To investigate the effects of icariin, an effective extract from traditional Chinese medicine Epimedium pubescens with the function of tonifying kidney, in promoting osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cell line C3H10T1/2, and to explore the underlying mechanism.

AIM: To explore the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of hypobaric hypoxia on allergic asthmas guinea pigs. METHODS：After the model of asthma was established with ovalbumin(OA) challenge in OA sensitized guinea pigs, the animals were randomized into the asthmas group(AG), the alleviative group(ALG) and hypobaric hypoxia treated group(HHTG). The levels of plasma cortisol and endothelin(ET), ET in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were determined by radioimmunoassay. The pulmonary pathological changes were observed with optical microscope. RESULTS:(1) Infiltration of eosinophils (EOS) in alveolar septum was found in AG and ALG, while it was reduced in HHTG. (2) The level of plasma cortisol was significantly higher in AG than in normal control group(NCG) (P＜0.01).But it was significantly lower in ALG than in NCG(P＜0.01), there was no difference in plasma cortisol level between HHTG and NCG. (3) The content of ET in plasma was significantly higher in ALG than that in NCG, AG and HHTG(P＜0.01), and ET level in BALF was significantly higher in AG than that in NCG, ALG and HHTG(P＜0.05),however, no significant difference was found among the latter three groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: After the treatment with hypobaric hypoxia, the ET levels of the plasma and BALF were decreaced and the content of plasma cortisol was increaced, and infiltration of EOS in alveolar septum was decreaced in asthmatic guinea pigs.That may be one of the mechanisms by which hypobavic hypoxia prevents and cures asthma.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion combined with zero-profile anchored spacer (ROI-C) application on cervical spondylosis.Methods:Eighty-nine patients, consisting of 58 males and 31 females, who received anterior cervical discectomy and fusion combined with zero-profile anchored spacer (ROI-C) application in First People's Hospital of Guiyang from May 2015 to May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 138 segments were fused. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications and their incidence were recorded. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, Visual Analogue Scale score, and Neck Disability Index score were used to evaluate clinical effects of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion combined with ROI-C application. Imaging examination was performed to determine cervical curvature, intervertebral space height of fused segments, interbody fusion rate and changes in adjacent segments. The stability and long-term effects of postoperative cervical spine were evaluated.Results:All 89 patients were followed up for (25.6 ± 6.8) months (range 12-36 months). In 53 patients who underwent single-segment fusion, operative time was (85.54 ± 12.53) minutes and the amount of blood loss was (58.45 ± 10.24) mL. In 25 patients who underwent two-segment fusion, operative time was (115.57 ± 16.42) minutes and the amount of blood loss was (92.62 ± 12.44) mL. In 9 patients who underwent three-segment fusion, operative time was (148.63 ± 19.42) minutes and the amount of blood loss was (118.54 ± 11.25) mL. In 2 patients who underwent four-segment fusion, operative time and the amount of blood loss were 188 minutes and 175 mL, respectively in one patient and they were 214 minutes and 225 mL in another patient, respectively. With time went during 1 week to 12 months after surgery, Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was greatly increased, Neck Disability Index score was remarkably decreased, and Visual Analogue Scale score was also significantly decreased ( F = 11.25, 26.35, 20.26, all P < 0.05). Swallowing discomfort occurred in only 2 (2.2%) patients. No patients had incision hematoma, infection, hoarseness or choking cough. At 1 week to 12 months after surgery, cervical curvature and the height of intervertebral space of fused segments were superior to those before surgery (both P < 0.05). At 12 months after surgery, X-ray examination revealed bony fusion with no loosening and displacement of fusion cage and no obvious degeneration of adjacent segments. Conclusion:Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion combined with ROI-C application for the treatment of cervical spondylosis exhibits great therapeutic effects because it can greatly alleviate patient symptoms and improve cervical function.