Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Humans

Humans ; Neck Dissection ; methods

Calycosin, which is a kind of typical phytoestrogen, can bind with estrogen receptor and produce estrogen-like effects. Calycosin were reported to have antioxidant, anti-osteoporosis, anti-tumor and immunomodulating activities. This review covers biological activities and its mechanism of calycosin. It will provide a useful reference for clinical research and rational utilization of monomericompound.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint pressure plus long-snake moxibustion for upper-limb spastic hemiplegia after cerebral infarction. Methods: A total of 100 patients were randomized into a control group and an observation group, with 50 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with the same conventional internal medicine and rehabilitation training. The control group was treated with additional acupoint pressure therapy, and the observation group was treated with long-snake moxibustion on the basis of the treatment given to the control group. The Ashworth grade, Fugl-Meyer assessment upper limb scale (FMA-UL) and Barthel index (BI) were evaluated, and the root mean square (RMS) values of biceps brachii and flexor carpi radialis on the affected side were measured before and after treatment. The efficacy was evaluated after treatment. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the Ashworth grade of the observation group was superior to that of the control group (P<0.05). The scores of FMA-UL and BI in both groups increased compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05), and the scores of FMA-UL and BI in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (both P<0.05). The RMS values of biceps brachii and flexor carpi radialis in both groups decreased compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05), and the RMS values of biceps brachii and flexor carpi radialis in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on conventional internal medicine and rehabilitation training, acupoint pressure plus long-snake moxibustion has great therapeutic efficacy for upper-limb spastic hemiplegia after cerebral infarction. It can improve the degree of spasticity of the affected upper limb, reduce the muscle tone of biceps brachii and flexor carpi radialis on the affected side, and enhance the mobility of the affected limb and the activities of daily living.

Objective To investigate the evolution of diffusion indices in the pyramidal tract with Wallerian degeneration(WD)due to cerebral infarction using diffusion tensor imaging(DTI),and to study the relationship between early changes of diffusion indices and motor deficit.Methods Fifteen patients (13 males and 2 females)with acute cerebral infarction(within 7 days)were recruited from the Neurology Department from Mar 2006 to Jan 2007.A11 patients were assessed with DTI.National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS),Bathel Index(BI),modified Rankin Scale(mRS)and Motricity Index(MI)within 7 days from onset,and at the second week.DTI was performed with SIEMENS Trio 3.0 T MR scanner.The placement of region of interest(ROI),measurement of diffusion indices were performed by DTI Studio software.The mean diffusivity(MD),the fractional anisotropy(FA),the first eigenvalue (λ1),the second eigenvalue(λ2),and the third eigenvalue(λ3)were computed.Results At the second week.NIHSS was 6.93±3.39.BI 45.33±26.01,mRS 4.33±0.90.and MI 69.47± 60.71.At the second week from onset.MD of the pyramidal tract at the levels of the middle slice of pons and the superior slice of medulla oblongata showed no significant differences between both the two sides at second week from onset. Other ROI showed significant differences between both sides.MD.FA and λ1 of affected side were lower than the unaffected side.λ2 and λ3 of the affected side were higher than the unaffected side.Positive correlations were found between FA and BI(r=0.530,P=0.042),FA and MI(r=0.543,P=0.036)at the second week.Negative correlations were found between FA and NIHSS(r=-0.613,P=0.015)at the second week.Conclusions DTI can detect the changes in the pyramidal tract due to WD within 7-14 days after ischemic stroke.including a decrease of the fractional anisotropy.the first eigenvalue and increased the second and the third eigenvalues.The fractional anisotropy of the second week from onset is related to the outcome of the motor function.

Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides ( LPS) , major component of out wall in Gram-negative bacteria. Often they are considered as "prime criminals" of triggering systemic inflaming reaction such as sepsis, bacteremia and so on. It was found in recent years that bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein, a 55kDa member of lipid-related protein family, was a kind of natural molecule of anti-infection and it has special endotoxin-neutralising activity and antibacterial activity. Comprehensive phase II/III clinical trials demonstrated the feasibility and safety of recombinant BPI. So pharmaceutical corporations are attracted to try to apply it to therapy.

Objective To study the MRI findings and di agnostic value as well as pathological base of the knee iniury.Methods MRI features of knee injuries in 31 cases were r etrospectively analysed compared with the findings of operations and clinical ma nifestations.Results MRI findings were :(1)para-knee articular soft tissue swelling in 23 cases(74%);(2)MRI detected ligaments injury in 18 cas es (58%),dislocation of articular in 2 cases(6%);(3)bone contusions in 4 c ases(13%);occult fractures in 1 case(3%),disruption of articular cartilage 1 case(3%),fractures in 12 cases(39%);(4)meniscal injury in 15 cases(48% ),meniscal cyst in 2 cases(6%);(5)quadriceps femoris and kneecap tendon inj ury in 1 case(3%)respectively;(6)joint hydrocele in 29 cases(93%).Conclusion MRI can find a variety of pathological changes of knee injury and plays an important role in clinical treatment and predicting prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of arthroscopic excision of the os subfibulare in anterior-lateral ankle pain.

METHODSFrom December 2005 to Augest 2014, 16 patients suffering from pain associated with an os subfibulare in the anterior-lateral side of their ankles were reviewed. Among the patients,11 patients were male and 5 were female, with a mean age of (33.5 ± 15.6) years old. The mean maximum diameter of os subfibulare was (0.70 ± 0.26) cm. All the patients underwent excision of the osseous fragments, and had anatomic reconstruction of the anterior talofibular ligament if the anterior-lateral ankle was instable. The average follow-up period was (18.0 ± 4.5) months. To analyze the surgical outcome, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot pain and function scales,visual analogue scale (VAS) and Tegner activity scale were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTSAOFAS scales were preoperative 60.15 ± 14.52 and postoperative 92.35 ± 5.73. There was a significant difference between them (t = -8.251, P = 0.000). The mean VAS score were preoperative 7.35 ± 0.46 and postoperative 2.45 ± 0.98. Statistical significance was also notable (t = 18.105, P = 0.000). Tegner score was significantly increased from preoperative 2.87 ± 1.12 to postoperative 5.78 ± 1.06 (t= -7.548, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONIrrespective of the size of os subfibulare, in patients with pain or instability associated with the os subfibulare, arthroscopic excision combined with reconstruction of ther anterior talofibular ligament or not was effective in restoring ankle function and eliminating pain.

Adult ; Ankle Injuries ; surgery ; Ankle Joint ; surgery ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Female ; Fibula ; surgery ; Humans ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

RNA interference (RNAi), as a new technology of gene therapy, has been used in the studies of many diseases in vitro, however, targeting delivery of small interference RNA (siRNA) is still a bottleneck for clinical therapy of siRNA agents. Aptamer is a group of oligonucleotides with high affinity and targeting, and is becoming another important means of delivery for siRNA. In this review, we summarized siRNA delivery obstacles in vivo and recent attractive developments increatively using cell-internalizing aptamers to deliver siRNAs to target cells.
Aptamers, Nucleotide ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; SELEX Aptamer Technique

Objective To observe the expression of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP)-1,MMP-3 and iNOS in cartilage of experimental rabbit osteoarthritis at different time intervals after anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)operation.The aim of this study is to provide the theoritical evidence for using ACLT rabbit model in Osteoarthritis(OA)research.Methods Unilateral ACLT was performed on 27 randomly selected while rabbits and underwent unilateral arthrotomy was performed on the other 9 white rabbits as the control group.Nine randomly selected white rabbits in experimental group were killed and 3 white rabbits in the control group at 4th,8th and 12th week respectively.Cartilage degradation of femoral condyles was evaluated macr-oscopically,mRNA expression level and protein expression level of MMP-1,MMP-3 and iNOS was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and immunohistochemistry respectively.Results Forepart OA cartilage degradation was observed at the 4th week and became more severe at the 8th week after ACLF.Afterpart cartilage degradation was evident at the 12th week after ACLT while cartilage still remained normal in the control group,mRNA expression level and protein expression level of MMP-1.MMP-3 and iNOS were increased at the 4th week and became higher gradually at the 8th,12th week after ACLT compared with the control group.Expression distribution of MMP-1,MMP-3 and iNOS bad different patterns respectively.Conclusion It is suggested that the process of OA cartilage degradation can be simulated by ACLT model and MMP-1,MMP-3 and iNOS may be good markers in therapeutical research of OA.