OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of using biomechanical indicators as supplementary evaluation to the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Scoring System (MSTS) for amputee patients. METHODS: Twenty-four patients who underwent hemipelvectomy between September 2018 and January 2025 were enrolled. There were 15 males and 9 females with an average age of 61.4 years (range, 45-76 years). Participants performed gait tests at self-selected speeds using three assistive devices (prosthesis, single crutch, and double crutches). Motion data were analyzed using a customized OpenSim model. Biomechanical indicators of the intact limb exhibiting common characteristics were screened through correlation and sensitivity analyses. Test-retest reliability [interclass correlation coefficient (ICC)] of selected parameters was assessed to evaluate their potential as MSTS score supplements. RESULTS: All biomechanical indicators showed significant positive correlations with MSTS scores across assistive devices ( P<0.05). Seven indicators demonstrated |Pearson correlation coefficients|>0.8, including walking speed, maximum hip angle, maximum hip moment, peak hip flexion moment, peak hip extension moment, hip flexion impulse, and hip extension impulse. Among these, maximum hip moment, hip flexion impulse, and hip extension impulse exhibited significant between-group differences in adjacent MSTS levels ( P<0.05), indicating high sensitivity, along with excellent test-retest reliability (ICC>0.74, P<0.01). CONCLUSION Biomechanical indicators statistically qualify as potential supplements to MSTS scoring. Maximum hip moment, hip flexion impulse, and hip extension impulse demonstrate particularly high sensitivity to MSTS score variations.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Amputees/rehabilitation* ; Feasibility Studies ; Artificial Limbs ; Reproducibility of Results ; Amputation, Surgical ; Crutches ; Gait

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Jiangzhi Hugan Soft Extract(composed of stir-fried Dioscoreae Rhizoma,Poria,Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Bupleuri Radix,Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus,Persicae Semen,Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma,etc.)in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)with internal dampness-turbidity accumulation syndrome.Methods Sixty patients with NAFLD of dampness-turbidity accumulation syndrome treated at the Gastroenterology Department of Maoming Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine(Maoming Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine)from November 2023 to December 2024 were enrolled.The patients were divided into trial group and control group using stratified randomization,with 30 patients in each group.Both groups received lifestyle interventions(diet control and exercise),with the trial group additionally receiving Jiangzhi Hugan Soft Extract for 4 weeks.Outcomes included body mass index(BMI),liver function indicators[alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT)],lipid profiles[total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG)],traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,efficacy evaluation,and safety assessment.Results(1)After 4 weeks of treatment,the overall response rate in the trial group was 93.33％(28/30),while that in the control group was 60.00％(18/30).The intergroup comparison(by rank sum test)showed that the efficacy of TCM syndrome in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.01).(2)After treatment,the BMI of patients in both groups was improved significantly compared to before treatment(P＜0.01).The improvement in BMI was significantly greater in the trial group than in the control group.The difference in the change of BMI between the two groups was statistically significant before and after treatment(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the levels of ALT,AST,and GGT in both groups decreased compared to before treatment(P＜0.01).The trial group showed a significantly greater reduction in ALT,AST,and GGT levels than the control group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant before and after treatment(P＜0.05).(4)After treatment,both groups showed a significant decrease in TC and TG levels compared to pre-treatment levels(P＜0.05).The trial group demonstrated a more pronounced reduction in TC levels than the control group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant before and after treatment(P＜0.05).(5)There were no significant adverse reactions occurring in either group during treatment,indicating a high level of safety.Conclusion Jiangzhi Hugan Soft Extract effectively improves BMI,liver function,and lipid profile in NAFLD patients with dampness-turbidity accumulation syndrome,demonstrating good clinical efficacy and high safety,warranting further clinical application.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on glucose and lipid metabolism in obese diabetic (db/db) mice. METHODS: db/db mice were randomized for treatment with saline or CLA mixture administered intragastrically. The changes in body weight, dietary intake, water intake, oral glucose tolerance, triglyceride and total cholesterol were recorded after the treatments. HE staining and oil red O staining were used to assess liver pathologies and fatty acid content. The expression levels of PPARα, PPARγ, CD36, CHREBP and SREBP-1c were detected using real-time PCR and Western blotting. HepG2 cells were treated with CLA and linoleic acid and the expressions of PPARα, ACC, P-ACC, and CD36 were detected; the level of acetyl-CoA in the cell supernatant was detected using ELISA. RESULTS: CLA treatment obviously reduced the dietary and water intake of db/db mice, effectively reduced the body weight and decreased serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels ( < 0.05). CLA significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, increased glucose tolerance, reduced the accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver and improved lipid metabolism in db/db mice. The mice showed significantly increased expression of PPARα ( < 0.05) and lowered CD36 expression ( < 0.001) in the liver after CLA treatment. Cellular experiments showed that CLA significantly up-regulated PPARα ( < 0.001) and P-ACC and decreased the expression of CD36 ( < 0.01). ELISA showed that acetyl-CoA was significantly up-regulated in the cells after CLA treatment ( < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The mixture of two conjugated linoleic acid isomers can reduce fasting blood glucose, increase glucose tolerance and improve glycolipid metabolism in db/db mice by enhancing the expression of PPARα, increasing P-ACC and inhibiting CD36 expression.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Glucose ; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; Mice ; Triglycerides

Objective To compare the mandibular advancement appliance(MAA) with mandibular advancement and left-leaning appliance (MALA) in the treatment of mild or moderate obstructive sleep ap-nea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods Twenty-two cases of mild or moderate OSAHS were treated with MAA, and 19 cases with MALA. After 1-3 months, they were examined again with Epworth score and polysonmography (PSG). Results After 1-3 months of the MAA or MALA treatment, the Epworth score was improved evidently. The apnea -hypopnea index, max apnea time, mean apnea time, oxygen desaturatian index, and the longest time of oxygen desaturation were all lowered after the treatment, and the lowest SaO2 and the mean SaO2 were higher after the treatment. The differences were all distinctive (P<0.05 or<0.01). When patients treated with MAA were compared with those treated with MALA,only the max apnea time [(35.5±6.9),(31.3±6.0) s, respectively] and the longest time of oxygen desaturation [ (41.0±18.9), (29.9±9.3) s, respectively] had significant difference. Conclusion MALA may be helpful for shortening max apnea time and the longest time of oxygen desaturation, thus MAA is an effective alternative to patients of OSAHS. Further research should be done.

AIM: To study the best harvest time of Isatis Indigotica Fort.. METHODS: The adenosine content was determined by HPLC, and at the same time, the dry substance accumulation, the alcohol extract of the herb were also compared at the different growth periods of Isatis indigotica Fort.. RESULTS:During its whole growth period, the contents of adenosine and alcohol extract increase and very fast before November. The dry substance accumulates highly in December. CONCLUSION: In consideration of the yield and the contents of adenosine and alcohol extrat, the best harvest time should be between November and December.

AIM:To establish a simple and accurate HPLC method for quality evaluation and determination of 8 active constituents, i.e. Danshensu, Protocatechualdehyde,rosmarinic acid,Salvianolic acid B, Dihydrotanshinone, Cryptotanshinone, Tanshinone Ⅰand Tanshinone ⅡA in Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, at the same time, in order to study the correlations of the contents of the 8 constituents. METHODS: Detected at 286 nm, analytes were separated on a ODS C_ 18 column(150 mm?4.6 mm, 10 ?m) eluted gradually with methanol and 1% tetrafuran in 1% formic acid water solution(3∶97)on the increasement of methanol from 3% to 70% in the whole analysis. After determination, SPSS 13.0 software was used to calculate the correlation between the 8 constituents. RESULTS: Under the above conditions, HPLC method was constructed to quantify 8 constituents,and their correlation coefficients were calculated. CONCLUSION: The result shows that the contents of the 8 constituents in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. vary greatly from different origins; and there are significant correlations between the contents of hydrophilic constituents such as Salvianolic acid B,Danshensu,rosmarinic acid, so do hydrophobic constituents like Cryptotanshinone,Tanshinone Ⅰ,Tanshinone ⅡA,but there is no correlation between the hydrophilic constituents and hydrophobic constituents.

Objective: To compare the extraction efficiency of imperialine extracted with different solvents. Methods: The content of imperialine in the extracts was determined by thin layer chromatography scanning. Results: Among the methods suitable for alkaloid extraction, the solvent ether chloroform 95% ethanol (25∶8∶2.5) is the best for imperialine extraction. Conclusion: The imperialine extraction efficiency is greatly affected by the extraction solvent.

AIM: To establish a fingerprint analytical method for ensuring the quality of Banlangen Granule (Isatis indigotica Fort). METHODS: According to pre column derivatization HPLC method, gradient elution with sodium acetate buffer (pH6.4) acetonitrile (95∶5) in a BDS C 18 column, was applied to detect amino acid at UV 360nm; and the coefficients of cosine of include angle and distance were employed to judge the quality similarity of the samples. RESULTS: The HPLC method is accurate and reproducible and makes almost all the peaks separated; and the two coefficients can show the similarity of each sample. CONCLUSION: The developed method is simple, accurate and operable and can efficiently control the quality of Banlangen Granule.

AIM: To study the effect of safflower injection on expression of COX-2 mRNA in chronic hypoxic hypercapnic rat pulmonary arterioles.METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group,hypoxic hypercapnic group(B),hypoxic hypercapnia+ safflower injection group(C).The concentration of TXB2 and 6-Keto-PGF1? in plasma and in lung were detected by the technique of radioimmunoassay.COX-2 mRNA was observed in arterioles from rats by the technique of in situ hybridization.RESULTS: ① Mean pulmonary arterial pressure(mPAP),weight ratio of right ventricle(RV) to left ventricle plus septum(LV+S) were much higher in B group than those in control group.No significant difference of mean carotid arterial pressure(mCAP) was observed in three groups.② The concentration of TXB2 and the ratio of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1? were significantly higher in B group than those in control group.③ Light microscopy showed that vessel wall area/total area,the density of medial smooth muscle cells and the thickness of medial smooth cell layer were significantly higher in B group than those in control group.Electron microscopy showed proliferation of medial smooth muscle cells and collagenous fibers in pulmonary arterioles in B group.Safflower injection reversed the changes mentioned above.④ Expression of COX-2 mRNA in pulmonary arterioles was much higher in C group than those in B group.Differences of COX-1 mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were not significant between these two groups.CONCLUSION: Safflower injection increases the expression of COX-2 mRNA in chronic hypoxic hypercapnic rat pulmonary arterioles,indicating an important mechanism that safflower injection inhibits the formation of hypoxic hypercapnia pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vessel remodeling.