BACKGROUND:Col agen type II and proteoglycan loss are two most obvious manifestations of cartilage damage in the onset of osteoarthritis. Changes in col agen type II and proteoglycan as the main components of cartilage matrix directly lead to cartilage degeneration and subsequently result in osteoarthritis. How to reverse or prevent the development of this process becomes the focus of medical research. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of warming yang and benefiting marrow recipe on the expression of col agen type II and proteoglycan in the articular cartilage of knee osteoarthritis rabbits as wel as to further explore the mechanism underlying chondrocyte protection. METHODS:Ninety-six New Zealand rabbits, aged 9 months old, male and female, were selected to prepare osteoarthritis models in extension position using cast immobilization method, and were randomly divided into four groups:blank group (untreated), model group (simple modeling), Chinese medicine group (intragastric administration of extracts of warming yang and benefiting marrow recipe, 24 mL/kg/d) and western medicine group (intragastric administration of glucosamine hydrochloride, 24 mL/kg/d). Intragastric administration was done once a day for 6 weeks. RT-PCR technology was used to observe the effect of warming yang and benefiting marrow recipe on the expression of col agen type II and proteoglycans in the articular cartilage, and pathological examination was also done. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The cartilage surface was smooth in the blank group and Chinese medicine group, with uniform toluidine blue staining, but in the model group and western medicine group, the cartilage surface was rough and the toluidine blue staining was extremely uneven with obvious loss of surface and middle layer dying. The expressions of cartilage proteoglycan and col agen type II in the model group were significantly lower than those in the blank group (P<0.01) as wel as in the Chinese medicine group and western medicine group (P<0.05). In addition, the expressions of cartilage proteoglycan and col agen type II in the Chinese medicine group were higher than those in the western medicine group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that the recipe of warming yang and benefiting marrow can enhance the expressions of col agen type II and proteoglycan, which can maintain the normal col agen phenotype and protect the articular cartilage.

Sustained hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV ) as experienced at high altitude can lead to hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(HPH).HPV,a special physiological phenomenon of lung,is the physiological reflex of organism in hypoxic envi-ronment.However,in high altitude hypoxic environment,the sustained HPV can lead to pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy,at the same time,the degree of hypoxia in alveoli can be aggravated.Vicious circle of hypoxia is formed,further causing the severe high altitude sickness such as pulmonary edema and pulmonary heart disease.HPV appears in preliminary of HPH,but in the chronic phase,irreversible hy-poxic pulmonary vascular remodeling forms.Therefore,studying the mechanism of HPV and the effect of HPV in HPH can pro-vide targets and ideas for the prevention and treatment of high al-titude sickness. Additionally, in preliminary stage of HPV, prompt treatment is critical for the prevention of high altitude sickness.However,the mechanism of HPV and its roles in HPH are still not fully elucidated in current studies.This paper sum-marizes the studies about HPV in HPH of recent years,aiming to provide references for researchers and clinical treatment in this research field.

Objective To evaluate clinical use of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR) method in low-dose scan on children temporal bone by comparison of radiation dose delivered by GE Discovert HD CT 750 scan and GE Lightspeed VCT64 scan.Method Sixty patients with congenital deafness were divided into two groups according to gender,age (each N =30).Group a received low-dose CT scan on temporal bone by GE Discovery HDCT 750 (preset NI =12),and the original images were reconstructed with ASiR (weighted value =40％).Group B received CT scan by GE Lightspeed VCT 64 (preset NI =8),and the original images were reconstructed with filter back projection (FBP).Data were collected and analysed using the SPSS 18.0 software.Resultes The mean value of electric current of average tube and CTDIvol were significantly different between group A and B [(110.40 ± 21.72) mA vs.(168.56±24.36) mA,and (26.43 ±3.48) mGy vs.(39.66 ±4.17) mGy,respectively (t=-9.76,-3.31,P＜0.05)].The noise index was (33.13 ±2.68) in group A and (33.79 ±2.93) in group B respectively,and the results had no statistical significance (P ＞ 0.05).Subjective scores of the images were (4.06 ± 0.03) and (4.05 ± 0.03),with no statistical significance either (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions On a condition of achieving same image quality,CT scan program using GE Discovery HD CT 750 with 40％ ASiR reconstruction and 4 units NI value enhancement could effectively reduce radiation dose on children's temporal bone compared to FBP method using GE Lightspeed VCT 64.

Targeting the common fact that colleges and universities of traditional Chinese medicine neglect management post practice,are lack of cutting-edge,cross-disciplinary and methodological courses,fail to reflect the traditional Chinese medicine's singularity and update courses slowly during the process of cultivating their graduate students,Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine innovates its culture system of graduate student in related major.It is also devoted to developing problem-based learning,introducing bitutor system,reforming course system,which may hopefully improve their graduate students' innovative thoughts and abilities,strengthen their innovative knowledge theory system to finally discover an appropriate reform model for the culture system which can be perfectly replicable.

Aim To investigate the effect of orientin on proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and on insulin resistance(IR) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and the possible mechanisms.Methods MTT assay and oil red O staining were applied to investigate the proliferation and the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, respectively.The intracellular triglyceride(TG) contents were detected by enzymatic analysis.IR model was induced with dexamethasone.A fluorescent glucose analogue, 2-NBDG, was used to measure the rate of glucose uptake.Western blot was used to detect the protein level of GLUT4 and phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC.The GLUT4 translocation was measured by fluorescent-immunohistochemistry.Results Orientin decreased the formation of lipid droplets and intracellular TG contents(P<0.01) in a concentration-dependent manner(P<0.05), but it had no obvious effects on the cell vitality.Under the IR state, orientin significantly increased 3T3-L1 adipocytes glucose uptake(P<0.05).Meanwhile, orientin up-regulated the protein expression of p-AMPK, p-ACC, and enhanced GLUT4 translocation and its expression.Conclusion Orientin can effectively inhibit the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and increase insulin sensitivity due to the activation of AMPK/GLUT4 signal pathway.

Objective Production of autotoxin protein in sf9 insect cells with biological activity. Methods Autotaxin cDNA was cloned into pFastBacTMHTA from melanoma cell by extraction of total RNA using TRIzol method and RT-PCR. Bacmid-ATX is isolated from transformed competent bacterial DH10 which carries Bac genomic sequences and transfected into sf9 using lipofectamine 2000. Recombinant ATX virus was amplified in sf9 and further used for infection and expression of ATX protein. Two step purification product using HistrapTMHP and Hiload 16/600 Suerdex 200pg was determined for lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) activity. Results Correct insertion of PCR fragment is confirmed by BamH I/Xho I digestion and sequencing. ATX virus can infect sf9 and induced enzymatic activity. Column purification and SDS-PAGE resulted 95% in purity and 6mg/liter in yield with significant lysoPLD activity. Conclusion ATX Baculovirus was successfully constructed that can infect sf9 cells and express active lysoPLD. Production of active ATX can be used for crystalography studies and screening for small pharmaceutical inhibitors.

The most common metastatic site of prostate cancer is the bone, followed by the lung, bladder, liver, and adrenal gland. We report on a rare case of pancreatic metastasis from prostate cancer. A 52-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital with epigastric pain for 20 days. PET-CT showed malignant lesions in the prostate and pancreas, and prostate and pancreas puncture biopsies were performed, respectively. The patient was diagnosed as prostate cancer with pancreatic metastasis according to the pathological findings. After undergoing androgen deprivation therapy and docetaxel chemotherapy for 6 cycles, reexamination revealed that the pancreatic metastases had disappeared.

Objective To evaluate the prevalence and impact of coronary artery disease (CAD) in aged patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection(AD).Methods From January 2008 to December 2011,CAG was routinely performed before aortography and thoracic aortic repair(TEVAR) to determine the prevalence of concomitant CAD in 200 consecutive Stanford type B AD patients who were older than 50 years.All patients received 1 year follow-up.Adverse events were compared between patients with and without concomitant CAD.Data analysis by SPSS 17.0 statistical software,using Student t test,Chi-square test and Fisher exact test.Results CAG showed 53 patients (26.5％) had CAD.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male gender(OR =4.415,95％ CI:1.131-17.237,P =0.033) and age (OR =1.061,95％ CI:1.017-1.108,P =0.006) were independent predictors of Stanford type BAD coexisted with CAD.Age was also independent predictor of multi-vessel disease(MVD) and/or left main disease(LMD) (OR =1.096,95％ CI:1.009-1.191,P =0.023).At 30-day follow-up,there was no difference in the incidence of adverse events between patients with and without concomitant CAD.Patients with concomitant CAD showed higher incidence of myocardial infarction[3 (5.66％) vs.0(0),P =0.018] and stroke [4 (7.55 ％) vs.1 (0.68 ％),P =0.018].Conclusion The prevalence of CAD in aged patients with Stanford type BAD is relatively high.Concomitant CAD is associated with higher risk of cardio-cerebrovascular ischemic events while dose not increase the risk of adverse aorta related events.

BACKGROUND:There are few reports concerning effects of warming the yang and benefiting the marrow for the knee osteoarthritis on the expression of matrix metal oproteinase.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of warming the yang and benefiting the marrow on the expression of matrix metal oproteinase in rabbit models of knee osteoarthritis.
METHODS:Of 96 healthy adult New Zealand rabbits, 72 rabbits were randomly selected for making rabbit models of knee osteoarthritis using plaster external fixation. After success model establishment, the rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups. Model group was left intact. Chinese medicine group received daily intragastric administration of drug extract 24 mL/kg. Drug control group was daily intragastrical y administered Puli Capsule (glucosamine hydrochloride) 24 mg/kg, once a day, until the eighth week of success model induction. An additional 24 New Zealand rabbits served as blank controls.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Using quantitative PCR, matrix metal oproteinase-1, matrix metal oproteinase-3 and matrix metal oproteinase-13 expression was significantly higher in the model group than that in the other three groups. Matrix metal oproteinase-1, matrix metal oproteinase-3 and matrix metal oproteinase-13 expression was significantly lower in the Chinese medicine group and drug control group than that in the model group. These results indicated that warming the yang and benefiting the marrow for knee osteoarthritis in rabbits could effectively inhibit the expression of matrix metal oproteinase in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of tinnitus complaint. METHOD: The information of 628 patients with subjective tinnitus was collected using questionnaires from October, 2013 to June, 2014. Among them, 453 cases were included in this study, whose quality of life and sleep were significantly affected. Then we elucidated the features of tinnitus, tinnitus incentives and systemic diseases and analyzed their relationship. RESULT: The proportion of the patients complaint was highest in gruop ≤ 30 y. The patients with tinnitus complaint were more likely to have persistent tinnitus with higher loudness VAS scores than their counterparts. 65.4% of the total patients had at least one treatment (52.2% of patients can tolerate, and only 13. 2% can not tolerate). More patients had cranial Ming on the left than on the right ear. The proportion of patients with polyphony in bilateral tinnitus was higher than those with unilateral tinnitus (P < 0.05). Moreover, 59% patients had tinnitus inducing factors, and 44% patients had systemic comorbidities (The three most frequently involved systems were otolaryngologic, cardiovascular and digestive system). There was no significantly statistical difference of the tinnitus severity between patients with other systematic diseases and those without. CONCLUSION Patients with tinnitus complaint were younger in age (≤ 30 y) and more likely to have persistent tinnitus with higher loudness VAS scores Predisposing factors are closely associated with mental or physical trauma. The accompanied diseases can be classified by organ system.
Humans ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus ; diagnosis ; physiopathology