Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of ozone injection in treating lumbar disc herniation. Methods One hundred and four patients with CT or MRI proved lumbar disc herniation, including 144 diseased lumbar discs, were enrolled in this study. The main complains were severe pain or numbness in the low back and lower limbs. Under the X-ray guidance, a 21 G needle was punctured into the disc, followed by an injection of 4-40 ml ozone (50 ug/ml) and 40 mg prednisolone acetate into intradiscal and paravertebral space. Results All patients were followed up for 3 to 84 months with an average time of 38 months. The last follow-up check was carried out in March of 2009. The total effective rate was 77.1%, with no occurrence of any serious complications. Conclusion The percutaneous injection of medical ozone into disc and paravertebral space is an effective and safe method for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

The leading cause of drug withdrawal from market and clinical trials failure is drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Varying clinical, histological and laboratory features of DILI, as well as undefined underlying mechanisms, hinder patients to be diagnosed in the early-stage of the disease and receive effective treatments. Conventional indicators, like serum transaminases and bilirubin, have inevitable limitations referring to sensitive prediction and specific detection of DILI. In order to reduce the occurrence of DILI, researchers have attempted to discover potential biomarkers with higher specificity and sensitivity from blood and urine in recent years. This article aims to review recent advances in biomarkers of DILI.
Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND:Simulative dynamics provides advantages of repeatable and non-invasive to a model. Additional y, structural model of individualism improves the reliability of Finite Elemental Analysis. It is an optimal attempt to analyze mechanics of knee joint after virtual replacement surgery.
OBJECTIVE:To achieve dynamic information of contact stress upon knee joint surface by finite element analysis surgery for total knee arthroplasty postoperatively, and to provide objective data for further“surgery plan”.
METHODS:After scanning affected knee joint by CT/MR and scanning knee prosthesis by laser instrument, a model composed of prosthesis, knee joint as wel as its ligament was rebuilt computational y;dynamic lines were measured. After prosthesis instal ation&osteotomy performed by facility of Simulation in Mimics according to knee joint replacement standard, this model was imported into ANSYS so as for Meshing, Material assignment, load applied. Stress distribution was analyzed by Finite Element Method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The best finite element model of postoperative TKA 3D knee joint was obtained;dynamic data were tested to be approximately agreeable to those previous studies of direct measurement upon prosthesis. The experiment of analyzing structural deformation, stress distribution&internal energy change benefits to search the best position for prosthesis instal ation, osteotomy and surgical result prediction. Thus, these are indispensable data in surgery plan.

Objective To observe the efficacy and adverse reaction of ozone therapy combined with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) regimen in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.Methods Fifty-five patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were enrolled and allocated to treatment group (28 cases) and control group (27 cases).The patients in treatment group received ozone therapy combined with GP regimen,and the patients in control group received GP regimen only.The efficacy,quality of life,adverse reaction and cellular immune function after treatment was compared between two groups.Results There was no significant difference in the efficacy between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).The quality of life after treatment in treatment group was better than that in control group (P ＜ 0.05).The liver function damage in treatment group was lower than that in control group (P ＜ 0.05).The cellular immune function in treatment group was stronger than that in control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Ozone therapy combined with GP regimen can effectively alleviate adverse induced by GP regimen chemotherapy and significantly improve the quality of life in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective Microenvironment plays important roles in the proliferation , viability, and apoptosis of tumor cells. This study was to investigate the effects of different functional groups on the biological characteristics of the osteosarcoma Saos -2 cell line in vitro. Methods Using self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols on gold , we prepared different terminal chemical groups , including methyl (-CH3 ) , amino (-NH2 ) , hydroxyl (-OH) , and carboxyl (-COOH ) .We determined the similar density of different functional groups by contact angle measurement and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy , and observed the effects of different functional groups on the adhesion , proliferation, viability, and apoptosis of the osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells by fluorescence microscopy , CCK-8 as-say, flow cytometry, and scan electron microscopy (SEM). Results The surface of -COOH and -NH2 promoted the adhesion and proliferation of the of the Saos-2 cells, with a good compatibility , while that of -CH3 was unfavorable for their adhesion and proliferation and even increased their apoptosis . The promoting effects of the functional groups on the adhesion and proliferation of the cells were listed in the following order: -COOH ≥ -NH2 >-OH -CH3 , while their toxicity and apoptosis-increasing effect ranked as -CH3 -OH >-NH2 >-COOH. Conclusion The-CH3 group inhibits the adhesion and proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of Saos-2 cells, which has provided some evidence for the surface design of biomaterials.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the polymorphism of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene start codon (Fok I) and bone mass accrual, and assessing if such an association could be modified by physical activity in Chinese adolescent girls.

METHODSA total of 228 premenrche Chinese girls (9-11.5-years-old) were recruited for 2-year study. Bone mineral densities (BMD) at the total body, total left hip (including femoral neck, trochanter, intertrochanteric and Ward's triangle area) and lumbar spine (L1-L4) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The Fok I polymorphism of VDR gene was detected with PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSThere remained 176 available subjects in our cohort when 2-year study was completed. No significant association was observed between Fok I polymorphism of VDR gene and percentage change in BMD at all sites. Girls with FF genotype had lower percentage change in total left hip BMD (THBMD) and femoral neck BMD (FNBMD) than girls with Ff + ff genotype only in low physical activity(< 1197 kJ/d), and physical activity was associated with percentage change in THBMD and FNBMD only in FF genotype group.

CONCLUSIONThe Fok I polymorphism of VDR gene should have significant interaction effect with physical activity on bone mass accrual in Chinese adolescent girls. Girls with FF genotype in low physical activity would be the potential risk population for low bone mass accrual, and high physical activity would be of benefit to gain higher bone mass accrual for girls with FF genotype.

Adolescent ; Alleles ; Bone Density ; China ; Codon, Initiator ; Exercise ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; genetics

Objective： The current study was designed to clarify whether hepatopoietin (HPO) stimulates autonomous growth of hepatoma cell by autocrine loop. Methods： The authors conducted experiments in vitro with hepatoma cell lines. RT-PCR, ELISA and Western blot were used to examine HPO expression in hepatoma cells. Blocking effect of HPO by HPO neutralizing antibody was utilized and the changes of cell proliferation was observed. Results： HPO was expressed by hepatoma cells and secreted into the medium. Moreover, the HPO antibody inhibited specifically the autonomous proliferation of hepatoma cell and antagonized the stimulatory effect of concentrated conditioned medium derived from hepatoma cell HepG2. Conclusion： The results strongly suggest that HPO acts as an autocrine factor to maintain the autonomous growth of hepatoma cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and calcium sensing receptor (CASR) gene polymorphisms on bone mass accrual in Chinese adolescent girls.

METHODSA total of 228 premenarche Chinese girls (9-11.5 years) were recruited for a 2-year study. Bone mineral densities (BMD) and Bone mineral contents (BMC) in the total body, total left hip including femoral neck, trochanter, intertrochanter and Ward's triangle area, and lumbar spine (L1-L4) were measured by DEXA. The -634C/G polymorphism of IL-6 gene was detected by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and A986S polymorphism of CASR gene was detected by allele-special mutagenically separated amplication-PCR.

RESULTSThere were 176 available subjects when the 2-year study was completed. The -634C/G polymorphism of IL-6 gene and A986S polymorphism of CASR gene were significantly associated with bone mass accrual after adjusting the potential confounding factors. Girls with CC genotype of IL-6 -634G/C gene had higher percentage of increase in BMD of total body (P= 0.027) and femoral trochanter (P= 0.028) than those with CG+ GG genotypes. Girls with AA genotype of CASR gene had greater percentage of increase in L1-L4 lumbar spine BMC (P= 0.022) and Ward's triangle area BMD (P= 0.049) than their AS+ SS counterparts. Subjects with G allele of IL-6 gene in combination with S allele of CASR gene had less increase in BMC of femoral neck and L1-L4 lumbar spine.

CONCLUSIONAdolescent girls carrying the G allele of IL-6 gene at -634C/G and S allele of CASR gene at A986S could potentially be the risk population of lower bone mass accrual.

Alleles ; Bone Density ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Receptors, Calcium-Sensing ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of circulating type II pre-dendritic cells (pDC2) and evaluate its role in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

METHODSThe quantitative alterations of pDC2 in 27 chronic HBV-infected patients as treated group and 15 healthy individuals as a control group were analyzed by using flow cytometry based on the comparison of CD4+/CD8+ ratios of T lymphocyte subsets between the two groups. The IFN-alpha-producing ability of pDC2 after incubation was determined by ELISA.

RESULTSThe percentage of pDC2 (0.096 +/- 0.086) from the peripheral blood in chronic HBV-infected patients were significantly lower than that (0.304 +/- 0.093) from the normal controls (P less than 0.001) while the CD4+/CD8+ ratios were higher than those in normal controls (P less than 0.01). The values of IFN-alpha-producing function and IL-12 of circulating pDC2 in chronic HBV-infected patients group were significantly lower than those in healthy subjects (P < 0.001). The percentage of pDC2 and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were higher in the patients positive for HBV DNA in sera than those in patients negative for HBV DNA in sera (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe decreased number of circulating pDC2 and IFN-alpha-producing function from peripheral blood in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection may result in the decline of host immune response, which may partially contribute to the disease progress of HBV infection and existence of viral genomic DNA in patient's sera.

Adolescent ; Adult ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Cell Count ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; immunology ; Young Adult

AIMTo investigate the possible effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), an active ingredient of a commonly used Chinese herb, on the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine A (CsA) by intragastric administration in rats.

METHODSForty male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into four groups by randomized block design according to weight. On the first day, after each fasting rat was intragastrically administered CsA (10 mg x kg(-1)), blood samples (0.2 - 0.25 mL) were collected from the tail vein at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h. From day 4 to day 8, each group began to undergo different pretreatments with intragastric administration of water, verapamil (Ver), low and high dose TMP, separately. On day 9, each group intragastrically co-administered CsA (10 mg x kg(-1)) and different pretreatment compounds mentioned above, then blood samples were collected according to the schedule of the first day. The whole blood concentration of CsA was determined by HPLC. Main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and compared by statistic analysis.

RESULTSIn the group of water pretreated and co-administrated with CsA, no significantly different pharmacokinetic parameters of CsA were found. After Ver pretreatment and co-administration with CsA, AUC(0-48 h) and C(max) were increased significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05); T(1/2) beta and CL were markedly prolonged and decreased (P < 0.05); T(max) and V were not apparently influenced. After low dose TMP pretreatment and co-administration with CsA, there was no significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters of CsA, in spite of the increasing trends of AUC(0-48 h) and C(max). After high dose TMP pretreatment and co-administration with CsA, AUC(0-48 h) and C(max) of CsA were increased significantly (P < 0.01), but there was no significant change in other parameters.

CONCLUSIONIt was indicated that the high dose of TMP could apparently increase the intragastric absorption extent of CsA, while almost had no effect on its elimination process.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Administration Routes ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pyrazines ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach ; Verapamil ; pharmacology