The efficacy of injecting sclerosing agent next to transverse process of cervical vertebra to induce vertebral artery type of cervical syndrome (CSA) was observed. Twenty rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: the model group and the control group. The rabbits in the model group were injected with sclerosing agent next to transverse process of cervical vertebray, on the contrary, the rabbits in the control group were injected with nothing. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) was used to detect the average speed of blood (Vm), pulsatility index (Pi) and the resistant index (Ri) of the vertebral artery, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the morphological changes, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2). TCD showed increased Pi, Ri and decreased Vm in the model group (P<0.05) compared with the control group. HE staining revealed hyperplasia and hypertrophied smooth muscle cells in the model group (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry displayed up-regulation of alpha-SMA and MMP-2 in the model group (P<0.05). It was concluded that injecting sclerosing agent next to transverse process of cervical vertebra induces remodeling of vertebral artery in rabbits, suggesting it is a practical method to establish CSA animal model.

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.

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.

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 investigate the effects of Xiehuo Bushen Decoction (XHBSD), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on the survival and differentiation of transplanted neural stem cells (NSCs) in brains of rats with intracerebral hemorrhage, and to explore the mechanism of Xiehuo Bushen formula in promoting the survival of transplanted NSCs. METHODS: NSCs separated from hippocampuses of neonatal SD rats were cultured. Sixty-five panel reactive antibody (PRA) positive SD rats were selected by lymphocytotoxicity methods. The PRA positive rats were made into intracerebral hemorrhagic model and divided into three groups: cerebral hemorrhage group (n=15), NSCs transplanted group (n=25) and XHBSD group (n=25). XHBSD was orally administered after 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-marked NSCs were transplanted in brains of rats with intracerebral hemorrhage in the XHBSD group. Rats in the other two groups were administered distilled water. The expressions of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNAs were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); the numbers of BrdU and 200 kD neurofilament (NF200) positive cells were detected by double-labeling immunofluorescence method. RESULTS: The expression of IFN-gamma mRNA was down-regulated significantly in the XHBSD group, but the expression of IL-4 mRNA was up-regulated significantly (P<0.05). The numbers of BrdU and NF200 positive cells were also increased remarkably in the XHBSD group. CONCLUSION: XHBSD can promote the survival and differentiation of transplanted NSCs, which may be related to inducing the expression of IL-4 mRNA and inhibiting the expression of IFN-gamma mRNA.

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 introduce a new spinal surgery navigation system based on structured light scanning(structured light navigation system,SLNS),and to compare accuracy of pedicle screw placement using SLNS,CT based navigation system and free hand technique.Methods Thirty-two calf vertebral pedicles,40 and 32 were placed with pedicle screws using SLNS,CT navigation system,and free hand technique,respectively.The pedicle breakage ratio,transverse section angle (TSA),sagittal section angle (SSA),screw offset deviation of each screw were detected according to CT images.Results The pedicle breakage ratio of pedicle screws in SLNS group,CT navigation group and free hand group were 6%(2./32),5%(2/40),25%(8/32),respectively.The difference between each of the two navigation groups and free hand group were statistically significant regarding frequency of screw misplacement.The difference between the two navigation systems was not obvious.The average SSA error and TSA error in SLNS group were 2.58°±2.74° and 4.26°±5.20°.For CT navigation group,they were 2.95°±2.61° and 3.13°±-2.75°.There was no statistical difference between the two navigation methods for the SSA or TSA error.There was no statistical difference in offset deviation among SLNS group,CT navigation group and free hand group.Conclusion The SLNS is a new and practical navigation system,which has similar accuracy with CT navigation system.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum bone metabolism biomarkers and bone mineral density (BMD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with different stages. Methods Seventy-eight CKD patients were enrolled in this study and were assigned to different groups according to their ereatinine clearance (Cer). Patients with Cer ≥ 15 ml/min were divided into 4 groups based on clinical CKD 1-4 stage standard, and those with Ccr<15 ml/min were divided into two groups of hemodialysis (HD) and non-HD. Their levels of serum calcium, phosphorus, alkalinity phosphatase (ALP), urea, Ser, osteocalein (gla-protein, OC), calcitonin (CT), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and BMD were detected respectively. Results (1) The serum levels of OPG, iPTH and phosphorus increased significantly in stage 3, 4, 5, respectively (P<0.01), and serum OPG level was elevated to (5.1±1.34) ng/L after HD, which was significantly higher than (3.35±0.76) ng/L before HD (P<0.05). The levels of serum OC, CT, calcium, ALP were not significantly different among patients with different CKD stages, while the level of OC was elevated in HD patients (P<0.05). The femoral WARDS triangle BMD of CKD stage 4 patients decreased to 0.77±0.09, which was less than the value of CKD stage 1 patients (P<0.01), with litde influence from hemodialysis treatment. (2) The level of serum OPG was positively correlated with the levels of serum phosphorus, iPTH, OC (r = 0.51, 0.39, 0.36,all P<0.01), and it was negatively correlated with the level of Ccr (r =-0.70, P<0.01). The femoral WARDS triangle BMD was negatively correlated with the levels of iPTH, OC, phosphorus and OPG (r =-0.59,-0.51,-0.45,-0.48, all P<0.05). Conclusions Most of serum bone metabolism biomarkers change according to the declined level of Cer. Compared with serum phosphorus, the levels of iPTH, BGP and femoral WARDS triangle BMD, serum OPG may be early diagnosticmarkers of renal osteodystrophy in CKD patients.

Objective To evaluate the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in quantitative diagnosis of chronic renal insufficiency. Methods Correlation of CEUS indexes with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) detected by 99mTc-DTPA renography was examined. Thirty-three cases of clinical chronic renal insufficiency were enrolled in the study. They were 15 males and 18 females with average age of (43.33±6.78) years. After intravenous bolus injection of 1 ml SonoVue,CEUS of renal cortex blood perfusion was performed successfully, and a time-intensity curve (TIC)was created with PHILIPS iU22 system's QLAB software. A 148 to 222 MBq dose of 99mTc-DTPA was injected as a bolus from antecubital vein. Renal scintigraphic images were collected immediately and GFR was obtained. Results The significant correlation coefficients between GFR and CEUS quantitative indexes were as follows: rAUC (area under curve)=0.886 (P＜0.05), rA (slope rate of ascending curve, A) =0.804(P＜0.05). However, rDPI (derived peak intensity, DPI)=0.021 (P＞0.05), rTTP (time to peak, TTP) =0.043 (P＞0.05), rα (slope rate of descending curve,α)=0.039 (P＞0.05). Conclusion CEUS can precisely display the hemodynamic change of chronic renal insufficiency, which is well correlated with GFR by 99mTc-DTPA renography.

Inflammatory bowel disease is thought to be regulated by the balance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines secreted by T cells, and NF-kappaB p65 also plays a predominant role in the intestinal inflammation. We evaluated the potency of oxymatrine, one of active components of Sophora Root, in inhibiting the immune responses and inflammation in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. The inflammation was markedly ameliorated in the oxymatrine-treated rats. The level of IL-2 was increased and that of IL-10 was decreased in colon tissue in the rat model, which was reversed by the treatment of oxymatrine. Moreover, the elevated expression of NF-kappaB p65 in colon tissue in the model was also improved by oxymatrine treatment. Our results suggest that oxymatrine might be beneficial for the abnormal immune responses and inflammation by regulating the unbalance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines secretion and inhibiting the expression of NF-kappaB p65 in colon tissue.