Complex mechanisms of chronic pain in knee osteoarthritis identified by neuroimaging technology / 生理学报

Chronic pain of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) greatly affects the quality of life and functional activities of patients. It is important to clarify the underlying mechanisms of KOA pain and the analgesic effect of different therapies. Neuroimaging technology has been widely used in the basic and clinical research of pain. In the recent years, neuroimaging technology has played an important role in the basic and clinical research of KOA pain. Increasing evidence demonstrates that chronic pain in KOA includes both nociceptive and neuropathic pain. The neuropathic mechanism involved in KOA pain is complex, which may be caused by peripheral or central sensitization. In this paper, we review the regional changes of brain pathophysiology caused by KOA pain based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalogram (EEG), magnetoencephalogram (MEG), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and other neuroimaging techniques. We also discuss the central analgesic mechanism of different KOA therapies, with a focus on the latest achievements in the evaluation and prediction of pain. We hope to provide new thoughts for the treatment of KOA pain, especially in the early and middle stages of KOA.

Free SiO2 promotes the foaming of alveolar macrophages / 医学研究生学报

Objective Lipid metabolism disorders caused by cell foam plays an important role in atherosclerosis,but wheth-er it is involved in the development and progression of silicosis has not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of free silica(SiO2) in inducing foam cell formation of NR8383 alveolar macrophages in rats. Methods NR8383 cells were cultured in vitro by the routine method (the control group) or in 50 μg/mL SiO2 (the SiO2group), 50 μg/mL ox-LDL (the ox-LDL group), or 50 μg/ml SiO2and ox-LDL (the model group), all for 36 hours. The survival rate of the cells was calculated with the cell proliferation and cytotoxicity assay (MTS),the lipid deposition observed by oil red O staining,the levels of total cholesterol (TC), free cholesterol (FC) and cholesterol esters(CE) measured by ELISA,and the mRNA and protein expressions of PPARγ and CD36 in the cells determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Results Compared with the control group,the cells treated with ox-LDL showed a significantly increased survival rate, which reached the peak at 50 μg/mL ([1.501±0.201]%) (P<0.05). Foam cells were observed in the SiO2,ox-LDL and model groups,but most significantly in the model group. In comparison with the ox-LDL group,the model group exhibited remarkable increases in TC([14.195±2.260] vs[35.764±4. 226] μg/mg,P<0.05),FC([7.722±0.690] vs[10.049±0.698] μg/mg,P<0.05),CE([6.473±1.707] vs[25.715±4.243] μg/mg,P<0.05),and CE/TC (45.057% vs 71.642%, P<0.05). Conclusion Free SiO2promotes the lipid metabolism disorder in macrophages and enhances the foaming of the cells,in which PPARγ and CD36 may play an important role of regulation.

Single plane Simpson's method for measurement of right ventricular volume by X-ray ventriculography / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the validity of single plane Simpson's method with conventional X-ray ventriculography for estimation of right ventricular (RV) volume.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifteen human RV casts were obtained from 15 subjects who died from non-cardiac causes within 24 hours after death. These casts were photographed respectively and their volumes were calculated by using the single plane Simpson's method based on a new half-circle model. The actual RV cast volumes were determined by water displacement method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The actual RV volume was (64.23 +/- 24.51) ml and the calculated volume was (58.04 +/- 24.45) ml. The calculated RV volume underestimated the actual volume by (6.19 +/- 12.38) ml, but there was no significant difference between the actual and the calculated RV volume (P > 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the actual cast volume and the calculated volume (r = 0.983, P < 0.01). The regression equation was: RV actual volume = 1.074 x (RV calculated volume).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RV volume calculated by single plane Simpson's method with conventional X-ray ventriculography is accurate and deserves further study.</p>