ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of superficial surround needling plus quadriceps femoris training in treating knee osteoarthritis and observe electromyographic amplitude variations by knee osteoarthritis.MethodNinety patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 45 cases each. The treatment group received superficial surround needling plus quadriceps femoris training and the control group, acupuncture alone. Both groups were treated for two weeks. Pre-treatment and post-treatment knee joint functions were scored and compared using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Lysholm Knee Score Scale and the electromyographic integral value. Meanwhile, electromyography was performed and electromyographic amplitude variations by knee osteoarthritis were compared between the two groups of patients.ResultThe total efficacy rate was 88.9% in the treatment group and 60.0% in the control group. It was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the VAS score, the Lysholm score and the electromyographic integral value were significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionSuperficial surround needling plus quadriceps femoris training has a marked therapeutic effect on knee osteoarthritis.

Objective To determine the effect of high dose albumin on permeability of blood brain barrier (BBB) in brain of rats after ischemic-reperfusion (IR) in order to explore its possible mechanism.Methods Establishment of brain ischemic reperfusion rat model by using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).Medicine treatment was given by caudal vein injection after 2 hours of MCAO.Thirty-six healthy male SD rats were then randomly (random number) divided into 6 groups (n =6 in each):6 h and 24 h sham-operation groups (Group Sham:operation without ischemia),6 h and 24 h normal saline groups (Group NS:NS injection 5 ml/kg) and 6 h and 24 h albumin group (Group Alb:25 ％ Alb injection 1.25 g/kg).Six hours and 24 hours after the end of reperfusion,rats were measured by Zea-Longa score (neural function deficit) separately.Serum concentration of S100B was examined by the ELISA kit and Evans blue in brain tissue was detected by spectrophotometer.The level of AQP4 was examined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.All data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA),The intergroup comparisons were analyzed by the least-significant-difference (LSD) test by using SPSS version 17.0 software.Differences were considered statistically significant if P ＜ 0.05.Results Zea-Longa score significantly increased in both group NS and group Alb at 6 h and 24 h (P =0.000).However,there was no significant difference in ZEA-LONGA score of 6 h and 24 h between group Alb and group NS (P =1.000).The serum concentration of S100B in group NS 6 h was significantly lower than that in group Alb at 6h (196.67±20.11 vs 160.04±14.00,P=0.000),and at24h (2.45±0.07 vs.2.23±0.07,P=0.000).Furthermore,concentration of Evans blue in brain tissue in group Alb was significantly higher than that in group NS at both 6 h (0.97 ± 0.08 vs.0.74 ± 0.06,P =0.000) and 24 h (2.45 ± 0.07 vs.2.23 ± 0.07,P =0.000).The expression of AQP4 in brain tissue was higher in group Alb than that in group NS at both 6 h (0.72 ±.0.11 vs.0.57 ± 0.06,P ＜ 0.01) and 24 h (0.80 ± 0.03 vs 0.61 ± 0.02,P ＜0.01).Conclusions High dose albumin contribute slightly in improvement of neural deficit in rats after IR.On the contrary,it can also aggravate the IR injury,which increases brain edema then increase the permeability of BBB.The mechanism may be associated with over-expression of AQP4 in brain tissue.

Objective To assess whether pregnancy affects the survival of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC), compared with non-PABC. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of PABC patients.PABC cases and non-PABC cases were matched with 1:2 according to T stage, molecular classification, age of onset and year of diagnosis.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate DFS and OS, and Log rank test was used for comparison.Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors that affect the prognosis of PABC. Results We enrolled 35 patients in the PABC group (pregnancy: 10;postpartum: 25), and 70 patients in the non-PABC group.The median follow-up time was 68.5 and 70.7 months, respectively.The 5-year DFS was 51.6% in the PABC group, and that of the non-PABC group was 72.8%(χ²=4.72, P=0.029);the 5-year OS of the PABC group and the non-PABC group were similar (χ²=1.769, P=0.183).Cox regression analysis showed that pregnancy was an independent risk factor for DFS of PABC patients (P=0.011). Conclusion Patients with breast cancer during pregnancy have a higher risk of recurrence.Further research is necessary to diagnose pregnancy-associated breast cancer earlier and adopt measures to improve the curative effect.

Objective:To evaluate the role of histone demethylase (JMJD3) in drug-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice.Methods:Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 20-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n =6 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group), AKI group, a specific JMJD3 inhibitor GSKJ4+ control group (GSKJ4 group), and GSKJ4-AKI group.Folic acid 250 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally to develop AKI model.GSKJ4 20 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 1 h before developing AKI model in GSKJ4-AKI group and at the corresponding time point in GSKJ4 group.Blood samples were collected at 72 h after development of AKI model for determination of serum BUN and Cr concentrations.The animals were then sacrificed and renal tissues were collected for microscopic examination of histopathological morphology (using HE and PAS staining) and for determination of cell apoptosis (by TUNEL) and expression of JMJD3, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 (by Western blot), the number of JMJD3, myeloperoxidase (MPO), F4/80 and CD3 positive cells, expression of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, and expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) mRNA (by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction). The damage to the renal tubules was scored. Results:Compared with C group, the serum BUN and Cr concentrations and renal tubular damage score were significantly increased, the number of JMJD3, myeloperoxidase (MPO), F4/80 and CD3 + positive cells was increased, the number of apoptotic cells was increased, and the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, JMJD3 and IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1 mRNA was up-regulated in AKI group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in GSKJ4 group ( P>0.05). Compared with AKI group, the serum BUN and Cr concentrations and renal tubular damage score were significantly decreased, the number of JMJD3, myeloperoxidase (MPO), F4/80 and CD3 positive cells was decreased, the number of apoptotic cells was decreased, and the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, JMJD3, and IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1 mRNA was down-regulated in GSKJ4-AKI group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism of drug-associated AKI may be related to up-regulation of JMJD3 expression and thus induces cell apoptosis and inflammatory responses in mice.

Chitinase AO-801 is a hydrolase secreted by Arthrobotrys oligospora during nematode feeding, while its role remained elusive. This study analyzed the molecular characteristics of recombinant chitinase of Arthrobotrys oligospora (reAO-801). AO-801 belongs to the typical glycoside hydrolase 18 family with conserved chitinase sequence and tertiary structure of (α/β)8 triose-phosphate isomerase (TIM) barrel. The molecular weight of reAO-801 was 42 kDa. reAO-801 effectively degraded colloidal and powdered chitin, egg lysate, and stage I larval lysate of Caenorhabditis elegans. The activity of reAO-801 reached its peak at 40˚C and pH values between 4-7. Enzyme activity was inhibited by Zn2+, Ca2+, and Fe3+, whereas Mg2+ and K+ potentiated its activity. In addition, urea, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and 2-mercaptoethanol significantly inhibited enzyme activity. reAO-801 showed complete nematicidal activity against C. elegans stage I larvae. reAO-801 broke down the C. elegans egg shells, causing them to die or die prematurely by hatching the eggs. It also invoked degradation of Haemonchus contortus eggs, resulting in apparent changes in the morphological structure. This study demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of reAO-801, which laid the foundation for further dissecting the mechanism of nematode infestation by A. oligospora.

The incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is very high in China, which seriously threatens human life and health. There were limited treatment options for advanced HCC in the past, and the overall survival of HCC patients was poor. In recent years, immuno-therapy and targeted therapy have been recommended as effective means for the treatment of advan-ced HCC. The authors report a case of advanced huge HCC which has achieved a maintained partial response for 6 months after the treatment of atezolizumab combined with bevacizumab. The tumor shrunk by 32.4% and 47.5% after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Besides, the alpha-fetoprotein and abnormal tumor protein value of the patient continued to decrease without any adverse reactions. The treatment is evaluated as partial response and patients has a good short-term effect.