Discogenic low back pain is the common type of chronic low back pain. However,its mechanism has not been completely clarified. Considerable evidence shows that neurotrophins play an important role in discogenic low back pain. The paper summarizes the mechanism of neurotrophins on discogenic low back pain according to the pain transfer pathway of neurotrophins in intervertebral disc, dorsal horn ganglia and spinal trigeminal nucleus. Changing the pain transmission by regulating neurotrophins and its receptor will provide a new way for the treatment of discogenic low back pain.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; Low Back Pain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nerve Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Posterior Horn Cells ; pathology ; Trigeminal Nucleus, Spinal ; pathology

TDP-4-ketohexulose reductase, encoded by dnmV, is important in daunorubicin biosynthesis. To obtain a daunorubicin block mutant, double cross-over plasmid pYG817 was constructed by inserting apramycin resistant gene and amplified dnmV together with upstream dnmU into vector pUC18. dnmV was successfully disrupted after transformation of daunorubicin-producing strain SIPI-1482 by pYG817. Daunorubicin was absent from metabolites of the resulting transformant, and its biosynthesis can be reconstituted by introducing dnmV expression plasmid into the disruptant, although the yield is lower than wild-type SIPI-1482, according to HPLC analysis. This mutant can be a good candidate for production of anthracycline such as epi-daunorubicin by introducing exogenous gene into the host.

TTI gene coding for Tsetse thrombin inhibitor was modified with E.coli bias codon and expressed in Escherichia coli with high efficiency.Recombinant protein was purified to more than 98% purity.Assay for enzyme activity determination was set up.The result showed that the fusion protein exhibited inhibiting activity for thrombin.Inhibitory rate of purified TTI was 73% when concentration of thrombin and substrate was 10U/ml and 250?mol/L respectively.Inhibition pattern was determined as competitive with Ki at 35?mol/L.

A novel gene,located between dnrX and drrB in the genome of daunorubicin-producing strain Streptomyces coeruleorubidus SIPI-1482,was cloned and named as dauW.The full sequence of dauW was submitted to GenBank(Accession No.EF523565).Blast result indicated that it showed high homology with dnrW in GenBank.The exact function of dauW is as yet unknown despite the possibility that it might belong to a family of FAD-dependent oxidoreductases on the basis of conserved domain analysis.dauW was cloned into expression plasmids pET-28a(+)and pET-32a(+),respectively,and was successfully expressed in E.coli DE3 after induction with IPTG.The preliminary results of the expression of dauW suggested that it might be involved in the self resistance in Streptomyces coeruleorubidus due to the increased resistance to daunorubicin in the E.coli host.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; etiology ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

AIM To optimize the combined enzymatic extraction for alkaloids and polysaccharides from Dendrobium nobile Lindl..METHODS With enzyme consumption,enzymolysis temperature,enzymolysis time and solidliquid ratio as influencing factors,contents of dendrobine,total alkaloids and polysaccharides as evaluation indices,orthogonal test was applied to optimizing the combined enzymatic extraction.RESULTS The optimal conditions for papain extraction were determined to be 0.10 g for enzyme consumption,45 ℃ for enzymolysis temperature,2 h for enzymolysis time,and 1 ∶ 50 for solid-liquid ratio,the contents of dendrobine,total alkaloids and polysaccharides were 3.495 5,4.341 8 and 35.898 7 mg/g,respectively.The optimal conditions for cellulase extraction were determined to be 0.30 g for enzyme consumption,50 ℃ for enzymolysis temperature,2 h for enzymolysis time,and 1 ∶40 for solid-liquid ratio,the contents of three constituents were 3.514 8,4.351 3 and 36.331 2 mg/g,respectively.The optimal conditions for pectinase extraction were determined to be 0.45 g for enzyme consumption,55 ℃ for enzymolysis temperature,2.5 h for enzymolysis time,and 1 ∶ 40 for solid-liquid ratio,the contents of three constituents were 3.524 4,4.452 8 and 26.324 2 mg/g,respectively.CONCLUSION This stable and reliable method can be used for the rapid combined enzymatic extraction for alkaloids and polysaccharides from D.nobile.

BACKGROUNDWith economic growth and urbanization there have been significant changes in the life style and diet of urban residents in large cities of China, which is experiencing a rapid increase in the prevalence of diabetes. While high prevalence of diabetes has been reported, little is known of the long-term effects of diabetes in such a large population. The aim of this study was to estimate the morbidity rate of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in a Chinese urban diabetic population with more than 10 years' disease duration, and evaluate the relevant risk factors. The clinical manifestation of DPN and pain status was also assessed.

METHODSFive hundred and sixty-five diabetes patients were recruited into the study. Symptoms and examination helped diagnose neuropathy. The clinical manifestation of DPN was assessed with a visual analog pain score (VAS). Diabetic complication status was determined from medical records. Serum lipids and lipoproteins, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and the urinary albumin excretion rate were measured.

RESULTSThe morbidity rate of DPN was 46.6%. HbA1c, hyperlipidemia, and retinopathy were significantly associated with neuropathy, and these risk factors were correlated with other diabetic micro and/or macrovascular complications. The average VAS pain score of the DPN patients was 4.12 ± 2.07. Severe and moderate pain was experienced by 11.4% and 40.5% respectively of DPN patients. About 3.7% of diabetic subjects had lower limb ulcer or amputation.

CONCLUSIONSThe morbidity rate of DPN for diabetic patients with > 10 years duration is very high compared to the range reported for other populations in the world. The risk factors for DPN include HbA1c, hyperlipidemia, and retinopathy. In long-standing diabetic patients, DPN was not associated with diabetic duration, and half of the DPN patients experienced considerable daily suffering.

Aged ; China ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker valsartan in preventing hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine in rats.

METHODSExcept rats in the control group, all were given intraperitoneal injections of 1% dimethylnitrosamine (DMN 1 ml/kg, two or three consecutive days/a week for 6 weeks). From the first day of the intraperitoneal injection, rats in treatment groups were given valsartan for 8 weeks by gastric gavage. Liver tissue and blood samples of all rats were examined at 56 days (8 weeks). AngII levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Hepatic mRNA levels of Collagen type I (Col I) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase1 (TIMP1) were evaluated by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSValsartan significantly attenuated the degree of liver fibrosis and decreased the hepatic AngII content compared with DMN treated rats (P<0.01). mRNA levels of Col I and TIMP1 were upregulated in DMN treated rats compared with normal rats. Valsartan downregulated the elevation of Col I and TIMP1 mRNA levels (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONHepatic AngII content of the model group was increased, the local tissue RAS was activated in DMN induced liver fibrosis. Valsartan can retard the progression of hepatic fibrosis and may provide an effective new strategy for anti-liver fibrosis therapy.

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Dimethylnitrosamine ; Female ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of static magnetic fields (SMFs) with different exposure time on the maturation of rat osteoblasts in vitro and the expression of the estrogen receptor (ER) gene.

METHODSThe calvarial osteoblasts were isolated from newborn rats by enzyme digestion and randomly divided into 9 groups after one passage based on the exposure time of the SMFs[0 (control), 0.5 h, 1.0 h, 1.5 h, 2.0 h, 2.5 h, 3.0 h, 3.5 h, and 4.0 h]. The intensity was 3.9 mT in all SMFs. Those without SMFs exposure were used as the controls. The oeteoblasts were observed under the contrast phase microscope on a daily basis. After 48 h, cell proliferation was assayed by MTT method. The osteocalcin contents were measured after exposure to SMFs for 3 d, 6 d, 9 d, and 12 d. ERΑ and ERΒ mRNA expressions were measured by real-time PCR after SMFs treatment for 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the cell proliferation was significantly enhanced in the 2.0-h, 2.5-h, and 3.0-h groups (P<0.05). After SMFs treatment for 6 d, 9 d and 12 d, the 2.5-h group had significantly higher osteocalcin content than the control group did (P<0.05). After SMFs treatment for 0 h and 72 h, elevated ERΑ mRNA expression and reduced ERΒ mRNA expression were observed.

CONCLUSIONExposure to SMFs, regardless of exposure time, is associated with enhanced cell proliferation, increased osteocalcin contents, and altered ERΑ and ERΒ mRNA expressions in opposite directions.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Magnetic Fields ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptors, Estrogen ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of internal fixation with closed reduction and hollow compression screws for the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients.

METHODSFrom June 2013 to December 2016, 33 young and middle-aged patients with femoral neck fractures were treated with hollow compression screws fixation including 17 males and 16 females with an average age of 38.5 years old ranged from 19 to 59 years old; 20 cases were on the left side and 13 cases on the right side;the time from injury to operation ranged from 2 to 5 days with an average of 3 days. According to Garden classification, 1 case were type I, 11 cases were type II, 18 cases were type III, 3 cases were type IV. During regular follow-up after operation, through the hip joint X-ray, the healing situation of bone and osteonecrosis were observed. The Harris score was used to evaluate the hip function of the final follow-up.

RESULTSThe operation time was from 30 to 50 minutes, the blood loss during operation was 20 to 70 ml. All patients were followed up for 8 to 42 months with an average of 24 months. At the final follow-up, the Harris score of hip joint was excellent in 18 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 2 cases and poor in 3 cases. Among them, the pain scores were 40.61±5.08, function scores were 38.94±6.78, malformation scores were 3.88±0.69, motion range scores were 3.70±0.64 and the total scores were 87.12±11.98. Thirty cases achieved bone healing, the healing time was 4 to 12 months with an average of 7.5 months, 2 patients occurred with nonunion (Garden type IV), 1 patient with femoral head necrosis (Garden type IV). All patients had no postoperative infection, internal fixation loosening, refracture and other complications.

CONCLUSIONSIn treating the young and middle-aged patients with femoral neck fracture, closed reduction and hollow compression screw fixation has advantages of simple, stable fixation, less trauma, high rate of fracture healing, osteonecrosis of the femoral head with low risk and satisfactory clinical effect.