Objective To evaluate the diagnosis and differential diagnosis among the chronic osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic cartilage lesions on the plain films and MR images. Methods Eighty-nine cases, including 115 joints, underwent plain film and MRI examination, and enhanced MRI scan was performed on 32 of them, including 44 joints. MRI scan sequences consisted of T 1WI, T 2WI+PDWI, STIR, and 3D FS SPGR. There were 90 knee joints in this group and each of the articular cartilage was divided into four parts: patella, femoral medial condyle, femoral lateral condyle, and tibia facet on MR images. The cartilage disorders were classified according to the outerbridge method. In addition, 61 cases including 75 joints were observed as a control group on the plain films and MR images. Results 115 cartilage lesions were found on MR images, in which thinness of the cartilage (58 cases, 50 4%), bone changes under the cartilage (22 cases, 19.7%), medullar edema (22 cases, 19.7%), and synovial hyperplasia (52 cases, 45.2%) were seen. The patella cartilage was the most likely affected part (81/90, 90%). So the patellar cartilage lesions were divided as group 1 (grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ) and group 2 (grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ) on MR images, which were compared with the plain film signs. The narrowing of the joint space and saccules under the articular surface were statistically significant with each other, and ? 2 values were 9.349 and 9.885, respectively (P=0.002). Conclusion No constant signs could be seen on the plain films with grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ cartilage disorders. While the narrowing joint space and saccules under the joint surface could be seen on them with grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ cartilage disorders, which were mainly correlated with the cartilage disorders and bone changes under the articular cartilages. A combination of the plain films and MR images is the best imaging method for examining the joints and joint cartilages. Enhanced MRI scan is very helpful on the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the synovial lesions.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of the homemade traditional Chinese medicine bathing prescription combined with Thymalfasin and Isotretinoin treatment for Verruca Plantaris.Methods A total of 120 patients with Verruca Plantaris were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the random number table method (each group 40). The drug therapy group was given Thymalfasin and Isotretinoin to treatment; and the Chinese medicine washing group was given traditional Chinese medicine wash-out on the basis of drug therapy; and the physical therapy group was given liquid nitrogen freezing treatment on the basis of drug therapy. All the groups were treated 12 weeks and follow-up 3 months. Four weeks were a course, and a total of 3 courses. After the treatment, the symptom grading scores (number of skin lesions, the size of skin lesions, the degree of pain and the quality of life) was compared, and the clinical effect rate was evaluated and the recurrence rate was observed.Results Twelve weeks after treatment, Chinese medicine washing group total effective rate was 97.5% (39/40), drug treatment group 87.5% (35/40), and physical treatment group 90.0% (36/40). The Chinese medicine washing group total effective rate was superior to the drug therapy and physicaltherapy groups (Z values were -3.463,-3.122,P values were 0.001, 0.002). after treatment, the number of lesions scores (2.0 ± 1.1 vs. 2.8 ± 1.5, 2.7 ± 1.6,F=3.787), the size of the lesion scores (2.3 ± 1.7 vs. 3.2 ± 1.3, 3.1 ± 1.3, F=4.657), pain degree and the quality of life scores (0.4 ± 0.5 vs. 1.0 ± 1.2, 1.0 ± 1.0,F=5.353) in the Chinese medicine washing group were significantly higher than those in the drug therapy and physical therapy groups (P<0.01). After follow-up period, the recurrence rate of Chinese medicine washing group was 10.3% (4/39), the drug treatment group 25.7% (9/35), the physical therapy group 41.7% (15/36). The difference among 3 groups was statistically significant (Z=-3.188,P<0.01).Conclusions The traditional Chinese medicine combined with Thymalfasin and Isotretinoin could reduce the number of skin lesions, narrow the range of skin lesions and reduce the degree of pain, and improve the quality of life.

Transgenic 5 × FAD mice are APP/PS1 transgenic mice carrying five familial Alzheimer's disease(AD)gene mutations.Beta-amyloid precursor protein(amyloid precursor protein,APP)expression is related to the K670N/M671L(Swedish),1716V(Florida),and V7171(London)mutations,and presenilin 1(PSI)is affected by the M146L and L286V mutations.5 × FAD mice express high levels of β-amyloid in the brain at 1.5 months old,and neuritic plaques began to appear at 2 months old.The pathological phenotypes of 5 × FAD mice include amyloid plaque aggregation,neuronal loss,gliosis,and memory dysfunction,while their biological characteristics include changes in the formation of brain β-amyloid plaques,hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein,synaptic dysfunction,neuroinflammatory response,mitochondrial dysfunction,blood-brain barrier injury,neuronal injury,endoplasmic reticulum stress,and eye lesions.As a classic animal model of AD,5 × FAD transgenic mice can simulate the neuropathological process and behavioral manifestations of late-stage AD in humans,and these mice are thus widely used in research into the pathogenesis of AD and the development of new drugs.In this review,we summarize the model construction,biological background,and biological characteristics of 5 x FAD transgenic mice,and the development and application of drugs for the prevention and treatment of AD,to provide references for the application of 5 x FAD transgenic transgenic mice in AD research.

Due to good mechanical properties and biocompatibility, tissue engineering scaffolds have become the vital method for repairing and regenerating articular cartilage defects. With the continuous development of tissue engineering technology, many scaffolds preparation and formation methods have been developed and tested in the past decade, however, the preparation of ideal regenerative scaffolds remain controversial. As load-bearing tissue inside the body joints, the matrix structure and cell composition of articular cartilage are hierarchical, and there are several smooth natural gradients from the cartilage surface to the subchondral bone layer, including cell phenotype and number, specific growth factors, matrix composition, fiber arrangement, mechanical properties, nutrient and oxygen consumption. Therefore, in the design of regenerative scaffolds, it is necessary to achieve these gradients to regenerate articular cartilage in situ. In recent studies, many new biomimetic gradient scaffolds have been used to simulate the natural gradient of articular cartilage. These scaffolds show different mechanical, physicochemical or biological gradients in the structure, and have achieved good repair effects. The related articles on tissue engineering for the treatment of articular cartilage defects were retrieved by searching databases with key wordsarticular cartilage injury, cartilage repair and gradient scaffolds. In this work,the structural, biochemical, biomechanical and nutrient metabolism gradients of natural articular cartilage were studied and summarized firstly. Then, the latest design and construction of articular cartilage gradient scaffolds were classified. Besides that, the material composition (such as hydrogels, nanomaterials, etc.) and the preparation process (such as electrospinning, 3D printing, etc.) of grandient scaffolds were further enhanced. Finally, the prospect and challenge of biomimetic gradient scaffolds in cartilage engineering are discussed, which provides a theoretical basis for the successful application of gradient scaffolds in clinical transformation.

The annual incidence of neurodegenerative disease has been increasing with the aging of the global population,seriously affecting the quality of life of elderly patients and imposing a heavy burden on society.Glycyrrhetinic acid,which inhibits neuroinflammation and protects neurons,is one of the main active ingredients of the traditional Chinese medicine Glycyrrhiza glabra.Increasing numbers of studies are focusing on the mechanism of action of glycyrrhetinic acid and its derivatives in neurodegenerative disease.This review summarizes studies on the effects and mechanisms of action of glycyrrhetinic acid and its derivatives in Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,multiple sclerosis,and cerebellar atrophy.Additionally,the future applications of glycyrrhetinic acid and its derivatives in neurodegenerative disorders are discussed.

The claustrum located between the striatum and cortex is composed of glutamate neurons and gamma-aminobutyric neurons. There are extensive and mutually projected nerve fiber connections between cerebral cortex and parietal nucleus. The claustrum integrates sensory information and regulates the formation of consciousness through various ways, playing an important role in sensory processing and cognitive functions. In this paper, the neuronal characteristics, fiber projection, physiological characteristics and consciousness integration function of the claustrum are reviewed to provide references for further understanding physiological and pathophysiological effects of the pterygoid nucleus.

Objective:To investigate the changes in the hypothalamic metabolites of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)febrile young rabbits after the treatment with pediatric tuina.Methods:A total of 30 young rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups:the normal group,the model group,and the tuina group.Both the model group and the tuina group were injected intrave-nously with LPS."Six antipyretic manipulations"(pushing Tianmen,pushing Kangong,kneading Taiyang,kneading Erhougaogu,clearing Tianheshui,and pushing Jizhu)were administered 1 h after the LPS in-jection in the tuina group.The rectal temperatures of the young rabbits were monitored during the experiment to explore the antipyretic effect.Three hours after the injection,the content of interleukin-1 β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,and prostaglandin E2(PGE2)in the serum was detected.In addition,liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)was used for the hypothalamus metabolomics.Results:Compared with the model group,the rectal temperature of the tuina group was decreased at 2 h and 3 h after the LPS injection(P=.04,P=.03,respectively),and the content of IL-1β,TNF-α,and PGE2 was decreased(P=.03,P=.003,and P=.008,respectively).The metabolomics results showed that there were 23 potential biomarkers after the tuina intervention,enriching 27 pathways.Lipid metabolites,especially glycerophospholipids,were a majority of the altered metabolites.The primary metabolic pathways affected by tuina included the arachidonic acid metabolism,the GABAergic synapse,D-gluta-mine and D-glutamate metabolism,and the glutamatergic synapse.Conclusion:Pediatric tuina reduced the temperature of the febrile rabbits and downregulated the expression of IL-1β,TNF-α,and PGE2,and the antipyretic mechanism may be related to changes in metabolites and metabolic pathways in the hypothalamus.

Objective To investigate the association between clinicopathological characteristics and familial history of malignant neoplasms (MN-FH) in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods The clinical data of 652 cancer patients in Zhengzhou University Affiliated Cancer Hospital from December 2014 to December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were grouped based on with or without MN-FH. The clinical and pathological features of the patients were analyzed by χ 2test. Results One hundred and thirty cases (19.9 %) of colorectal cancer had MN-FH. Compared with NO MN-FH group, MN-FH group had the features of low differentiation degree, late clinical stage, deep infiltration, and also prone to lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis, associated with cancer nodules, vascular thrombosis, nerve invasion, multiple primary tumor, MSI-H (χ 2values were 30.825, 12.270, 12.122, 8.502, 53.969, 4.502, 12.861, 11.680, 6.272, 17.460, all P < 0.05). Conclusions Colorectal cancer patients with MN-FH has high malignant degree,the early diagnosis and treatment are the key to survival of patients with MN-FH.

Objective:To explore the long-term efficacy of a modified unilateral cutaneous ureterostomy in bladder cancer patients receiving radical cystectomy.Methods:The medical data of 104 bladder cancer patients who underwent ureterostomy in our hospital from Janurary 2013 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into unilateral and bilateral group. The unilateral group contained 66 cases, with 53 males and 13 females, average age (71.8±9.8) years, body mass index (BMI)(23.3±3.2)kg/m 2. The bilateral group contained 38 cases, with 33 males and 5 females, average age (75.1±10.8) years; BMI (22.7±3.0)kg/m 2. There was no significant difference in the above characteristics between the two groups ( P>0.05). The pathology, survival status, long-term complications between the two groups were compared. Quality of life was assessed during follow-up using the European Core Questionnaire for Quality of Life in Cancer Patients (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results:The unilateral group contained 46(69.7%) muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) cases, 15 (22.7%) cases with lymph node metastasis, 7 (10.6%) cases with distant metastasis. The bilateral group contained 24(63.2%) muscle invasive bladder cancer(MIBC) cases, 6 (15.8%) cases with lymph node metastasis, 2 (5.3%) cases with distant metastasis. There was no significant difference in disease specific survival between the two groups ( P>0.05). During the follow-up, the incidence of overall complication rate in the unilateral group was significantly lower than that in the bilateral group [43.9% (29/66) vs. 63.2% (24/38), P<0.001]. The incidence of pyelonephritis in unilateral group was significantly lower than that in the bilateral group [16.6%(11/66) vs. 42.1%(16/38), P=0.006]. There was no statistical significance in terms of quality of life before operation in the two groups. After operation, both physical function score[(54.9±7.1) vs.(49.2±6.7)] and emotional function score [(63.1±6.4) vs.(59.9±6.7)] in unilateral group were higher than that in bilateral group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The modified unilateral cutaneous ureterostomy could achieve relatively low complication rate, and improve the quality of life to some extent compared with bilateral ureterostomy.

BACKGROUND:Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a common and disabling disease,which is mainly characterized by microcirculation disorders and bone cell metabolism disorders.Luzhongjiangu decoction was developed by Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine and used in the form of soup in the clinic,which has good efficacy in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.However,its mechanism of action has not been clarified. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect mechanism of Luzhongjiangu decoction on intestinal flora in rats with osteonecrosis of the femoral head based on 16S rDNA sequencing technique. METHODS:The model of osteonecrosis of the femoral head was established in Wistar rats by intragastric administration of retinoic acid.The therapeutic effect of Luzhongjiangu decoction was evaluated by serum hormone,bone histopathology and serum hormone levels.16s rDNA sequencing technique was used to detect the intestinal flora of rats in the blank control group,model group and middle-dose Luzhongjiangu decoction group.The corresponding library was constructed and OTU clustering and microbial community diversity and abundance analysis were carried out to determine the composition of intestinal flora and the changes of species and diversity among groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Luzhongjiangu decoction could significantly increase the expression of osteocalcin,osteopontin and other osteogenic related factors,alleviate the destruction of bone trabeculae,increase bone mineral density,and had a significant therapeutic effect on osteonecrosis of the femoral head,of which the middle dose group showed the most significant effect.The results of intestinal flora sequencing showed that Luzhongjiangu decoction improved the flora disorder of rats with osteonecrosis of the femoral head to some extent,and screened out different colonies such as Bacillus,Desulfurizans,Desulfurization,Isobacteria,Bifidobacterium and so on;it could up-regulate the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium,down-regulate the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Desulfovibrio,and improve the structure of intestinal flora.Functional prediction analysis indicated that Luzhongjiangu decoction could mainly affect amino acid metabolism and energy metabolism.Correlation analysis showed that the differential bacteria of Bifidobacterium and Intestinimonas in the middle dose group of Luzhongjiangu decoction were positively correlated with vitamin D3,estradiol and calcitonin,and negatively correlated with prostaglandin E2.In the model group,Escherichia-Shigella,Desulfovibrio,Globicatella and Streptococcus were positively correlated with prostaglandin E2 and negatively correlated with vitamin D3,estradiol and calcitonin.To conclude,Luzhongjiangu decoction may play a role in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head by regulating the structure of intestinal flora,up-regulating the abundance of beneficial bacteria and affecting the secretion of vitamin D3,estradiol,calcitonin and prostaglandin E2.