Comparison of a novel hand-held retractor-assisted transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion by the wiltse approach and posterior TLIF: a one-year prospective controlled study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes and safety of a novel hand-held retractor system-assisted Wiltse TLIF with that P-TLIF and assess whether this hand-held retractor system assisted Wiltse TLIF can yield less paraspinal muscle injury. METHODS: 56 patients (P-TLIF: 26, Wiltse TLIF: 30) were included in this one year prospective controlled study. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, mobilization time, and discharge time were recorded. The clinical outcomes were evaluated by ODI, VAS, JOA, and SF-36 scores (7 days, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery). Paraspinal muscle injury was assessed by postoperative MRI (6 months after surgery). CK and C-reaction protein were measured pre and postoperatively, and CT or X-ray (one year postoperatively) was used to assess bony union/non-union. RESULTS: The Wiltse (study) group was associated with significantly less estimated blood loss (79.67 ± 28.59 ml vs 192.31 ± 59.48 ml, P = 0.000*), postoperative drainage (43.33 ± 27.89 ml vs 285.57 ± 123.05 ml, P = 0.000*), and shorter mobilization (4.1 ± 1.2 d vs. 3.0 ± 0.9 d, P < 0.05) and discharge times (7.7 ± 1.9 d vs. 6.1 ± 1.2 d, P = 0.002*) than the P-TLIF (control) group. Serum CK activity at 24 h postoperatively in the study group was significantly lower than in the control group (384.10 ± 141.99 U/L vs 532.76 ± 225.76 U/L, P = 0.018*). At 7 days after surgery, VAS (2.3 ± 0.6 vs 3.2 ± 0.7, P = 0.000*)and ODI scores (43.9 ± 11.9 vs 55.2 ± 12.9, P = 0.001*) were lower, while the JOA scores (18.4 ± 3.4 vs 16.3 ± 4.2, P = 0.041*) was higher in the control group than in the study group. Results observed at 3 months of follow-up were consistent with those at 7 days. After six months postoperatively, paraspinal muscle degeneration in the control group was more significant than in the study group (P = 0.008*). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that this novel hand-held retractor system assisted Wiltse approach TLIF can significantly reduce paraspinal muscle injury, postoperative drainage, and intraoperative blood loss, mobilization and discharge time, as well as yield better short-term outcomes compared to P-TLIF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 25/09/2023 NCT06052579.

Serum exosomal hsa_circRNA_0001842 is the potential biomarker for diagnosing lower limb vascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study aimed to identify the potential circular RNAs (circRNAs) in exosomes isolated from serum as biomarkers of lower limb vascular disease (LLVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This research collected circRNAs from exosomes isolated from three T2DM patients and three T2DM patients with LLVD for microarray analysis. Five candidate biomarkers derived from differentially expressed circRNAs were then validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in 20 T2DM patients and 20 T2DM patients with LLVD. Finally, expression levels of circRNAs were validated in 160 samples. Significant differences in the expression of 295 circRNAs were found between T2DM controls and T2DM patients with LLVD. Among them, 191 differentially expressed circRNAs were upregulated, and 104 were downregulated in T2DM patients with LLVD. Three upregulated and two downregulated circRNAs were further confirmed in 40 samples. According to the testing of 160 samples, hsa_circ_0001842 showed a noticeable specificity in the T2DM patients with LLVD group (n = 80), with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79, a sensitivity of 88.75%, and a specificity of 68.75%. In conclusion, hsa_circ_0001842 was found as a potential diagnostic biomarker for T2DM with LLVD.

Genome editing of pseudorabies virus in the CRISPR/Cas9 era: a mini-review.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is an important swine virus that has a significant impact on the global swine industry. PRV is a member of the herpesvirus family, specifically the alphaherpesvirus subfamily, and has been extensively utilized as a prototype herpesvirus. Notably, recent studies have reported that PRV sporadically spills over into humans. The PRV genome is approximately 150 kb in size and is difficult to manipulate at the genomic level. The development of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas9) technology has revolutionized PRV genome editing. CRISPR/Cas9 has been widely used in the construction of reporter viruses, knock-out/knock-in of genes of interest, single virus tracking and antiviral strategies. Most importantly, for vaccine development, virulence gene knockout PRV vaccine candidates can be obtained within 2 weeks using CRISPR/Cas9. In this mini-review, we provide a concise overview of the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in PRV research and mainly share our experience with methods for efficiently editing the PRV genome. Through this review, we hope to give researchers better insight into the genome editing of pseudorabies virus.

Military medical research on internal diseases in modern warfare: new concepts, demands, challenges, and opportunities.

Battlefield internal medicine aims at the treatment of combatants and noncombatants with various internal diseases on the battlefield. The military medical research on battlefield internal diseases focuses on the pathogenesis, clinical management, and prevention of internal diseases under military war conditions. In both wartime and peacetime, the soldiers suffer from more internal diseases than surgical wounds. With the introduction of high-tech weapons, including chemical, physical, and biological agents, a large number of special internal illnesses and casualties will appear in future wars. The battles often occur in special environments, such as high or low temperatures, plateau or polar areas, and micro- or hyper-gravity. The current theories of battlefield internal medicine are mainly derived from wars decades ago and cannot meet the needs of military medical support under the conditions of modern warfare. Therefore, the military medical research on battlefield internal medicine should be based on contemporary military situations, focus on the purpose of treating battlefield internal diseases, and adhere to the actual needs of the troops in peacetime and wartime. We should investigate the pathogenesis of battlefield internal diseases and explore the threats that may arise in future wars to ensure the advancement of battlefield internal medicine. This review highlights new concepts, demands, challenges, and opportunities for the further development of military medical research on battlefield internal medicine.

Preparation of Sulfamates and Sulfamides Using a Selective Sulfamoylation Agent.

Sulfamates and sulfamides are prevalent in biological molecules, but their universal synthetic methods are limited. We herein report a sulfamoylation agent with high solubility and shelf stability. Various sulfamates and sulfamides can be synthesized directly from alcohols or amines by employing this agent with high selectivity and high yields. This protocol was also successfully used for late-stage sulfamoylation of pharmaceuticals containing a hydroxyl or amino group.

Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Enhances Vasoconstriction by Altering Calcium Homeostasis in Cerebrovascular Smooth Muscle Cells under Simulated Microgravity.

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to microgravity results in postflight cardiovascular deconditioning in astronauts. Vascular oxidative stress injury and mitochondrial dysfunction have been reported during this process. To elucidate the mechanism for this condition, we investigated whether mitochondrial oxidative stress regulates calcium homeostasis and vasoconstriction in hindlimb unweighted (HU) rat cerebral arteries. METHODS: Three-week HU was used to simulate microgravity in rats. The contractile responses to vasoconstrictors, mitochondrial fission/fusion, Ca 2+ distribution, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP 3R) abundance, and the activities of voltage-gated K + channels (K V) and Ca 2+-activated K + channels (BK Ca) were examined in rat cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). RESULTS: An increase of cytoplasmic Ca 2+ and a decrease of mitochondrial/sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2+ were observed in HU rat cerebral VSMCs. The abundance of fusion proteins (mitofusin 1/2 [MFN1/2]) and fission proteins (dynamin-related protein 1 [DRP1] and fission-mitochondrial 1 [FIS1]) was significantly downregulated and upregulated, respectively in HU rat cerebral VSMCs. The cerebrovascular contractile responses to vasoconstrictors were enhanced in HU rats compared to control rats, and IP 3R protein/mRNA levels were significantly upregulated. The current densities and open probabilities of K V and BK Ca decreased and increased, respectively. Treatment with the mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant mitoTEMPO attenuated mitochondrial fission by upregulating MFN1/2 and downregulating DRP1/FIS1. It also decreased IP 3R expression levels and restored the activities of the K V and BK Ca channels. MitoTEMPO restored the Ca 2+ distribution in VSMCs and attenuated the enhanced vasoconstriction in HU rat cerebral arteries. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that mitochondrial oxidative stress enhances cerebral vasoconstriction by regulating calcium homeostasis during simulated microgravity.

Low-Frequency Vibration Promotes Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Production to Increase Cartilage Degeneration in Knee Osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Low-frequency vibration accelerates cartilage degeneration in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rat model. In this article, we investigated whether whole-body vibration (WBV) increases cartilage degeneration by regulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in KOA. DESIGN: Proteomics analysis was used to filter candidate protein from synovial fluid (SF) in KOA people after WBV. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to estimate changes in TNF-α levels in SF. The C57 mice and TNF-α knock-out mice were sacrificed for the KOA model and WBV intervention. The cartilage was tested by ELISA, histology, terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL), immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Luciferase activity test in vitro study was conducted to confirm the relationship between TNF-α and the candidate protein. RESULTS: Differentially expressed proteins were enriched in the glycolytic process, glucose catabolic, and regulation of interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion processes. Phosphoglycerate kinase, triosephosphate isomerase 1, T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecules 2, fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH), and TNF were the hub node. TNF-α expression increased in SF after WBV (P < 0.05). The cartilage was more degenerated in the TNF-α-/- mice group compared to controls. A significant change was observed in collagen II and FAH (P < 0.05). TNF-α expression improved in C57 mice (P < 0.05). Apoptosis of chondrocytes was inhibited in TNF-α-/- mice by the TUNEL test. Luciferase activity significantly increased in TNF-α + FAH-Luc cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A novel mechanism underlying WBV-triggered cartilage degeneration was found in KOA that demonstrated the critical regulatory function of TNF-α and FAH during WBV.

The Nsp12-coding region of type 2 PRRSV is required for viral subgenomic mRNA synthesis.

As one of many nonstructural proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), nonstructural protein 12 (Nsp12) has received relatively little attention, and its role in virus replication, if any, is essentially unknown. By the application of reverse genetic manipulation of an infectious PRRSV clone, the current study is the first to demonstrate that Nsp12 is a key component of PRRSV replication. In addition, the biochemical properties of Nsp12 were evaluated, revealing that Nsp12 forms dimers when exposed to oxidative conditions. Furthermore, we systemically analyzed the function of Nsp12 in PRRSV RNA synthesis using a strand-specific PCR method. To our surprise, Nsp12 was not found to be involved in minus-strand genomic RNA (-gRNA) synthesis; importantly, our results indicate that Nsp12 is involved in the synthesis of both plus- and minus-strand subgenomic mRNAs (+sgmRNA and -sgmRNA). Finally, we found that the combination of cysteine 35 and cysteine 79 in Nsp12 is required for sgmRNA synthesis. To our knowledge, we are the first to report the biological role of Nsp12 in the PRRSV lifecycle, and we conclude that Nsp12 is involved in the synthesis of both + sgRNA and -sgRNA.

Brenneria corticis sp. nov., isolated from symptomatic bark of Populus×euramericana canker.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile bacterial strain, designated gBX10-1-2T, was isolated from symptomatic bark of Populus×euramericana canker in China. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the novel isolate belonged to the genus Brenneria, and shared the highest sequence similarity to Brenneria nigrifluens LMG 2694T (98.3 %). In the phylogenetic trees based on the four housekeeping genes sequences, the novel strain formed a separate branch different from B. nigrifluens LMG 2694T, indicating that the novel strain should be classified as a novel species. The genome sequence-derived average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between the novel isolate and B. nigrifluens LMG 2694T, Brenneria roseaesubsp. roseae FRB 222T and Brenneria roseaesubsp. americana FRB 223T were less than 85 %, lower than the proposed species boundary ANI cut-off value (95-96 %). The DNA G+C content was 56.2 mol%, and the main fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1ω7c and C17 : 0cyclo. Based on the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain gBX10-1-2T represents a novel species of genus Brenneria, for which the name Brenneria corticis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is gBX10-1-2T (=CFCC 11842T=KCTC 42840T).

Identification of gene expression profiles and key genes in subchondral bone of osteoarthritis using weighted gene coexpression network analysis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) significantly influences the quality life of people around the world. It is urgent to find an effective way to understand the genetic etiology of OA. We used weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to explore the key genes involved in the subchondral bone pathological process of OA. Fifty gene expression profiles of GSE51588 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The OA-associated genes and gene ontologies were acquired from JuniorDoc. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis was used to find disease-related networks based on 21756 gene expression correlation coefficients, hub-genes with the highest connectivity in each module were selected, and the correlation between module eigengene and clinical traits was calculated. The genes in the traits-related gene coexpression modules were subject to functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis using ClusterProfiler. A total of 73 gene modules were identified, of which, 12 modules were found with high connectivity with clinical traits. Five modules were found with enriched OA-associated genes. Moreover, 310 OA-associated genes were found, and 34 of them were among hub-genes in each module. Consequently, enrichment results indicated some key metabolic pathways, such as extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction (hsa04512), focal adhesion (hsa04510), the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway (PI3K-AKT) (hsa04151), transforming growth factor beta pathway, and Wnt pathway. We intended to identify some core genes, collagen (COL)6A3, COL6A1, ITGA11, BAMBI, and HCK, which could influence downstream signaling pathways once they were activated. In this study, we identified important genes within key coexpression modules, which associate with a pathological process of subchondral bone in OA. Functional analysis results could provide important information to understand the mechanism of OA.

Porcine alveolar macrophage CD163 abundance is a pivotal switch for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a problematic virus that is difficult to control. The principal target cells for PRRSV infection are porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). Increasing evidence has demonstrated that CD163 is the determinant receptor for PRRSV infection. However, the relationship between CD163 abundance and PRRSV infection is unclear. In this study, we first generated primary immortalized PAMs (iPAMs) using SV40 large T antigen and demonstrated that CD163 expression is suppressed by the alternative splicing of mRNA in iPAMs. Two forms of CD163 transcripts were discovered, and most iPAMs expressed a short-form CD163 transcript that lacked from scavenger receptor cysteine-rich tandem repeat 1 (SRCR1) to SRCR5 of the functional domain. More importantly, using flow cytometric cell sorting technology, we isolated CD163-positive single-cell-derived clones with varying CD163 abundances to investigate the relationship between CD163 abundance and PRRSV infection. For the first time, we showed that cells with low CD163 abundance (approximately 20%) do not initiate PRRSV infection, while cells with moderate CD163 abundance display limited infection. PRRSV initiated efficient infection only in cells with high CD163 abundances. Our results demonstrate that CD163 abundance is a pivotal switch for PRRSV replication.

Isobavachalcone inhibits post-entry stages of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus life cycle.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a pathogen of great economic significance that impacts the swine industry globally. Since the first report of a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) outbreak, tremendous efforts to control this disease, including various national policies and plans incorporating the use of multiple modified live-virus vaccines, have been made. However, PRRSV is still a significant threat to the swine industry, and new variants continually emerge as a result of PRRSV evolution. Several studies have shown that pandemic PRRSV strains have enormous genetic diversity and that commercial vaccines can only provide partial protection against these strains. Therefore, effective anti-PRRSV drugs may be more suitable and reliable for PRRSV control. In this study, we observed that isobavachalcone (IBC), which was first isolated from Psoralea corylifolia, had potent anti-PRRSV activity in vitro. Although many biological activities of IBC have been reported, this is the first report describing the antiviral activity of IBC. Furthermore, after a systematic investigation, we demonstrated that IBC inhibits PRRSV replication at the post-entry stage of PRRSV infection. Thus, IBC may be a candidate for further evaluation as a therapeutic agent against PRRSV infection of swine in vivo.

Colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for highly selective and sensitive relay detection of Cu2+ and H2PO4- in aqueous media.

In this manuscript, a new colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor (T) was designed and synthesized, it could successively detect Cu2+ and H2PO4- in DMSO/H2O (v/v=9:1, pH=7.2) buffer solution with high selectivity and sensitivity. When added Cu2+ ions into the solution of T, it showed a color changes from yellow to colorless, meanwhile, the green fluorescence of sensor T quenched. This recognition behavior was not affected in the presence of other cations, including Hg2+, Ag+, Ca2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Cr3+, and Mg2+ ions. More interestingly, the Cu2+ ions contain sensor T solution could recover the color and fluorescence upon the addition of H2PO4- anions in the same medium. And other surveyed anions (including F-, Cl-, Br-, I-, AcO-, HSO4-, ClO4-, CN- and SCN-) had nearly no influence on the recognition behavior. The detection limits of T to Cu2+ and T-Cu2+ to H2PO4- were evaluated to be 1.609×10-8M and 0.994×10-7M, respectively. In addition, the sensor T also could be served as a recyclable component and the logic gate output was also defined in sensing materials. The test strips based on sensor T were fabricated, which acted as a convenient and efficient Cu2+ and H2PO4- test kits.

Design, synthesis and properties of near-infrared molecular switches containing a fluorene ring.

Three molecular switches containing a fluorene ring were designed and synthesized. The introduction of the amino group substituted fluorene ring resulted in the target molecular switches having some optical properties in the near-infrared region. It was demonstrated that the N-substituents on the fluorene rings and the switch units both had great influence on the molecular switch optical properties including the absorption maximum, absorption intensity and fluorescence quantum yield. The open-ring forms and showed obvious solvatochromic behaviour. The closed-ring forms and showed obvious hydrochromic behaviour in MeCN/water binary solvent systems and acidichromic behaviour in MeCN solution with high reversibility. Especially, the distinct off-on fluorescence signal in the near-infrared region using the stimuli of acid means that the designed compounds have great potential application value in the field of biological sensing.

Description of Acinetobacter populi sp. nov. isolated from symptomatic bark of Populus x euramericana canker.

Five Gram-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strains were isolated from cankers of Populus x euramericana collected from different locations in Puyang city, Henan Province, China. The five strains were characterized by nutritional and physiological testing and DNA sequence analysis. Haemolysis was not observed on agar media supplemented with sheep erythrocytes. The strains could be distinguished from members of most species of the genus Acinetobacter by their inability to assimilate L-arginine and benzoate. The five strains formed a single branch in phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoB individual gene sequence analysis,indicating that they all belonged to a single taxon within the genus Acinetobacter. DNA-DNA hybridization results indicated that the five isolates represented to a single species that was separate from Acinetobacter puyangensis. On the basis of the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, the five strains are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Acinetobacter, for which the name Acinetobacter populi sp. nov. is proposed. The typestrain of A. populi sp. nov. is PBJ7T (CFCC 11170T=KCTC 42272T).

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) expression is associated with a poor prognosis of bladder cancer.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), a cancer stem cell marker, has been reported to be altered in human carcinogenesis. This study assessed the expression of ALDH1 protein in invasive vs. noninvasive bladder cancer tissues for association with clinicopathological factors and bladder cancer prognosis. Tissue samples were collected from 227 bladder cancer patients, including 118 with noninvasive and 109 with invasive bladder cancer for immunostaining of ALDH1 expression. ALDH1 expression in tumor tissues was significantly greater than that in adjacent normal tissues. ALDH1 protein was highly expressed in 29.07% (66/227) of bladder tumor tissues (i.e., 24.58% of noninvasive bladder cancer tissues vs. 33.94% of invasive bladder cancer tissues). In patients with noninvasive bladder cancer, ALDH1 protein expression was significantly associated with an advanced tumor grade and frequent tumor recurrence (P≤0.05). In patients with invasive bladder cancer, ALDH1 protein expression was significantly associated with an advanced tumor grade, stage, as well as lymph node and distant metastases (P≤0.05). After adjusting for the confounding factors, ALDH1 protein expression was significantly associated with relapse-free survival in noninvasive bladder cancer patients [HR (95% CI)=4.45 (1.32-15.04); P=0.027] and overall survival in invasive bladder cancer patients [HR (5% CI)=2.86 (1.72-8.83); P=0.020]. These data indicate that ALDH1 expression plays an important role in bladder cancer development and prognosis. Further validation of our results is warranted in a larger sample cohort, and further investigation of ALDH1 signaling and function will increase our understanding of ALDH1 in bladder cancer progression.

Effectiveness of Bushen Huoxue Granule (补肾活血颗粒) on 5-serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain of Parkinson's disease patients with depressive state.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical curative effect of Chinese medicine Bushen Huoxue Granule(补肾活血颗粒, BHG) on Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with depressive state. METHODS: Sixty-two PD patients with depressive state were randomly assigned to two groups by using a random number table, 31 in each group. Madopar was given to all as the conventional treatment. The fluoxetine hydrochloride dispersible tablet was given to the patients in the control group and BHG was given to those in the treatment group. The therapeutic course for all was 12 weeks. Before and after treatment, Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) was applied to judge the curative effect, and the changes of cerebral neurotransmitters levels in the brain of patients were detected by encephalofluctuograph technique. RESULTS: The scores of HAMD in the two groups were decreased markedly after 12-week treatment. It was lower in the treatment group than that in the control group with significant difference (P<0.01). The contents of norepinephrine (NE) and 5-serotonin (5-HT) in the PD patients were obviously lower than normal value. There was no significant difference between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). The contents of NE and 5-HT were all increased in the two groups after treatment (P<0.05), with significant differences between the two groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: BHG could increase the contents of NE and 5-HT in PD patients' brain to improve the depressive state of PD patients.

Self-assembly of virus-like particles of canine parvovirus capsid protein expressed from Escherichia coli and application as virus-like particle vaccine.

Canine parvovirus disease is an acute infectious disease caused by canine parvovirus (CPV). Current commercial vaccines are mainly attenuated and inactivated; as such, problems concerning safety may occur. To resolve this problem, researchers developed virus-like particles (VLPs) as biological nanoparticles resembling natural virions and showing high bio-safety. This property allows the use of VLPs for vaccine development and mechanism studies of viral infections. Tissue-specific drug delivery also employs VLPs as biological nanomaterials. Therefore, VLPs derived from CPV have a great potential in medicine and diagnostics. In this study, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) fusion motif was utilized to express a whole, naturalVP2 protein of CPV in Escherichia coli. After the cleavage of the fusion motif, the CPV VP2 protein has self-assembled into VLPs. The VLPs had a size and shape that resembled the authentic virus capsid. However, the self-assembly efficiency of VLPs can be affected by different pH levels and ionic strengths. The mice vaccinated subcutaneously with CPV VLPs and CPV-specific immune responses were compared with those immunized with the natural virus. This result showed that VLPs can effectively induce anti-CPV specific antibody and lymphocyte proliferation as a whole virus. This result further suggested that the antigen epitope of CPV was correctly present on VLPs, thereby showing the potential application of a VLP-based CPV vaccine.

Possibility of the hamatum carpometacarpal joint as a new joint donor site for interphalangeal joint restoration.

OBJECTIVE: This research investigates the anatomic basis for the repair and reconstruction of hand joints using transposition of the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint of the hamatum. METHODS: The morphology and structure of the CMC joints of the hamatum and the base joints of the middle phalanx were observed on 22 freshly frozen wrist specimens at Shanghai 6th People's Hospital Research Institute of Microsurgery. The volar dorsal dia, radioulnar dia, depth of concave, and area of the joints were measured. Data were obtained through statistical analysis, and the resemblance of joints was compared in terms of morphology, structure, area, length, and diameter. RESULTS: The radioulnar dia of the CMC joints of the hamatum (13.54 ± 1.15 mm) did not exhibit any evident differences in the middle phalanx of the forefinger, middle finger, and ring finger, and in the distal phalanx of the thumb. The volar dorsal dia of the CMC joints of the hamatum (10.71 ± 0.93 mm) exhibited an evident difference in the middle phalanx of the ring finger. In all fingers, the depth of the ulnar and radial concave of the CMC joints of the hamatum (1.30 ± 0.08 and 0.95 ± 0.05 mm, respectively) and the area of the CMC joints of the hamatum (139.89 ± 5.44 mm(2)) showed an evident difference. CONCLUSION: The CMC joint of the hamatum could be considered a new and viable joint donor site that could be used to repair and reconstruct the base joints of the middle phalanx.