Objective:To observe the effect of complex reinforcing [Shao Shan Huo (Mountain-burning Fire)] and reducing [Tou Tian Liang (Heaven-penetrating Cooling)] manipulations on motion and balance of the lower limbs in patients with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord (SCD). Methods:A total of 100 SCD cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group by their visit sequence, 50 cases in each group. On the basis of Western medical treatment, cases in the observation group were also treated with acupuncture therapy plus complex reinforcing-reducing manipulation; whereas cases in the control group were only treated with the same Western medical treatment as those in the observation group. Before and 2 months after treatment, kinematic parameters including muscle force, muscle tone and range of motion of the hip and knee joints were measured. In addition, balancing parameters including the path length of center of pressure (COP), peripheral area, COP path length per unit area and rectangular area were also measured before and after treatment. Results:After treatment, there were statistical intra-group differences in COP path length, peripheral area, COP path length per unit area, left-right offset, rectangular area, coefficient of stability and coefficient of weight distribution (P<0.01). There were statistical inter-group differences in muscle force, muscle tone and range of motion of hip and knee joints (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 83.3% in the observation group, versus 60.0% in the control group, showing a statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion:Complex reinforcing-reducing manipulations can improve the lower limb motion and balance in SCD patients.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of treating bifurcation lessions with jailed-balloon technique in simple strategy. Methods Ninety patients with bifurcation lessions (Duke D or F type) who received the side branch protection technique with simple strategy were involved in a single center retrospective analysis. Patients were randomly divided into jailed-balloon protection group (n=48) and jailed guidewire group (n=42). The process operating, procedural success of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), complications and the results of follow-up were investigated. Results The clinical baseline date and the bifurcation lesions were not significant different between jailed-balloon group and jailed guidewire group (P>0.05). The procedural success rate of PCI was 100%in jailed-balloon group and 97.6%in jailed guidewire group, no significance difference user between two groups (P>0.05). The perioperative complications (the rate of no reflow) was lower in jailed-balloon group than those of jailed guidewire group (1.0%vs. 19.0%, P<0.05). The procedural success rate of PTCA were lower in jailed-balloon group than that of jailed guidewire group (4.2%vs. 23.8%, P<0.01). The total operation time [(56.40±11.71) s vs. (72.60±10.62) s],exposing time [(9.86±1.82) s vs.(12.24±2.32)s] or amount of used contrast agent [(90.54±15.26) mL vs. (118.16±18.64) mL] were significantly lower in jailed-balloon group compared with those of jailed guidewire group (P<0.05). At the 12-month follow-up, the MACE was lower in the jailed-balloon group than that of jailed guidewire group (16.7%vs. 38.1%, P<0.05). The restenotic rate (2.1%vs. 4.8%, P>0.05) and the maximum restenotic level (19.24%vs. 21.46%,P>0.05) in the main branch were not significant different between jailed-balloon group and jailed guidewire group. But the maximum restenotic level in the opening of side branch was lower in jailed-balloon group than that of jailed guidewire group (51.2% vs. 72.46%, P < 0.01). Conclusion The jailed-balloon technique reduces the operation complications, exposure time and amount of contrast agent, and also saves surgical consumables. The procedure of branch with simple strategy is safe and effective in treatment of bifurcation lesions.

BACKGROUND:The effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on bone resorption is controversial. Our previous study has shown that bone resorption is significantly inhibited when AGEs present with pre-osteoclast cells RAW 264.7, while the effect of AGEs on osteoclastic acidification remains unknown. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of AGEs on osteoclastic acidification and the underlying mechanism. METHODS:RAW 264.7 cells were induced by RANKL (15μg/L;normal group) to generate osteoclasts, and AGEs (50-400 mg/L;experimental group) or bovine serum albumin (100 mg/L;control group) were added at the beginning of the induction. The effect of AGEs on bone resorption was evaIuated by anaIyzing the area of bone resorption on the Osteo Assay Surface plates, and the effect of AGEs on osteoclastic acidification was evaluated by acridine orange staining. Furthermore, the expression levels of V-ATPase a3 and CIC-7 were detected to investigate the underlying mechanism. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The bone resorption area in the AGEs group was significantly decreased compared with the normal group (P<0.05). Acridine orange staining reveaIed that the red fluorescence (620 nm) intensity in the AGEs group was significantly decreased compared with the normal group (P<0.05), and this inhibitory effect became obvious with the increase of AGEs concentration. Immunocytochemistry, western blot assay and PCR findings showed that the expression levels of V-ATPase a3 and CIC-7 in the AGEs group were decreased significantly compared with the normal group (P<0.05). To conclude, AGEs exert inhibitory effect on osteoclastic acidification, probably by inhibiting the expression of V-ATPase a3 and CIC-7.

Objective To study the influence of residual methylene blue after plasma viral inactivation on the human immune cell function by using the peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC) .Methods PBMC were isolated by adopting the Ficoll‐Hypaque density gradient centrifugation method and co‐cultured for 72 h in presence of specific T cell stimulating factors(Anti‐CD3/28 and Anti‐CD28) ,with or without different concentration of methylene blue .The culture supernatant was collected and detected the cyto‐kines secretion situation by ELISA .After 66 h culture ,CCK‐8 dye was added and continueously cultured for 4-6 h ,the prolifera‐tion was determined at A450 .Results The high‐concentration doses of methylene blue (1 .25 ,2 .5 ,5 μmol/L groups) had signifi‐cantly inhibiting effect on the proliferation of PBMC stimulated by Anti‐CD3/28(P< 0 .01) ,its OD value was decreased from 0 .897 ± 0 .385 to 0 .632 ± 0 .334 ,0 .524 ± 0 .254 and 0 .445 ± 0 .287 respectively ,showing certain dose dependent effect .The high concentrations of methylene blue (1 .25 ,2 .5 ,5 μmol/L groups) could down‐regulate interleukin(IL)‐17a ,IL‐10 and interferon (IFN)‐γ secreted by anti‐CD28 induced PBMC ,moreover showing a dose dependent effect .1 .25 ,2 .5 ,5 μmol/L methylene blue af‐fected the IL‐17a level secreted by PBMC from (406 ± 57)pg/mL descending to (276 ± 38) ,(192 ± 31) ,(134 ± 24)pg/mL respec‐tively ;affected PBMC to secrete IL‐10 ,its level was reduced from (184 ± 15) pg/mL to (132 ± 13) ,(110 ± 12) ,(42 ± 8)pg/mL ;af‐fected PBMC to secrete IFN‐γ,its level was deduced from (4 512 ± 187)pg/mL to (2 876 ± 143) ,(2 234 ± 153) ,(1 988 ± 112)pg/mL respectively .Conclusion High concentrations of methylene blue (≥1 .25 μmol/L ) has the significant inhibiting effect on the proliferation and cytokine secretion functions of PBMC .In other words ,the residual methylene blue concentration in viral inactiva‐tion plasma (≤0 .33 μmol/L) has no obvious effect on the immune function of PBMC ,but whether this concentration of methylene blue having the effect on human pure T cell immune function needs to be further evaluated and studied .

Objective To investigate the inhibiting effect of interleukin (IL)‐24 combined with targeted attenuated Salmonella typhimurium vector SL7207/pBud‐VP3 on the growth of gastric cancer cells .Methods The co‐expression eukaryotic expression plasmid pBud‐VP3‐IL‐24 was constructed .The plasmid pBud‐VP3‐IL‐24 was transformed into attenuated Salmonella typhimurium SL7207 by using the high voltage electroporation for constructing the SL 7207/pBud‐VP3‐IL‐24 strain .The mouse gastric cancer transplantation tumor model was established and randomly divided into the normal saline control group ,SL7207/pBud group , SL7207/pBud‐VP3 group and SL7207/pBud‐VP3‐IL‐24 group .The tumor‐bearing mice were fed by oral administration of bacterial strain .The tumor volume was measured and the tumor inhibition rate was calculated .The expression of IL‐24 was detected by Western blotting .The levels of IFN‐γ,IL‐6 and TNF‐αin tumor tissue were detected by using RT‐PCR .The expression of Caspase‐3 and VEGF were detected by using immunohistochemistry .Results The plasmids attenuated Salmonella typhimurium vector carrying the gene IL‐24 was successfully constructed .The IL‐24 protein expression was detected in gastric cancer tissue after 14 d treatment .The tumor volume after 28 d treatment in the SL7207/pBud‐VP3‐IL‐24 group was reduced compared with the other groups ,moreover the tumor growth was significantly inhibited ,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0 .05) .RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry results showed that IL‐24 combined with SL7207/bBud‐VP3 could significantly increase the expression levels of immune factor IL‐6 ,IFN‐γ and TNF‐αin tumor tissue ,.in addition ,up‐regulated the expression of Caspase‐3 and down‐regulated the VEGF expression(P<0 .05) .Conclu‐sion IL‐24 combined with SL7207/pBud‐VP3 can synergically play the inhibitory effect on the growth of gastric cancer cells ,its mecha‐nism is related with the tumor apoptosis promotion ,tumor vessel inhibition and immune regulation .

The most common metastatic site of prostate cancer is the bone, followed by the lung, bladder, liver, and adrenal gland. We report on a rare case of pancreatic metastasis from prostate cancer. A 52-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital with epigastric pain for 20 days. PET-CT showed malignant lesions in the prostate and pancreas, and prostate and pancreas puncture biopsies were performed, respectively. The patient was diagnosed as prostate cancer with pancreatic metastasis according to the pathological findings. After undergoing androgen deprivation therapy and docetaxel chemotherapy for 6 cycles, reexamination revealed that the pancreatic metastases had disappeared.

Extended inflammation and cytokine production pathogenically contribute to a number of inflammatory disorders. Formosanin C (FC) is the major diosgenin saponin  found in herb Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae), which has been shown to exert anti-cancer and immunomodulatory functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of FC and the underlying molecular mechanism. RAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pretreated with FC prior to being stimulated with LPS. Thereafter, the macrophages were subjected to analysis of the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6, as well as two relevant enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The analysis revealed that FC administration blunted LPS-induced production of NO and PGE in a dose-dependent manner, while the expression of iNOS and COX-2 at both mRNA and protein levels was inhibited in LPS-stimulated macrophages pre-treated with FC. Moreover, LPS stimulation upregulated mRNA expression and medium release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, whereas this effect was blocked upon FC pre-administration. Mechanistic studies showed that inhibitory effects of FC on LPS-induced inflammation were associated with a downregulation of IκB kinase, IκB, and p65/NF-κB pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that FC possesses an inflammation-suppressing activity, thus being a potential agent for the treatment of inflammation-associated disorders.

Extended inflammation and cytokine production pathogenically contribute to a number of inflammatory disorders. Formosanin C (FC) is the major diosgenin saponin  found in herb Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae), which has been shown to exert anti-cancer and immunomodulatory functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of FC and the underlying molecular mechanism. RAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pretreated with FC prior to being stimulated with LPS. Thereafter, the macrophages were subjected to analysis of the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6, as well as two relevant enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The analysis revealed that FC administration blunted LPS-induced production of NO and PGE in a dose-dependent manner, while the expression of iNOS and COX-2 at both mRNA and protein levels was inhibited in LPS-stimulated macrophages pre-treated with FC. Moreover, LPS stimulation upregulated mRNA expression and medium release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, whereas this effect was blocked upon FC pre-administration. Mechanistic studies showed that inhibitory effects of FC on LPS-induced inflammation were associated with a downregulation of IκB kinase, IκB, and p65/NF-κB pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that FC possesses an inflammation-suppressing activity, thus being a potential agent for the treatment of inflammation-associated disorders.

Objective:To observe the effect of Gongyanping Capsule on genital tract infected by ureaplasma urealyticum and fertility of mice, and to explore its mechanism.Methods:One hundred female ICR mice were divided into normal control group, model control group, azithromycin group, the low and high-dose group of Gongyanping Capsule according to random number table method. Except for the normal control group, the other groups were infected with ureaplasma urealyticum to establish the reproductive tract inflammation model. The azithromycin group was given 40 mg/kg of azithromycin, the low and high-dose groups were given 50 and 100 mg/kg of Gongyanping Capsule respectively, the normal control group and model control group were given equal volume of normal saline, once a day, for 4 consecutive weeks. The fertility status of each group was recorded. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the vaginal tissues of the mice in each group, and the content of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), IL-4, IL-12, TNF-α myeloperoxidase (MPO) and GSH-Px of the mice in each group were determined; RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determine the vagina level of mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB.Results:Compared with the model control group, the birth time and the number of dead mice in the azithromycin group and the low and high dose groups of Gongyanping Capsule decreased ( P<0.05), and the number of born mice increased ( P<0.05). The level of MCP-1, MPO, IL-4, IL-12, TNF-α decreased ( P<0.05), the level of GSH-Px increased ( P<0.05), the expression of TLR4 mRNA (1.25±0.33, 2.97±0.92, 2.32±0.72 vs. 3.69±1.32), NF-κB mRNA (1.48±0.42, 2.91±0.99, 2.13±0.70 vs. 3.83±1.41) decreased ( P<0.05), the expression of TLR4 (0.63±0.13, 1.32 ± 0.34, 1.04 ± 0.33 vs. 1.63 ± 0.41), NF-κB (0.63 ± 0.14, 1.36 ± 0.32, 1.03 ± 0.30 vs. 1.94 ± 0.58) decreased ( P<0.05), and had a certain dose-dependence. Conclusion:Gongyanping Capsule has obvious therapeutic effect on genital tract mice infected by ureaplasma urealyticum, and can significantly improve the fertility of mice; the mechanism may be related to that Gongyanping Capsule could inhibit the vaginal TLR4/NF-κB pathway in mice.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effects and adverse effect of different lipid-lowering regimens in Atherosclerosis renal artery stenosis (ARAS) rat model and select the optimal treatment.Methods 90 Wister rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (group F) and operation group.The operation group was divided into normal feed group (group N) and high-fat feed group (group T).We established the rat model in operatino group by narrowing the renal artery with acupuncture needle and 8 weeks of high-fat feeding.According to the different lipid-lowing therapeutic schedules,the T group rats were randomly divided into five groups:the blank group (T0 group),the Xuezhikang group (T1 group),the rosuvastatin group (T2 group),the regular dose of rosuvastatin combined with Xuezhikang (T3 group),the low dose of rosuvastatin combined with Xuezhikang (T4 group).Mter 6 weeks of intervention,the serum lipids [total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C),low density lipoproteincholesterol (LDL-C)],liver function [alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST)],kidney function [blood urea nitrogen (BUN),serum creatinine (Scr)] and pathological changes of aorta and kidney were detected before and after treatment.Results (1) The blood pressure,BUN and Scr were significantly increased in N group and T group compared with F group (P ＜ 0.05).TC,TG,LDL-C were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05) and HDL-C were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05) in T group compared with N,T group.According to the pathological section,the aorta in T group had visible atherosclerosis change,the renal tubules were atrophied and decreased.All above,the rat model of ARAS was successfully established.(2) After 6 weeks of drug intervention,compared with prior treatment,TC,TG,LDL-C,BUN and Scr were significant decrease (P ＜ 0.05),while HDL-C was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05) in all treatment groups,and the most remarkable change was in T3,T4 group,T3 group was better than T4 group but with no significant difference between T3 and T4 group (P ＞ 0.05).We found that ALT and AST were significantly increased in T2 and T3 group (P ＜ 0.05) after treatment.Compared with T0 group,pathological lesions of aorta and kidney were reduced best in T3 and T4 group.Conclusions Low dose of rosuvastatin combined with Xuezhikang can achieve ideal lipid-lowing effects.At the same time,it has a protective effect on kidney,and has little damage to liver function.