Effect of morselized bones on binding of the canine hydroxyapatite-coated femoral stem / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Non-cement femoral stems are recognized in clinical use, but there are still some problems. The aim of this research was to make non-cement femoral stems to be press-fit with the medullary cavity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four healthy adult mongrel dogs were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. In the right hip joint, an artificial femoral bone replacement surgery was conducted. For the experimental group, the replacement surgery of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated femoral stems was done, while autogeneous morselized bone was implanted into the medullary cavity. For the control group, morselized bone was not implanted. At postoperative 1, 3, 6 months, a test for interfacial shear characteristics was conducted in the MTS810 Tester. The comparison between the two groups' bone-prostheses in shear strength for their interface from shearing destruction was made. A histological observation to check prosthesis-bone interface contact ratios and bone growth was carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For the experimental group, shear strength was 0.317 MPa in 1 month, 1.447 MPa in 3 months, and 1.621 MPa in 6 months. For the control group, shear strength was 0.195 MPa in 1 month, 1.023 MPa in 3 months, and 1.483 MPa in 6 months. The difference was statistically significant. Stereomicroscope-based observation showed that the number of trabecular bones in the experimental group was larger than that of the control group, and bone growth of the former group was better than that of the latter group. Inverted microscopic observation showed that the binding degree between the prosthesis and trabecular bone of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. Comparatively, the experimental group's trabecular bone had more stromal cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The morselized bones can effectively improve the biological bonding strength and bone-contact ratios in the short term for the HA-coated femoral stem and accelerate the bonding process. The use of morselized autogenous bones played a good role in bone in-growth of the femoral bone stem surface.</p>

Interleukin-1 inhibits Sox9 and collagen type II expression via nuclear factor-kappaB in the cultured human intervertebral disc cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The most significant biological change in intervertebral disc degeneration is the decrease of chondrocyte specific gene and protein expression of Sox9 and collagen type II. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is not expressed in the normal intervertebral disc tissue but increases in the degenerated intervertebral disc tissue. This suggests that IL-1 may play a role in regulation of the expression of Sox9 and collagen type II.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human intervertebral disc cells were isolated and cultured. Sox9 and collagen type II expression during treatment with IL-1, with or without the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity inhibitor curcumin, were detected by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, and the activity of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway was detected by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IL-1 lowered the mRNA level and protein expression of Sox9 and collagen type II in the cultured intervertebral disc cells in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05), and this effect was attenuated by curcumin. Curcumin alone had no effect on Sox9 and collagen type II expression (P > 0.05). IL-1 at concentrations of 0.1 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml could stimulate the activity of NF-kappaB in the intervertebral disc cells in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05) that was inhibited by curcumin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>We demonstrated the previously unknown function of IL-1 in inhibiting Sox9 and collagen type II via NF-kappaB in the intervertebral disc cells. This inhibition can be attenuated by curcumin, which is an effective NF-kappaB activity inhibitor.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture at points Baliao and Huiyang (BL 35) on retention of urine induced by spinal cord injury / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore a more effective therapy for retention of urine induced by spinal cord injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-four cases were randomly divided into a treatment group of 46 cases and a control group of 38 cases. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture at Baliao and Huiyang (BL 35), and the control group with electroacupuncture at acupoints routinely selected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate and the cured rate were 82.6% and 43.5% in the treatment group and 63.2% and 23.7% in the control group respectively, with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture at Baliao and Huiyang (BL 35) has obvious therapeutic effect on retention of urine induced by spinal cord injury.</p>

The regulation effect of interleukin-1 on expression of cartilage specificity gene Sox9 mRNA in the human intervertebral discs / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the regulating effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) on gene expression of cartilage specificity gene Sox9 and type II collagen mRNA in the human intervertebral discs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RT-PCR were used to investigate the effects of IL-1 on gene expression of Sox9 and type II collagen mRNA in intervertebral discs cells cultures of embryo.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The Sox9 and type II collagen mRNA in intervertebral discs were decreased progressively along with the addition concentrations of IL-1 than the controls. And the mRNA of Sox9 and type II collagen also markedly decreased with the time of culture.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>IL-1 could cause dose-dependent and time-dependent inhibition effects on Sox9 and type II collagen gene expression in human intervertebral discs.</p>