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Karacoline is a compound found in the plant Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb. Although Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb is widely used for the treatment of pain, very few studies have been carried out on the use of karacoline due to its potential toxicity. In this study, we selected key matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), collagen II, and aggrecan as targets due to their association with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Using these targets, we then used network pharmacology to predict a series of molecules that might exert therapeutic effects on IDD. Of these molecules, karacoline was predicted to have the best effect. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-αis known to promote the degeneration of the extracellular matrix in IDD. We therefore applied different concentrations of karacoline (0, 1.25, or 12.88μM) along with 100 ng/mL TNF-αto rat nucleus pulposus cells and found that karacoline reduced the expression of MMP-14 in IDD by inhibiting the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway, while collagen II and aggrecan expression was increased. This suggested that extracellular matrix degradation was inhibited by karacoline (P<0.05). Our data therefore reveal a new clinical application of karacoline and provide support for the use of network pharmacology in predicting novel drugs.
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Objective To evaluate the differences of serum RANTES(regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein), and SDF-1β (stromal cell-derived factor-1β) in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and healthy people.Methods 38 AIDS patients who were admitted to a hospital between January 2010 and January 2015 were as AIDS groups, 38 healthy persons were as a healthy group, serum levels of RANTES, MCP-1, and SDF-1β in two groups were detected, and the subgroup analysis was carried out according to the viral load.Results Serum levels of RANTES, MCP-1, and SDF-1β in AIDS group were (1 392.55±227.69)pg/mL,(450.91±103.04)pg/mL, and(104.82±22.52)pg/mL respectively,all were significantly higher than those in healthy group([120.58±55.87] pg/mL, [74.25±33.62] pg/mL, and [39.04±11.43]pg/mL respectively)(all P<0.05).Among AIDS patients with HIV viral load 4≤Log(VL)<5 and Log(VL)≥5, serum RANTES were (1 470.34±155.01)pg/mL and (1 408.29±181.54)pg/mL respectively,which were both significantly higher than patients with HIV viral load Log(VL)<4([1 183.12±174.54]pg/mL);serum MCP-1 and SDF-1β levels in AIDS patients with HIV viral load 4≤Log (VL)<5 were (537.93±89.32)and(149.31±18.05)pg/mL respectively,which were significantly higher than patients with HIV viral load Log(VL)≥5([410.26±80.57] pg/mL, [81.53±20.31]pg/mL respectively) and HIV viral load Log(VL)<4([381.71±77.26] pg/mL, [72.90±21.62]pg/mL respectively), differences were both statistically significant(both P<0.05).Conclusion Serum levels of RANTES, MCP-1, and SDF-1β are significantly increased in AIDS patients, which are related to the level of viral load.
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BACKGROUND:Dorsal digital block refers to the commonly used anesthesia for adults in smal or moderate hand injury surgeries, but in recent years, modified transthecal digital block technique is gradualy respected, which is favored with a rapid and good effect and fewer complications. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical anesthetic outcomes of modified transthecal digital block and traditional dorsal digital block technique for the treatment of hand injury of adults in emergency by a prospective randomized controled study. METHODS:Totaly 60 adult patients with hand injury were enroled and divided into two groups of modified transthecal digital block and traditional dorsal digital block randomly. Blocks were performed by one single surgeon. The operation time, local anesthetic dose, onset time of anesthesia, duration of anesthesia, success rate of anesthesia, visual analogue scale scores and complications were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The anesthesia effects in the two groups were acceptable. There was no significant difference in the onset time of anesthesia, duration of anesthesia, success rate of anesthesia and complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). The operation time of anesthesia, local anesthetic dose, and visual analogue scale scores were significantly different between the two groups (P< 0.05). Modified transthecal digital block is more convenient and has less pain than the traditional root digital block, which is a safe and reliable anesthetic technique.
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BACKGROUND:Both in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed that, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) regulates the differentiation of osteoblasts and chondroblasts, induces heterotopic bone formation, promotes fracture healing, and controls the morphology of skeleton in mammals. OBJECTIVE:To treat chronic bone defects using particle gun containing BMP2 gene eukaryotic expression plasmid via local injection. METHODS:A total of 72 healthy New Zealand white rabbits were applied to establish chronic bone defect model in the rabbit radius. According to the length of bone defect, the rabbits were divided into three groups:1.5 cm group, 2.0 cm group, 2.5 cm group. Each group was further randomly assigned into two subgroups:treatment group (BMP-2 gene transfection) and control group (natural y healing). X-ray examinations were performed at 1, 3, 8 and 9 weeks after transfection, and soft tissue between the bone defects was harvested to detect BMP-2 using western blot analysis;and radius specimens were taken for gross observation at the same time points, to evaluate the healing. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Gross specimen observation:bone cal us formation in treatment group was general y more than that in control group. (2) Lane-Sandhu X-ray score in treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group at 1, 3, 8, 9 weeks after transfection (P<0.05). (3) BMP-2 concentration in treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group at each time point (P<0.05). The local transfer of particle gun-mediated BMP-2 gene is an effective therapy of chronic bone defect.
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BACKGROUND:It has been studied that the distribution of bone morphogenetic protein 2 is regular under bone defect situation. OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 in rabbit radial defect site with different lengths. METHODS:Forty-eight New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups randomly, 0.5 cm bone defect and 3.0 cm bone defect were made by wire saw at the middle part of radius bone after anaesthesia. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Western blot results showed that in the 0.5 cm bone defect group, the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 of the tissues in the bone defect site was increased gradual y at 1, 3, 4 weeks after operation, and the expression in each defect group was increased when compared with that immediately after injury (P<0.05). In the 3.0 cm bone defect group, the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 of tissues in bone defect site was increased gradual y and reached to its peak at 3 weeks after the operation (P<0.05), and the peak value in the 3.0 cm bone defect group was significantly higher than that in 0.5 cm bone defect group (P<0.05). The peak value was maintained in high level. The comparison of bone cal us formation showed that the bone cal us formation of 3.0 cm bone defect group was less than that of the 0.5 cm bone defect group at 3 and 4 weeks after operation (P<0.05). The results indicate that expression of the bone morphogenetic protein 2 in 3.0 cm bone defect site is increased significantly, but the expression level cannot make the bone defect heal itself.
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Objective To establish an objective animal experimental model for the experimental study of clinical bone defect,detect the BMP-2 activity in bone defect area,and observe the early healing situation of rabbit radial fracture.Methods A total of 72 New Zealand rabbits [weight/ each:(2.8 ±0.2)kg] were randomly divided into four experimental groups A,B,C,and D (18/each) with corresponding 0.5 cm,1.5 cm,2.0 cm,and 3.0 cm bone defect models abolished,respectively,in the middle of the rabbit left radius.By the time of modeling,all the bone segments were retained and a small amount of bone adjacent tissues were taken as E specimens of control group.Modeling time was recorded as 0 week,and six animals of each group were killed in 1 W,3 W,4 W later.Then the bone defect surrounding tissues were taken to check BMP-2 content by Western-blot detection,and the bone-healing situation was observed at different time.Results BMP-2 composition showed a significant increase in secretory volume of each group's bone defect area tissues after modeling one week,compared with E specimens of control group (P ＜ 0.05).BMP-2 composition secretion capacity even reached its peak in the third week four groups (A,B,C,D)increased by 556.1％,385.9％,272.2％,171.2％ respectively.and BMP-2 content reduced apparently in the fourth week than before(P ＜ 0.05).At the same time,BMP-2 content decreased with the addition of bone defect length(P ＜ 0.05).Also a correlation was shown between bone healing and time with the bone defect length.Conclusions A comparable rabbit radial bone defect model was successfully established.These objective animal models,which are closer to clinical reality,provide the theoretical basis of animal experiments to explore the mechanism of human fracture healing.
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Objective To study the efficacy and safety of lamivudine in treatment of chronic hepatitis B with pregnancy. Methods 42 women with chronic hepatitis B in front of and during pregnancy were treated by lamivudine 100 mg once daily. The efficacy of antiviral therapy,mothers or their infants complications,the risk of perinatal transmission of HBV infection were observed. Results In lamivudine-treated group, serum HBV-DNA was not detected in 85.71%(36/42). Normalization of liver function was achieved in 88. 10% (37/42). Severe hepatitis B was not oc-cured,the rates of mothers or their infants complications and HBV perinatal transmission were also decreased obviously. Compared with control group,the differences were statistically significant(P <0. 05). Conclusions Lamivudine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B during pregnancy was safe and effective,and conduced to improve the curative effect in treatment of chronic hepatitis B, and reduced mothers or their infants complications and HBV perinatal transmission.