Objective: To study the effect of rosiglitazone on the bone microarchitecture of bilaterally ovariectomized(OVX) rats. Methods: Twenty-one 24-week-old skeletally mature rats were bilaterally ovariectomized, and were randomly divided into three groups (n = 7) : Control group(C group) ,Rosiglitazone A group(RA group) ,and Rosiglitazone B group (RB group). Rats in RA group were given i. g 0. 35 mg/d rosiglitazone for four weeks and those in the RB group were given i. g 0. 70 mg/d rosiglitazone. Rats in the control group were given normal saline in the same manner. The rats were sacrificed four weeks later. The bone volume/tissue volume (BV/T V) , the trabecular number(Tb. N), the trabecular thickness ( Tb. Th), the trabecular separation Th. Sp), and the bone surface/bone volume (BS/BV) of the femur, tibia, and lumbar were determined by micro-computered tomography(micro-CT). Results: Compared with the control group, the Tb. N,Tb. Th, and BS/BV of the femur, tibia, and lumbar all decreased significantly in RA group (except for the BS/BV of tibia) (P<0. 05, P<0. 01) ; the Tb. SP of tibia and lumbar in the RA group were significantly increased (P<0. 05) ; and there were no differences in BV/TV between the two groups. Compared with control group, the Tb, N, Tb. Th, and BS/BV of the femur, tibia, and lumbar were decreased significantly in RB group (P<0. 05, P<0. 01); the Tb. Sp of tibia and lumbar increased significantly (P<0. 05); and the BV/TV had no differences between the two groups. There were no significant differences between the RA group and RB group concerning all the parameters. Conclusion: Rosiglitazone can cause injury to the bone microarchitecture, especially to the cancellous part of the bone.

Objective To study the value of leptin,adiponeetin and interleukin (IL-1,IL-6,IL-8) in diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis of cerebral infarction.Method The levels of serum leptin ,adiponectin and IL-1,IL-6,IL-8 in acute cerebral infarction before and after treatment were determined with ELISA as well as in the healthy controls.The relationship between these indices and nerve function injury was studied.Results The levels of serum leptin and IL-1,IL-6,IL-8 in the patients increased significantly,but the controls didn't (P

OBJECTIVETo systematically review the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on the patients with low back pain (LBP).

METHODSRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) about pure acupuncture therapy versus other treatments in treating LBP were electronically searched in PubMed, CBM, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang Data from January 2004 to May 2014. The observed index on the results were the changed scores of VAS, ODI, JOA and RMDQ. Two reviewers independently screened the literatures according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as the extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality. The results of Meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.2 software.

RESULTSTen RCTs involved 751 patients were finally included. The results of Meta-analysis indicated that the role of pure acupuncture group in improving the VAS score was better than that of the control group, and the combined effect size was RR = -.32, 95% CI (-1.41, -1.22); Z=27.28, P<0.00001; the role of pure acupuncture group in improving the ODI score was better than that of the control group, and the combined effect size was RR = -5.07, 95% CI (-7.50, -2.65); Z=4.10, P<0.0001; the role of pure acupuncture group on improved JOA score was better than that of the control group and the combined effect size was RR=2.83, 95% CI (2.02, 3.63), Z=6.90, P<0.00001. The role of pure acupuncture group in improving the RMDQ score was better than that of the control group, and the combined effect size was RR = -2.80, 95% CI (-3.49, -2.11), Z=7.95, P<0.00001.

CONCLUSIONThe result of meta-analysis demonstrates that pure acupuncture may have a favorable effect on self-reported pain and functional limitations in LBP patients.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

To ascertain current situation of wild Marsdenia tenacissima resources in Honghe, Yunnan province, the distribution, habitat characteristic and resources reserves of M. tenacissima were surveyed based on interviews and investigation. The results showed that M. tenacissima was found in 7 counties such as Jinping, Mengzi etc, and distributed mainly on the mountainsides from 800 m to 1 200 m. And distribution was affected by many factors, such as light, heat, topography, soil, and vegetation. M. tenacissima grew well in distribution areas. M. tenacissima had averagely a weight of 2.8 kg per plant. Resources reserve of M. tenacissima in Honghe was estimated to 1 300 tons by now but it reduced rapidly in resent years, the wild resources reserve may not meet demand of market. Resources protection and wildlife tending would be conducted to deal with increasing medication requirements.
China ; Ecosystem ; Marsdenia ; classification ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; growth & development ; Soil ; chemistry

Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

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

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF), regulated by their receptors and binding proteins, play a pivotal role in human cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Increasing evidence has revealed that IGF system is involved in the genesis and progress of various malignancies including lung cancer. Recent studies in regard to IGF axis expression in the lung cancer cell lines, pulmonary tissue samples and blood circulation of lung cancer patients have shown that the IGF axis may contribute to the transformation and progression of lung cancer. Several researches have shown that a number of drugs targeting the IGF receptor are being investigated in clinical trials and suggest a potential therapeutic efficacy. This article reviews the updates and progress in the research of IGF axis in lung cancer.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of two different circumcision procedures with the Shang Ring and compare their advantages and disadvantages.

METHODSA total of 527 adult males with phimosis or redundant prepuce underwent Shang Ring circumcision by conventional outward replacement (n = 254) and inward placement (n = 273), respectively. We observed the in-ring nocturnal pain, complications, ring-removal pain, degree of edema, recovery time, and patients' satisfaction after surgery, and compared them between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the conventional outward placement (5.9%) of the Shang Ring, the inward placement method showed the advantages of mild in-ring nocturnal pain, a low complication rate, significantly reduced ring-removal pain, and mild edema, but exhibited longer healing time.

CONCLUSIONIn Shang Ring circumcision for phimosis and redundant prepuce in adult males, each of the outward and inward placement methods has advantages and disadvantages of its own, but the latter is more advantageous and feasible.

Adult ; Circumcision, Male ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; Edema ; etiology ; Foreskin ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Satisfaction ; Penile Diseases ; etiology ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Prostheses and Implants ; Wound Healing

As a member of orphan G protein-coupled receptors (oGPCRs), hGPCRc was cloned from human colon tissue and analyzed by bioinformatic softwares. It was showed that the corresponding amino acids of hGPCRc formed seven-transmembrane domains as the key characteristic of GPCRs. Then, the recombinant GFP-hGPCRc was constructed by fussing hGPCRc into pEGFP-N1 carrying green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, and CHO-K1 cells were subsequently transfected with the GFP-hGPCRc or pEGFP-N1. The green fluorescence protein expression in the two different transfected cells was observed under the laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). It was showed that green fluorescence protein was distributed in the whole bodies of the cells transfected with pEGFP-N1, but mainly distributed on the plasma membrane and cytoplasm membrane transfected with GFP-hGPCRc. Thus, the localization on the membrane of hGPCRc was accorded with the predication by bioinformatic analysis. The expression analysis of hGPCRc by RT-PCR indicated that hGPCRc was abundantly expressed in heart, kidney, cerebel and colon etc., but absent in liver, cerebra, small intestine and muscle etc. The expressing profile of hGPCRc could provide some useful clues to understanding its effects on embryonic development and physiological functions.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tissue Distribution ; Transfection