Objective To determine the therapeutic effect of recombined rat insulin-like growth factory 1 gene and transforming growth factor beta-1(TGF-?_1)gene on anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)- induced osteoarthritis-like changes in NZW rabbit knee joints.Methods Eighteen NZW rabbits were divided into 3 groups randomly after osteoanhritis was established by ACLT and another six rabbits were used as normal control group(group 1).Chondrocytes which had been transfected with IGF-1 gene,co-transfected with TGF-?_1 and IGF-1 gene(group 3,4)were injected into the rabbits knee joints.Experimental control group(group 2)only had ACLT bul was not transfected.After 4,8 weeks,rabbits were sacrificed and their joints were evaluated by morphological grades,histological examination,in situ hybridization examination,immunohistochemistry exami- nation,and transmission electron microscopy examination(TEM).Results The morphological grades showed that the normal control group had a very significant difference with the experimental control group(P

BACKGROUNDRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune inflammatory disorder. Many methods have been used to observe the progress of RA. The purpose of this study was to observe the progress of RA in rats with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and arthritis score, and analyze the relationships among different methods in evaluation of RA.

METHODSSixteen healthy Sprague Dawley (SD) rats about 8-week old were randomly assigned to a RA group and a control group. Bovine type II emulsified incomplete Freud's adjuvant was used to induce arthritis in the RA group. Arthritis score of the rats in two groups were recorded, and (18)F-FDG PET/CT, MR imaging were performed both on the corresponding rats every 3 days. All the rats were sacrificed at week 5, and histopathological examination was performed on rat knees stained with haematoxylin and eosin.

RESULTSThe arthritis score and the standard uptake value (SUV) of knee joints in RA rats increased with the progression of arthritis gradually. Both peaks of arthritis score and SUV appeared at 21 days after the first immune injection, then the arthritis score and SUV of knee joints decreased slowly. The arthritis scores of knee joints in RA rats were positively correlated with their SUV changes. The MR images were confirmed by the histopathological studies.

CONCLUSIONPET/CT can detect the earliest molecular metabolism changes of RA, and MR imaging can follow up the dynamical anatomical changes of RA, all of which indicated that PET/CT and MR imaging may be applied as useful tools to monitor the progress of RA.

Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVEThe Jiangu decoction is used in the treatment of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis in clinical experiences, which has functions of tonifying kidney and activating blood, and invigorating spleen to remove phlegm. The decoction is mainly composed of Radix Polygoni Multiflori, Rhizoma alismatis Rhizoma Drynariae, haw, medlar, Radix Astragali, radix rehmanniae, angelica, Radix Codonopsis, radix salviae miltiorrhizae, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, licorice, pharmaceutical composition. This study was designed to investigate the influence of Jiangu decoction on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) in the femoral head of rabbits with steroid-induced femoral head necrosis.

METHODSEighteen adult SPF healthy New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups: control group, model group, Jiangu decoction group. The rabbits of Jiangu decoction group orally received Jiangu decoction suspension with a dose of 10 ml/kg each day and the drug content was 0.719 g/ml. The rabbits in control and model groups were given saline with a dose of 10 ml/kg. The methylprednisolone sodium succinate was injected intramuscularly into left leg with a dose of 40 mg/kg. Then the rabbits were fed continuously for 3 weeks. The glucocorticoid levels, PPARgamma and plasma glucocorticoid levels in the femoral head were measured before and after modeling.

RESULTSBefore model established, the plasma glucocorticoid levels had no significant difference among three groups (P=0.301). At 3 weeks after model established,the plasma glucocorticoid level of rabbits in model group increased compared to the control group (P=0.001); and the plasma glucocorticoid level of rabbits in Jiangu decoction group decreased compared with model group (P=0.001). The glucocorticoid level in the local femoral head of rabbits in model group increased compared to the control group (P=0.001); and the glucocorticoid level in the local femoral head of rabbits in Jiangu decoction group decreased compared with model group (P=0.001). The PPARgamma level in the local femoral head of rabbits in model group increased compared to the control group (P=0.018);and the PPARgamma level in the local femoral head of rabbits in Jiangu decoction group decreased compared with model group (P=0.033).

CONCLUSIONThe Jiangu decoction is effective to inhibit the femoral head adipogenic differentiation by decrease the PPAR content, so as to prevent and treat steroid-induced femoral head necrosis.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Glucocorticoids ; blood ; toxicity ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; PPAR gamma ; analysis ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study is to investigate the influence of mechanical properties and sintering performance by adding 5% weight percentage aids to nano-compound zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramics.

METHODSMicrometer Al2O3 and nanometer ZrO2 (quality ratio 4:1) were used to get 55% volume percentage slurry. Magnesium oxide and titanium oxide were taken as aids which were 5% weight percentage of the Al2O3 and ZrO2 powder. Five groups (number 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 group) were divided according to different proportion of aids. After gel-casting, the porcelain pieces were sintered at 1150, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1450, 1500, 1600 degrees C for 2 hours. Static three-point flexure strength, line shrinkage, relative density were measured and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe section.

RESULTSNumber 1 (MgO 1%, TiO2 4%) group had the highest bending strength. It was (401.78+/-19.50) MPa after sintering at 1600 degrees C for 2 hours and was higher than 0 group (380.64+/-44.50) MPa. Bending strength became lower than 0 group when MgO was more than 2% or more than that weight percentage of ZTA powder. When MgO content was higher than 2% or more than that weight percentage, there was no difference in relative density raising rate between each sintering assistants groups. When the sintering temperature was higher than 1200 degrees C, all groups showed obvious line-shrinkage and the groups which contained sintering assistants were all was higher than 0 group.

CONCLUSIONAdding MgO and TiO2 aids from 1% to 4% weight percentage of ZTA will promote fritting and increase ZTA nano-compound ceramics mechanical properties. Adding 2% MgO aids or more than that weight percent will has no obvious help to increase the relative density raising rate of ZTA nano-compound ceramics and will degrade the mechanical properties of ZTA nano-compound ceramics.

Aluminum Oxide ; Dental Porcelain ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Temperature ; Titanium ; Zirconium

OBJECTIVESTo discuss the therapeutic choices of erectile dysfunction (ED) and to improve the therapeutic efficacy for different ED cases.

METHODSTwo hundred and twenty-seven patients with ED were treated repectively with psychological treatment(31 cases), oral testosterone(30 cases), Viagra(121 cases), psychological treatment + Viagra (16 cases), intraurethral PGE1 (8 cases) and intracavemous injection(21 cases).

RESULTSAmong those ED patients, 142 (62.6%) cases reported improved erections after they had undergone above-mentioned therapies. The improved patients include 12 cases(38.7%) with psychological treatment, 9 cases (30.0%) with oral testosterone, 91 cases (75.2%) with Viagra, 13 cases (81.3%) with psychological and Viagar, 2 cases (25.0%) with intraurethral PGE1 and 21 cases (71.4%) with intracavemous injection.

CONCLUSIONSED is a highly individualized disease, therapeutic choices of ED based on patient's situation can benefit those patients.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Aged ; Alprostadil ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Psychotherapy ; Purines ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Sulfones ; Testosterone ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo provide guidance for selection and breeding of Pesudostellaria heterophylla, agronomic traits of 3 mainly cultivated form of P. heterophylla were observed and compared in Guizhou shibing.

METHODThirteen agronomic traits of P. heterophylla from 3 cultivation form were measured and the traits were analyzed using multiple comparison, correlation analysis, multiple stepwise regression analysis and path analysis.

RESULTThe results showed that agronomic traits were different in 3 cultivation form, significant(P <0.05)or very significant correlated (P <0.01)among multiple agronomic traits, the width and the number of root, the first branch number, cleistogamous flowers, length and width of leaves, and the aboveground biomass were the main factors that affected the underground biomass, and the number of root, the aboveground biomass had a directly positive effect on the underground biomass. Meanwhile, whole length, length and width of leaves, cleistogamous flowers etc. had direct or indirect effect on the underground biomass.

CONCLUSIONAboveground biomass would be as the best indirect selection traits on breeding high yield of P. heterophylla, the first branch number, width of leaves and cleistogamous flowers world be as a better auxiliary index on breeding high variety of P. heterophylla.

Agriculture ; economics ; Animals ; China ; Hemiptera ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Regression Analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between morphological characteristics of growth cycle for Epimedium acuminatium and accumulation level of secondary metabolites.

METHODAfter making habitat clear, methods of morphology observation, specimen preparation, organism charting were applied to record morphological characteristics of E. acuminatium at different stages. HPLC was employed to detect icariin content of different parts of the plant at the stage of vegetative growth and sexual reproduction.

RESULTThe growth cycle of E. acuminatium was divided into vegetative growth stage and sexual and asexual reproduction coexistence stage. Seven to eight years were needed for the plants flowering and seeding of E. acuminatimcan in open land of forest edge, but within good nutrition conditions, growth cycle is shortened into three to four years. The difference of icariin content in two growth stages was not significant.

CONCLUSIONMorphological change of lower and foliar organ can be utilized to estimate growth age. But after applying sexual propagation for both root and stem of grown plants, it's been difficult to determine their growth year. If individual biomass or yield is economical, plants can be harvested in both vegetative growth and sexual reproduction stages.

Biomass ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Epimedium ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Reproduction ; Seedlings ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo discuss the diagnostic approaches of neurogenic erectile dysfunction(ED), and to improve the diagnostic efficacy.

METHODSTwo hundred and one patients with ED were evaluated by physical examination, IIEF-5, intracavernous injection, colour duplex ultrasonography and bulbocavernosus reflex latency, respectively.

RESULTSAmong those ED patients, 173, 201, 106, 57 and 27 cases had undergone above-mentioned examines, 13 neurogenic ED and 188 miscellaneous(and unknown-causes) ED were diagnosed.

CONCLUSIONSNeurogenic erectile dysfunction is a common disorder, the diagnostic approaches should be based on patient's situation.

Adult ; Aged ; Erectile Dysfunction ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; innervation ; Severity of Illness Index ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUNDDermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) are common inflammatory myopathies whose immunopathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. The NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a type of cytoplasmic multiprotein inflammasome and is responsible for the activation of inflammatory reactivations. Responding to a wide range of exogenous and endogenous microbial or sterile stimuli, NLRP3 inflammasomes can cleave pro-caspase-1 into active caspase-1, which processes the pro-inflammatory cytokines pro-interleukin (IL)-1β and pro-IL-18 into active and secreted IL-1β and IL-18. The NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in infectious and sterile inflammatory diseases. However, it remains unclear whether it is involved in the pathogenesis of DM/PM, which we aim to address in our research.

METHODSIn this study, 22 DM/PM patients and 24 controls were recruited. The protein and RNA expression of IL-1β, IL-18, NLRP3, and caspase-1 in serum and muscle samples were tested and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels were significantly higher in DM/PM patients than those in the controls by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, DM vs. control, 25.02 ± 8.29 ng/ml vs. 16.49 ± 3.30 ng/ml,P < 0.001; PM vs. control, 26.49 ± 7.79 ng/ml vs. 16.49 ± 3.30 ng/ml,P < 0.001). Moreover, the real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that DM/PM patients exhibited higher RNA expression of IL-1β, IL-18, and NLRP3 in the muscle (for IL-1β, DM vs. control, P= 0.0012, PM vs. control, P= 0.0021; for IL-18, DM vs. control, P= 0.0045, PM vs. control, P= 0.0031; for NLRP3, DM vs. control, P= 0.0017, PM vs. control, P= 0.0006). Moreover, the protein expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in muscle samples of DM/PM patients were also significantly elevated compared to that in the muscles of the controls.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings demonstrate that the NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in the pathogenesis of DM/PM. High NLRP3 expression led to elevated levels of IL-1β and IL-18 and could be one of the factors promoting disease progress.

Adult ; Caspase 1 ; analysis ; genetics ; Dermatomyositis ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammasomes ; physiology ; Interleukin-18 ; analysis ; genetics ; Interleukin-1beta ; analysis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Polymyositis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo provide new germplasm materials for breeding new varieties of Pseudostellaria heterophylla.

METHODThe method of single plant selection was adopted, with the comparative experiments being carried out under the same conditions in Shibing county. The 8 plants of Shibing SB-4 were compared respectively with factor analysis for 27 phenotypic traits and 8 yield traits, and single factor variance analysis for the contents of polysaccharides.

RESULTUsing factor analysis, 27 phenotypic traits were classified into 7 principal divisors and 8 yield traits were simplified into 3 principal divisors. The 4 strains of P. heterophylla, ZT-01, ZT-02, ZT-06 and ZT-07, performed better than others in the phenotypic traits, and ZT-01, ZT-02, ZT-03 and ZT-07 in the yield traits. The contents of polysaccharides of ZT-01, ZT-02, ZT-05 and ZT-08 showed significantly higher value.

CONCLUSIONThere is significant difference among the 8 strains of P. heterophylla in phenotypic traits, yield traits and quality traits, making it possible to select certain strains for different purposes. ZT-01 and ZT-02 can be breaded further. ZT-06 and ZT-07 were used as ornamental cultivars for its great phenotypic traits. ZT-03 with good resistance and high yield was taken as resistant variety, and ZT-05 would face next selection on the basis of its high content of polysaccharide.

Breeding ; Caryophyllaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; China ; Phenotype ; Polysaccharides ; analysis