Objective To investigate the effects of catheter balloon dilatation on patients with dysphagia caused by neurogenic cricopharyngeal achalasia.Methods Thirty-two patients with dysphagia caused by neurogenic cricopharyngeal achalasia were divided randomly into a treatment group (n =16) and a control group (n =16).The treatment group received catheter balloon dilatation therapy and routine dysphagia rehabilitation training; the control group was treated with routine dysphagia rehabilitation training only.Both groups were tested before treatment,after 3 weeks of treatment (after treatment) and at 6 months after treatment (follow-up).All cases were evaluated using Saitoh's 7-grade swallowing assessment and videofluoroscopy.Results After treatment,5 cases in the treatment group had been cured (31％) and 8 cases showed marked effectiveness (50％) ; in the control group,1 case was cured (7％) and 5 cases showed marked effectiveness (31％).These differences were statistically significant.At follow-up,5 cases in the treatment group had been cured (31％) and 9 cases showed marked effectiveness (56％) ; for the control group,1 case was cured (7％) and 6 cased showed marked effectiveness (38％).Those differences were also statistically significant.After treatment and also at follow-up,the average time for a bolus to pass the pharynx in the treatment group was significantly shorter than that in the control group.Conclusion Catheter balloon dilatation therapy is effective for treating neurogenic cricopharyngeal achalasia in both the short and long term.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the expression of inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and its clinical significance. Methods The mRNA expression level and protein level of survivin, hIAP-1 (human IAP-1), hIAP-2 (human IAP-2), and XIAP (X chromosome-linked IAP) in 36 NSCLC patients and 36 controls were analyzed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. Results High survivin mRNA expression were detected in 32 out of 36 patients, but not in controls. 26/36 NSCLC showed high XIAP mRNA expression and were significantly higher than those with benign diseases (P

OBJECTIVETo systematically assess the efficacy and safety of Rhodiola in treating chronic stable angina pectoris.

METHODSOur group searched the Cochrane library, PubMed, Embase, Chinese biomedical literature database (CBM), VIP database (VIP), Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CNKI) for the literature published in English and Chinese till April 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included on the therapeutic effect of Rhodiola or Rhodiola plus conventional Western medicine in comparison with the conventional Western medicine treatment on stable angina. Data were extracted according the data extraction form. The literature methodological quality was assessed by using the Cochrane handbook, and data analyzed by Rev-Man 5.2 Software for Meta-analysis. The effect indicators of outcomes was expressed by odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI.

RESULTSA total of 7 randomized controlled trials, 662 cases of stable angina pectoris patients met the inclusion criteria and all published in Chinese, without one scientific design and high quality literature. Compared with the conventional Western medicine treatment, combined with oral administration of Rhodiola could improve the efficiency of anti-angina (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.02 - 6.09). Combined with intravenous infusion of Rhodiola could also improve the efficacy of angina pectoris (OR = 4.86, 95% CI: 2.4 - 9.82). Oral administration of Rhodiola couldn't improve ECG efficacy (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 0.67 - 2.34). Intravenous infusion of Rhodiola could improve the clinical efficacy (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.61 - 5.35). Combined with the conventional treatment, intravenous infusion of Rhodiola could improve the whole blood viscosity (low and high shear rates) and inverse variance (IV) (-1.36 and -0.99, 95% CI: -1.65 - 1.07 and -1.26 - 0.71), but could not reduce serum fibrinogen and D-dimer level. The incidence rate of adverse reactions was higher than that of the conventional treatment combined with Rhodiola (OR = 0.1, 95% CI: 0.02 - 0.51).

CONCLUSIONSOn the basis of routine treatment, Rhodiola could further improve patients' symptoms. Combined with intravenous medication, Rhodiola could increase the ECG improvement rate, and reduce adverse reactions. But the methodological quality of included studies was poor, the number of samples was small, and influence factors such as the intervention period was short. This conclusion needs scientific and rational design in a larger sample, multicenter clinical trial to verify.

Angina, Stable ; drug therapy ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Rhodiola ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEPolyethylene glycol/bone morphogenetic protein-2 (PEG/BMP-2) nanoparticles were transfected into Rabbit bone mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) and the expression of BMP-2 was detected.

METHODSDissociated rBMSCs were primarily cultured in vitro and BMP-2 gene was transfected into rBMSCs by PEG/BMP-2 nanoparticals and lipofectamine, respectively. The efficiency of transfection was detected by flow cytometry and the expression of BMP-2 was detected by Western Blot and real time RT-PCR.

RESULTSPEG/BMP-2 nanoparticals were successfully synthesized and transfected into rBMSCs. Compared with the lipofectamine transfection group, PEG/BMP-2 transfection group had higher efficiency and higher BMP-2 expression.

CONCLUSIONPEG/BMP-2 nanoparticals transfected rBMSCs highly expressed BMP-2,which provided novel strategies for the treatment of bone defect.

Animals ; Bone Diseases ; genetics ; therapy ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bone and Bones ; cytology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Transfection ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the overexpression of Sox9 gene on rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for repairing articular cartilage injury in vivo.

METHODSRabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were transduced with lentivirus vector containing Sox9 gene and then cartilage specific molecule was detected by RT-PCR in vitro. Total 48 knee joints of 24 mature New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups according to different defect treatment. After animals anesthesia,a full-thickness cylindrical cartilage defect of 4 mm diameter and 3 mm deep was created in the patellar groove using a stainlesssteel punch. Meanwhile, the transfected cells were implanted to repair the rabbit model with full-thickness cartilage defects. Cartilage defects tissue was observed with light microscope, electron microscope, HE and immunohistochemistry staining to assess the repair of defects by the complex at 6 weeks or 12 weeks after the implantation.

RESULTSAt 3 days after the transfection, Sox9 gene expression was highest and Sox9 gene expression decreased with the increase of time. At 3 days after the transfection, the expression of collagen type II began and reached the peak at 14 days. It showed that the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells went into chondrogenic differentiation after transfected by Sox9 gene. Histological observation showed that at 6 weeks after the operation, the defects in the experimental group was filled with hyaline like cartilage tissue, 12 weeks after operation,the defects of cartilage and subchondral bone had satisfactory healing. Both at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively, the defects were filled with fibrous tissues in control groups. Meanwhile, immunohistochemical staining of sections with type II collagen antibodies showed the proteins in the regenerated tissue stained positive for type II collagen and stronger than the control groups. The histological scoring system indicated that the cartilage repair of experiment groups were better than the two control groups with statistical significances.

CONCLUSIONOverexpression of Sox9 gene on rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) promote the repair of cartilage defect.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cartilage, Articular ; injuries ; metabolism ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Osteoarthritis ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Rabbits ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tissue Engineering

Plants in Ainsliaea genus, belongs to Compositae family, are traditional Chinese medicine and widely used in folk. These plants contain various types of chemical components, and main components are sesquiterpene lactone and its glycosides. In addition, there are triterpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, phenolic acid, long chain fatty acid and volatile oils. Recently, much attention has been payed to varlous research of A. fragrans. This paper reviewed and summarized the chemical components to provide the theoretical basis for the use of Ainsliaea.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure

Through morphological observation, HE staining, TRAP staining and toluidine blue staining of bone resorption pits to identify osteoclasts which obtained by 1α, 25-(OH)2 VitD3 inducing rabbit bone marrow cells. Three indicators-TRAP staining, TRAP enzyme activity detecting and the number and area of bone resorption pits were adapted to detect the effect of Sargentodoxae caulis on the activity of osteoclasts. Culturing MC3T3-E1 Subclong 14 cells and detecting the effect of S. caulis on differentiation and proliferation of them by MTT and detecting the alkaline phosphatase in cells. The results show that all of the low, middle and high doses of water and alcohol extracts of S. caulis have significant inhibition on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption ability in a dose-dependent manner. The low and middle doses of water and alcohol extracts of S. caulis can stimulate differentiation and proliferation of MC3T3-ElSubclone 14 cells, which indicates S. caulis can prevent osteoporosis and the function could be achieved by inhibiting osteoclast activity and promoting the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.
Animals ; Bone Resorption ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mice ; Osteoclasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rabbits

Connexin43 has been shown to play a pivotal role in wound healing process. Wound repair is enhanced by acute downregulation of connexin43, by increasing proliferation and migration of keratinocyte and fibroblast. Angiogenesis is also a central feature of wound repair, but little is known about the effects of connexin43 modulation on functions of endothelial cells. We used connexin43 specific small interference RNA (siRNA) to reduce the expression of connexin43 in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC), and investigated the effects of connexin43 downregulation on intercellular communication, viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of HUVEC. Treatment of siRNA markedly reduced the expression of connexin43 by -80% in HUVEC (P < 0.05), and decreased the intercellular communication by -65% (P < 0.05). The viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of HUVEC decreased significantly (P < 0.05), compared with that of the normal cells. The results suggest that temporally downregulation of connexin43 expression at early stage of wound to inhibit the abnormal angiogenesis characterized with leaky and inflamed blood vessels, maybe a prerequisite for coordinated normal healing process.
Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; Wound Healing

In this paper, the action of suet oil in the preparation of self-assembled micelles of the active flavonoids in Epimedium in the simulated human environment was researched. Twelve suet oil samples were collected from different growing areas and different positions of sheep or goat to simulate the formation of micelles. Then the effects of the fatty acids in suet oil on the preparation of self-assembled micelles were studied furthermore. The results showed that the micelles had a dispersed state and spherical smooth surface. To compare the diameter, potential, encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of the 12 batches micelles, the micelles prepared by the suet oil from Qinghai were more stable and had a higher encapsulation efficiency. The fatty acids in suet oil could promote the formation of self-assembled micelles, but the whole suet oil had a better effect. Above all the study, we confirmed that the suet oil promoted the formation of self-assembled micelles of the flavonoids in Epimedium, it laid foundation for further research about increasing the efficacy of Epimedium and improved the absorption of the active flavonoids in Epimedium.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; China ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Electric Conductivity ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Fatty Acids ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Geography ; Goats ; Humans ; Micelles ; Oils ; chemistry ; Sheep