Predictive value of fasting blood glucose for serious coronary atherosclerosis in non-diabetic patients.

Objective: To determine if high fasting blood glucose (FBG) level is an independent predictor of serious coronary lesions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We enrolled 64 patients who had symptoms of chest discomfort and who underwent coronary angiography. FBG was determined from blood samples and the extent of coronary artery lesions was analyzed according to Gensini score.

Angiopoietin-1 preconditioning enhances survival and functional recovery of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation.

Objective: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising therapy for ischemic heart diseases. However, poor cell survival after transplantation greatly limits the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) preconditioning on MSC survival and subsequent heart function improvement after transplantation.

[Effect of intra-articular ozone injection on serum and synovial TNF-α, TNFR I, and TNFR II contents in rats with rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To observe the effects of intra-articular ozone injection at different concentrations on the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TNF receptor I (TNFR I), and TNFR II in the serum and synovium of rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore the therapeutic mechanism of ozone in RA treatment.

Methods: Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomized into 8 groups, including 5 ozone groups receiving intra-articular injection of 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 µg/ml ozone, a blank control group, an oxygen group and a RA model group. All the rats, except for those in the blank control group, were subjected to hypodermic injection of bovine collagen II and complete Freunds adjuvant to induce RA.

[Establishment of a three-dimensional finite element model and stress analysis of the talus during normal gait].

Objective: To develop a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the human ankle with fine details and analyze the stress distribution on the talus during different gait phases.

Methods: Mimics13.0 and Geomagic10.

[Effect of ozone water on the inflammation and repair in infected wounds].

Objective: To study the effect of ozone water in promoting the healing of infected wounds.

Methods: Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely chlorhexidine treatment group, 5, 10, and 20 mg/L ozone water treatment groups, and the control group without any treatment. Infected wounds were induced on the back of the rats, and at 48 h of infection, chlorhexidine or ozone water was applied once daily for 9 days.

[Clinical randomized controlled trial on splint external fixation combined with Chinese herbs in treating distal radius fractures of elderly patients].

Objective: To explore the effects of Yishen Zhuanggu decoction ([Chinese characters: see text], YSZGD) on the fracture healing and function of wrist joint in osteoporotic distal radius fractures (ODRF) of elderly patients.

Methods: Ninety patients of ODRF were treated with splint external fixation and YSZGD, including 28 males and 62 females, with an average age of 63 years (ranged, 61 to 91 years). According to AO classification, all the patients were classified as type A or B1.