HSP70 gene expression responses to the temperature stress in pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes).

In this study, we isolated and characterized HSP70 cDNA from pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes). The 3053 bp full-length TrHSP70 sequence consisted of a 167 bp 5'-UTR (untranslated region), a 2535 bp open reading frame, and a 351 bp 3'-UTR. BLAST analysis revealed that the TrHSP70 shared high similarity with HSP70 sequences in other species. In our study, we set 3 experimental groups as H1 group (20 °C), H2 group (24 °C), and H3 group (28 °C) for checking the expression level of TrHSP70 in T. rubripes. Tissue-specific gene expression results showed that TrHSP70 had higher expression in the intestines than other tissues of the T. rubripes by RT-qPCR. In the experimental group, we found that the expression of TrHSP70 was upregulated in different tissues in the H3 group. The results show that TrHSP70 is a constitutively expressed gene, which plays an important role in maintaining normal physiological function and coping with stress.

[Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis by Tendons of Minimally Invasive Therapy Combined Drug Ther- apy: a Clinical Observation of Sixty Cases].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of tendons of minimally invasive therapy (TMIT) combined drug therapy by comparing it with treatment by drug therapy alone on patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: Totally 60 KOA patients were assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to random digit table, 30 in each group. Patients in the control group took Hydrochloric Acid Glucosamine Capsule and Celecoxib Capsule. Patients in the treatment group additionally received TMIT. The treatment course for all was 4 weeks. Scores for visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index were observed and recorded at week 1 and 4 after treatment by acupotomology mirror. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, improvement was shown in VAS score, pain and stiffness degrees, activities and functions, and WOMAC scores at week 1 and 4 after treatment in all patients with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Besides, better effect was shown in the treatment group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TMIT combined drug therapy could relieve KOA patients' pain, stiffness and joint activities, elevate the overall efficacy. TMIT was easily operated with less injury.

[Effect of bushen zhuanggu granule on the gonadal hormone and blood lipid metabolism in climacteric women].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Bushen Zhuanggu Granule (BZG) on the gonadal hormone, blood lipids, serum level of nitric oxide (NO) and free oxygen radical (FOR) in climacteric women. METHODS: Climacteric women were randomized according the digital table into the CM group (188 cases) and the WM group (189 cases). They were treated by BZG and Premarin plus Depogeston respectively for 2 years. The therapeutic effect on patients' symptoms and changes of blood lipids, gonadal hormones, NO, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were observed. RESULTS: There were 53 women in the CM group and 96 in the WM group dropping out in the 2-year follow-up period, the difference between them was significant (P < 0.01). The obvious and effective rates in the CM group were 36.30% (49/135), 82.96% (112/135), and in WM were 30.11% (28/93), 73.12% (68/93), the difference between the two group was significant (P < 0.05). The score of complaint was significantly lower in both groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the effect was more obvious in the CM group (P < 0.01). Effects on gonadal hormones and blood lipids were significantly improved in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05); comparison between groups showed the superiority of WM in increasing estrogen (P < 0.05), Blood levels of NO and SOD increased and MDA decreased in both groups after 1- and 2-year treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), showing no significant inter-group difference (P > 0.05). No evident adverse reaction was found in the routine tests on blood, urine and stool, hepatic and renal functions and electrocardiogram examined once every 6 months. CONCLUSION: BZG can effectively restore the disordered indices of gonadal hormones, blood lipids, NO, and SOD in climacteric women, with the efficacy equivalent to the effect of hormone replacement therapy, but it is more safe and inexpensive.

[Efficacy of fan-needle radiofrequency for knee osteoarthritis guided by meridians-muscles theory].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy difference between fan-needle radiofrequency guided by meridians-muscles theory and oral administration of medication for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: One hundred patients with KOA were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 50 cases in each one. The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with fan-needle radiofrequency guided by meridians-muscles theory at tendon nodes around knee joints (ashi points), 4 points per treatment, once every two weeks and two treatments were given. The patients in the medication group were treated with oral administration of celecoxib capsules, 1 capsule every day for 4 weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) in the two groups were observed before treatment, after treatment and during 4-week follow-up visit. The clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the VAS was reduced in the two groups after treatment and during 4-week follow-up visit (all P<0.05), and the VAS score in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the medication group (both P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the pain score, stiffness score, activity function score and total score of WOMAC were reduced in the two groups after treatment and during 4-week follow-up visit (all P<0.05), and the scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 80.0% (40/50) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 56.0% (28/50) in the medication group (P<0.05). During 4-week follow-up visit, the total effective rate was 76.0% (38/50) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 40.0% (20/50) in the medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of fan-needle radiofrequency guided by meridians-muscles theory is superior to oral administration of celecoxib capsules for KOA, which could relieve joint pain and stiffness, improve joint mobility, and has long effective duration.

[Methotrexate in conjunction with meloxicam for treating ankylosing spondylitis: a clinical observation of the efficacy and safety].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined use of methotrexate and meloxicam for treating of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and to determine the optimal dosage of methotrexate. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with AS were divided into group A (n=14) to receive oral methotrexate at the dose of 12.3+/-3.6 mg once a week and group B (n=18) at the dose of 21.3+/-3.2 mg once a week. Each of the patients in both groups also took oral meloxicam (7.5 mg) for 3 months. RESULTS: After treatment, the clinical indexes and inflammatory parameters of the patients significantly improved in both groups, with a total efficacy of 78.6% in group A and 88.9% in group B. CONCLUSION: The combination of methotrexate with meloxicam may achieve satisfactory results in AS treatment, which is not positively related to methotrexate dosage. In short-term usage, meloxicam does not increase the toxicity of methotrexate.

Evaluating meridian-sinew release therapy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Objective. In recent years, public health experts have concluded that the impact of osteoarthritis is equal in magnitude to that of cardiovascular disease. Osteoarthritis of the knee is prevalent in the elderly population; however, there are currently no effective treatments for this condition. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of "meridian-sinew release," a newly developed technique which entails using a meridian-sinew scope and a meridian-sinew knife to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. Methods. Patients (N = 90) with knee osteoarthritis were prospectively randomized to meridian-sinew release therapy, acupuncture therapy, or drug therapy groups, respectively. Outcome evaluation included pain, stiffness, physiological function, total symptom score, and overall changes in the condition. Results. After 12 weeks, patients' general assessment (GA) and doctors' general assessment (GA) of the condition were not significantly different among the three groups. However, significant differences in primary endpoint pain, joint stiffness, and total symptom score were found between the meridian-sinew group and the acupuncture group and between the meridian-sinew group and the control group (P < 0.05). No adverse events occurred during the trial. Conclusion. Our study suggests that meridian-sinew release therapy can improve knee osteoarthritis, alleviate joint pain, and improve functional movement disorder. It is a safe and effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis.