Objective To reveal the main interests in studies of Kashin-Beck disease by analyzing the key words in Chinese papers on Kashin-Beck disease .Methods Chinese papers on Kashin-Beck disease were retrieved from CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wanfang digital journal full-text database.A co-word matrix was generated by abstracting their key words which were analyzed by gCLUTO clustering .Results The studies on Kashin-Beck disease were centered on the role of fusarium metabolic toxins and fulvic acid in pathology of Kashin-Beck disease, etiology of Kashin-Beck disease, functional change in Kashin-Beck disease patients, relation between Kashin-Beck disease and geological envi-ronment, monitoring and X-ray diagnosis of Kashin-Beck disease, surgical treatment of Kashin-Beck disease, preven-tion and treatment efficiency analysis of Kashin-Beck disease.Social network figure showed that etiology of Kashin-Beck disease, relation between Kashin-Beck disease and geological environment, monitoring and X-ray diagnosis of Kashin-Beck disease, surgical treatment of Kashin-Beck disease, prevention and treatment efficiency analysis of Kashin-Beck disease were the hot spots in studies of Kashin-Beck disease at present.Conclusion The research subjects determined by co-word clustering analysis are consistent with the interests in studies of Kashin-Beck disease in China at present.

ObjectiveTo prospectively compare the effects of Prestige LP cervical disc replacement with those of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in treatment of cervical disc herniation.MethodsFrom January 2008 to March 2010,a total of 87 patients were enrolled at our site as study investigating ACDF versus Prestige LP cervical disc prosthesis.Forty-four patients received the investigational device (arthroplasty group) and 43 underwent a single-level ACDF (fusion group).Visual analogue scale(VAS) neck/arm pain,Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) score,Short Form-36 (SF-36) both physical and mental,flexion-extension range of motion of operative and adjacent segments were evaluated preoperatively and 1 week and 3,6,12,24 months postoperatively.ResultsA total of 78 patients (89.7％) were followed up for an average 12.4 months(range,6-24).Both groups have favorably demonstrated improved functional outcomes for JOA,VAS scores and SF-36.The improvement in the VAS and JOA scores were equivalent at each follow-up point between the two groups(P＞0.05).However,arthroplasty group had statistically significant improvement as assessed by the SF-36 scores compared with the fusion group at some follow-up points (P＜0.05).In arthroplasty group,the postoperative range of motion of operative and adjacent segments showed no statistical difference with the preoperative counterpart(P＞0.05),and fusion was successful in 92.1％ of control patients.ConclusionPrestige LP cervical disc replacement is a feasible alternative to ACDF for patients with persistently symptomatic cervical disc disease and matching the inclusion criteria.

Objective To investigate the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on early and mid-term knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods 70 patients were randomly assigned to ESWT group (n=34) or control group (n=36). The ESWT group was given shock wave on unilateral knee, while the control group accepted shock wave with the energy density of 0. They were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on movement, Lequesne Index and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index before and 12 weeks after the intervention. Results The scores of VAS, Lequesne Index and WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index improved more in the ESWT group than in the control group after intervention (P<0.01). Conclusion ESWT is effective on KOA as a non-surgical treatment.

Objective To provide the evidence for cooperation in research on Kashin-Beck disease in China by ana-lyzing the research competence of authors in papers on Kashin-Beck disease and their cooperation .Methods Papers on Kashin-Beck disease were retrieved from 4 commonly used Chinese perodical databases .Key words Information was collected and organized using BICOMS to produce a co-words matrix,atlas of co-words was plotted using NetDraw, the data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0.Results Of the 3454 authors engaged in research of Kashin-Beck disease from 1957 to 2012,81 published 15 or more than 15 papers.Cluster analysis showed that these 81 authors were from Institute of Endemic Diseases,Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical School; Institute of Kashin-Beck Disease,Chinese Center for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control;Jilin No.2 Center for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control;Centers for Disease Prevention and Control of China Academy of Sciences , Henan Province and Gansu Province .Conclusion A large number of researchers are engaged in research of Kashin-Beck disease .Their research interest and charac-teristics are clear.However, the cooperation between different institutions is weak and should be strengthened.

LRP16 is a novel gene which was found in our laboratory by using methylation-sensitive restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS) technique. In order to clone the full-length cDNA of this leukemia relapse associated gene, the method of rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) was employed. By optimizing some procedures of RACE method, the 5'- and 3'-untranslated region of LRP16 cDNA was successfully sequenced. Then, the full length of LRP16 cDNA and open reading frame (ORF) was constructed and was registered in GenBank. The above-mentioned procedure demonstrated RACE technique is a rapid and sensitive method for cloning unknown gene. Especially, it is very useful to cloning the 5'- and 3'-untranslated region of a novel gene.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on cavernous nerve (CN) regeneration and functional status in a nerve-crush rat model. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: eight had a sham operation, eight underwent bilateral nerve crushing with no further intervention and eight underwent bilateral nerve crushing with an immediate application of PRP on the site of injury. Erectile function was assessed by CN electrostimulation at 3 months and nerve regeneration was assessed by toluidine blue staining of CN and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase staining of penile tissue. Three months after surgery, in the group that underwent bilateral nerve crushing with no further intervention, the functional evaluation showed a lower mean maximal intracavernous pressure (ICP) and maximal ICP per mean arterial pressure (MAP) with CN stimulation than those in the sham group. In the group with an immediate application of PRP, the mean maximal ICP and maximal ICP/MAP were significantly higher than those in the injured control group. Histologically, the group with the application of PRP had more myelinated axons of CNs and more NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerve fibres than the injured control group but fewer than the sham group. These results show that the application of PRP to the site of CN-crush injury facilitates nerve regeneration and recovery of erectile function. Our research indicates that clinical application of PRP has potential repairing effect on CN and peripheral nerves.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electric Stimulation ; Erectile Dysfunction ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; NADPH Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Penis ; innervation ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves ; metabolism ; pathology ; Platelet Transfusion ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Radiculopathy ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-gamma and anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-beta1, in the expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) of men with chronic abacterial prostatitis and their clinical significance.

METHODSThe levels of IFN-gamma and TGF-beta1, in the EPS of 20 patients with inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (type III A), 20 patients with non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (type Ill B) and 10 healthy men were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were analysed comparatively with NIH-chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI).

RESULTSIFN--gamma and TGF-beta1 levels were higher in III ([14.92 +/- 7. 85)], [8477.50 +/- 4612.45] ng/L) and III B ([13.74 +/- 5.96], [7946.50 +/- 5044.06] ng/L) prostatitis patients than those in the controls ([7.47 +/- 1.49], [2462.50 +/- 985.31] ng/L), P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in cytokine levels between III A and Il B prostatitis patients. No correlation was found between NIH-CPSI and cytokine levels, r = 0.02, P = 0.86, r = 0.31, P = 0.76.

CONCLUSIONIFN-gamma and TGF-beta1, play a very important role in the etiology of chronic abacterial prostatitis and can be the objective parameters in the diagnosis of chronic abacterial prostatitis.

Adult ; Bodily Secretions ; chemistry ; Chronic Disease ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Pain ; diagnosis ; Prostate ; secretion ; Prostatitis ; diagnosis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; analysis

Objective To observe the effect of Notch receptor blocker MW167 on the proliferation and apoptosis of U87 glioma cell line in vitro. Methods The inhibitory effect of MW167 on the proliferation of U87 cells was investigated by MTT assay, and flow cytometry with Annexin-FITC and PI staining was performed to detect the apoptotic rate of U87 cells after MW167 treatment. Results MTT assay demonstrated an obvious concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of MW167 on the proliferation of U87 cells. Flow cytometry showed that MW167 also concentration-dependently induced U87 cell apoptosis. Conclusion MW167 significantly inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of U87 glioma cells, suggesting the potential therapeutic value of MW167 in the treatment of human glioma. [Key wnrds] Notch signaling;MWI67;Proliferation;Apoptosis;Glioma

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) gene and hereditary susceptibility to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

METHODSPeripheral blood DNA from 315 patients diagnosed with NAFLD (including the spectrum of simple steatosis (SS) and non-alcoholic steatosis (NASH)) and 336 control subjects was used to determine the PNPLA3 genotype by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The relationship of SNPs and NAFLD-related markers of liver function were assessed by correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe SNP rs738409 was identified in more of the NAFLD patients (allele variant frequencies: NAFLD, 65.40%; NASH: 71.87%; SS, 56.47%) than in the controls (33.18%). Case-control analysis revealed that carriers of the 148GG genotype were at 3.81-fold (95% CI: 3.03 ~ 4.79) higher risk of developing NAFLD and at 1.97-fold (95% CI: 1.41 ~ 2.75) higher risk of progressing from SS to NASH, compared with non-carriers. rs738409 was also found to be associated with serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and y-glutamyltransferase (y-GT) (both P less than 0.05). Carriers of the 148GG genotype had significantly higher body mass index, ALT, and fasting insulin than carriers of the 148CC genotype (all P less than 0.05), and significantly higher level of serum HDL than carriers of either the 148CC genotype or the 148GC genotype (both P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPolymorphisms in the PNPLA3 gene may play an important role in mediating susceptibility to developing NAFLD in the Chinese population. The rs738409 polymorphism, in particular, is related to development and progression of NAFLD and may play a role in the contribution of PNPLA3 to NAFLD pathogenesis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Fatty Liver ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lipase ; genetics ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of different magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequences in diagnosis of spinal metastatic tumor.

METHODSFifteen patients with clinically suspected spinal metastatic tumor were included in this study. These patients were with documented primary tumors. Four MR pulse sequences, T1-weighted spin echo (T1WI SE), T2-weighted fast spin echo (T2WI FSE), short time inversion recovery (STIR), and gradient echo 2-D multi echo data imaging combination (GE Me-2D) were used to detect spinal metastasis.

RESULTSFifteen vertebral bodies were entire involvement, 38 vertebral bodies were section involvement, and totally 53 vertebral bodies were involved. There were 19 focal infections in pedicle of vertebral arch, 15 metastases in spinous process and transverse process. Fifty-three vertebral bodies were abnormal in T1 WI SE and GE Me-2D, 35 vertebral bodies were found abnormal in T2WI FSE, and 50 vertebral bodies were found abnormal in STIR. The verges of focal signal of involved vertebral bodies were comparatively clear in T1WI SE, comparatively clear or vague in T2WI FSE, vague in STIR, and clear in GE Me-2D.

CONCLUSIONSGE Me-2D may be the most sensitive technique to detect metastases. So three sequences (T1WI SE, T2WI FSE, GE Me-2D) can demonstrate the early changes of spinal metastasis roundly.

Cervical Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Coccyx ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; pathology ; Radiography ; Sacrum ; diagnostic imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary ; Spine ; diagnostic imaging ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging