[Retracted] Association between vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and the risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head: Systematic review.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/br.2015.

Predicting Collapse in Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head Using a New Method: Preserved Angles of Anterior and Lateral Femoral Head.

Background: Femoral head collapse (FHC) is associated with a poor prognosis in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Preserved angles (PAs), including the lateral preserved angle (LPA), the anterior preserved angle (APA) and the combined preserved angle (CPA), can be used to quantify the extent of femoral head necrosis and predict the risk of femoral head collapse. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the efficacy of these preserved angles in the prediction of femoral head collapse using plain radiographs.

Huo Xue Tong Luo capsule, a vasoactive herbal formula prevents progression of asymptomatic osteonecrosis of femoral head: A prospective study.

Background/objective: A prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a specific vasoactive herbal formula, Huo Xue Tong Luo capsule (HXTL capsule), for the treatment of patients with asymptomatic osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH).

Methods: We evaluated a clinical trial of 55 patients (59 hips) with asymptomatic ONFH (no joint collapse) evaluated by Steinberg staging system and necrosis range classification criteria. Then, they were given HXTL capsule under specific protocol.

[The Effectiveness of a Multi-Disciplinary Intervention for Deglutition Disorders in Elderly Inpatients].

Background: While many studies have examined multidisciplinary interventions for swallowing disorder, most have focused on acute stroke patients. It is essential to confirm the efficacy of multidisciplinary interventions for all causes of swallowing disorder.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of a nurse-led, multi-disciplinary intervention for hospitalized elderly patients with swallowing disorder.

Association of reduced sclerostin expression with collapse process in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Purpose: Sclerostin is an osteocyte-derived protein that has a potent inhibitory effect on osteoblast activity. The osteocyte apoptosis induced by various causes of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) plays a key role in the promotion of femoral head collapse. But the effect of altering sclerostin level on the collapse of ONFH has not been studied.

Attitudes of Older Chinese Patients Toward Death and Dying.

Background: Due to the aging population of China, the need for palliative care will increase. However, one of the barriers to utilization of palliative care is the traditional belief that talking about death and dying is taboo.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine to what extent older Chinese patients were willing to answer questions about death and dying by asking them about "fear of death" and their desire to "use advanced life support when dying.

Predicting the collapse of the femoral head due to osteonecrosis: From basic methods to application prospects.

Collapse of the femoral head is the most significant pathogenic complication arising from osteonecrosis of the femoral head. It is related to the disruption of the maintenance of cartilage and bone, and results in an impaired function of the vascular component. A method for predicting the collapse of the femoral head can be treated as a type of clinical index.

Icariin promotes osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells by activating the ERα-Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Icariin, the main effective component of Herba Epimedii, has been identified to regulate the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs) and have potential application in preventing bone loss and promoting bone regeneration. However, the underlying signaling pathway of its osteogenic effect remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether icariin could promote osteogenesis of rBMSCs through modulating the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, which implicated in rBMSCs osteogenesis.

Polydatin induces bone marrow stromal cells migration by activation of ERK1/2.

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have proven to be useful for the treatment of numerous human diseases. However, the reparative ability of BMSCs is limited by their poor migration. Polydatin, widely used in traditional Chinese remedies, has proven to exert protective effects to BMSCs.

Association between vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and the risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head: Systematic review.

Emerging evidence has shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene polymorphisms are the key initiators that regulate the expression of the VEGF protein, which has a vital role in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether polymorphisms of the VEGF genes are associated with the occurrence of ONFH. A comprehensive search was performed on MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases before June 2015.

An oral controlled release system for ambroxol hydrochloride containing a wax and a water insoluble polymer.

This study was carried out to develop and optimize oral sustained-release formulations for Ambroxol hydrochloride matrix pellets using a combination of wax and water-insoluble polymer, glyceryl behenate (Compritol 888 ATO) and Ethylcellulose (EC(7 FP)). It involved three factors: the content of Compritol 888 ATO (X(1)), EC(7 FP) (X(2)), and the matrix formation methods (X(3)), as independent variables. The drug release percentages at 1, 2 and 4 h were the target responses and were restricted to 15-45% (Y(1)), 45-80% (Y(2)) and 80-100% (Y(3)), respectively.