Cartilage Damage Pathological Characteristics of Diabetic Neuropathic Osteoarthropathy.

Background: Diabetic neuropathic osteoarthropathy (DNOAP) is a rare and easily missed complication for diabetes that leads to increased morbidity and mortality. DNOAP is characterized by progressive destruction of bone and joint, but its pathogenesis remains elusive. We herein aimed to investigate the pathological features and pathogenesis of the cartilages damage in DNOAP patients. Methods: The articular cartilages of eight patients with DNOAP and eight normal controls were included. Masson staining and safranine O/fixed green staining (S-O) were used to observe the histopathological characteristics of cartilage. The ultrastructure and morphology of chondrocytes were detected by electron microscopy and toluidine blue staining. Chondrocytes were isolated from DNOAP group and control group. The expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and Aggrecan protein was evaluated by western blot. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured using a 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) probe. The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined by flow cytometry (FCM). The chondrocytes were cultured with different glucose concentrations to observe the expression of RANKL and OPG. Results: Compared with the control group, the DNOAP group showed fewer chondrocytes, subchondral bone hyperplasia, and structural disorder, and a large number of osteoclasts formed in the subchondral bone area. Moreover, mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum swellings were observed in the DNOAP chondrocytes. The chromatin was partially broken and concentrated at the edge of nuclear membrane. The ROS fluorescence intensity of chondrocyte in DNOAP group was higher than that in normal control group (28.1 ± 2.3 vs. 11.9 ± 0.7; P < 0.05). The expression of RANKL, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 protein in DNOAP group was higher than that in normal control group, whereas OPG and Aggrecan protein were lower than that in normal control group (both P < 0.05). FCM showed that the apoptotic rate of chondrocyte in DNOAP group was higher than that in normal control group (P < 0.05). The RANKL/OPG ratio showed significant upward trend when the concentration of glucose was over than 15 mM. Conclusions: DNOAP patients tend to have severe destruction of articular cartilage and collapse of organelle structure including mitochondrion and endoplasm reticulum. Indicators of bone metabolism (RANKL and OPG) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) play an important role in promoting the pathogenesis of DNOAP. The glucose concentration higher than 15 mM made the RANKL/OPG ratio change rapidly.

Fibular osteotomy is helpful for talar reduction in the treatment of varus ankle osteoarthritis with supramalleolar osteotomy.

BACKGROUND: There have been debates on the necessity of fibular osteotomy (FO) in supramalleolar osteotomy (SMOT) for the treatment of varus ankle osteoarthritis. The purpose of the current study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes between SMOT with and without FO in the treatment of varus ankle osteoarthritis. METHODS: The SMOT group included 39 patients, and the SMOT with FO group included 24 patients. The basic information reached no significant difference between groups. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS), modified Takakura stage and range of motion (ROM) were used for the functional evaluation. The radiologic parameters were assessed at the last follow-up to compare the degree of talar reduction between the two groups. RESULTS: Both groups achieved significant improvements in AOFAS scores, modified Takakura stage, as well as AOS pain and functional scores (P < 0.001). The ROM of the ankle joint in the SMOT group was significantly decreased (P = 0.022). In both groups, all of the radiological parameters were significantly improved (P < 0.01). The tibiofibular clear space (TFCS) was significantly widened in the SMOT group (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the two groups according to the functional outcomes. However, the talar tilt angle (TT) and hindfoot alignment angle (HFA) in the SMOT with FO group were significantly smaller than those in the SMOT group (P < 0.05). The TFCS was significantly widened in the SMOT group (P = 0.001). The medial displacement of the talus (MDT) was better reduced in the SMOT with FO group (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: SMOT is a promising procedure for functional improvement and malalignment correction in varus ankle osteoarthritis but reduces ankle range of motion. If SMOT is combined with FO, talar tilt and medial displacement will be better reduced.

Ilizarov Gradual Distraction Correction for Distal Tibial Severe Varus Deformity Resulting from Epiphyseal Fracture: Case Report and Literature Review.

We present a case of a 13-year-old female with severe varus deformity and limb discrepancy resulting from epiphyseal fracture. The preoperative tibial articular surface angle was 64.1°, and the affected tibia was 14 mm shorter than the contralateral tibia. She underwent a medial open osteotomy and fibular osteotomy with gradual distraction correction using Ilizarov fixator. The deformity was corrected at 3 months, and the external fixator was removed when bony union was achieved 6 months postoperatively. At 9 months after surgery, the patient could play basketball without feeling pain. At the last follow-up, namely 36 months after the operation, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society hindfoot-ankle score was improved from 58 to 90, the patient was pain free, and the radiological measurements were nearly normal. Ilizarov fixator gradual distraction correction for distal tibial severe varus deformity is a safe and cost-effective method that can yield excellent radiological and clinical outcomes.

Supramalleolar osteotomy with medial distraction arthroplasty for ankle osteoarthritis with talar tilt.

BACKGROUND: An increased preoperative talar tilt (TT) angle was reported to be positively correlated with treatment failure after supramalleolar osteotomy (SMOT) for varus ankle osteoarthritis. Distraction arthroplasty was reported to have the ability to correct increased TT angles. The purpose of the current study was to compare the outcomes between SMOT with and without medial distraction arthroplasty (MDA) in the treatment of varus ankle osteoarthritis with increased TT angles. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the functional outcomes and radiological findings of 34 patients who underwent SMOT with or without MDA for varus ankle osteoarthritis with increased TT angles. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) scores were used for functional evaluation. The tibial anterior surface (TAS) angle, talar tilt (TT) angle, tibial medial malleolar (TMM) angle, talocrural (TC) angle, tibial lateral surface (TLS) angle, and hindfoot alignment (HFA) angle were evaluated preoperatively and at the time of the last follow-up. RESULTS: In the SMOT group, the AOFAS score and AOS pain and function scores were significantly improved (P < 0.01 for each) at a mean follow-up of 61 months. The TAS, TT, TC, TLS, and HFA angles were all significantly improved (P < 0.01 for each). Similarly, in the SMOT with MDA group, the AOFAS score, AOS pain and function scores, and the TAS, TT, TC, TLS, and HFA angles were all significantly improved postoperatively (P < 0.01 for each). When comparing the two groups, the postoperative TT angle was significantly smaller in the SMOT with MDA group (P = 0.023) than in the SMOT group. In addition, the failure rate of TT angle correction was significantly higher in the SMOT group (P = 0.016) than in the SMOT with MDA group. CONCLUSION: SMOT is a promising procedure for functional improvement and malalignment correction for varus ankle osteoarthritis, even in patients with increased talar tilt. If SMOT is combined with MDA, there can be an improvement in the correction of the increased talar tilt. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, a retrospective comparative study.

Dysregulation of MALAT1 and miR-619-5p as a prognostic indicator in advanced colorectal carcinoma.

The present study aimed to detect the expression of metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and microRNA (miR)-619-5p in colorectal carcinoma (CRC), and to evaluate the significance of MALAT1 and miR-619-5p expression in the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of CRC. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect MALAT1 and miR-619-5p expression in 120 colorectal carcinoma and 120 adjacent normal tissue samples. The expression levels of MALAT1 and miR-619-5p were significantly different between colorectal carcinoma and adjacent normal tissues (P<0.05). MALAT1 exhibited an average 2.52-fold increase in colorectal adenoma when compared with adjacent normal tissues, while miR-619-5p exhibited an average 5.79-fold decrease in colorectal adenoma when compared with adjacent normal tissues. There was a significant difference between the MALAT1 expression in CRC tissues obtained from men and women (P=0.027), and in tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage II and stage III lesions (P=0.019). MALAT1 expression was associated with lymphovascular invasion (P=0.047) and perineural invasion (P=0.012). In addition, miR-619-5p expression was also significantly different between men and women (P=0.032), and between TNM stage II and stage III lesions (P=0.012). miR-619-5p expression was also associated with lymphovascular invasion (P=0.023) and perineural invasion (P=0.009). Patients with high expression of MALAT1 and low expression of miR-619-5p demonstrated significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) (P=0.002) and overall survival (OS) times (P=0.004) compared with patients with low MALAT1 expression and high miR-619-5p expression. Patients with perineural invasion demonstrated significantly shorter DFS (P=0.001) and OS times (P=0.003) compared with patients without perineural invasion. In addition, there was a negative correlation between MALAT1 expression and miR-619-5p expression (r=-0.415, P=0.004) in CRC tissues. In conclusion, MALAT1 and miR-619-5p have potential for the molecular diagnosis of CRC patients, and combined assaying of MALAT1 and miR-619-5p may improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of CRC and act as a good prognostic indicator in CRC patients.