Objective To observe the influence of technetium [99Tc] methylenedipho-honate (99Tc-MDP) on osteoclastogenesis induced by receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and to study the mechanism of 99Tc-MDP in osteoclast differentiation. Methods The monocytes/macrophages were isolated from peripheral blood in patients with rheumatoid arthri-tis, incubated in RPMI-1640 with receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL, 25 μg/L), macro-phage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF, 25μg/L ) and different concentrations of 99Tc-MDP (5, 10, 20,and 50 mg/L) for 4,12, and 20 days. Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase staining was used to observe the formation of osteoclasts. Results After 12 or 16 days culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, plenty of large nultinuclear cells could be found on the coverslips. 99Tc-MDP markedly inhibited those changes and the inhibitory effects were increased as the concentration of 99Tc-MDP increased (P<0.05). Conclusion 99Tc-MDP probably has some protective effect on rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting osteoclast formation.

Objective Although heart transplantation surgery has become more common,little is known about the psychological status of patients waiting for a heart transplant.Method Ninety-three patients registered for heart transplantation from March 2013 to March 2014 in a large general hospital in Shanghai were assessed by a psychiatrist using the Hamilton Depression Scale (17 items) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale.Out of them 36 were preoperatively admitted to the Cardiac Surgery Department.The scales were assessed repeatedly at the 1st day,3rd day,7th day,10th day and so on until the operation took place.Result The mean scores of HAMD and HAMA of 93 patients in the waiting list were separately 13.11 ±3.81 and 14.20±4.57.Among them 18(19.4％) were classified as moderately depressed,31(33.3％) had moderately anxious symptoms,and 14(14.1％) had severe anxious symptoms.Thirty-six patients were preoperatively admitted to hospital.Their mean scores of HAMD and HAMA were separately 13.19-± 3.82 and 16.17 ± 4.35.Among them 7(19.4％) were classified as moderate depression at the time of admission,16 (44.4％) had moderately anxious symptoms and 9 (25.0％) had severe anxious symptoms.The scores of HAMD had significant difference (t =3.383,P =0.002) before and after admission.Paired t test was separately conducted to analyze the first assessment and the 3rd-day assessment of HAMA and HAMD total scores after admission of all the inpatients.The results showed the scores were statistically different (for HAMA,t =2.786,P =0.009; for HAMD,t =14.024,P =0.000).Repeated ANOVA was used to analyze the recipients who had three assessments.The results had statistical difference (for HAMA,F =4.568,P=0.020; for HAMD,F=5.626,P =0.034) and the difference of HAMD score at different time points had a linear trend (F =8.273,P =0.013).Conclusion After hospital admission,the depression symptoms will be significantly alleviated.When waiting for the transplant in the hospital,the anxiety symptoms alleviate slightly in three days and then aggravate significantly.The depression symptoms alleviate slightly continuously.

Objective To investigate the effects of locomotor training on improving locomotor function after spinal cord injury(SCI)and the mechanism of spinal cord plasticity.Methods A model of complete thoracic cord transection was established using 84 adult female rats divided into sham,SCI and treadmill training(BWSTT) groups.The hind limb locomotor function of all the rats was evaluated.The fluorescence intensities due to (EphA4),vesicular glutamate transporter 2(VGluT2)and EphA4/VGluT2 double-positive neurons in the ventromedial area of the anterior horn of the lumbar COrd were detected using immunofluorescence double labeling and laser confocal microscopy.Results The rats in the BWSTT group showed better functional recovery in their hind limbs than those in the SCI group.BWSTT was correlated with markedly increased EphA4.VGIuT2 and EphA4/VGluT2 intensities in the ventromedial area.Conclusion BWSTT improves hind limb locomotor function in rats with thoracic cord transections by elevating the expression of EphA4/VGluT2,promoting neuronal plasticity in the lumbar anterior horn.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of baicalein on the gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the TM4 Sertoli cells of the mouse testis and its related mechanism.

METHODSWe measured the cytotoxicity of different concentrations of baicalein on the TM4 Sertoli cells in the mouse testis by MTT, detected the fluorescence transfer of the TM4 Sertoli cells by parachute assay, and determined the expression of the protein connexin 43 ( Cx43) in the baicalein-treated cells by Western blot and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSBaicalein produced no obvious cytotoxicity on the TM4 Sertoli cells at the concentration below 60 µmol/L but significantly increased their GJIC at 0-20 µmol/L (P < 0.01). Western blot and immunofluorescence assay showed that 0-20 µmol/L baicalein remarkably elevated the expression of Cx43 in the TM4 cells (P < 0.01) and on the membrane of the TM4 cells.

CONCLUSIONBaicalein at the concentration of 0-20 µmol/L can significantly enhance GJIC in mouse TM4 Sertoli cells by increasing the expression of the Cx43 protein.

Animals ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure

Objective To explore the correlation between the time course of disease and bone metabolism changes in patients with spinal cord injury. Methods Data on serum osteocalcin(SO)measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA)from a database on 167 patients with spinal cord injury(SCI)were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into four groups according to the time post-injury:group A(＜3 months post-injury,n=44),group B(3-6 months post-injury,n=42),group C(7-12 months post-injury,n=37)and group D(＞12 months post-injury,n=44). Results The mean SO value in all 4 groups of patients was significantly higher than normal.The mean SO value of group B was significantly higher than that of group A,but not significantly different from that of group C.The mean SO value of group D was significantly lower than that of group C,but not significantly different from that of group A.Conclusion Serum osteocalcin is elevated in the early stages of SCI,and its subsequent de-cline is closely correlated with the time post-injury.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of treatment of meniscal injuries of knee joints by arthroscopy.Methods 33 patients 35 joints were followed up and the parts,types and treatment under arthroscopy were analysed.Results 33 patients were followed up from six months to six years,the mean preoperative Lysholm score was 60.5 points,and the mean postoperative one was 86.7 points.Conclusion The advantage of treating meniscal injuries by arthroscopy was the result of correct examination and little wound of arthroscopy operation,and arthroscopic repair or partial menisectomy could effectively restore the function of the injured knee.

Adolescent ; Bone Diseases ; etiology ; Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder ; complications ; pathology ; Facial Bones ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; complications ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; complications ; pathology ; Syndrome

This study investigated the protective effect of chrysin on hepatic fibrosis by regulating AMP-activated kinase (AMPK)-NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) mediated pyroptosis pathway. The hepatic fibrosis model of mice was established by thioacetamide (TAA) in vivo. Except the control and chrysin alone groups, the mice were injected intraperitoneally with TAA at 100 mg·kg^-1, three times per week for the first week. From the 2^nd to 5^th week, mice were injected intraperitoneally with TAA at 200 mg·kg^-1, three times per week for the next 4 weeks. Chrysin groups were intragastrically administrated once per day to 5^th week. The histopathological changes were detected by HE and Masson staining. The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were assessed by the kits. All animal experiments were approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University (DWLL2019060). LX-2 cells were stimulated by (transforming growth factor-β, TGF-β) in vitro. The protein expressions of AMPKα, p-AMPKα, NLRP3, cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1), gasdermin D (GSDMD) were detected by Western blot, and the mRNA levels of collagen-Ι, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-18, caspase-1, GSDMD were analysis by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Chrysin attenuated the increases in serum AST and ALT levels in the TAA group, while significantly improved the changes of liver morphology, reduced liver tissue inflammatory cell infiltration and inhibited collagens deposition. Compared with TAA group, chrysin effectively activated AMPKα phosphorylation and inhibited hepatic NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Additionally, the protein expressions and mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1 and GSDMD in chrysin groups were decreased. Chrysin inhibited the expressions of collagen-Ι and α-SMA, enhanced the phosphorylation of AMPKα, and decreased the expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD. Therefore, chrysin may inhibit inflammatory injury and pyroptosis possibly by activating AMPK and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome to alleviate hepatic fibrosis.

Osteocalcin is one of the biochemical markers of bone metabolism, produced by mature osteoblasts. It has been shown that serum osteocalcin is a marker of osteoblastic activity, and the levels reflect the rate of bone formation and bone turnover. Bone metabolism after spinal cord injury (SCI) initially reflects a disproportion between highly bone resorption and almost normal or lightly elevated bone formation, indicating an increase in bone turnover. Osteocalcin and other biochemical markers may be helpful to know the bone metabolism after SCI and to evaluate the effect of all kinds of methods in treating and preventing osteoporosis after SCI.

0.05).Conclusion Three Hybridoma cell lines which secrete the target antibodies with satisfied affinities and specificities have been successfully raised,which provides a basis to produce a domestic-made HCMVpp65 antigen diagnosis kit.