BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To elaborate the experimental progress of signal transduction pathway in knee osteoarthritis METHODS: A computer-based retrieval of PubMed, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang databases was performed to find the relevant literatures concerning experimental studies of signaling pathway in knee osteoarthritis. Al data were primarily screened to exclude repeated and irrelevant articles. Articles about association between knee osteoarthritis and signal pathway were included.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 51 articles were colected, including 20 in Chinese and 31 in English. It is concluded that the signal transduction pathway related to knee osteoarthritis is mainly concentrated in the two aspects: the proliferation of chondrocytes and the apoptosis of chondrocytes. The signal transduction pathways related to the proliferation of chondrocytes mainly include Notch signaling pathway and Wnt signaling pathway. SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway, TLR4 signaling pathway, and MAPKs signaling pathway are associated with apoptosis in chondrocytes. Hippo-YAP signaling pathway and ERK1/2 signaling pathway have a double role in the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) at the early and middle stage between electroacupuncture (EA) and meloxicam.

METHODSNinety patients of KOA at the early and middle stage were randomized into an EA group and a meloxicam group, 45 cases in each one. In the EA group, EA was applied to Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Liangqiu (ST 34), Heding (EX-LE 2), Xuehai (SP 10), Yan- glingquan (GB 34) and Zusanli (ST 36); the needles were retained for 20 min and EA was applied once every two days. In the meloxicam group, the meloxicam tablets were prescribed for oral administration, 7. 5 mg, once a day. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks in the two groups. The Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, rectus femoris muscle tension, the 8-foot walking test and 5-time sit-to-stand test were adopted to observe and compare the effects in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, every item score in WOMAC was reduced after treatment (all P < 0.05), but the difference was not significant between the two groups (all P > 0.05). In the EA group, the rectus femoris tension after treatment was reduced as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05) and the reducing result was much more apparent as compared with that in the meloxicam group (P < 0.05). For the 8-foot walking test and 5-time sit-to-stand test, the time was shortened after treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.05) and the result in the EA group was much more obvious than that in the meloxicam group (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth EA and meloxicam are effective in the treatment of KOA at the early and middle stage. EA improves rectus femoris tension and recovers the internal mechanics balance and the efficacy is better than that of meloxicam.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Thiazines ; therapeutic use ; Thiazoles ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that the non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis is exactly effective, but there is a lack of scientific and rational evaluation system. OBJECTIVE:To review the evaluation methods of non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis in recent 5 years. METHODS:A computer-based retrieval of PubMed, WOK, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang databases was performed to find literature related to the evaluation methods of non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Al data were primarily screened to exclude irrelevant literature. Those literatures about the evaluation methods of non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis were included. Repetitive studies and untypical reports were excluded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Total y 42 articles were col ected, including 28 in Chinese and 14 in English. The analysis results showed that the non-surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis can improve knee function and the quality of life in patients, and have an exact effect and a good economic benefit. Therefore, exploring a scientific and reasonable evaluation method to guide the choice of clinical treatment for knee osteoarthritis is greatly significant, which can improve the efficacy of non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Scale-based evaluation method is simple and practical, but the presence of a single scale has a lack of objectivity. The method of biomechanics or imaging has the advantages of objective, highly reliable, accurate, non-invasive and so on. In the future therapeutic evaluation system, the combination of subjective scale observation and objective indicators should be more recommended, and the evaluation methods of non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis should be selected appropriately based on the difference of clinical therapy and effect.

Objective To establish a 3D digitized visual model of the liver to provide anatomical structure for planning hepatic operations and creating accurate computer simulations of the liver.Methods Transverse sections of abdomen were chosen from the Chinese Visible Human dataset. The liver was reconstructed in three dimensions with surface rendering in combination with volume rendering reconstruction. Results Accurately segmented images of the main structures of liver were completed. The reconstructed structures could be displayed singly, in small groups or as a whole and could be continuously rotated in 3D space at different velocities. Conclusion The reconstructed liver is realistic and demonstrates the natural shape and exact position of hepatic structures. It provides an accurate model for the automated segmentation algorithmic study and a digitized anatomical model of the liver.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of warm needling moxibustion on body mass, knee cartilage andmorphology in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODSForty SD rats were randomly divided into a normalgroup, a model group, a medication group and a warm needling group, 10 rats in each one. Except the normalgroup, the rats in the remaining three groups were injected with papain to establish the model of KOA. After themodeling, rats in the model group did not receive any treatment; rats in the warm needling group were treated withwarm needling moxibustion at bilateral "Xiqian"; rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of meloxicam; rats in the normal group were treated with 0. 9% NaCl solution (identical dose as medication group) and immobilized as the warm needling group. The treatment was given once a day for consecutive20 days. The body mass, scale of knee cartilage and morphological changes were observed in each group after'treatment.

RESULTSThe increasing of body mass in the medication group and warm needling group was faster than!that in the model group, but slower than that in the normal group (all P<0. 05); the difference between medication group and warm needling group was not statistically significant (P>0. 05). The scale of knee cartilage in thewarm needling group and medication group was significantly lower than that in the model group (both P<0. 05),while the scale in the warm needling group was lower than that in the medication group (P<. 05). Regarding theknee morphology under micro-CT, the relief of knee degeneration and improvement of knee recovery in the warm needlinggroup were superior to those in the medication group.

CONCLUSIONThe warm needling moxibustion could effectively reduce the knee pain, improve the recovery of knee cartilage, which is a safe and effective treatment.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cartilage ; anatomy & histology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To establish the three-dimensional model of pancreas and its surrounding structures.Methods The three-dimensional pancreas model was established and analyzed by using PC computer platform based on the data set from the first Chinese visible human female.Results The three-dimensional pancreas model,established successfully,could be rotated at any angles and could be sectioned at any orientation.The structures of each section could be displayed clearly.Conclusion Sectional anatomy at any orientation of the pancreas and its surrounding structures can be performed on our pancreas model,which has laid the foundation for virtual surgery of the pancreas.

Objective To build three-dimensional model of the pancreas and peripanercatic organs to provide morphological basis for imaging diagnosis and operation selection of pancreas diseases. Methods Serial cross-sectional images from the first Chinese visible human dataset were reviewed and the structures of pancreas and peripancreatic organs were reconstructed three-dimensionally by using 3D-Doctor software on PC. Results Three-dimensional structures of pancreas and peripancreatic organs were reconstructed successfully. All reconstructed structures could be displayed in multiple methods and color modes. Conclusions The internal and adjacent struc-tures of pancreas can be clearly shown on the reconstructed three-dimensional images. The visible model is a useful reference both for clinical diagnosis and surgical practice.

Objective To develop a hepatic surgical planning software for hepatic operation on deciding the rational operational scheme, simulating procedures before the operation to accomplish the precise operation and decrease the operative risk. Methods The software was used in clinical practice to analyze the surgical anatomy of human liver, calculate the liver volume and vascular territory, disclose the hepatic structures and simulate the operation before operation. Results The surgical planning software is very convenient in analyzing the surgical anatomy of human liver, calculating the liver volume or vascular territory and simulating the operation before operation. Conclusion The developed surgical planning software is very helpful in clearly disclosing hepatic structures, rationally deciding operation scheme and virtually simulating the operation.

Objective:To understand the reliability and validity of quality of life instruments for cancer patients-brain neoplasm [QLICP-BN (V1.0)], a self-developed quality of life scale for cancer patients.Methods:The quality of life of 112 patients with brain neoplasms in Yunnan Cancer Hospital from March 2012 to November 2013 was measured. The general data questionnaire and QLICP-BN (V1.0) were used for data collection. The reliability, validity and responsiveness of the scale were tested, and then the metric characteristics of the scale were evaluated.Results:The split-half reliability of the total score of the scale was 0.95, the Cronbach αcoefficient was 0.92, and the test-retest correlation coefficient rwas 0.78. After extracting common factors by the principal component method and rotating with the maximum variance, the specific module obtained three principal components, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 64.18%. The score of specific module was 75.30±17.44 before treatment and 78.91±12.20 after treatment ( t=-2.481, P=0.015). The total score of scale before treatment was 65.26±12.29, and that after treatment was 69.62±10.41, with a statistically significant difference ( t=-4.492, P<0.001). The total responsiveness of the scale was 0.456, showing moderate responsiveness. Conclusion:QLICP-BN (V1.0) has good reliability, validity and a certain degree of responsiveness. It can be used as a measurement tool for the quality of life of patients with brain neoplasms in China.