BACKGROUND:The knee osteoarthritis,a major cause of disability in the elderly,is currently treated with surgical procedures including unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in end-stage patients,but the recovery of muscle strength in patients after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is not well understood.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the short-term and medium-term knee isometric muscle strength characteristics of patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty,to compare with those of the unaffected side,and to analyze the recovery of muscle strength in the affected limb.METHODS:Patients undergoing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in the Qingdao Municipal Hospital from June to December 2023 were recruited to undergo standardized functional rehabilitation exercises.The A8-2M multi-joint isokinetic training and testing system was used to detect the peak torque and the maximum one-repetition work of the extensor muscle of the unaffected side and the affected side of the knee joint at the angular velocity of 60(°)/s and the range of joint motion of 0°-90° before,1 and 3 months after surgery.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)At an angular velocity of 60(°)/s,the peak moment and maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles of the affected side were lower than those of the unaffected side preoperatively(P＜0.05).(2)The peak moment and maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles were significantly lower than those of the unaffected side 1 month postoperatively(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the peak moment of the flexor and extensor muscles and the maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles on the affected side at 1 month postoperatively were significantly lower than those on the affected side preoperatively(P＜0.05).(3)The peak moment of the flexor and extensor muscles and the maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles on the affected side at 3 months postoperatively had no significant difference from those on the unaffected side.The peak flexor-extensor moment of the flexor-extensor muscles on the affected side was higher than that preoperatively(P＜0.05).(4)It is indicated that after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty,the muscle strength on the affected side is poor after 1 month after standard functional rehabilitation.However,after 3 months,there was no significant difference between the affected side and the unaffected side.

Strangles,caused by Streptococcus equi subsp.equi,remains one of the most prevalent and high-incidence infectious diseases in intensive donkey farms,posing a significant threat to the healthy development of the donkey industry.Vaccination serves as an effective measure for the pre-vention and control of the disease,however,there is currently no attenuated vaccine against this disease in China.To provide a candidate strain for the development of a live attenuated strangles vaccine,this study focused on a wild-type S.equi subsp.equi strain isolated from donkeys.Using homologous recombination gene knockout technology,the aroA gene(encoding 5-enolpyru-vylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase)and the sag A gene(encoding the precursor of streptolysin S toxin)were sequentially deleted to construct a double-gene-deletion strain(ΔsagA/aroA).The virulence and key biological characteristics of the mutant strain were systematically evaluated.TheΔsagA/aroA strain was successfully generated,exhibiting complete loss of hemolytic activity and maintaining stable genetic inheritance over 60 consecutive passages.Electron microscopy revealed that the mutant retained morphological characteristics compared to the wild-type strain,and its growth rate was significantly slower(P＜0.000 1).Virulence assessment using a challenge dose of 1× 105 CFU/0.2 mL(the minimum fully lethal dose of the wild-type strain)demonstrated markedly attenuated virulence in the mutant.Immunization trials with 1 ×104 CFU/0.2 mL of theΔsagA/aroA strain revealed a increase in ELISA antibody titers by day 7 post-vaccination,and higher levels at days 14 and 21.Notably,antibody levels in the experimental group were significant-ly higher than those in the control group(P＜0.000 1).These findings confirm that the double-gene-deletion strain S.equi subsp.equi ΔsagA/aroA exhibits reduced virulence while retaining im-munogenicity,which suggested it can be used as a promising candidate strain for further develop-ment of a live attenuated strangles vaccine.

BACKGROUND:The knee osteoarthritis,a major cause of disability in the elderly,is currently treated with surgical procedures including unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in end-stage patients,but the recovery of muscle strength in patients after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is not well understood.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the short-term and medium-term knee isometric muscle strength characteristics of patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty,to compare with those of the unaffected side,and to analyze the recovery of muscle strength in the affected limb.METHODS:Patients undergoing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in the Qingdao Municipal Hospital from June to December 2023 were recruited to undergo standardized functional rehabilitation exercises.The A8-2M multi-joint isokinetic training and testing system was used to detect the peak torque and the maximum one-repetition work of the extensor muscle of the unaffected side and the affected side of the knee joint at the angular velocity of 60(°)/s and the range of joint motion of 0°-90° before,1 and 3 months after surgery.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)At an angular velocity of 60(°)/s,the peak moment and maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles of the affected side were lower than those of the unaffected side preoperatively(P＜0.05).(2)The peak moment and maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles were significantly lower than those of the unaffected side 1 month postoperatively(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the peak moment of the flexor and extensor muscles and the maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles on the affected side at 1 month postoperatively were significantly lower than those on the affected side preoperatively(P＜0.05).(3)The peak moment of the flexor and extensor muscles and the maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles on the affected side at 3 months postoperatively had no significant difference from those on the unaffected side.The peak flexor-extensor moment of the flexor-extensor muscles on the affected side was higher than that preoperatively(P＜0.05).(4)It is indicated that after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty,the muscle strength on the affected side is poor after 1 month after standard functional rehabilitation.However,after 3 months,there was no significant difference between the affected side and the unaffected side.

Strangles,caused by Streptococcus equi subsp.equi,remains one of the most prevalent and high-incidence infectious diseases in intensive donkey farms,posing a significant threat to the healthy development of the donkey industry.Vaccination serves as an effective measure for the pre-vention and control of the disease,however,there is currently no attenuated vaccine against this disease in China.To provide a candidate strain for the development of a live attenuated strangles vaccine,this study focused on a wild-type S.equi subsp.equi strain isolated from donkeys.Using homologous recombination gene knockout technology,the aroA gene(encoding 5-enolpyru-vylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase)and the sag A gene(encoding the precursor of streptolysin S toxin)were sequentially deleted to construct a double-gene-deletion strain(ΔsagA/aroA).The virulence and key biological characteristics of the mutant strain were systematically evaluated.TheΔsagA/aroA strain was successfully generated,exhibiting complete loss of hemolytic activity and maintaining stable genetic inheritance over 60 consecutive passages.Electron microscopy revealed that the mutant retained morphological characteristics compared to the wild-type strain,and its growth rate was significantly slower(P＜0.000 1).Virulence assessment using a challenge dose of 1× 105 CFU/0.2 mL(the minimum fully lethal dose of the wild-type strain)demonstrated markedly attenuated virulence in the mutant.Immunization trials with 1 ×104 CFU/0.2 mL of theΔsagA/aroA strain revealed a increase in ELISA antibody titers by day 7 post-vaccination,and higher levels at days 14 and 21.Notably,antibody levels in the experimental group were significant-ly higher than those in the control group(P＜0.000 1).These findings confirm that the double-gene-deletion strain S.equi subsp.equi ΔsagA/aroA exhibits reduced virulence while retaining im-munogenicity,which suggested it can be used as a promising candidate strain for further develop-ment of a live attenuated strangles vaccine.

OBJECTIVETo observe the multiple symptom distribution, severity and quality of life of female pelvic floor dysfunction(FPFD) patients with constipation as chief complaint.

METHODSOne hundred FPFD patients with constipation as chief complaint from Speciaty Outpatient Clinic, Pelvic Floor Center of Nanjing Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between September 2015 and February 2017 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. A comprehensive medical history questionnaire survey and systematical evaluation of severity and quality of life of these patients with constipation was conducted. Constipation scoring system scale (CSS) and patient-assessment of constipation quality of life questionnaire (PAC-QOL) were applied to evaluate the constipation. Other scales included: (1)pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and short form-36 questionnaire (SF-36): if combined with chronic functional anal rectal pain; (2) international consultation on incontinence questionnaire-short form (ICIQ-SF) and urinary incontinence quality of life questionnaires (I-QOL):if combined with urinary incontinence; (3) fecal incontinence severity score scale (Wexner-FIS) and fecal incontinence quality of life questionnaire (FI-QOL):if combined with fecal incontinence.

RESULTSThe mean age of 100 FPFD patients was (57.9±13.9) (24-89) years and the mean disease course was (7.0±8.2)(0.5-40.0) years. Seventy-five cases (75%) were complicated with anal pain, 70 with urinary incontinence, 37 with rectocele, 19 with nocturia, 11 with urinary frequency, 10 with defecation incontinence. Complication with only one symptom was observed in 20 cases (20%), and with two or more symptoms was observed in 80 cases (80%). Pelvic floor relaxation syndrome patients were dominant (58 cases, 58%). The severity of constipation (CSS) was 6-22 (13.89±3.79) points and the quality of life (PAC-QOL) was 45-133 (87.13±18.57) points in FPFD patients. VAS and SF-36 of patients combined with chronic functional anal rectal pain were 1-8 (3.0±1.9) points and 14.4-137.0(71.5±31.4) points respectively. ICIQ-SF and I-QOL of patients combined with urinary incontinence were 1-17 (6.1±3.6) points and 52-110 (90.0±15.8) points respectively. Wexner-FIS and FI-QOL of patients combined with fecal incontinence were 1-11 (4.4±3.0) points and 52-116 (83.4±23.3) points respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe symptoms of FPFD patients with constipation as chief complaint are complex. They are mainly complicated with anal diseases, then urinary incontinence, and mostly with more than 2 symptoms. Their quality of life is poor.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Constipation ; etiology ; Fecal Incontinence ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Floor ; Pelvic Floor Disorders ; complications ; diagnosis ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the short- and long-term efficacy of acupuncture combined with biofeedback in the treatment of functional anorectal pain (FARP).

METHODSClinical data of 142 patients who met the functional gastrointestinal disorders and functional anorectal pain based on criteria of Rome III( undergoing acupuncture with biofeedback therapy from August 2010 to November 2015 in Pelvic Floor Center of The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine were retrospectively analyzed. Telephone and outpatient clinic recheck were used as standard follow-up. The clinical effect of short-term and long-term data collected from the disease-based database was evaluated with visual analogue pain scale (VAS) (0-10 points), short form health survey questionnaire (SF-36) (0-148 points). The overall satisfaction and effectiveness (VAS was >30%) were evaluated at the end of treatment (short-term) and during follow-up (long-term).

RESULTSThe effective follow-up data were obtained from 71.1%(101/142) of patients and the median follow-up time was 28(3-67) months. The VAS of 101 cases was 6.09±1.78, 1.99±1.89 and 3.55±2.60 before treatment, at the end of treatment and during follow-up respectively. Though the VAS during follow-up was higher than that at the end of treatment, but still significantly lower than that before treatment(P<0.05). The SF-36 score of 31 patients was 82.0±16.9, 94.0±15.1 and 88.1±15.3 before treatment, at the end of treatment and during follow-up respectively. Though the SF-36 score during follow-up was lower compared to at the end of treatment, but still significantly higher compared to before treatment (P<0.05). The effective rates were 85.9%(122/142) at the end of treatment and 75.2%(76/101) during follow-up, and the satisfactory rates were 92.3%(131/142) and 84.2%(85/101), respectively.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture with biofeedback has significant short-term and long-term efficacy in treating functional anorectal pain, and its degree of satisfaction is high.

Objective To evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of pelvic floor sEMG in pelvic floor dyssynergia (PFD) by using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve). Methods The pelvic floor sEMG of 90 patients with PFD and 101normal controls were determined by the Glazer protocol.Parameters including amplitude (AVG),coefficient of variance (CV),onset time and median frequency (MF),and the ROC curve werealso investigated. Results Compared to the control group,the PFD group had a higher AVG of pre-baseline (P < 0.05), a lower AVG during Flick and Tonic steps(P < 0.05), and ahigher CV duringTonic and Endurance steps(P < 0.05).The area under curve(AUC) of CV duringthe tonic step was 0.883 withthe best cut-off of 0.355, and with sensitivity of 88.4%and the specificity of 71.1%, respectively; The AUC of CV duringEndurance step was 0.825 withthe best cut-off of 0.305, and with the sensitivity of 84.9%and the specificity of 67.8% , respectively. Conclusion The CVs of the tonic and the endrnace phases can be used as valuable clinical values in diagnosis of PFD.

OBJECTIVETo study quality test, and establish quality classification standard of Trollius chinensis.

METHODSeed purity, weight per 1 000 seeds, seed moisture content, seed viability and their exterior parameters of the seed samples from different producing areas were measured, K cluster analysis was applied for the data analysis.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONQuality of T. chinensis seeds from different producing areas was analyzed, and the primary T. chinensis seed quality classification standard was established.

Quality Control ; Ranunculaceae ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

Objective To determine ursolic acid in Shanzhajing Jiangzhi Tablets by HPLC method. Method Chromatographic column was Kromasil C18 (4.6 mm?200 mm, 5 ?m). The Mobile phase was methanol- 0.15% phosphoric acid (88∶12), and the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. Detection wavelength was 215 nm. Column temperature was room temperature. Results Ursolic acid quantity and its peak area showed good linearity relationship in the range of 0.253～5.052 ?g. The correlation coefficient (r ) was 0.9998 (n=6). The average recovery was 100.37% and RSD was 1.88%. Conclusion The method is easy and accurate, with good sensitivity and repeatability. It is a good method to control the quality of Shanzhajing Jiangzhi Tablets.