ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe any effect of ultrashortwave (USW) therapy on inflammatory cytokines and the MAPK pathway of rats with a spinal cord injury.Methods:Seventy-nine Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group ( n=35), an intervention group ( n=35) and a sham group ( n=9). Allen′s method was used to establish a contusion model of SCI in the rats of the control and intervention groups, while the sham group′s spinal tissues were exposed but not stricken. Beginning twenty-four hours after SCI modeling, the intervention group was given 7min of USW therapy daily, five days a week till the day of sacrifice for sampling the target area of spinal cord for tests. Then, motion function was evaluated using Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scoring. One, three and seven days after the SCI modeling, immunofluorescence and western blotting were employed to observe any changes in inflammatory factors and the MAPK pathway in the lesioned area. Results:Fourteen days after the modeling the average BBB score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group′s average. Moreover, 7 days after the modeling the average content of the domains containing protein 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-6 receptor and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the target area of the spinal cord of sham group showed significantly lower levels than in the other 2 groups. And the levels in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the control group. Seven days after the modeling the number of cells positive for zinc finger protein 36 (TTP) in the lesioned area of the intervention group was significantly greater than among the control group. At the same time the levels of MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), phosphorylated-mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated version (p-MK2) and TTP in the control and intervention groups were significantly higher than in the sham group. And there were significant differences between the intervention group and control group in the levels of MK2, p-MK2 and TTP.Conclusion:Ultrashortwave therapy can inhibit inflammation by regulating the MAPK inflammatory pathway, promoting the recovery of motion functions, at least in rats.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of low doses of ultrashortwave therapy (USW) on sciatic nerve injury and to deduce its possible mechanism.Methods Fifty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a USW group,a control group and a normal group with 18 rats in each.Each group was then sub-divided into 1 week,2 week and 3 week subgroups with 6 rats in each.A model of peripheral nerve injury was established by forceps clipping of the sciatic nerve in the USW and control groups.The USW group was then treated with USW exposure.Rats from the appropriate subgroups were sacrificed after 1,2 and 3 weeks of treatment.Sciatic nerve samples were stained using hematoxylin-eosin and toluidin blue.Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was detected by immunohistochemical methods.Results Degeneration of axons was observed in both the therapy and control groups after 1 week,and regeneration at the end of the 2nd and 3rd weeks.The number of axons with myelin sheaths was significantly higher in the therapy group than in the control group at the end of the 2nd and 3rd weeks.The expression of bFGF was significantly higher in the USW group compared with the control group at all observation time points.Conclusion USW can obviously accelerate the regeneration of the sciatic nerve,probably through increased expression of bFGF.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of uhrashortwave therapy and passive motion on experimen-tal osteoarthritis caused by immobilization of the joint. Methods Twenty healthy male rabbits had their left knee joints fixed in extension for 4 weeks. They were randomly divided into 4 groups : a control group which did not receive any treatment, an uhrashortwave therapy group, a passive motion group, and an ultrashortwave therapy plus passive motion group, and treated accordingly for 4 weeks. The range of motion of the joint before and after treatment was compared in every group. At the end of the 4th week, all the rabbits were sacrificed, and the cartilage at the condylus medialis femoris was sampled and observed with toluidine blue staining, haematoxylin-eosin staining. Its gross appearance was noted and it was also analyzed using immunohistochemical techniques. Results ①Passive range of motion (PROM): there were no significant differences among the 4 groups before the treatment. Uhrashortwave therapy per se did not yield significant therapeutic effects in terms of PROM as compared to the controls, However, passive motion alone and in conjunction with ultrashortwave therapy brought about significant improvement of PROM when compared against the control group. The most significant change was seen in the integrated group, followed by the passive motion group. ②The histological scoring system : Mankin's scoring system showed significant differences a-mong all 4 groups. The highest value was the control group, which was followed by the ultrashortwave therapy group, the passive motion group and the integrated group. ③The positive expression rate of inducible nitric oxide synthase: there were significant differences among all 4 groups. The control group had the highest values, followed by the ultra-shortwave treated group, the passive motion treated group and the integrated group. Conclusions Ultrashortwave therapy, passive motion therapy and integrated therapy combining ultrashortwave therapy with passive motion can all can reduce and prevent the cataplasia of articular cartilage. Integrated therapy is the best treatment method, followed by passive motion therapy, and then uhrashortwave therapy.