Objective To investigate the distribution of the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution types in the patients with nonspecific low back pain(NLBP)and to explore the correlation of the thickness of ligamentum flavum with the age,body mass index(BMI),gender,the presence of diabetes mellitus,and the grading of hypertension.Methods Sixty patients with NLBP admitted to Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from January 2023 to June 2023 were selected as the study subjects.The TCM constitution types of the patients were identified,the thickness of the ligamentum flavum at lumbar vertebrae 4/5 segment(L4/5)disc level was measured by computerized tomography(CT)scanning,and the patients'age,genders,TCM constitution types,BMI,the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus,and hypertension grading were recorded.Correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were used for the exploration of the relevant influencing factors for the thickness of the ligamentum flavum of patients with NLBP.Results(1)The average thickness of ligamentum flavum in the 60 patients with NLBP was(2.60±0.72)mm.(2)The TCM constitutions of NLBP patients were classified into four types,of which blood stasis constitution was the most common,accounting for 21 cases(35.0%),followed by 19 cases(31.7%)of damp-heat constitution,12 cases(20.0%)of phlegm-damp constitution,and 8 cases(13.3%)of qi deficiency constitution.(3)The results of correlation analysis showed that BMI,gender,TCM constitution type and the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus had no influence on the thickness of ligamentum flavum in NLBP patients(P＞0.05),while the age and hypertension grading had an influence on the thickness of ligamentum flavum(P＜0.01).(4)The results of linear regression analysis showed that the age had an influence on the thickness of the ligamentum flavum(b = 0.034,t = 6.282,P＜0.01),while the influence of the hypertension grading had no influence on the thickness of the ligamentum flavum(P＞0.05).Conclusion The TCM constitution type of NLBP patients is predominated by blood stasis constitution,the thickness of ligamentum flavum is significantly affected by the age,and hypertension may be a potential factor affecting the thickness of ligamentum flavum.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of"triple-posture positive bone-setting"chiropractic manipulation combined with Tongluo Huoxue Formula for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis(LSS)with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome.Methods Sixty patients with LSS of qi deficiency and blood stasis type were randomly divided into trial group and control group,with 30 cases in each group.The trial group was treated with"triple-posture positive bone-setting"chiropractic manipulation(a chiropractic manipulation performed under the positive cooperation of the patients at three postures)combined with Tongluo Huoxue Formula,while the control group was treated with"triple-posture positive bone-setting"chiropractic manipulation combined with conventional western medicine.The course of treatment for the two groups covered 4 weeks.Before and after treatment,the patients of the two groups were observed in the changes of pain visual analogue scale(VAS)score,Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA)score of lumbar function,Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)score,straight-leg raising test results and serum interleukin 6(IL-6)and C-reactive protein(CRP)levels.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)After 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate of the trial group was 96.67％(29/30)and that of the control group was 63.33％(19/30).The intergroup comparison(tested by Fisher's exact test)showed that the clinical efficacy of the trial group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the lumbar function indicators of pain VAS scores and ODI scores in the trial group were significantly lower(P＜0.05),and the JOA scores were significantly higher than those before treatment(P＜0.05),while in the control group,only the ODI scores were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the decrease of VAS and ODI scores and the increase of JOA scores in the trial group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the Laseque s sign of the trial group was significantly improved compared with that before treatment(P＜0.05),while no significant improvement was presented in the control group(P＞0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the improvement of Laseque's sign in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the levels of serum inflammatory factors of IL-6 and CRP in the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of serum IL-6 level in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05),but CRP level in the two groups after treatment did not differ from that before treatment,no statistically significant difference was shown between the two groups after treatment,either(P＞0.05).(5)The incidence of adverse reactions in the trial group was 6.67％(2/30)and that in the control group was 13.33％(4/30),and the intergroup comparison(by Fisher's exact test)showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The therapeutic effect of"triple-posture positive bone-setting"chiropractic manipulation combined with Tongluo Huoxue Formula exert certain effect for the treatment of LSS patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome,and it has more obvious advantages in improving the lumbar function,promoting the rehabilitation of the patients,and lowering the level of serum inflammatory factors than"triple-posture positive bone-setting"chiropractic manipulation combined with conventional western medication.

Objective To explore the difference in the effectiveness between proximal femoral nail anti-rotation(PFNA)and proximal femoral locking compression plate(PFLCP)of intertrochanteric fracture in the elderly patients combined with knee osteoarthritis.Methods The clinical data of 65 intertrochanteric femoral fractures combined with knee osteoarthritis be-tween June 2015 and February 2021 were retrospectively analyze.They were divided into two groups according to the different surgical methods.PFNA group was composed of 36 patients,12 males and 24 females,aged from 61to 88 years old with an av-erage of(77.0±6.4)years old.There were 17 cases of left injury and 19 cases of right injury.According to modified Evans clas-sification,there were 3 cases of type Ⅱ,19 cases of type Ⅲ,10 cases of type Ⅳ,and 4 cases of type Ⅴ.PFLCP group was com-posed of 29 patients,11 males and 18 females,aged from 60 to 92 years old with an average of(78.8±6.5)years old.There were 14 cases of left injury and 15 cases of right injury.According to modified Evans classification,there were 2 cases of typeⅡ,18 cases of type Ⅲ,7 cases of type Ⅳ,and 2 cases of type Ⅴ.Comparison of operation time,intraoperation blood loss,postoperative bed time,incidence of postoperative complications,Harris score at 6 months and 1 year postoperation.Results All 65 patients were followed up ranging from 12 to 24 months with an average of(16.9±3.6)months.In the PFNA and PFLCP groups,the operation time was respectively(57.6±6.8)min and(77.4±6.5)min,the intraoperative blood loss was(128.3±50.3)ml and(156.3±23.9)ml,postoperative bed time was(4.0±2.5)days and(8.1±2.0)days,Harris score at 6 months post-operative was(45.3±8.6)points and(36.3±7.0)points.There were significant differences between two groups(P＜0.05).Inci-dence of postoperative complications was 19.4％(7/36)and 34.5％(10/29),Harris score at 1 year postoperative was(60.8±6.7)points and(59.0±8.1)points.There was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Compared with PFLCP,PFNA treatment of elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis between the femoral intertrochanteric fractures shorter surgical time,less intraoperative blood loss,bed rest after surgery,short-term hip function recovery better,when the affected knee joint can tolerate traction,can be used as a priority.

Objective:To investigate the effects of different concentrations of Qilan Prescription(QLP)on the proliferation and apoptosis of human PCa DU145 cells and its underlying mechanism.Methods:We treated human PCa DU145 cells with QLP at 400,200,100,50,25,12.5,6.25,3.125 or 1.56 μg/ml for 24,48 and 72 hours respectively.Then we observed the morphologi-cal changes of the cells,examined their viability by CCK-8 assay,detected their cell cycle and apoptosis by flow cytometry,and deter-mined the protein expressions of cyclin D1,Bax,Bcl-2 and cleaved-caspase 3 in the DU145 cells by Western blot,followed by com-parison of the parameters with those obtained from the blank control group.Results:QLP significantly inhibited the growth,reduced the contour clarity and adhesion ability of the DU145 cells at the concentrations of 100,200 and 400 μg/ml,and markedly decreased the activity of the cells at 200 and 400 μg/ml,most significantly at 400 μg/ml.The number of the G2-phase DU145 cells was dramat-ically increased in all the concentration groups(P＜0.01),so was the total number of apoptotic DU145 cells(P＜0.01),while that of the S-phase cells remarkably decreased in the 400 μg/ml QLP(P＜0.01)and 200 μg/ml QLP(P＜0.05)groups.The ex-pression of the cyclin D1 protein was significantly down-regulated in the 400 μg/ml QLP group(P＜0.01).That of Bcl-2 was also down-regulated(P＜0.01)while those of Bax and cleaved-caspase 3 up-regulated in the 400 and 200 μg/ml QLP groups(P＜0.01).Conclusion:QLP can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of human PCa DU145 cells,which may be associat-ed with its effects of down-regulating the expression of the cell cycle-related protein cyclin D1,disrupting the Bax-Bcl-2 balance,and up-regulating the expression of cleaved-caspase 3.

Previously, most fractures have been treated through bone reduction and immobilization. With an increase in the patients’ need for an early return to their normal function, development in surgical techniques and materials have accelerated. However, delayed union or non-union of the fracture site sometimes inhibits immediate return to normal life. To enhance fracture healing, diverse materials and methods have been developed. This is a review on the current modalities of fracture healing enhancement, which aims to provide a comprehensive knowledge regarding fracture healing for researchers and health practitioners.

Purpose: Agonists of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) play a key role in activating the STING pathway by promoting the production of cytokines. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effects and activation of the systemic immune response of treatment with DMXAA (5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid), a STING agonist, in EML4-ALK lung cancer and CT26 colon cancer. Materials and Methods: The abscopal effects of DMXAA in the treatment of metastatic skin nodules were assessed. EML4-ALK lung cancer and CT26 colon cancer models were used to evaluate these effects after DMXAA treatment. To evaluate the expression of macrophages and T cells, we sacrificed the tumor-bearing mice after DMXAA treatment and obtained the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue and tumor cells. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were performed to analyze the expression of each FFPE and tumor cell. Results: We observed that highly infiltrating immune cells downstream of the STING pathway had increased levels of chemokines after DMXAA treatment. In addition, the levels of CD80 and CD86 in antigen-presenting cells were significantly increased after STING activation. Furthermore, innate immune activation altered the systemic T cell-mediated immune responses, induced proliferation of macrophages, inhibited tumor growth, and increased numbers of cytotoxic memory T cells. Tumor-specific lymphocytes also increased in number after treatment with DMXAA. Conclusion The abscopal effect of DMXAA treatment on the skin strongly reduced the spread of EML4-ALK lung cancer and CT26 colon cancer through the STING pathway and induced the presentation of antigens.

Protein O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification that links environmental stimuli with changes in intracellular signal pathways, and its disturbance has been found in neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic disorders. However, its role in the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system, especially in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), needs to be elucidated. Here, we found that injection of Thiamet G, an O-GlcNAcase (OGA) inhibitor, in the VTA and nucleus accumbens (NAc) of mice, facilitated neuronal O-GlcNAcylation and decreased the operant response to sucrose as well as the latency to fall in rotarod test. Mice with DAergic neuron-specific knockout of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) displayed severe metabolic abnormalities and died within 4-8 weeks after birth. Furthermore, mice specifically overexpressing OGT in DAergic neurons in the VTA had learning defects in the operant response to sucrose, and impaired motor learning in the rotarod test. Instead, overexpression of OGT in GABAergic neurons in the VTA had no effect on these behaviors. These results suggest that protein O-GlcNAcylation of DAergic neurons in the VTA plays an important role in regulating the response to natural reward and motor learning in mice.
Animals ; Dopaminergic Neurons/physiology* ; GABAergic Neurons/physiology* ; Mice ; Nucleus Accumbens/metabolism* ; Reward ; Ventral Tegmental Area/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN) is one of an important cause of progressive kidney disease and occurs when IgA settles in the kidney resulted in disrupts kidney’s ability to filter waste and excess water.Hydrogels are promising material for medical applications owing to their excellent adaptability and filling ability. Herein, we proposed a hyaluronic acid/gelatin (CHO-HA/Gel-NH2 ) bioactive hydrogel as a cell carrier for therapeutic kidney regeneration in IgAN. METHODS: CHO-HA/Gel-NH2 hydrogel was fabricated by Schiff-base reaction without any additional crosslinking agents. The hydrogel concentrations and ratios were evaluated to enhance adequate mechanical properties and biocompatibility for further in vivo study. High serum IgA ddY mice kidneys were treated with human urine-derived renal progenitor cells encapsulated in the hydrogel to investigate the improvement of IgA nephropathy and kidney regeneration. RESULTS: The stiffness of the hydrogel was significantly enhanced and could be modulated by altering the concentrations and ratios of hydrogel. CHO-HA/Gel-NH2 at a ratio of 3/7 provided a promising milieu for cells viability and cells proliferation. From week four onwards, there was a significant reduction in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine level in Cell/Gel group, as well as well-organized glomeruli and tubules. Moreover, the expression of pro-inflammatory and profibrotic molecules significantly decreased in the Gel/Cell group, whereas anti-inflammatory gene expression was elevated compared to the Cell group. CONCLUSION Based on in vivo studies, the renal regenerative ability of the progenitor cells could be further increased by this hydrogel system.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN) is one of an important cause of progressive kidney disease and occurs when IgA settles in the kidney resulted in disrupts kidney’s ability to filter waste and excess water.Hydrogels are promising material for medical applications owing to their excellent adaptability and filling ability. Herein, we proposed a hyaluronic acid/gelatin (CHO-HA/Gel-NH2 ) bioactive hydrogel as a cell carrier for therapeutic kidney regeneration in IgAN. METHODS: CHO-HA/Gel-NH2 hydrogel was fabricated by Schiff-base reaction without any additional crosslinking agents. The hydrogel concentrations and ratios were evaluated to enhance adequate mechanical properties and biocompatibility for further in vivo study. High serum IgA ddY mice kidneys were treated with human urine-derived renal progenitor cells encapsulated in the hydrogel to investigate the improvement of IgA nephropathy and kidney regeneration. RESULTS: The stiffness of the hydrogel was significantly enhanced and could be modulated by altering the concentrations and ratios of hydrogel. CHO-HA/Gel-NH2 at a ratio of 3/7 provided a promising milieu for cells viability and cells proliferation. From week four onwards, there was a significant reduction in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine level in Cell/Gel group, as well as well-organized glomeruli and tubules. Moreover, the expression of pro-inflammatory and profibrotic molecules significantly decreased in the Gel/Cell group, whereas anti-inflammatory gene expression was elevated compared to the Cell group. CONCLUSION Based on in vivo studies, the renal regenerative ability of the progenitor cells could be further increased by this hydrogel system.

This study analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of existing animal models in China and abroad and their goodness of fit based on the clinical characteristics and diagnostic criteria of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and western medicine, followed by the collation and summarization of model evaluation methodologies. The results showed that the existing animal models of stable COPD were mainly modeled via smoke exposure or the combination of multiple methods like smoke exposure plus lipopolysaccharide or protease or bacterial infection. These animal models generally failed to simulate the clinical characteristics of TCM, and their goodness of fit in western medicine was higher than that in TCM. There is a lack of research on the animal models of stable COPD and the disease-syndrome combination models. Although the modeling is guided by the pathogenesis or mechanism of diseased humans, the established models were still not identical with the actual clinical situations. In-depth research is needed to develop quantitative standards for stable COPD models.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Animal ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/drug therapy* ; Syndrome