To study the toxicokinetics of bakuchiol, hepatic and renal toxicity in rats after single oral administration of Psoraleae Fructus and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, in order to provide scientific evidences for clinical safe medication use. A total of 35 SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups: vehicle (distilled water) control group, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group, positive control (aristolochic acid A) group, Psoraleae Fructus (40 g x kg(-1)) group( both male and female rats), Psoraleae Fructus and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (40 +20) g x kg(-1) group (both male and female rats). HPLC-UV method was used to determine the concentration of bakuchiol in rat plasma at different time points after single oral administration. Plasma alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma creatinine (Cr), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and kidney injury molecule 1 (Kim-1) were measured after administration for 24 h. The main toxicokinetics parameters of bakuchiol in rats exert significantly gender difference. When Psoraleae Fructus combination with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve( AUC), C(max), and plasma clearance (CL) of bakuchiol were increased, respectively; CL, half-life (t½) were decreased, and T(max) were prolonged. The biochemical indicators (including ALT, AST, BUN, Cr and KIM-1 level) in different dose of Psoraleae Fructus groups, were found no statistically significant difference when compared with vehicle control group. The level of NAG in both Psoraleae Fructus and compatibility with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma groups were significant increased (P < 0.05). There are obvious effects on toxicokinetics of bakuchiol in rats when Psoraleae Fructus combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Renal toxicity induced by Psoraleae Fructus at high dose was observed after single oral administration and no liver damage in rats was found.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Female ; Glycyrrhiza ; toxicity ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Phenols ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Psoralea ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; toxicity ; Toxicokinetics

Osteoarthritis (Osteoarthritis, OA) is a common clinical degenerative joint disease with increased incidence rate in recent years. Animal experiment is one of the important ways to explore pathogenesis and treatment of OA, while induced animal model is the most important part in animal experiment. Intra-articular injection of drugs is a classical method for establishing animal model of OA. Choose of animal should follows the principle of correlation, appropriateness and practicability, injections should perform in accordance with experimental purposes and subject, detections means and evaluation methods also should corresponding to experimental reality. The gold standard of OA animal model and intra-articular injections has not build, need further study.
Animals ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Mice ; Osteoarthritis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Rats

AIMTo investigate the effects of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and signal protein Smad3 on rat myocardial hypertrophy.

METHODSThe total protein was analysed by flow cytometer assay to judge the hypertrophy of myocardial cell incubated with different level of TGF-beta1 in cultured myocardial cells of neonatal rats. The models of rat cardiac hypertrophy were produced with constriction of the abdominal aorta. At the different time after the operation, the rats were killed, and the left ventricular mass indexes (LVMl) were investigated. The mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1 and Smad3 of cultured cells and hypertrophic left ventricles were assessed by RT-PCR, the protein expressions of Smad3 were assessed by Western blot.

RESULTSIn cultured neonatal myocardial cells, different level TGF-beta1 could significantly increase the total protein, and TGF-beta1 (3 ng/ml) could increase the expression of mRNA and protein of Smad3 and continued for 8 h of cultured cardiomyocytes. The LVMI and the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and Smad3 mRNA/protein of hypertrophic left ventricle were increased at the 3rd day after the operation and continued for 4 weeks. The peak expression of them was in 2 weeks after operation.

CONCLUSIONTGF-beta1 has the effects on rat myocardial hypertrophy, signal protein Smad3 is included in the pathologic progress of rat myocardial hypertrophy.

Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Smad3 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of the different treatments targeted at different types of radial head fracture and radial neck fracture.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed in 87 patients from February 2006 to March 2007. Fifty-four patients with radial head fractures included 36 males and 18 females, aged from 18 to 65 years (the average age was 33); Forty of them resulted from crashing, 8 from traffic injury and 6 from falling injury. According to Mason classification system, there were 15 type I, 23 type II and 16 type III. Thirty-three patients with radial neck fractures included 21 males and 12 females, aged from 9 to 17 years (the average age was 13), 29 of them resulted from crashing, 1 from traffic injury and 3 from falling injury. According to O'Brien classification system, there were 8 type I, 14 type II and 11 type III. Type I of radial head fractures and radial neck fractures were immobilization with cast, the patients with type II of radial head fractures were treated with open reduction and micro-screw or T-trapezoid and bridge-shaped plate fixation and type III had operations to fix with bridge-shaped locked plate and repair the broken annular ligament, or replace heads with prosthesis. All patients with type II and type III of radial neck fractures were treated with closed reduction by leverage and percutaneous intra-medullary nailing.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for 4-12 months (mean 7.2 months). The functional recovery degrees were evaluated with Wheeler's evaluation system. In group of radial head fractures, the results were excellent in 26 patients, good in 20, fair in 6 and poor in 2, the excellent and good rate was 85.2%. In group of radial neck fractures, the results were excellent in 20 patients, good in 9, fair in 4 and poor in no patient, and the excellent and good rate was 87.9%.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent types of fractures should choose different surgical methods according to their characters. The excellent functional recovery depend on anatomical reduction, retaining the head of radius, early repairing and protecting the broken annular ligament of radius, and early functional training.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo clarify the resource of medicinal plants of genus Polygonum s. lat. distributed in Anhui Province.

METHODConducting field investigation and consulting related specimens and data.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe distribution, growing environment and medicinal use of 32 taxa have been clarified. A scientific basis for further study for these medicinal plants has been provided.

Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; pharmacology ; Antidiuretic Agents ; pharmacology ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Pharmacognosy ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Polygonum ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification

Abstract: To analyze the clinical, therapeutic and laboratory characteristics of disseminated cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans invading the blood stream in patient with liver cirrhosis and splenectomy. A 30-year-old male underwent splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization due to "splenomegaly and hypersplenism" in March in 2016. The patient had intermittent fever after operation for many times, and successively accompanied with back pain, left lower limb abscess and right hip pain. The highest body temperature was 39 ℃. CT and MRI revealed the lung lesion and multiple bone destruction. During that period, the effect of antibiotics was not good. On April 19th, 2017, Gram's stain, India ink stain, API 32C, Vitek 2 Compact, ribosomal ITS and IGS sequence analysis were performed to identify the strain isolated from the pus and blood stream. The serum of the patient was detected for cryptococcal antigen. Antifungal susceptibility test was used to determine drug sensitivity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from fresh pus specimen showed a prominent, thick capsule after India ink stain. The colonies isolated from pus and blood stream were identified Cryptococcus neoformans using API 32C, Vitek 2 Compact, and sequence analysis of rDNA ITS and IGS. Cryptococcal capsule antigen was positive. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of 5-Flucytosine, amphotericin B, fluconazole, itriconazole, voriconazole against the isolate were <4 μg/mL, <0.5 μg/mL, 4 μg/mL, ≤0.25 μg/mL, 0.125 μg/mL respectively. The patient was initially treated with intravenous amphotericin B and flucytosine. After anti-Cryptococcus treatment for two months, the patient clinically improved, and the lesions were reduced on a follow-up CT scan. The patient made a full functional recovery after treatment for six months. Cryptococcosis has hidden onset, atypical clinical symptoms and lack of specificity. Blood stream is the main channel for Cryptococcus to spread and involve many organs of the whole body, including skin, bone and so on. Therefore, early use of blood culture to monitor blood flow dissemination, actively removing the primary focus and cutting off the infection route in time and carrying out effective anti-Cryptococcus treatment are conducive to the patient's early recovery.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) as one of lab tests to examine DNA breakage for the diagnosis of Fanconi anemia (FA). Case Record A 4-year-and-10-month old boy presented with cryptorchism, deformities of both thumbs and esotropia of right eye. He developed thrombocytopenia and anemia when he was 3 year- and -2-month old. He was clinically diagnosed as FA.

METHODS AND RESULTSDNA breakage of peripheral white blood cells from the patient and his parents was examined with SCGE. The percentages of cells with chromosome breakage (comet-tail positive cells) were 100%, 90% and 52% for the patient,his father and mother, respectively, while that were only 2% and 5% in two normal same-age children (P <0. 001). The micronucleus-positive lymphocytes was 6.74% in the patient, being also much higher than normal value (0.40%).

CONCLUSIONSCGE disclosed DNA breakage in the patient with FA, suggesting that it could be used as a test for determining DNA breakage of FA.

Child, Preschool ; Comet Assay ; Fanconi Anemia ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUNDUnstable pelvic fractures are complex and serious injuries. Selection of a fixation method for these fractures remains a challenging problem for orthopedic surgeons. This study aimed to compare the stability of Tile C pelvic fractures fixed with two iliosacral (IS) screws and minimally invasive adjustable plate (MIAP) combined with one IS screw.

METHODSThis study was a biomechanical experiment. Six embalmed specimens of the adult pelvis were used. The soft tissue was removed from the specimens, and the spines from the fourth lumbar vertebra to the proximal one-third of both femurs were retained. The pubic symphysis, bilateral sacroiliac joints and ligaments, bilateral hip joints, bilateral sacrotuberous ligaments, and bilateral sacrospinous ligaments were intact. Tile C pelvic fractures were made on the specimens. The symphysis pubis was fixed with a plate, and the fracture on the posterior pelvic ring was fixed with two kinds of internal fixation in turn. The specimens were placed in a biomechanical machine at a standing neutral posture. A cyclic vertical load of up to 500 N was applied, and displacement was recorded. Shifts in the fracture gap were measured by a grating displacement sensor.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USEDPaired-samples t-test.

RESULTSUnder the vertical load of 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 N, the average displacement of the specimens fixed with MIAP combined with one IS screw was 0.46, 0.735, 1.377, 1.823, and 2.215 mm, respectively, which was significantly lower than that of specimens fixed with two IS screws under corresponding load (P < 0.05). Under the vertical load of 500 N, the shift in the fracture gap of specimens fixed with MIAP combined with one IS screw was 0.261 ± 0.095 mm, and that of specimens fixed with two IS screws was 0.809 ± 0.170 mm. The difference was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe stability of Tile C pelvic fractures fixed with MIAP combined with one IS screw was better than that fixed with two IS screws.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Bones ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of the autologous venous external stents on intimal hyperplasia of the vein grafts in rabbits.

METHODSThirty-six male New Zealand white rabbits, aged 5 months and weighing 2.8 to 3.0 kg, were randomly divided into 3 groups: group A, group B and group C, with 12 rabbits in each group. First, a section about 6 cm long of vein was cut from the right external jugular vein of each rabbit and severed to have 3 equal-length segments. Next, each distal segment prepared for anastomosis. The proximal segment invaginating middle segment in group A and only middle segment in group B were used for the external stent. Later, the left common carotid artery was separated from surrounding tissue, from it a section about 0.5 cm long was cut away. Finally, the vein graft was inverted and end-to-end anastomosed to the two ends of the artery with a 9-0 suture. After bloodstream re-established, the diameter of each vein graft was measured. At 2 and 4 weeks postoperative, the graft veins were cut off and histologically examined by the means of HE staining and Masson staining. The smooth muscle cells (SMC) proliferation was studied by the immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

RESULTSAfter bloodstream re-established, the diameters of vein graft of group A and group B and group C were (1.6 +/- 0.3) mm, (2.2 +/- 0.4) mm and (2.6 +/- 0.6) mm respectively (P < 0.05). At 4 weeks postoperative, the data of the ratio of intima to media thickness and the index of the proliferating cells of the intima were as follow: group A (1.01 +/- 0.07 and 6.84 +/- 1.98), group B (1.32 +/- 0.08 and 11.01 +/- 2.61), group C (1.55 +/- 0.03 and 14.96 +/- 4.14). Both the data of group A were obviously less than that in group B, and that of group B was less than group C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe autologous venous two-layer external stents inhibit intimal hyperplasia of the vein grafts.

Animals ; Hyperplasia ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Rabbits ; Stents ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; Veins ; pathology ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of treatment on the cases of severe hallux valgus by the first metatarsal basal osteotomy combined with Chevron-Gerbert operation.

METHODSFrom June 2004 to August 2008, 37 cases of severe hallux valgus (66 feet) underwent first metatarsal basal osteotomy combined with Chevron-Gerbert operation. There were 5 males (10 feet) and 21 females (38 feet), aged 21 - 76 years (mean 58 years). For all patients with follow-up, radiographic measurements of frontal and lateral position of foot were taken to measure the hallux valgus angle (HVA), the IMA (intermetatarsal angle) and the proximal articular set angle (PASA) preoperatively, postoperatively and in follow-up respectively. The measuring results were compared among the preoperative, the 6-week postoperative and the final follow-up. At the same time the patients were evaluated with the AOFAS Maryland score.

RESULTSOf the original 37 patients, 26 patients (48 feet) were followed up. The mean durations of follow-up was 2.3 years (range from 1 to 4 years). At final follow-up, HVA corrected 25.6° ± 3.8°, IMA corrected 8.6° ± 2.4°, and PASA corrected 4.7° ± 4.2°. According to AOFAS rating system, 91.7% patients were rated as excellent or good with excellent in 15 patients (28 feet), good in 8 patients (16 feet), and fair in 3 patients (4 feet).

CONCLUSIONSFirst metatarsal basal osteotomy combined with Chevron-Gerbert operation has good efficacy to the patients with severe hallux valgus. However there are disadvantages such as complexity relatively for multi-stage osteotomy and internal fixation.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hallux Valgus ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Metatarsal Bones ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Osteotomy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult