title: Effects of xianzhong injection on the function of knee joint and the content of insulin-like growth factor-1 in rabbits of early osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of Xianzhong Injection into the articular cavity on the function of the joints and the content of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in rabbits with early knee osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  120 rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: blank group, model group (injecting 0.5ml of normal saline, once a week), positive control group (injecting 0.5ml of sodium hyaluronate, once a week), Xianzhong group I (injecting 0.5ml of Xianzhong Injection, once a week), Xianzhong group II (injecting 0.5ml of Xianzhong Injection, twice a week). Changes of the articular function and IGF-1 levels in the serum and joint fluid were investigated 8 weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The function of knee joint in the Xianzhong group I and II was improved significantly as compared with that in the model group (P<0.01), and there was no significant difference between the Xianzhong group I and the positive control group (P>0.05), but a significant difference was seen between the Xianzhong group I and the Xianzhong group II (P<0.05); in the positive control group, the Xianzhong group I and the Xianzhong group II , the levels of IGF-1 in the joint fluid and serum were significantly increased as compared with that in the model group (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Xianzhong Injection can improve the function of knee joint in rabbits with early knee OA, and can substitute sodium hyaluronate Injection for treating this disease.
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Orthopedics, the Second Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710004, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Xijing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yuqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C528581:xianzhong; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I