Objective To explore the mechanism of therapeutic action of needle knife “regulating sinews and treating bones” on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by observing the effect of needle knife intervention on KOA rabbit behaviors, mechanical characteristics of patellar ligament (PL), and expressions of interleukin-4 (IL-4), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and aggrecan in knee cartilages.Methods Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated to blank, model, needle knife and electroacupuncture groups, 10 rabbits each. A rabbit model of KOA was made by the modified Videman method of immobilization in extension position. After model making, the needle knife and electroacupuncture groups received needle knife and electroacupuncture treatments, respectively. A behavioral assessment was made using the modified Lequesne MG knee grade evaluation method in every group after model making and treatment. The samples were taken after treatment. PL tension, stress relaxation and creep state were tested using a Bose Electro Force 3300 protracted test machine. Cartilage cell IL-4 expression was examined by ELISA. MMP-3 mRNA and aggrecan mRNA expressions were detected by real-time PCR.Results After model making, there was a statistically significant difference in the Lequesne MG score between the model and blank groups (P<0.01); there was no statistically significant difference in the Lequesne MG score between the needle knife or electroacupuncture group and the model group (P>0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the Lequesne MG score between the needle knife or electroacupuncture group and the model group (P<0.01,P<0.05) and between the needle knife and electroacupuncture groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in PL maximum stress, maximum displacement, elastic modulus, stress relaxation rate and creep rate between the model and blank groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment post-treatment differences in PL maximum stress, maximum displacement, elastic modulus, stress relaxation rate and creep rate between the needle knife and model groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in elastic modulus between the electroacupuncture and model groups (P<0.01). The IL-4 content and aggrecan mRNA expression decreased significantly and MMP-3 mRNA expression increased significantly in the model group after model making and there were statistically significant differences compared with the blank group (P<0.01,P<0.05). After treatment, the IL-4 content increased significantly in the needle knife and electroacupuncture groups compared with the model group (P<0.01,P<0.05) and aggrecan mRNA expression tended to increase in the two groups. The regulation of aggrecan mRNA and MMP-3 mRNA expressions was better in the needle knife group than in the electroacupuncture groups, but there was no statistically significant difference compared with the model group (P>0.05).Conclusion The mechanism of action of needle knife treatment on KOA may be that it improves ligament mechanical characteristics, regulates intra-articular stress environment, and modulates aggrecan mRNA and MMP-3 mRNA expressions and inhibits cartilage degeneration through IL-4 mechanical signal pathway, to produce the therapeutic effect of “regulating sinews and treating bones”.

Electric Stimulation ; Humans ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; therapy

Adolescent ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Seminoma ; pathology ; Testicular Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery

Xanthine oxidase (XOD), catalyzing purine metabolism, is the key enzyme in uric acid (UA) biosynthesis, and becomes an important target for hyperuricemia treatment. The inhibition on XOD plays an important role in the treatment of hyperuricemia-related diseases, such as gout, as well as oxidative stress-induced tissue injury. Here, studies on the natural products with XOD inhibition are reviewed.

AIM: To construct subtractive libraries in association with heat adaptation differential expressed genes. METHODS: The experiment was carried out with heat adapted rat model and normal temperature control. mRNA was extracted from liver tissue and reverse-transcripted into cDNA. After cut and ligation, suppression subtractive hybridization was executed with each group of cDNA as tester and the other one as driver to construct subtractive libraries. Specificity of the libraries was evaluated by approach of comparing G3PDH gene PCR products with template from the library and unsubtractive sample. Reliability of the libraries was evaluated by primarily isolation and screening. RESULTS: PCR results confirmed that G3PDH concentration was greatly reduced compared with control group, which suggested that specificity of the libraries was high. 300 target segments were isolated from the library, 27 of them were verified to be differential expressed genes, which suggested that the libraries were reliable and efficient. CONCLUSION: This study founded the basis of further investigation on heat adaptation mechanism by approach of constructing subtractive libraries in association with heat adaptation differential expressed genes.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) late mRNA expression in megakaryoblast and in turn the pathogenesis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients with HCMV infection, and effectiveness of ganciclovir were investigated. Colony forming unit-megakaryocytes (CFU-MK) of 46 ITP patients with HCMV infection were incubated from patients' bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was subsequently used for CFU-MK for HCMV-late mRNA detection. Ganciclovir therapy was given to both HCMV-late mRNA positive and negative groups for comparison of therapeutic effectiveness. The results in 19 of 46 CFU-MK culture cells specimens with positive HCMV-DNA by PCR or positive CMV-IgM by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the correspondent serum of peripheral blood were positive for HCMV-late mRNA. Sixteen out of 19, patients with positive HCMV-late mRNA CFU-MK had a positive response to ganciclovir. Amongst 27 patients with negative HCMV-late mRNA CFU-MK, only 4 positive responders to ganciclovir therapy were observed. Curative effectiveness of ganciclovir in HCMV-late mRNA positive group was significantly higher than that in HCMV-late mRNA negative group (P<0.01). It was suggested that HCMV could directly infect CFU-MK, which might be one of the mechanisms responsible for HCMV related ITP. The ganciclovir is an effective therapy in resulting in the increases in thrombocyte in the ITP patients whose HCMV- late mRNA was positive in their CFU-MK.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical efficacy in treating cutaneous deficiency of traumatic shank amputation stump with full-thickness skin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage.

METHODSFrom September 2009 to December 2012, 15 patients with cutaneous deficiency of traumatic shank amputation stump were treated with full-thickness skin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage. Among patients, there were 11 males and 4 females with an average age of 41.5 (ranged from 25 to 62) years old. Ten cases were caused by traffic accident and 5 cases were caused by heavy object, 9 cases on left and 6 cases on right. Six patients with smashed wound were treated with debridement and amputation, combined with vacuum aspiration in-emergency; 9 patients caused by infection and necrosis were treated with debridement and amputation, combined with vacuum aspiration, and full-thickness skin graft were performed at stage II. The skin defect area of residual limbs ranged from 40 cm x 20 cm to 25 cm x 15 cm.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 3 months to 1 year. Full-thickness skin graft of residual limbs were survived,and obtained satisfactory walking function with prosthetic. Residual skin increased thicken, wearproof without rupture and pain.

CONCLUSIONFull-thickness skin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage in treating cutaneous deficiency of traumatic shank amputation stump could reserve the length of residual limbs, increase survival rate of skin graft with less scar of survival skin, get good wearability and it is conducive to prosthetic wear. It is a simple and easy treatment method.

Adult ; Amputation Stumps ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Leg Injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; methods ; Skin ; injuries ; Skin Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of augmentative locking compression plate combined with bone graft in treating aseptic femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nailing.

METHODSTwenty-one cases with aseptic femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nailing from January 2007 to January 2013 were treated,including 18 males and 3 females with a mean age of 37.7 years (ranged from 23 to 64 years). The mean period of nonunion after surgery was 23.9 months (ranged from 9 to 62 months). According to Weber-Cech classification,10 of those 21 cases were hypertrophic nonunion,7 were atrophic, and 4 had oligotrophic fracture nonunion. All patients retained the original intramedullary nail, and applied with augmentation plating of 6 to 8 holes locking compression plate, unicortical fixation with 2 to 3 locking screws in the proximal or distal end, with simultaneous autologous iliac bone grafting. After treatment,all patients were allowed to partial weight-bearing until full weight-bearing according to the radiological results. All patients were followed up and were evaluated with clinical and imaging results.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 8 to 24 months, averaged (13.5±3.5) months,which showed clinical union at 4 to 8 months, averaged (6.0±1.0) months and radiological solid union at 7 to 12 months, averaged (9.1±1.5) months. No such complications as infection,hardware loosening or breaking were found.

CONCLUSIONAugmentative locking compression plate(LCP) combined with bone graft for aseptic femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nail has a satisfied clinical efficacy. It's an useful and simple method.

Adult ; Bone Nails ; adverse effects ; Bone Plates ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; adverse effects ; Fractures, Ununited ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B is a potential target for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. We have previously identified the benzoyl sulfathiazole derivative II as a non-competitive PTP1B inhibitor with in vivo insulin sensitizing effects. Preliminary SAR study on this compound series has been carried out herein, and thirteen new compounds have been designed and synthesized. Among them, compound 10 exhibited potent inhibition against human recombinant PTP1B with the IC50 value of 3.97 micromol x L(-1), and is comparable to that of compound II.
Humans ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Sulfathiazoles ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Background Blepharitis is a common ocular surface disease.It is associated with the disorder of lipid secretion of meibomian gland.The change of tear film stability can cause dry eye symptoms,so blepharitis is thought to be one of the factors causing dry eye,but the relation between them is in study. Objective This study was to observe the morphology of meibomian gland in blepharitis patients and to investigate the correlation of morphology of meibomian gland with dry eye. Methods A series of case-observational study was designed in this study.A total of 83 eyes of consecutive 83 blepharitis patients were enrolled in Henan Eye Institute from October 2010 to April 2011.Blepharitis was diagnosed based on American Preferred Practice Pattern Guidelines.Some relevant ocular examinations were performed under the informed consent of the subjects,including the anterior segment manifestation by the slit lamp,such as meibography,lid margin abnormality,and the dry eye-relevant examinations,such as tear film break-up time (BUT),Schirmer test Ⅰ and corneal fluorescein staining also been carried out.Tear film shape was examined by film interference images and scored.Absent degree of meibomian gland was graded under a Noncontact Infrared Meibography.The correlations of absent degree of meibomian gland with ocular syndrome score,dry eye examination results were evaluated using Spearman rank correlation coefficients.Informed consent was obtained prior to this trail. Results No significant difference in the frequencies of blepharitis was found between male and female among different ages (x2 =2.69,P =0.75 ).Absent grading of the meibomian glands was positively correlated with age of blepharitis patients ( r =0.58,P =0.00 ),lid margin abnormality scores ( r =0.64,P =0.00 ),conjuntival hyperemia score ( r=0.50,P =0.00),tear film interference imaging grade ( r =0.23,P =0.04 ),corneal fluorescein staining score( r =0.50,P =0.00 ) but was negatively correlated with BUT ( r =-0.32,P =0.00 ).No significant correlation was found between meibography grading and gender( r =-0.09 ; P =0.99 ) or Schirmer test Ⅰ ( r =-0.05;P =0.69 ).No significant difference was found in meibography grading between male and female in different age groups(Z=-0.09,P=0.93). Conclusions Blepharitis can irriter dry eye symptom because of overevaporation of tear fluid and abnormality of secreting function of meibomian glands.The missing of the meibomain glands increases with age in the patients with blepharitis.Noncontact Meibography System is an assistant tool to the diagnosis of blepharitis.