Application of Zebrafish Model in TCM Screening in Cardiovascular Diseases and Mechanism Research / 中国中医药信息杂志

Zebrafish is one of the important model vertebrates in the study of life science at present. It has similar physiological and biochemical characteristics to mammals, and has the advantages of high efficiency, rapidness and largescale. TCM has complex active ingredients and various targets, so the application of zebrafish model in TCM research is increasingly wide. This article reviewed the application status of zebrafish model in TCM screening cardiovascular diseases and mechanism research from the aspects of angiogenesis, myocardial injury, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular toxicity.

Surgical treatment for open dislocation of talus / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical effects of surgical treatment for open dislocation of talus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2001 to July 2008,the complete data of 11 patients with open dislocations of talus were retrospectively analyzed, including 8 males and 3 females with an average age of 39.5 years (ranged 19 to 52). According to Gustilo typing, type I was in 2 cases, type II in 6 cases, type III A in 2 cases, type III B in 1 case. Five cases were tibial astragaloid joint dislocation in which 3 cases associated with subtalar joint dislocation, 4 cases were subtalar joint dislocation and 2 cases were total dislocation of talus. Among them, 8 dislocations associated with talus fractures. All patients were treated with debridement, open reduction, internal fixation with K-wires or screws and external fixation with plaster or external fixator within 8 hours after injury. External fixations were removed at 6 weeks after operation. Partial weight bearing was permitted only when X-rays indicated bony healing. Clinical effects were evaluated according to AOFAS system and X-ray films during follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean time of follow-up was 13.8 months(ranged 10 to 15 months). Eight patients with fractures obtained bone healing in 4-7 months with an average of 4.3 months. No infection of wound or deep tissue was found. At final follow-up, talus necrosis was in 2 cases and traumatic arthritis was in 2 cases. The AOFAS score was 71.3 +/- 8.6, among the total, the pain, function, alignment was respectively (32.4 +/- 7.1), (31.0 +/- 15.7), (7.6 +/- 2.3) scores.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Complete debridement may avoid infection in treating open dislocation of talus, early reduction and fixation is a key point during treatment.</p>

Expression of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase I in a surgically-induced rat model of knee osteoarthritic synovitis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>There are few reports of a biological role for glycosyltransferases in the infiltration of osteoarthritic synovitis. The aim of this research was to investigate the expression and cellular location of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase I (β-1,4-GalT-I) in a surgically-induced rat model of knee osteoarthritis (OA), and explore the role of β-1,4-GalT-I in the pathogenesis of OA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: OA group, sham group and normal group. The model of OA was established in the right knees of rats by anterior cruciate ligament transaction (ACLT) with partial medial meniscectomy. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) obtained from normal rat synovial tissue were cultured. The expression of β-1,4-GalT-I mRNA in the synovial tissue, articular cartilage and FLSs treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were assayed by real-time PCR. Western-blotting and immunohistochemisty were used to observe the expression of β-1,4-GalT-I at the protein level. Double immunofluorescent staining was used to define the location of the β-1,4-GalT-I with macrophage-like synoviocytes, FLSs, neutrophils, and TNF-α in the OA synovium. The alteration of TNF-α in FLSs which were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and β-1,4-GalT-I-Ab were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA and protein expression of β-1,4-GalT-I increased in synovial tissue of the OA group compared with the normal and sham groups at two and four weeks after the surgery, however, no significant difference appeared in the articular cartilage. Immunohistochemistry also indicated that the β-1,4-GalT-I expression in OA synovium at four weeks after surgery increased sharply compared with the control group. β-1,4-GalT-I co-localized with macrophage-like synoviocytes, FLSs, neutrophils and TNF-α in rat OA synovitis. Moreover, in vitro β-1,4-GalT-I mRNA in FLSs was affected in a dose- and time-dependent manner in response to TNF-α stimulation. ELISA revealed that the expression of TNF-α was attenuated in FLSs in vitro when treated with anti β-1,4-GalT-I antibody.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>β-1,4-GalT-I may play an important role in the inflammation process of rat OA synovial tissue which would provide the foundation for further researching into the concrete mechanism of β-1,4-GalT-I in OA synovitis.</p>

Treatment of type C intercondylar fractures of distal humerus using dual plating / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical outcome of dual plating in the treatment of humeral intercondylar type-C fractures in adults.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2004 to October 2007, 38 cases of type-C distal humeral fractures were stabilised with dual plating. There were 21 males and 17 females. The average age was 43 years with a range from 21 to 71 years. According to the AO classification, 9 cases were of type C1, 17 of C2 and 12 of C3. The posterior midline approach was selected. Twenty-one cases were exposed through the trans-olecranon osteotomy, 11 through the Campbell (Van Gorder) approach, 6 through triceps sparing approach. Autogenous bone graft was performed in 5 cases because of severe comminution.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty-five patients were followed-up for 14-30 months (mean 24.2 months). At the latest follow-up, the elbow flexion averaged 119 degrees (range 90 degrees - 135 degrees ), and the loss of extension averaged 16.2 degrees (range 5 degrees - 25 degrees ). All the patients got bony healing, the average healing period was 14 weeks. The patients were evaluated using the criteria of Aitken and Rorabeek and the scores were 13 excellent, 16 good, 6 fair. Twenty-nine patients (82.9%) had a good or excellent results. Complications included 4 cases of traumatic osteoarthritis, 2 heterotopic ossification, 1 ulnar neuropathy. Infection as well as loosening or breakage of the implant was not found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The dual plating is able to provide rigid fixation for the humeral intercondylar fractures. In addition, it can allow early functional exercise after operation, decrease the related complications significantly, and improve the functional results.</p>

Biomechanical and clinical study on screw hook fixation after direct repair of lumbar spondylolysis / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the biomechanical effect and clinical results of hook screw fixation after direct repair of lumbar spondylous defects in the pars interarticularis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>L(2)-L(6) spines of 8 fresh-frozen and thawed calf cadavers were used for mechanical testing. Bilateral spondylous defects were created in the L(4)vertebra. The intervertebral rotation ranges between L(4) and L(5) were scanned and computerized in various states of motion, such as flexion/extension, lateral bending and torsional loadings applied on the intact spine and the spondylous spine when the spondylous spine was fixed with modified Scott's fixation, hook screw fixation and Buck's fixation sequentially and respectively. Between July 2002 and February 2004, 14 young male patients (aged 15-31 years) suffering from symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis were treated with TSRH hook screw fixation after direct repair of the defects. MacNab criteria were used to assess their pre-and post-operative status.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Each fixation technique could significantly increase the intervertebral rotational stiffness and made the stiffness return to nearly the intact level. Hook screw technique provided more rotational stability than the others. Hook screw and Buck's techniques provided more flexion/extension stability than modified Scott's technique. Neither complication nor instrumental failure was observed in this study. The mean follow-up period was 21 months. All the patients except one acquired union during the follow-up period. Thirteen patients had a "good" or "excellent" result according to MacNab criteria.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Hook screw fixation shows biomechanical advantages and is safe and effective for young patients with lumbar spondylolysis.</p>

Comparison of three internal fixation methods in treatment of type C3 fractures of distal humerus / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Objective To evaluate three internal fixation methods in treatment of type C3 fractures of distal humerus.Methods From February 2002 to January 2005,73 cases of humeral intercondylar fractures were treated with single plating (Group A,21 cases),Y-shape plating (Group B,33 eases) and dual plating (Group C,19 cases).According to the AO/ASIF classification,73 cases belonged to type C3.The posterior midline incision and the approach of liguliform flap of musculus triceps brachii were used for all the cases.The recorded clinical data were reviewed to analyze effects of internal fixation methods,functions of the elbow and the complications.Results All the cases were followed up.The follow-ups ranged from 12 to 36 months,with an average of 22.3 months.By the end of the twelfth month,according to the Jupiter scoring system,the elhow function was excellent and good in 57.1% of cases in Group A,81.8% in Group B and 89.5% in Group C,the difference between Gronp A and Groups B and C being statistically significant(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,according to Sodergard's criteria for failure of internal fixation system for intercondylar fracture of humerus,the failure rate was 33.3% in Group A,15,2% in Group B and 5.3% in Group C.The loosening or breakage rate in Group C was significantly lower than in Groups A and B (P＜0.05),and that in Group B was obviously lower than in Group A (P＜0.05).No incision necrosis or deep infection occurred.Conclusions The type C3 fractures of distal humerus should not he treated with single plating,because the functional outcome of elbow joint is poor,and the rate of loosening or breakage of internal fixation is higher than other fixation methods.Y-shape plating and dual plating are good for them,but Y-shape plating is not good for severe intercondytar comminnted fractures of the humerus,because its peculiar shape tends to lead to a higher rate of loosening.