OBJECTIVETo study the synergistic effects of electroacupuncture on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis after arthroscopic debridement.

METHODSFrom May 2008 to July 2010, 78 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into two groups. There were 42 patients in the experimental group, including 16 males and 26 females, ranging in age from 41 to 63 years, with an average of (53.62 +/- 6.53) years; the disease course ranged from 8 to 24 months, with an average of (10.35 +/- 6.42) months. The patients were treated with arthroscopic debridement combined with electroacupuncture after operation. There were 36 patients in the control group, including 14 males and 22 females, ranging in age from 40 to 62 years, with an average of (54.34 +/- 7.67) years; the disease course ranged from 6 to 25 months, with an average of (11.94 +/- 5.13) months. Those patients were treated only with arthroscopic debridment. All the patients performed isometric quadriceps femoris contraction exercise and knee flexion and extension activities after operation. The visual analog scale(VAS) score and Lysholm knee score were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 30 months, with an average of 15.6 months. At the final follow-up, VAS score was significantly decreased, and the Lysholm score, except for the item demanding for support, significantly increased, compared with those before surgery respectively in both groups. There was significant difference in VAS score between two groups after treatment. As to Lysholm score, there were significant differences in limp, pain, swelling, stair activity and squat, but there were no significant differences in items of interlocking and instability between two groups after treatment.

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and knee joint's motor function of knee joints in patients with knee osteoarthritis, as well as the synergistic effects on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis after arthroscopic debridement, leading to a much better long-term therapeutic effect with respect of improving the function of knee joint. This therapy, combined with traditional Chinese medicine and Western Medicine,is worth of clinical application in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthroscopy ; Case-Control Studies ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Debridement ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively analyze therapy comparison between hinged external fixator combining with internal fixation, soft tissue repair and plaster fixation after routine surgery for terrible triad of the elbow.

METHODSFrom January 2003 to June 2011,26 patients with terrible triad of the elbow (posterior dislocation associated with fracture of both the radial head and the ulnar coronoid process) were treated respectively by unilateral hinged external fixator and plaster fixation. Fourteen patients were treated with external fixator combining with internal fixation, soft tissue repair and reconstruction, including 8 males and 6 females,ranging in age from 20 to 62 years with an average of (33.60 +/- 8.53) years. The mean time of fixation was 7.5 weeks (ranged, 6 to 8 weeks), and forearm rotation exercise was performed after the first day of operation, elbow flexion and extension activities after 4 to 6 days. Twelve patients were treated with plaster external fixation combining with open reduction and internal fixation,including 8 males and 4 females,ranging in age from 21 to 63 years with an average of (34.80 +/- 7.41) years. The mean time of plaster fixation was 30.4 days, and functional exercise was carried out after 4 to 6 weeks of plaster removal. JOA assessment score were used to evaluate the elbow joint function.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 36 months,with an average of 18.6 months. The mean time of fracture healing was (8.6 +/- 3.1) weeks in plaster group and (9.0 +/- 2.7) weeks in fixator group, with no statistical difference between the two groups (t =1.47, P > 0.05). The function and are of motion in plaster group and fixator group showed significant difference. While the pain, articular instability and deformity showed no statistical difference. The total assessment score between two groups indicated markedly difference (t = -2.66, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHinged external fixator can enhance lateral stability of elbows,benefit the reduction of fracture dislocation, guarantee early and safe functional exercise, prevent elbow stiffness, and reduce heterotopic ossification. In treating terrible triad of the elbow, the hinged external fixator is superior to other therapies with respect of improving the function of elbow joint.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Elbow Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Objective To discuss the value of emergency bedside ultrasound in diagnose of blunt abdominal injury. Methods Portable ultrasound was used in 184 patients with blunt abdominal trauma in emergency department. The abnormal changes of the sound and image of the abdomen were observed,paying equal attention to free intraperitoneal fluid and gas. Results The emergency bedside ultrasound identified 169 (91.8%) patients with blunt abdominal injury, of whom 149 patients (95.5%) with single-organ injury and 20 patients (71.4%) with multi-organ injury. There were 21 patients missed diagnosis and three misdiagnosed, with rate of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of 13%. Surgical treatment was performed in 119 patients and conservative treatment in 65, which were proved by CT/MRI examination or clinic conservative treatment. Conclusion Emergency bedside ultrasound can provide fast and credible diagnostic information for blunt abdominal trauma, with high diagnosis accordance rate.

Objective To prepare an antiserum of human putative magnesium transporter protein (HPT protein) to study its biological effects on the drug resistance of gastric cancer cell by observing its expression level. Methods The cDNA encoding HPT protein was cloned and sequenced. Prokaryotic expression vector was constructed and HPT protein fused with histidine tag was expressed. Mice were immunized with the polyacrylamide gel particles containing the fusion protein, and the antisera of them were detected for antibody activity by Western blot. Using the antiserum, HPT protein expression level was assessed in different gastric cancer cell line. Results The sequence of cloned cDNA fragment was consistent with that of HPT. After BL21/pRSETB bacterium was induced with IPTG, a new protein band with a relative molecular weight of 55kD was showed on SDS PAGE profile, and further proved to be fusion protein with histidine tag by Western blot. The antiserum of immunized mice only recognized a unique protein band with a relative molecular weight of 50kD. HPT protein expression level in SGC7901/ADR was higher than in SGC7901. Conclusion The antiserum of HPT protein was successfully prepared, and HPT was found to probably take part in the gastric cancer cell MDR

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate the differentially expressed miRNAs in serum collected post operation and compared these miR-NAs with those collected pre-surgery among patients suffering from glioblastoma multiform (GBM) and undergoing regular clinical fol-low-up. These miRNAs may be potential biomarkers for the post-operative evaluation of patients with GBM. Methods:Forty-eight pa-tients with GBM and clinical pathological diagnosis were enrolled in this study. In the initial biomarker screening stage, total RNAs were extracted and subjected to Solexa sequencing to select miRNAs with significantly altered expression pre-and post-operation. Some of these differentially expressed miRNAs were chosen and verified through TaqMan probe-based qRT-PCR assay. A t-test was performed to determine the miRNAs that satisfied the two criteria, namely, fold change>2 and P<0.05. All of the patients were fol-lowed-up, and survival data were collected. The patients were then classified into two groups, namely, long-and short-survival groups, on the basis of the median of the miR-30e expression levels in the sera collected post-operation. Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test (SPSS version 19.0, IBM) were employed to determine the possible relationships between miR-30e expression levels in the sera collected post-operation and patients' overall survival. Results: Solexa revealed 63 differentially expressed miRNAs. Four miRNAs, namely, miR-26b, miR-30e, miR-129-3p, and miR-206, were selected on the basis of previous and present findings. These miRNAs were then verified in the RT-qPCR phase. Among these miRNAs, only miR-30e was significantly upregulated post-operation. The serum miR-30e expression level post-operation was not significantly associated with the overall survival of the patients. A low miR-30e expression level corresponded to prolonged survival. Conclusion:miR-30e was upregulated in the sera collected post-operation from patients with GBM. This miRNA may be negatively related to the tumor load of these patients. The miR-30e expression level in the serum col-lected post-surgery serum was not significantly associated with overall survival. Therefore, miR-30e may serve as a novel potential non-invasive biomarker for the post-operative evaluation of patients with GBM.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; Interleukin-1beta ; NF-kappa B ; Osteoarthritis/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To study validity and reliability of the modified elbow attachment (mEA) of Biodex. Methods 25 healthy volunteers participated in the study. The tester A used mEA and standard elbow attachment (sEA) separately to test right elbow flexor and extensor of these volunteers within a day. The tester B used mEA to assess the same muscles of the same volunteers 3 days later. The correlation between mEA and sEA were analyzed to test the validity and reliability of mEA. Results mEA was highly correlated with sEA in all isokinetic test data (P<0.05). The interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were more than 0.75 in most isokinetic test data (P<0.05). Conclusion The mEA has a good validity and reliability.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method of quick identification of Fufang yuxingcao tablel(manufactured by A). METH-ODS:NIRDRS was adopted,the near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum were recorded by a fiber optic probe,and the conformi-ty test model was established through the consistency index (CI) value and the CI limit comparison method. The spectral range of 9 002-7 497.8 cm-1 ,6 903.8-5 596.4 cm-1 and 5 002.4-4 246.4 cm-1 was selected as the characteristic spectral band ,the spectra were preprocessed by first derivation and vector normalization with 17 smoothing points , and 7.0 was set as the CI value;the characteristic spectrum correlation coefficient model was established through the correlation coefficient method ,the spectral range of 6 200-5 500 cm-1,5 000-4 700 cm-1 was selected as the characteristic spectral band,the spectra were preprocessed by first deri-vation with 17 smoothing points,and 97% was set as the threshold. RESULTS:The above established models can rapidly identify and accurately distinguish Fufang yuxingcao tablet(manufactured by A)from similar products of other manufacturers,the CI value of the validation samples was beyond 7.0,the correlation coefficient(r)were less than 97% compared with the reference sample. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple and rapid,and can be used for fast screening of Fufang yuxingcao tablet.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in depression relief in the treatment of depressive disorder at the acute stage between the combined therapy of acupuncture and 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine) selective serotonini reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the single application of SSRIs and explore the impact on the imbalance of 5-HT and TH1/TH2.

METHODSNinety cases of depressive disorder at the acute stage were randomized into a combined therapy group and a medication group, 45 cases in each one. In the medication group, SSRIs were prescribed forl oral administration, once or twice a day, continuously for 4 weeks. In the combined therapy group, on the basis of treatment as the medication group, acupuncture was combined. The main acupoints were Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29), Shenting (GV 24), Fengchi (GB 20), Dazhui (GV 14) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1), once every two. days, continuously for 4 weeks. Before treatment, and after the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment, the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate the depression severity. Separately, before and after the 4 weeks of treatment, the levels of serum 5-HT, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were determined and compared with those in 45 cases of the healthy group.

RESULTSHAMD score was reduced in the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment as compared with that before treatment in the combined therapy group (all P<0 01). HAMD score was reduced in the 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment as compared with that before treatment in the medication group (all P<0. 01). HAMD scores in the combined therapy group were lower than those in the medication group in the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment (all P< 0. 01). Before treatment, in the combined therapy group and the medication group, the levels of serum 5-HT, IL-4 and IL-10 were all lower than those in the healthy group (all P<0. 01); the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were higher than those in the healthy group (all P<0. 01). In the combined therapy group and the medication group, the levels of 5-HT, IL-4 and IL-10 in 4 weeks of treatment were all increased as compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 01), and the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were lower than those before treatment (all P<0. 01). In the combined therapy group, the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in 4 weeks of treatment were lower than those in the medication group, and the levels of 5-HT, IL-4 and IL-10 were higher than those in the medication group (P<0. 01, P< 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and SSRIs achieves much quicker and more effective re-' sult for relieving depression in the patients of depressive disorder as compared with simple oral administration of' SSRIs, and much more contributes to adjust the imbalance of serum 5-HT and TH1/TH2.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antidepressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Depressive Disorder ; blood ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Serotonin ; blood ; Th1 Cells ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; metabolism ; Young Adult