BACKGROUND:Rotator cuff muscle degeneration(muscle atrophy,fibrosis and fatty infiltration)is a common condition after rotator cuff tears,which seriously affects shoulder function and surgical outcomes.Ginsenoside Rg1 has biological effects such as anti-oxidation,anti-apoptosis and lipid-lowering.However,the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on muscle degeneration after rotator cuff tear has not been reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on muscle degeneration after massive rotator cuff tear in mice. METHODS:Sixty C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into sham group,model group,ginsenoside Rg1 low dose group and ginsenoside Rg1 high dose group,with 15 mice in each group.The skin of the right shoulder of mice in the sham group was cut and sutured.Massive rotator cuff tear mouse models of the right shoulder were established in the other three groups.Supraspinatus tendon and suprascapular nerve compression were administrated.Mice in the sham and model groups were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 mL of saline after operation,while those in the ginsenoside Rg1 low and high dose groups were intraperitoneally injected with ginsenoside Rg1 30 and 60 mg/kg respectively,once a day,for 6 weeks.Mice were assessed for limb function by gait analysis the day after the last injection.After euthanasia,the supraspinatus muscle on the operated side was taken to measure the muscle atrophy rate and muscle contractility.Muscle tissue was stained with oil red O and Masson.RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of atrophy,fibrosis,and fatty infiltration related genes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group,low-and high-dose ginsenoside Rg1 significantly increased paw print area and step length(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,low-and high-dose ginsenoside Rg1 significantly increased myofiber cross-sectional area and supraspinatus contractility(P<0.05),and significantly decreased wet muscle mass reduction ratio,fatty infiltration area ratio,and collagen fiber area ratio(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,low-and high-dose ginsenoside Rg1 significantly decreased the expression of atrophy,fibrosis,and fatty infiltration related genes(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in paw print area,supraspinatus muscle contractility,and myofiber cross-sectional area between ginsenoside Rg1 low and high dose groups(P>0.05),and all other indexes were better in the ginsenoside Rg1 high dose group than in the ginsenoside Rg1 low dose group(P<0.05).To conclude,ginsenoside Rg1 could significantly reduce muscle atrophy,fibrosis and fatty infiltration following massive rotator cuff tear in mice,which is beneficial to improve muscle strength and limb function.

A 67-year-old male patient with intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma was treated with oxaliplatin (hepatic artery perfusion)+gemcitabine (hepatic artery perfusion)+camrelizumab (intravenous infusion)+apatinib (oral). Platelet count (PLT) decline (49×10 9/L) was observed after 2 months (apatinib had been discontinued by himself), which was improved after platelet elevating therapy. Due to multiple tumor metastases, bevacizumab (hepatic arterial perfusion, once per 30 days) was added. Before bevacizumab treatment, PLT and coagulation function of the patient were basically no abnormalities. After 2 cycles of treatments, the PLT was 101×10 9/L and prothrombin time was 14.1 s. Considering the high risk of bleeding in interventional therapy, oxaliplatin and gemcitabine were discontinued, and bevacizumab administration was changed to intravenous infusion. PLT and coagulation function were not improved. Six days after the 5th dose of bevacizumab, the patient had intermittent hematemesis twice (about 300 ml). Laboratory tests showed PLT 75×10 9/L and prothrombin time 15.8 s. The patient was diagnosed with digestive tract hemorrhage. Fasting and water restriction was performed, and gastric acid suppression, hemostasis, parenteral nutrition, etc. were given. The patient had no hematemesis but intermittent black stool. Gastroscopy indicated duodenal ulcer accompanied by bleeding. Rabeprazole and sucralfate were added. Fasting was stopped and liquid diet was given. The next day, the patient had blood in the stool, and the bleeding of the lower digestive tract was judged to be related to camrelizumab and bevacizumab. The bleeding symptoms were slightly improved after treatments with arterial embolization hemostasis and type A cryopprecipitation coagulation factor, etc. Later, the patient had repeated bleeding condition, and finally died despite of rescue efforts.

A 67-year-old male patient with intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma was treated with oxaliplatin (hepatic artery perfusion)+gemcitabine (hepatic artery perfusion)+camrelizumab (intravenous infusion)+apatinib (oral). Platelet count (PLT) decline (49×10 9/L) was observed after 2 months (apatinib had been discontinued by himself), which was improved after platelet elevating therapy. Due to multiple tumor metastases, bevacizumab (hepatic arterial perfusion, once per 30 days) was added. Before bevacizumab treatment, PLT and coagulation function of the patient were basically no abnormalities. After 2 cycles of treatments, the PLT was 101×10 9/L and prothrombin time was 14.1 s. Considering the high risk of bleeding in interventional therapy, oxaliplatin and gemcitabine were discontinued, and bevacizumab administration was changed to intravenous infusion. PLT and coagulation function were not improved. Six days after the 5th dose of bevacizumab, the patient had intermittent hematemesis twice (about 300 ml). Laboratory tests showed PLT 75×10 9/L and prothrombin time 15.8 s. The patient was diagnosed with digestive tract hemorrhage. Fasting and water restriction was performed, and gastric acid suppression, hemostasis, parenteral nutrition, etc. were given. The patient had no hematemesis but intermittent black stool. Gastroscopy indicated duodenal ulcer accompanied by bleeding. Rabeprazole and sucralfate were added. Fasting was stopped and liquid diet was given. The next day, the patient had blood in the stool, and the bleeding of the lower digestive tract was judged to be related to camrelizumab and bevacizumab. The bleeding symptoms were slightly improved after treatments with arterial embolization hemostasis and type A cryopprecipitation coagulation factor, etc. Later, the patient had repeated bleeding condition, and finally died despite of rescue efforts.

A 66-year-old female patient with infiltrating adenocarcinoma in left lung received anlotinib 12 mg orally once daily (2-week medication followed by 1-week discontinuation, 3 weeks was a cycle). After 14 months of regular medication, the patient developed palpitation and chest tightness. Laboratory tests showed that the N-Terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptid (NT-proBNP) was 1 698 ng/L; echocardiography showed decreased apical wall motion and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Heart failure was condsidered, which was suspected to be related to anlotinib. Anlotinib was stopped and symptomatic treatments were given. Eight days later, her symptoms above-mentioned were alleviated and NT-proBNP was 485 ng/L. Because of the illness condition, the patient took anlotinib again at original dose according to the doctor′s instructions. Three months later, the above symptoms recurred and ventricular fibrillation occurred suddenly. Considering that the heart failure in the patient might be caused by anlotinib. Anlotinib was stopped again. After 11 days of treatments with diuretics, cardiac function improvement, myocardial nutrition, and potassium supplement, the patient′s condition was improved obviously. After that, the patient did not take anlotinib again.

A 66-year-old female patient with infiltrating adenocarcinoma in left lung received anlotinib 12 mg orally once daily (2-week medication followed by 1-week discontinuation, 3 weeks was a cycle). After 14 months of regular medication, the patient developed palpitation and chest tightness. Laboratory tests showed that the N-Terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptid (NT-proBNP) was 1 698 ng/L; echocardiography showed decreased apical wall motion and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Heart failure was condsidered, which was suspected to be related to anlotinib. Anlotinib was stopped and symptomatic treatments were given. Eight days later, her symptoms above-mentioned were alleviated and NT-proBNP was 485 ng/L. Because of the illness condition, the patient took anlotinib again at original dose according to the doctor′s instructions. Three months later, the above symptoms recurred and ventricular fibrillation occurred suddenly. Considering that the heart failure in the patient might be caused by anlotinib. Anlotinib was stopped again. After 11 days of treatments with diuretics, cardiac function improvement, myocardial nutrition, and potassium supplement, the patient′s condition was improved obviously. After that, the patient did not take anlotinib again.

Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is a kind of protein facilitating the angiogenesis,which can combine with its special receptor. The 2 major functions of VEGF are:(1) accelerate the proliferation of endothelial cells,leading to the formation of new vessels;(2) up regulation of the vessels permeability.The activity of the VEGF is regulated by various factors at different levels,such as: hypoxia, oncogene,the cytokine, the intercellular matrix, etc .The biological character and role of VEGF were summarized in this article with special emphasis on VEGF function and regulation.