AIM: To investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on PC12 cells and to observe the mechanism of signal transduction of JNK pathway. METHODS: PC12 cells were treated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to induce cell apoptosis. NGF and SP600125, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitors, were added respectively in order to study the relationship between the activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and apoptosis of PC12 cells. The cells were divided into control group, 6- OHDA group, NGF group, 6-OHDA plus NGF group, NGF plus SP600125 group. The apoptotic rates of PC12 cells with different treatments were detected by flow cytometry and activities of JNK in PC12 cells were determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: 6-OHDA increased the apoptotic rate and activity of JNK1 in PC12 cells. Incubation with SP600125 or NGF for 15 min before adding 6-OHDA decreased the apoptotic rate of PC12 cells and activity of JNK1 in PC12 cells.CONCLUSION: Activity of JNK is involved in the pro-apoptotic effect of 6-OHDA on PC12 cells. Anti-apoptotic effect of NGF on PC12 cells affected by 6-OHDA is related to the decrease in the activity of JNK1.

This study examined the inhibitory effect of topical cyclosporine (CsA) treatment on conjunctiva epithelial apoptosis in a murine model of xerophthalamia. Dry eye was induced in 3 groups of C57BL6 mice by subcutaneous injection of scopolamine (t.i.d) and exposure to an air draft and low-humidity environment for 16 h each day for 12 days. The dry eye control group received no topical treatment; another group received 1 microL of 0.05% CsA topically (t.i.d, dry eye+CsA); and the third group received 1 microL of the castor oil vehicle of CsA topically (t.i.d, dry eye + vehicle). Normal mice were used as untreated controls. Twelve days later, the mice were killed, and their conjunctivas were excised. The number of the conjunctival goblet cells was counted in tissue sections stained with periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reagent. Their conjunctiva epithelium had been investigated by immuno-histochemical staining to detect the goblet cells and the expression of Caspase-3, Bax and bcl-2. Our results showed that compared with dry eye control and dry eye mice + vehicle groups, the number of conjunctival epithelial goblet cells was significantly greater in the untreated controls and dry eye mice receiving CsA (P < 0.01 for both groups). There was no significant difference in the number of conjunctival epithelial goblet cells between the dry eye control and dry eye+vehicle group. It was also true of the number of conjunctival epithelial goblet cells when comparison was made between the normal group and the dry eye+CsA group. Expressions of Caspas-3 and Bax were increased and ex-pression of bcl-2 was decreased in conjunctival epithelial cells in dry eye control and dry eye mice+vehicle groups. There was a significant positive correlation between goblet cell number and the number of cells that expressed bcl-2, and a negative correlation between goblet cells and Caspase-3 and Bax expression. It is concluded that the topical use of CsA could significantly reduce conjunctival epithelial apoptosis and protect goblet cell against the loss in experimental murine xerophathalamia. Inhibition of apoptosis appears to be a key mechanism responsible for the therapeutic effect of CsA on xerophthalamia.

BACKGROUND:Many present studies have reported the early clinical therapeutic effects of short-segment non-fusion fixation for the repair of thoracolumbar burst fracture. The results are satisfactory. However, the mid-and long-term fol ow-up results of this scheme for treating thoracolumbar burst fracture are seldom reported. ＜br> OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the mid-term results of short segment pedicle screw fixation without bone fusion for unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture. ＜br> METHODS:Data of 12 patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures undergoing short segment pedicle screw fixation without bone fusion were retrospectively analyzed. Al patients experienced severe intraspinal occupying and neurological dysfunction, and al of them affected single segment thoracolumbar injuries. The surgical procedure included postural reduction for 2 days and screw fixations at one level above, one level below and at the fractured level itself. The patients underwent removal of implants at 12 months after the initial operation. Imaging and clinical findings, including canal encroachment, percentage of vertebral body height loss, Cobb angle, American Spinal Injury Association motor score, Frankel grade and adjacent segment degenemtion, were evaluated. ＜br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al patients were fol owed up for at least 5 years. Significant differences in canal encroachment, percentage of vertebral body height loss and Cobb angle were detectable between post-fixation and pre-fixation (P＜0.05). Evaluation results were significantly better after fixation than that before fixation, but no significant difference in evaluation results after fixation was detected (P>0.05). After implantation and removal of fixator, none cases affected aggravated symptoms of neurological impairment. American Spinal Injury Association motor score was 34.2±6.3 before fixation, and 47.7±9.5 during the final fol ow-up, showing significant differences (t=-4.103, P=0.000). During the final fol ow-up, adjacent segments in damage levels did not suffer from degeneration in al patients. Neurological function showed the recovery of Frankel grades 1 or 2. These data indicated that a good mid-term result of short segment pedicle screw fixation without bone fusion for unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture with neurological deficit can be achieved. The improved saggital alignment was effectively constructed and maintained. Adjacent segment degeneration was not found at the injury level.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD) has significant extra pulmonary effects, which could induce atrophy of peripheral skeletal muscle and respiratory muscles, and significantly influence the respiratory function and quality of life. Muscle nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation plays a key role in the skeletal muscle atrophy. This article discussed the potential mechanisms on how NF-κB signaling pathway increasing protein breakdown and reducing muscle regeneration. On this basis, we explored the role of NF-κB in skeletal muscle at-rophy in patients with COPD during exercise.

BACKGROUND:Tai Chi exercise can relieve the decreasing lung function and increase exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but some studies found that Tai Chi exercise did not achieve the desired improvement effect in patients. OBJECTIVE:To objectively evaluate the rehabilitation effects in lung function and exercise endurance of Tai Chi exercise on old patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS:A computer-based online retrieval of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and WanFang databases between January 1980 and July 2014 were searched. Randomized control ed trials of Tai Chi intervening in old patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were col ected, including Tai Chi exercise intervention group and drug or physical education control group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 6 randomized control ed trials were included, with 406 patients. The results of Meta-analyses showed that, compared with the control group, Tai Chi exercise obviously improved the percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (MD=4.62, 95%CI:0.73-8.51, P=0.02), the percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second to the prediction value (MD=4.95, 95%CI:0.33-9.57, P=0.04) and 6-minutes walking distance (MD=33.81, 95%CI:6.00-61.62, P=0.02) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Forced expiratory volume in one second showed no significant difference between Tai Chi exercise intervention group and control group (MD=0.02, 95%CI:-0.10, 0.14, P=0.76). Tai Chi exercise could improve the lung function and exercise endurance in old patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and has positive rehabilitation effects.

Objective: The purpose of this tudy was to dynamicly observe the weight and the bone mineral density (BMD) of the unsexed rabbits with a few self-made standardized phantoms. Methods:The eighteen healthy adult female rabbits were measured for their weight and BMD in preunsexed and postunsexed 5 months, 10 months with quantitative CT(QCT). Results:There were 61.1% of rabbits whose weight and BMD decreased after 5 months of the postunsexed and 100% of rabbits whose weight and BMD decreased after 10 months of the operation. Conclusion:QCT can be used to dynamicly observe curative effect of drugs in various periods as well,and it is a good method to study osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: Mechanisms related to bone fracture and nonunion have been clarified, but the healing time and treatment strategy of delayed union remain controversial. OBJECTIVE: To establish a reliable model of femoral delayed union using external fixation in the New Zealand white rabbit. METHODS: Seventy-two New Zealand white rabbits were randomized to three groups. After removal of 10-mm femoral middle bone cortex with internal and external periosteum and bone marrow, a uniplanar external fixator was used. There was a 1 mm gap between broken ends (group A), and the broken ends were sealed by bone wax (group B). For controls, only bone cortex was cut and then fixed to contact the broken ends. The gross, radiological and histological observations were performed to observe the bone healing at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after modeling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The control group achieved bone healing at the 4th week, which was considered as the normal time of bone healing. The groups A and B achieved healing at the 12th week, which was remarkably longer than that in the control group. The rabbit femoral delayed union model showed the typical X-ray imaging and pathological features of delayed union. Our results suggest that the model is reasonable and reliable, which can provide reference for clinical research.

AIM To research the antiasthmatic effects of Zuogui Pills,Yougui Pills and Yupingfeng Powder and their mechanism of action.METHODS Male Brown Norway rats were randomly divided into five groups.OVA was used to induce the model of chronic asthma.Five groups of asthmatic rats were given Zuogui Pills,Yougui Pills,Yupingfeng Powder by gavage once daily for 14 d,respectively.The normal and the model group were given normal saline.Penh value,serum Thl,Th2 inflammatory cytokines,and CROT and ACTH protein levels were determined.Pathological changes of airway remodeling were measured.RT-PCR method was used to measure the expression of CRH mRNA in hypothalamus,and TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNA in lung tissues.RESULTS Penh values of Yupingfeng Powder group and Yougui Pills group were significantly lower than that of Zuogui Pills group.The Thl inflammatory cytokine of Yupingfeng Powder group was significantly higher than that of Zuogui Pills group,while the Th2 cytokine was significantly lower than that of Zuogui Pills group.In Yougui Pills group,only IL-5 was significantly lower than that of Zuogui Pills group.Serum CROT,ACTH protein and CRH mRNA of Yupingfeng Powder group were significantly higher than those in Zuogui Pills group.No significant difference was found between Yupingfeng Powder group and Zuogui Pills group with regard to TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNA.Smad3 mRNA of Yougui Pills group was significantly higher than that of the model group.Airway remodeling was significantly reduced by Yupingfeng Powder and Zuogui Pills.The number of goblet cells in Yougui Pills group was significantly lower than that in Zuogui Pills group.CONCLUSION All the three formulaes possess significant antiasthma effects.Regulation effects of Yupingfeng Powder on Thl/Th2 balance,HPA and TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway are strong.Compared with Zuogui Pills,Yougui Pills possesses weaker TGF-β1/Smad3 regulative effects and stronger HPA regulative effects.

Objective To study the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in synovia and synovium of rats after high intensity exercise.Methods 24 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group and high intensity group, and the latter were forced to run 60 min at the speed of 28 m/min for 6 weeks. The histological changes of cartilage from the lesion areas of medial femoral condyle and synovium of knee joint were examined with HE stain and the expression of IL-1β in synovium with immunohistochemistry, in synovial fluid with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The articular cartilage of knee were injured and synovitis were found in high intensity group. The expression of IL-1β both in synovial fluid and in synovium of the knee were more in high intensity group than in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion High intensity exercise could cause aticular cartilage injury, synovitis and over expression of IL-1β in synovia and synovium, which may associated with post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Objective To study the prognostic predictive value of quantitative dectroencephalography (qEEG)for patients with large middle cerebral artery infarction (LMCAI).Methods The scores of routine electroencephalography (EEG),qEEG and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of the patients within 72 hours after symptom onset were recorded.The short-term prognosis (death or survival) was evaluated at 1 month after the onset.The long-term prognosis (good or poor) was evaluated at 3 months after the onset.All the observed data in each prognostic group were compared.Results A total of 105 patients were included in the study.There were significant differences in the margin of amplitude integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) (upper margin:19.11 ± 7.80 μV vs.11.87 ±6.41 μV;t =2.392,P =0.019; lower margin:11.90 ± 4.78 μV vs.7.58 ± 4.15 μV; t =3.327,P =0.022),Synek-classification (x2 =48.114,P =0.000) between the short-term survival group and the death group; in patients with left LMCAI,there were significant differences in the absolute energy of the β-activity (13.16 ±12.66 μV2 vs.19.20 ±17.96 μV2;t =-2.781,P =0.039),spectral edge frequency 95％ (SEF95％) (9.17 ± 3.24 Hz vs.10.36 ± 3.76 Hz; t =-5.614,P =0.002) between the short-term survival group and the death group.There were significant differences in the age (59.33 ±13.67 years vs.68.87± 10.473 years; t =-3.215,P =0.002),GCS scores (10.86±2.80 vs.9.21 ±2.51;t =2.511,P =0.015),SEF95％ (13.80 ±5.40 Hz vs.10.93 ±4.68 Hz; t ＝2.311,P =0.024) and sides of infarction (x2 =4.737,P =0.030) between the long-term good prognosis group and the poor prognosis group.Conclusion qEEG can be used as an effective means of monitoring for evaluating the prognosis of patients with LMCAI.