Osteoarthritis is a chronic disabling disease that tends to occur in middle-aged and elderly population, the main pathological characteristics are the dynamic imbalance between the synthesis and degradation of articular chondrocytes, extracellular matrix and subchondral bone. The occurrence and development is related to many factors. This article reviews the structure, the function and the interaction between α2-macroglobulins and a disintegrin and metallo-proteinase with throm-bospondin motifs in the development of osteoarthritis.

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on serum insulin (INS) levels and gastric antral cholecystokinin (CCK) content in rats with diabetic gastroparesis (DGP).Methods Sixty SD rats were randomized into groups A, B, C, D and E, 12 rats each. Group A is a normal control. A DGP model was made by an intraperitoneal injection of 2% streptozocin (STZ) plus an irregular high sugar and fat diet in groups B, C, D and E. group B is a model one and did not receive treatment. Group C received electroacupuncture at points Zusanli, Sanyinjiao and Liangmen; group D, electroacupuncture at the control points of Zusanli, Sanyinjiao and Liangmen. Group C, an oral gavage of metoclopramide tablet solution. Blood sugar and urine sugar were determined using a OneTouch lood glucose meter and Tes-Tape, respectively. The gastric emptying rate and the intestinal migration rate were measured by an oral gavage of phenol red. Serum INS levels and gastric antral CCK content were measured by ELISA in every group of rats before and after treatment.Results There were statistically significant differences in blood and urine sugar values between group B, C, D or E rats and group A (P<0.01) and between group C rats and group B or E (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the gastric emptying rate between group B, C, D or E rats and group A (P<0.01) and between group C rats and group B or D (P<0.01,P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the intestinal migration rate between group B or D rats and group A (P<0.01) and between group C rats and group B or D (P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in serum INS levels and gastric antral CCK content between groups B and A rats (P<0.05,P<0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in gastric antral CCK content between groups D and A rats (P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in serum INS levels and gastric antral CCK content between groups C or E rats and group B (P<0.05,P<0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in gastric antral CCK content between groups C and D rats (P<0.05).Conclusions Electroacupuncture can markedly improve gastrointestinal functions and promote gastric emptying in DGP rats. Its therapeutic effect may be related to electroacupuncture raising serum INS levels and reducing gastric antral CCK content.

Objective To investigate the phenotypes and genetics of an early-onset familial Alzheimer′s disease ( EO-FAD ) family.Methods The clinical manifestations , brain MRI results and neuropathological findings of the proband and pedigree members of the EO -FAD family were evaluated. Autopsy was performed in the proband . Results Fifteen members of this family had a presenilin 1 (PSEN1) p.G378E mutation and nine of them had clinical manifestations or the MRI changes of EO -FAD. Neuropathological findings from autopsy of the proband disclosed moderate cortical atrophy throughout the brain, especially in frontal lobe and temporal lobe .Neuronal loss with gliosis was observed in the cortices of the frontal, temporal and occipital lobes , as well as in parahippocampal gyrus .Numerous senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles were present in the cerebral cortex .The proband′s younger sister showed similar clinical presentations and MRI changes , and other members of this family demonstrated progressive memory loss.Conclusion A p.G378E mutation in the PSENl gene was identified in a Chinese EO-FAD pedigree.

Objective: To explore the action mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in improving the gastric motility of rats with diabetic gastroparesis (DGP). Methods: Forty-eight healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into four groups: a normal group (group A), a model group (group B), a group of EA at acupoints (group C), and a group of EA at non-acupoints (group D), 12 rats in each group. The animal model of DGP was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) plus high glucose and fat diet. The blood glucose, urine glucose and gastric emptying rate (GER) were observed. The content of insulin (INS) in serum and ghrelin in gastric antrum tissue were detected by enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). The expression of growth hormone secretagogue receptor mRNA (GHSR mRNA) in gastric antrum tissue was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results:Compared with group A, blood glucose and urine glucose increased significantly (P<0.01), GER, content of serum insulin, the content of ghrelin and expression of GHSR mRNA in gastric antrum tissue decreased significantly (P<0.05 orP<0.01) in group B. Compared with group B, blood glucose and urine glucose decreased significantly (P<0.05), GER, the content of insulin in serum, the content of ghrelin and expression of GHSR mRNA in gastric antrum tissue increased significantly (P<0.05 orP<0.01) in group C. Conclusion: EA at acupoints can down-regulate the content of blood and urine sugar, and promote gastric emptying, which is possibly related to the regulation of serum insulin, and the expressions of ghrelin and GHSR mRNA in gastric antrum.

Objective To determine the expression profile of serum microRNAs(miRNAs) in early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (EO-FAD) patients. methods miRNA microarrays were performed to detect the expression profile of serum miRNAs in 2 cases of EO-FAD patients,2 cases of EO-FAD carriers and 2 cases of normal controls.Preliminary bioinformatic analysis was conducted. Result sIt was found that 21 miRNAs were up-regulated and 22 miRNAs were down-regulated in serum of EO-FAD patients,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).miR-5704(P=0.0002),miR-4639-3p(P=0.0195),miR-107(P=0.0204) were markedly up-regulated,miR-5572(P=0.0008),miR-204-3p(P=0.0014),miR-542-5p(P=0.0106) and miR-155-5p(P=0.0240) were markedly down-regulated.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis suggested that the dysregulated miRNAs may be involved in the mechanism of EO-FAD by affecting neurotrophin signaling pathway.Conclusion miR-5704,miR-4639-3p,miR-107,miR-5572,miR-204-3p,miR-542-5p and miR-155-5p may be used as potential biomarkers of EO-FAD,and involved in the mechanism of EO-FAD by affecting neurotrophin signaling pathway.

Objective To perfect the prescription knowledge discovery methods; To discover the key factors affecting the robustness of prescription therapeutic model as well as improve its recognition capability.Methods Expanded knowledge base and improved design of Chinese Medicine Prescriptions Intelligence Analytic System (CPIAS) were proposed, such as the establishment of the heuristic filtering rules of efficacy-syndrome relationship, knowledge table of efficacy-syndrome element relationship, identification of efficacy-syndrome element relationship, and syndrome element-syndrome relationship. In addition, quantitative data were calculated by CPIAS. Prescription therapeutic modeling experiments on the Chinese medicine prescriptions system were conducted based on support vector machine (CPSVM), which was also used to analyze the learning outcomes.Results Using expanded knowledge base and improved calculation results can significantly promote learning abilities of CPSVM.Conclusion Screening of efficacies, sorting of symptoms, and collection of syndrome elements are the key factors affecting the quality of prescription therapeutic model.

Objective To study the association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of SEPT14 (rs77231105,rs10241628,rs11981883,rs73701167) and sporadic PD in Chinese Han populationin of Southwest Shandong.Methods One hundred and eighty PD patients from Southwest Shandong served as PD patient group and 200 healthy subjects from Southwest Shandong served as control group in this study.The distribution frequencies of alleles and genotypes in SNP of rs77231105,rs10241628,rs11981883 and rs73701167 were compared by PCR and sequencing respectively.Results No significant difference was found in the distribution frequencies of alleles and genotypes in rs77231105,rs10241628,rs11981883 between the two groups (P＞0.05).The distribution frequency of rs73701167 was significantly higher in PD patient group than in control group (31.1％ vs 20.5％,OR=1.75,95％CI=1.261-2.428,P=0.001).Conclusion The SNP of SEPT14 rs77231105,rs10241628 and rs1198188 are not associated with PD,the SNP of rs73701167 is associated with PD in Chinese Han population of Southwest Shandong.The allele C is a risk factor for PD.

OBJECTIVETo determine the role of Bmi-1 in the submandibular gland (SMG) of mice.

METHODSSMG of 4-week wild-type (WT) and Bmi-1 null (Bmi-1(-/-)) mice was analyzed on the weight, salivary flow rate, hematoxylin-eosin staining morphological differences and the changes in proliferation and aging by histology, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with WT mice, the average static salivary flow rate [WT:(0.21 ± 0.02) µg/min,Bmi-1(-/-): (0.10 ± 0.02) µg/min] (P = 0.001) and the submandibular gland weight [WT: (1.89 ± 0.15) µg], Bmi-1(-/-): [(1.34 ± 0.07)µg] (P = 0.003) of the male Bmi-1(-/-) mice were significantly decreased, the number of gland duct increased, and the granular convoluted duct showed reduced diameter and branches. More senescence-associated β-galactosidase positive cells existed in SMG of Bmi-1(-/-)mice (WT:0.00, Bmi-1(-/-): 0.18 ± 0.02), and Ki-67 immunopositive cells decreased in SMG of Bmi-1(-/-) mice (WT:0.40 ∼ 0.47, Bmi-1(-/-): 0.18 ∼ 0.20) (P = 0.000). The expression of p16 (WT:1.00 ± 0.12, Bmi-1(-/-): 0.00 ± 0.00) (P = 0.003) and p19 (WT:0.97 ± 0.09, Bmi-1(-/-): 5.09 ± 0.21) (P = 0.004) were up-regulated dramatically in SMG of the Bmi-1(-/-) mice.

CONCLUSIONSBmi-1 gene deficiency causes abnormal function of SMG by inducing senescence phenotype of SMG.

Animals ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Submandibular Gland ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Objective:To improve awareness about infratentorial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF).Methods:Three cases of DAVF in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from September 2017 to September 2019 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of clinical features, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, brain imaging and treatment, and followed up through telephone call.Results:Case 1: A 43-year-old woman, in chronic but acute aggravated course, presented with weakness of both lower limbs and urination and defecation dysfunction. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed abnormal signal in medulla. CSF analysis demonstrated aquaporin-4 antibodies positive. Misdiagnosed as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, the treatment was poor. Then digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed DAVF at the left infratentorial area, and endovascular treatment was operated. Relapse was not observed in two-year follow up. Case 2: A 57-year-old woman, in chronic progressive course, mainly manifested as memory loss, but progressed with dysphagia, fever, coma. Treatment as “central nervous infection” was poor. Then DSA showed DAVF at the bilateral transverse-sigmoid sinus area, and endovascular treatment was operated with embolized partial fistulas. The patient died from lung infection within two months. Case 3: A 52-year-old man, in subacute course, was treated in the Gastroenterology Department with clinical manifestion of stubborn nausea and vomiting. Brain MRI revealed abnormal signal in medulla, with prominent vessel flow voids nearby. Then DSA showed DAVF at the craniocervical junction, and endovascular treatment was operated. Relapse was not observed in six-month follow up.Conclusions:DAVF has a variety of clinical manifestations, and infratentorial DAVF can manifest as acute neurological dysfunction involving the brain stem, cerebellum, spinal cord, which may be easily misdiagnosed. When brain MRI showed intracranial abnormal signal, the possibility of DAVF should be considered. DSA remains the gold standard to diagnose DAVF. Endovascular embolization is the main treatment of infratentorial DAVF at present. Prognosis depends on clinical presentation and fistula classification.