Objective To analyze the biomechanical effects of gravity loading countermeasure garment on human lumbar intervertebral disc in microgravity environment. Methods Based on CT images of a healthy adult volunteer, the finite element model of L4-5 vertebrae was established. Through the empty load and 400 N axial loading for 4 hours on lumbar finite element model, the biomechanical effect of the non-intervention and gravity loading countermeasure garment were simulated respectively in microgravity environment. Results The central pore pressure, radial displacement and water content of the human lumbar intervertebral disc increased with time in microgravity environment. In the case of wearing gravity loading countermeasure garment, the central pore pressure, axial stress, radial displacement and water content of the lumbar intervertebral disc were reduced after 72 hours of cyclic loading compared with the non-intervention group. Conclusions Wearing gravity loading countermeasure garment can help astronauts to prevent the adverse effects of microgravity on the spine to some extent in microgravity environment.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are few studies about prostaglandin E1 in the paracrine and migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of prostaglandin E1 in the paracrine and migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells isolated from Sprague Dawley rats were cultured in vitro. Passage 3 cells were co-cultured with prostaglandin E1 at concentrations of 10 μg/L, and then culture supernatant was collected at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after co-culture. The level of vascular endothelial growth factor was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Effects of prostaglandin E1 on the migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were detected by Transwell assay and cell scratch assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After treatment with prostaglandin E1 for 3 hours, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells began to secrete vascular endothelial growth factors, and the secretion level was peaked at 24 hours and then gradually decreased. Results from the Transwell assay and cell scratch assay showed that the migration ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was significantly promoted by prostaglandin E1 (P < 0.05). Overall findings reveal that prostaglandin E1 promotes the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and enhances cell migration.

Objective To obtain methamphetamine concentration profiles in saliva and urine samples of drug addicts and to screen the colloidal gold strip. Methods Methamphetamine concentration in saliva and urine samples of drug addicts was determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The initial screening was obtained by colloidal gold strip test. The results were compared and analyzed. Results using the method of protein and fluid MRM scan method to detect direct precipitation, saliva is linear in the range of 1~100ng/mL, the linear correlation coefficient is 0.9987, the detection limit is 0.1ng/mL, the limit of quantification was 1ng/mL, the urine is linear in the range of 1~100ng/mL, the linear correlation coefficient is 0.9943, the detection limit is 0.5ng/mL, the limit of quantification was 1ng/mL. Saliva and urine samples diluted, the concentration in the linear range. Saliva and urine samples of four types of methamphetamine colloidal gold reagent strip were screened directly, and the results were judged visually. Conclusion the detection rate of colloidal gold strip is about 79%, the detection rate of saliva is about 81%, and the detection rate can be increased to more than 93% by using two reagent strips. Combined with the initial screening results and the instrument confirmation concentration, it can be found that the gray zone setting and sensitivity setting have certain influence on the detection rate, and it is suggested to improve the sensitivity to meet the needs of screening.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB) prevent drug and nano-drug delivery systems from entering the brain. However, ligand-mediated nano-drug delivery systems have significantly enhanced the therapeutic treatment of glioma. In this study we investigated the mechanism especially the integrity of liposomes and lipid disks while traversing the BBB and BBTB both and . Fluorophores (DiO, DiI and DiD) were loaded into liposomes and lipid disks to form Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) nano-drug delivery systems. Using brain capillary endothelial cells as a BBB model, we show that liposomes and disks are present in the cytoplasm as their intact forms and traverse the BBB with a ratio of 0.68‰ and 1.67‰, respectively. Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells as BBTB model, liposomes and disks remained intact and traversed the BBTB with a ratio of 2.31‰ and 8.32‰ at 3 h. imaging and immunohistochemical results revealed that liposomes and disks could traverse the BBB and BBTB as intact forms. In conclusion, these observations explain in part the mechanism by which nano-drug delivery systems increase the therapeutic treatment of glioma.

Gene therapy has obvious advantages in the treatment of ocular diseases due to the unique structure of the eye. In recent years, there are more and more therapeutic gene-based drugs for ophthalmic application in clinical trials. Most of the delivery vectors are adeno-associated virus and administered via intraocular injection, which has potential risks. Traditional remedies, such as topical instillationor systemic administration, have limited therapeutic effects on the diseases in the posterior segment of the eye, where the chemical drugs are hard to reach. This makes the research of new strategies for gene drug delivery extremely urgent. For better understanding of the latest hot topics of ocular gene therapy, this article is prepared to introduce application of gene therapy to the typical ocular diseases and the corresponding gene-based medicines. The absorption routes for gene delivery into eyes and existing barriers are summarized. Finally, the gene delivery strategies are highlighted. The clinical application of ocular gene therapy will be boosted by overcoming the absorbing barriers and reducing the potential pitfalls.

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy and safety of voluntary rehabilitation exercise in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, based on the traditional Chinese medicine theory of "treating muscle for bone".

METHODSNinety participants with early knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into experimental group (=45) and control group (=45). Patients in experimental group were treated with voluntary rehabilitation exercise combined with isometric extension of quadriceps femoris. Patients in control group were treated with apparatus training combined with isometric extension of quadriceps femoris. The treatment course lasted for two weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Lysholm score and total therapeutic effect were evaluated before and after treatments.

RESULTSAfter two weeks of treatment, cure-remarkable-effective rate in experimental group (86.67%) was higher than that in control group (71.11%). The VAS scores and Lysholm scores were significantly improved in both two groups (<0.05). The results were significantly better in experimental group those in control group (<0.05). There were no serious adverse events.

CONCLUSIONSVoluntary rehabilitation exercise combined with isometric extension of quadriceps femoris was effective and safe in the treatment of early knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell (TREM)l in ankle joint synovial tissue of acute gouty arthritis (AGA) rats.

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal, AGA, medication and EA group, 10 rats in each group. AGA model was established by induced monosodium urate (MSU) method, except the normal group. Tow days before AGA model was established, normal and AGA groups were lavaged with normal saline (20 ml/kg), medication group was lavaged with colchicine solution (20 ml/kg), EA(1.5-2 Hz, D.-D.wave, 9v; 1-3 rnA) was applied to "Sanyinjiao" (SP6), "jiexi" (ST41) and "Kunlun" (BL60) for 20 min, once daily;continuously for 9 days. Then observed the changes in dysfunction, and the content of TNF-α and IL-lβ detected by ELISA, the expression of TREM-l detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot.

RESULTSCompared to the normal group, the AGA group of the dysfunction index increased significantly (P<0.01), the content of TNF-α and IL-lβ increased significantly (P<0.05), the expression of TREM-l in synovial tissue increased significantly (P<0.05); the medication and EA groups compared to the AGA group, the dysfunction index decreased significantly (P<0.01), the content of TNF-α and IL-lβ decreased significantly (P<0.05), the expression of TREM-l in synovial tissue decreased significantly (P<0.05); there were not statistically significant between the medication and EA group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA treating AGA may be through down-regulating the expression of TREM -1 in synovial tissue.

Animals ; Ankle Joint ; metabolism ; pathology ; Arthritis, Gouty ; metabolism ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Synovial Membrane ; metabolism ; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Purpose To investigate the clinical value of three-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography (3D-HyCoSy) in the assessment of fallopian tubal patency.Materials and Methods Fallopian tubal patency of 33 infertile women was assessed using transvaginal 3D-HyCoSy, and the results were compared with laparoscopically salpingoraphy, the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio of 3D-HyCoSy were evaluated.Results 3D-HyCoSy showed 20 passable fallopian tubes, 10 partially passable fallopian tubes and 36 obstructed tubes, while lapascopically salpingoraphy showed 23 passable fallopian tubes, 7 partially passable fallopian tubes and 36 obstructed tubes. The total coincidence rate of 3D-HyCoSy to assess the fallopian tubal patency was 86.4% (57/66), with the sensitivity of 93.0% (40/43), specificityof 73.9% (17/23), positive likelihood ratio of 7.15, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.20.Conclusion Tubal patency can be efficiently and accurately assessed using 3D-HyCoSy, but patients with obstructed or partially passable fallopian tubes should undergo laparoscopy to clarify.

Objective To investigate the value of fast track surgery (FTS) principles in the perioperative management of liver cancer patients after hepatectomy.Methods Forty patients with primary liver cancer who were admitted to the First People's Hospital of Qinzhou from September 2011 to July 2013 were enrolled in this prospective study.All the patients were randomly divided into the FTS group (20 patients) and the control group (20 patients) according to the random number table.The perioperative management of patients in the FTS group was guided by the FTS principles,patients in the control group were managed with traditional methods.The intraoperative condition,time for portal occlusion,operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion,time to drainage tube removal,time to flatus and defecation,duration of postoperative hospital stay,expenses,changes of C-reactive protein on postoperative day 1,3,6,recovery of hepatic function and incidence of postoperative complications.All patients were followed up via phone call and out-patient examination till September 2013.All data were analyzed using the t test or chi-square test.The non-normal distribution paramenters were analyzed using the rank sum test.Results All patients were cured with no perioperative death.The time for postoperative drainage tube removal,time to flatus and defecation,duration of postoperative hospital stay and expenses were (2.3 ± 1.0)days,(2.5 ±0.5)days,(3.1 ±0.7)days,(7.0 ±0.8)days and (3.6 ±0.3) × 104 yuan in the FTS group,and (4.6 ± 0.7) days,(4.3 ± 0.7) days,(4.8 ± 0.4) days,(8.5 ± 0.9) days and (4.1 ± 0.3) ×104 yuan,with significant differences between the 2 groups (t =0.74,0.34,1.70,0.23,0.57,P ＜ 0.05).The levels of C-reactive proteins at postoperative day 1,3,6 were (56 ±7)mg/L,(122 ±7)mg/L and (35 ±7)mg/L in the FTS group,and (198 ± 24) mg/L,(137 ± 5) mg/L and (49 ± 8) mg/L,with significant differences between the 2 groups (F =64.91,P ＜0.05).The levels of prealbumin at postoperative day 1,3,6 were (196 ± 14) mg/L,(243 ± 17) mg/L,(260 ± 10) mg/L in the FTS group,and (198 ± 24) mg/L,(199 ± 16) mg/L and (245 ± 7) mg/L in the control group,with significant differences between the 2 groups (F =22.69,P ＜ 0.05).The levels of alanine transaminase at postoperative day 1,3,6 were (379 ±34)U/L,(166 ± 12)U/L,(49 ± 14)U/L in the FTS group,and (367 ±75)U/L,(210 ±28)U/L,(197 ±22)U/L in the control group,with significant differences between the 2 groups (F =4.51,P ＜ 0.05).One patient was complicated with peritoneal effusion and 1 with thoracic effusion in the FTS group; 4 patients was complicated with peritoneal effusion,3 with thoracic effusion,4 with pulmonary infection and 2 with incisional infection in the control group,with no significant difference in the complication between the 2 groups (x2 =0.78,1.11,4.44,2.11,P ＞ 0.05).All the patients were followed up for 2-24 months,no patients received reoperation or re-admitted to the hospital due to complications.Conclusion The application of FTS principle in the perioperative management of liver cancer patients after hepatectomy is safe and effective,it could alleviate the post-operative stress reaction and accelerate the recovery of liver function and patients' condition.

BACKGROUNDIn county-level tuberculosis (TB) dispensaries in China, the accurate diagnosis of sputum smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SNPT) needs to be improved by developing and validating clinical and radiographic predictors.

METHODSThe study was conducted simultaneously in three counties per province in Chongqing Municipality and Liaoning Province in China between May 2005 and May 2006. A total of 432 new SNPT patients who are HIV-negative and more than 15 years old diagnosed by expert panels in county-level TB dispensaries were recruited. Their sputum samples were collected for culture before anti-TB treatment, and the treatment outcomes (changes of X-rays) were followed up at the end of the 6th month.

RESULTSOf the 432 SNPT patients, sputum culture positive (9.7%) or culture negative with good changes of X-rays at the end of the 6th month (73.6%) was validated as SNPT. Four predictive variables were associated with validated SNPT in the multivariate logistic regression model: age ≤55 years old (odds ratio (OR) 5.66; 95% CI 2.69-11.91), >60 days of cough (OR 3.73; 95% CI 1.10-12.65), ≥10% of pulmonary consolidation in the lungs (OR 5.40; 95% CI 2.90-10.06), and pulmonary consolidation in the upper lobe anterior segment (OR 3.00; 95% CI 1.57-5.72). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model was 0.77 (95% CI 0.71-0.83).

CONCLUSIONFour predictors of clinical and radiological characteristics that had a good diagnostic performance of SNPT deserve to be recommended as index indicators of SNPT diagnosis in county-level TB dispensaries in China.

Adult ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; HIV Seronegativity ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sputum ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis