BACKGROUND:It has been proved that Rhizoma Chuanxiong can promote osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.
OBJECTIVE:To further observe the effects of tetramethylpyrazine (Ligustrazine) extracted from Rhizoma Chuanxiong on osteoblast proliferation and type I col agen expression.
METHODS:Mouse osteoblast cel line MC3T3-E1 was cultured in medium containing 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L Ligustrazine, respectively. Osteoblast proliferation was detected by cel counting kit-8 assay, and alkaline phosphatase activity and type I col agen level measured using ELISA method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Different concentrations of Ligustrazine al significantly promoted the osteoblast proliferation and type I col agen level compared with the blank control group (P<0.005). The activity of alkaline phosphatase in al Ligustrazine groups except 15 and 20 mg/L groups was significantly higher than that in the blank control group (P<0.005). These results show that Ligustrazine isolated from Rhizoma Chuanxiong can effectively promote the osteoblast proliferation and type I col agen expression, with the optimum concentration of 10 mg/L.

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis is one of the important causes of ischemic stroke. It is of vital importance to guide clinical treatment using imaging methods to diagnose intracranial artery stenosis and accurately assess the degree of stenosis. This article reviews the advantages and shortcomings,advances and clinical application values of diagnosing intracranial artery stenosis using transcranial Doppler ultrasound,transcranial color-coded duplex sonography,intravascular ultrasound,magnetic resonance angiography,computed tomography angiography,and digital subtract angiography,which will provide references for clinicians to select ideal checking tools.

Objective To study the clinical values of dynamic changes of yon Willebrand factor (vWF) and ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin repeats-13 ) in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods Twenty-nine patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage admitted to Department of Neurosurgery from April 2010 through April 2011 were enrolled for retrospective study.They could be categorized into 3 sets of grouping:delayed cerebral ischemia group ( DCI group) and non-delayed cerebral ischemia group ( no DCI group ),cerebral vasospasm group ( CVS group ) and no vasospasm group (no CVS group),and good prognosis group and poor prognosis group,and another 20 healthy subjects as control group.All patients were examined with CT,DSA,or/and CTA to identify the intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhage resulted from aneurysm rupture.The exclusion criteria included:(1)the time from onset to admission was longer than 72 hours or patient was in imminent danger of death; (2)patients had surgery,interventiona] or conservative treatment outside the hospital; (3) patients were under the treatment of antiplatelet medicine such as aspirin,clopidogrel,or other anticoagulants such as warfarin,etc ; (4) patients had blood diseases,impaired kidney or liver function,pregnant,or with recent infections.Venous blood were taken one day,4 days and 10 days after SAH to determine plasma concentrations of ADAMTS13 and vWF by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) was used to measure mean blood flow velocity of middle cerebral artery (VMCA).Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score was measured before discharge. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 13.0 software. Results The levels of vWF were significantly higher in DCI group,CVS group and poor prognosis group compared with those in the control group 1 day,4 days and 10 days after SAH.There were differences in vWF between DCI group and no DCI group 1 day and 4 days after SAH ( P ＜ 0.05 ).There were significantly differences in vWF between CVS group and no CVS group,and between good prognosis group and poor prognosis group 4 days and 10 days after SAH ( P ＜ 0.01 ).In DCI group and poor prognosis group,the level of plasma ADAMTS13 was significantly lower 1 day after SAH than that in the normal control group (P ＜0.01) and in the no DCI group (P ＜0.O1 ); and there were no differences in ADAMTS13 between CVS group and no CVS group.Conclusions In the early stage,the increase in plasma vWF and decrease in ADAMTS13 activity are associated with DCI,and the decrease in ADAMTS13 activity can be used to predict the outcome.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of the stem bark of Albizia julibrissin Durazz. Methods: Chemical constituents were isolated by the repeated chromatography methods and their structures were identified by spectral analysis. Results: Five compounds were obtained as follows: 3 O [? D xylopyranosyl (1→2) ? D fucopyranosyl (1→6) ? D glucopyranosyl] 21 O (6S) 2 trans 2 hydroxy methyl 6 methyl 6 O ? D quinovopyranosyl 2,7 octadienoyl acacic acid 28 O ? D glucopyran osyl (1→3) [? L arabinofuranosyl (1→4)] ? L rhamnopyranosyl (1→2) ] ? D glucopyranosyl ester (1). acacigenin B (2), julibrotriterpenoidal lactone A (3), machaerinic acid lactone (4), acacic acid methylester (5). Conclusion: Compound 1 was isolated directly from this plant for the first time.

Objective To investigate the effect pre‐injection of dexmedetomidine(Dex) on hemodynamics during intratracheal intubation period of general anesthesia with propofol or etomidate induction .Methods Eighty ASA Ⅰ - Ⅱ patients with elective surgery were randomly assigned to 4 groups:propofol group(P) ,P combined with Dex group(PD) ,etomidate group(E) and E com‐bined with Dex group(ED) ,20cases in each group .SBP ,DBP ,BIS and HR in 4 groups were recorded at the time points of before an‐esthesia after entering the operation room (T0 ) ,at l min after beginning for giving Dex(T1 ) ,10 min of infusing Dex(T2 ) ,3 min af‐ter anesthetic induction (T3 ) ,immediate intubation(T4 ) ,at l min after intubation(T5 ) ,3 min after intubation(T6 ) and 5 min after intubation(T7 ) .The SpO2 values and Ramesay scores were recorded at T 0 and T2 .Results HR at T2 and T3 in the group PD and Ed was decreased compared with those at T0 ,and lower than those in the group P and E(P<0 .01);DBP and SBP at T3 in the group ,PD and E were decreased compared with at T 0 (P<0 .05) ,while SBP and DBP in the group ED were higher than those in the group P and PD (P<0 .05) ,SBP and DBP in the group P were lower than those in the other 3 groups(P<0 .05) ;SBP and DBP at T4 in the group E were significantly higher than those in other 3 groups (P<0 .01);the blood pressure at T5 in the group E was significantly higher than that at T0 and in other 3 groups(P<0 .05);SBP and DBP at T6 and T7 in the group P and PD was de‐creased to the preoperativel levels (P<0 .05) .The SpO2 value at T2 in the group PD was lower than that at T0 (P< 0 .05);the Ramsay score at T2 in the group PD and ED was higher than that in the group P and E(P<0 .05) .The BIS value at T2 in the group PD and ED was lower than that at T0 ,which at T3 -T7 in the four groups was lower than that at T0 (P<0 .05) .Conclusion Pre‐injection of Dex can maintain the hemodynamic stability during endotracheal inbubation period by etomidate induction and also re‐duce the cardiovascular reaction caused by endotracheal intubation .

BACKGROUND:Ligustrazine has been shown to restore the function of the femoral headviathe revascularization, increased blood flow, theabsorption ofnecroticbone, and bone regeneration. OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of ligustrazine on remodeling of periodontal tissues and the expression of osteoprotegerin in the maintenance phase in rats with orthodontic tooth movement. METHODS:Thirty-two healthy male Wistar rats were included and equaly randomized into four groups. Maxilary left first molar mesialization was performed through traction of 50 g force for 21 days to establish the rat model of tooth movement. 5, 10, 15 mg/L ligustrazine (50 μL) were localy injected into the first molar periosteum in model rats on the day before removing the orthodontic forcing device. Same volume of saline was injected in the control group. The injection was administered every other day. At 1 and 4 weeks after injection, the distance of tooth movement, the recurrence distances and percentage were determined and calculated. The pathological changes in periodontal tissues were observed by immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin staining. The width ofthe parodontium and number of osteoblasts were observed under an optical microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The recurrence distance inthecontrol group was increased compared withtheexperimental group, while the number of osteoblasts and osteoprotegerin immunoreactivity were decreased. Good width of the parodontium and smal recurrence trend were found in 10mg/L ligustrazine group. These findings indicate that ligustrazine promotes the proliferation of osteoblasts and enhances the expression of osteoprotegerin, which is beneficial to the retention of teeth after orthodontic surgery.

Objective To investigate the application of high-frequency ultrasound in pre-operative evaluation of brachial artery elasticity in chronic renal failure patients planning arteriovenous fistula formation.Methods A total of 65 patients with chronic renal failure undergoing radial artery-cephalic vein fistula (chronic renal failure group) and 40 healthy adults (control group) were selected.The elastic modulus (EM) of brachial artery was calculated by ultrasound.All subjects were divided into 5 subgroups according to age (≥50 years),hypertension,diabetes and chronic glomerulonephritis.Patients in subgroup 0 (28 cases),subgroup 1 (22 cases),subgroup 2 (24 cases),subgroup 3 (20 cases),subgroup 4 (11 cases) had 0,1,2,3 and 4 risk factors respectively.Results The levels of systolic blood pressure,pulse pressure,serum creatinine,and the EM of brachial artery in chronic renal failure group were higher than those in control group:(20.65 ± 1.32) kPa vs.(16.38 ± 1.08) kPa,(8.64 ±0.51) kPa vs.(7.12 ±0.35) kPa,(637.3 ± 116.5) μ mol/L vs.(84.7 ±31.1) μmol/L,(132.96 ± 11.78) kPa vs.(102.16 ± 10.10) kPa,and there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.01 or ＜ 0.05).The single factor correlation analysis showed that age in control group,serum creatinine in chronic renal failure group and systolic blood pressure in two groups were significantly positively correlated with the EM of brachial artery(r =0.636,0.548,0.703; P ＜ 0.01).With the increase of risk factors,the EM of brachial artery increased gradually:(96.21 ±9.82),(104.45 ± 10.55),(114.87 ± 11.15),(127.26 ± 12.43),(143.54 ± 12.81) kPa in subgroup 0,subgroup 1,subgroup 2,subgroup 3,subgroup 4,and there were significant differences (F=17.43,P＜ 0.05).The EM of brachial artery increased significantly in subgroup 3 and 4 with multiple risk factors.Conclusions Brachial artery elasticity measured by high-frequency ultrasound can be used as an indicator of vascular function preoperative vascular assessment.Age,systolic blood pressure,pulse pressure and serum creatinine levels are the major risk factors for brachial artery elasticity.The coexistence of multiple risk factors of hypertension,diabetes or chronic nephritis could exacerbate the decrease of brachial artery elasticity.

Objective To determine the dynamic change of serum procalcitonin (PCT) level after traumatic brain injury and the rclated clinical significance.Methods Serum levels of PCT and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH) in 137 patients with traumatic brain injury and 20 normal volunteers were measured by electrochemiluminescence assay.Correlation between serum PCT level and severity of traumatic brain injury was evaluated.Results Percentage of serum PCT level at low inflammatory-risk threshold detected from day 1 to day 14 after admission was descended from 80.3％ to 63.5％.Meanwhile,the percentage of serum PCT level at high inflammatory-risk threshold was a rising-fall-rising trend,but the percentages of serum PCT level at median and definite inflammatory-risk thresholds showed sustained increase from 13.9％ to 27.0％ and 0.7％ to 3.7％ separately.Based on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS),the dynamic change of serum PCT level demonstrated a distinct bimodal pattern in severe injury group,a gradual falling after rising mode in middle injury group which was significantly and positively correlated with GCS (r =0.463,P ＜ 0.05),and a rising-falling-slight rising tendency in minorinjury group.In addition,the GCS in each group only closely related to the positive detections of serum PCT level detected at days 3 and 7 (x2 =10.32,16.31 respectively P ＜ 0.01).Serum ATCH level at day 1 was far higher than that at day 14 in severe injury group and was significantly higher in severe injurygroup compared with minor and middle injury groups (P ＜ 0.01 or 0.05).Conclusions Positive serum PCT may be predictive of the traumatic brain injury and injury degree within 3-7 days after the injury.The dynamic change of serum PCT is associated with the specialized mechanism of traumatic brain injury and neuronendocrine response,and it may be a useful parameter to assess posttraumatic stress response and prognosis.

Objective To compare the operation effect of esophageal foreign body removal with transparent cap-assisted endoscopic technique and traditional method. Methods Ninety-six patients with foreign body incarcerated in esophageal were randomly divided into two groups, and they were underwent transparent cap-assisted endoscopic esophageal foreign body removal or traditional endoscopic esophageal foreign body removal respectively. The clinical data of the two groups were collected, and the success rate, the operation time, the endoscopic vision clarity and the complication rate of the two groups were all recorded and analyzed. Results The success rate in transparent cap-assisted endoscopic technique group was 100% compared with 95.83% in traditional method group, and two cases of failure were transferred to transparent cap-assisted endoscopic technique and finally succeed. The mean operation time were (8.58±3.21) min in transparent cap-assisted endoscopic technique group, and (10.64 ± 5.45) min in traditional method group, and there was no significant difference in two groups (P > 0.05). Forty-five cases got A level and three got B in transparent cap-assisted endoscopic technique group in endoscopic vision clarity, in contrast to 35 A, 11 B and two C in traditional method group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.020). There was no case with serious complications such as bleeding, perforation or death in two groups. Conclusions Transparent cap-assisted endoscopic technique for body removal is safety and efficacy, and this technique can provide better endoscopic operation field of vision and help improve the success rate of esophageal foreign body removal.

Objective To investigate the effects of inhibition of STAT5 gene expression by RNA interference technology on apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721. Methods Three siRNA eukaryotic expression vectors against STAT5 were constructed and transfected with lipofectamineTM 2000 into SMMC-7721 cells. The changes in STAT5 expression were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry (FCM). Results The sequence-specific siRNA could effectively and specifically inhibit STAT5 gene expression at both mRNA and protein levels. The inhibition rates of STAT5 mRNA expression were 70.43%, 43.02%, and 45.07%, respectively. The inhibition rates of STAT5 protein expression were 67.45%, 37.36%, and 41.86%, respectively. At 48 h after transfection, apoptosis rate was 25.61%. Conclusion siRNA against STAT5 can inhibit STAT5 gene expression in SMMC-7721 cells effectively and specifically and induce apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells. siRNA targeting STAT5 has a great potential value in gene therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.