Viscoelastic Behavior and Constitutive Relation of Heavy Crude Oils.

Heavy crude oil exhibits very complex viscoelastic behaviors due to its complex composition of resins, asphaltenes, saturates, and aromatics. It has a great influence on oil production and transportation. In this work, the viscoelastic behaviors of three different heavy crude oils were measured using a rotational rheometer.

[Intervention with thumbtack needling on spinal low back pain in Air Force crew: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the clinical effect on spinal low back pain (SLBP) in Air Force crew treated with novel thumbtack needling therapy and to analyze the relevant factors of the therapeutic effect.

Methods: A total of 120 Air Force crew with SLBP were randomized into a thumbtack needling group (40 cases), an external treatment group (40 cases, 1 case dropped off ) and a combined treatment group (40 cases, 1 case dropped off ). In the thumbtack needling group, the thumbtack needling therapy was adopted.

Effects of sulfasalazine combined with moxibustion methods on patients with cold-dampness obstruction type ankylosing spondylitis.

Twenty-four patients with cold, dampness, obstructive ankylosing spondylitis were treated with sulfasalazine and sulfasalazine in combination with moxibustion for 3 weeks. The results showed that the combined treatment of traditional Chinese and western medicine was significantly higher than those of western medicine treatment, meanwhile, the scoreofsymptoms quantification, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate of the integrated Chinese and western medicine treatment were significantly lower than those of western medicine treatment, and the level of physical signs was significantly higher than that of western medicine treatment, and there were no significant differences in adverse reactions. Moxibustion combined with sulfasalazine in the treatment of cold and damp obstructive ankylosing spondylitis can effectively improve the characteristics of the body, relieve pain symptoms and improve the prognosis.

Lupeol against high-glucose-induced apoptosis via enhancing the anti-oxidative stress in rabbit nucleus pulposus cells.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism and value of lupeol in inhibiting high-glucose-induced apoptosis in rabbit nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs).

Methods: NPCs were divided into four groups: control (CON), high glucose (HG), LUP, and HG + LUP. Viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and apoptosis were examined in NPCs.

CCN3 suppresses TGF-β1-induced extracellular matrix accumulation in human mesangial cells in vitro.

Glomerular sclerosis is characterized by mesangial cell proliferation and progressive extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. CCN3 belongs to the CCN family of matrix proteins; increasing evidence suggests that CCN3 is an endogenous negative regulator of the ECM and fibrosis. However, the exact role of CCN3 in the accumulation of ECM remains unknown.

History and Advancement of Burn Treatments.

Advances in burn care have accelerated within the last 50 years. The principal modalities of and approaches to burn treatment include dressings, antimicrobials, fluid resuscitation, burn wound excision, skin grafting, and use of skin substitutes. This review presents a historical outline of these approaches, their current status, and prospects for the future of burn care.

Molecular Mechanism of the "Babysitter" Procedure for Nerve Regeneration and Muscle Preservation in Peripheral Nerve Repair in a Rat Model.

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism of nerve "babysitter" for nerve regeneration and muscle preservation in peripheral nerve repair.

Methods: Eighty rats were equalized into 4 groups: peroneal nerve transected, group A received no treatment; group B underwent end-to-end repair; group C underwent end-to-side "babysitter" with donor epineurial window; group D underwent end-to-side "babysitter" with 40% donor neurectomy. During second-stage procedure, end-to-end neurorrhaphies were executed in groups A, C, and D.

Can the Babysitter Procedure Improve Nerve Regeneration and Denervated Muscle Atrophy in the Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injury?

Background: The authors evaluated the long-term efficacy of the "babysitter" procedure in improving nerve regeneration and denervated muscle atrophy for peripheral nerve repair.

Methods: Eighty Lewis rats were allocated equally into four groups. The peroneal nerves of all animals were divided.

Effect of rAAV2-hTGFβ1 Gene Transfer on Matrix Synthesis in an In Vivo Rabbit Disk Degeneration Model.

Study Design: In vivo gene transfer for disk regeneration.

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency and effect of human transforming growth factor β1 (hTGFβ1) gene transfer mediated by adeno-associated virus (AAV) in a rabbit disk degeneration model induced by fibronectin fragment (Fn-f).

Summary Of Background Data: Gene therapy for disk degeneration has been reported to be effective.

Involvement of acid-sensing ion channel 1a in matrix metabolism of endplate chondrocytes under extracellular acidic conditions through NF-κB transcriptional activity.

Acidic conditions are present in degenerated intervertebral discs and are believed to be responsible for matrix breakdown. Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is expressed in endplate chondrocytes, and its activation is associated with endplate chondrocyte apoptosis. However, the precise role of ASIC1a in regulating the matrix metabolic activity of endplate chondrocytes in response to extracellular acid remains poorly understood.

Minimally invasive pedicle screw fixation combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty for preventing secondary fracture after vertebroplasty.

Background: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) could give rise to excellent outcomes and significant improvements in pain, analgesic requirements, function, cost, and incidence of serious complications for thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). But some studies showed the recurrent fracture of a previously operated vertebra or adjacent vertebral fracture after PVP or PKP. The purpose of this study was to compare minimally invasive pedicle screw fixation (MIPS) and PVP with PVP to evaluate its feasibility and safety for treating acute thoracolumbar osteoporotic VCF and preventing the secondary VCF after PVP.

Efficacy of the end-to-side neurorrhaphies with epineural window and partial donor neurectomy in peripheral nerve repair: an experimental study in rats.

Background: End-to-side (ETS) neurorrhaphy was a useful tool in peripheral nerve repair and "baby-sitter" procedure. The study was designed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of ETS with epineurial window and 40% partial donor neurectomy in rats.

Materials And Methods: A total of 60 Lewis rats were divided into three groups (n = 20, each group): following peroneal nerve transection, rats in Group A underwent end-to-end neurorrhaphy; rats in Group B underwent ETS neurorrhaphy of the distal peroneal nerve stump to an epineurial window on the tibial nerve; and rats in Group C underwent ETS neurorrhaphy of the distal peroneal nerve stump to the tibial nerve with 40% partial neurectomy.

[Electroacupuncture for post-stroke urinary incontinence: a multi-center randomized controlled study].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture(EA) for apoplectic urinary incontinence.

Methods: Two hundred and four cases of apoplectic urinary incontinence were randomized into an EA group (136 cases) and an indwelling catheter group (68 cases). The EA was applied at Qugu (CV 2), Zhongji (CV 3), Shuidao (ST 28), Qihai (CV 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4), etc.

Changes of the donor nerve in end-to-side neurorrhaphies with epineurial window and partial neurectomy: a long-term evaluation in the rat model.

End-to-side (ETS) neurorrhaphy has been applied in the repair of peripheral nerve injuries and in babysitter procedures. However, the long-term changes of donor nerve and muscle after ETS remain unknown. This study was designed to investigate long-term changes in donor nerve and muscle in a rat model.

[The changes of extracellular matrix in adult degenerative nucleus pulposus cells with stiring microcarrier culture system in vitro].

Objective: To evaluate the biological effect on the synthesis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the cultivation of adult degenerative nucleus pulposus cells using the stiring microcarrier system in vitro.

Methods: Thirty-four specimens were collected after intervertebral fusion operations of the patients with intervertebral disc herniation diseases from September 2005 to May 2009. The specimens were then randomly allocated into 2 groups for in vitro cultivation: monolayer culture group and microcarrier culture group.

[A novel rabbit disc degeneration model induced by fibronectin fragment].

Objective: To establish a novel and useful rabbit model of lumbar disc degeneration using microinjection of fibronectin fragment (Fn-f).

Methods: Thirty-two New Zealand white rabbits underwent injection of N-terminal 30 kDa Fn-f (experimental group) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (control group) into the central region of L1-2, L2-3, L3-4, L4-5 discs using a 32-gauge microsyringe. Two rabbits (blank group) with no treatments were sacrificed to examine the proteoglycan synthesis of neucleus pulposus (NP) using (35)S-sulfate incorporation assay.

A novel rabbit disc degeneration model induced by fibronectin fragment.

Objective: To establish a novel and useful rabbit model of lumbar disc degeneration using microinjection of a fibronectin fragment.

Methods: Thirty-two rabbits underwent injection of N-terminal 30 kDa fibronectin fragment (Fn-f) (Group A, n=12; Group B, n=4) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (Group C, n=12; Group D, n=4) into the lumbar discs using a 32-gauge microsyringe. Two rabbits (Group E) with no treatment were sacrificed to examine the proteoglycan synthesis of neucleus pulposus (NP) using (35)S-sulfate incorporation assay.

[Research review on apoplectic urinary incontinence treated with acupuncture-moxibustion in recent 5 years].

The relevant documents of apoplectic urinary incontinence treated with acupuncture-moxibustion in recent 5 years have been collated and analyzed in aspect of current situation of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment, acupoint selection, manipulation and problems. The result indicates that the main therapy for this disease is acupuncture-moxibustion combined with electroacupuncture or other methods, and the acupuncture-moxibustion therapy is superior to the medicine. The clinical research has made considerable progress and the great importance has been attached to the research method.

[A prospective randomized trial of poly-DL-lactic acid absorbable and metallic screws for treatment of syndesmotic disruptions].

Objective: To compare the clinical effect of poly-DL-lactic acid (PDLLA) absorbable screws and titanium metallic screws in the treatment of syndesmotic disruptions in ankle fractures.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized clinical trial, 58 patients with or suspected of syndesmotic disruption associated with ankle fractures were randomly allocated to receive either bioabsorbable PDLLA or metallic titanium screwing fixation. Using preoperative radiography and intraoperative hook test, syndesmotic disruption was confirmed in 47 cases (25 with metallic screwing and 22 with PLLA screwing).

Three-dimensional computed tomography imaging increases the reliability of classification systems for tibial plateau fractures.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether three-dimensional reconstructed computed tomography (CT) images can improve intra-observer and inter-observer reliability for classification systems of tibial plateau fractures compared to plain radiographs and two-dimensional CT images.

Methods: Twenty-one tibial plateau fractures were classified independently by four attending orthopaedic trauma surgeons using the AO/ASIF and Schatzker classification systems. First, a combination of plain radiographs and two-dimensional (2D) CT images were evaluated.