Hypoxia inducible factor-1α related mechanism and TCM intervention in process of early fracture healing / 中草药·英文版

As a common clinical disease, fracture is often accompanied by pain, swelling, bleeding as well as other symptoms and has a high disability rate, even threatening life, seriously endangering patients' physical and psychological health and quality of life. Medical practitioners take many strategies for the treatment of fracture healing, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In the early stage of fracture healing, the local fracture is often in a state of hypoxia, accompanied by the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which is beneficial to wound healing. Through literature mining, we thought that hypoxia, HIF-1α and downstream factors affected the mechanism of fracture healing, as well as dominated this process. Therefore, we reviewed the local characteristics and related signaling pathways involved in the fracture healing process and summarized the intervention of TCM on these mechanisms, in order to inspirit the new strategy for fracture healing, as well as elaborate on the possible principles of TCM in treating fractures based on the HIF molecular mechanism.

Proteins: Neglected active ingredients in edible bird's nest / 中草药·英文版

Edible bird's nest (EBN) is a kind of natural invigorant with a long history of consumption in Asia, especially in China. EBN is formed by mixing the saliva of swiftlets (Aerodramus) with feathers and other components during the breeding season. Proteins are the most important nutrient in EBN. By studying proteins in EBN, we can not only elucidate their components at the molecular level, but also study their bioactivities. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the proteins in EBN. Previous research on the proteins in EBN was preliminary and cursory, and no one has summarized and analyzed the proteins in EBN and correlated the bioactivities of these proteins with the biological functions of EBN. This article focused on the proteins in EBN, listed the proteins identified in different proteomic studies, and introduced the sources, structures and bioactivities of the most frequently identified proteins, including acidic mammalian chitinase, lysyl oxidase homolog 3, mucin-5AC, ovoinhibitor, nucleobindin-2, calcium-binding protein (MW: 4.5 × 104) and glucose-regulated protein (MW: 7.8 × 104). The properties of these proteins are closely related to the bioactivities of EBN. Therefore, this article can provide inspiration for further research on the efficacy of EBN.

Development of new type of lumbar puncture needle / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To develop a new type of lumbar puncture needle to facilitate to measure intracranial pressure,decrease the risks for intracranial infection and brain hernia.Methods The needle was composed of a body,no.1 and no.2 sleeves,a stylet,a needle base,a catheter,joints and etc.The needle had body and stylet made of stainless steel,the catheter manufactured with medical silicone tube,the joints produced by medical rubber and the remained components by medical plastics.Results The developed needle executed pressure measuring,cerebrospinal fluid collection and medication injection with no extracting the stylet.The outflow velocity of cerebrospinal fluid was limited,and the incidences of the complications were decreased including infection,brain hernia and etc.Conclusion The lumbar puncture needle has simple structure,easy operation and high safety,and thus is worthy promoting practically.

Relationship between Gait Speed and Muscle Strength of Lower Extremities or Physical Functional Tests / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To explore the relevance between gait speed and muscle strength of lower extremities, or several kinds of physical functional tests. Methods 341 community-dwelling individuals (160 males, 181 females) aged 65-94 years were selected. They were divid-ed into suspected sarcopenia group (n=137) and normal group (n=204) by their gait speed less or more than 0.8 m/s. It was compared be-tween both groups with the basic physical characteristics, strength of iliopsoas, quadriceps, hamstrings and tibialis anterior, and the scores of One Leg Standing Test, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Gait Assessment, Functional Stretch Test and Timed Up and Go Test. Results The subjects were older in the suspected sarcopenia group than in the normal group. The difference of body weight, height were not statistically significant between groups. The strength of the muscles in bilateral lower limbs was not significantly different between both groups (P>0.05), while the gait speed positively correlated with the strength of iliopsoas, quadriceps and hamstrings (r=0.121-0.227, P0.05). Gait speed positively correlated with the scores of One Leg Standing Test, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Gait Assessment, Functional Stretch Test (P<0.05), and negatively correlated with the score of Timed Up and Go Test (r=-0.502, P<0.001). The scores of all the tests were significantly different between 2 groups (P<0.05), except that of Functional Stretch Test (P=0.28). Conclu-sion Sarcopenia diagnosis is not only depended on the strength of muscle of lower extremity, but also their functions.