Locking plate fixation versus intramedullary nail fixation for the treatment of multifragmentary proximal humerus fractures (OTA/AO type 11C): a preliminary comparison of clinical efficacy.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of locking plate and intramedullary nail fixations in the treatment of patients with OTA/AO type 11C proximal humerus fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with OTA/AO type 11C1.1 and 11C3.1 proximal humerus fractures who underwent surgery at our institution from June 2012 to June 2017. Perioperative indicators, postoperative morphological parameters of the proximal humerus, and Constant-Murley scores were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients with OTA/AO type 11C1.1 and 11C3.1 proximal humerus fractures were enrolled in this study. Overall, 35 patients underwent open reduction and plate screw internal fixation, and 33 patients underwent limited open reduction and locking of the proximal humerus with intramedullary nail internal fixation. The total cohort had a mean follow-up duration of 17.8 months. The mean operation time of the locking plate group was significantly longer than that of the intramedullary nail group (P < 0.05), while the mean bleeding volume was significantly higher in the locking plate group than that in the intramedullary nail group (P < 0.05). The initial neck-shaft angles, final neck-shaft angles, forward flexion ranges, or Constant-Murley scores did not show significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Complications, including screw penetrations, acromion impingement syndrome, infection, and aseptic necrosis of the humeral head, occurred in 8 patients (8/35, 22.8%) in the locking plate group and 5 patients in the intramedullary nail group (5/33, 15.1%; including malunion and acromion impingement syndrome), with no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Similar satisfactory functional results can be achieved with locking plates and intramedullary nailing for OTA/AO type 11C1.1 and 11C3.1 proximal humerus fractures, with no significant difference in the number of complications between these two techniques. However, intramedullary nailing has advantages over locking plates for OTA/AO type 11C1.1 and 11C3.1 proximal humerus fractures in terms of operation time and bleeding volume.

An association study on the risk, glucocorticoids effectiveness, and prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus: insight from mitochondrial DNA copy number.

This study aimed to explore the role of mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) in the risk, glucocorticoid (GC) effectiveness, and prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its interactions with environmental factors and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) genetic polymorphisms. We first conducted a case-control study of 1198 subjects (595 SLE patients and 603 healthy controls). Subsequently, we followed up with patients to assess the effectiveness of GC treatment and the prognosis of SLE. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to quantify mtDNAcn. Associations were estimated using logistic regression, and prognosis analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models. Interactions on multiplicative and additive scales were also evaluated. Individuals with low mtDNAcn had an increased risk of SLE (P < 0.001). Low mtDNAcn was associated with poor GC effectiveness in patients with spicy food consumption or with arthritis (P < 0.05). mtDNAcn was significantly related to the prognosis of SLE in the drinking subgroup (P = 0.018). Furthermore, we found significant interactions between mtDNAcn and environmental factors/TRAP1 genetic polymorphisms on the risk, GC effectiveness, and prognosis of SLE. Our data suggest that low mtDNAcn is associated with an increased risk of SLE. Alteration of mtDNAcn may be associated with GC effectiveness and prognosis in certain subgroups of SLE. The interactions between mtDNAcn, environmental factors, and TRAP1 gene polymorphisms may jointly affect the risk, GC effectiveness, and prognosis of SLE.

Carnosol inhibits osteoclastogenesis in vivo and in vitro by blocking the RANKL­induced NF­κB signaling pathway.

Bone homeostasis is maintained by osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and osteoblast­mediated bone formation. Disruption of bone homeostasis due to excessive osteoclastogenesis or reduced osteogenesis results in various disorders, such as postmenopausal osteoporosis. Receptor activator of NF­κB ligand (RANKL) stimulation of the NF­κB signaling pathway is essential in osteoclastogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the novel effects of carnosol, an active compound found in Rosmarinus officinalis, on RANKL­induced osteoclastogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. TRAP staining showed that carnosol significantly inhibited osteoclasts differentiation of bone marrow monocytes and RAW264.7 cells. Western blot results showed that the protein expression levels of osteoclastogenesis­associated genes, including cathepsin K, tartrate­resistant acid phosphatase and MMP­9, were markedly inhibited by carnosol, which may have suppressed osteoclast function. Furthermore, western blot and immunofluorescent staining results revealed that carnosol markedly suppressed the phosphorylation of p65 induced by RANKL and blocked its nuclear translocation, indicating the suppression of NF­κB signaling pathway. H&E staining and micro­CT results showed that in vivo treatment with carnosol significantly attenuated ovariectomy­induced bone loss in mice. In conclusion, the present study indicated that carnosol may suppress osteoclastogenesis both in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the activation of the NF­κB signaling pathway. Carnosol may therefore be a potential novel therapeutic candidate for the clinical treatment of osteoclast­related disorders.

Effects of urolithin A on osteoclast differentiation induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand via bone morphogenic protein 2.

Urolithin A (UA) is an intestinal microbial metabolite derived from ellagitannins and a promising agent for treating osteoarthritis. However, its effects on osteoporosis are unclear. This study explored the effects of urolithin A (UA) on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclasts and its underlying molecular mechanisms. RANKL treatment significantly increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) or osteoclast marker levels (P < 0.05), while adding UA decreased the RANKL-induced levels (P < 0.05) in RAW264.7 cells. Total RNA isolated from RANKL- or RANKL + UA-treated cells was sequenced, and the obtained transcriptome dataset revealed 2,399 differentially expressed genes. They were enriched in multiple pathways involved in rheumatoid arthritis, ERK1 and ERK2 cascade, regulation of inflammatory response, ECM-receptor interactions, and TNF signaling. Scanning electron microscopy showed that RANKL promoted bone resorption pits in bone biopsy specimens, whereas UA inhibited their formation. When bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) was shRNA-silenced, the bone resorption pits were restored. Moreover, while RANKL significantly enhanced the levels of p-ERK2/ERK2, p-p38/p38, p-Akt1/Akt1, p-ERK1/ERK1, and osteoclast-related proteins (P < 0.05), UA reduced them. BMP2 silencing also reversed the UA inhibitory effect. Thus, UA represses the RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation of RAW264.7 cells by regulating Akt1, p38, and ERK1/2 signaling, and BMP2 likely reverses the UA inhibitory effect via these pathways. We propose BMP2 as a potential drug target for treating bone metabolic diseases, such as osteoporosis.

Knockdown of lncRNA LINC00662 suppresses malignant behaviour of osteosarcoma cells via competition with miR-30b-3p to regulate ELK1 expression.

PURPOSE: Osteosarcoma is a type of bone malignancy that mainly occurred in teenagers. This investigation is aimed to clarify the effect of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00662 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion in osteosarcoma and explore the underlying action mechanisms. METHODS: The mRNA expression of LINC00662 was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, wound healing, and transwell assays, respectively. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to validate the target relationships Between microRNA (miR)-30b-3p and LINC00662/ ETS domain-containing protein 1 (ELK1). Western blotting was performed to determine the protein expression of ELK1. Xenograft model was established to evaluate the effects of LINC00662 silencing on tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: LncRNA LINC00662 and ELK1 were significantly increased, while miR-30b-3p was reduced in osteosarcoma tissues. The results of functional experiments indicated that transfection of small hairpin (sh)-LINC00662 and miR-30b-3p mimics repressed the migration, invasion, and proliferation of osteosarcoma cells. LncRNA LINC00662 also appeared to sponge miR-30b-3p in order to affect the expression of ELK1. Simultaneously, there were weak negative correlations between the expression of miR-30b-3p and LINC00662/ELK1 in osteosarcoma tissues. Rescue experiments suggested that ELK1 overexpression and downregulation of miR-30b-3p reversed the suppressive effects of sh-LINC00662 on the cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in osteosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: The current study indicated that knockdown of LINC00662 repressed cell migration, invasion, and proliferation through sponging miR-30b-3p to regulate the expression of ELK1 in osteosarcoma. These results may uncover a promising target for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

The treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fracture with a newly designed anatomical plate via the trans-supra-fibular head approach: preliminary outcomes.

BACKGROUND: There are no ideal plates or approaches for anatomical restoration and rigid fixation of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term preliminary outcomes of our novel anatomical plate placed via the trans-supra-fibular approach to treat posterolateral tibial plateau fractures. METHODS: From May 2016 to May 2018, 23 consecutive patients with posterolateral tibial quadrant fractures underwent open reduction with internal fixation via the trans-supra-fibular-head approach with our newly developed plate. The tibial plateau-tibial shaft angle (TPTSA), lateral posterior tibial slope angle (LPSTA), step-off, and condylar widening were measured on radiological images pre-operatively, 3 days post-operatively, 3 months post-operatively, and at the final follow-up examination. The radiological Rasmussen score was calculated, and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score was assessed to evaluate the functional outcomes. RESULTS: The LTPSA, TPTSA, step-off, and condylar widening at 3 days post-operatively, 3 months post-operatively, and at the final follow-up were significantly different (p = 0.001) compared with those pre-operatively, as was the radiological Rasmussen score (p = 0.001). The HSS score at the final follow-up was 89.10 ± 5.94 (range, 78-98), which was significantly higher than that at the 3-month follow-up 84.36 ± 6.76 (range, 74-96); p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our newly designed anatomical plate placed via the trans-supra-fibular approach can effectively treat posterolateral tibial plateau fractures. We noted minor trauma, stable fixation, and satisfactory clinical results.

Trophinin Is an Important Biomarker and Prognostic Factor in Osteosarcoma: Data Mining from Oncomine and the Cancer Genome Atlas Databases.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a type of bone malignancy with a high rate of treatment failure. To date, few evident biomarkers for the prognostic significance of OS have been established. Oncomine was used to integrate RNA and DNA-seq data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and the published literature. The correlation of the gene Trophinin (TRO) and different types of cancers was generated using the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) online tool. Prognostic values of featured Melanoma Antigen Gene (MAGE) members were further assessed by establishing the overall survival using the Kaplan-Meier plotter. Moreover, the online tool, Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery version (DAVID), was used to understand the biological meaning list of the genes. MAGEB10, MAGED2, TRO, MAGEH1, MAGEB18, MAGEB6, MAGEB4, MAGEB1, MAGED4B, MAGED1, MAGEB2, and MAGEB3 were significantly overexpressed in sarcoma. TRO was further demonstrated to be distinctively upregulated in osteosarcoma cell lines and associated with shorter overall survival. TRO may play an important role in the development of OS and may be a promising potential biomarker and prognostic factor.

Baicalein ameliorates osteoporosis via AKT/FOXO1 signaling.

In this study, we used bioinformatics and an in vitro cellular model of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis to investigate mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of baicalein (BN) against osteoporosis. STITCH database analysis revealed 30 BN-targeted genes, including AKT1, CCND1, MTOR, and PTEN. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that BN-targeted genes were enriched in 49 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. MIRWALK2.0 database analysis identified 110 enriched KEGG pathways related to osteoporosis. A Venn diagram demonstrated that 26 KEGG pathways were common between osteoporosis and BN-targeted genes. The top 5 common KEGG pathways were prostate cancer, bladder cancer, glioma, pathways in cancer, and melanoma. BN-targeted genes in the top 5 shared KEGG pathways were involved in PI3K-AKT, MAPK, p53, ErbB, and mTOR signaling pathways. In addition, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in MC3T3-E1 cells was partially reversed by BN through inhibition of AKT, which, by upregulating FOXO1, enhanced expression of bone turnover markers (ALP, OCN, Runx2, and Col 1) and extracellular matrix mineralization. These findings demonstrate that BN suppresses osteoporosis via an AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway.

Biallelic loss-of-function mutations in JAM2 cause primary familial brain calcification.

Primary familial brain calcification is a monogenic disease characterized by bilateral calcifications in the basal ganglia and other brain regions, and commonly presents motor, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms. Currently, four autosomal dominant (SLC20A2, PDGFRB, PDGFB, XPR1) and one autosomal recessive (MYORG) causative genes have been identified. Compared with patients with autosomal dominant primary familial brain calcification, patients with the recessive form of the disease present with more severe clinical and imaging phenotypes, and deserve more clinical and research attention. Biallelic mutations in MYORG cannot explain all autosomal recessive primary familial brain calcification cases, indicating the existence of novel autosomal recessive genes. Using homozygosity mapping and whole genome sequencing, we detected a homozygous frameshift mutation (c.140delT, p.L48*) in the JAM2 gene in a consanguineous family with two affected siblings diagnosed with primary familial brain calcification. Further genetic screening in a cohort of 398 probands detected a homozygous start codon mutation (c.1A>G, p.M1?) and compound heterozygous mutations [c.504G>C, p.W168C and c.(67+1_68-1)_(394+1_395-1), p.Y23_V131delinsL], respectively, in two unrelated families. The clinical phenotypes of the four patients included parkinsonism (3/4), dysarthria (3/4), seizures (1/4), and probable asymptomatic (1/4), with diverse onset ages. All patients presented with severe calcifications in the cortex in addition to extensive calcifications in multiple brain areas (lenticular nuclei, caudate nuclei, thalamus, cerebellar hemispheres, ± brainstem; total calcification scores: 43-77). JAM2 encodes junctional adhesion molecule 2, which is highly expressed in neurovascular unit-related cell types (endothelial cells and astrocytes) and is predominantly localized on the plasma membrane. It may be important in cell-cell adhesion and maintaining homeostasis in the CNS. In Chinese hamster ovary cells, truncated His-tagged JAM2 proteins were detected by western blot following transfection of p.Y23_V131delinsL mutant plasmid, while no protein was detected following transfection of p.L48* or p.1M? mutant plasmids. In immunofluorescence experiments, the p.W168C mutant JAM2 protein failed to translocate to the plasma membrane. We speculated that mutant JAM2 protein resulted in impaired cell-cell adhesion functions and reduced integrity of the neurovascular unit. This is similar to the mechanisms of other causative genes for primary familial brain calcification or brain calcification syndromes (e.g. PDGFRB, PDGFB, MYORG, JAM3, and OCLN), all of which are highly expressed and functionally important in the neurovascular unit. Our study identifies a novel causative gene for primary familial brain calcification, whose vital function and high expression in the neurovascular unit further supports impairment of the neurovascular unit as the root of primary familial brain calcification pathogenesis.

Effects of FHIT gene on proliferation and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells.

Regulatory effects of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene on proliferation and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells were studied. The hFOB1.19 and Saos2 cells were routinely cultured, pcDNA3.1-FHIT overexpression vectors carrying FHIT gene fragments and blank pcDNA3.1 vectors were transfected into Saos2 cells, respectively, and the cells were divided into hFOB, Saos2, transfection and no-load transfection groups. After transfection for 48 h, the cells were collected and analyzed. The expression of FHIT messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression of FHIT protein was detected by western blot analysis. Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) was used to detect cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. The expression of FHIT mRNA was significantly decreased in Saos2 group compared with that in hFOB group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The expression of FHIT mRNA was significantly increased in transfection group compared with that in Saos2 group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The expression of FHIT protein was obviously decreased in Saos2 group compared with that in hFOB group, and there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The expression of FHIT protein was obviously increased in transfection group compared with that in Saos2 group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with that in the hFOB group, the cell proliferation rate was remarkably increased in Saos2 group, while the apoptosis rate was remarkably decreased, showing statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Compared with those in Saos2 group, the cell proliferation rate was significantly decreased in transfection group, while the apoptosis rate was significantly increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, FHIT gene regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of Saos2 osteosarcoma cells, inhibits the proliferation and promotes apoptosis of Saos2 osteosarcoma cells.

Anatomic locking plates for complex proximal humeral fractures: anatomic neck fractures versus surgical neck fractures.

BACKGROUND: Continued debate exists on the management of displaced 3- or 4-part proximal humeral fractures. Only a few studies have compared the efficacy of proximal humeral locking plates (PHLPs) for treating anatomic neck fractures (ANFs) and surgical neck fractures (SNFs). METHODS: The medical data of 31 consecutive patients with displaced 4-part proximal humeral fractures treated with PHLPs between May 2013 and April 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. We divided the patients into the ANF and SNF groups and assessed the neck-shaft angle (NSA), sum of the screw tip-articular surface distance, and other parameters postoperatively at 3 days and at 12 months using shoulder radiographs. The Constant-Murley scores were assessed at 3 days, 12 months, and last follow-up. RESULTS: The ANF group had a significantly lower mean age and significantly greater mean operative duration, estimated blood loss, and rate of bone grafting. Full or partial osteonecrosis of the humeral head developed in 7 patients and 1 patient in the ANF and SNF groups, respectively. Screw cutout and/or pullout complications occurred in 8 cases in the ANF group but not in the SNF group. In the ANF group, the values for NSA and the sum of the screw tip-articular surface distance changed significantly from 3 days to 12 months postoperatively. There were no significant correlations among the tested parameters. CONCLUSION: ANFs resulted in more complications at a younger age than SNFs. ANF treatment using PHLPs is more prone to a decreased NSA and humeral head osteonecrosis and has poorer clinical outcomes than SNF treatment using PHLPs.

Posterior or Single-stage Combined Anterior and Posterior Approach Decompression for Treating Complex Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Coincident Multilevel Anterior and Posterior Compression.

STUDY DESIGN: A single-center, retrospective, longitudinal matched cohort clinical study of prospectively collected outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To compare retrospectively the clinical outcomes and complications of the posterior approach laminoplasty and single-stage anterior approach laminoplasty combined with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for treating patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy coincident multilevel anterior and posterior compression, known as complex cervical spondylotic myelopathy (cCSM) here. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The optimal surgical management of this type of cCSM remains controversial. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with multilevel cCSM underwent decompression surgery from 1996 to 2007. Among these patients, 31 underwent a single-stage combined approach with decompression (combined approach group) and 36 underwent laminoplasty for posterior approach (posterior approach group). Average operative duration, operative estimated blood loss, surgical costs, and cervical alignment were measured. RESULTS: Average operative duration, operative estimated blood loss, and surgical costs were significantly lower in the posterior approach group than those in the combined approach group (P<0.001). Visual analog scale and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale were insignificantly different at each data collection period (P>0.05). No statistical difference was observed in the preoperative Cobb angle (P>0.05), whereas a significant statistical difference was observed for the postoperative Cobb angle (P<0.05) and variation of Cobb angle (P<0.05) between the 2 groups. The surgical incidences of complications were 22.2% and 48.4% in the posterior and combined approach groups (P<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For treating multilevel cCSM, both the posterior approach laminoplasty and single-stage combined approach led to significant neurological improvement and pain reduction in the majority of patients. Both approaches showed similar results in terms of decompression and neurological improvement. The posterior approach was superior to the combined approach in terms of surgical costs, surgical time, blood loss, and complication rate.

[Expression of BMP2/Smad1/Runx2 Signal Pathway in Renal Artery of Rat with Vascular Calcification].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the activation and its role of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2)/Smad1/Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) signal pathway in renal artery of rat models with vascular calcification. METHODS: Twenty four male SD rats were randomly divided into control group and calcification group. Rat vascular calcification model was constructed by administration of vitamin D3 plus nicotine. Vascular calcification was confirmed by Von Kossa staining and calcium content was detected by calcium assay. Real time-PCR was applied to detect the expression of BMP2, Smad1, Runx2 mRNA, and immunohistochemistry was used to measure the protein levels of BMP2, Smad1, Runx2, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). RESULTS: Von Kossa staining showed a large number of black granules deposited in renal artery. Calcium content in calcification group was significantly higher than that in normal group. Compared with the control group, the expressions of BMP2, Smad1 and Runx2 mRNA in renal artery were increased in calcification group. The protein levels of BMP2, Smad1 and Runx2 were higher while the expression of α-SMA was lower in calcification group than those in control group. The correlation analysis was found a positivie correlation between the calcium content and BMP2 mRNA (r = 0.655, P < 0.05), Smad1 mRNA (r = 0.735, P < 0.05), Runx2 mRNA (r = 0.734, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of BMP2/Smad1/Runx2 signal pathway was strongly correlated with the severity of vascular calcification, which may be involved in the occurrence and development of vascular calcification.

Highly selective and sensitive nucleic acid detection based on polysaccharide-functionalized silver nanoparticles.

Polysaccharide-functionalized silver nanoparticles (Oc-AgNPs) with a mean diameter of 15 nm were utilized as a novel and effective fluorescence-sensing platform for nucleic acid detection. Tests on the oligonucleotide sequences associated with the human immunodeficiency virus as a model system showed that the Oc-AgNPs effectively absorbed and quenched dye-labeled single-stranded DNA through strong hydrogen bonding interactions and slight electrostatic attractive interactions. The proposed system efficiently differentiated between complementary and mismatched nucleic acid sequences with high selectivity and good reproducibility at room temperature.

microRNA­25 promotes osteosarcoma cell proliferation by targeting the cell­cycle inhibitor p27.

An increasing body of evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non­coding RNAs, are often aberrantly expressed in human osteosarcoma. This study aimed to investigate the effects of miR­25 and to identify its potential target genes in osteosarcoma (OS) cells. First, the expression of miR­25 was detected by reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), which revealed a significant upregulation of miR­25 in osteosarcoma tissues compared to the adjacent healthy tissues. To investigate the role of miR­25 in osteosarcoma cell proliferation, the miR­25 precursor was next transfected into Saos­2 and U2OS cells. Overexpression of miR­25 promoted cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. In addition, our results revealed that the protein expression of p27, a cell­cycle inhibitor, is negatively regulated by miR­25. Restoring the p27 level in miR­25­overexpressing cells reversed the enhancing effect of miR­25 on cell proliferation. Therefore, miR­25 may act as an onco­miRNA in osteosarcoma, which provides new perspectives in cancer treatment strategies based on molecular targeting.

Effect of extraction media on preliminary characterizations and antioxidant activities of Phellinus linteus polysaccharides.

Three partially purified polysaccharides were extracted from Phellinus linteus mycelia using hot water, 1% (NH4)2C2O4, and 1.25M NaOH/0.05% NaBH4, and the extracts were named PL-W, PL-A, and, PL-N respectively. PL-N mainly comprised xylose and arabinose with a high molecular weight (Mw) and the highest carbohydrate and uronic acid contents. PL-W and PL-A were mainly composed of glucose with high and low Mw fractions in various ratios. All three polysaccharides existed as compact coils in aqueous solutions and exhibited strong scavenging capacity and antioxidant activities in a concentration-dependent manner. The polysaccharides also had high uronic acid and carbohydrate contents and strong antioxidant activities. The Mws, monosaccharide compositions, and chemical structures of the polysaccharides also affected their antioxidant activities. PL-A and PL-N had better antioxidant activities and could thus be developed as potential natural antioxidant agents for applications in food additives and biomedical industries.

Structural characteristics and antioxidant activities of different families of 4-acetamido-TEMPO-oxidised curdlan.

Regioselective oxidation was applied to commercial curdlan for the preparation of its water-soluble derivatives with improved antioxidant activities, using a 4-acetamido-2,2, 6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical/NaClO/NaClO2 system at pH 4.8 and 40°C. The structural features, molecular properties, and chain conformations of the oxidised curdlans were determined using Fourier transform (FT) infrared and FT Raman spectroscopy, carbon nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction, and size-exclusion chromatography with multi-angle laser-light scattering analyses. The C6 primary hydroxyls of curdlan were successfully oxidised into carboxylate groups with less depolymerization, and no aldehyde groups were formed during oxidation. The crystalline region of curdlan was destroyed after oxidation. The oxidised curdlans formed random coils in aqueous solution, and the chain became more flexible and expanded with increasing carboxylate contents from 2.07mmol/g to 4.87mmol/g. The high polyglucuronic acid derivative (Cur-24) showed the best antioxidant activity in TEAC and FRAP assays, thus it could be explored as novel potential antioxidants for dietary and therapeutic applications.

[Comparison of results of radiology and clinical effect with methods of the nonoperative and minimally invasive operation in treating femoral subtrochanteric fractures in children].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the radiographic and functional outcomes of nonoperative and minimally invasive methods in treating femoral subtrochanteric fractures in children. METHODS: Forty-five children (male 28, female 17) aging from 4- to 15-years-old with femoral subtrochanteric fracture were managed with traction and cast application (16 cases), and elastic intramedullary nailing (29 cases). Early and late radiologic outcomes were respectively evaluated by Beaty and Theologis criteria. The outcomes of clinical effect were evaluated with Sanders scoring system. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 26 to 62 months with an average of 39.5 months. The fractures united in 45 patients. Early (at 4th week after treatment) satisfactory radiologic outcomes were respectively 6 cases and 26 cases between two methods of nonoperative and minimally invasive. Late (at 2nd year after treatment) satisfactory radiologic outcomes were respectively 11 cases and 28 cases between two methods of nonoperative and minimally invasive. According to Sanders scoring, 12 cases were excellent, 4 good with nonoperative methods; and 28 excellent, 1 good with minimally invasive methods. There were significant differences between the two groups in aforesaid aspect. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive methods provided more satisfactory alignment of fractures as well as better functional outcomes than nonoperative methods. It is the first choice to treat femoral subtrochanteric fractures in children.