Aim To study the effect of the total flavonoids of turpinia arguta seen (TFS) on immune function of rats with adjuvant arthritis. Methods Adjuvant arthritis (AA) was induced on d0 by intradermal injection of Complete Freund′s Adjuvant (FCA), containing 10 mg heat-inactive BCG in 1ml paraffin oil. On d 28 after immunization, AA rats were killed by cervical decollation. Immune cells (splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages) were obtained, then cultured in vitro with TFS. Some immune indexes were detected respectively such as the splenocytes proliferation and the productions of IL-1 and IL-2 were measured by the method of cell proliferation, the production of prostaglandin E2 was determined by radioimmunoassay. Results Compared with normal groups, the response of splenocytes to ConA and LPS was lowered, IL-2 syn-thesis was decreased, and IL-1 and PGE_2 released from PM? were elevated. TFS (10~ -8 ~10~ -4 mg?L~ -1 ) not only increased splenocytes proliferation, which induced by ConA and LPS, and IL-2 production of splenocytes, but also reduced the elevated productions of IL-1 and PGE_2 released from peritoned macrophate in AA rats in vitro. Conculsion TFS could adjust abnormal immune function in AA rats.

OBJECTIVETo explore syndrome and treatment laws for treating diseases of the pulmonary system by establishing database based on clinical works by modern famous veteran doctors of Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSClinical experience and literature of medical records in clinical works by modern famous veteran doctors of CM were taken as data source. Database was established by fields and program design. On these bases, data mining methods such as frequency analysis, cluster analysis, factor analysis, and correlation laws were performed in syndrome and treatment laws for treating diseases of the pulmonary system.

RESULTSEstablished were database capable of literature searching, information statistics, data mining of modern famous veteran doctors of CM. A total of 34,414 data were input, including medical records and notes 28,045 items (81.49%) and clinical experience 6,369 items (18.51%). In medical records and notes, there were 14,048 items (50.09%) in male and 9,466 items (33.75%) in female, and the ratio of male to female was 1.48:1. There were 4,531 items (16.16%) with no marked gender in medical records or notes. Data mining such as correlation analysis, cluster analysis, factor analysis, correlation laws in more fields could be realized.

CONCLUSIONSMedical records and notes were dominated in data collected in this paper. The prevalence of pulmonary diseases was obviously higher in males than in females. The trend of concentrated manifestations in related fields for pulmonary diseases could be surfed by this database. Diagnosis and treatment laws for treating diseases of the pulmonary system could be found by various adaptive data mining targeting different fields. Multi-variables of symptoms, syndromes, prescriptions, and herbal drugs could be data mined in large samples of clinical literatures.

Data Mining ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Veterans

Recently, novel Psidium meroterpenoids were reported in the guava leaves. According to careful analysis of the spectral data of literatures, the spectroscopic characteristics and biosynthetic pathway of Psidium meroterpenoids were summarized in this paper. The results showed that Psidium meroterpenoids had distinct spectroscopic features and reasonable biosynthetic routines, however the number order of carbon atoms was not consistent in the reported literatures. It was concluded that Psidium meroterpenoids were the characteristic chemical constituents of Psidium guajava Linn.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Psidium ; chemistry ; Spectrum Analysis ; Terpenes ; chemistry

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopigmentation ; diagnosis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo test the safety and accuracy of the computer-assisted orthopaedic system for distal locking of intramedullary nails and apply it to internal fixation with intramedullary nails in the lower limb.

METHODSAccording to the theory of mechanical arms stereotactic localization in computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery (CAOS), we design a CAOS system for distal locking of intramedullary nails. The system comprised 2 independent modules: computer-assisted imaging and registration workstation; mechanical stereotactic framework. Ten plastic tibia models, 20 plastic femur models (Synbone AG, Malans, Switzerland) and 6 human cadaver lower limbs were randomly divided into 2 groups undergoing internal fixation with intramedullary nails (Orthofix, Germany). The first group (CAOS group with 5 plastic tibia models, 10 plastic femur models, 6 human cadaver tibia, 6 human cadaver femur; each nail had 2 holes, and 2 distal locking screws were inserted in each bone, which gave a total number of 54 holes) used a computer-assisted orthopaedic system, the second group (CONTROL GROUP is the same as CAOS group) used Orthofix mechanical targeting device for distal locking. Comparison between 2 groups was made in radiation exposure time, operating time, percentage of correctly placed screws.

RESULTSCAOS group: operating time was (4.44 +/- 2.99) min; radiation exposure time was (1.16 +/- 0.38) min; correctly placed screws rate was (100 +/- 0)%.

CONTROL GROUPoperating time was (10.42 +/- 4.18) min; radiation exposure time was (4.71 +/- 3.86) min; correctly placed screws rate was (94.44 +/- 0.36)%. Operating time and radiation exposure time in CAOS group were significantly shorter than those in control group (P < 0.05), no differences were found between 2 groups in relation to the percentage of correctly placed screws.

CONCLUSIONSBy using CAOS system for distal locking of intramedullary nails, the locking holes can be drilled accurately and safely. Radiation exposure significantly reduced.

Cadaver ; Equipment Design ; Femur ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Models, Anatomic ; Random Allocation ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; Tibia ; surgery

Aim To observe the analgesic effect of doxorubicin ( DOX) on chronic sciatic nerve constric-tion injury (CCI) rat model, and analyze the underly-ing mechanism from the ultrastructure of sciatic nerve ganglion and the expressions of some apoptotic pro-teins.Methods A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group ( Sham ) , CCI model group ( Model ) , sham operation+DOX 5 mg· kg -1 group ( Sham+DOX) , CCI mod-el +DOX 5 mg· kg -1 group (Model+DOX).DOX was given by caudal vein injection after model estab-lishment .Sham group and model group were given the same amount of saline . The mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency were deter-mined by behavioral test .The ultrastructural changes of L4-5 DRG were examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy , respectively .The pro-tein expression levels of Bax , Bcl-2 , PKCɑ, PKCδand PKCε in DRG tissues were determined by Western blot.Results The fluorescence of DOX was found in DRG after DOX was given intravenously .In compari-son with sham group , the thermal and mechanical pain thresholds had no obvious changes in sham +DOX group, while the thresholds were decreased obviously seven days after surgery in model group .In comparison with model group , the pain thresholds in model +DOX group increased significantly , which lasted for the en-tire observation time of six days .The ultra-structure of tissues was damaged obviously in both sham +DOX group and model+DOX group.The protein expression of Bax/Bcl-2 increased, while the expressions of PKCδand PKCεdecreased with DOX injection .Conclusions DOX can retrograde and reach the DRG tissues after intravenous administration . The attenuation effect of DOX on neuropathic pain is related to the apoptosis in-duced by the down-regulation of PKCδ and PKCε in DRG cells.

Objective To investigate the clinical method of closing defect and regain the sensory on forefoot injury.Methods Lateral tarsal artery,flap was designed as a reverse flow flap to close forefoot de- fect in dorsal lateral foot while perforating branche of lateral tarsal artery as turning point.Lateral cutaneous nerve was inosculated to lateral plantar fascia.Donor site was covered by skin-grafting.Results seventeen cases survived satisfactorily with good shape and regaining sensory.Conclusion Lateral tarsal artery flap can be used in coveraged of forefoot defect.Lateral tarsal artery flap was thin flap with good shape and to regain the sensory of forefoot.

OBJECTIVEUsing the method of bleeding from the orbital vein and lancing to make the animal model of trauma, and to observe the influence of reinforcing Qi strength spleen in the expression of bFGF and EGF in the reparative process of raw surface, in order to explore the possible mechanism of reinforcing Qi strength spleen in promoting the rehabilitation of soft tissue.

METHODSForty healthly adult SD rats were made to be traumatic model using the method of bleeding from the orbital vein and lancing. After operation, there were 33 rats survival, which were divided into the reinforcing Qi strength spleen group, the activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis group and the model group randomly. The raw surface and ambient normal skin were taken at the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after operation to detect the expression of bFGF and EGF by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSAt the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after operation, the expression of bFGF and EGF in the tissue of raw surface of the reinforcing Qi strength spleen group and the activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis group was obviously higher than that of the model group(P < 0.05). Compared with the activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis group, the expression of bFGF and EGF in the tissue of raw surface of the reinforcing Qi strength spleen group was higher (P < 0.05) in the 3rd and 7th day after operation. But in the 14th after operation, there was no significantly difference between reinforcing Qi strength spleen group and activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis group.

CONCLUSIONThe method of reinforcing Qi strength spleen can efficiently promote the expression of bFGF and EGF in raw surface of serious soft tissue injury.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Spleen ; drug effects ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), its ligand RANKL, and osteoprotegerin, and observe the effects of αD3 on their expressions in male rats at different ages.

METHODSWistar rats at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 24 months (n=15) were examined for mRNA expressions of RANK/RANKL and osteoprotegerin in the left proximal femur using RT-PCR and for their protein expressions in the right femur using immunohistochemistry. RANK/RANKL and osteoprotegerin expressions were also detected in another 15 rats aged 24 months following intragastric administration of 0.05 µg/kg αD3 (3 times a week for 10 weeks).

RESULTSCompared with 6-week-old rats, 6-month- and 24-month-old rats showed a 6.2-fold and 7.3-fold increase of RANKL mRNA expression, respectively (P<0.05), and osteoprotegerin mRNA levels increased slightly with age. αD3 treatment resulted in significantly increased expression of RANK in 24-month-old rats with a lowered RANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio. RANKL and osteoprotegerin were co-localized in the osteoblasts and chondrocytes. αD3 treatment also caused an increased expression of osteoprotegerin mRNA in 24-month-old rats.

CONCLUSIONThe age-related increase of the ratio of RANKL/osteoprotegerin mRNA promotes osteoclast activity and bone turnover. αD3 has favorable effect on osteogenesis and suppress bone absorption in the femur possibly by reducing RANK expression and lowering RANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Chondrocytes ; metabolism ; Femur ; metabolism ; Male ; Osteoblasts ; metabolism ; Osteoprotegerin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RANK Ligand ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To analyze the dynamic changes of dendritic ceils (DCs) and their subsets plasmacytoid DC (pDC) and myeliod DC (mDC) in peripheral blood of renal transplantation patients,and to confer the relationship between DCs subsets and graft rejection.Methods White blood cells (WBC) and mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) in peripheral blood of 28 renal transplantation recipients (test group) were measured before operation and at 1st,7th,28th day after operation.The number of DCs and subsets,and pDC/mDC were detected by using flow cytometry,and IL-10 and IL-12 levels were determined by using ELISA before and after operation.Ten volunteers (control group) served as controls.Results The levels of DCs,pDC and mDC before operation in test group were lower than in control group (P＜0.05),but there was no statistically significant difference in pDC/mDC ratio between two groups (P＞0.05).The number of DCs in test group was significantly decreased on the first day after operation up to the lowest level,then slowly increased,and recovered 73.7 ％ at 28th day after operation.The number of mDC and pDC was also decreased after operation,but mDC recovered faster than pDC (P＜0.05).On the day 7th after operation,the number of mDC in the recipients with graft rejection was higher than in those without graft rejection in test group (P＜0.01 ).There was no significant difference before and after operation in the levels of IL-10 and IL-12 in test group.Conclusion The number of DCs and subsets are related to the recipients' immune state,and their abnormality displays unstable immune state of recipients.The number of DCs and subsets can be used as an assistance index to diagnose graft rejection.