OBJECTIVETo discuss arthroscopic technique of single Kirschner wire and suture avoiding epiphyseal line fixation for tibial intercondylar eminence fracture and its clinical results.

METHODSFrom May 2008 to December 2012, 21 patients (13 males, 8 females, ranging in age from 6 to 14 years old) with tibial intercondylar eminence fracture were treated arthroscopically with single Kirschner wire and suture avoiding epiphyseal line fixation technique. According to Meyers and McKeever classification, 7 patients were type II, 10 patients were type III, and 4 patients were type IV. Active rehabilitation began at one week after operation. The patients were followed up for 10 to 30 months. X-ray films were taken to evaluate fracture healing at 1, 3, 6 months after operation; range of motion, the anterior drawer test, the lachman test and the Lysholm knee score were used to evaluate clinical effects.

RESULTSAll fractures were healed without displacement at 6 weeks after operation. Anterior drawer test and the lachman test were both negative in all patients at 3 months after operation. Lysholm knee score was 95.5 ±2.5 at 6 months after operation, and postoperative X-ray film did not find epiphyseal line broadening or narrowing.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic treatment for tibial eminence intercondylar fracture with single Kirschner wire and 8-shaped suture avoiding epiphyseal line fixation technique has many advantages, such as firm fixation,early mobilization, less invasive, less injury of physis and satisfactory effect.

Adolescent ; Arthroscopy ; Bone Wires ; Child ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male ; Sutures ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

The aim of this study is to prepare hyaluronic acid (HA) modified core-shell liponanoparticles (pHA-LCS-NPs) as gene delivery system and investigate its gene transfection efficiency in human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells in vitro. The pHA-LCS-NPs was prepared by firstly hydrating dry lipid film with CS-NPs suspension to get LCS-NPs, then modifying the lipid bilayer with HA by amidation reaction between HA and dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Its morphology, particle size and zeta potential were investigated. XTT assay was used to evaluate the cell safety of different vectors in vitro. The gene transfection efficiency of pHA-LCS-NPs modified with different contents of HA was investigated in ARPE-19 cells with green fluorescent protein (pEGFP) as the reporter gene. The results showed that the obtained pHA-LCS-NPs exhibited a clear core-shell structure with the average particles size of (214.9 +/- 7.2) nm and zeta potential of (-35 +/- 3.7) mV. The 24 h cumulative release of gene from pHA-LCS-NPs was less than 30%. After 48 h incubation, gene transfection efficiency of pHA-LCS-NPs/pEGFP was 1.81 times and 3.75 times higher than that of CS-NPs/pEGFP and naked pEGFP, respectively. Also no obvious cytotoxicity was observed on pHA-LCS-NPs. It suggested that the pHA-LCS-NPs might be promising non-viral gene delivery systems with high efficiency and low cytotoxicity.
Cell Survival ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Lipids ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Phosphatidylethanolamines ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; drug effects ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo establish an animal model of acute blunt scrotal trauma (BST) and evaluate the types of lesion by conventional ultrasonography (CUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS).

METHODSWe made acute BST models in 21 healthy male New Zealand rabbits by striking 3 - 12 times the unilateral testes randomly selected with a 0. 5 kg iron ball falling freely from a 30 cm height. Then we evaluated the lesion types in the models by CUS and CEUS and verified our evaluation against pathological results.

RESULTSAcute BST models were successfully established in all the 21 animals, including contusion in 10, hematoma in 6, and rupture in 5, all confirmed by pathology. CUS clearly manifested the morphology, internal echoes, and blood flow of the testes, but had a low rate of accurate diagnosis in testicular contusion for over 6 hours as well as in complex lesions. CEUS revealed an earlier perfusion of the contrast agent and shorter arriving time (AT) and time to peak intensity ( TP) in testicular contusion than in the control testes (P <0.05) , but showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the half time of descending peak intensity (P>0.05). For testicular hematoma, contrast agent clearly presented its outline and a delayed low enhancement in the surrounding tissue, with significant differences from the control in AT and TTP. In severe testis rupture, occasional outflow but no perfusion of contrast agent was observed.

CONCLUSIONBST models can be established in rabbits by repeated strikes of the unilateral testes lesion of contrast agent was observed. with a freely falling iron ball. Simple contusion injury can be induced by less than 6 strikes, while complex injuries can be inflicted by more than 10. Combined application of CUS and CEUS can improve the accuracy of diagnosis of different types of lesion.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rabbits ; Scrotum ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Ultrasonography ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of non-surgical treatment with Florida probe.

METHODS100 patients with periodontitis were chosen in the study, who accepted periodontal non-surgical treatment. Pocket depth (PD) and attachment loss (AL) of all patients were recorded with Florida probe before and at the first month after periodontal non-surgical treatment. The detecting sites were mesialbuccal, buccal, distalbuccal and lingual. All teeth were divided into four groups: Anterior teeth group, premolar group, molar group and all teeth group. The therapeutic efficacy of PD and AL of groups, sites and different pocket depths was compared.

RESULTSIn all four groups, PD, AL before and after one month periodontal non-surgical treatment demonstrated significant differences (P < 0.05). It was found that the short-term effect of periodontal non-surgical treatment resulted in significant resolution of gingival inflammation and pronounced reduction in pocket depth and gain of attachment loss in all patients. Anterior teeth had better therapeutic efficacy than premolar and molar. The PD pronounced reduction and gained a significant difference between PD < 5 mm and PD > or = 5 mm (P < 0.05), but not with AL (P > 0.05). Sites had no significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFlorida probe evaluates periodontal conditions accurately and objectively. Periodontal non-surgical treatment allowed for favourable treatment response on periodontitis, anterior teeth had a good therapeutic efficacy, different sites had the equal therapeutic efficacy.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis

The purpose of this study is to prepare galactosyl modified lipid bilayer-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (GPEM) to enhance the antitumor efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The irinotecan (CPT-11) loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) was coated with the Gal-P123 modified functional lipid bilayer by thin-film dispersion method. Nanoparticles were characterized with particle size, zeta potential, morphology and drug release in vitro. Afterwards, the cell uptake, intracellular concentration of CPT-11, cell apoptosis rate and cytotoxicity were evaluated on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh-7. The results showed that MSNs were coated with intact lipid bilayers and the nanoparticles had clear core-shell structure. GPEM is stable with the mean particle size of (78.01 +/- 2.04) nm. The low leakage rate in normal physiological conditions in vitro is contributed to the protection of stable lipid bilayer, and the fast drug release in acid environment due to the destruction of the lipid bilayer. On the cell level, the vector could improve the intracellular CPT-11 concentration by 4 times because of the functional lipid bilayer. The high CPT-11 concentration led to the increasement of apoptosis rate by 48.6%, and the reduction of half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of CPT-11 by 2 times, indicating stronger cell cytotoxicity.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Apoptosis ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Humans ; Lipid Bilayers ; chemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Silicon Dioxide ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention and mechanism of Qushi Huayu Recipe (QHR) on gene expression profiles in high lipid diet induced fatty liver rats.

METHODSFatty liver model was prepared in 20 male SD rats using single high fat diet (88% common forage +2% cholesterol +10% lard). Four weeks after modeling they were divided into the model group and the QHR group according to random digit table, 10 in each group. QHR (at 0. 93 g crude drug/100 g body weight) and distilled water was respectively to rats in the QHR group and the model group by gastrogavage while modeling, once per day. Meanwhile, 10 SD male rats were recruited in a normal group, administered with equal volume of distilled water by gastrogavage. At the end of week 8 all rats were sacrificed, and blood and livers were collected for subsequent analysis. Contents of liver triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) , activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected using biochemical assay. Pathological changes of liver tissue were observed using H&E and oil red O stain. Liver gene expressions were detected by Affymetrix gene expression profiles. Differentially expressed genes were compared between the QHR group and the model group, functions of differentially expressed genes and signal pathways involved analyzed. Ten differentially expressed genes involved in glycolipid metabolism with fold change more than 2 were selected for verification by real-time PCR.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the normal group, contents of liver TG and FFA, and serum activities of ALT and AST obviously increased in the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, contents of liver TG and FFA, and activities of ALT and AST obviously decreased in the QHR group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). QHR could reduce high fat induced fatty degeneration of liver cells , alleviate inflammation, and improve pathological changes of liver tissue. (2) Compared with the model group, there were 80 differentially expressed genes (with fold change > 2, P < 0.05) with clear functions and appointed gene names, including 44 up-regulated and 36 down-regulated genes. Eighty genes were involved in 27 signal pathways with statistical difference, including glycerolipid metabolism, adipocytokine signaling pathway, insulin signal pathway, drug metabolism signal pathway, etc (P < 0.05). (3) RT-PCR results of 10 glycolipids metabolism regulating genes such as Gk, Scd1, Gpat2, G6pc, Irs1, and so on showed that all RT-PCR genes were completely coincide with up-regulated or down-regulated tendency in results of gene chips. 80% genes had approximate fold change.

CONCLUSIONQHR could regulate gene expressions related to fat metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, anti-lipid peroxidation, and drug metabolism in high fat diet induced fatty liver rats, and its comprehensive pharmacological actions could be manifested.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Diet, High-Fat ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; metabolism ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcriptome ; drug effects ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

Objective To observe the expression of STEAP4 gene(a novel obesity-related gene) during the period of human preadipocyte differentiation and to explore the relationship between the STEAP4 gene expression and adipocytes differentiation,adipogenesis.Methods Human preadipocytes were cultured and differentiated into the matured adipocytes in vitro.Adipocytes morphology and lipid accumulation were observed during this process.Total RNA was extracted from adipocytes at various time points (preadipocyte,Day 0,Day 4,Day 6,Day 8,Day 11,Day 14,and Day 17) and the level of STEAP4 mRNA expression was measured by fluorescent real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polyme-rase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results The level of STEAP4 mRNA expression remained high in preadipocytes.In the presence of differentiation medium (Day 4),there was a transient upregulation in the expression of STEAP4 gene.After that,with the human preadipocytes being differentiated into matured adipocytes,the expression of STEAP4 mRNA was downregulated and reached the lowest level in fully differentiated adipocytes.There was a significant difference between any 2 detected phases in the level of STEAP4 mRNA expression (Pa

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus bloodletting therapy in treating insomnia in people with blood stasis constitution. Methods: Seventy-two patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group by using the random number table, 36 cases each. The treatment group received acupuncture plus bloodletting therapy, while the control group was intervened by oral administration of estazolam. One-week treatment was taken as a course, for 3 successive courses in total. A follow-up study was conducted 3 months later. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was evaluated before and after the intervention, as well as in the follow-up. The clinical efficacies were also compared. Results: The total effective rate was 88.9% in the treatment group versus 83.3% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After the intervention, the PSQI scores dropped significantly in both groups (both P<0.05); the between-group difference in PSQI score was statistically significant (P<0.05). The follow-up study showed that the between-group difference in the global score of PSQI was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus bloodletting therapy can produce a more significant efficacy than oral administration of estazolam in treating insomnia in people with blood stasis constitution.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qufengtongluo Recipe (QFTLR) on the expression of podocin mRNA and podocyte morphology in rats with adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN), and explore the possible mechanism mediating the therapeutic effect of QFTLR on nephropathic proteinuria.

METHODSSD rats were randomized into normal control group, AN model group (established by a single injection of adriamycin via the tail vein), and 3 intervention groups with QFTLR, prednisone, or benazepril treatment. After the corresponding treatments, the expression of podocin mRNA in the renal tissues was detected by RT-PCR methods, and the morphological changes of the podocytes were examined by electron microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the AN model group showed significantly lowered expressions of podocin mRNA (P<0.01) with reduced podocytes and widening, fusion or even absence of the foot processes (FP). Intervention with QFTLR significantly increased the expression of podocin mRNA (P<0.01) and the number of podocytes, and obviously lessened the structural changes of the FP.

CONCLUSIONQFTLR can produce therapeutic effect against nephropathic proteinuria possibly by up-regulating the expression of podocin mRNA and improving the morphological changes of the podocytes.

Animals ; Doxorubicin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nephrosis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Podocytes ; pathology ; Proteinuria ; etiology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEDNAzyme/Deoxyribozyme is another novel molecular biological tool following the ribozyme. DNAzyme consists of a 15-nucleotide (nt) internal loop as its catalytic domain and two flanking substrate-recognition domains of 7 to 8 nt each which is complementary to substrate. The RNA substrate is cleaved at a particular phosphodiester located between an unpaired purine and a paired pyrimidine residue. DNAzyme has been applied in fields such as viral infectious disease, tumor, cardiovascular disease and genetic disease. But there is no report about using DNAzyme for anti-respiratory syncytial virus purpose. To observe the inhibitory effects of RNA-cleaving DNAzymes on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) replication in cultured cells.

METHODSAnti-RSV RNA-cleaving DNAzyme DZ604 was designed to target the RSV genome at the start of the NS2 gene in an effort to inhibit the RNA replication. Microscope and electron microscope were used to observe the effects of anti-RSV genomic RNA DNAzyme on cytopathogenic effect (CPE) and ultrastructural change of 9HTE cell induced by RSV infection. Viral plaque forming reduction assay and MTT assay were used to detect the anti-RSV activity and protective function for RSV infected 9HTE cells of DNAzyme.

RESULTSAnti-RSV genomic RNA DNAzyme (DZ604) significantly improved CPE of RSV-infected 9HTE cells. The time to appearance of CPE and of total CPE was delayed by using DZ604 in a dose-dependent manner. At a 5 micro mol/L concentration of DZ604, CPE of 9HTE cells induced by RSV infection at 10 and 1 multiplicity of infection (MOI) was not improved. At smaller MOI (0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001) of RSV infection, CPE of 9HTE cells was significantly lightened by DZ604 at the same concentration. DZ604 also significantly improved ultrastructural change of 9HTE cells at early stage of RSV infection. Reduction in RSV yield was 85.56% and 8.33% at concentrations of 5 micro mol/L and 0.25 micro mol/L of DZ604. DZ604 inhibited RSV yield in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Non-specific DNAzyme did not have anti-RSV activity (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAnti-RSV genomic RNA DNAzyme designed and synthesized in our laboratory was capable of inhibiting respiratory syncytial virus replication specifically in cultured cells. Our data indicated that DNAzymes could be useful for the prevention against respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; DNA, Catalytic ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Respiratory Mucosa ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; virology ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Vero Cells ; Virus Replication ; drug effects