OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of tendons of minimally invasive therapy (TMIT) combined drug therapy by comparing it with treatment by drug therapy alone on patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODSTotally 60 KOA patients were assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to random digit table, 30 in each group. Patients in the control group took Hydrochloric Acid Glucosamine Capsule and Celecoxib Capsule. Patients in the treatment group additionally received TMIT. The treatment course for all was 4 weeks. Scores for visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index were observed and recorded at week 1 and 4 after treatment by acupotomology mirror.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, improvement was shown in VAS score, pain and stiffness degrees, activities and functions, and WOMAC scores at week 1 and 4 after treatment in all patients with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Besides, better effect was shown in the treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTMIT combined drug therapy could relieve KOA patients' pain, stiffness and joint activities, elevate the overall efficacy. TMIT was easily operated with less injury.

Celecoxib ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; Pain ; Pain Measurement ; Tendons ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; pathology ; surgery

Hepatitis E ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis E virus ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis

BACKGROUND: Whether remnant preservation can improve proprioception of knee joint remains a controversy. Direct detection of proprioceptor, nerve growth and electrophysiological changes in the grafting tendon of remnant preservation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction can objectively evaluate the effect of remnant preservation on proprioception recovery. OBJECTIVE: To establish the animal models of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with remnant preservation (femoral tensioning and augmented suture), with remnant preservation (graft passing remnant anterior cruciate ligament sheath) and without remnant, and to compare the differences in postoperative knee proprioception among methods. METHODS: Ninety-six New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into control group, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction groups with remnant preservation (femoral tensioning and augmented suture), with remnant preservation (graft passing remnant anterior cruciate ligament sheath) and without remnant (n=24/group). At 3, 6 and 12 weeks after surgery, electrophysiological examination of knee joint was performed. The mRNA expression of neurotrophic factor 3 was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The number of proprioceptor in graft tendon in the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction groups was detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) At postoperative 3, 6 and 12 weeks, there were no significant differences in mRNA expression of neurotrophic factor 3, number of proprioceptor and electromyography hamstring among anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction groups (P＞ 0.05). (2) To conclude, there is no significant difference in the proprioception recovery of knee joint between anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with and without remnant preservation.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of a novel biomaterial in repairing large cranial defects in rats.

METHODSEighteen SD rats were used to establish rat modes of large cranial defect (8 mm in diameter). The rat models were randomized into 3 groups and the cranial defects were repaired using different scaffold materials, namely CPC paste prepared with distilled water (CPC control group), CPC paste mixed with 10% chitosan (CPC/CN group), or CPC paste with 10% chitosan and 300 mg adenosine (CPC/CN/AD group). The defects were examined 12 weeks after the surgery with X-ray, CT, HE staining and quantitative assessments.

RESULTSX-ray showed that the defect was repaired in all the groups. The fracture line became obscure and the defects were almost fully repaired by regenerated bone tissues in CPC/CN/AD group, which was consistent with CT findings. In all the 3 groups, HE staining revealed the presence of new bones in the defects and new vessels in and around the new bones without inflammatory cells. The new bone area was significantly greater in CPC/CN/AD group than in CPC/CN group and CPC control group (P<0.05). The new vessel density was the highest in CPC/CN/AD group (P>0.05) but similar between CPC/CN group and CPC control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis novel calcium phosphate cement pre-loaded with chitosan and small molecule adenosine can better promote bone regeneration than calcium phosphate cement for repairing large bone defects to serve as a good replacement material for bone regeneration.

OBJECTIVE1H magnetic resonance (1H MR) spectroscopic technique in combination with pattern recognition technique were applied to analyze toxic effects of rats which were intratracheally instilled with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) as well as to detect the target organs and biomarkers associated with the toxic effects.

METHODSTwenty-four SD male rats were divided into 4 groups randomly which were high dose group (40 mg/kg nano-TiO2), moderate dose group (4 mg/kg nano-TiO2), low dose group (0.4 mg/kg nano-TiO2) and control group (0.9% NaCl solution) respectively, there were six rats per group. All rats were exposed to the object by single intratracheally instilling at a volume of 0.1 ml/100 g. After one week observation, 1H MR spectra of plasma were measured and analyzed by principal component analysis. Histopathologic examination for tissues such as heart, lung, liver, and kidney were performed simultaneously.

RESULTSThe relative content of lactate [(37.86+/-2.58)x10(-3)], citrate [(2.21+/-0.45)x10(-3)], choline [(7.74+/-0.76)x10(-3)] and creatine [(4.17+/-1.15)x10(-3)] in high dose group were significantly decreased as compared with those [(52.07+/-5.12)x10(-3), (3.01+/-0.21)x10(-3), (9.28+/-0.78)x10(-3), (8.59+/-2.64)x10(-3)] in control group (t values were -6.024, -3.177, -3.374, -4.215 respectively, P<0.05), however the relative content of glucose [(19.41+/-1.72)x10(-3)] was significantly increased compared with that [(14.45+/-2.45)x10(-3)] in control group (t value was 2.802, P<0.05). The relative content of lactate [(44.39+/-5.09)x10(-3)] and creatine [(3.67+/-0.76)x10(-3)] in moderate group was significantly decreased compared with those [(52.07+/-5.12)x10(-3), (8.59+/-2.64)x10(-3)] in control group (t values were -3.254, -4.694 respectively, P<0.05). The relative content of pyruvate [(3.84+/-0.70)x10(-3)] was significantly increased in low dose group as compared with that [(3.13+/-0.46)x10(-3)] in control group (t value was 2.787, P<0.05), however the relative content of creatine [(8.10+/-0.72)x10(-3)] was significantly decreased compared with that [(9.28+/-0.78)x10(-3)] in control group (t value was -2.602, P<0.05). No significant difference was found between other experimental groups and control group. No visible damage was found in histopathologic examination.

CONCLUSIONLung, liver, kidney and heart were the target organs of rats which were intratracheally instilling titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Lactate, pyruvate, glucose, citrate, choline and creatine can be presumed as the biomarkers when searching the target organs of the toxic effects.

Animals ; Male ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Plasma ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Titanium ; administration & dosage ; toxicity

BACKGROUNDStudies have shown that abnormal activation of the sonic hedgehog pathway is closely related to tumorigenesis in central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the role of the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway in the occurrence of brainstem and supratentorial glioma.

METHODSReal-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of sonic hedgehog-related components in 5 specimens of normal brain tissue, 10 of grade II brainstem glioma, and 10 of grade II supratentorial glioma. The significance of differences between two groups was determined using the Mann-Whitney U test or the two-sample test according to the results of normality distribution tests.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression levels of sonic hedgehog-related genes were higher in brainstem astrocytomas than in supratentorial astrocytomas and normal brain tissue. The level of protein patched homolog 1 (PTCH1) was significantly higher in brainstem astrocytomas than in supratentorial astrocytomas and normal brain tissue (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemistry semi-quantitative analysis was consistent with the qRT-PCR result that PTCH1 expression was increased significantly in brainstem astrocytomas at the protein level (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEnhanced PTCH1 expression and activation of the sonic hedgehog pathway are involved in brainstem glioma. This may be related to the difference in malignant biological behavior between brainstem and hemispheric glioma, and could be an ideal therapeutic target in brainstem glioma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Astrocytoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Brain Stem Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Glioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hedgehog Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patched Receptors ; Patched-1 Receptor ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; physiology ; Supratentorial Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hypoglycemic characteristics of hospitalized elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODSFrom January, 2014 to December, 2015, the data of 58 565 blood measurements using a standard blood glucose monitoring system (BGMS) were collected from 1187 cases of patients with type 2 diabetes during hospitalization in the Department of Endocrinology, Guangdong General Hospital (Guangzhou, China). Stratified analyses were conducted by dividing the patients into 3 age groups, namely <45 years group (128 cases), 45-64 years group (594 cases), and ≥65 years group (465 cases). The incidence and time distribution of hypoglycemia in these patients were compared among the 3 age groups.

RESULTSThe risk of hypoglycemia increased with age. Compared with those below 45 years of age, the patients beyond or equal to 65 years had a significantly increased hypoglycemic density (0.95% vs 0.40%, P<0.001), a higher proportion of patients with hypoglycemia (28.17% vs 10.94%, P<0.001), and greater patient-days with hypoglycemia (4.48% vs 1.76%, P<0.001). In the elderly patients, hypoglycemia occurred most frequently before dawn, at which time the hypoglycemic density was 2.66% in patients ≥65 years of age, significantly higher than that in patients below 45 years (1.09%, P<0.05) and between 45 and 64 years (1.90%, P<0.05); the proportion of patients with hypoglycemia was also significantly higher in the elderly patients (14.57%) than in those below 45 years (3.77%, P<0.02) and between 45 and 64 years (9.42%, P<0.02). The proportion of patients with recurrent hypoglycemia (≥2 times) was significantly higher in patients ≥65 years (13.33%) than in younger patients (2.34% in <45 years group and 9.43% in 45-64 years group, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe hypoglycemic risk in hospitalized elderly patients with T2DM is significantly higher than that in younger patients, especially before dawn and in terms of recurrent hypoglycemia. Clinicians should develop differential blood glucose monitoring and management strategies for these elderly patients to improve the clinical safety.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of IFN-λ1 in respiratory epithelial cells of children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and its relationship with RSV load.

METHODSThe nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from the children who were hospitalized with respiratory tract infection from June 2015 to June 2016. A direct immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the antigens of seven common respiratory viruses (including RSV) in the nasopharyngeal swabs. A total of 120 children who were only RSV positive were selected as the RSV infection group. A total of 50 children who had negative results in the detection of all viral antigens were selected as the healthy control group. Fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the RSV load and the expression of IFN-λ1 mRNA in the nasopharyngeal swabs of children in the two groups.

RESULTSThe expression of IFN-λ1 in the RSV infection group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P<0.05). The expression of IFN-λ1 was positively correlated with RSV load (r=0.56, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRSV can induce the expression of IFN-λ1 in respiratory epithelial cells, suggesting that IFN-λ1 may play an important role in anti-RSV infection.

Antigens, Viral ; analysis ; Child, Preschool ; Epithelial Cells ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Interleukins ; analysis ; physiology ; Male ; Nasopharynx ; microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; immunology ; virology ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo study the role of carbamyl phosphate I (CPS-I)and ornithine transcarbamoylase (OCT) levels in cirrhosis patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy, and to analyze the correlations between CPS-Iand OCT with the development of hepatic encephalopathy.

METHODSCPS-I, OCT, plasma ammonia and liver function of 95 cirrhosis patients with hepatic encephalopathy and 25 cirrhosis patients without hepatic encephalopathy in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2009 were analyzed. 60 healthy controls were recruited in the control group. The differences of serum CPS-I, OCT levels among the cirrhosis patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy and the healthy controls were analyzed; the correlations of CPS-I, OCT levels with plasma ammonia and total protein in cirrhosis patients,and the correlations of CPS-I, OCT levels with Child-Pugh classification of cirrhosis symptom severity in cirrhosis were analyzed. the clinical characteristics between patients who had HE and no HE with chi-square tests were compared. Comparisons of CPS-I, OCT levels across patients based on the Child-Pugh classification were performed with One-Way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls, correlation of CPS-I, OCT with other indicators were performed with Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSSerum CPS-I and OCT levels in cirrhosis patients with hepatic encephalopathy were (143.3+/-48.5) U/L, (297.0+/-102.6) is multiplied by 10 U/L, which were lower than that in cirrhosis patients without hepatic encephalopathy (180.3+/-51.5) U/L, (351.8+/-109.0) is multiplied by 10 U/L (t = 2.53, t = 2.78, P < 0.01). Compared with healthy controls, serum CPS-I and OCT levels in cirrhosis patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy were all lower (t = 3.21, t = 4.16, t = 2.12, t = 3.15, P < 0.05). CPS-I was correlated with OCT, (r = 0.946, P < 0.05); CPS-I and OCT were negatively correlated with ALT and AST (r = -0.284, r = -0.239, r = -0.303, r = -0.322, P < 0.05). Additionally, CPS-I and OCT levels were negatively correlated with the Child-Pugh classification in Cirrhosis (F = 10.13, F = 20.28, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe serum CPS-I and COT levels were important factors affecting plasma ammonia in patients with cirrhosis and played an important role in the development of hepatic encephalopathy.

Adult ; Ammonia ; blood ; Carbamoyl-Phosphate Synthase (Ammonia) ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; blood ; enzymology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase ; metabolism