Objective: To observe the clinical effect of moxibustion combined with Duhuo Jisheng decoction for middle-aged and elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and its impact on serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. Methods: A total of 90 eligible KOA patients were randomized into an observation group (n=45) and a control group (n=45). Cases in the observation group received moxibustion plus oral administration Duhuo Jisheng decoction, while cases in the control group received Duhuo Jisheng decoction. Then the hs-CRP, IL-1β and TNF-α levels were examined and the clinical effect was evaluated. Results: Before treatment, the hs-CRP, IL-1β and TNF-α levels showed no between-group statistical differences (all P>0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the hs-CRP, IL-1β and TNF-α levels all dropped significantly in both groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the treatment group showed more substantial changes than the control group (all P<0.05). The total effective rate was 97.8% in the treatment group, versus 86.7% in the control group, showing a statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion plus Duhuo Jisheng decoction has a good clinical effect for middle-aged and elderly KOA patients, and the effect may relate to the decreased hs-CRP, IL-1β and TNF-α levels.

Objective: To investigate whether lipopolysaccharide induced parkin expression and mitophagy in macrophages.Methods:The murine peritoneal primary macrophages were aseptically isolated from Kunming mice and cultured in complete medium.The mitochondrial membrane potential of macrophages was detected by flow cytometry,after the cells were stimulated with 200 ng/ml LPS and labeled mitochondria with JC-1.The parkin mRNA level of macrophages was detected by RT-PCR, protein levels of parkin and autophagic related protein LC3 Ⅱ and LC3 Ⅰ were determined by Western blot.The distribution and co-localization of parkin with LC3 and mitochondria in macrophages were respectively observed by laser scanning confocal microscope, before and after the cells were treated with LPS.Results: Flow cytometry results after JC-1 staining showed that mitochondrial membrane potential in macrophages was declined after stimulation with 200 ng/ml LPS, and continuously decreased with prolonged treatment time.The mRNA levels of parkin were increased slightly within 6 h after LPS stimulation,but parkin proteins were increased significantly within 6 h after LPS stimulation.The results of parkin distribution showed that parkin was evenly distributed in the cytoplasm at normal status, but became the obvious punctate distribution after LPS stimulation in macrophages.Western blot results showed LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ levels were increased after LPS stimulation, indicating the appearance of macrophage autophagy.Confocal microscopy showed that there were co-localization of parkin,LC3 and mitochondrial in macrophages after LPS stimulation.Conclusion:Parkin expression is increased significantly and mediated mitochondrial autophagy in macrophages after LPS stimulation, which is involved in the clearance of damaged mitochondria,thereby playing a role in regulating macrophage inflammatory response.

Aim To study the effect of simvastatin on the production of reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) and the secretion of interleukin-1 beta ( IL-1β) in oxidized low density lipoprotein ( oxLDL )-induced macropha-ges. Methods After the murine macrophage J774A. 1 was treated with 0,50,100,200 mg·L-1 oxLDL, the contents of aggregated lipid in macrophages were ob-served and determined by oil red O staining. Then, the oxLDL-primed macrophages were treated with 0 . 5 ,1 . 0μmol·L-1 simvastatin, the production of ROS was de-termined by flow cytometry and the expressions of pro-caspase-1 , cleaved caspase-1 and mature IL-1βon pro-tein level were determined by Western blot. Results The oil red O staining results showed that oxLDL could induce obvious lipid aggregation in macrophages, and reached the saturation point with 100 mg·L-1 concen-tration. Flow cytometry results indicated that oxLDL could induce the production of ROS in macrophages, up to 167% ± 0. 47%, and ROS level decreased to 139% ± 0. 97% in a dose-dependent manner after treatment with simvastatin. Western blot indicated that simvastatin could inhibit the expression of cleaved caspase-1 and mature IL-1β in macrophages triggered by oxLDL;compared with oxLDL group, the expression of cleaved caspase-1 and mature IL-1β decreased in simvastatin treated group, and all results had statistical significance ( P<0. 05 ) . Conclusion In the lipid ag-gregation model of macrophages induced by oxLDL, simvastatin can inhibit the production of ROS, caspase-1 activation, and secretion of IL-1β in macrophages.

Objective To test anti-Sa antibody in different autoimmune connective tissue diseases and analyze the relationship between Sa antibody and clinical manifestations and laboratory tests in rheumatoid arthritis.Method Sa antigen was extracted from human placenta. Anti-Sa antibody was tested in 40 normal people and 478 connective tissue disease (CTD) patients using Western Blotting (WB). Conclusion Anti-Sa antibody was a new auto-antibody for the diagnosis of RA. Anti-Sa antibody positive patients seem to have more serious inflammation and more advanced disease process.

Objective:To investigate effect of reperfusion injury following different ischemic duration on skeletal muscle in rats.Methods:A model of ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) was established by unilateral clamping femoral artery and additional application of tourniquet in skeletal muscle of hind limbs in 35 male Wsitar rats. According to different ischemia time, the animals were assigned to 2-hour ischemia and 24-hour reperfusion (I2R24 group), 2.5-hour ischemia and 24-hour reperfusion (I2.5R24 group), 3-hour ischemia and 24-hour reperfusion (I3R24 group), 4-hour ischemia and 24-hour reperfusion (I4R24 group) and sham group, with 7 rats per group. At the end of reperfusion, gastrocnemious tissues and plasma samples were collected and analyzed. The ratio of wet ∶ dry weight (W/D) was used to measure muscle edema. The assay of 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) was conducted to evaluate muscle viability. HE staining was executed to observe histopathological changes. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to assess the levels of C1q, C3b/c, tissue factor (TF), fibrinogen (FN), bradykinin receptor 1 (BR1), BR2, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, fibrinogen-like protein-2 (FGL-2) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in muscle tissues. ELISA method was used to determine the concentrations of interferonγ (IFN-γ), interleukin7 (IL-7), IL-18, macrophage inflammatory1α (MIP-1α) and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) in plasma.Results:With prolongation of ischemia time and subsequent reperfusion, tissue edema became severe gradually. The ratio of W/D was 5.3±0.2, 6.1±0.3, 6.9±0.2, 7.6±0.3 in I2R24, I2.5R24, I3R24 and I4R24 groups, higher than that in sham group (4.5±0.1) (all P<0.01). Muscle viability got decreased gradually. Muscle viability was (62.4±3.5)%, (45.3±3.3)%, (35.4±3.4)%, (27.1±5.9)% in I2R24, I2.5R24, I3R24 and I4R24 groups, lower than that in sham group［(93.8±7.2)%］(all P<0.01). Histopathological changes became aggravated gradually. The most severe group was I4R24 group, with the most severe myocyte injury, interstitial edema and extensive inflammatory infiltration, followed by I3R24, I2.5R24 and I2R24 groups in order. There was normal structure integrity and neatly arranged myocyte in sham group. Meanwhile, levels of C1q, C3b, FN, BR1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and FGL-2 got increased gradually. The highest levels for these factors were seen in I4R24 group, followed by I3R24 group, I2.5R24 group, I2R24 group and sham group in order. The rough ratio of the number of positive MPO cells/total cell number under high lens (×200) were increased gradually, with the highest level in I4R24 group, followed by I3R24 group, I2.5R24 group, I2R24 group and sham group in order. However, expression of TF and BR2 were not altered significantly among the groups. Plasma levels of INF-γ, IL-7, IL-18, MIP-1α and MCP-1 elevated gradually with prolongation of ischemia time (all P<0.01). The sequence was the sham group, I2R24 group, I2.5R24 group, I3R24 group and I4R24 groups for levels of these factors from low to high (all P<0.01). Conclusion:Reperfusion after prolongation of ischemia duration can increase the activation of complement, coagulation, kinin and endothelial cells as well as the release of inflammatory factors, and thus aggravate the degree of skeletal muscle tissue injury.

The Chinese space station will be built around 2020. As a national space laboratory, it will offer unique opportunities for studying the physiological effects of weightlessness and the efficacy of the countermeasures against such effects. In this paper, we described the development of countermeasure systems in the Chinese space program. To emphasize the need of the Chinese space program to implement its own program for developing countermeasures, we reviewed the literature on the negative physiological effects of weightlessness, the challenges of completing missions, the development of countermeasure devices, the establishment of countermeasure programs, and the efficacy of the countermeasure techniques in American and Russian manned spaceflights. In addition, a brief overview was provided on the Chinese research and development on countermeasures to discuss the current status and goals of the development of countermeasures against physiological problems associated with weightlessness.
China ; Humans ; Program Evaluation ; Space Flight ; Weightlessness ; Weightlessness Simulation