OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in the therapeutic effects on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among auricular electroacupuncture therapy plus isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste (combined therapy), electroacupuncture (EA) and TDP irradiation.

METHODSEighty-nine cases were randomized into three groups. In the combined therapy group (30 cases), the auricular electroacupuncture therapy was adopted together with the isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste. The auricular points were xi (AH4), pizhixia (AT4), shenmen (TF4), etc. The Lingxian herbal paste was applied at Yanglingquan (GB 34), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Heding (EX-LE 2) and Ashi points. In EA group (29 cases), EA was applied at the acupoints that were same as those in the isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste. In TDP group (30 cases), TDP irradiation was given at the affected knee. The treatment was given once every day, 10 treatments made one session and there was 1 week at the interval among sessions. Totally, 3 sessions of treatment were required. KOA clinical symptom and physical sign score and the single item pain symptom score of Lequesne index were observed before treatment and 1 week after treatment in the patients of each group separately. The efficacies were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSOne week after treatment, the total score of symptoms and physical signs of the patients in each group was reduced significantly as compared with that before treatment (all P < 0.05). The improvements in the symptoms and physical signs in the combined therapy group were better than those in the other two groups (1.50 +/- 1.57 vs 2.52 +/- 1.82, 2.63 +/- 1.97, both P < 0.05). The improvement in pain in the combined therapy group was also better than that in the other two groups (2.37 +/- 0.81 vs 2.83 +/- 0.92, P < 0.05; 2.37 +/- 0.81 vs 3.03 +/- 0.77, P < 0.01). The curative rate in the combined therapy group was 40.0% (12/30), which was higher than 17.2% (5/29) in EA group and 20.0% (6/30) in TDP group separately (both P < 0.01). The overall efficacy in the combined therapy group was superior to the other two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe auricular electroacupuncture therapy plus isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste is advantageous at the total score of the symptoms and physical signs and the overall efficacy in the patients of KOA as compared with EA at the local acupoints and local TDP irradiation.

Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Cochlear Implantation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningitis ; etiology ; Postoperative Complications

Objective To investigate the influence of transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) on the proliferation of hUVEC induced by the supematant from human prostate cancer cells (DU145). Methods Experiment group was treated with the mixture of DU145 cells supernatant and DMEM medium in different ratio, control group was treated with DMEM medium. The change of cell proliferation was detected by MTT method, and TRPC6 gene and protein was detected by PCR and Western-blot methods respectively. Results After incubated for 48h with the supematant from cultured DU145 cells,the population of hUVECs increased obviously, and the expression of TRPC6 genes and protein had clearly up-regulation. Conclusion The supernatant from cultured DU145 cells could effectively enhance the proliferation of hUVECs. The mechanisms might be that the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was mediated by TRPC6.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the relative association of soft tissue tension and cervical physiological curvature chang in patients with scapula muscle fasciitis.

METHODSFrom February 2012 to December 2012,29 patients with scapula muscle fasciitis were investigated. There were 10 males and 19 females with an average age of 27.77 years old (ranged from 22 to 40 years old). Routine AP and lateral cervical X-rays were done in all patients. Cervical lordosis was measured according to Borden's method and the pain point tension was measured by soft tissue tension meter. Finally,perform statistic analysis to bove data.

RESULTSLateral X-rays showed 9 cases were normal cervical lordosis, 18 cases were cervical lordosis decreased, 2 cases were cervical lordosis increased. The regression equation of cerical lordosis changes D(Y) and soft tissue tension displacement D0.5 kg (X) was Y = -15.069 + 3.673X.

CONCLUSIONThere is linear relationship between soft tissue tension and cervical physiological curvature change. With the soft tissue tension increases, the cervical lordosis trend to decrease.

Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Fasciitis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mechanical Phenomena ; Scapula ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the curative effects of curcumin(CUR)or dexamethasone (DXM)on ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)of rat lung grafts.Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided 4 groups:CUR group(CUR was administered intraperitoneally to both donors and recipients at 3 h prior to operation);DXM group(DXM was administered intraperitoneally at 30 min prior to operation);vehicle group(Animals were injected with the DMSO to both donors and recipients at 3 h prior to operation);sham group(Time-matched control animals underwent the same surgery,except that no graft was implanted).Six animals were sacrificed at different reperfusion periods of 2 h and 24 h,respectively.Oxygenation indexes(PO_2/FiO_2),lung injury scores,wet/dry ratio(W/D)and myeloperoxidase(MPO)activity in the transplanted lung were measured.Malondialdehyde(MDA), total anti-oxidative capacity(TAOC),tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-?and interleukin(IL)-6 in the transplanted lung and serum were determined.Results The levels of LPV PO_2/FiO_2 were significant- ly higher in the CUR and DXM groups than in the vehicle groups both 2 and 24 h after reperfusion,re- spectively(P

OBJECTIVETo analyze the chemical constituents of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction products from Rhodiola tibetica.

METHODThe chemical constituents were separated and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

RESULT26 Components were identified, and their relative contents were determined by normalization method of area.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides foundation for the exploitation of the resources of R. tibetica.

1-Butanol ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Carbon Dioxide ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhodiola ; chemistry ; Terpenes ; analysis ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo develop a method for analyzing the chemical compositions of Gegen and Fenge extracts using high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE).

METHODSUsing HPCE/DAD, the chemical composition of the extracts was analyzed with the buffer solution of 40 mmol/L borax containing 16.7% methanol, with injection pressure at 137.9 kPa for 5 s, separation voltage at 25 kV in 0-5 min time range and at 22 kV in 5-25 min time range, and the temperature of the capillary of 20 degrees celsius.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe method for analysis of Gegen and Fenge extracts was established, which identified puerarin and daidzein as the two major components. This simple and rapid analysis method can be used for Gegen and Fenge extract fingerprinting.

Electrophoresis, Capillary ; methods ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results

Objective To introduce the transfer of anterolateral thigh flap with iliotibial tract in repair of massive skin and soft tissue defects of the forearm and reconstruction of extension or flexion of the forearm. Methods Eight cases of complicated raw wounds of the forearm were repaired with transfer of anterolateral thigh flap with iliotibial tract. Flexor tendons of 3 cases and extensor tendons of 5 cases were repaired with iliotibial tract. The axial vessel of the flap was used to rebuild blood supply of the hand. Results All the flaps survived completely. A follow-up ranging from 3 months to 2.5 years re- vealed that the reconstructed forearms were good in appearance and soft in texture and restored protective sensation. Affected limbs could perform extension or flexion. Total range of motion (TRM) of the hands was excellent in 6 cases and poor in 2. Conclusion Anterolateral thigh flap with iliotibial tract can not only repair soft tissue defects of the forearm, but also reconstruct the main extension or flexion of the forearm simultaneously.

BACKGROUND:In vitro experiments have demonstrated that the biodegradable mesh-like microporous baloon made of macromolecular materials has obvious advantage of anti-leakage, which is capable of maintaining calcium homeostasis, has no inhibitory effects on cel growth and on microscopic interdigitation formation between new bone and bone cement. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the therapeutic effects of biodegradable mesh-like microporous baloon with calcium bone cement on vertebral fractures based on animal experiments. METHODS:The fracture model was established in 48 New Zealand rabbits, in which a bone dril was introduced after successful puncture at sites near left low extremity of the femur. These rabbit models were randomized into two groups: experimental group with calcium phosphate bone cement and biodegradable mesh-like microporous baloon and control group only with calcium phosphate bone cement. Clinical parameters such as blood cel count, biochemistry, and CT/X ray were examined at 1, 3 and 6 months after implantation of the baloon and bone cement. After that, the specimens were fixed for pathological analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The operation was performed under general anesthesia with no eventful infusion of bone cement. The expansion of baloon was satisfactory without definite extravasation of bone cement in the experimental group. In the control group, cement diffusion was found with pulmonary embolism occurring in three New Zealand rabbits. No statistical significance for blood cel counts and biochemistry was found between pre- and postoperation or between two groups. The materials in the two groups had favorable biocompatibility with injured bones without obvious immunological response. In the experimental group, the baloon wal was thinned and partial bone tissues grew into the cement at 1 month; at 3 months, a large amount of bone tissues grew into the cement and cement volume diminished; at 6 months, the baloon disappeared and only a smal amount of cement left in the bone tissues. In the control group, it was difficult to determine when the cement degraded. The biodegradable mesh-like microporous baloon combined with calcium bone cement is superior to bone cement alone in the management of vertebral fractures.

BACKGROUND:Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures can result in many complications, such as bone cement leakage and adjacent-level fractures.
OBJECTIVE:To verify the possibility of biodegradable mesh-like microporous polymer bal oon for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
METHODS:Biodegradable mesh-like microporous P(DLLA-CL) bal oons were fabricated by electrospinning technique. Coated bal oons with the same specification was fabricated by coating P(DLLA-CL) onto the same mould. Morphology of the bal oons was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The bal oon leakage was observed by eyes after the injection of water or cement. The initial strength and stiffness were measured by a universal testing machine. The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cel s on the bal oons was determined by laser confocal microscope and cel counting kit-8 assays. The biodegradation of bal oons in simulated body fluid, porcine pancreatic lipase, and fresh human serum was studied by residual weighing and scanning electron microscopy observation. Burst pressure of bal oons was measured after the bal oon was placed into a hole in the vertebral bone. For the in vitro calcium release tests, the bal oons were fil ed with calcium cement, tied, placed into 6atm ultrapure water, and then the calcium concentration was regularly determined.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mesh-like microporous bal oons presented with good fiber morphology, thickness distribution, and the presence of pores;on the coated bal oon surface, there was absence of specific morphology and porosity. Compared with the coated bal oon, the mesh-like microporous bal oon showed better mechanical properties, liquid permeability and burst pressure, to prevent leakage of bone cement and promote osteoblast adhesion and proliferation. In addition, the degradation of the mesh-like microporous bal oons was more uniform and stable than the coated bal oons, which may increase the calcium concentration in the injured vertebrae and wil be beneficial to the new bone growth and fracture healing.