OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to evaluate the influence of loading in different healing periods on implant stability and to establish an animal model of anchorage implant screws.

METHODSAnchorage implant screws were implanted in sheep alveolar bone to establish the implant screw animal model. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: group A, sheep without loading; group B, sheep loaded immediately after implant; group C, sheep loaded after two weeks; and group D, sheep loaded after four weeks. The maxillary and mandibular tissue specimens with implants were dissected. The maxillary tissue specimens were used to make undecalcified bone grinding slices, and the healing mode of the implant-bone interface was observed by light microscope. The maximum shear strength of loose mandibular specimens was measured by a material testing machine. The differences in group data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS 1) A general difference in shear strength exists among the four groups. The shear strengths in groups A and B were lower than those in groups C and D. 2) No significant difference in healing mode was found between the pressure side and the tension side of the longitudinal-grinded bone slices with implants. Both fiber combination and osseointegration of transverse-grinded slices could be found in the interface in all four groups. The major integration mode of the implant-bone interface of groups A and D was osseointegration, whereas that of the implant-bone interface of groups B and C was fibrous tissue transformation. The surrounding bone tissue regenerated toward the implants of group C.

CONCLUSIONResults show that loading time influences the stability of implant anchorage.

Objective:To detect heavy metals in 100 Chinese traditional medicine materials to evaluate the heavy metal residue situation. Methods:The ministry of land and resources Wuhan supervision and inspection center of mineral resources was authorized to examine four heavy metals: lead ( Pb ) , cadmium ( Cd ) , arsenic ( As ) and mercury ( Hg ) . Results: The Chinese herbal medicines showed different degree of heavy metal pollution with the over standard rate of 22%, and the over standard rate of Cd, Pb, As and Hg was 19%, 5%, 2% and 1%, respectively. The situation of two over standard heavy metals in single sample from the same batch exis-ted. As for the medicinal parts, roots and rootstock herbs accounted for 50% in the all over standard. As for the regions, east China and central-southern China had the highest over standard. Conclusion: The examined medicines exhibit heavy metal pollution. It is necessary to strengthen the examination and control for harmful chemical elements in Chinese herbal medicines to enhance the quality and guarantee clinical use safety.

This study was aimed to explore the mechanism of Xin-Feng capsule (XFC) on pulmonary function of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) rat model based on the TGF-β1-ERK1 signal pathway. A total of 50 SD rats were ran-domly divided into the normal control (NC) group, model control (MC) group, hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) group, radix paeoniae alba (total glucosides of paeony capsules, TGP) group, and the XFC treatment group, with 10 rats in each group. Except the NC group, the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and the same rat sub-mandibular gland antigen induced method were applied to each rat after metatarsus injection on two feet and CFA after sufficient emulsification of 0.2 mL submandibular gland protein mixed antigen induced SS. The water drink-ing quantity, body weight change, pulmonary function, ERK1, TGF-β1 protein expression and serum cell factor (IL-17, IL-4) changes were detected in each group. The results showed that compared with the NC group, the body quality and serum IL-4 of MC rats were obviously decreased, and the water drinking quantity, submandibu-lar gland / lung index, submandibular gland pathological score, ERK1, TGF-β1 integral and IL-17 were increased (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and the pulmonary function parameter was decreased (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Compared with the MC group, the body quality, pulmonary function parameters FEF50 and MMF of the XFC group were in-creased, the IL-4 expression was increased, the water drinking quantity, submandibular gland / lung index, sub-mandibular gland pathological score, serum IL-17 expression, ERK1 and TGF-β1 integral were decreased (P <0.01 or P < 0.05). Compared with the HCQ group, the body quality and IL-17 were significantly decreased in the XFC group (P < 0.01), FEF25, FEF75 and MMF were increased (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Compared with the TGP group, the lung index and IL-17 were decreased in the XFC group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). It was conclud-ed that the lung function of SS rats was declined, which is closely related to the activation of TGF-β1-ERK1 sig-nal pathway. Traditional Chinese medicine of XFC is able to downregulate the TGF-β1 expression and to restrain epithelium-mesenchymal cell transformation, in order to inhibit ERK1 phosphorylation activation and proliferation, decrease immune inflammation, in order to improve SS and lung function.

Objective To explore the hemostatic mechanism of micron rhubarb charcoal(MRC) for the treatment of gastric ulcer bleeding.Methods Both Kunming mice and SD rats were used as the experimental animals,and were randomized into blank control group,Yunnan white powder(9g?kg-1?d-1)group,and high-,middle-and low-dose MRC(8,4 and 2g?kg-1?d-1)groups,respectively,ig for 6 days.After treatment,bleeding time(BT),coagulation time(CT),and platelet count in mice were detected,and the platelet function and fibrinolytic activity in rats were examined.Results In mice MRC groups,BT and CT were shortened(P

Objective To investigate the effect of siRNA targeted against Bcl-xl on cell proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the effect on expres-ion of apoptosis relevant factors Bcl-xl,Bax,Caspase-3.Methods Human RA synovial cells were cultured and passed by tissue block collagenase digestion method.The siRNA plasmid targeting Bcl-xl gene was constructed by Bcl-xl cDNA sequence provided by gene banks,while single missense sequences were used as negative controls.LipofectamineTM 2000 was used to transfect synovial cells.The effect of Bcl-xl silencing on proliferation of synovial cells was evaluated by MTT at 24,48,72 hours after transfection.The expressions of Bcl-xl,Bax,Caspase-3 protein,synovial apoptosisrelated factors were determined by Western blotting after transfected at different time points.The average of multiple-sample average was analyzed by single-factor x2 test or LSD-t and Tamhane's T2 test was used for twotwo comparison.Results MTT result s showed that RNA interference that specifically silent Bcl-xl could obviously suppress the proliferation of sliding film cells,which was most eveident at 48 hours.This inhibition was gradually weakened with prolonged time,but when compared was the control group,differences was significant (P＜0.05).Western blotting results displayed that when compared to the control group,Bcl-xl protein expression obviously declined after transfection P＜0.01,which was the least at 48 h time point.Bax,Caspase3 protein expression were obviously increased when compared to the coutrol group.Conclusion The expression of Bcl-xl,a RA synovial cell anti-apoptotic factor,is significantly reduced by specific RNA interference silencing Bcl-xl,which may play an important role in inhibiting the excessive proliferation of synovial cells.

Objective To summarize our experience in the management of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) during aortic arch surgery.Methods From March 2007 to May 2010,58 consecutive patients,including 24 urgent and 34 selective operations underwent aortic arch surgery.Thirty-nine hemiarch and 19 total aortic arch replacement operations were performed.CPB was established by perfusion through femoral artery (42 cases) and right subclavian artery (RSA) ( 16 cases),of which 4 cases were carried out with antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP).Results The mean CPB time was ( 208.88 ± 136.45 ) min.The mean cerebral circulation arrest was ( 27.36 ± 11.50 ) min.Nasopharyngeal and rectal temperature were ( 16.01 ±2.67)℃ and ( 19.72 ±2.13)℃ respectively before DHCA was initiated.The mean times for cooling and rewarming were ( 50.91 ± 16.89) min and ( 88.97 ± 43.68 ) min.The mean time of intubation was (56.70 ± 45.19 ) h.The time in ICU was ( 5.68 ± 5.31 ) d,and the time of hospitalization was (30.11 ± 22.27 ) d.Acute renal failure,hypoxemia,and paraplegia occurred post-operatively in 4,19,and 2 patients,respectively.Four patients died post-operatively with a mortality of 6.90％.Compared with those received hemiarch replacement operation,the patients received total aortic arch replacement had statistically longer time of CPB([262.16 ±219.97]min vs [182.92 ±53.81] min,t =2.14,P ＜0.05),cerebral circulatory arrest ( [30.47 ± 15.86 ] win vs [25.85 ± 8.48 ] min,t =2.40,P ＜ 0.05 ),rewarming ( [110.00 ± 68.66 ] min vs [78.72 ± 17.31 ] min,t =2.69,P ＜ 0.05 ),and intubation ( [93.95 ± 131.89 ] h vs [38.08 ± 30.70 ] h,t =2.50,P ＜ 0.05 ).There was no significant difference in the times of these procedures between emergency surgery group and elective surgery group,between RSA and femoral artery cannulation groups.Conclusion It is crucial that the cooling and re-warming procedures during aortic arch surgery should be carried out slowly,gradually,and completely when DHCA was adopted alone.conclusion through right axillary artery or RSA was preferred for ACP,in order to accomplish the body circulation arrest at a relative high temperature,to shorten the CPB time,and to alleviate potential harmful effects of hypothermia.Meticulous management of CPB is one of the most important measures to improve the patients' outcome.

Objective To observe the changes of lung parameters,the ratios of B and T lymphocyte attenuator(BTLA) and serum cytokines in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA),and explore possible molecular mechanism of them.Methods Forty-seven cases of knee osteoarthritis from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 2011 October to 2012 July were analyzed in this study.Pulmonary parameters were detected by spirometer; B and T lymphocyte attenuator(BTLA) was detected by flow cytometry ; Interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-10,matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9),tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease-1 (TIMP-1) were detected by ELISA;ESR was determined by Westergren method ; hs-CRP was determined by the automatic biochemistry analyzer.Results (1) Compared with NC group,levels of FVC,FEV1,FEV1/FVC,PEF,MEF25.75,MEF50,MEF25,CD3 + BTLA+ T cell,CD4+ BTLA+ Tcell,IL-10,TIMP1 were significantly decreased,IL-1 β,MMP9 were significantly increased.(2)Correlation analysis showed FVC was negatively correlated to Lequesne MG,symptom classify quantization scores,course,MMP9,while positively related to CD3+ BTLA+T cell,IL-10,TIMP1 ;FEV1 was positively correlated to CD3 + BTLA+T cell,CD4+ BTLA+T cell,TIMP1,while negatively correlated to course ; MEF50 was positively related to CD3+BTLA+T cell,CD4+ BTLA+T cell.Conclusion While articular cartilage lesions occurred in KOA patients,the lung function was also declined.The mechanism may be associated with the declination of expression of BTLA,which can cause up-regulating of IL-1 β,MMP9 and down-regulating of IL-10,TIMP1,thus leading to immune dysfunction and abnormal immune response.Those may induce airway injuries and result in lung function decline finally.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of Tiaozhong Granule (TZG), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in treating rats with mixed reflux esophagitis. METHODS: Fifty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into untreated group (n=12), sham-operated group (n=10), TZG-treated group (n=12), Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXXXD)-treated group (n=12) and cisapride-treated group (n=12). Mixed reflux esophagitis was induced by esophago-duodenum end-to-side anastomosis. Four weeks later, the rats were orally administered twice daily for 12 days. Pathological changes of esophagus mucous membrane were observed by using HE staining. The expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53 in the esophagus tissue were detected by immunohistochemical SABC method. Spectrophotometric method was used to detect the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in serum. RESULTS: Compared with the untreated group, pathological changes of esophagus mucous membrane were relieved in different degrees in TZG-treated group, BXXXD-treated group and cisapride-treated group. Content of MDA and expressions of PCNA and p53 were obviously decreased in the three treated groups (P<0.01), and the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly increased in the three treated groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). TZG had better effects than cisapride in decreasing the content of MDA and increasing the activities of SOD and GSH-Px (P<0.05). TZG was better in aspect of reducing the expressions of PCNA and p53 than BXXXD and cisapride tablets (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tiaozhong Granule can treat mixed reflux esophagitis in rats, and its action mechanisms may be associated with decreasing the expressions of PCNA and p53 in esophagus mucous membrane, reducing the content of MDA and increasing the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in serum.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as a common systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease, affects approximately 1 in 100 individuals. Effective treatment for RA is not yet available because current research does not have a clear understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of RA. Xinfeng Capsule, a patent Chinese herbal medicine, has been used in the treatment of RA in recent years. Despite its reported clinical efficacy, there are no large-sample, multicenter, randomized trials that support the use of Xinfeng Capsule for RA. Therefore, we designed a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of Xinfeng Capsule in the treatment of RA.

BACKGROUND:The regulatory role of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signal pathways in the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells subjected to mechanical strain remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of ERK1/2 and NF-kB signal pathway on alkaline phosphatase, type Ⅰcol agen, osteocalcin and interleukin-6 expression in osteoblasts in response to mechanical strain, and to explore the regulatory effects of ERK1/2 and NF-kB signal pathway on osteoblast differentiation.
METHODS:MC3T3-E1 cells cultured in vitro were separately treated with ERK1/2 pathway specific inhibitor PD098059 and NF-kB pathway inhibitor PDTC for 30 minutes, and subjected to12%elongation for 24 hours. Normal cells and cells along loading 12%mechanical strain for 24 hours were considered as controls. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and real-time PCR were utilized to detect alkaline phosphatase activities, type Ⅰcol agen, osteocalcin and interleukin-6 mRNA expression before and after cellloading.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Under 12%mechanical strain, alkaline phosphatase, type I col agen, and interleukin-6 expression was regulated by ERK1/2 signal pathway in MC3T3-E1 cells, but osteocalcin gene expression was not affected by ERK1/2 pathway. NF-kB signal pathway inhibitor PDTC significantly suppressed alkaline phosphatase activities in MC3T3-E1 cells under mechanical strain, and inhibited interleukin-6 gene expression. However, type I col agen and osteocalcin gene expression was not affected by NF-kB signal pathway. Results suggested that mechanical strain affected osteogenic differentiation and relevant gene expression in MC3T3-E1 cells by ERK1/2 and NF-kB signal pathway.