The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of "treating heart and brain diseases with same methods (Nao Xin Tong Zhi: NXTZ)" has great significance to the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It has been proven effective by a great deal of clinical researches. However, the underlying mechanism for this theory is still unclear. To provide insights into the potential mechanism of "NXTZ", this study attempts to deeply investigate the mechanism from two representative cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebral apoplexy. First, various data resources were integrated to obtain different types of biomedical entities including drugs, targets, pathways and diseases. Then, three different approaches including text mining, biological network and enrichment analysis were utilized to recognize the potential common features between CHD and cerebral apoplexy, and the corresponding functions of drugs which could treat both diseases, thus unveiling the mechanism of NXTZ.
Brain ; drug effects ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Databases, Bibliographic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Heart ; drug effects ; Humans ; Stroke ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Chinese medical (CM) syndrome differentiation based Chinese herbs and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor II-antibody fusion protein (etanercept) for treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

METHODSTotally 35 AS patients were treated with syndrome differentiation based Chinese herbs and etanercept. Reinforcing Shen and strengthening Du channel, activating meridians to stop pain was principle used in syndrome differentiation based treatment. Etanercept was subcutaneously injected, 25 mg each time; twice per week for the first three months and once a week for the latter three months. The clinical efficacy was evaluated after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Meanwhile, ASAS20 and ASAS50 standards arriving rates were also observed. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), visual analog score (VAS) for spine pain, VAS for night pain, patient global assessment (PGA), VAS for physician global assessment, CM syndrome score, finger-ground distance, thoracic activity, tragus-wall distance, lumbar scoliosis, cervical rotation, Schober improved test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed before treatment, 3 and 6 months after treatment.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, BASDAI, BASFI, VAS for spine pain, night pain, physician global assessment, PGA, CM syndrome score, finger-ground distance, thoracic activity, tragus-wall distance, lumbar scoliosis, Schober improved test, ESR, and CRP all decreased after 3 and 6 months of treatment, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Cervical rotation also decreased after 6 months of treatment, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with 3 months of treatment, total effective rate of CM syndrome, ASAS20 and ASAS50 standards arriving rates increased after 6 months of treatment, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There were statistical differences in all indices mentioned above between after 3 months of treatment and after 6 months of treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSyndrome differentiation based Chinese herbs combined etanercept could alleviate inflammatory reaction favorably, control the progression of active AS, and improve joint functions.

Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Etanercept ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pain ; prevention & control ; Pain Management ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To compare the biomechanical performance of three different fixation instruments for tibial fractures.Methods Fourteen fresh tibial specimens were made into models of oblique fracture.Seven models were fixed with unilateral axial dynamic fixation(UADF),and seven with limited contact dynamic compression plate(LC-DCP).After biomechanical tests had been done for the UADF group,an extra screw was used at the oblique fracture site to reinforce the fixation with extra limited internal fixation.Each model was tested for its hiomechanical performance in resisting compression,bending and rotation.Results The performance of UADF was significantly poorer than that of LC-DCP and UADF with limited internal fixation in anti-compression,an- ti-bending and anti-rotation(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the rigidity between LC-DCP and UADF with limited internal fixation(P＞0.05).Conclusion UADF with extra limited internal fixation is a recommendable method for tihial fractures because it cart provide the same effective fixation as LC-DCP does.

Background Inherited retinal degeneration,one of the major causes of blindness worldwide,comprises a large number of disorders characterized by a slow and progressive retinal degeneration.Interleukin-1 (IL-1)was recognized to be involved in inherited retinal degeneration.Whether IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) can arrest retinal degeneration is worthy of investigation.Objective This study was to investigate the effects of IL-1ra on photoreceptor apoptosis in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats.Methods The use of the animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.The SPF RCS rats aged 9,15,16,25,30,35,40,50 and 60 postnatal days were collected,with 9 rats for each age group.Retinal sections were used for the TdT-mediated biotin-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) cell apoptosis assay.1 μl of IL-1ra (1.8 g/L) was intravitreally injected in the right eyes of 9 RCS rats aged 15 postnatal days and PBS was used in the same way in the fellow eyes.The injection procedure was repeated on the 20 th and 25 th day,respectively.The rats were sacrificed on the 30 th day and retinal sections were prepared for the TUNEL assay.The differences in the percentage of the positive cellular nuclei area among different ages of rats were compared by one-way ANOVA,and the differences in retinal layer thickness between IL-1ra injection group and PBS injection group were assessed by paired t test.Results Photoreceptor apoptosis appeared in 20-day-old RCS rats and progressed and peaked in 30 and 35-day-old rats and then reduced,showing a significant difference among rat of various age groups (F=28.020,P＜0.01).Images from TUNEL assay showed a weaker and less TUNEL staining in the IL-1ra injected eyes than the PBS injected eyes in 30-day-old rats.The total area and relative area of TUNEL positive nuclei were (223.052±153.092) μm2 and (2.206±1.531) ％ in the IL-1ra injected group,and those in PBS injected group were (1235.050±359.767) μm2 and (7.269± 1.624) ％,with a significant difference between them (t =4.370,t=3.250,P＜0.01).The cone and rod thickness was (15.324±9.035) μm in the IL-1ra injected group and (49.566±4.605)μm in the PBS injected group,showing a significant difference (t =22.674,P＜0.01).However,no significant difference was seen in the outer nuclear layer thickness between the two groups (t =0.268,P＞0.05).Conclusions IL-1 participates in the pathogenesis and development of inherited retinal degeneration of RCS rats.The use of IL-1ra might be a potential approach in the treatment of inherited retinal degeneration.

Amyloid ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Plaque, Amyloid ; pathology ; Prolactin ; secretion ; Prolactinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical efficacy of Zero-profile implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and conventional titanium plate with cage internal fixation for the treatment of single segmental cervical intervertebral disc herniation.

METHODSFrom August 2011 to March 2014, clinical data of 139 patients with single cervical disc herniation treated with anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion with internal fixation were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to its operation method. There were 63 patients in group A which performed anterior discectomy and interbody fusion with Zero-profile;76 patients in group B which performed anterior cervical discectomy and cage plate internal fixation. JOA score and Odom functional rating between two groups were compared before and after operation. Videofluorographic swallowing study (VFSS) were used to evaluate thickness of prevertebral soft tissue. Bazaz dysphagia score were used to assess incidence of dysphagia. Postoperative AP X-ray and CT of cervical vertebra at 12 months were applied for evaluating bone graft fusion. Postoperative MRI was applied for evaluating the incidence of adjacent segment degeneration. Blood loss,operative time, preoperative and postoperative JOA score, Odom functional rating and VFSS score, Bazaz score, fusion rate between vertebral bodies and incidence of adjacent segment degeneration were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThere were no statistical meaning between two groups in JOA score, Odom functional rating before and after operation (P > 0.05); and no significant meaning in VFSS score between two groups before operation (P > 0.05); There were no significant difference in operative time and blood loss. There was statistical meaning in VFSS, Bazaz dysphagia score at 2 days, and 6 months after operation (P < 0.05). All patients obtained bone union at 1 year after operation, and no obvious meaning in fusion rate (P > 0.05). Eight patients (12.7%) in group A occurred adjacent segment degeneration and 19 patients (25%) in group B occurred adjacent segment degeneration, and there was significant meaning between two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth of Zero-profile implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and conventional cage internal fixation for the treatment of single segmental cervical intervertebral disc herniation could obtain satisfied clinical results. While Zero-profile implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has advantages of lower incidence of adjacent segment degeneration, and its mid and long term following-up results still further observation.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Cochlear Implantation ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; complications ; surgery

Objective To evaluate the performance of Carba NP test (CNP) for detection of carbapenemases in carbapenem-non-susceptive Enterobacteriaceae.Methods Carbapenemases in Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from clinical specimens in the 117th hospital of PLA from January 2010 to December 2014 were detected by both CNP and modified Hodge test (MHT),and corresponding results were analyzed and compared by Chi-square using SPSS version 19.0.Data acquired from PCR were used as the standard.Results Of the 253 carbapenem-non-susceptive Enterobacteriaceae strains,188 positive strains and 65 negative strains were detected by MHT,and 175 positive strains,77 negative strains and 1 undetectable strain were detected by CNP,while 177 positive strains and 76 negative strains were detected by PCR.Sensitivities of two tests were comparable [CNP,98.9％ (175/177),versus MHT,98.3％ (174/177);x2 =0.5,P =0.48],but CNP was more specific [100.0％ (76/76) versus 81.6％ (62/76);x2 =12.1,P ＜ 0.05].Positive result in the CNP was emerged earliest in a KPC-producing strain.Conclusion The CNP is rapid and simple,which have good sensitivity and specificity.Yet further perfection is still needed in the future.

ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of Legacy pedicle screw system plus minimally invasive technique in treatment of Tile type C pelvic fracture and evaluate its therapeutic effects.MethodsFrom January 2008 to March 2010, 12 patients with closed Tile type C pelvic fractures were treated with Legacy pedicle screw system plus minimally invasive technique.There were seven males and five females, at age range of 21-60 years (average 39.6 years).All patients had sacrum fractures of the posterior pelvic rings.The anterior pelvic ring fractures included unilateral ischiadic ramus fractures in four patients and bilateral ischiadic ramus fractures in eight.Three patients were combined with shock.The anterior pelvic rings were fixed with minimally invasive reconstruction plates and the posterior pelvic rings fixed with minimally invasive technique plus Legacy pedicle screw system.ResultsThe operation lasted for average 90 minutes (range, 80-110 minutes) , with average intraoperative blood loss of 105 ml (range, 80-150 ml).All patients were followed up for average 18 months (range, 6-32 months), which showed that all patients got satisfactory reductions and that the fractures were healed at one stage, with average period of 11.5 weeks (range, 9-13 weeks).There occurred no infections, failures of internal fixations or nerve injuries.According to improved Lindahl standard of pelvic injury function assessment, the result was excellent in 10 patients and good in two, with average score of 78.6 points.Conclusions Under master of the surgical indications, Legacy pedicle screw system plus minimally invasive technique takes advantages of minor trauma, less intraoperative fluoroscopy, short operation time, good curative resuhs and few complications in treatment of Tile type C pelvic fractures by fixation of the posterior pelvic rings and reconstruction of the anterior pelvic rings.

To study the chemical constituents of the inflorescences of Coreopsis tinctoria from Xinjiang, isolation and purification of constituents were carried out by column chromatography on macroporous resin (D101) , MCI gel, MDS gel, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. The structures of the compounds were identified by physicchemical properties and spectral data analysis. Fourteen compounds were isolated and identified as coretinterpenoid A (1), coretinphenol (2), quercetin (3), quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (4), luteolin (5), taxifolin (6), 7, 3', 5'-trihydroxyflavanone (7), isookanin (8), isookanin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), 5, 7, 3', 5'-tetrahydroxyflavanone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), butein (11), okanin (12), sulfuretin (13), and linocinnamarin (14). Compound 1 was a new isabolane-type sesquiterpenoid and compounds 4, 10 and 13 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Coreopsis ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification