The fungal quorum-sensing molecule, farnesol, regulates the immune response of vaginal epithelial cells against Candida albicans.

BACKGROUND: Farnesol is a Candida-secreted quorum-sensing molecule of great interest as a potential antifungal agent for serious and hardly curable infections-candidiasis, especially vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). METHODS: The effect of farnesol on cellular morphology and viability and evaluated the production of Th1 (IL-2), Th2 (IL-4), proinflammatory (IL-6), chemotactic (IL-8), and Th17 (IL-17) cytokines in the culture supernatants of vaginal epithelial cell line (VK2) were evaluated. Moreover, we tested the inhibitory effect of farnesol on C. albicans adhesion. Scanning electron microscopy was conducted to observe any VK2 cell ultrastructural changes. RESULTS: Only low concentrations (≤ 50 µmol/L) of farnesol did not affect the morphology and viability of the VK2 cells (P > 0.05). Farnesol reduced the adhesion of C. albicans to the VK2 cells. When treated with farnesol, statistical elevated levels of both IL-4 and IL-17 secreted by the infected VK2 cells were present in the culture supernatants (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Farnesol acts as a stimulator to up-regulate the Th17-type innate immune response, as well as Th2-type humoral immunity following C. albicans infection. Further research is required to select the optimal therapeutic dose to develop efficacious and safe mucosal immune adjuvant for treating VVCs.

miR-517b-3p promotes the progression of portal vein tumor thrombus via activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIMS: This study was aimed to investigate the expression patterns and prognostic value of microRNA-517b-3p (miR-517b-3p) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). METHODS: The expression of miR-517b-3p in PVTT tissues and cells was estimated using qRT-PCR. Through Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox regression assay and ROC analysis, the significance of miR-517b-3p was explored. In addition, cell experiments were performed to examine the functional role of miR-517b-3p during progression of PVTT. Moreover, the biological process and biological pathway analysis analyses were conducted through GSEA and FunRich. Besides, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the DEGs was established through cBioPortal website. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the miR-517b-3p was upregulated in both PVTT tissues and cells. The upregulated miR-517b-3p, which served as a potential diagnostic biomarker to distinguish PVTT from PT and controls, was associated with poor overall survival and acted as an independent prognostic factor. The cell proliferation, migration and invasion were proved to be enhanced by overexpression of miR-517b-3p. Furthermore, Wnt/ß-catenin signaling was suppressed by miR-517b-3p knockdown and might be involved in the progression of PVTT. CONCLUSION: miR-517b-3p may promote PVTT cell proliferation, migration and invasion via activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Meanwhile, miR-517b-3p has overexpression in PVTT samples, and serves as a candidate diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in HCC patients with PVTT.

miR-3178 as a prognostic indicator and tumor suppressor of gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor with an increasing death rate. MicroRNA can serve as a promising biomarker for the progression and prognosis of various cancers. AIMS: The clinical significance and biological function of miR-3178 in gastric cancer was assessed in this study. METHODS: A total of 117 paired tissues were collected from gastric cancer patients. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of miR-3178 in gastric cancer tissues and cells. The association between miR-3178 expression and the clinicopathological features of patients were analyzed by χ2 test. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression were employed to investigate the prognostic value of miR-3178. Finally, the effect of miR-3178 on the cellular process of gastric cancer was investigated by CCK-8 and transwell assay. RESULTS: miR-3178 was downregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cells, which showed a significant association with the TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of patients and a poor prognosis. MiR-3178 and TNM stage were considered as two independent prognostic factors for gastric cancer. Furthermore, the downregulation of miR-3178 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer by regulating Notch1. CONCLUSION: miR-3178 may be involved in the progression of gastric cancer, which provides new insights into the treatment of gastric cancer.

miR-181b-5p Promotes the Progression of Cholangiocarcinoma by Targeting PARK2 via PTEN/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway.

This study combined with bioinformatics analysis and investigated the expression pattern of miR-181b-5p, as well as explored its role and mechanism in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA or CHOL). Several bioinformatics databases were used to analyze the expression of miR-181b and the enrichment of miR-181b in biological activities and biological pathways in CCA. The RT-qPCR analysis was used to examine the expression levels of miR-181b-5p. A receiver operation characteristics (ROC) curve analysis and the Kaplan-Meier survival assay were conducted to validate the diagnostic and prognostic implication of miR-181b-5p. Cell experiments were used to explore the possible functional role of miR-181b-5p in CCA progression. The bioinformatics assay was used to predict the target gene of miR-181b-5p and Western blot was used to confirm the related signaling pathway. The bioinformatics analysis results suggest that miR-181b-5p was highly expressed in cholangiocarcinoma and its expression was negatively related to PARK2 expression in CCA tissues. miR-181b-5p expression in the serum and tissues was upregulated and associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. Increased expression of miR-181b-5p had relatively high diagnostic accuracy and showed poor prognosis in CCA patients. In addition, miR-181b-5p overexpression enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting PARK2. Overexpression of miR-181b-5p activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, while knockdown of miR-181b-5p suppressed the signaling pathway. Increased expression of miR-181b-5p in CCA may be a potential diagnostic or/and prognostic indicator for CCA patients. The present data indicated miR-181b-5p acted as an oncogene in CCA through promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of CCA via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by targeting PARK2, which might be a promising therapeutic target or biomarker for CCA.

A Novel Ferroptosis-Related Gene Signature to Predict Prognosis in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The clinical TNM staging system is currently used to evaluate the prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The 5-year survival rate for patients with HNSCC is less than 50%, which is attributed to the lack of reliable prognostic biomarkers. Ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) regulate cancer initiation and progression. Therefore, we analyzed the correlation between FRGs and the clinical outcomes of patients with HNSCC. A typical prognostic model of FRGs for HNSCC was constructed using bioinformatics tools and data from public databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and GeneCards. The model was generated based on the following six FRGs: ATG5, PRDX6, OTUB1, FTH1, SOCS1, and MAP3K5. The accuracy of model prediction was analyzed systematically. The overall survival (OS) of the high-risk group was significantly lower than that of the low-risk group. The AUC for 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival were 0.645, 0.721, and 0.737, respectively, in the training set (TCGA cohort) and 0.726, 0.620, and 0.584, respectively, in the validation set (GSE65858). The multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor for HNSCC. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that six FRGs were enriched in the ferroptosis pathway. A novel FRG prognostic signature model was established for HNSCC. The findings of this study reveal that FRGs are potential biomarkers for HNSCC.

Dumbbell-shaped solitary fibrous tumor in the parapharyngeal space: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) occurring in the parapharyngeal space are rare, and their final diagnosis depends on pathological and immunohistochemical analyses. Once the tumor is diagnosed, complete resection and regular postoperative follow-up are required. CASE SUMMARY: A 40-year-old male patient with a right parotid gland mass discovered 8 years ago was admitted to hospital. The mass showed no tenderness or local skin redness. Imaging was carried out as the patient had stable vital signs and showed that the mass was a dumbbell-shaped tumor comprising a superficial tumor approximately 5 cm long and 3 cm wide in size that compressed the right parotid gland and a deep tumor located in the right parapharyngeal space approximately 4.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide in size. Both tumors were connected in the middle. Prior to surgery, the tumors were considered to be parapharyngeal schwannomas. During surgical dissection, the tumors were found to be smooth and tough, without obvious adhesion to the surrounding tissues. The tumors were revealed to be a SFT following postoperative pathological analysis. CONCLUSION: SFTs in the parapharyngeal space are rarely reported, and complete resection of such tumor is recommended. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy is used in patients with extensive tumor invasion to lower the recurrence rate. Postoperative long-term follow-up is required.

NF-κB pathway play a role in SCD1 deficiency-induced ceramide de novo synthesis.

Stearoyl-CoA-desaturase 1 (SCD1) deficiency mediates apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by promoting ceramide de novo synthesis. The mechanisms underlying the cross-talk between SCD1 and ceramide synthesis have not been explored. We treated colorectal cancer cells with an SCD1 inhibitor and examined the effects on gene expression, cell growth, and cellular lipid contents. The main effect of SCD1 inhibition on the fatty acid contents of colorectal cancer cells was a decrease in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) showed that the most intense alteration of gene expression after SCD1 inhibition occurred in the NF-κB signaling pathway. Further experiments revealed that SCD1 inhibition resulted in increased levels of phosphorylated NF-κB p65 and increased nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. Treatment with an NF-κB inhibitor eliminated several effects of SCD1 inhibition, mainly including overexpression of serine palmitoyltransferase1 (SPT1), elevation of dihydroceramide contents, and suppression of cell growth. Furthermore, treatment with supplemental oleate counteracted the SCD1-induced NF-κB activation and downstream effects. In summary, our data demonstrate that the NF-κB pathway plays a role in SCD1 deficiency-induced ceramide de novo synthesis in colorectal cancer cells, and that reduced MUFA levels contribute to the course.

First branchial cleft cyst accompanied by external auditory canal atresia and middle ear malformation: A case report.

BACKGROUND: We report a rare case of first branchial cleft anomaly (FBCA) accompanied by bony atresia of the external auditory canal, middle ear malformation, and location malformation of the facial nerve according to the intraoperative findings. CASE SUMMARY: A 19-year-old male patient presented to our department with a mass behind the right earlobe and recurrent postauricular swelling and pain since childhood, he also had severe hearing loss in the right ear since birth. The patient underwent surgery including mass removal, mastoidectomy, and simultaneous meatoplasty and ossiculoplasty under microscopy. No facial palsy or recurrence was noted during postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSION: FBCAs are rare, and to our knowledge, this is the first report of FBCA accompanied by external auditory canal bony atresia, middle ear malformation, and location malformation of the facial nerve. An effective postauricular approach under microscopy facilitated complete lesion removal and simultaneous otologic reconstruction.

[Radiologic Features of Nuclear Protein of the Testis Midline Carcinoma of the Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses:Report of One Case].

Nuclear protein of the testis midline carcinoma (NMC) is a rare malignant tumor that is mostly located in the upper trachea,mediastinal midline,and paravertebral midline,and few literature has described the imaging features of NMC in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. In this article we summarize the clinical,radiologic,and pathologic data of one case of pathologically confirmed NMC in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus by focusing on its CT and magnetic resonance imaging features.

High failure rate after Beta-tricalcium phosphate grafting for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Non-vascularized bone grafting is a promising head-preserving technique for younger patients diagnosed as non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (NONFH). Among the various types of bone grafting techniques, "light-bulb" procedure grafting with synthetic bone substitute is an attractive option. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of using beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) for the treatment of pre-collapse and early post-collapse lesions NONFH. METHODS: From April 2010 to June 2014, 33 patients (47 hips) with NONFH were treated using the afore-mentioned technique. The clinical and radiological outcomes were recorded and compared statistically between pre- and post-operation. Harris hip score (HHS) was used to evaluate the clinical results, and Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) stage was applied to assess the radiological outcomes. RESULTS: The 5-years survival rate of using ß-TCP grafting was accounting for 25.5%. HHS was decreased from 78.47 to 52.87 points, and a very significant worsening of radiological results were revealed (P <  0.05). Two hips collapsed more than 2 mm were awaiting for THA, and 33 of the 47 hips had converted to THAs in an average time to failure of 24.24 months postoperatively. Meanwhile, only 4 hips survived without collapse, and 8 hips collapsed less than 2 mm. After surgery, the time onset of head collapse was 3.65 months on average, and the first conversion to THA was performed at 5 months postoperative. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that "light-bulb" procedure grafting with ß-TCP sticks presented with a high failure rate in the early postoperative period. It is not proposed for the treatment of pre-collapse and early post-collapse lesions NONFH.

A modified technique for tibial bone sparing in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Previously, the authors modified the surgical technique to preserve tibial bone mass for Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical outcomes and values of this modified technique. METHODS: Clinical data of 34 consecutive patients who underwent the unilateral modified UKA technique (modified group, 34 knees) were retrospectively analyzed. To compare the outcome, a match-paired control group (conventional group, 34 knees) of an equal number of patients using the conventional technique system in the same period were selected and matched with respect to diagnosis, age, pre-operative range of motion (ROM), and radiological grade of knee arthrosis. Clinical outcomes including knee Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, ROM, and complications were compared between the two groups. Post-operative radiographic assessments included hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), joint line change, implant position, and alignment. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 38.2 ±â€Š6.3 months. There was no difference in baseline between the two groups. The amount of proximal tibial bone cut in the modified group was significantly less than that of the conventional group (4.7 ±â€Š1.1 mm vs. 6.7 ±â€Š1.3 mm, t = 6.45, P < 0.001). Joint line was elevated by 2.1 ±â€Š1.0 mm in the modified group compared with -0.5 ±â€Š1.7 mm in the conventional group (t = -7.46, P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups after UKA with respect to HSS score, VAS score, ROM, and HKA. Additionally, the accuracy of the post-operative implant position and alignment was similar in both groups. As for implant size, the tibial implant size in the modified group was larger than that in the conventional group (χ = 4.95, P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: The modified technique for tibial bone sparing was comparable with the conventional technique in terms of clinical outcomes and radiographic assessments. It can preserve tibial bone mass and achieve a larger cement surface on the tibial side.

An extremely rare pedunculated lipoma of the hypopharynx: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hypopharyngeal lipoma is a rare disease that can lead to asphyxiation after aspiration. Sclerotic lipoma in the hypopharynx is an extremely rare histological type. Hypopharyngeal lipoma should be resected in time after diagnosis. CASE SUMMARY: An 86-year-old female patient presented to our department with a long pedunculated mass protruding from her mouth. Until this time, the patient had no dyspnea, dysphagia, or throat discomfort. Physical examination showed stable vital signs and clear consciousness. The pedicel was derived from the posterior wall of the hypopharynx. The tumor was smooth, hyperemic and dark red, about 10 cm long, and 4 cm wide. In order to prevent airway obstruction, the hypopharyngeal tumor was excised in emergent operation. The pharyngeal cavity was exposed by a mouth gag during the operation. A disposable plasma knife was used to completely remove the tumor along the base of the new organism, and no active bleeding occurred. The postoperative pathological results were sclerotic lipoma. CONCLUSION: Lipoma in the pharynx is relatively rare. Patients with this condition must be referred immediately to Ear-Nose-Throat specialists and complete surgical excision should be performed as soon as possible to prevent serious complications, such as airway obstruction and death.

Effect of High-fat Diet-induced Disorders on Rat with Endometrial Hyperplasia and Adiponectin System in Circulation and Uterus.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic and genetic studies suggest a link between insulin resistance (IR) and endometrial cancer, and endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is a precancerous stage of endometrial cancer. Adiponectin is an adipokine which previously shown to be a risk factor for endometrial cancer. The aim of the study was to develop a rat model of IR and EH and evaluate adiponectin system in circulation and uterus. METHODS: This study was a 46-week animal trial from February 2014 to January 2015. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) for 40 weeks to induce IR. Followed by ovariectomization, rats were orally administrated to 17ß-estradiol (E2) for 4 weeks to induce EH and then sacrificed. A total of 36 rats were divided into four groups: E2, HFD, HFD + E2, and control groups. Data were analyzed with Student's t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Mann-Whitney U-tests. Chi-square was used to evaluate the score of immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The thickness of endometrial, glandular epithelium, and myometrium in the HFD-E2group were higher than the E2group (F = 59.02, F = 23.51 and F = 12.53, respectively, all P < 0.001). Plasma adiponectin levels in the E2group were lower than those in the control group, and the levels in the HFD-E2group were lower than those in the HFD group (F = 13.15, P < 0.05). However, after normalized to visceral adipose tissue, compared to the control group, plasma adiponectin levels were decreased in rat with HFD in the absence or presence of E2, respectively (F = 6.72, P < 0.05). Adiponectin gene (F = 10.48, P < 0.05) and protein (P < 0.05) levels in uterus in the HFD-E2group were higher than those in the HFD group. CONCLUSIONS: This study manifests that IR can effectively modulate EH, which suggests the involvement of energetic metabolism in uterine alternation. The combination effects of IR and EH modulate circulating adiponectin levels. However, adiponectin gene and protein levels in uterus are mainly response to estradiol.

Lactobacillus crispatus Modulates Vaginal Epithelial Cell Innate Response to Candida albicans.

BACKGROUND: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is caused by Candida albicans. The vaginal epithelium, as the first site of the initial stage of infection by pathogens, plays an important role in resisting genital tract infections. Moreover, lactobacilli are predominant members of the vaginal microbiota that help to maintain a normal vaginal microenvironment. Therefore, Lactobacillus crispatus was explored for its capacity to intervene in the immune response of vaginal epithelial cells VK2/E6E7 to C. albicans. METHODS: We examined the interleukin-2 (IL-2), 4, 6, 8, and 17 produced by VK2/E6E7 cells infected with C. albicans and treated with L. crispatus in vitro. The capacity of L. crispatus to adhere to VK2/E6E7 and inhibit C. albicans growth was also tested by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and adhesion experiments. RESULTS: Compared with group VK2/E6E7 with C. albicans, when treated with L. crispatus, the adhesion of C. albicans to VK2/E6E7 cells decreased significantly by 52.87 ± 1.22%, 47.03 ± 1.35%, and 42.20 ± 1.55% under competition, exclusion, and displacement conditions, respectively. SEM revealed that the invasion of C. albicans into VK2/E6E7 cells was caused by induced endocytosis and active penetration. L. crispatus could effectively protect the cells from the virulence of hyphae and spores of C. albicans and enhance the local immune function of the VK2/E6E7 cells. The concentrations of IL-2, 6, and 17 were upregulated significantly (P < 0.01) and that of IL-8 were downregulated significantly (P < 0.01) in infected VK2/E6E7 cells treated with L. crispatus. The concentration of IL-4 was similar to that of the group VK2/E6E7 with C. albicans (24.10 ± 0.97 vs. 23.12 ± 0.76 pg/ml, P = 0.221). CONCLUSIONS: L. crispatus can attenuate the virulence of C. albicans, modulate the secretion of cytokines and chemokines, and enhance the immune response of VK2/E6E7 cells in vitro. The vaginal mucosa has a potential function in the local immune responses against pathogens that can be promoted by L. crispatus.

Sigmoid Sinus Wall Reconstruction for Pulsatile Tinnitus Caused by Sigmoid Sinus Wall Dehiscence: A Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical characteristics and present surgical outcomes of PT caused by sigmoid sinus wall dehiscence (SSWD). METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 34 patients with PT who were diagnosed with SSWD in our institution between December 2008 and July 2013. Among them, 27 patients underwent sigmoid sinus wall reconstruction (surgery group) and 7 patients refused surgery (non-surgery group). Preoperative data were obtained from the patients' medical records. All patients were followed up regularly for at least 25 months. Preoperative and postoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) images were compared. Student's t-tests were used to compare age, body mass index (BMI) and preoperative Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores between the surgery and the non-surgery groups and to compare pre- and follow-up THI scores. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age, body mass index, or preoperative THI scores between groups. Following surgery, 14 patients had complete resolution, 5 had partial resolution, 7 experienced no change and PT was aggravated in 1 patient. The difference between preoperative and postoperative THI scores was significant. No severe complications were found postoperatively. Comparison of the preoperative and postoperative CTA images revealed that remnant unrepaired dehiscences were the cause of unsatisfactory outcomes following surgery. In the non-surgery group, PT remained largely unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Sigmoid sinus wall reconstruction is an effective and safe treatment for PT caused by SSWD. It is imperative that all regions of the dehiscence are sufficiently exposed and resurfaced during surgery.

Association of RUNX3 Methylation with Clinical Outcome and Cell Migration/Invasion in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

This study identifies promoter methylation status of RUNX3 in 77 LSCC patient tissues and their paired adjacent healthy tissues. Hypermethylation percentage RUNX3 occurred in LSCC samples was significantly higher than that in normal tissues, as well as associated with suppression of RUNX3 expression, TNM classification of malignant tumors stage, lymph node metastasis and poor overall survival rate. Reduced methylation and increased expression of RUNX3 genes in vitro was observed and decreased cell migration was further confirmed following 5-azacytidine treatment. RUNX 3 promoter hypermethylation can lead to down-regulation of RUNX3 in LSCC cancerous tissue.

[Effects of Oil Pollutants on the Performance of Marine Benthonic Microbial Fuel Cells and Its Acceleration of Degradation].

Degradation of oil pollutants under the sea is slow for its oxygen-free environment which has caused long-term harm to ocean environment. This paper attempts to accelerate the degradation of the sea oil pollutants through electro catalysis by using the principle of marine benthonic microbial fuel cells (BMFCs). The influence of oil pollutants on the battery performance is innovatively explored by comparing the marine benthonic microbial fuel cells ( BMFCs-A) containing oil and oil-free microbial fuel cells (BMFCs-B). The acceleration effect of BMFCs is investigated by the comparison between the oil-degrading rate and the number of heterotrophic bacteria of the BMFCs-A and BMFCs-B on their anodes. The results show that the exchange current densities in the anode of the BMFCs-A and BMFCs-B are 1. 37 x 10(-2) A x m(-2) and 1.50 x 10(-3) A x m(-2) respectively and the maximum output power densities are 105.79 mW x m(-2) and 83.60 mW x m(-2) respectively. The exchange current densities have increased 9 times and the maximum output power density increased 1. 27 times. The anti-polarization ability of BMFCs-A is improved. The heterotrophic bacteria numbers of BMFCs-A and BMFCs-C on their anodes are (66 +/- 3.61) x 10(7) CFU x g(-1) and (7.3 +/- 2.08) x 10(7) CFU x g(-1) respectively and the former total number has increased 8 times, which accelerates the oil-degrading rate. The degrading rate of the oil in the BMFCs-A is 18.7 times higher than that in its natural conditions. The BMFCs can improve its electrochemical performance, meanwhile, the degradation of oil pollutants can also be accelerated. A new model of the marine benthonic microbial fuel cells on its acceleration of oil degradation is proposed in this article.

Minimally invasive unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the outcome and surgical technique of minimally invasive unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with medial compartmental spontaneous osteonecrosis treated by minimally invasive Oxford phase 3 UKA from January 2009 to June 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Twelve subjects were men and 15 women, with an average age of 64.6 ± 8.6 years (52-82 years). At the time of diagnosis, 11 patients had with grade III necrosis and 16 grade IV according to Mont's classification. Pain, range of motion (ROM) and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee scores were evaluated before and after UKA. Pre-and postoperative alignment of the lower limbs was measured and compared. Postoperative radiographic assessments were made according to the guidelines proposed by the Oxford group at the final follow-up. RESULTS: All patients were followed for a mean time of 27.8 ± 15.9 months (6-59 months). There were no serious adverse events, such as infection, bearing dislocation, aseptic loosening, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, cardio-cerebral vascular incident or psychological problems. One revision was required for unrelated causes (fracture of tibia plateau) 3 years after arthroplasty. One femoral component was tilted with a postoperative radiographic angle >10°. One radiolucent line was observed in a patient with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. The two patients with implant failure had no symptoms at last follow-up. Visual analogue scale scores decreased from 6.9 ± 0.9 to 2.0 ± 1.1 (t = 19.27, P = 0.00). Pain was relieved in 96.3% of subjects (26/27). The mean post-operative ROM and femorotibial angle were 125.7° ± 9.6° and 177.7° ± 3.1°, respectively. HSS scores increased from 61.3 ± 9.7 to 93.0 ± 4.8 (t = 14.46, P = 0.00). Of the 27 patients, 26 (96.3%) were satisfied with the outcome of this surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive UKA is an effective means of managing spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. The short-term outcome of UKA is encouraging.