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Background: Our aim was to determine the potential pharmacological mechanisms of the Guizhi decoction (GZD) in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) through an integrated approach of network pharmacological analyses, RNA sequencing (RNAseq), and experimental validation. Methods: The quality control and identification of bioactive compounds of the GZD were carried out by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), and their OA-related genes were identified through overlapping traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database (TCMSP), DrugBank and SEA Search Server databases, and GeneCards. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were implemented after constructing the component–target network. RNA-seq was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under intervention conditions with and without the GZD in vitro. The crossover signaling pathways between RNA-seq and network pharmacology were then analyzed. Accordingly, protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks, GO, and KEGG analysis were performed using the Cytoscape, STRING, or DAVID database. The OA rat model was established to further verify the pharmacological effects in vivo. Hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) and safranin O/fast green (S-O) staining were used to grade the histopathological features of the cartilage. We verified the mRNA and protein expressions of the key targets related to the TNF signaling pathways in vivo and in vitro by qPCR, Western blotting (WB), and immunofluorescence assay. In addition, we also detected inflammatory cytokines in the rat serum by Luminex liquid suspension chip, which included tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Results: Eighteen compounds and 373 targets of the GZD were identified. A total of 2,356 OA-related genes were obtained from the GeneCards database. A total of three hub active ingredients of quercetin, kaempferol, and beta-sitosterol were determined, while 166 target genes associated with OA were finally overlapped. The RNA-seq analysis revealed 1,426 DEGs. In the KEGG intersection between network pharmacology and RNA-seq analysis, the closest screening relevant to GZD treatment was the TNF signaling pathway, of which TNF, IL-6, and IL-1β were classified as hub genes. In consistent, H&E and S-O staining of the rat model showed that GZD could attenuate cartilage degradation. When compared with the OA group in vivo and in vitro, the mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) were all downregulated in the GZD group (all p < 0.05). The expression levels of anabolic proteins (Col2α1 and SOX9) were all higher in the GZD group than in the OA group (p < 0.05), while the expression levels of the catabolic proteins (MMP9 and COX-2) and TNF-α in the GZD group were significantly lower than those in the OA group (p < 0.05). In addition, the expression levels of TNF, IL-6, and IL-1β were upregulated in the OA group, while the GZD group prevented such aberrations (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The present study reveals that the mechanism of the GZD against OA may be related to the regulation of the TNF signaling pathway and inhibition of inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In order to indirectly calculate the core temperature of a cable joint, an equivalent transient thermal circuit model of single-core cable joint by considering axial heat dissipation is proposed. Firstly, the temperature field of the middle joint of a 110 kV single-core cable is calculated by finite element method. Based on the heat dissipation path of the core, an improved equivalent thermal circuit model is proposed. The axial heat dissipation of the cable joint core is simplified to a thermal resistance and the temperature rise of the cable body core, the temperature calculation of the cable joint transient process is realized. Compared with the results of finite element simulation, the steady-state temperature errors of the thermal circuit model are within 1 °C, while the maximum temperature errors of the transient process shall not exceed 3 °C, which proves the validity of the model. This method can provide reference for temperature inversion and the dynamic current-carrying capacity prediction of cable joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trip mechanism is a weakness in circuit breakers. Traditional fault identification based on the coil current is difficult to report early mechanical defects such as coil‐plunger jam. Here, the vibration signal during the trip process was extracted. Based on the coil current signal and vibration signal, the characteristics of the trip mechanism are analyzed. The phase space reconstruction (PSR) method is used to extract features from the vibration signal. Combined with the features from the coil current waveform, the feature set representing the health condition of the trip mechanism is proposed. The fault simulation tests are carried out and the variation of current vibration characteristics under fault conditions is studied. The fault identification model based on a support vector machine (SVM) is proposed and compared with the identification results when features are extracted from a single signal. When the power supply voltage is dispersed, the prediction accuracy of fault identification is 83.3% considering only the features of the current waveform or vibration signal. And the identification accuracy rises to 96.7% while using the feature set of current and vibration signals. On basis of the current signal, the method further combines the vibration signal so that the robustness of defect identification improves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginger and its beneficial role have been known for centuries but the anti-inflammatory properties and its active constituents in osteoarthritis gain attention. Ginger and its certain active constituents possess similar properties with synthetic drugs such as non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs. Ginger is involved in inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotrienes by suppressing the stimulation of cyclooxygenase 1, cyclooxygenase 2, and 5-lipooxygenase. Ginger also plays a vital role in inhibition of several genes involved in the initiation of inflammatory response. These include cytokines, chemokines, and enzyme-encoding genes. Ginger possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties with the lack of gastrointestinal and renal side effects. The safe dosage of ginger is up to 2–2.5 g per kg body weight without any toxicity. Further studies on human trials are needed to confirm the therapeutic role of ginger in osteoarthritis. This review cleared that ginger have great bioactive profile and these active compounds have health beneficial agents in clinical aspects. This review provides an up-to-date knowledge regarding the effectiveness of the intake and application of ginger in the pain relief of osteoarthritis and improved the knee function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the difficulty in characterizing early mechanical faults in the trip mechanism of circuit breakers, a data mining method based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and phase space reconstruction (PSR) method was proposed. First, the vibration signal in the trip stage was separated from the whole according to the current features. Then, it was decomposed using the VMD algorithm to obtain the intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and these sub signals were mapped to high-dimensional phase space based on the PSR algorithm. Then, the features of the attractor trail shape and the recurrence plot matrixes were extracted. In order to judge the fault in the trip mechanism, a fault simulation test was carried out and the characteristic under different faults was analyzed. Based on these samples, a fault identification model is established by support vector machine (SVM) and the effectiveness is verified by other test samples. The accuracy of the SVM model is 98%, which is higher than that of the BPNN and KNN clustering models. This research supplements the existing method for condition evaluation of the trip mechanism and can provide a reference for circuit breaker fault diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jams in the tripping devices are common faults in circuit breakers, which will lead to the failures in circuit breaker. The resist force of the coil plunger in the tripping device could effectively reveal the jam faults. In this paper, a recognition method for the coil plunger motion resist force based on coil current is proposed. The electromagnetic motion model of the coil is established, and the plunger resist force in VS1‐12 is recognized. According to the recognition result and the moving process of the coil plunger, the fitting formula of the resist force is proposed. The resist force from the coil is 5 N, while the force from the latch is 52 N. Based on the fitting formula, the trip coil current of the circuit breaker is simulated. The result is in good agreement with the test result, which verifies the validity of the fitting formula and the recognition method. The method can be applied to the circuit breaker with spring operating mechanism and effectively extract the resist force from the coil current. This research can provide reference for the condition detection and fault warning of coils in circuit breaker. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) often complain about clinical symptoms affected by weather-related factors. The purpose of the present study was to use cross-sectional analysis to determine whether weather sensitivity was associated with clinical symptoms, as well as structure abnormalities, in KOA patients. Methods: Data from 80 participants were obtained from the Feng Hans Shi Effects on OA (FHS) study, an OA cohort study initiated in China in 2015. The weather sensitivity of each participant was determined by a self-reported questionnaire. The following measurements were used to assess clinical outcomes: Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) for symptoms, and semi-quantitative Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) for cartilage defects and marrow abnormalities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Chi-square with Cochran–Armitage test for trend and regression analysis were used to evaluate the associations between weather sensitivity and WOMAC and WORMS of KOA patients. Results: Most of the KOA participants (57.5%) perceived the weather as affecting their knee-joint clinical symptoms. After adjusting for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI), weather sensitivity was not only associated with knee pain [OR = 3.3 (95% CI 1.1, 9.9), P = 0.032], dysfunction [OR = 5.5 (95% CI 1.8, 16.8), P = 0.003], and overall clinical symptoms [OR = 3.3 (95% CI 1.1, 10.2), P = 0.034], but also associated with cartilage defect [OR = 3.1 (95% CI 1.1, 8.5), P = 0.027] and marrow abnormality [OR = 3.0 (95% CI 1.1, 8.1), P = 0.029]. Conclusions: In KOA patients, weather sensitivity was associated with clinical symptoms and structural abnormalities. Future longitudinal study is warranted for the causal relationship. Infographic: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed factors influencing clinical symptoms and treatment of patients with traffic accident injuries. It used a retrospective chart review and questionnaire survey obtained from 560 patients (266 men and 294 women). It also conducted follow-up observations of progress after car insurance settlements and investigated the usefulness of and patient satisfaction with integrative Korean medicine treatment for traffic accident injuries. Retrospective data of patients admitted for traffic accident injury were obtained. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data regarding the degree of traffic accident damage, severity of pain at settlement, any treatment after settlement and duration and cost of such treatment, and patient satisfaction with car insurance services and Korean medicine treatment for traffic accident injury. The results showed no significant association between pain and the degree of damage to the car at the time of traffic accident (P = 0.662), although the degree of damage to the car was more significantly associated with time to reach a car insurance settlement than severity of pain in the patient (P = 0.003). There was no significant association between the degree of damage to the car in a traffic accident and pain after a traffic accident. Greater severity of pain at the time of the car insurance settlement was associated with greater cost and longer time spent in treatment after the car insurance settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discharge voltage prediction of engineering gap configurations is a great challenge for external insulation design in high‐voltage engineering. This paper presents an air gap discharge voltage prediction model based on the support vector regression (SVR). A series of features are defined on the shortest interelectrode path of an air gap, and they are extracted from the electric field calculation results using the finite element method. These electric field features are considered as the input parameters of the SVR‐based model, and the output is the air gap discharge voltage. The genetic algorithm is used for parameter optimization of the SVR model. Trained by a few experimental data of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standard rod–rod gaps, this model is applied to predict the standard lightning impulse flashover voltages of parallel gaps for insulator strings under different gap configurations. The prediction results coincide well with the experimental data collected from previous publications. The mean absolute percentage error of the eight test samples is within 4.07%, which is acceptable for engineering applications. The SVR‐based model may be helpful to guide the structure design and insulation coordination of parallel gaps and insulator strings, thus reducing the required full‐scale tests. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electric field calculations cannot effectively guide the insulation design of high voltage equipment since the insulation strengths of dielectrics cannot be predicted according to the electromagnetic analysis. In this paper, some features related to the electric field distribution such as the electric field strength, electric field gradient, path length, and the electric field integral are defined and extracted from finite element calculations of air gaps. The electric field features are taken as the input parameters of a grey correlative model established by support vector machine (SVM), so as to establish the multi-dimensional nonlinear relationships between these features and the discharge voltage of an air gap. The grid search (GS) method was used to search the optimal parameters of the SVM. This model was applied to predict the 50% discharge voltages of large sphere-plane air gaps in UHVDC valve halls. The predicted results were obtained after multiple iterative calculations, using the golden section search method. Compared to experimental data, the relative errors of the predicted results are within an acceptable range in view of engineering applications, which indicates the validity of the proposed method. This paper achieves the discharge voltage of air gaps by numerical computations instead of costly experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are responsible for new bone formation during adulthood. Accumulating evidences showed that Osthole promotes the osteogenic differentiation in primary osteoblasts. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Osthole exhibits a potential to stimulate the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs and the underlying mechanism. Methods: MSCs were treated with a gradient concentration of Osthole (6.25 μM, 12.5 μM, and 25 μM). Cell proliferation was assessed by western blotting with the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Cyclin D1 antibodies, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), and cell counting kit 8 (CCK8). MSCs were cultured in osteogenesis-induced medium for one or two weeks. The osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was estimated by Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) staining, Alizarin red staining, Calcium influx, and quantitative PCR (qPCR). The underlying mechanism of Osthole-induced osteogenesis was further evaluated by western blotting with antibodies in Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, BMPs/ smad1/5/8, and MAPK signaling pathways. Results: Osthole inhibited proliferation of rat MSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Osthole suppressed osteogenic differentiation of rat MSCs by down-regulating the activities of Wnt/β-catenin and Erk1/2-MAPK signaling. Conclusions: Osthole inhibits the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat MSCs, which might be mediated through blocking the Wnt/β-catenin and Erk1/2-MAPK signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Cartilage destruction is thought to be the major mediator of osteoarthritis. Recent studies suggest that inhibition of subchrondral bone loss by anti-osteoporosis (OP) drug can protect cartilige erosion. Osthole, as a promising agent for treating osteoporosis, may show potential in treating osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Osthole affects the proliferation and catabolism of rat chondrocytes, and the degeneration of cartilage explants. Methods: Rat chondrocytes were treated with Osthole (0 μM, 6.25 μM, 12.5 μM, and 25 μM) with or without IL1-ß (10ng/ml) for 24 hours. The expression levels of type II collagen and MMP13 were detected by western Blot. Marker genes for chondrocytes (A-can and Sox9), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPS), aggrecanases (ADAMTS5) and genes implicated in extracellular matrix catabolism were evaluated by qPCR. Cell proliferation was assessed by measuring proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and fluorescence activated cell sorter. Wnt7b/ß-catenin signaling was also investigated. Cartilage explants from twoweek old SD rats were cultured with IL-1ß, Osthole and Osthole plus IL-1ß for four days and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis was assessed with toluidine blue staining and Safranine O/Fast Green FCF staining, collagen type II expression was detected by immunofluorescence. Results: Osthole reduced expression of chondrocyte markers and increased expression of MMP13, ADAMTS5 and MMP9 in a dose-dependent manner. Catabolic gene expression levels were further improved by Osthole plus IL-1ß. Osthole inhibited chondrocyte proliferation. GAG synthesis and type II collagen were decreased in both the IL-1ß groups and the Osthole groups, and significantly reduced by Osthole plus IL-1ß. Conclusions: Our data suggested that Osthole increases the catabolism of rat chondrocytes and cartilage explants, this effect might be mediated through inhibiting Wnt7b/ß-catenin pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is becoming increasingly necessary for community health centers to make rehabilitation services available to patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. However, for a number of reasons, including a lack of expertise, the small size of community health centers and the availability of only simple medical equipment, conventional rehabilitation therapy has not been widely used in China. Consequently, most patients with knee osteoarthritis seek treatment in high-grade hospitals. However, many patients cannot manage the techniques that they were taught in the hospital. Methods such as acupuncture, tuina, Chinese medical herb fumigation-washing and t'ai chi are easy to do and have been reported to have curative effects in those with knee osteoarthritis. To date, there have been no randomized controlled trials validating comprehensive traditional Chinese medicine for the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis in a community health center. Furthermore, there is no standard rehabilitation protocol using traditional Chinese medicine for knee osteoarthritis. The aim of the current study is to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation protocol using traditional Chinese medicine for the management of knee osteoarthritis in a community health center. Method/design This will be a randomized controlled clinical trial with blinded assessment. There will be a 4- week intervention utilizing rehabilitation protocols from traditional Chinese medicine and conventional therapy. Follow-up will be conducted for a period of 12 weeks. A total of 722 participants with knee osteoarthritis will be recruited. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control. Primary outcomes will include range of motion, girth measurement, the visual analogue scale, and results from the manual muscle, six-minute walking and stair-climbing tests. Secondary outcomes will include average daily consumption of pain medication, ability to perform daily tasks and health-related quality-of-life assessments. Other outcomes will include rate of adverse events and economic effects. Relative cost-effectiveness will be determined from health service usage and outcome data. Discussion The primary aim of this trial is to develop a standard protocol for traditional Chinese medicine, which can be adopted by community health centers in China and worldwide, for the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Mulligan's mobilization with movement was shown to be effective when implemented in multimodal therapy for knee osteoarthritis. However, no study has evaluated the Mulligan's technique in isolation and compared the relative effectiveness with sham‐controlled interventions. Hence, the present study examined the immediate effects of Mulligan's techniques with sham mobilization on the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and timed up and go (TUG) test in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Thirty participants (mean age: 55.3 ± 8.3 years) with symptoms at the knee and radiographic diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis were randomized into sham (n = 15) and intervention (n = 15) groups. The intervention (I) group received Mulligan's mobilization glides that resulted in relative pain relief for three sets of 10 repetitions. For the sham (S) group, the therapist's hand was placed over the joint surfaces mimicking the pain‐relieving glides, without providing the gliding force. The outcome measures NPRS and TUG were recorded by a blinded assessor pre‐ and post‐intervention. Results: Statistically significant differences were identified between the groups in post‐intervention median (interquartile range) NPRS (I group: 4.00 [2.00–5.00]; S group: 6.00 [4.00–7.00]) and TUG scores (I group: 10.9 [9.43–10.45]; S group: 13.18 [10.38–16.00]) with the intervention group demonstrating better outcomes (p <.05). Within‐group, the post‐intervention scores of NPRS and TUG were significantly lower (p <.05) compared to the pre‐intervention scores in the intervention group. In the sham group, a statistically significant pre–post change was noticed only in the NPRS scores but not in the TUG scores. Conclusion: Mulligan's techniques were effective in improving pain and functional mobility in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. The underlying mechanisms for observed effects must be examined further, as participants reported pain relief following sham mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Falls in late postmenopausal women with osteopenia usually cause fractures with severe consequences. This 36-month randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial with a 10-year observational follow-up study aimed to investigate the long-term effect of herbal formula Bushen Yijing Fang (BSYJF) on fall risk in the late postmenopausal women with osteopenia. 140 late postmenopausal women (Femoral neck T-score, −2.5~−2 SD) were recruited and randomized to orally receive calcium carbonate 300 mg daily with either BSYJF or placebo for 36 months. The effect was further investigated for another 10-year follow-up. During the 36-month administration, there were 12 falls in BSYJF group and 28 falls in placebo group, respectively, indicating 64% lower risk of falls (RR 0.36 [95% CI, 0.18 to 0.71]; P = 0.004) in BSYJF group. During the 10-year follow-up, 36% lower fall risk (RR 0.64 [95% CI, 0.46 to 0.89]; P = 0.009) was observed in BSYJF group. No significant difference was found in safety profile between two groups. Thirty-six-month administration of BSYJF reduced fall risk with an increase in bone mass, and its latent effect on fall risk was continually observed in the 10-year follow-up in late postmenopausal women with osteopenia. This clinical trial was registered at Chinese clinical trial registry (ChiCTR-IOR-16008942). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]