Objective: To compare the efficacy of moxibustion with different doses for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and explore the correlation between moxibustion dose and clinical efficacy. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with KOA who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a 20-minute moxibustion group and a 40-minute moxibustion group by the random number table method, with 34 cases in each group. Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4) and Heding (EX-LE 2) were used for moxibustion in the two groups. Each treatment lasted 20 min or 40 min for each point in the 20-minute moxibustion group and 40-minute moxibustion group, separately; the treatment was given 3 times a week and lasted for 4 weeks. The visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster University osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores were evaluated before and after treatment to compare the efficacy between different moxibustion doses for KOA. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate was 87.5％ in the 40-minute moxibustion group, versus 70.0％ in the 20-minute moxibustion group, and the difference in the total effective rate between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the VAS scores, the total WOMAC scores and the component scores of pain, stiffness and dysfunction, and the TCM symptom scores in both groups all changed significantly when compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05). After treatment, the between-group differences in the VAS score, the total WOMAC score and the component scores of pain and dysfunction, and the TCM symptom score were statistically significant (all P<0.05), while the difference in the stiffness score in WOMAC showed no statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion: Either 20-minute moxibustion or 40-minute moxibustion can relieve pain, improve stiffness, dysfunction, and TCM symptoms for KOA; and 40-minute moxibustion is better in relieving pain, improving dysfunction and TCM symptoms.

A BBB co-culture cell model consisting of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) and astrocytes (AS) was established to study the effect of Angelica dahurica coumarins on the transport behavior of puerarin across blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vitro and in vivo. The barrier function of this model was evaluated by measuring the transendothelial resistance, phenol red permeability and BBB related protein expression. The permeability assay and western blot methods were performed to study the effects of Angelica dahurica coumarins on the BBB permeability and the expression of BBB related protein. The animal experiment protocols in this study were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Xi'an Jiaotong University (Animal Ethics No.: 2021-1329). The results showed that the established BMEC/AS co-culture model could be used to evaluate drug transport across BBB in vitro. After combined with Angelica dahurica coumarins, the transport capacity of puerarin was significantly increased in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, Angelica dahurica coumarins enhanced BBB permeability and inhibited the protein expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin. Angelica dahurica coumarins might increase BBB permeability by inhibiting the expression of P-gp and tight junction protein, thereby increasing the content of puerarin in brain tissue.

Objective To explore the correlation of CT perfusion imaging with microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE).Methods Multi-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging was performed in 27 patients with HAE.Time-density curves(TDC) of the HAE peripheral area was drawn from the region of interest (ROI) with perfusion functional software.CT perfusion parameters including blood flow ( BF ),blood volume ( BV ),mean transit time(MTT) and permeability surface area product (PS) were calculated.MVD and VEGF expression of pathological specimens were examined by immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD34,anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody.The CT perfusion parameters,MVD and VEGF were compared in different types of TDC with t test.The correlation of CT perfusion parameters with MVD and VEGF were analyzed with Spearman test.Results In this group,21 cases which TDC lower than that of the liver were classified as type Ⅰ,the others 6 cases TDC higher than the liver were of type Ⅱ TDC.TDC perfusion parameters of the two types were as follows,BF:( 111.7 + 27.6),( 158.9 + 39.5 ) ml · 100 g- 1 · min - 1,BV:( 15.1 + 6.2),(26.8+8.4) ml/100 g,MTT:(7.0+4.4),(7.7+3.1) s,PS:(51.7 +17.3),(51.0+20.5) ml·100 g-1 · min-1.The significant differences of BF,BV and MVD[ (20.5 +5.4)/HP,(37.2 ±7.5)/HP,respectively ] were found between two types ( t =- 7.897,- 18.783,- 5.223,P ＜ 0.05,respectively).There were no significant differences in MTT,PS and VEGF expression(2.1 ± 1.0,3.2 ± 1.0,respectively)between two types of TDC(P ＞0.05).The correlation was found between the MVD and BF and BV in the type Ⅱ TDC group( r =0.789 and 0.878,respectively) and no correlation was found between MVD and each CT perfusion parameters in the type Ⅰ TDC group ( P ＞ 0.05 ).There was no correlation between the VEGF expression and CT perfusion parameters in two types of TDC ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion CT perfusion imaging with different type of TDC reflected different situation of angiogenesis in HAE peripheral area,which could be a potential technique to illustrate the microcirculation of this disease.

Objective To measure serum surfactant protein (SP) A and D levels in patients with interstitial lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Serum SP-A and SP-D levels of RA,RA-ILD patients and healthy controls were assessed using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The relationship between SP-A and SP-D and RA-ILD was analyzed.The serum SP-A and SP-Dpositive rate was calculated for the three groups.The correlation between SP-A and SP-D with RF,anti-CCP,antinuclear antibody,antikeratin antibody,anti-perinuclear factor,C-reactive protein,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,were analyzed.Mean value of groups were compared with variance analysis,Spearmam rank correlation test was used for correlation analysis.Results The levels of serum SP-A in RA-ILD patients and RA patients as well as in healthy controls were [ (51.2±9.2),(25.9±2.6),( 15A±0.3 ) μg/L] respectively.The level of serum SP-D of the three groups was [ ( 42.5 ±8.1 ),(20.8 ± 1.5 ),( 16.6±0.8 ) μg/L ] respectively.The levels of serum SP-A and SP-D in patients with RA complicated with ILD were higher than those simple RA patients and healthy controls (P＜0.05).The levels of serum SP-A and SP-D in patients with RA were not significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P＞0.05).The positive rate of serum SP-A and SP-D in RA-ILD patients were significantly higher than those in simple RA patients and healthy controls.The positive rate of serum SP-D of RA-ILD patients was higher than that of SP-A.The levels of serum SP-A and SP-D in patients with RA complicated with ILD were correlated positively with age,C-reactive protein.The level of serum SP-D was correlated positively with RF,anti-CCP,antikeratin antibody.There was no correlation between the level of serum SP-A and SP-D with RA-ILD and antinuclear antibody,antiperinuclear factor,erythrocyte sedimentation rate.Conclusion The levels of serum SP-A and SP-D are correlated with RA-ILD and may be useful markers for ILD in patients with RA.These two paramenters may be helpful to early diagnosis of RA-ILD.The Serum SP-D levels are more sensitive in predicting the development of RA-ILD than other parameters and can help in assessing the severity of lung damage.

Background A main cause of visual impairment in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment due to contraction of fibrovascular membrane.To explore the pathogenic mechanism of fibrovascular membrane is a new target for the prevention and management of PDR.Objective This study was to determine the change in expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) and pigment epithelium derived factor(PEDF) in the proliferative membranes of patients with PDR after intravitreal injection of avastin,an anti-VEGF agent.Methods This study was approved by the Medical Ethic Committee of Tianjin Medical College,and written informed consent was obtained from each patient before enrollment.A prospective randomized-controlled study was designed.Twenty-six eyes of 24 patients with PDR scheduled for surgery were enrolled from January to June,2008 in Tianjin Medical College Eye Hospital.The patients were randomized into the simple vitrectomy group and avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group,with matched gender,age and disease duration.1.25 mg (0.05 ml) of avastin was intravitreally injected prior to surgery,and vitrectomy was performed 10 days after injection in the avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group,and only vitrectomy was given in the simple vitrectomy group.Preretinal membrane was collected during the surgery.Expression of VEGF,CTGF and PEDF in the preretinal membranes was assayed by immunochemistry.Results VEGF,CTGF and PEDF were expressed in the cytoplasm.The rate of VEGF expression in the preretinal membranes was 30.77％ in the avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group,showing a significant reduction in comparison with the simple vitrectomy group(100.00％)(U =4.000,P＜0.01).The rate of expression CTGF was remarkable elevated in the avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group compared with the simple vitrectomy group (92.31％ vs.62.54％)(U=7.500,P=0.048).However,no significant difference was found in the expression rate of PEDF between the two groups(100.00％ vs.92.31％) (U =65.500,P =0.299).Conclusions The results suggest that intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs resulted in the decrease of VEGF expression and increased CTGF expression in proliferative membranes from patients with PDR.

Background Doxycycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic,and it is frequently used in the treatment of ocular surface diseases.Objective The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of doxycycline on the inhibition of cell proliferation in bovine corneal myofibroblasts in vitro and assess its contribution to ocular surface repairing mechanism.Methods Six fresh bovine corneas were collected.The corneal stromal layer was isolated by two-step method of 1.0 g/L and 2.0 g/L collegenase-1.Isolated cells were plated at mantaryay culture flask in 10％ FBS of RPMI-1640.Vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) organization were evaluated by immunocytochemistry,and the cells with influoresccence staining for vimentin and α-SMA were identified as the corneal myofibroblasts.Doxycycline at the concentrations of 10,20,40,60,80 mg/L was added to the medium,respectively,in different concentrations of doxycycline groups.Dexamethasone (120 mg/L)was used in the same way in the positive control group,and no drug was used in the negative control group.Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT and the cell cycle was analyzed by BD FACScan flow cytometer assay 24 hours and 48 hours after addition of any drug.Results The cells grew well and showed the positive response for vimentin and α-SMA.MTT assay showed that the A570values of bovine corneal myofibroblasts were gradually declined with the increase of the concentration of doxycycline and lapse of active time,showing statistically significant difference (Fconcentration =1233.778,P＜0.001 ; Ftime =227.564,P ＜ 0.001).And the difference between the two factors was also statistically significant (Ftime*concentration =51.656,P＜0.001).Flow cytometry cell cycle analysis showed that 24 hours after 10,20,40,60,80 mg/L doxycycline treated,the perentage of of corneal myofibroblast cell in G0-G1 phase was 82.85％,84.36％,85.18％,87.12 ％ and 89.31％,showing significant increase in comparison with 63.89％ of the negative control group (all P＜0.05),and that of 40 mg/L doxycycline group was near the positive control group.Forty-eight hours after 10,20,40,60,80 mg/L doxycycline treated,the perentage of of corneal myofibroblast cell in G0-G1 phase was 82.78％,86.15％,88.23％,89.57％,93.00％,with significant increase in comparison with 70.17％ of the negative control group (all P ＜ 0.01),and that of 40 mg/L doxycycline group was near the positive control group.Conclusions The growth of the bovine corneal myofibroblasts is inhibited by doxycycline in time-and dosedependent manner in the range from 10 mg/L to 80 mg/L,and 40 mg/L of doxycycline has an obviously inhibitory action as 120 mg/L dexamethasone.

?AlM: To investigate the expression of miR-181 in the lens tissue of cataract and the regulating mechanism of miR-181 on apoptosis of human lens epithelial cell.
?METHODS:Real time q-PCR was used to measure the expression of miR-181 in the anterior lens capsules of age - related cataract and human lens epithelial cell apoptosis model. miR- 181 mimic and inhibitor were transfected using Lipofectamine 2 000 to regulate the expression of miR-181, and then Real time q-PCR was used to verify transfection efficiency. Flow cytometry was used to detect the change of cell apoptosis rate.
? RESULTS: Compared with control group, the expression of miR-181 was significantly higher in both the anterior lens capsules of age-related cataract and human lens epithelial cell apoptosis model; the relative expression of miR-181 in lens epithelial cells transfected with miR-181 mimic was increased, whereas decreased in cells transfected with miR-181 inhibitor;the apoptosis rate of cells transfected with miR - 181 mimic was increased, while reduced in miR-181 inhibitor group. Each result was statistically significant (P<0. 01).
?CONCLUSlON:High expression of miR-181 is detected in anterior lens capsule of age-related cataract. miR-181 might play a certain role in the pathogenesis of cataract via promoting human lens epithelial cell apoptosis. miR-181 probably becomes a new approach for the nonoperative treatment of cataract, but the concrete mechanism still needs to be further studied.

Objective To study the potential of multi-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging in the assessment of cerebral neoplasms.Methods Multi-slice helical CT perfusion imaging was performed in 38 patients with cerebral tumors.The perfusion imaging of the tumor was carried out by cine scan technique (ls/1 rotation) with slice thickness 5 mm/4i,reconstructed slice thickness 10 mm/2i.Contrast injection was done by using 50 ml nonionic contrast agent(300 mg I/ml),at a flow rate of 3.5 ml/s with a power injector,and 5 seconds delay,and data acquisition lasted for 45 seconds.The scanning images were processed in ADW 4.0 workstation.BF、BV、PS values of tumors were calculated and statistically analysed. Results 38 patients with cerebral neoplasms included 9 cases of gradeⅠ—Ⅱgliomas(group 1),10 cases of gradeⅢ—Ⅳgliomas (group 2),9 eases of metastases (group 3)and 10 cases of meningiomas (group 4).All raw data was transformed to square root so as to be consistent with normal distribution.BF~(1/2) values for groupl to group 4 were (5.99?1.03)、(7.55?1.57)、(7.72?2.02 )、(11.40?2.13)ml?rain~(-1)?kg~(-1).The differences in BF~(1/2) were statistically significant between group 1 and group 2,between group 1 and group 3,between group 1 and group 4,between group 2 and group 4,between group 3 and group 4(t_(1,2)=6.89,t_(1,3)=4.59,t_(1,4)=11.03,t_(2.4)=10.58,t_(3,4)=7.65,P＜0.05),and there was no statistically significant difference between group 2 and group 3(t_(2.3)=1.17,P＞0.05);BF~(1/2) values for groupl to group 4 were (1.01?0.19)、(1.42?0.38)、(1.25?0.33)、(1.60?0.24)ml?kg~(-1).The differences in BF~(1/2) were statistically significant between every two groups (t_(1,2)=7.15,t_(1.3)=3.71, t_(1.4)=5.93,t_(2.3)=2.94,t_(2,4)=2.72,t_(3.4)=4.46,P＜0.05 );PS~(1/2) values for groupl to group 4 were (1.70?0.37)、(3.63?0.95)、(4.29?1.30)、(5.69?1.03)ml?min~(-1)?kg~(-2).The differences in PS~(1/2) were statistically significant between every two groups(t_(1.2)=11.53,t_(1.3)=10.61,t_(1.4)=16.77,t_(2.3)=3.69, t_(2,4)=9.94,t_(3,4)=5.52,P＜0.05).Conclusion Multi-slice helical CT perfusion imaging is very useful to evaluate tumor vessels of cerebral neoplasmas and it can provide information of incremental benefit in diagnosis,in staging of tumor grade,in the distinction of benign from maglignant cerebral neoplasmas and in differentiating intracerebral neoplasmas from extracerebral neoplasmas.

Aimed at feasibility of microbiological control of Chironomidae larvae in sourcewater, Shenzhen, China, the functional characters of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Iaraelensis to Chironomus kiiensis tokunaga were studied for the first time. In this study, bioassays were carried out with third-instar larvae, results showed that the LC 50 s(24h) were 24.2 and 32.6 mg/L for Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Iaraelensis IPS82 and 187 respectively. Tests in fermentation of IPS82 show good correlations between toxicity, cell density, dissolved oxygen and spore-forming phase. The tests on environmental factors influencing toxicity to Chironomus kiiensis tokunaga showed that sunlight is the most important factor, shortening the half life of Bti from 21 days in dark to 10 days; temperature variations(15～30℃) caused no impact on toxicity, but 35℃ increases 16% of larvae mortality. The toxicity of IPS82 is relatively insensitive to change pH deviated from 7 to 11, due to drop of larvae mortality from 66.7 to 40%, at pH of 3, to 16%; its toxicity is stable in low larva density (

The thyroid–like follicular renal cell carcinoma is an extremely rare kind of kidney neoplasms with unique clinicopathological features. The definitive diagnosis relies mainly on characteristically histological morphology, immunophenotype and clinical data. A case of thyroid-like follicular renal cell carcinoma with typically morphological character was reported. The patient suffered from low back pain, frequent urination, with the renal MR showing the right renal sinus nodule.The mass was located at the lower pole of the right kidney-close to the renal portal below the renal pelvis. After receiving simple resection of the right kidney tumor, the case was diagnosed as thyroid-like follicular renal cell carcinoma by pathological examination,and no recurrence or metastasis was observed after 6-month follow up.