Effects and mechanism of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on extracellular matrix in rabbit knee osteoarthritis / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on repairing extracellular matrix in rabbit knee osteoarthritis and analyze its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty adult female rabbits with an average weight of (2.0 ± 0.2) kg, were divided randomly into two groups (experimental group and control group, 30 rabbits in each group). All rabbits were replicated in right knees by Hulth method for knee osteoarthritis model. Two weeks after operation, the rabbits in experimental group were treated with LIPUS, and the ultrasonic frequency was (800 ± 5%)KHz and the maximum intensities of spatially averaged and time averaged (SATA) was (50 ± 10%) mw/cm2, for 1 time a day and every time 20 min, while the rabbits in control group were treated with sham LIPUS,the same operation with experimental group but without energy output. At the 2, 4, 8 weeks after treatment, 10 rabbits in each group were randomly killed for each time. The general changes of cartilage and its histopathological changes by HE staining were observed; the expression of collagen type II, proteoglycan, MMP-3, 7, 13 in cartilage were analyzed by immunohistochemical and RT-PCR technique; and the expression of NO in cartilage was analyzed by nitrate reduction method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On the same observed time point, the damage degree of cartilage in experimental group was slighter than that of control group (P < 0.01), the expression of MMP-3, 7, 13 and NO in cartilage in experimental group was lower than that of control group (P < 0.01) while collagen type II and proteoglycan was higher than that of control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound can repair the damaged cartilage by reducing the expression of MMP-3, 7, 13, inhibiting the secretion of NO and promoting the synthesis of collagen type II and proteoglycan in cartilage.</p>

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease / 国际脑血管病杂志

Small vessel disease (SVD) of the cerebral white and central grey matter is an important subtype of vascular dementia (VD).SVD-dementia is characterized by a dysexecutive type of cognitive impairment,neurological deficits including imbalance and voiding dysfunction,and emotional disturbances.SVD is also frequent among clinically healthy subjects and patients with mild cognitive impairment.It is easily visualized by imaging techniques,but difficult to distinguish from mixed SVD/ Alzheimer Disease.This article reviews the recent progress in research on SVD and the problems have to be resolved.

Characteristics of erectile dysfunction in old males with lacunar infarction / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the characteristics of erectile dysfunction (ED) in old males with lacunar infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 38 old patients ages from 60 to 70 years were involved. The questionnaire of international index of erectile function 5 (IIEF -5) was used to determine the status and severity of ED. According to the focus of infarction on MRI, the patients were divided into two groups, Group I with lacunar infarction and minor neurological deficits, and Group II with none. The total IIEF-5 scores were compared between the two groups and repeatedly evaluated six months after discharge.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to the total scores of IIEF-5, the prevalence of ED in Group II (95%) was higher, and the incidence of severe ED was significantly increased (60.0% vs. 44.4%, P < 0.05) as compared with Group II. In both the two groups, severe ED was more often seen in diabetic patients. At six months after discharge, the total scores of IIEF-5 were significantly increased (11.2 +/- 3.2 vs. 15.6 +/- 2.2, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ED is significantly increased in old males with lacunar infarction, and it is more severe in diabetic patients. Post-stroke rehabilitation care helps to improve ED.</p>