ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To determine the effects of Chinese medicine (CM) involving triple rehabilitation therapy on the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).@*METHODS@#A total of 722 patients recruited from 38 community health service centers located in China from March 2013 to March 2017 were randomly divided into treatment and control groups equally, using a cluster randomization design. Health education combined with CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy for KOA (electro-acupuncture, Chinese medicinal herb fumigating-washing, and traditional exercises) was administered in the treatment group while conventional rehabilitation therapy (physical factor therapy, joint movement training, and muscle strength training) was administered in the control group. Patients with a visual analog scale (VAS) scores ≽4 were treated with dispersible meloxicam tablets (7.5 mg, once daily). The Lequesne index scores, VAS scores, range of motion (ROM), lower limb muscle strength, knee joint circumference, quantitative scores of KOA symptoms, and the short-form 36 item health survey questionnaire (SF-36) scores were measured for each patient at 5 checkpoints (before treatment, at the 2nd week and the 4th week during the 4-week treatment period, at 1 month and 3 months after end of treatment), and adverse reactions were observed also.@*RESULTS@#A total of 696 patients completed the entire process, with 351 in the treatment group and 345 in the control group. At all treatment checkpoints, the treatment group demonstrated better outcomes than the control group with regard to the total Lequesne index scores, effective rate and improvement rate of the total Lequesne index scores, VAS scores, lower limb muscle strength, knee circumference, quantitative scores of KOA symptoms, and SF-36 scores as well (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No adverse reactions were encountered in this study.@*CONCLUSIONS@#CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy can alleviate KOA-related pain and swelling, improve lower limb muscle strength, promote flexion and activity of the knee and improve the quality of life in patients undergoing KOA. It is suitable for patients with early or mid-stage KOA. (Registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002538).
Subject(s)
Humans , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy , Outpatients , Quality of Life , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Objective: Study on the mechanism of Tongfengning in reducing serum uric acid from the perspective of renal urate transporter. Method: The human renal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2)was randomly divided into normal group, model group, Tongfengning low, medium and high dose group (7.65,15.3,30.6 g·kg-1) and benzbromarone group (50 μmo1·L-1),different culture media were given for intervention.HK-2 and cell supernatant were collected after 24 h of intervention. The expressions of urate transporter 1 (URAT1), glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), organic anion transporter 1(OAT1), organic anion transporter 3(OAT3), and ATP-binding cassette superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) protein and mRNA were detected in HK-2 of all groups by Western blot and Real-time PCR. Result: Compared with normal group, the expression of URAT1, GLUT9 protein and mRNA was significantly increased(PPPPPConclusion: Tongfengning can regulate the reabsorption and secretion of uric acid in renal tubules, promote the excretion of uric acid in kidney and reduce the level of serum uric acid by down-regulating the expression of URAT1, GLUT9 protein and mRNA in HK-2 and up-regulating the expression of ABCG2 protein and mRNA. It is suggested that the regulation of renal uric acid transporter protein may be one of the specific mechanisms of Tongfengning to reduce serum uric acid by promoting dampness and turbid removal. OAT1, OAT3 protein and mRNA were not expressed in HK-2 cultured in vitro.
ABSTRACT
Objective·To investigate the effect of glycoprotein 130 (GP130) inhibitor SC144 on extracellular matrix accumulation and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model, and explore its mechanism. Methods·Eighteen female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups i.e. sham group, UUO group and SC144 group. All mice were sacrificed at day 14 and kidneys were harvested for further analysis. The changes of renal tissue morphology and pathology were observed by H-E and Masson staining. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and infiltration of macrophage cells were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. The levels of collagen-I, collagen-IV, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1),transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)mRNA were analyzed by real-time PCR.The activation of JAK2 and STAT3 was measured by Western blotting. Results·There was a trend toward decreased renal tubular lesion and renal interstitial fibrosis in SC144 group (H-E, P=0.052;Masson,P=0.063).SC144 significantly inhibited the levels of α-SMA,type I/type IV collagen and TGF-β mRNA(all P<0.05).Compared with UUO group, the phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 were significantly decreased in SC144 group (both P<0.05). Conclusion·The treatment of UUO mouse model with SC144 can inhibit the activation of α-SMA, attenuate the phosphorylation of STAT3, reduce extracellular matrix protein deposition following injury and renal tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)via JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway,indicating its potential in attenuating interstitial fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy.