Adult ; Aged ; Arsenic Poisoning ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureteral Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of caspase-6 in rat skin contusion and its surrounding areas during repairment. METHODS: Immunohistochemical SP method and Western blot technique were used to study the expression and activation of caspase-6 in rat skin contusion and its surrounding areas. RESULTS: Weak expression of caspase-6 was detected in cytoplasms of polymorphonuchear cells (PMNs) infiltrated in the injured area at 3 hours post-contusion. The ratio of the caspase-6 positive cells was low (25.78 +/- 1.38)%. The expression of caspase-6 was increased prominently (47.70 +/- 5.14)% at 12 hours post-contusion. Almost all of the PMNs, mononuclear cells (MNCs) and fibroblastic cells (FBCs) were caspase-6 positive with both cytoplasm and nucleus staining (54.58 +/- 5.64)% on post-contusion day 3. The expression of caspase-6 decreased gradually thereafter. The expression of the 34-kDa pro-caspase-6 was detected by Western blot in both control and the post-contusion groups with time dependent dynamics. CONCLUSION These results suggest that caspase-6 may play a major role in trauma-induced inflammatory response. Since caspase-6 shows a timely dependent expression in PMNs, MNCs and FBCs during skin injury repair in rat, it may be used as a marker for the contusion age determination,
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 6/metabolism* ; Contusions/pathology* ; Fibroblasts/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Monocytes/metabolism* ; Neutrophils/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin/pathology* ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of accessory navicular fusion for treatment of the painful accessory navicular bone of type II in adults.

METHODSFrom June 2006 to June 2012, a total of 38 feet (in 35 adult patients) with painful accessory navicular with type I underwent an fusion operation of the primary and accessory navicular bones,including 26 males and 9 females with a mean age of (32.4±7.3) years old ranging from 18 to 44 years old. The course of disease ranged from 3 to 10 months. The perioperative complications and radiological outcomes were observed and recorded. The foot function before and after operation were assessed by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score, and the easement of the pain was evaluated by visual analog score (VAS).

RESULTSTwo patients had transient superficial inflammation of the incision, no obvious perioperative complications occurred. All patients were follow-up for (53.5±14.7) months (12 to 84 months). Bone union was confirmed on plain radiography in 32 cases (35 feet). The mean time from the operation to union was (13.7±2.3) weeks (9 to 18 weeks). Postoperative pain VAS score was improved obviosly than preoperative (V=12.14,P< 0.01). The talar-to-first metatarsal angle [(9.4±3.5)° vs (8.3±2.7)°, t=0.736, P>0.05)], calcaneal tilt angle [(17.7±2.2)° vs (18.9±3.4)°, t=0.794, P>0.05],talonavicular uncoverage angle [(14.3±3.4)° vs(12.5?4.6)°,t=0.947, P>0.05) ],and height of the first tarsometatarsal joint [(14.8±3.1) mm vs (15.9±2.8) mm,t=0.814,P>0.05)] before and after operations had no statistic difference. The AOFAS midfoot score was improced from preoperative 45.6±5.3 to postoperative 82.5±7.4 (t=3.214,P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONFor the painful accessory navicular bone of type II in adults, if the patient has a large navicular bone and not complicated with rigid flatfoot, once the conservative treatment fails, fusion of the primary and accessory naviculars may be a successful intervention. Overall, the procedure provides reliable pain relief, definite foot function improvement, and good patient satisfaction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot Diseases ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Tarsal Bones ; abnormalities ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Chinese materia medica resource (CMM resource) is the foundation of the development of traditional Chinese medicine. In the study of sustainable utilization of CMM resource, adopting innovative theory and method to find new CMM resource is one of hotspots and always highlighted. Pharmacophylogeny interrogates the phylogenetic relationship of medicinal organisms (especially medicinal plants), as well as the intrinsic correlation of morphological taxonomy, molecular phylogeny, chemical constituents, and therapeutic efficacy (ethnopharmacology and pharmacological activity). This new discipline may have the power to change the way we utilize medicinal plant resources and develop plant-based drugs. Phylogenomics is the crossing of evolutionary biology and genomics, in which genome data are utilized for evolutionary reconstructions. Phylogenomics can be integrated into the flow chart of drug discovery and development, and extends the field of pharmacophylogeny at the omic level, thus the concept of pharmacophylogenomics could be redefined in the context of plant pharmaceutical resources. This contribution gives a brief discourse of knowledge pedigree of pharmacophylogeny, epistemology and paradigm shift, highlighting the theoretical and practical values of pharmacophylogenomics. Many medicinally important tribes and genera, such as Clematis, Pulsatilla, Anemone, Cimicifugeae, Nigella, Delphinieae, Adonideae, Aquilegia, Thalictrum, and Coptis, belong to Ranunculaceae family. Compared to other plant families, Ranunculaceae has the most species that are recorded in China Pharmacopoeia (CP) 2010. However, many Ranunculaceae species, e. g., those that are closely related to CP species, as well as those endemic to China, have not been investigated in depth, and their phylogenetic relationship and potential in medicinal use remain elusive. As such, it is proposed to select Ranunculaceae to exemplify the utility of pharmacophylogenomics and to elaborate the new concept empirically. It is argued that phylogenetic and evolutionary relationship of medicinally important tribes and genera within Ranunculaceae could be elucidated at the genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic levels, from which the intrinsic correlation between medicinal plant genotype and metabolic phenotype, and between genetic diversity and chemodivesity of closely related taxa, could be revealed. This proof-of-concept study regards pharmacophylogenomics as the updated version of pharmacophylogeny and would enrich the intension and spread the extension of pharmacophylogeny. The interdisciplinary knowledge and techniques will be integrated in the proposed study to promote development of CMM resource discipline and to boost sustainable development of Chinese medicinal plant resources.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Knowledge ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics

BACKGROUND:The pathogenesis of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head remains unclear. Femoral head reconstruction after colapse is related to the bone remodeling due to disorder of the bone formation-absorption coupling. “Removing Blood Stasis” Method has been shown to have a positive effect on the disease in clinics. However, the mechanisms by which the “Removing Blood Stasis” Method confers bone repair after osteonecrosis remain poorly understood.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of “Removing Blood Stasis” Method on bone repair in rabbits with steroid-induced femoral head osteonecrosis.
METHODS: Fifty New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups: normal control (n=10),
model (n=20) andTaohong Siwu Decoction (n=20) groups, respectively. The steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head animal models were established by intramuscular injection of endotoxin combined with methylprednisolone (MPS). Rabbits inTaohong Siwu Decoction group were intragastricaly administered with 0.3 g/kg ofTaohong Siwu Decoction suspension after the last injection of methylprednisolone. The control and model groups were administrated by equal volume of ultrapure water for 8 consecutive weeks. High-resolution MRI and pathological determinations were used to assess the successful models. Protein expression levels of ABCB1, RUNX2, OPN, RANK, RANKL, PPAR, osteoprotegerin (OPG), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rabbit femoral heads were detected by western blot assay.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that trabecular bone fracture, karyopyknosis, empty lacunae, necrotic bone marrow cels were seen in the model group. Empty lacunae rate in the model group was significantly different from that in the normal control group (P < 0.05). Bone formation was active and kept better trabecular morphology in theTaohong Siwu Decoction group. It suggested that “Removing Blood Stasis” Method can improve repair of necrotic area. (2) In the model group, femoral head with a wide range of low-density areas in high-resolution MRI;Taohong Siwu Decoction group showed the relatively normal shape of the femoral head with smal areas of low density. It suggested that “Removing Blood Stasis” Method can improve image changes in the necrotic area. (3) Protein expression levels of RUNX2, RANK, RANKL were significantly up-regulated but protein expression levels of ABCB1, OPG, VEGF were significantly down-regulated in the model group compared with the normal control group; whereas, they were al significantly up-regulated in theTaohong Siwu Decoction group compared with the model group, except for RANK and RANKL (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the “Removing Blood Stasis” Method can promote bone repair in steroid-induced femoral head osteonecrosis rabbits by regulating protein expressions of ABCB1, RUNX2, RANK, RANKL, OPG, and VEGF.

ObjectiveTo investigate the practicability of gastric intubation with zebra-guidewire under the induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane (zebra-guidewire was the obsolete guide wire in percutaneous nephrolithotomy in urology surgery). MethodsThe patients who needed gastric intubation were randomized into the experimental group and the control group with 20 patients in each group.the experimental group received gastric intubation with zebra- guidewire under the induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane.In the control group,the gastric tubes were catheterized with routine method.The physiological indices changes,incidence rate of adverse reaction and success rate of one-time catheterization and average time of catheterization per patient were compared between the two groups. ResultsIn patients of the experimental group,the blood pressure,heart rate before and during the intubation did not fluctuate evidently,but in the control group the results were the opposite.In the experimental group the incidence rate of adverse reaction,success rate of one-time catheterization and average time of catheterization per patient were superior to the control group. ConclusionsGastric intubation under the induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane was a painless way of gastric intubation.Gastric intubation with zebra-guidewire under anesthesia state was simple and fast.

Utilizing the enrichment substrate,an aerobic denitrifying bacterial strain with the capability of phosphorus removal was screened from the activated sludge which had been domesticated by actual living sewage.By the morphological observing and identification of the physiological and biochemical indexes,the strain was identified to belong to Pseudomonas.The aerobic denitrifying bacterial strain was applied to deal with the simulated and actual living wastewater.By inspecting the changes of total nitrogen,inorganic phosphorus and CODcr in the wastewater,it was ascertained that the optimal wastewater treatment condi-tions of the bacterial strain were C/N= 3,inoculated ratio= 10%,pH 6.8,30?C,treatment time= 2 d.After the activated sludge was strengthened by the aerobic denitrifying bacterial strain,its treatment capability for ac-tual living sewage was improved,evidently.

BackgroundGlaucoma is an optic neuropathy caused by structural damage of the optic nerve,and its early diagnosis is critical for arresting the irreversible damage of visual function. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows an early diagnosis of glaucoma by the measurements of the optic disc and retinal nerve fiber parameters. Objective This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of optic disc tomography and the measurement of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL)thickness by spectral-domain OCT on the diagnosis of glaucomatous eye. MethodsIt was a noninterventional, cross-sectionalstudy. The optic disctopographic parameters and total and regional RNFL thickness were measured by RTVue OCT in 62 normal eyes and 67 glaucomatous eyes. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve( ROC ) was used to assess the ability to differentiate glaucoma eyes from normal eyes of each testing parameter. This trial complied with the Helsinki Declaration and was approved by the Clinical Trial Ethic Committee of Beijing TongrenHospital. All of the participants signed the written informed consent before any medical examination. Results In the comparison of demography ,the ages of patients, the mean deficiency( MD ) and pattern standard difference( PSD ) of perimetry were obviously larger in the glaucoma group, primary open angle glaucoma ( POAG ) group and primary closure-angle glaucoma(PACG) group than those of normal controls( P＜0. 01 ). No significant differences were found in the disc area between a total glaucoma group, POAG group or PACG group and normal group ( P =0. 101,0. 741 and 0. 652, respectively) ;however, the average RNFL thickness between normal eyes and glaucomatous eyes were significantly different( 109. 758 μm versus 79. 539 μm, P＜0. 01 ). Among the eight regions around the optic disc, the thickest RNFL located at the inferotemporal( 150. 109 μm) and superotemporal( 146. 105 μm) regions in normal eyes,and at the superotemporal( 104. 354 μm) and inferotemporal( 102. 436 μm) regions in glaucomatous eyes. Both in normal and glaucomatous eyes,the thinnest RNFL located at the nasal(NU+NL) and temporal(TU + TL) regions. For optic disc topographic parameters,the highest ROC were observed in rim volume( ROC--0. 850,0. 841 and 0. 862 in total glaucoma,POAG and PACG, respectively) and vertical cup/disc ratio( ROC =0. 840,0. 849 and 0. 830 in total glaucoma,POAG and PACG,respectively), and the sensitivities for specificity cutoff set at 80％ were 73.1％ and 76. 1％ in total glaucoma,73.0％ and 81.1％ in POAG and 73.3％ and 70.0％ in PACG, respectively. For RNFL thickness ,the highest ROC was observed in average RNFL( ROC =0. 925,0. 910 and 0. 942 in total glaucoma, POAG and PACG,respectively) ,and the sensitivities for specificity cutoff set at 80％ were 89. 6％ ,89.2％ and 90. 0％ in total glaucoma,POAG and PACG, respectively. Among the eight regions around the optic disc, RNFL thickness of region IT achieved the highest ROC, RNFL thickness of region TU and TL had the lowest ROC. Conclusions RTVue OCT appears to be of fair discriminating ability in distinguishing normal from glaucomatous eyes. RTVue OCT shows promise for the diagnosis of glaucoma.

Objective To investigate the role of human estrogen receptor-related receptor(ERR) ?,a submember of orphan receptors,in the tumorigenesis of endometrial cancer.Methods Plasmid of pSG-ERR? was transfected into endometrial cancer cell lines HEC-1A,HEC-1B,and Ishikawa.Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and western blot were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression of ERR? in endometrial cancer cell.Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cellular growth.Results Expressions of the ERR? were significantly increased in the endometrial cancer cells transfected with pSG-ERR? plasmid; expression of the ERR? mRNA in HEC-1A cell was 9644.4 copies/ng,HEC-1B:9835.3 copies/ng,and Ishikawa:8008.6 copies/ng(P