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Background@#Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) has been widely used in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. Epidural injection of steroids can reduce the incidence and duration of postoperative pain in a short period of time. Although steroids are widely believed to reduce the effect of surgical trauma, the observation indicators are not uniform, especially the long-term effects, so the problem remains controversial. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of epidural steroids following PTED. @*Methods@#We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database from 1980 to June 2021 to identify randomized and non-randomized controlled trials comparing epidural steroids and saline alone following PTED. The primary outcomes included postoperative pain at least 6 months as assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay and the time of return to work. @*Results@#A total of 451 patients were included in three randomized and two nonrandomized controlled trials. The primary outcomes, including VAS and ODI scores, did not differ significantly between epidural steroids following PTED and saline alone. There were no significant intergroup differences in length of hospital stay. Epidural steroids were shown to be superior in terms of the time to return to work (P < 0.001). @*Conclusions@#Intraoperative epidural steroids did not provide significant benefits, leg pain control, improvement in ODI scores, and length of stay in the hospital, but it can enable the patient to return to work faster.
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BACKGROUND@#Degeneration of the annulus fibrosus (AF), an important structure of the intervertebral disc, is one of the main causes of degenerative disc disease. Fabrication of scaffolds replicating the stratified microstructure of the AF is critical for the successful regeneration of AF. @*METHODS@#In this study, we cultured rabbit AF-derived stem cells (AFSCs) using fabricated electrospun fibrous poly-Llactic acid scaffolds with different diameters. We applied cyclic tensile strain (CTS) on the scaffolds to regulate the differentiation of AFSCs into specific cell types that resided at the inner, middle, and outer zones of the AF. @*RESULTS@#We found that the morphologies of AFSCs on the smaller-fiber-diameter scaffolds were nearly round, whereas spindle-like cells morphologies were observed on large-diameter scaffolds. CTS enhanced these phenomena and made the cells slender. The expression levels of collagen-I in cells increased as a function of the fiber diameter, whereas collagen-II and aggrecan exhibited opposite trends. Moreover, the application of CTS upregulated the gene expressions of collagen-I, collagen-II, and aggrecan. @*CONCLUSION@#Overlaying the scaffolds with different CTS-stimulated cells could eventually lead to engineered AF tissues with hierarchical structures that approximated the native AF tissue. Thus, the proposed methodologies could be potentially applied for AF regeneration.
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BACKGROUND@#Degeneration of the annulus fibrosus (AF), an important structure of the intervertebral disc, is one of the main causes of degenerative disc disease. Fabrication of scaffolds replicating the stratified microstructure of the AF is critical for the successful regeneration of AF. @*METHODS@#In this study, we cultured rabbit AF-derived stem cells (AFSCs) using fabricated electrospun fibrous poly-Llactic acid scaffolds with different diameters. We applied cyclic tensile strain (CTS) on the scaffolds to regulate the differentiation of AFSCs into specific cell types that resided at the inner, middle, and outer zones of the AF. @*RESULTS@#We found that the morphologies of AFSCs on the smaller-fiber-diameter scaffolds were nearly round, whereas spindle-like cells morphologies were observed on large-diameter scaffolds. CTS enhanced these phenomena and made the cells slender. The expression levels of collagen-I in cells increased as a function of the fiber diameter, whereas collagen-II and aggrecan exhibited opposite trends. Moreover, the application of CTS upregulated the gene expressions of collagen-I, collagen-II, and aggrecan. @*CONCLUSION@#Overlaying the scaffolds with different CTS-stimulated cells could eventually lead to engineered AF tissues with hierarchical structures that approximated the native AF tissue. Thus, the proposed methodologies could be potentially applied for AF regeneration.
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Objective To investigate the level of anxiety and depression and its influencing factors in patients with intravesical perfusion chemotherapy. Methods Totally 148 patients with intravesical perfusion chemotherapy were investigated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Self-Perceived Burden Scale and Social Support Rating Scale. Results Among the patients,14.2%(21/148) and 20.3% (30/148) of them expressed respectively their anxiety and depression, and the incidence of anxiety and depression was significantly correlated with the self-perceived burden,social support and its dimensions(P<0.05),in addition to the influence of the course time(P=0.002),religion(P=0.040),and the functional status of the caregiver(P=0.009). Conclusions The incidence rate of anxiety and depression in patients with intravesical perfusion chemotherapy is still to be further controlled.Nursing staff should pay attention to patients' self-perceived burden, and play an important role in social support in order to reduce the incidence of anxiety and depression.
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OBJECTIVE:To observe therapeutic efficacy and safety of Yinxing damo injection for neural function recovery af-ter hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) minimally invasive surgery. METHODS:84 HICH patients were randomly di-vided into control group and observation group with 42 patients in each group. Both groups received CT guiding minimally inva-sive aspiration. Control group was given western medicine baseline therapy,such as dehydration and intracranial decompression, controlling blood pressure,preventing infection,alimenting never,symptomatic treatment. Observation group was additionally giv-en Yinxing damo injection 20 ml,ivgtt,bid. Treatment course lasted for 14 d. NIHSS score,GCS score and Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment scale score were comducted before and after treatment. The serum levels of NSE,serum C3,C4 and hs-CRP were determined in 2 groups before and after treatment. RESULTS:After treatment,the effective rate of observation group (85.71%)was better than that of control group(66.67%),with statistical significance(P<0.05);after treatment,NIHSS score, Fugl-Meyer score and GCS score of 2 groups were all better than before,the observation group was better than the control group, the levels of C3 and C4 in observation group were lower than in control group,with statistical significance(P<0.01). There was one case of allergic reaction that the patient can tolerate. Magnesium sulfate for external use was given,which did not affect the treatment. CONCLUSIONS:Yinxing damo injection could improve neurologic impairment,promote the recovery of patients and have good safety.
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[Objective] To explore the relationship between Chinese traditional medicated food science and modern nutriology, identify the developmental direction of modern medicated food culture, and propose suggestions for the scientific development of medicated food culture. [Method] Based on the previous studies, the comparative research was conducted to analyze the difference between and similarity of medicated food science and modern nutriology in terms of the theory system and research expertise. [Result] The scientific and objective recognition of the effects of medicated food could promote the development of medicated food culture. For the academic research, the advantages of traditional medicated food culture and weakness of modern nutriology need to be understood. For the practice, the experience of modern nutriology can be learned to help the innovation of medicated food science's research methods and regulation of usage. [Conclusion] The development of medicated food culture not only needs to inherit the tradition, but also needs to learn from the modern nutriology and pharmacology, and assimilates the achievements from modern western science civilization.
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Nowadays,Traditional Chinese Medicine schools meet the embarrassment during their development,such as:the deposal of Traditional Chinese Medicine;herbalist doctors' cultivation;human resource supply;management of Traditional Chinese Medicine Schools.The paper suggests that Traditional Chinese Medicine Schools should follow such development strategy as giving prominence to its characteristics by setting cross-subjects,perfecting positioning,strenthening internationalization and developing lifelong education.
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Objective To construct a plasmid expression vector coding for the short hairpin RNA(shRNA) targeting Twist mRNA.Methods Two plasmid expression vectors coding for shRNA targeting 777 and 845 of Twist gene sequence and a control vector containing random DNA fragment were constructed.The recombinant plasmids were identified by PCR,and then transfected separately into bladder cancer cell line T24.The Twist gene silencing effect was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.Results The expected band of 400 bp was amplified from the plasmids coding for shRNA by PCR.By DNA sequencing,it was the same with the insertion element as with the shRNA of synthetic.Transfection of T24 cells expressing Twist gene with the shRNA plasmids resulted in inhibition of Twist mRNA and protein expressions by 90% and 86%,respectively.The shRNA1 had the most obvious effect in Two types of plasmids interference.Conclusion The plasmid expression vectors coding for shRNA targeting Twist mRNA have been constructed successfully,of which pGenesil-shRNA1 most effectively silences Twist gene in T24 cells.