Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease among elders and athletes. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are molecules of stress sensitivity which play a significant role in the occurrence and development of OA. MAPKs are closely related with chondrocyte apoptosis and cartilage degradation. This paper reviewed the related studies between OA and MAPKs.

Objective To construct the recombinant adenovirus of Angiotensin Ⅱ type 2 receptor (AT2R), and study the effect of AT2R on prevention of neointimal hyperplasia in rat carotid arteries after balloon angioplasty. Methods The recombinant adenovirus of AT2R with green fluorescent protein was constructed by using the method of homogenous recombination in bacteria. AT2R gene was transduced into rat carotid arteries with pAdCMV/AT2R after the reproduction of rat carotid balloon injury restenosis model. The expression and the transfection efficiency of AT2R gene were evaluated by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence staining, and confocal microscope. The intimal/medial area ratio was measured by digital analysis system. Results The titre of purified recombinant adenovirus was 1.5?10 12pfu/ml, and it was proved by PCR. pAdCMV/AT2R transfection efficiency in carotid artery was about 40% at day14, and localized to the neointima, as well as to the media and the adventitia. pAdCMV/AT2R delivered into injured rat carotid arteries significantly up-regulated AT2RmRNA and protein expression in neointima from day 7 to 21 after injury. Compared with pAd-GFP transfection group, pAdCMV/AT2R transfection reduced I/M ratio significantly on day 21(0.78?0.06 vs. 1.36?0.21 respectively, P

Objective　This study was To investigate the incidence rate of Cockett syndrome and relationship between Cockett syndrome and varicose veins and deep venous incompetence of the left lower extremities.Methods　73 patients(100 legs) with varicose veins of the lower extremities were investigated by descending deep venography and iliography preoperatively.Results　There were 35(47.9%) cases with abnormalities of the left common iliac vein (ALCIV)in all the cases.There were 31 cases with this conditions in the patients with varicose veins of the left or both lower extremity.While in the patients with varicose veins of the only right lower extremity,there were only 4 cases with ALCIV.In contrast,there was a significant difference between groups(χ2=9.8641,P=0.0017).In the patients with ALCIV,14 cases with Ⅲ or Ⅳ grade of deep venous incomptence were found, and only 6 cases with deep venous incompetence in the patients without ALCIV.There was a significant difference(χ2=5.3688,P=0.0205).Conclusion　Cockett's syndrome frequently occurs in varicose veins of the left lower extremity.There is a relationship between them.Cockett's syndrome might be one of the causes for the deep venous incompetence of the left leg.

Objective To explore the changes of the peripheral blood soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble FasL (sFasL) in patients of diabetes complicated with tuberculosis,in order to provide the basis for condition judgment and intervention.Methods The patients of diabetes complicated with tuberculosis (diabetes comphcated with tuberculosis group,25 cases),simple diabetes (diabetes group,25 cases),simple tuberculosis (tuberculosis group,25 cases) and healthy person (control group,25 cases) were selected.The peripheral blood sFas,sFasL and T-lymphocyte subsets were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent test.Results The peripheral blood sFas,sFasL in diabetes complicated with tuberculosis group,diabetes group,tuberculosis group was higher than that in control group[(7.91 ± 1.93),(8.74 ± 2.12),(7.86 ± 1.61)mg/L vs.(2.10 ±0.88) mg/L and (562.37 ± 196.38),(1512.32 ±303.48),(607.48 ± 102.53) ng/L vs.(263.18 ±46.32) ng/L](P＜ 0.05).The peripheral blood sFas,sFasL in diabetes group was higher than that in diabetes complicated with tuberculosis group and tuberculosis group (P ＜ 0.05).With sFasL 1000 ng/L as boundary value,the diagnostic coincidence rate of diabetes complicated with tuberculosis group and diabetes group was 90.00％ (45/50).CD3 +,CD4+ T-lymphocyte subsets in diabetes complicated with tuberculosis group,diabetes group,tuberculosis group was lower than that in control group (0.3376 ± 0.0712,0.2368 ± 0.0803,0.4801 ± 0.0896 vs.0.5849 ± 0.0487 and 0.1798 ± 0.0401,0.2100 ± 0.0679,0.2312 ± 0.0487 vs.0.2811 ± 0.0348) (P ＜ 0.05).CD3 + T-lymphocyte subsets in diabetes complicated with tuberculosis group was higher than that in diabetes group and lower than that in tuberculosis group (P ＜ 0.05).CD4+ T-lymphocyte subsets in diabetes complicated with tuberculosis group was lower than that in diabetes group,tuberculosis group(P ＜ 0.05).CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets in diabetes complicated with tuberculosis group,diabetes group was higher than that in control group (0.3209 ± 0.0707,0.2831 ± 0.0794 vs.0.2086 ± 0.0589)(P ＜ 0.05).CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets in diabetes complicated with tuberculosis group was higher than that in diabetes group and tuberculosis group (0.2287 ± 0.0690)(P ＜ 0.05).C D3 +,CD4+,CD8+ T-lymphocyte apoptotic rate in diabetes complicated with tuberculosis group,diabetes group,tuberculosis group was higher than that in control group [(4.34 ± 2.08)％,(3.22 ± 2.12)％,(2.59 ± 1.41)％ vs.(1.01 ± 0.38)％,(5.12 ± 1.58)％,(4.82 ± 1.98)％,(3.21 ± 1.19)％ vs.(1.78 ±0.53)％ and (1.45 ±0.52)％,(2.31 ±2.01)％,(1.62 ± 1.33)％ vs.(1.07 ± 0.38)％] (P ＜ 0.05).CD3 +,CD4+ T-lymphocyte apoptotic rate in diabetes complicated with tuberculosis group,diabetes group was higher than that in tuberculosis group (P ＜0.05).CD8+ Tlymphocyte apoptotic rate in diabetes group was higher than that in tuberculosis group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The peripheral blood sFas and sFasL exists abnormal increase in patients of diabetes complicated with tuberculosis.CD3+,CD4+ T-lymphocyte decreasing shows that the patients exist immune function disorder.sFas and sFasL may be involved development process of disease,and the peripheral blood sFasL content can also be used as auxiliary indicators for identifying diabetes patients with tuberculosis.

The effect of Taurine ( Tau)on 45Ca influx of isolated left ventricular muscles in rats has been investigated. The 45Ca influx of the preparations untreated with Tau, are affected by the concentrations of calcium in KH solution. when the concentration of calcium is 0.62; 1.25; and 1.87mmol/L respectively, the 45Ca influx is 1.02? 0.25; 1.37?0.14 and 1.45?0.14 ?mol/g wet tissue, respectively. After adding Tau, the situations above were changed significantly. It was shown that is 1.11 ? 0.11, 1.45?0.12, and 1.48 ? 0.09 ?mol/g wet tissue in low Ca2?; 1.19?0.07, 1.14 ? 0.23, and 0.97?0.24 ?mol/g wet tissue in normal Ca2?; and 1.12?0.05,0.58?0.18 and 0.53?0.10 ?mol/g wet tissue in high Ca2? treated with Tau 10, 20, and 40 mmol/L, respectively. The results show that the varied ,Ca2? concentrations in KH solution can affect 45Ca influx of cardiac muscles, but Taurine has a bisphasic modulation o,f calcium influx in the same tissue. The effects of modulating calcium may play an important role for anti-arrhythmic mechanism of Taurine.

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is an autoimmune disease(AID) characterized by arthrosynovitis.Cytokines are involved in the whole course of the disease.Such important cytokines as TNF-? and IL-1? play a key role in the proliferation of synovial cells and progression of inflammation,and,therefore,have been taken as clinical therapeutic targets for RA in the recent years.The blocking agent of TNF-? or IL-1? is effective for only a few patients and the increasing adverse events it causes,such as infection and malignancy,are arousing more and more concern.The abnormal expression and imbalance of interleukin-6(IL-6) are closely associated with RA.IL-6 is an important regulatory factor for the pathogenesis of RA,and the blocking agent may be applied to the treatment of the disease.

Objective To assess long-term outcomes of electrocoagulation for treating varicose veins of the lower extremities. Methods A retrospective review was made on clinical data of 426 cases of varicose veins of the lower extremities treatd by electrocoagulation from October 1996 to October 2001.Postoperative follow-ups were carried out with clinic checkups or questionnaires.Results Of the 426 cases,follow-ups for 4~9 years(mean,5.8 years) were completed in 364 cases(500 limbs) and a loss to follow-up was encountered in 62 cases,the follow-up rate being 85.4%.The cumulative rate of recurrent varicose veins was 10.4%(52/500),in which the recurrent varicose veins were cured with sclerosing agents in 50 limbs and with re-operations in 2 limbs.The relief rate of sensation of heaviness and tension was 95.1%(309/325).Accompanying venous ulcers in 20 limbs healed up within 2~8 weeks.The incidences of subcutaneous hematoma and saphenous nerve injury were 0.8%(5/594) and 1.2%((7/594),) respectively.Skin burns happened in 5 limbs(0.8%,5/594). Conclusions Electrocoagulation for varicose veins of the lower extremities is proved to be a novel minimally invasive method,with advantages of safety,effectiveness,low costs,and short hospital stay.

Objective To compare electrocoagulation effects of three types of electrodes for varicose veins.Methods Twelve dogs(24 veins in hind limbs)were randomly divided into 3 groups with 4 dogs in each group:columnar electrode group,circular electrode group,and radial electrode group.Each dog's long saphenous veins were high ligated and electrocoagulated.The activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT)was measured and pathological examinations(HE and Weigert)were performed immediately following operation and on the 7th and the 14th postoperative day,respectively.The destruction depth and extent,residual vessels,and skin burn after electrocoagulation were compared among the three groups.Results One case of skin burn on the left hind limb occurred in the columnar electrode group.Immediately following the operation,the number of vessels that were destroyed beyond 50% of perimeter in the radial electrode group was 8,which was significantly higher than that in the columnar electrode group(3 vessels)and the circular electrode group(4 vessels)(Fisher's exact test,P=0.013 and 0.038),and the number of vessels that were destroyed deep to the meddle membrane in the radial electrode group was 1,which was significantly lower than that in the columnar electrode group(7 vessels)and the circular electrode group(6 vessels)(Fisher's exact test,P=0.005 and 0.020).On the 7th day after operation,there was no statistical difference among the 3 groups in the number of vessels with remnant area above 50% of the perimeter(?2=5.371,P=0.068).On the 14th day after operation,the number of vessels with remnant area above 50% of the perimeter in the radial electrode group(1 vessel)was significantly lower than that in the columnar electrode group(7 vessels)and the circular electrode group(6 vessels)(Fisher's exact test,P=0.005 and 0.020).There was no statistical difference among 3 groups in APTT immediately following operation and on the 7th and the 14th postoperative day(P=0.905,0.871,and 0.865).Conclusions Compared with the other two catheters,radial electrode has the largest destroyed area,the smallest remnant area of the vessel,and the lowest risk of skin burn.

Objective To summarize the clinical application of the Tempofilter Ⅱ temporary caval filter.Methods The Tempofilter Ⅱ temporary caval filter was employed in 24 patients from April 2002 to August 2006.Before the implantation,we performed color ultrasonography to detect the extent of thrombus and the situation of inferior vena cava,renal vein,and access vein(right internal jugular vein).Under the guidance of color ultrasonography and X-ray fluoroscopy(free of contrast agent),the temporary filter was placed in the inferior vena cava distal of the renal vein orifice through a guide wire by using the Seldinger technique.Results The filter was successfully implanted and removed in all the 24 patients.The duration of placement was 5 days～6 weeks(mean,16.8 days).Filter thrombosis occurred in 4 patients at 3 days ～ 2 weeks after operation.The thrombi(

Objective To evaluate the security and the reliability of ligating the cystic duct and the cystic ar- tery with common silk suture as the substitute for titanic or biological clamps in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) us- ing the suture and knot instrument developed by the authors. Methods One hundred and two laparoscopic chole- cystectomies were performed by the authors using the instrument. Results All patients were discharged in the post- operative fourth or fifth day without any complication. Conclusion The instrument used for LC was safe and reliable.