melanoma,1 case of plasmocytoma,2 cases of ethmoidal adenocarcinoma,4 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma,2 cases of meningioma.RESULTS Tumors were totally removed in 18 cases and subtotally removed in 1 case,all the cases were followed up for 1 to 3 years.Of the 3 cases of melanoma,1 case died of brain metastases 1 year after surgery,1 case recurred 8 months after surgery,1 case of adenoid cystic carcinoma recurred 17 months after surgery.No recurrence were found in the rest 16 cases during 1-3 years of following-up.CONCLUSION Endoscopic surgery is a effective method for malignant tumors localized in nasal cavity and ethmoid sinus and benign anterior skull base tumors involving nasal cavity and sinuses.Indication must be carefully selected for malignant tumors and postoperative radiotherapy should be advised.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM: To evaluate the guiding effect of high-frequency stimulation ( HFS) on renal denervation ( RDN) , and to compare the similarities and differences of blood pressure changes at the time of electrical stimulation and radiofrequency ablation .METHODS:A total of 6 Kunming dogs were included in this study .Renal artery abnormalities were excluded by angiography .High-frequency stimulation and radiofrequency ablation were performed at the same sites from distal to proximal segments of the renal artery .Invasive blood pressure ( BP) was recorded during the whole proce-dure.The change of the blood pressure was analyzed .HE and Masson staining was adopted to detect the structural changes in the wall of the renal artery and surrounding tissues .The immumohistochemical staining for tyrosine hydroxylase ( TH) was used to observe the renal nerve damage after ablation .RESULTS: Electrical stimulation and radiofrequency ablation were delivered in a total of 50 sites.The BP increasing response was induced at 34%sites (n=17), while the rest sites (66%, n=33) had no response.Compared with the baseline , HFS caused the increases in systolic BP of (0.34 ±3.38), (0.41 ±3.04), (10.47 ±5.73), (13.27 ±3.63), (10.17 ±1.87) and (0.78 ±1.87) mmHg in 6 serial 20 s time segments during 120 s of HFS at positive BP response sites .Similarly, the increases in systolic BP by (-0.88 ±3.44) , (-1.64 ±3.47), (13.17 ±3.12), (12.82 ±3.21), (9.50 ±2.68) and ( -6.09 ±2.21) mmHg were observed dur-ing 120 s of ablation procedure at the same sites in 6 serial 20 s time segments .At non-responding sites , HFS and ablation failed to cause a significant increase in systolic BP .The mean area of nerves in the response sites was ( 0.51 ±0.28 ) mm2, whereas that in non-response sites was (0.09 ±0.06) mm2(P<0.01).The average absorbance values of TH in re-nal nerves at ablation and non-ablation sites were 0.031 ±0.015 and 0.085 ±0.018 ( P <0.01 ) , respectively . CONCLUSION:Renal sympathetic nerves can be effectively mapped by HFS .Radiofrequency ablation guided by HFS is valid to injure sympathetic nerves around renal artery .

According to the analysis of 9 237 hospitalized type 2 diabetic patients, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy ( DR )was 32.9％ , with the prevalence of mild, moderate, and serious non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR being 10. 1％, 18. 3％, 3.2％, and 1.3％ respectively. The prevalence of diabetic macular edema ( DME ) was 3.56％ in type 2 diabetics and i 0. 8％ in patients with DR. Diabetes duration and proteinuria were the common risk factors of DR and DME.

Exosomes, small vesicles of endocytic origin, have attracted attention in bone regeneration field. The vesicles travel between cells and deliver functional cargoes like proteins and RNAs, thereby regulating targeted cells dif-ferentiation, commitment, function, and proliferation. Exosomes directly regulate MSCs into the osteoblastic lineage, stimulate bone regeneration by directly regulating osteoblast proliferation and activity, regulate osteoclast maturation and activity and stimulate bone growth and regeneration by increasing vessel formation. Meantime, exosomes resolves toxicity and immunogenicity problems caused by biomaterial treatment. Furthermore, compared with living cell trans-plantation, exosomes present a lower risk for severe complication(such as tumors, emboli formation).

Objective To explore the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) dialectical therapy for treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with acute lung injury / acute respiratory distress syndrome(ALI/ARDS)undergoing mechanical ventilation. Methods A prospective,randomized controlled trial was conducted. Ninety-six ALI/ARDS patients admitted in intensive care unit(ICU)and treated with mechanical ventilation in Tianjin First Central Hospital were chosen and randomly divided into traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) group and conventional therapy group using a random number table,48 patients in each group. Conventional therapy alone was used in conventional therapy group,and TCM therapy of primarily using Dachengqi decoction combined with conventional therapy was applied in TCM group〔Dachengqi decoction was composed of mongolian milkvetch root 15 g, pilose asiabell toot 15 g,Chinese angelica 10 g,officinal magnolia bark 10 g,tangerine peel 10 g,immature tangerine fruit 10 g,peach seed 10 g,white peony root 12 g,red peony root 12 g,immature bitter orange 6 g,mongolian dandelion herb 30 g,radish seed(stir-fried)30 g,foxtail millet sprout 20 g,barley sprout 20 g,glauber salt 9 g (with water),rhubarb 10 g(added in water at last)〕,one dose orally taken daily for 28 days. The intra-abdominal pressure(IAP),gastrointestinal diseases in TCM symptom score and the incidence of gastrointestinal dysfunction were compared between the two groups before treatment and on the 3rd,6th and 8th day after treatment. Results There were no statistical significant differences in IAP and TCM symptom scores between the two groups before treatment (both P>0.05),but after treatment with the prolongation of therapeutic time the IAP and TCM symptom scores were decreased gradually compared with those before treatment,having reached the valley value on the 18th day and the changes in TCM group were more remarkable〔IAP(mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa):0.91±0.69 vs. 2.08±0.92, TCM symptom score:48.33±10.41 vs. 88.33±20.21,both P<0.05〕. In the TCM group,the incidences of the untoward symptoms and signs of gastrointestinal dysfunction such as bleeding of stress ulcer,toxic intestinal paralysis, abdominal distension,diarrhea and so on were lower than those in conventional therapy group〔stress ulcer bleeding:16.7%(8/48)vs. 39.6%(19/48),toxic intestinal paralysis:16.7%(8/48)vs. 43.8%(21/48),abdominal distension:10.4%(5/48)vs. 37.5%(18/48),diarrhea:6.3%(3/48)vs. 33.3%(16/48),all P<0.05〕. Conclusion Addition of TCM Dachengqi decoction on conventional treatment can effectively lower the incidence of gastrointestinal dysfunction in treatment of patients with ALI/ARDS undergoing mechanical ventilation.

To clear the kinds of trace elements which is closely related with the active ingredient, proclaim the effects of trace elements on the quality of the Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, provide the theoretical foundation to the further quality control of cultivation, take the advantage of the HPLC to determine the contents of glycyrrhizic acid and the liquiritin according to Chinese pharmacopoeia, use the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to test the contents of Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Se, Cd, Ni, La, Na, Cr, M, Fe, Ca, Al, K, Sr, then, use SPSS statistical software for active ingredient and trace elements Correlation Analysis. The result of correlation analysis showed that Liquiritin contents of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma have strong a positive correlation with the Mn, Pb contents, well, have a negative correlation with the Cu, Na contents; Glycyrrhizic acid contents showed a positive correlation with Mg, Cd, La contents, however, it showed a negative correlation with K, Fe contents. Comprehensive analysis of the results of the study, a preliminary thought that the active ingredient of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma closely related with the trace elements, but the exact conclusion still need further study concentration-response relationship analysis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavanones ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Trace Elements ; analysis

BACKGROUND:Shengji Yuhong col agen showed good curative effect of promoting angiogenesis and tissue healing compared with Shengji Yuhong Gao and col agen alone or gelatin alone.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the curative effect and mechanism of subcutaneous implantation of Shengji Yuhong col agen in rabbits in promoting angiogenesis and repair.
METHODS:Shengji Yuhong col agen as the experimental group and collagen as the control group was implanted inside the rabbit subcutaneous pockets of the back of New Zealand rabbits. The implanted samples and
surrounding tissues were obtained at 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days fol owing surgery. Pathological sections were made and the repair of surrounding tissue was observed. Hemoglobin levels in col agen were measured.
Immunofluorescence and CD34 dyeing marking method were utilized to observe capil ary angiogenesis. Western blot assay was employed to examine vascular endothelial growth factor and angiogenin-1 expression.
Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the secretion of typeⅠ and Ⅲ col agen on the surrounding tissues.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The experimental group showed increased subcutaneous vascularization. There were reduced inflammatory exudation, granulation tissue hyperplasia, and mature fiber connective tissue at 28 days.
Angiogenesis and hemoglobin contents were greater in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). At 3 and 7 days fol owing surgery, vascular endothelial growth factor and angiogenin-1 expression was greater in the experimental group than that in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The secretion of type Ⅰ col agen was
identical between the experimental and control groups. However, the secretion of type Ⅲ col agen was higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 28 and 56 days (P<0.05), and the proportion of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ
col agen was lower in the experimental group than in the control group at 28 and 56 days (P<0.01). These suggested that Shengji Yuhong col agen can significantly promote angiogenesis in the surrounding tissues with the possible
mechanisms of adjusting the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiogenin-1. At the same time, it has the function of regulating col agen formation with better ratio of typeⅠ and type Ⅲ col agen to acquire higher
quality of wound healing with reduced scar formation.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of homeopathic reduction with minimally invasive adjustable plate in treatment of sacral fractures.Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted to assess the data of 89 patients with sacral fractures treated from January 2013 to January 2015.There were 49 males and 40 females,with a mean age of 37.8 years (range,18-70 years).Denis classification was type Ⅰ in 24 patients,type Ⅱ in 48,and type Ⅲ in 17.Patients were divided into three groups according to fixation methods:homeopathic reduction with minimally invasive adjustable plate group (Group A,n =30),sacroiliac screw group (Group B,n =31) and iliolumbar rod group (Group C,n =28).Operation time,blood loss,intraoperative radiographic time,and complications were recorded.Reduction quality was assessed using the Matta criteria.Bone healing was evaluated based on X-ray appearance.Functional outcome was evaluated using the Majeed score at last tollow-up.Results Operation time was significantly lower in Group A [(109.3 ± 14.4) min] and Group B [(114.2 ± 17.7) min] than Group C [(126.8 ± 15.7)min] (P ＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference between Groups A and B (P ＞ O.05).Blood loss was significantly lower in Group A [(433.3 ± 121.3)ml] and Group B [(461.3 ± 130.8)ml] than Group C [(785.7 ±205.0)ml] (P ＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between Groups A and B (P ＞ 0.05).Radiographic time was (5.6 ± 1.9) s in Group A,(13.4 ± 3.1)s in Group B,and (8.4 ± 2.5)s in Group C,showing significant difference among the three groups (P ＜ 0.05).Excellence rate of Matta score in Group A [70％ (21/30)] and Group C [86％ (24/28)] was higher than that in Group B [32％ (10/31)],but the there was no significant difference between Group A and C (P ＞ 0.05).Fracture healing was found in all patients and no nonunion was observed.Excellent rate of Majeed score in Group A [80％ (24/30)] and Group C [82％ (23/28)] was higher than that in Group B [54％ (17/31)],but the there was no significant difference between Groups A and C (P ＞0.05).Complication rate in Group B [29％ (9/31)] and GroupC [29％ (8/28)] were higher than that in Group C [3％ (1/30)],but the there was no significant difference between Groups B and C (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion For sacral fractures,homeopathic reduction with minimally invasive adjustable plate can reduce operation time and intraoperative radiographic time,improve reduction rate and lower incidence of complications.