Objective To determine the effect of thiazolidinediones (TZDs) on early retinopathy in rats with experimental diabetes. Methods In 40 rats, diabetic models were set up in 36 by one-off intraperitoneal injection with streptozotocin (STZ), and other 4 were in the normal control group. Twenty-four diabetic rats with the disease-duration of more than 6 months underwent intravitreous injection (with rosiglitazone or pioglitazone in 10 rats, respectively), and the rest 4 rats werenprime;t injected with drugs as the diabetic positive control group. Immunohistochemical treptomycin-avidin-biotin-complex (SABC) method, in situ hybridization of retinal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA, and TdT-dUTP terminal nick-end labelling (TUNEL) were performed on the ocular paraffin section to detect the cellular apoptosis. The difference of VEGF expression and cellular apoptosis between TZDs and control group was observed and analyzed. Results The results of immunohistochemical staining and hybridization in situ were negative in the normal control group. The positive expression rate of VEGF was lower in rosiglitazone and pioglitazone group than which in the diabetic positive control group, and there was no obvious differences of positive expression of VEGF mRNA and cellular apoptosis between the 2 groups. Conclusion TZDs (rosiglitazone and pioglitazone) may inhibit the positive expression of VEGF protein in retina of STZ-induced diabetic rats to some extent, but not affect the growth of VEGF in retina. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 7-10)
To summarize the results of the free transplantation of anti-valve-inflow and pro-valveoutflow arterial ized venous flap in repairing soft tissue defect of fingers in emergency treatment. Methods From October 2002 to March 2007, 7 cases of soft tissue defects of fingers were repaired with arterial ized venous flaps. There were 6 males and 1 female, aged 17-46 years. Defect was caused by crush injury in 6 cases and by stab injury in 1 case. The interval between injuryand operation was 2-7 hours and the size of defects ranged from 3.0 cm × 2.0 cm to 6.0 cm × 3.5 cm. All defects were repaired by arterial ized free venous flap from the ipsilateral forearm, in which the proximal ends of veins were anastomosed to artery and vein of the finger. The donor site was directly sutured. Results Six cases of arterial ized venous flap survived completely and 1 case had partial superficial necrosis and healed with conservative management. The donor site healed by first intention. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 3 months to 4 years, the texture and the thickness of the flaps were satisfactory, only one presented partial pigment deposits because of superficial necrosis. No sclerosis, contracture and l imited range of motion occurred in all flaps. According to the evaluation criteria for upper l imb function issued by Hand Surgery Branch of Chinese Medical Association, the results were excellent in 3 cases and good in 4 cases. Conclusion It is an ideal method to repair soft tissue defect of fingers by using anti-valve-inflow and pro-valve-outflow arterial ized venous flap.
Three-dimensional finite element model of elbow was established to study the effect of medial collateral ligament (MCL) in maintaining the stability of elbow joint. In the present study a three-dimensional geometric model of elbow joint was established by reverse engineering method based on the computed tomography (CT) image of healthy human elbow. In the finite element pre-processing software, the ligament and articular cartilage were constructed according to the anatomical structure, and the materials and contacts properties were given to the model. In the neutral forearm rotation position and 0° flexion angle, by comparing the simulation data of the elbow joint with the experimental data, the validity of the model is verified. The stress value and stress distribution of medial collateral ligaments were calculated at the flexion angles of elbow position in 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°, 120°, 135°, respectively. The result shows that when the elbow joint loaded at different flexion angles, the anterior bundle has the largest stress, followed by the posterior bundle, transverse bundle has the least, and the stress value of transverse bundle is trending to 0. Therefore, the anterior bundle plays leading role in maintaining the stability of the elbow, the posterior bundle plays supplementary role, and the transverse bundle does little. Furthermore, the present study will provide theoretical basis for clinical recognizing and therapy of elbow instability caused by medial collateral ligament injury.