OBJECTIVETo reveal the possible mechanism involved in patella-femoral degenerative arthritis (PFDA) in- duced by torsion-deformity of tibia via analyzing the relationship between torsion-deformity of the tibia in patients with PFDA and the disorder of patella-femoral joint under the static and dynamic conditions.

METHODSFrom October 2009 to October 2010, 50 patients (86 knees, 24 knees of male patients and 62 knees of female patients) with PFDA were classified as disease group and 16 people (23 knees, 7 knees of males and 16 knees of females) in the control group. The follow indexes were measured: the torsion-angle of tibia on CT scanning imagings, the patella-femoral congruence angle and lateral patella-femoral angle under static and dynamic conditions when the knee bent at 30 degrees of flexion. Based on the measurement results, the relationship between the torsion-deformity of tibias and the disorders of patella-femoral joints in patients with PFDA were analyzed. Finally,the patients were divided into three groups including large torsion-angle group, small torsion-angle group and normal group according to the size of torsion-angle, in order to analyze the relationship between torsion-deformity and disorders of patella-femoral joint, especially under the dynamic conditions.

RESULTSCompared with patients without PFDA, the ones with PFDA had bigger torsion-angle (30.30 ± 7.11)° of tibia, larger patella-femoral congruence angle (13.20 ± 3.94)° and smaller lateral patella-femoral angle (12.30 ± 3.04)°. The congruence angle and lateral patella-femoral angle under static and dynamic conditions had statistical differences respectively in both too-big torsion-angle group and too-small torsion-angle group. The congruence angle and lateral patella-femoral angle under static and dynamic conditions had no statistical differences in normal torsion-angle group.

CONCLUSIONTorsion-deformity of tibia is the main reason for disorder of patella-femoral joint in the patients with PFDA. Torsion-deformity of tibia is always accompanied by instability of patella-femoral joint,especially under the dynamic condition, thus causing PFDA. It can not only provide arrangement information and degenerative condition of patella-femoral joint,but also provide guidance through the analysis on the relationship for better clinical prevention and early treatment of degenerative bone and joint disease.

Adult ; Female ; Femur ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Patella ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Tibia ; diagnostic imaging ; Torsion Abnormality ; complications ; diagnostic imaging

Acoustic Stimulation ; Animals ; Corpus Striatum ; physiology ; Estrogens ; metabolism ; Estrus ; physiology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; physiology ; Female ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Isolated alkaloids from Coptis chinensis Franch. The compounds were identified as berberine, columbamine, groenlandicine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, corydaldine and ferulic acid methylester. Then measured their bitter degree based on the electronic tongue and evaluated the antibacterial. The results based on the Electronic Tongue showed that berberine, columbamine, groenlandicine and jatrorrhizine have higher bitter degree than magnoflorine and corydaldine. And they also appeared better antibacterial activity on E. coli and S. aureus. The correlation coefficients between bitter degree and the two bacteria antibacterial activity were 0.983 and 0.911. So there was close relationship between the bitter degree and antibacterial activity of bitter components. Thus, it is confirmed further that bitter components are the material foundation of medicinal effectiveness of bitter herbs.
Aporphines ; analysis ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; Biomedical Research ; instrumentation ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Electronics ; instrumentation ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Reproducibility of Results ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Taste

Japan moxibustion methods originate from China and form moxibustion methods with Japanese characteristics and diathermal moxibustion as main, in combination with Japanese practice in development course. In the present paper, diathermal moxibustion and folk traditional moxibustion methods in Japan are introduced and moxibustion methods between China and Japan are preliminarily compared.
Humans ; Japan ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Moxibustion ; methods

Objective To compare the difference of early optic nerve damage and visual field defect between primary open angle glaucoma(POAG)and primary angle-closure glaucoma(PACG).Design Prospective case series.Participants 30 eyes of 23 patients with early POAG and 30 eyes of 22 patients with early PACG were recruited.Methods Routine ophthalmologic exams,visual field (Humphrey Field Analysis 24-2),scanning laser polarimetry GDx ECC(Full Exam)were performed.Different types of RNFLD and GDx ECC parameters were compared between the two groups through X square-test and independent samples t-test,respectively.Both the intra-group globe visual indices and retinal sensitivity loss of each illumination target were compared with independent samples t-test. Main Outcome Measure GDx ECC parameters,types of RNFLD,visual indices and retinal sensitivity loss of each illumination target. Results Significant differences in all GDx ECC parameters of the two groups were found except Superior Average and Symmetry.In GDx ECC reports,diffuse RNFLD in POAG and PACG were 40% and 10%,respectively(P＜0.05),while localized RNFLD were 53% and 63%,respectively.The differences of PSD and CPSD between groups were significant.More localized retinal sensitivity loss in the superiotemporal visual field in PACG were found.Conclusion The diffuse RNFL damage of early POAG is more than that of PACG. Differences between POAG and PACG in retinal sensitivity loss of the superiotemporal visual field are found,which are consistent with the RNFL damages.The pattern of RNFL damage and the visual field defects are different both functionally and structurally,which may give insight into the different etiologies of POAG and PACG.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the structural parameters provided by the Heidelberg retina tomogra- phy (HRT) and the structural parameters provided by laser diagnostics glaucoma scanning system (GDx), to discuss whether the correla- tion between them be used to make a more accurate diagnosis. Design Case control study. Participants Thirty-two patients (49 eyes) with primary open angle glaucoma and 15 patients only with abnormal GDx results. Methods The patients underwent examination with HRT, GDx. The relations between the topographic parameters of GDx Ecc and HRT were analysed by linear regression. F test was used to analyse whether there was a spatial correspondence between the GDx Ecc and HRT I]. Maim Outcome Measures The topographic parameters generated by GDx Ecc and HRTⅡ. Results In glaucoma group, among the topographic parameters generated by GDx Ecc and HRTⅡ. The correlation between NFI and rim area was significant (r=-0.68,P=-0.000). The spatial correspondence between GDx Ecc and HRTⅡwas also significant. In control group, NFI and rim area also had the significant correlation among the parameters of optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer (r=-0.79, P=0.001). But there was no spatial correspondence between the GDx Ecc and HRTⅡ. Conclusions There is a spatial correspondence between GDx and HRT, but this correspondence doesn't existence in patients only with abnormal GDx result. This difference can be used to make a more accurate diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes on lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced hepatocyte inflammation of rats and TLR4/p38MAPK signal pathway.

METHODThe hepatocytes of SD rats were cultured and identified in vitro. The medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was prepared. The hepatocytes were treated with soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes. Then Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression in cultural supernatants were assayed by ELISA. The expressions of Toll-Like 4 (TLR4), p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) and p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTThe rat medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was extracted for 2-3 mL. The purified rat hepatocytes were 1.5 x 10(8)-2.0 x 10(8). The cell viability was above 95% detected by Typan blue staining. The hepatocytes were identified by immumofluorescence assay. The detection of hepatocyte cultural supernatants: compared with that of the control group, IL-6 and TNF-α expression were increased in the LPS group (P < 0.01). While compared with that of the LPS group, the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased after soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes intervention (P < 0.01). The detection of hepatocyte proteins: compared with that of the control group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK and TLR4 were all increased significantly in the LPS group (P < 0.01). Compared with that of the LPS group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK was decreased significantly in SB239063 group and it was also decreased in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group, but with no significant difference. Compared with that of the LPS group, p38MAPK expression was reduced significantly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group and the SB239063 (p38MAPK pathway inhibitor) group (P < 0.01). TLR4 protein expression was decreased markedly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group (P < 0.01) but had no difference between the SB239063 group and the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONThe soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes may regulate hepatocyte inflammatory injury of rats through TLR4/p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

AIMTo determine the feasibility of establishing the heterologous expression model of human- serotonin transporter(hSERT or 5-HTT).

METHODScRNA of SERT was transcribed from cDNA, which was cloned in the pOTV vector. Each oocyte of mature xenopus laevis was injected with transcribed cRNA in vivo and incubated at room temperature for 4-9 days. Recording the current induced by 5-HT with voltage clamp technique tested the function of the expressed 5-HT transporter.

RESULTSThe transporter current could be observed in Ringer's solution containing 5-HT, and the 5-HT induced current were concentration-dependent. Norepinephrine and dopamine could not induce the transporter current while the 5-HT induced current could be specifically inhibited by 5-HTT blocker, desipramine.

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrate that the heterologous expression product in xenopus laevis oocytes is human 5-HT transporter.

Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Models, Animal ; Oocytes ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Xenopus laevis

OBJECTIVETo explore the action mechanism of Tongxinluo Capsule (TXL) in protecting brain from ischemic damage.

METHODSSD rats were divided into five groups randomly, the sham operation group, the model group, the MK-801 group, the large and low dosage TXL groups (TXLL and TXLS). After the middle cerebral arterial obstructive (MCAO) model was established, peritoneal injection of MK-801 0.5 mg/kg per day was given to the MK-801 group, and 1.0 g/(kg x d) and 0.5 g/(kg x d) of TXL powder was administered in twice via gastrogavage to the two TXL groups respectively. The nerve cell apoptosis rate, protein and mRNA expressions of Caspase-3, p53 and heat shock protein (HSP70) were observed using flow cytometry, Western blot and RT-PCR technique.

RESULTSBoth TXL and MK-801 could obviously lower the apoptosis rate in model rat (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), TXLL showed the optimal effect. Caspase-3, p53 protein and mRNA expression in the model group were obviously higher than those in the sham operated group. As compared with the model group, the expressions of Caspase-3 and p53 were lower and those of HSP70 and mRNA were higher in the two TXL and MK-801 groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTXL displays it brain protective effect through reducing nerve cell apoptosis rate in MCAO model rats, the mechanism may be related to its actions in inhibiting apoptosis related factors Caspase-3 and p53, and promoting stress protecting factor HSP70.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; Capsules ; Caspase 3 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cerebral Arteries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

The proposed registration algorithm based on wavelet transform is a multi-resolution block matching one, which exploits the hierarchical self-similarity of Digital Subtraction Angiography images. This method befittingly trades off between the estimation precision and computational complexity, because the registration precision is from coarse to fine, which reduces the searching complexity of motion vector. This technique has been proved that the convergence speed is exponential. The proposed method takes full advantage of the precise location both temporally and frequently which characterizes the wavelet transform. Both the matching speed and consistency are boosted without the loss of matching performance.
Algorithms ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; methods ; Artifacts ; Artificial Intelligence ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Motion ; Sensitivity and Specificity