Effects of Nourishing yin clearing heat (Chinese characters: see text) Chinese herbal medicine on vascular endothelial growth factor the epiphyseal cartilage of growth retardation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Nourishing yin clearing heat ([Chinese characters: see text]) Chinese herbal medicine on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in growth retardation induced by Decamethasone and observe its mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty one-month-old New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, dexamethasone-treated group and Nourishing yin clearing heat ([Chinese characters: see text]) Chinese herbal medicine-treated group. The rabbits in dexamethasone group and Nourishing yin clearing heat ([Chinese characters: see text]) Chinese herbal medicine-treated group received dexamethasone (5 mg/kg x d). The rabbits were sacrificed at the 6th and 12th week after administration, and then rabbit tibia articular was removed. (1) Using TUNEL stain to detect apoptotic index. (2) Using immunohistochemical stain to detect the positive index of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the epiphyseal cartilage of growth. (3) Using fluorescent quantitative PCR to detect the expression intensity of VEGF mRNA in each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the 6th and 12th week after administration, there were significant difference in apoptotic index and cell proliferation index between dexamethasone group and normal group (P<0.01, dexamethasone group more than normal group). Immunohistochemical stain and fluorescent quantitative PCR indicated that the expression of VEGF and VEGF mRNA in dexamethasone group was significantly decreased as compared with that in normal group (P<0.01), and also obviously lower than Chinese herbal medicine-treated group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>VEGF has 2. an important role during the growth retardation induced by Dexamethasone. Nourishing yin clearing heat ([Chinese characters: see text]) Chinese herbal medicine can reduce the growth retardation induced by Dexamethasone through increasing the VEGF expression in growth plate chondrocytes and then increase angiogenesis.</p>

Study on correlation between connective tissue growth factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor and cartilage degeneration in the osteoarthritis chondrocytes / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in osteoarthritis chondrocytes, and the relationship between CTGF, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and cartilage degeneration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into the normal group and OA model group established by Hulth's method. Sections were stained with Safranin O for histological examination. The cartilage histological characteristics were observed according to the method of Mankin. Immunohistochemical staining was performed. Articular cartilages were observed with microscopy and the image analysis method was used to measure the expression intensity of CTGF and M-CSF in each group, and the correlations of the expression of CTGF, M-CSF and cartilage degeneration were analyzed by statistics.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the expression intensity of CTGF, M-CSF in untreated group was significantly increased as compared with that in the normal group (P<0.05). Statistical analysis showed that there was a correlation between the expression of CTGF, M-CSF and cartilage degeneration (r=0.634, r=0.542, P<0.01 respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of CTGF and M-CSF protein is up regulated in osteoarthritis chondrocytes, which suggests that the activation of M-CSF is involved in the production of CTGF. CTGF and M-CSF play an important role in the pathogenesis of cartilage degeneration.</p>

Experiment research on the influence of Yanghe decoction on the expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA in osteoarthritis / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the influence of Yanghe decoction on the expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA in osteoarthritis (OA), so as to study mechanisms of Yanghe decoction in the improvement of cartilagedegeneration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (10 rabbits), OA model group (10 rabbits) and Yanghe decoction treatment group (10 rabbits). The OA models were established by using Hulth method. The sections were stained with Safranin O for histological examination. Each sample was evaluated the cartilages histological characteristics according to the method of Mankin. Fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA in each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences in the Mankin score between the control group and the OA model group (P = 0.005), either between the OA model group and the Yanghe decoction treatment group (P = 0.003). Fluorescent quantitative PCR indicated that HIF-1alpha mRNA significantly increased in the OA model group compared to that of the control group (P = 0.035), but that expression was much lower in Yanghe decoction treatment group compared to that of the OA model group (P = 0.039).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA plays an important role in OA. Yanghe decoction is effective to protect the articular cartilage, which is achieved through regulating the expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA.</p>