Objective:To observe the regulatory effects of Tongfenglian capsule on intestinal flora,inflammatory factors and other indicators of gout in rats with gout arthritis(GA),and to explore possible mechanism of Tongfengli capsule on GA.Methods:A total of 36 male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,Tongfenglian low,medium and high doses(0.216 g/kg,0.432 g/kg,0.864 g/kg)groups,colchicine group(0.18 mg/kg)and model group.Blank group and model group were given the same amount of distilled water,other groups were given the corresponding drug once a day for 14 days.On the 13th day after gavage,GA rat models were prepared according to Coderre modeling method,0.2 ml normal saline was injected into the right ankle joint for blank group,and general conditions of rats were dynamically observed to determine whether the model was established,and the time was recorded.Rate of foot swelling in each group was calculated.Abdominal aorta blood,colon tissue and intestinal contents of rats were collected,and colon length,pathological changes of colon tissue,serum levels of inflammatory factors(IL-1β,TLR4),mRNA expressions of NF-κB and TLR4 inflammatory pathway in intestinal tissue,and intestinal flora of rats were detected.Results:Compared with blank group,swelling rate of ankle joint,serum IL-1β and TLR4 levels,and mRNA expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB in intestinal tis-sue were significantly increased in model group,and a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated in the colon by HE staining,showing typical inflammatory pathological changes,colon length decreased significantly,intestinal flora richness and diversity de-creased,ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes increased,the abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium decreased,and the abun-dance of Prevotella and Escherichia coli-Shigella increased.Compared with model group,all the indexes in all Tongfenglian groups were improved,the richness and diversity of intestinal flora were increased,and the reduction of intestinal microbial diversity and mi-crobial community structure caused by monosodiumurate were changed.Conclusion:Mechanism of Tongfenglian capsule alleviating inflammation may be related to the regulation of TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathway.Through the mediation of intestinal flora,Tongfengli-an capsule plays a role in regulating intestinal homeostasis,improving the abundance and diversity of intestinal microorganisms,and playing an intervention role in GA.This microecological intervention mechanism may be a potential means to prevent and treat GA.

Objective:To observe the regulatory effects of Tongfenglian capsule on intestinal flora,inflammatory factors and other indicators of gout in rats with gout arthritis(GA),and to explore possible mechanism of Tongfengli capsule on GA.Methods:A total of 36 male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,Tongfenglian low,medium and high doses(0.216 g/kg,0.432 g/kg,0.864 g/kg)groups,colchicine group(0.18 mg/kg)and model group.Blank group and model group were given the same amount of distilled water,other groups were given the corresponding drug once a day for 14 days.On the 13th day after gavage,GA rat models were prepared according to Coderre modeling method,0.2 ml normal saline was injected into the right ankle joint for blank group,and general conditions of rats were dynamically observed to determine whether the model was established,and the time was recorded.Rate of foot swelling in each group was calculated.Abdominal aorta blood,colon tissue and intestinal contents of rats were collected,and colon length,pathological changes of colon tissue,serum levels of inflammatory factors(IL-1β,TLR4),mRNA expressions of NF-κB and TLR4 inflammatory pathway in intestinal tissue,and intestinal flora of rats were detected.Results:Compared with blank group,swelling rate of ankle joint,serum IL-1β and TLR4 levels,and mRNA expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB in intestinal tis-sue were significantly increased in model group,and a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated in the colon by HE staining,showing typical inflammatory pathological changes,colon length decreased significantly,intestinal flora richness and diversity de-creased,ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes increased,the abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium decreased,and the abun-dance of Prevotella and Escherichia coli-Shigella increased.Compared with model group,all the indexes in all Tongfenglian groups were improved,the richness and diversity of intestinal flora were increased,and the reduction of intestinal microbial diversity and mi-crobial community structure caused by monosodiumurate were changed.Conclusion:Mechanism of Tongfenglian capsule alleviating inflammation may be related to the regulation of TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathway.Through the mediation of intestinal flora,Tongfengli-an capsule plays a role in regulating intestinal homeostasis,improving the abundance and diversity of intestinal microorganisms,and playing an intervention role in GA.This microecological intervention mechanism may be a potential means to prevent and treat GA.

BAcKGROUND:In recent years,the pedicle screws fixation technique,which is used in fixation for atlantoaxial instability associated with trauma,severe degeneration and tumorectomy,has been developed.However,this kind of technique easily causes several complications,including malpositional screws,vascular injuries,and even vertebral artery injury.Based on the biomechanical characteristics of memory alloy and determination of atlantoaxial data,a neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook was designed to treat atlantoaxial instability.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the biomechanieal characteristics of the neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook for atlantoaxial instability.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:Repeated measurement analysis of variance test was performed in the Laboratory of Clinical Anatomy and Medical Biomechanics,Southern Medical University between March and April 2008.MATERIALS:Eight fresh adult craniocervical specimens(C0-C4)were provided by Department of Clinical Anatomy,Southern Medical University.Atlantoaxial neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook(50.8%-51.8%nickel and the remaining part was titanium)was fabricated by Shanghai Xinchang Memory Alloy Co.,Ltd.METHODS:The included eight C0-C4 specimens were used to test three-dimension ranges of motion(ROM)by fixation and neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation.Then,the positions of spine varying from no loading to the maximum loading status were scanned and analyzed using image processing software to determine the three-dimensional ROM under different statuses.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Three-dimensional ROM of tested specimens.RESULTS:Neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation and Germany AESCULAP SSE hanger fixation had similar flexion-extension range of motion(P=0.595).Lateral bending three-dimensional ROM was greater in the neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation group than in the Germany AESCULAP AAE hanger fixation(P< 0.05).The rotatory three-dimensional ROM was smaller in the neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation group than in the Germany AESCULAP AAE hanger fixation(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation had comparative post-surgery immediate stability with the Germany AESCULAP AAE hanger fixation.Neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation produced a little worse biomechanical lateral bending stability and a little better biomechanical rotatory stability than Germany AESCULAP AAE hanger fixation.