[Experimental study on lumbar intervetebral disc degeneration model with kidney deficiency by ovariectomizing].

Objective: To observe effects of removing arms and ovarian on lumbar intervertebral disc and vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) by establishing rat model of lumbar intervetebral disc degeneration (IDD) with kidney deficiency, and to explore internal mechanism of disc degeneration, relationship between disc degeneration and osteoporosis.

Methods: Thirty Sprague-Dawley female rats aged one month were randomly divided into control group, lumbar IDD group and lumbar IDD with kidney deficiency group (combined group), 10 rats in each group. Lumbar IDD group removed double arms, lumbar IDD with kidney deficiency group removed double arms after 3 months, both ovaries were removed.

[Effects of Yiqi Huayu prescription on knee cartilage degeneration in HIF-1alpha gene knockout mice].

Objective: To study the role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1alpha) on knee cartilage degeneration,and to explore the effects and mechanisms of Chinese herbal compound Yiqi Huayu prescription on HIF-1alpha gene knockout mice on knee cartilage degeneration.

Methods: The 4-month and 6-month HIF-1alpha gene knock out mice were obtained by interbreeding, and divided into HIF-1alpha +/+ 4-month mice group,HIF-1alpha -/- 4-month mice group,HIF-1alpha +/+ 6-month mice group and HIF-1alpha -/- 6-month mice group, 3 mice in each group. And then the 2-month-old HIF-1alpha gene knock out mice were randomly divided into Yiqi Huayu prescription group and physiological saline group.

[Professor Shi Qi's experience of applying herbal paste for treating chronic musculoskeletal conditions].

Professor Shi Qi is a famous traditional Chinese medicine doctor specializing in orthopaedics and traumatology, who has formatted a set of systematic protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic musculoskeletal conditions. When it is time for using tonics in winter, he advocates applying herbal paste for treating chronic musculoskeletal diseases. This paper introduces Professor Shi Qi's commonly used prescription for treating chronic musculoskeletal conditions and puts forward demands and understandings in concocting herbal paste, experience in herbal paste for treating chronic musculoskeletal diseases such as cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar muscle strain, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoporosis, knee osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis of femoral head, and the advantages of herbal paste for treating chronic musculoskeletal conditions as opposed to alternative treatments.

[The relationship between hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis: a review].

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common diseases seen in clinical practice. Cartilage survives in the hypoxic microenvironment. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a key nuclear transcription factor which mediates the hypoxic response of cells.

Inhibitory effect of YQHYRJ recipe on osteoblast differentiation induced by BMP-2 in fibroblasts from posterior longitudinal ligament of mice.

Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a common disease in Asian countries. Osteoblast differentiation in posterior longitudinal ligamentous fibroblast is a pathologic basis of OPLL. Nowadays, an effective pharmacotherapy for OPLL is still hunted for.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Yiqi Huayu Recipe on apoptosis of dorsal root ganglion neurons and expression of caspase-3 in rats with lumbar nerve root compression].

Objective: To observe the effects of Yiqi Huayu Recipe, a Chinese compound herbal medicine, on apoptosis of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and expression of caspase-3 in rats after lumbar nerve root compression injury.

Methods: A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups: control group, untreated group, Methylcobal group and Yiqi Huayu Recipe group. Surgery was performed on rats of untreated group, Methylcobal group and Yiqi Huayu Recipe group to place a micro-silica gel on right L₄ DRG, while control group received skin and paravertebral muscle incision only.

[Effects of Yiqi Huayu Decoction on brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in rats with lumbar nerve root injury].

Objective: To observe the effects of Yiqi Huayu Decoction, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in lumbar nerve root and soleus of rats after lumbar nerve root compression injury.

Methods: A total of 120 male SD rats were randomly allocated into sham-operated group, untreated group, methycobal injection group and Yiqi Huayu Decoction group. Surgery were performed on rats of untreated group, methycobal injection group and Yiqi Huayu Decoction group by placing a micro-silica gel on right L(4) dorsal root ganglia, while rats in sham-operated group received skin and paravertebral muscle incision only.

A continuous observation of the degenerative process in the intervertebral disc of Smad3 gene knock-out mice.

Study Design: Pathologic changes were observed in the spine of small mother against decapentaplegic (Smad) 3 mice at different time points.

Objective: To observe the degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) in Smad3 gene knock-out mice with growth.

Summary Of Background Data: Smad3 gene knock-out (Smad3) mice displays phenotypes similar to human osteoarthritis.

Changes of cervical dorsal root ganglia induced by compression injury and decompression procedure: a novel rat model of cervical radiculoneuropathy.

Our study aimed to establish a model of compression injury of cervical dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in the rat and to investigate the pathological changes following compression injury and decompression procedures. Thirty rats were divided into three groups: control group receiving sham surgery, compression group undergoing surgery to place a micro-silica gel on C6 DRG, and decompression group with subsequent decompression procedure. The samples harvested from the different groups were examined with light microscopy, ultrastructural analysis, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) retrograde tracing techniques.

[Mechanism of Yiqi Huayu Bushen recipe in treating cervical syndrome in rats with qi deficiency, blood stasis and kidney deficiency].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe (YHBR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in treating cervical syndrome (CS) with qi deficiency, blood stasis and kidney deficiency in rats.

Methods: A total of 30 three-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, untreated group and YHBR group; there were ten rats in each group. The rat model of cervical syndrome with qi deficiency, blood stasis and kidney deficiency was established by combining disease and syndrome models.

[Mechanism of Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe in treating cervical syndrome with kidney deficiency in rats].

Objective: To research the action mechanism of Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe (YHBR), a compound of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in treating cervical syndrome (CS) with kidney deficiency in rats.

Methods: A total of 30 three-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, CS with kidney deficiency model group (untreated group) and YHBR group, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the normal control group received no treatment, while rats of the other two groups underwent resection of both cervical muscles and ovaries to establish the model of CS with kidney deficiency.

[Establishment of a rat model of cervical syndrome with qi deficiency, blood stasis and kidney deficiency].

Objective: To establish a rat model of cervical syndrome with qi deficiency, blood stasis and kidney deficiency.

Methods: A total of 30 three-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group, cervical syndrome group and cervical syndrome with qi deficiency, blood stasis and kidney deficiency group (combined group), with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group received no treatment, rats in cervical syndrome group underwent resection of cervical muscles and ligaments as unbalanced dynamic and static animal model, and rats in combined group underwent resection of both cervical muscles and ovaries, swimming and irregular diet, and injection of adrenal cortex hormone and adrenaline two and a half months after resection as combined model.

[Establishment of a rat model of cervical syndrome with kidney deficiency].

Objective: To establish a rat model of cervical syndrome (CS) with kidney deficiency.

Methods: A group of 30 three-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, CS group and CS with kidney deficiency group (combined group), with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the normal control group received no treatment, rats in the CS group underwent only resection of cervical muscles and ligaments as unbalanced dynamic and static animal model, and rats in combined group underwent resection of both cervical muscles and ovaries as kidney deficiency model.

[A rabbit model of cervical spondylosis established by stimulation of wind, cold and dampness].

Objective: To make an animal model of cervical spondylosis (arthralgia syndrome type) with stimulation of wind, cold, and dampness.

Methods: Twenty-four 8 months old male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated into four groups: normal control group, light stimulation group, moderate stimulation group and severe stimulation group. The wind speed was 10.

[Study of Yiqi Huayu Bushen recipe and its decomposed formulas in regulating gene expressions in degenerated cervical intervertebral discs of rats].

Objective: To investigate the gene expression changes in the degenerated cervical intervertebral discs of rats, and to study the function of Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, and its discomposed formulas in regulating gene expressions in the degenerated cervical intervertebral discs.

Methods: The rat model with degenerated cervical intervertebral discs caused by imbalance between the dynamic and static forces was established. The mRNA was extracted from the cervical intervertebral discs of rats in the normal control and experiment groups, and the cDNA probes were obtained by inverse transcript.

Cervical intervertebral disc degeneration induced by unbalanced dynamic and static forces: a novel in vivo rat model.

Study Design: Establishment of a novel in vivo animal model of cervical spondylosis.

Objective: To investigate apoptotic, degenerative, and inflammatory changes occurring in the cervical intervertebral discs of rats.

Summary Of Background Data: Cervical degeneration occurs as the result of imbalance of both static and dynamic spinal stabilizers.

[An in vitro natural degeneration model of chondrocytes derived from endplate of intervertebral discs of rats].

Objective: To set up a natural degeneration model of chondrocytes derived from endplate of intervertebral discs of rats in order to offer an appropriate carrier for the study on mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Methods: The method of enzyme digestion combined with natural subculture was used to set up the in vitro natural degeneration model of chondrocytes derived from the endplate of intervertebral disc of rats. The morphological appearances and microstructures of the chondrocytes of different generations were observed.

[Effects of Yiqi Huayu Recipe on neural cell adhesion molecule in rats with lumbar nerve root compression].

Objective: To study the effects of Yiqi Huayu Recipe on neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) in neuromuscular junctions during nerve regeneration in rats with lumbar nerve root compression.

Methods: The rats with lumbar nerve root compression were given Yiqi Huayu Recipe for 10, 20 and 30 days respectively. The distribution of N-CAM in neuromuscular junctions of soleus muscle in rats was examined with immunohistochemical method and confocal laser scanning microscopy technique.

[Effects of yiqi huayu recipe and its decomposed formulas on apoptosis-related factors of anulus fibrosus cells in rats].

Objective: To study the effects of Yiqi Huayu Recipe and its decomposed formulas-medicated sera on expressions of bcl-2, Bax and caspase-8 of apoptotic anulus fibrosus cells in rats.

Methods: Immunohistochemical and integral optical density analytic methods were used to observe the effects of Yiqi Huayu Recipe-, Yiqi Recipe-, Huayu Recipe-medicated sera and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on the expressions of bcl-2, Bax and caspase-8 of apoptotic anulus fibrosus cells in rats induced by anti-Fas antibody.

Results: As compared with apoptosis group, bcl-2 expression was higher, Bax and caspase-8 expressions were lower in Yiqi Huayu-treated, Yiqi-treated, Huayu-treated and IGF-1 groups (P<0.

[Effects of Yiqi Huayu Recipe on gene expression pattern of normal and apoptotic chondrocytes in cervical intervertebral disc in rats].

Objective: To study the effects of Yiqi Huayu Recipe on the gene expression pattern in normal and apoptotic chondrocytes in the cervical intervertebral disc of rats.

Methods: The intervertebral disc endplates of rats were digested enzymatically. The apoptosis of the chondrocytes was induced by anti-Fas antibody.

Gene expression profile of degenerated cervical intervertebral disc tissues in rats.

Objective: To analyze the gene expression profile of degenerated cervical intervertebral disc of Sprague Dawley rats on a large scale.

Methods: Degenerated models of Sprague Dawley rats of 9 months old (degeneration group, n=9) and normal Sprague Dawley rats of 3 months old (control group, n=9) were prepared, respectively. mRNA was obtained from the cervical intervertebral disc of rats in both groups, respectively, and then labelled by Cy5 and Cy3 fluorescence respectively after reverse transcription to obtain intervertebral disc cDNA probes.

[Effect of Yiqi Huayu recipe on peanut agglutinin-binding molecules and Schwann's cells in rats after lumbar nerve root compression].

Objective: To study the effect of Yiqi Huayu Recipe on peanut agglutinin-binding molecules (PNA-BMs) and Schwann's cells (Sc) of the neuromuscular junction after L5 nerve root compression in rats.

Methods: The rats were given Yiqi Huayu Recipe at the 10th, 20th, 30th and 60th day after L5 nerve root compression. Using immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning techniques, we observed the distributions of PNA-BMs and S-100 in the soleus muscle.

The spatiotemporal characterization of endplate reoccupation, with special reference to the superposition patterns of the presynaptic elements and the postsynaptic receptor regions during muscle reinnervation.

In this study, an immunohistochemical investigation was carried out to define spatiotemporal characteristics of superposition patterns of the presynaptic elements and the postsynaptic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) sites during the period of endplate regeneration after sciatic nerve crush. The extent of close correspondence of terminal Schwann cell (TSC)-, or axon terminal-, apposing AChR sites was quantitated with three-dimensional images of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) taken under confocal laser-scanning microscopy. After 3-weeks post-crush (wpc), reoccupation of regenerating TSCs and later arriving axon terminals proceeded within the scope of previously denervated AChR plaques.