A data process of human knee joint kinematics obtained by motion-capture measurement.

BACKGROUND: The motion capture has been used as the usual method for measuring movement parameters of human, and most of the measuring data are obtained by partial manual process based on commercial software. An automatic kinematics data process was developed by programming on MATLAB software in this paper. METHODS: The motion capture measurement of healthy volunteers was carried out and the MATLAB program was used for data process. Firstly, the coordinate data of markers and anatomical points on human lower limb measured by motion capture system were read and repaired through the usual and the patch program. Meantime, the local coordinate systems of human femur and tibia were established with anatomical points. Then flexion/extension, abduction/adduction and internal/external rotation of human knee tibiofemoral joint were obtained by special coordinate transformation program. RESULTS: Using the above methods, motion capture measurements and batch data processing were carried out on squatting and climbing stairs of 29 healthy volunteers. And the motion characteristics (flexion/extension, internal/external rotation and adduction/abduction) of the knee joint were obtained. For example, the maximum internal/external rotation in squatting and climbing stairs were respectively was 30.5 degrees and 14 degrees, etc. Meantime, the results of this paper also were respectively compared with the results processed by other research methods, and the results were basically consistent, thus the reliability of our research method was verified. After calibration processing, the compiled MATLAB program of this paper can directly be used for efficient batch processing and avoiding manual modeling one by one. CONCLUSION: A novel Patch Program of this paper has been developed, which can make reasonable compensation for missing and noise signals to obtain more complete motion data. At the same time, a universal data processing program has also been developed for obtaining the relative movement of various components of the human body, and the program can be modified for detail special analysis. These motion capture technologies can be used to judge whether the human body functions are abnormal, provide a reference for rehabilitation treatment and design of rehabilitation equipment, and evaluate the effectiveness before and after surgery.

LPS Enhances the Chemosensitivity of Oxaliplatin in HT29 Cells via GSDMD-Mediated Pyroptosis.

INTRODUCTION: Pyroptosis induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a dissolved form of cell death. The molecular marker gasdermin D, specifically GSDMD-N, is critically required for the induction of pyroptosis. Recently, there have been studies showing that LPS is closely related to tumor biology. METHODS: Specimens from 40 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) were collected. Eight- to twelve-week-old C57BL6 male mice (n=30) were raised. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to test the expression of GSDMD. Moreover, cytotoxicity assay, IL-18 and IL-1ß ELISA, Annexin V and PI stain, and wound healing assay were also made. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) was used to verify the expression of GSDMD and overall survival of CRC patients with a high/low expression of GSDMD. RESULTS: In the research, we showed that the poor prognosis in CRC patients was significantly related to the GSDMD expression and significantly down-regulated in human colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues. Treatment with LPS, but not TNF-α, induced pyroptosis via promoting the expression of GSDMD and GSDMD-N membrane translocation and enhanced chemosensitivity in response to L-OHP in HT29 cells. Furthermore, the enforced expression of GSDMD in HT29 cells reduced cell survival and induced cell death. DISCUSSION: These results of studies suggest that the low expression of GSDMD correlates with a poor CRC prognosis, and that pyroptosis induced by LPS may improve the anti-cancer effect of L-OHP, inhibiting the tumorigenesis of CRC by activating GSDMD. Our findings lay the foundation for further development of GSDMD serving as an important prognostic biomarker and a valid CRC therapeutic target.

[The effects of atorvastatin on C-reactive protein induced Toll-like receptor 4 expression on CD14+ monocyte].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on C-reactive protein (CRP) induced Toll-Like receptor 4 (TLR4)expression on CD14+ monocyte, and the production of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9), and to study the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of statins. METHODS: The monocytes were isolated from blood of healthy volunteers by the Ficoll density gradient and stimulated by CRP with different doses (5, 25, 50, 100 microg/ml) and different exposure time (6, 12, 24, 48 h). Cells were also incubated with atorvastatin of different doses (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 micromol/L) in the presence of CRP 50 microg/ml. The protein expression of TLR4 was measured by flow cytometry, mRNA expression of TLR4 and of myeloid differentiation protein (MD2)was detected by quantitative PCR. TNFalpha, IL-6, MMP-9 concentrations in supernatants of cultured medium were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the un-stimulated control group, enhanced TLR4 protein expression was already detected at a concentration of 5 microg/ml of CRP and increased in a dose-dependent manner (32.22 +/- 2.80)%, (49.94 +/- 5.58)%, (74.82 +/- 3.24)% and (90.82 +/-2.88)% at 5, 25, 50 and 100 microg/ml CRP. (2) TLR4 protein expression on 50 microg/ml CRP stimulated cells also increased in a time-dependent manner (29.80 +/- 2.70)%, (47.44 +/- 4.41)%, (81.71 +/- 2.92)% and (50.57 +/- 3.34)% after 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h. (3) When monocytes were incubated with CRP 50 microg/ml and atorvastatin (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 micromol/L), protein expression [(68.17 +/- 1.71)%, (52.43 +/- 1.38)%, (27.72 +/- 4.55)%, (17.46 +/- 3.20)%, (9.99 +/- 2.81)%] and mRNA expression (82.72%, 67.34%, 48.16%, 30.88%, 13.85%) of TLR4 as well as mRNA expression of MD2 (81.78%, 71.04%, 47.85%, 27.06%, 18.30%) were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. (4) Level of TNFalpha, IL-6 and MMP-9 in supernatants was significantly reduced by atorvastatin (2.5 micromol/L) compared with control group (P < 0.01). When monocyte incubated with CRP 50 microg/ml and atorvastatin 10.0 micromol/L, the level of TNFalpha, IL-6, MMP-9 decreased to (25.8 +/- 2.5) microg/ml, (128.2 +/- 14.7) pg/ml, (65.2 +/- 12.3) ng/ml, respectively. CONCLUSION: CRP increased the protein expression of TLR4 on CD14+ monocyte in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Atorvastatin can inhibit the signal transduction of TLR4 and reduce proinflammatory cytokines release induced by CRP on CD14 monocyte, and this might be one of the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of atorvastatin.

[Association between hemoglobin scavenger receptor CD163 expression and coronary atherosclerotic severity in patients with coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between hemoglobin scavenger receptor (CD163) expression levels on monocytic surfaces and coronary atherosclerotic severity in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) as well as the roles of CD163 in inflammation and lipidperoxidation. METHODS: Eighty-four patients were diagnosed as CHD according to the results of coronary angiography and ACC/AHA diagnostic criteria. The patients were divided into 3 groups: acute myocardial infarction (AMI) group (n = 30), unstable angina (UA) group (n = 30), stable angina (SA) group (n = 24). Another 20 patients with normal coronary artery served as control. Expression levels of CD163 on monocytes were detected by means of flow cytometry, and the results were shown as mean fluorescence intensity (mfi). All patients underwent coronary angiography and the results were further evaluated by Jenkins score. Serum CRP and LDL-C were also measured. RESULTS: The expression levels of CD163 on monocytes in peripheral blood were significantly higher in CHD patients compared to controls (P < 0.01) in the order of AMI group [(84.4 +/- 6.9) mfi] > UA group [(64.1 +/- 5.5) mfi, P < 0.01 vs. AMI] > SA group [(46.7 +/- 6.5) mfi, P < 0.01 vs. AMI and UA] > control group [(22.0 +/- 6.1) mfi, P < 0.01 vs. AMI, UA and SA]. The expression levels of CD163 on monocytes in patients with CHD were positively correlated with Jenkins score (r = 0.9107, P < 0.01), CRP (r = 0.766, P < 0.01) and LDL-C (r = 0.749, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Expression levels of CD163 was significantly increased in patients with CHD and positively correlated with coronary heart disease severity and serum CRP and LDL-C.

[Effect of the sera of rabbits fed with Tongxinluo on MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression and secretion in U937 monocyte-derived macrophages].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the sera of rabbits fed with Tongxinluo on the expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in U937 monocyte-derived macrophages. METHODS: Atherosclerosis was induced in rabbits by high-cholesterol feeding, and the serum was obtained from the rabbits after administration of the aqueous solution of Tongxinluo or simvastatin by gavage. U937 monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with the sera at different concentrations for 24 hours, and the changes in MMP-9 and TIMP-1 gene expression and secretion were detected by RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. RESULTS: The serum of rabbits fed with Tongxinluo concentration-dependently inhibited the expression and secretion of MMP-9 in U937 macrophages, but did not affect TIMP-1 expression or secretion. CONCLUSION: Tongxinluo may stabilize the atherosclerotic plaques by inhibiting the expression and secretion of MMP-9.

[Effects of Sini decoction on vascular stenosis after iliac artery balloon injury and oxidative stress in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Sini decoction (SND) in preventing vascular restenosis and protecting against oxidative stress after rabbit iliac artery balloon injury. METHODS: Twenty-four male New Zealand albino rabbits were equally randomized into control group, model group and SND group. Rabbits in the control group were fed with common forage, and those in the model and SND groups with high-fat diet. Two weeks later, the iliac arteries of the rabbits in the latter two groups were subjected to balloon injury. Four weeks after the operation, the rabbits were killed and the vascular structure was observed by scanning electron microscope and optical microscope, with the serum cholesterol level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level determined. RESULTS: Scanning electron microscopy showed that the endothelial cell lining in the iliac artery of the control and SND group remain regular, but the arteries in the model group presented with desquamated and exposure of the collagen fibril beneath the endothelium. Optical microscope revealed narrowed vascular lumen, thicken intima and numerous arteriosclerotic plaques in the model group in comparison with the control group, whereas the vascular lumen and intima thickness remained basically normal in SND group. The levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride were decreased with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased in SND group, which was not observed in the model group. The serum SOD activity was higher in the control group than in the model and SND groups, but SND group had higher serum SOD activity than the model group. The serum MDA level was lower in the control group than in the other two groups, but SND group had lower MDA level than the model group. CONCLUSION: SND can alleviate intimal hyperplasia and vascular stenosis in injured rabbit iliac artery, possibly in relation to increased SOD activity and decreased lipid peroxidation as a result of SND treatment.

[Effects of irbesartan on nitric oxide system in the heart of diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of irbesartan for heart protection and on heart nitric oxide (NO) system in diabetic rats. METHODS: Thirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three equal groups, namely control group, diabetes group and irbesartan group. Streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg) was injected to the abdomen to induce diabetes in the rats. After treatment for 12 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and the urine volume, body weight, ratio of heart to body weight, plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured. NO levels in the serum and myocardium were determined. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression was determined by immunohistochemistry, and iNOS mRNA detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Urine volume, ratio of heart to body weight, plasma glucose, HbA1C, NO levels in the urine, blood and myocardium in diabetic and irbesartan rats were significantly greater than those of normal controls (P<0.05). The ratio of heart to body weight and NO levels of urine, serum and heart tissue in rats of irbesartan group were significantly decreased as compared with those of diabetes rats (P<0.05). Myocardium iNOS mRNA and protein expression decreased significantly in irbesartan group, but not in diabetes group. CONCLUSIONS: The abnormality in NO and iNOS mRNA expression might be related to diabetic cardiomyopathy. Irbesartan can decrease iNOS mRNA and protein expressions and reduce NO levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Clinical significance of detection of carotid artery plaque in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To study the intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque score in the carotid artery of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the plaque score. METHODS: Using high-resolution ultrasonic instrument, IMT and the plaque score in the carotid artery were detected in 30 patients with ACS, 29 patients with stable angina pectoris SAP and 17 control subjects, in addition to the measurement of hs-CRP. RESULTS: Compared with SAP and control groups, IMT, total plaque score, soft and hard plaque scores in the carotid artery in ACS group were significantly increased (P<0.001). Hs-CRP (4.336+/-1.334 mg/L) in ACS group were significantly increased (P<0.001) as compared with that in SAP group (2.205+/-0.458 mg/L) and control group (1.625+/-0.434 mg/L). Hs-CRP had positive relationship with the IMT, whole plaque score, soft and hard plaque scores in the carotid artery, respectively. CONCLUSION: IMT, total plaque score, soft and hard plaque scores in the carotid artery in ACS group are significantly increased, and hs-CRP is positively related to IMT, total plaque score, soft and hard plaque scores in the carotid artery, respectively.