Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of plasmid encoding interleukin 4 (pIL-4) administered via gene-gun delivery and intradermal injection on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Methods IL-4 plasmid was administered by gene-gun delivery and intradermal injection to DBA/1 mice immunized with type Ⅱ collagen (CⅡ). Its effect on the development of CIA was evaluated clinically with the visual analogue scoring method for arthritis and serologically by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction. Results Treatment with IL-4 plasmid could significantly reduce the incidence and severity of CIA including a reduction in the anti-CⅡ antibody level. Gene-gun delivery had a stronger immunosuppressive effect on CIA compared with intradermal injection. As shown by in vitro stimulation assay, the speen cells from mice immunized with CⅡ and treated with IL-4 plasmid via gene-gun exhibited higher Th2 cytokine responses compared with cells treated with control plasmid after in vitro stimulation with CⅡ. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that treatment with IL-4 plasmid may constitute a new approach of cytokine gene therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective To evaluate MRI in diagnosis and follow-up of Achilles tendon rupture. Methods From April 2003 to May 2005, 24 cases of closed Achilles tendon rupture were examined in our department with MRI. It was performed through sagittal T1WI, T2WI, GE-STIR and axial TME imaging. Four cases were followed up with MRI after 4 to 8 weeks. Results MRI could determinate the severity and exact location of Achilles tendon rupture by demonstrating signal changes of Achilles tendon. In this series, complete rupture of Achilles tendon mostly occurred at the median part, with augmentation and high signal on T2WI. MRI demonstrated high signal on T2WI in partial rupture of Achilles tendon. The signal intensity in the four cases followed up by MRI was shown to decrease. Conclusion MRI is a valuable tool for clinical diagnosis and follow-up of Achilles tendon, because it provides enough information through signal changes at the tendon.

Objective To observe attenuation and synergy of postoperative chemotherapy combined with Tianzhicao capsule in patients who suffered from breast cancer. Methods 66 cases after radical mastectomy were randomly divided into treatment group 31 cases and 35 cases of control group. The patients of control group were treated with chemotherapies of CAF and TA. Treatment group patients were given Tianzhical capsule orally at the same time. Nausea and vomitting,the arrest of bone marrow before and after treatment were observed. The grade of life quality about every patient was evaluated. Results Myelosuppression and the occurrence of nausea and vomitting in treatment group was obviously lower than control group (P ＜ 0.05). The proportion of improvement and stabilization for the quality of life in treatment group was markedly higher than control group (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Traditional Chinese drug Tianzhicao capsule had attenuation and synergy to postoperative chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Objective:To investigate the relationship of osteoporotic vertebral body compression fracture(OVCF)with multifidus muscle and intervertebral disc degeneration in the lower lumbar spine and the lumbar-pelvic parameters in elderly women.Methods:Clinical data of a total of 108 elderly women with osteoporosis were retrospectively analyzed.They were divided into the fracture group(n=56)and the control group(n=52)according to the presence of vertebral body compression fractures.Age, body mass index(BMI)and bone mineral density(BMD)were collected in two groups.The angle of pelvic incidence(PI), angle of pelvic tilt(PT), low lumbar lordosis(LLL)and sacral slope(SS)were measured by the standing lumbar lateral X-ray photography.The degree of degeneration of intervertebral disc L 3-S 1 and multifidus muscle were detected by using the lumbar MRI.These parameters were compared between the two groups. Results:The age, BMI and BMD had no significant difference between the two groups( P>0.05). The degree of intervertebral disc degeneration of L 3-L 4 and L 4-L 5 was statistically significant higher in the fracture group than in the control group( Z=-4.656 and -2.675, P=0.000 and 0.007), while the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration of L 5-S 1 had no statistically significant difference between the two groups( Z=-1.784, P=0.075). There were statistically significant higher multifidus muscle degeneration of L 3-L 4 and L 4-L 5 in the fracture group than in the control group( Z=-3.248 and -4.073, P=0.001 and 0.000), while no significant difference between the two groups in multifidus muscle degeneration of L 5-S 1( Z=-1.096, P=0.282). No statistically significant differences were found in PI, PT, SS and LLL between the two groups( t=1.162, 0.827, -0.082 and -0.677, P=0.248, 0.410, 0.935 and 0.500). Conclusions:The degeneration of intervertebral disc and multifidus muscle of L 3-L 4 and L 4-L 5 is positively correlated with OVCF in elderly women.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of resveratrol (Rsv) on psoriasis like skin damage induced by imiquimod (IMQ) and study its mechanism.Methods BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups:control group,Rsv group,model (IMQ) group and Rsv treatment (IMQ + Rsv) group with six mice in each group.Psoriasis like skin model induced by smearing IMQ in the mice's ear for 8 d,20 mg Rsv cream were gave at the same time for treatment.Observe erythema and psoriasis degree,and measure ear thickness with vemier caliper.HE staining was used to observe tissue change,real time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect K17,IL-17A,IL-19 and IL-23 mRNA and Western blotting were used to detected K17 protein expression in tissues.Results Compared with the model group,mice erythema area and the thickness of epidermal scale decreased significantly in Rsv treatment group;HE staining results showed that,Rsv significantly reduced ear marginal tissue epidermal thickness,and diminished severity of the psoriasis-like skin inflammation.qRT-PCR and Western blotting confirmed a Rsv dependent decrease of in K17,IL-17A and IL-19 in mRNA level and protein levels of K17.Conclusion Rsv improves psoriasis like skin damage by down-regulating expression of Keratinl 7.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Yiqi Huoxue Jiedu on diabetic peripheral neuropathy.Methods: 60 patients were randomly divided into treatment group receiving Yiqi Huoxue Jiedu treatment,control group receiving vitamin B and routine treatment to improve neural microcirculation.The conduction velocity of all patients’sensory and motor nerves and the scores of the symptoms had been observed.Results: Symptoms and nerve conduction velocity of treatment group and control group had been improved respectively,and the treatment group was superior to control group in clinic symptoms,clinical obvious effective rate and total effective rate.Conclusion: Yiqi Huoxue Jiedu method can improve conduction velocity of sensory and motor nerves,symptoms of anesthesia and pain of limbs of patients with diabetes peripheral neuropathy,and have good effect on diabetes peripheral neuropathy.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Rats

Objective To investigate the effect of Clopidogrel on the plasma endothelin(ET)and calcitonin gene related peptide(CGRP)in patients with unstable angina pectoris(UAP).Methods Patients with UAP were divided into two groups,the regular treated group(n =50)was treated with Isoket and the Dansben group(n =50)was treated with combined Isoket and Clopidogrel.The plasma ET and CGRP were measured before and after treatment by radioimmunoreactive assay.Data were compared between the two groups and also compared with those measured in 20healthy subjects for control.Results ET level was significantly higher and CGRP level was lower in UAP patients than that in healthy subjects(P ＜ 0.05).After Clopidogrel treatment,ET was significantly decreased(P ＜ 0.01)and CGRP increased(P ＜0.05)in combined treatment group compared with patients received lsoket only.Conclusion Clopidogrel was an effective drug for UAP treatment,which could efficiently regulate the ET and CGRP metabolism.

Objective To discuss the feasibility and the effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of the osteoporotic compression fracture in theupper and middle thoracic vertebrae.Methods The study included 101 patients.55 cases were treated with PVP (observation group) and 46 cases were treated with conservative treatment (control group).The clinical efficacy of those two different treatment methods was evaluated by the changes of VAS score,ODI score,vertebral height and Cobb angle before versus after treatment.Results VAS and ODI scores at 48 hours and 6 weeks after treatment was significantly lower in observation group than in the control group (all P＜0.05).Although there was no significant difference in VAS and ODI scores between the two groups after 6 months of treatment (both P＞0.05),the anterior and middle vertebral height was decreased and Cobb angle of spine was increased in control group as compared with observation group (both P＜ 0.05).Conclusions PVP is an effective and safe method in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in upper and middle thoracic vertebrae.The short-and long-term evaluation indexes are better in PVP than in conservative treatment.But the surgery should be proceeded under highly clear perspective equipment by the surgeons with highly level professional technology.Because the surgery is highly risky,surgery should be proceeded with cautions.

Objective To observe the fusion rate by using cage filled with osteophyte in anterior cervical disectomy and fusion.Methods From January 2010 to July 2012,81 patients receiving anterior cervical disectomy and spine fusion underwent treatment with cages containing exclusively autologous osteophyte collected from both anterior and posterior vertebral edges adjacent to the intervertebral space.There were 52 males and 29 females,aged from 55 to 78 years,average 64.1 years in this study.46 patients received one-level fusion,and 35 patients received two-level fusion respectively.Patients were followed up at 3 months,6 months and 1 year after operation.The fusion was evaluated by X-ray film and reconstructive CT.Results The total fusion rate after 3 months of operation was 76.5％ (62/81),the one-level and two-level fusion rate were 78.3％ (36/46) and 74.3％ (26/35),respectively.The total fusion rate after 6 months of operation was 93.8％ (76/81),the one-level and two-level fusion rate were 95.7％ (44/46) and 91.4％ (32/35),respectively.The total fusion rate was 100％ (81/81) after 1 year of operation.No statistically significant difference in fusion rate was found between the two groups.Conclusions The method of using cage filled with osteophyte can acquire ideal fusion rate in one-and two-level anterior cervical disectomy,fusion and plate fixation.