OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in the therapeutic effects on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among auricular electroacupuncture therapy plus isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste (combined therapy), electroacupuncture (EA) and TDP irradiation.

METHODSEighty-nine cases were randomized into three groups. In the combined therapy group (30 cases), the auricular electroacupuncture therapy was adopted together with the isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste. The auricular points were xi (AH4), pizhixia (AT4), shenmen (TF4), etc. The Lingxian herbal paste was applied at Yanglingquan (GB 34), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Heding (EX-LE 2) and Ashi points. In EA group (29 cases), EA was applied at the acupoints that were same as those in the isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste. In TDP group (30 cases), TDP irradiation was given at the affected knee. The treatment was given once every day, 10 treatments made one session and there was 1 week at the interval among sessions. Totally, 3 sessions of treatment were required. KOA clinical symptom and physical sign score and the single item pain symptom score of Lequesne index were observed before treatment and 1 week after treatment in the patients of each group separately. The efficacies were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSOne week after treatment, the total score of symptoms and physical signs of the patients in each group was reduced significantly as compared with that before treatment (all P < 0.05). The improvements in the symptoms and physical signs in the combined therapy group were better than those in the other two groups (1.50 +/- 1.57 vs 2.52 +/- 1.82, 2.63 +/- 1.97, both P < 0.05). The improvement in pain in the combined therapy group was also better than that in the other two groups (2.37 +/- 0.81 vs 2.83 +/- 0.92, P < 0.05; 2.37 +/- 0.81 vs 3.03 +/- 0.77, P < 0.01). The curative rate in the combined therapy group was 40.0% (12/30), which was higher than 17.2% (5/29) in EA group and 20.0% (6/30) in TDP group separately (both P < 0.01). The overall efficacy in the combined therapy group was superior to the other two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe auricular electroacupuncture therapy plus isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste is advantageous at the total score of the symptoms and physical signs and the overall efficacy in the patients of KOA as compared with EA at the local acupoints and local TDP irradiation.

Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of hydrogen saline on oxidative stress damage in rats brain tissues after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Methods Eighteen adult male pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group (Con group), conventional resuscitation group (ROSC group) and hydrogen saline treatment group (ROSC+HRS group), with 6 rats in each group. All rats were asphyxiated by tracheal clip method to establish cardiac arrest (CA) model, and received first aid with CPR, electric defibrillation and adrenaline until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The rats in ROSC+HRS group were intraperitoneally injected with 2% hydrogen saline (5 mL/kg for the first time and 3 mL/kg every 2 hours). The rats in Con group were only tracheal intubated and mechanical ventilated. The rats were sacrificed after ROSC for 12 hours, and the brain tissue was harvested to determine the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The protein expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was determined with Western Blot, and the mRNA expression of HO-1 was determined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Compared with the Con group, the MDA was significantly elevated in ROSC group (nmol/mg: 8.15±0.11 vs. 3.68±0.16, P < 0.05), the SOD and CAT were significantly decreased [SOD (U/mg): 69.30±2.39 vs. 94.65±2.75, CAT (U/mg): 74.38±1.65 vs. 95.68±1.88, both P < 0.05], HO-1 mRNA expression was significantly elevated (gray value: 1.383±0.194 vs. 1.117±0.083, P < 0.05), and HO-1 protein expression showed no significant change (gray value: 0.350±0.049 vs. 0.175±0.026, P > 0.05). Compared with the ROSC group, the MDA was significantly decreased in ROSC+HRS group (nmol/mg: 4.72±0.28 vs. 8.15±0.11, P < 0.05), the SOD and CAT were significantly elevated [SOD (U/mg): 83.02±1.10 vs. 69.30±2.39, CAT (U/mg): 85.07±1.94 vs. 74.38±1.65, both P < 0.05], HO-1 mRNA expression was significantly elevated (gray value: 3.200±0.200 vs. 1.383±0.194, P < 0.05), and the HO-1 protein expression was significantly elevated (gray value: 0.788±0.059 vs. 0.350±0.049, P < 0.05). Conclusions Oxidative stress damage is an important mechanism of CPR brain damage. Hydrogen saline can increase the expression of HO-1 in brain tissue, and decrease oxidative stress damage of brain after CPR.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the imaging features of osteopoikilosis and its diagnosis knowledge.

METHODSThe imaging data of 9 patients with osteopoikilosis were analyzed retrospectively, including 6 familial cases and 3 sporadic cases. In 6 familial cases,there were 4 males and 2 females with an average age of 28 years old ranging from 10 to 63 years. Clinical manifestations of 1 familial case were left knee pain and limitation of activity for 3 years, and other 5 cases without clinical manifestation. In 3 sporadic cases, there were 2 males and 1 female with an average age of 33.7 years old ranging from 25 to 44 years. Three sporadic cases had obvious injury history with following up from 6 to 12 months. All imaging results of 9 cases were observed.

RESULTSThe imaging data of 6 familial osteopoikilosis showed the multiple round or oval nodes within bone with clear margins, uniform density, different size. The occurrence of the hyperostotic spots preferentially localized in the epiphyses and metaphyses of the long bones, and carpus and tarus. X-ray features of 3 sporadic osteopoikilosis were similar to that of 6 familial cases and for 6 to 12 months follow-up X-ray features were unchanged.

CONCLUSIONThe imaging features of osteopoikilosis are relatively specific such as the multiple mottling dense focal within bone with clear border and bilateral symmetry, and the focus located on cancellous bone and the diaphyses usually is unaffected. The imaging is a valuable examination for the accurate diagnosis of osteopoikilosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteopoikilosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Pedigree ; Radiography ; Young Adult

AIM: Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, such as simvastatin, have been shown to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by mechanisms unrelated to its lipid-lowering effect. Several studies have shown that simvastatin induces apoptosis in a varieties of cell lines including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The aim of this study was to investigate the signal pathways involved in apoptosis induced by simvastatin. METHODS: Cultured VSMC were treated with simvastatin. Calpain activity was determined by measuring Ca 2+ ionophore-specific calpain substrate (suc-LLVY-AMC), caspase-3 activation was detected by Western blot, and apoptotic changes were distinguished by annexin Ⅴ binding and DNA laddering. RESULTS: After incubated with 30 ?mol/L simvastatin for 8 h, calpain activity had a marked increase ( P

AIM: To observe the effect of simvastatin on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) induced by serum and growth factor PDGF-BB and the effect of simvastatin on the expression of PTEN,a important regulator of G 1/S cell cycle transition. METHODS: The DNA synthesis was determined by -TdR incorporation, cell cycle was examined with flow cytometry, the protein level of PTEN was measured by Western blot method. RESULTS: (1)Simvastatin inhibited -TdR incorporation in a dose dependent manner. (2) Flow cytometric DNA analysis revealed that simvastatin induced significantly enhancement of G 0/G 1 phase and decrease in S phase VSMCs.(3)Simvastatin increased protein level of PTEN and mevalonate, a metabolite of HMG-COA, reversed the effect of simvastatin on PTEN protein expression. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin may inhibit proliferation of VSMCs and retarded cell cycle in G 0/G 1 phase by increasing PTEN expression through inhibiting synthesis of mevalonate.

BACKGROUND: Researches indicated that bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) could differentiated into neural stem cells in vitro, but what was the role of neural stem cells(NSCs) in the recovery of cortical injury,whether the NSC is capable of growing and migration in injured still remained unknown.OBJECTIVE: To explore the growing state of autograft NSC derived from crab-eating macaque BMSC transplanted in brain.DESIGN: Prospective case control study based on experimental animals.SETTING: Department of neurosurgery in a hospital of a military medical university.MATERIALS: This study was carried out at Center Laboratory of Neurological Research Institute, Zhujiang Hospital affiliated to the First Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. Six healthy adult crab-eating macaques were purchased from the South China Primate Animal Center.INTERVENTIONS: BMSCs harvested from six crab-eating macaques were cultured in vitro and induced to differentiate into neural stem cells, which then labeled by bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU) and autografted into brains.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Brain tissues underwent hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining and immunohistochemical staining before observed under optical microscope.RESULTS: The results of HE staining showed that the cell number in injured brain vas obviously higher in both instant and delayed transplanting groups than sham-transplanting group; moreover cells were proved reacting to BrdU by immunohistochemical staining in cortical injuries of both groups at 1-6 months following stem cells autograft, as well as at neighboring white matters at half year later, but no BrdU positive cells could be found in traumatic controls, sham-transplanting group and normal brains.CONCLUSION: NSCs derived from in vitro cultured BMSCs were proved capable of surviving, proliferating, differentiating and migrating in cortex after autograft, so that BMSCs is considered as replacing cells or the source of NSCs; moreover autograft stem cells could survive, proliferate and migrate in old cortical traumatic focus.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of restoration of cartilage defect with silk fibrin/chitosan(SF-CS)biological scaffold compound by induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)in the elderly rabbits.Methods BMSCs were extracted,cultured and induced to differentiate,then inoculated into SF-CS three-dimensional scaffold restoration.54 rabbits(aged 16-18months)were divided into scaffold restoration,single scaffold and control groups(n=18 per group).The right knee joint was used for building cartilage defect model and implanted by scaffolds.General observation,tissue staining and modified Wakitani histological scoring were performed at 4,8 and 12weeks after operation.Results SF-CS scaffold was structured by multiple interlinked pores.The average pore size was 151.72 μm.The porosity was(92.72±4.78)％.The imbibition rate was (141.10± 6.87)％.BMSCs was grown well and proliferated dynamically in SF-CS scaffold after induction.At 12 weeks,the cartilage defect was basically repaired,type Ⅱ collagen was positively expressed and the scaffold was almost assimilated in scaffold restoration group.In single scaffold group,the cartilage defect was repaired mainly by fiber tissue,type Ⅱ collagen was less expressed and the scaffold almost degraded while the cartilage defect was repaired badly in control group.The scaffold restoration group was superior to single scaffold and control groups(P＜0.05)in improving the Wakitani score.Conclusions The SF-CS scaffold as BMSCs carrier may restore cartilage defect in knee joint of the elderly rabbits.

Objective Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE) is a common complication of SLE, whose path-ogenesis is not yet clear but associated with the alteration of cerebral blood flow ( CBF) in some studies.This study was to investigate the CBF alteration in SLE patients without overt neuropsychiatric symptoms by arterial spin labeling ( ASL) MRI. Methods Twenty-eight SLE patients without overt neuropsychiatric symptoms and 30 age-and sex-matched healthy controls underwent conventional MRI and ASL examinations, and all received such neuropsychologic tests as number connecting test-A ( NCT-A ) , digit symbol test ( DST ) , self-rating anxiety scale ( SAS ) , and self-rating depression scale ( SDS) .Independent sample-t test was used to detect the mean CBF in the whole brain, gray matter, and white matter of the SLE patients and healthy controls.The voxel-wise CBF maps of the two groups of subjects were further analyzed with the SPM8 software to compare the regional CBF between the two groups, followed by evaluation of the correlation between the regional CBF values and clinical markers. Results In comparison with the healthy controls, the SLE pa-tients showed significantly reduced CBF in the gray matter (40.5 ±3.7 vs 37.3 ±6.5, P=0.028) and the whole brain (38.0 ±3.5 vs 35.1 ±6.1, P=0.032), especially in the supplementary motor area and the adjacent middle cingulate, anterior cingulate, left medial frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, and left insula (P<0.05, FWE corrected).The NCT-A score was negatively correlated with the CBF values of the left medial frontal gyrus (r=-0.402, P=0.032) and left inferior frontal gyrus (r=-0.382, P=0.045) of the SLE patients. Conclusion ASL and MRI showed significantly reduced cerebral blood flow in the SLE patient without overt neu-ropsychiatric manifestations, which was correlated with the change of the patient's cognitive function.

This study aims to clarify out the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan. Chemical constituents of Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan identified by UPLC Q-TOF, were submit to Molinspiration, PharmMapper and KEGG bioinformatics softwares for predicting their absorption parameters, target proteins and related pathways respectively; and the gene chip and real time-PCR were carried out to investigate the expression of inflammatory genes on lung tissue of guinea pigs or human bronchial epithelial cell lines. The predicted results showed that 19 of the 24 absorbable constituents affected at 9 inflammation-related pathways through 11 protein targets; Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan treatment can significantly reduce the infiltration of cytokines through ERK1 gene and 5 inflammatory pathways (Focal adhesion, Fc epsilon RI, Toll-like receptors, NK cell-mediated cytotoxic, and ERK/MAPK). The results of real time-PCR further confirmed that the anti-inflammatory effects of Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan were due to active ingredients such as arctigenin, cholic acid and sinapic acid intervened focal adhesion, Fc epsilon RI signaling and ERK/MAPK pathways. The novel approach of 'drug-target-pathway' will present an effective strategy for the study of traditional Chinese medicines.

In this paper, a new method of combining translation invariant (TI) and wavelet-threshold (WT) algorithm to distinguish weak and overlapping signals of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is presented. First, the 1H-MRS spectrum signal is transformed into wavelet domain and then its wavelet coefficients are obtained. Then, the TI method and WT method are applied to detect the weak signals overlapped by the strong ones. Through the analysis of the simulation data, we can see that both frequency and amplitude information of small-signals can be obtained accurately by the algorithm, and through the combination with the method of signal fitting, quantitative calculation of the area under weak signals peaks can be realized.
Algorithms ; Computer Simulation ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Protons ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Wavelet Analysis