Protective effect of propyl gallate against oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced injury of endothelial cells / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the protective effect of propyl gallate (PG), an alkyl ester of gallic acid which is an active ingredient of Radix Paeoniae, against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced apoptosis and death in endothelial cells (ECs) and to find out its preliminary mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cultured endothelial cells were divided into normal, model (ox-LDL), control (fetal bovine serum), PG high dose (20 μg/mL), PG middle dose (10 μg/mL), and PG low dose (5 μg/mL) groups, each derived from three different pools of umbilical cords. The model of injured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was induced by ox-LDL. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, Hoechst 33258 staining, flow cytometry and measurement of nitrogen monoxidum (NO) release were used to evaluate the protective effect of PG against ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and death in HUVECs. To find out the mechanism of this protective effect, the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA, eNOS protein expression, immunofluorescence of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activities of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxidedismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PG significantly reduced ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and cell death. The percentage of cells death and apoptosis was significantly higher in the ox-LDL group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the cells death and apoptosis of PG group was no different (P>0.05). As compared with the ox-LDL group, results of the PG high dose group showed that cell viability was significantly increased (P<0.05), the level of NO release, expression of eNOS mRNA, densitometric value of eNOS protein expression, as well as the activities of SOD and GPx were all significantly higher (all P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PG could potentially serve as a novel endothelial protective agent against ox-LDL-induced injury of endothelial cell.</p>

Case-control study on cold compress for acute ankle sprain / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore rest, cold compress and elevate (RICE) with rest, compress and elevate (RCE) without cold for the treatment of acute ankle sprain, in order to clear mid-term clinical effects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-nine patients with acute ankle sprains were collected from January 2013 to March 2014,including 30 males and 59 females aged from 18 to 60 years old with an average of 36 years old; the time from injury to hospital ranged from 3 to 24 h with an average of 9 h. All patients were divided into two groups according to visiting sequence. There were 45 patients in RICE group, and 45 patients in RCE groups. The main therapeutic effect index was evaluated by Karlsson scoring, and secondary therapeutic effect index was pain and satisfactory VAS scores. Safety index evaluated by adverse event.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On the 2nd weeks after injury, Karlsson score in RICE group was 44.66 ± 11.58, and 46.67 ± 8.52 in RCE group, while there was no statistical significance between two groups in Karlsson scores (P > 0.05). Karlsson score of two groups after treatment were higher than before treatment. There was no significantly meaning in pain and satisfactory VAS scores between two groups (P > 0.05). No adverse reaction were occurred between two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cold compress did not receive much more final gains, and no evidence showed cold compress could affect recovery of joint function.</p>

Study on distribution features of tender points in patients with knee osteoarthritis by cluster analysis / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the distribution features of tender points in knee of patients with knee osteoarthritis in order to provide evidences for the treatment and diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From November 2011 to December 2012,86 patients with knee osteoarthritis were recruited, including 21 males and 65 females, ranging in age from 45 to 85 years old, with an average of (59.98 +/- 8.23) years old. The course of disease ranged from 3 months to 15 years. The tender points and its distributions were determined by finger press carefully on their knees. Data of studying was analyzed by frequency statistics and Hierachical cluster analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The distribution of tender points in the knee osteoarthritis was mainly in the interior region and anterior area such as in apex of patella, adductor tubercle and et al. According to the results of hierachical cluster analysis, the tender points could be divided into two categories the first cluster was in the interior region of knee, the second cluster was in the lateral region.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The findings demonstrated that cluster analysis statistical method can be used for classification of the distribution of tender points. The distribution features of tender points in knee osteoarthritis are related to the anatomic site in knee.</p>

CD64 Expression Is Increased in Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis: Clinical Significance

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Upregulated CD64 expression on neutrophils is the most useful marker for acute bacterial infections and systemic inflammation. However, it is unknown whether CD64 is involved in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP). This study was designed to determine whether CD64 is implicated in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), and thus, is a suitable marker for SAP. METHODS: SAP was induced in rats with an intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine. CD64 expression in the rat pancreas was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, the CD64 mRNA expression in peripheral blood leukocytes from 21 patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and 10 patients with SAP was investigated at the time of admission and during remission by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: CD64 mRNA and protein expression in the pancreas was significantly higher in rats with SAP, compared to the controls. The CD64 expression was higher in the patients with SAP than in the patients with MAP. During remission, CD64 mRNA decreased in both the MAP and SAP patients. The area under the curve of CD64 expression for the detection of SAP was superior to both the Ranson and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores. CONCLUSIONS: The CD64 level was significantly increased in correlation with the disease severity in SAP and may act as a useful marker for predicting the development of SAP.