Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of exercise therapy on patients with osteoporosis according to osteoporosis quality of life scale(OQOLS)and the changes in biochemical markers of bone metabolism.Methods Totally 94 patients with primary osteoporosis were randomly divided into 2 groups:the intervention group [exercise therapy (Wu Xing Jian Gu Cao) with calcium/vitamin D supplementation for 90 days] and the control group (only calcium/vitamin D supplementation for 90 days].OQOLS and the changes in biochemical markers of bone metabolism were observed before and after treatment.Results Compared with before treatment,25-hydroxy vitamin D[25-(OH) D]levels were increased in control group (33 cases) and intervention group (29 cases) after treatment [(61.2± 11.1) mmol/L vs.(48.1±26.2)mmol/L,both P＜0.001],and the enhanced level was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (P＜0.05).Compared with before treatment,bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) was decreased in control and intervention group after treatment (both P＜0.05).There were significant differences in OQOLS in both groups between before and after treatment except for the function of physical activities in intervention group (P＜0.05).Conclusions The basic and exercise therapy can both increase [25-(OH) D] level,reduce BALP,and have clinical effects on bone metabolism,while exercise therapy has an improvement in osteoporosis quality of life in patients with osteoporosis.

Objective To evaluate the outcome of unconstrained shoulder arthroplasty for severe injury of proximal part of the humerus.Methods Twelve eases were all treated with unconstrained shoul- der arthroplasty.Six patients with complex fractures of proximal humerus and four with bone tumor in the proximal part of the humerus used hemiarthroplasty and two patients with osteoarthritis were managed with total shoulder arthroplasty.Cemented prostheses were used in all the cases.Results The average age was 65 years and the follow-up was 2.3 years.Two cases of complex fractures had light pain with limited external rotation of the shoulder.No pain or prosthetic stems loosening were found,and the range of motion and the function of the shoulder were satisfactory in other cases.Conclusion Unconstrained shoulder arthroplasty is a satisfactory and safe technique for severe injury of proximal humerus.

Objective To evaluate the method of low-intensity anticoagulation therapy in the pregnant women who had received mechanical heart valve replacemant, and the effects of warfarin on the pregnant women and their fetus. Methods This retrospective study involved 56 pregnant women( 61 pregnancies)who had received mechanical heart valve replacement.Their pregnant status, delivery, and anticoagulation therapy were observed and followed-up between May 1986 and November 2009 at West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Results All patients took oral anticoagulant (warfarin) throughout pregnancy. The dose of domestic warfarin was ( 3.02 ± 0.85 ) mg/d ( in 42 cases), and the dose of imported warfarin was (2.84 ± 0.57 )mg/d (in 14 cases). The mean INR value of 401 samples from patients was 1.67 ±0.58. No thromboembolism or major hemorrhagic complications occurred. Minor bleeding occurred in 11 pregnancies. Forty-seven patients had term delivery, 7 had premature birth, 6 had spontaneous abortion, and 1 had intrauterine fetal death. Six newborns were born with low birth weight (2.3 ± 0. 5 ) kg, and no abnormal fetus was observed. Conclusion The low-intensity anticoagulation therapy with warfarin (at a dose of less than 5 mg/d) and a INR target of 1.5 to 2.0 was safe and convenient for the pregnant women,who had received mechanical heart valve replacement. The abnormalities rate of fetus was low.

A high-product superoxide dismutase(SOD)bacterial strain was first obtained from the soil around the warm spring of Changbai Mountain,which is alkaline-resistant.The nature analysis by the inhibition of H2O2 and chloroform-ethanol indicated that the SOD was Mn-SOD.It belongs to bacillus genus by the modal character,physiological and biochemical character.The phylogenetic analyses based on 16SrDNA sequence indicated that the strain 110-2 was closed to Bacillus sp.MO6 with 100% identity and 99% with Bacillus licheniformis.According to the sodA sequence of Bacillus licheniformis and conservative regions of many kinds of bacillus,which were published in GenBank,two pairs of primers were designed and the complete sequence of Mn-SOD(600bp)and the core fragment(430bp)were amplified by PCR techniques.The recombinant plasmid pMD18-SOD was built successfully.

OBJECTIVETo explore the methylation status in promoter region of norepinephrine transporter gene (NET, SLC6A2) in heart failure ( HF) patients and its correlation with qi deficiency/blood stasis syndrome (QDS/BSS).

METHODSThirty-six patients with heart failure (NYHA classification III to IV) were recruited in the study (as the heart failure group) and their scores of QDS/BSS were evaluated. Besides, a healthy elderly group (30 cases) and a healthy youth group (30 cases) were also set up. They were recruited from Physical Examination Center of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Pyrosequencing was applied to detect the methylation in promoter region of SLC6A2 gene, and the total methylation index (MTI) of CpG island was calculated. The correlation between the methylation status in promoter region of SLC6A2 and scores of QDS/BSS was assessed using Pearson and Partial analyses. Risk factors were screened and adjusted using Logistic regression.

RESULTSBy one-factor analysis of variance, the total MTI in the HF group (219.72% ± 54.03%) was obviously higher than that in the healthy elderly group (194.47% ± 34.92%) and the healthy youth group (161.60% ± 41.11%) (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the total MTI was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P < 0.01). By covariance analysis , after controlling age and BMI, the total MTI was higher in the HF group than in the healthy elderly group (P = 0.041), while it was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P = 0.016). Age was found to play an essential role in affecting MTI of SLC6A2 gene promoter region among the 3 groups (F = 16.447, P = 0.01). The total MTI was quite lower in the healthy youth group. Results of Partial correlation analysis showed MTI was positively correlated with scores of qi deficiency and blood stasis respectively (r = 0.494 and 0.419 respectively, both P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed after adjusting confounding factors, the relative risk (OR value) of total MTI of SLC6A2 gene in promoter region was 1.038 (95% CI, 1.006 to 1.071, P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONSAbnormally elevated methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene is one of risk factors for HF. In addition, the degree of methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene was positively correlated with the severity of QDS/BSS.

Adolescent ; Aged ; DNA Methylation ; Heart Failure ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Qi

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of local drug delivery into the inner ear using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and evaluate its potential for inner ear disease treatment in terms of the pharmacokinetics of the delivered drug in the inner ear.

METHODSDexamethasone acetate (DA)-loaded SLN was prepared with Compritol 888 ATO as the matrix by means of hot dispersion-ultrasonic technique. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was established for determining DA and dexamethasone (Dex). The pharmaceutical properties of DA-loaded SLN including the particle size, entrapment ratio and in vitro release were estimated. DA-loaded SLN was administered via intratympanic injection or intravenous injection in guinea pigs and Dex concentration in the perilymph was measured with HPLC for estimation of the pharmacokinetic parameters.

RESULTSThe mean diameter of the DA-loaded SLN was 106.8 nm with entrapment ratio of 83.8%, and the in vitro DA release from the nanoparticles well conformed to Weibull distribution, with sustained-release of DA from the SLN exceeding 6 days. After intravenous injection of DA-loaded SLN in guinea pigs, Dex failed to be detected in the perilymph. Compared with Dex-loaded in situ gel following intratympanic injection, the relative bioavailability of Dex in the perilymph was 504% following intratympanic injection of DA-loaded SLN, which also resulted in increased t(1/2) and mean residence time (MRT) by 0.5 and 1.9 folds respectively.

CONCLUSIONNanoparticles can be a promising tympanic drug delivery system for topical drug administration in the treatment of inner ear diseases.

Administration, Topical ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Ear, Inner ; metabolism ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Nanoparticles ; administration & dosage ; Round Window, Ear ; metabolism

This study was aimed to investigate the chimerism and fusion gene expression in patients with CML after allo-HSCT, to analyse engraftment and minimal residual disease by using STR-PCR combined with RT-PCR qualitative and quantitative assays, and to evaluate their clinical value for predicting disease relapse. 4 relapsed patients with CML after allo-HSCT were dynamically investigated. Qualitative analysis of donor chimerism was performed by multiplex PCR amplification of STR markers and capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection, qualitative detection of bcr/abl transcripts was performed by RT-PCR. The results showed that the 100% donor chimerism appeared in 4 patients on day 28 after transplantation and bcr/abl expression was negative, but the 4 patients were in status of unstable mixed chimerism (DC: 0% - 80.4%) at the different time points during the following up with bcr/abl gene positive. 2 patients of them were continuously mixed chimerism after relapse of CML, the other 2 changed from MC to CC by intervention of clinical treatment. Decreasing values of donor chimerism were detected prior to the occurrence of graft rejection and CML relapse, and bcr/abl gene expression was positive. It is concluded that the results of STR-PCR in the range of its sensitivity fully correspond with bcr/abl tests in patients. The combination of STR-PCR with RT-PCR will provide a highly sensitive and valuable tool for evaluating engraftment, graft rejection, and relapse and predicting GVHD. Furthermore, it can provide a basis for early intervention of clinical treatment, and can identify these high risk patients with molecular or cytogenetic relapse after allo-HSCT.
Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; genetics ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transplantation Chimera ; Transplantation, Homologous

AIM To observe the oxidant stress and opoptotic effects of anisodine hydromide (AH) on chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) rats.METHODS In vivo CCH models were established in adult male SpragueDawley rats by permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries [two-vessel occlusion (2-VO)] surgery.Rats were randomly divided into six groups,sham group,model group,positive group of n-butylphthalide and sodium chloride injection,and AH groups (1.2 mg/kg high-dose group,0.6 mg/kg medium-dose group,and 0.3 mg/kg low-dose group).Antioxidant indices including the activity of SOD,CAT,LDH and iNOS and the content of GSH and NO were measured.In the in vitro trial,PC12 cells were divided into control group,model group,positive group of n-butylphthalide,and AH groups (100 μmol/L high-dose group,50 μmol/L mediumdose group,and 25 μmol/L low-dose group),and the hypoxic models were established by treating PC12 cells with CoCl2.The cells had their release of NO and LDH detected,their cellular apoptosis determined by Hochest 33342 fluorescence staining,and the expression of P53 protein identified by IF (immunofluorescence) and Western blotting method.RESULTS The in vivo trial revealed AH's enhancement in serum SOD activity and inhibition in serum iNOS activityof the CCH rats,and its power in the cerebral GSH and LDH release reduction.The in vitro trial showed the resultant lower LDH and NO release,decreased number of neuro-apoptosis,and inhibited P53 pro tein expression after AH intervention.CONCLUSION The antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of AH on CCH rats may be associated with down regulation of P53 protein.

Objective Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endoscopic breast conserving surgery (EBCS) has been developed as a potential means for treating breast tumors with minimal disruption to adjacent soft tissues.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cosmetic outcomes of RFA assisted by EBCS on patients with early breast carcinoma (T1 -2 N0-1 M0).Methods Twenty-three patients with biopsy proven invasive breast carcinoma ( ≤3 cm in diameter),were treated with ultrasound (US)guided percutaneous-RFA for the local tumors followed by sentinel lymph node biopsy and endoscopic auxiliary node dissection and lumpectomy.The reactions to breast cosmetics were observed and compared to the conventional approaches using the breast asymmetry score for EBCS and a self -assessment questionnaire targeting objective and subjective data about treatment related breast change.Results Twenty-three patients were successfully treated with RFA.Complete coagulation necrosis of the tumor was visualized at US and mammography in 22 of 23 patients (95.6 ％).22 patients being per formed RFA and EBCS presented little scars and the breasts preserved more cosmetically acceptable than the reported results of traditional protocols.Self-assessment acceptable rate was 100 ％,aesthetic outcome as good or excellent rated in 95.5 ％(21/22).Within the follow-up of above 36 months,there were no local recurrence,metastasis,wound infection or necrosis,nerve damage,haematoma,as well as upper limb swelling or lymphoedema,no reduced upper limb mobility and tumor seeding.Conclusions RFA with endoscopic breast conservation therapy for the treatment of early breast carcinoma is more effective and cosmetically acceptable than the traditional approaches.

Ten isoflavonoids were isolated from the heartwoods of Caragana changduensis Lion f. by means of various column chromatographic techniques. Based on the detailed spectral data analysis (MS and NMR), as well as comparison with the literatures, their chemical structures were determined as 7,2'-dihydroxy-8,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone (1), 4'-hydroxy-7,3'-dimethoxyisoflavone (2), 5, 7, 4'-trihydroxy-2',5'-dimethoxyisoflavone (3), prunetin (4), afrormosin (5), odoratin (6), genistein (7), texasin (8), pratensein (9), and 6,7,3'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (10). Among them, compounds 1-3 and 9-10 were isolated from the Caragana genus for the first time. All the compounds were obtained from this species for the first time. In the preliminary assays, compounds 1, 2, 6, and 7 possessed significant inhibitory effects on NO production, with IC50 values of 48.12, 25.32, 62.71, 43.59 μmol x L(-1), respectively.
Animals ; Caragana ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Nitric Oxide ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; RAW 264.7 Cells