Objective To explore the mechanism of therapeutic action of needle knife “regulating sinews and treating bones” on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by observing the effect of needle knife intervention on KOA rabbit behaviors, mechanical characteristics of patellar ligament (PL), and expressions of interleukin-4 (IL-4), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and aggrecan in knee cartilages.Methods Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated to blank, model, needle knife and electroacupuncture groups, 10 rabbits each. A rabbit model of KOA was made by the modified Videman method of immobilization in extension position. After model making, the needle knife and electroacupuncture groups received needle knife and electroacupuncture treatments, respectively. A behavioral assessment was made using the modified Lequesne MG knee grade evaluation method in every group after model making and treatment. The samples were taken after treatment. PL tension, stress relaxation and creep state were tested using a Bose Electro Force 3300 protracted test machine. Cartilage cell IL-4 expression was examined by ELISA. MMP-3 mRNA and aggrecan mRNA expressions were detected by real-time PCR.Results After model making, there was a statistically significant difference in the Lequesne MG score between the model and blank groups (P<0.01); there was no statistically significant difference in the Lequesne MG score between the needle knife or electroacupuncture group and the model group (P>0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the Lequesne MG score between the needle knife or electroacupuncture group and the model group (P<0.01,P<0.05) and between the needle knife and electroacupuncture groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in PL maximum stress, maximum displacement, elastic modulus, stress relaxation rate and creep rate between the model and blank groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment post-treatment differences in PL maximum stress, maximum displacement, elastic modulus, stress relaxation rate and creep rate between the needle knife and model groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in elastic modulus between the electroacupuncture and model groups (P<0.01). The IL-4 content and aggrecan mRNA expression decreased significantly and MMP-3 mRNA expression increased significantly in the model group after model making and there were statistically significant differences compared with the blank group (P<0.01,P<0.05). After treatment, the IL-4 content increased significantly in the needle knife and electroacupuncture groups compared with the model group (P<0.01,P<0.05) and aggrecan mRNA expression tended to increase in the two groups. The regulation of aggrecan mRNA and MMP-3 mRNA expressions was better in the needle knife group than in the electroacupuncture groups, but there was no statistically significant difference compared with the model group (P>0.05).Conclusion The mechanism of action of needle knife treatment on KOA may be that it improves ligament mechanical characteristics, regulates intra-articular stress environment, and modulates aggrecan mRNA and MMP-3 mRNA expressions and inhibits cartilage degeneration through IL-4 mechanical signal pathway, to produce the therapeutic effect of “regulating sinews and treating bones”.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; secondary

Objective To establish the quality standards of Longdan Xiegan Capsule and Longdan Xiegan Soft Capsule. Methods Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma, Bupleuri Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Gardeniae Fructus, Alismatis Rhizoma, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Rehmanniae Radix and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were identified by TLC. Gentiopicrin in Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma, geniposide in Gardeniae Fructus, baicalin in Scutellariae Radix were determined by HPLC. Results The TLC spots developed were clear. Gentiopicrin showed good linear relationship in the range of 0.066 1-0.595 1 mg (r=1.000 0), the average recovery of Capsule was 99.34%(RSD=1.50%), and the average recovery of Soft Capsule was 96.62%(RSD=1.50%). Geniposide showed good linear relationship in the range of 0.076 1-1.369 8 mg (r=0.999 9), the average recovery of Capsule was 101.3% (RSD=1.70%), and the average recovery of Soft Capsule was 100.59%(RSD=0.79%). Baicalin showed good linear relationship in the range of 0.214 4-1.608 mg (r=1.000 0), the average recovery of Capsule was 101.12% (RSD=1.30%), and the average recovery of Soft Capsule was 98.07% (RSD=2.40%). Conclusion The method is simple and reproducible. It can be used to control the quality of Longdan Xiegan Capsule and Longdan Xiegan Soft Capsule.

Ear Neoplasms ; Ear, Middle ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Mastoid ; pathology ; Melanoma ; Middle Aged

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of gasless video-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy by infraclavicular wall.Methods 15 cases received gasless video-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy by infraclavicular wall.13 cases underwent total thyroidectomy,2 cases underwent subtotal thyroidectomy.All 15 cases were protected recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid by inspecting during the operation.Results All 15 patients were cured without hoarse and tetany,and the flaps without hematomas and extravasated blood.Conclusion Gasless video-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy by infraclavicular also can reach the principle demand by the tradional opening way.As the supremacy way of aesthetic and hidden,it can be used to the patients who want high request on faces.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Ki-67 Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; physiopathology ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

To investigate the mechanism of agarwood formation in Aquilaria sinensis induced by Lasiodiplodia theobromae, the fermentation liquor of L. theobromae was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). JAs were detected in the fermentation liquor. The effect of the fermentation liquor on the abundance of sesquiterpenes in the callus of A. sinensis was analyzed by solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). And the fermentation liquor stimulated alpha-guaiene, alpha-humulene and delta-guaiene biosynthesis in calli. It was inferred that L. theobromae produced JAs, which resulted in a significant increase of sesquiterpenes in A. sinensis.
Ascomycota ; physiology ; Fermentation ; Sesquiterpenes ; metabolism ; Thymelaeaceae ; metabolism ; microbiology

The genetic diversity of three Tibetan herbs, i. e., Sang-Di, E-Dewa and Ye-Xingba (Tibetan names), was studied based on the field collection, specimen identification and DNA sequence analysis. Swertia hispidicalyx, Gentiana lhassica and Scrophularia dentata, as the original plants of the three Tibetan herbs, were collected and identified. The regions of ITS, matK, rbcL, rpoC1, trnL(UAA), psbA-trnH, atpB-rbcL, trnS (GCU)-trnG(UCC), rpl20-rps12, trnL(UAA)-trnF(GAA) and nadl 2nd intron were amplified and sequenced. The ITS regions of S. hispidicalyx and S. dentata were cloned and sequenced, and the sequences were classified into different genotypes. All the sequences were analyzed and compared with those of closely related species. Our studies may provide reference for the genetic diversity analysis and molecular identification of the three Tibetan herbs.
Genetic Variation ; Gentiana ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Scrophularia ; classification ; genetics ; Swertia ; classification ; genetics ; Tibet

In the face of escalating problems with pathogen control, the development of proper formulations of existing antibiotics is as important as the development of novel antibiotics. Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antibiotic with potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Currently, only injectable solution of daptomycin has been approved for clinical use. In the present study, the formulation of PEGylated liposomal daptomycin (PLD) was prepared and optimized, and its efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA252) strains was investigated. The obtained PLD had a mean vesicle diameter of (111.5 +/- 15.4) nm and a mean percent drug loading of (5.81 +/- 0.19) % with high storage stability. Potent activity of PLD against MRSA was demonstrated in vitro with a more sustained effect than that of conventional liposomal daptomycin and daptomycin solution. In addition, intravenous administration of a single dose (equal to human use) of PLD significantly increased the survival of mice in a MRSA252 systemic infection model compared with other formulations. Drug distribution in the lung was significantly enhanced following administration of PLD, and no measurable tissue lesions or pathological changes were detected during PLD treatment. Taken together, PEGylated liposomes loaded with daptomycin may represent a promising approach to reduce MRSA252 infections, especially those involving bloodstream dissemination, such as hematogenous pulmonary infection.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Daptomycin ; pharmacology ; Liposomes ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Mice ; Staphylococcal Infections ; drug therapy

Objective To compare the three kinds of methods for in vitro primary culturing of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast-like cells (RASFs), in order to get fast and effective culture methods. Methods Synovial tissue from RA synovial arthroscopic resection were treated by collagenase digestion method, modified tissue culture method, double enzyme digestion method respectively. By using an inverted phase contrast microscope, cell morphology and growth characteristics were observed and identified with vimentin staining. Trypan blue was used to count the number of living cells after culturing for 14d. Results The three primary methods could successfully isolate and culture RASFs, and RASFs met the morphological characteristics of vimentin-positive cells>95%, namely, the proportion of RASFs cell confluence was 70% after 16-20days by the collagenase digestion method,whose cell confluence proportion reached 95%after 4 weeks;and the cell confluence proportion was above 70%after 10-14days by modified tissue culture method,and the cell confluence proportion reached 85%after 4 weeks by the double enzyme digestion method. The comparison of the viable cells number cultured same number of synovial tissue by the three methods show the viable cells number cultured by the modified tissue culture method were (1.60±0.08) ×106, those by the collagenase digestion method were (1.41±0.08) ×106, those by the double enzyme digestion method were (1.19 ±0.05) ×106, which were with significant difference among them (P<0.05) .The comparison of incubation time of RASFs primary cells showed it took (267.50±16.58) mins by the collagenase digestion method, (183.75 ±11.08) mins by the double enzyme digestion method, and 149.10 ±13.71mins by the modified tissue culture method, with significant differences (P<0.05) .Conclusion Modified tissue culture for RASFs is an efficient and fast culture method, the number and purity of RASFs can meet the requirements for biology experiments.