Multifunctional Hydrogel Microneedle Patches Modulating Oxi-inflamm-aging for Diabetic Wound Healing.

Oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and immune senescence are important pathologic factors in diabetic wound nonhealing. This study loads taurine (Tau) into cerium dioxide (CeO2) to develop CeO2@Tau nanoparticles with excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties. To enhance the drug penetration efficiency in wounds, CeO2@Tau is encapsulated in gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel to prepare CeO2@Tau@Hydrogel@Microneedle (CTH@MN) patch system. Microneedle technology achieves precise and efficient delivery of CeO2@Tau, ensuring their deep penetration into the wound tissue for optimal efficacy. Rigorous in vitro and in vivo tests have confirmed the satisfactory therapeutic effect of CTH@MN patch on diabetic wound healing. Mechanistically, CTH@MN attenuates oxidative damage and inflammatory responses in macrophages by inhibiting the ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway. Meanwhile, CTH@MN activated autophagy-mediated anti-aging activity, creating a favorable immune microenvironment for tissue repair. Notably, in a diabetic mouse wound model, the multifunctional CTH@MN patch significantly promotes wound healing by systematically regulating the oxidation-inflammation-aging (oxi-inflamm-aging) pathological axis. In conclusion, the in-depth exploration of the CTH@MN system in this study provides new strategies and perspectives for treating diabetic non-healing wounds.

Intrauterine hyperglycemia induces SIRT3-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction: the fetal origin pathogenesis of precocious osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes and other metabolic and inflammatory comorbidities are highly associated with osteoarthritis (OA). However, whether early-life hyperglycemia exposure affects susceptibility to long-term OA is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore the fetal origins of OA and provide insights into early-life safeguarding for individual health. METHOD: This study utilized streptozotocin to induce intrauterine hyperglycemia and performed destabilization of the medial meniscus surgery on the knee joints of the offspring mice to induce accelerated OA. Cartilage degeneration-related markers, as well as the expression levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes and mitophagy genes in the adult offspring mice, were investigated. In vitro, mitochondrial function and mitophagy of chondrocyte C28/I2 cells stimulated under high glucose conditions were also evaluated. The methylation levels of the sirt3 gene promoter region in the articular cartilage of intrauterine hyperglycemia-exposed offspring mice were further analyzed. RESULTS: In this study, we found that the intrauterine hyperglycemic environment could lead to an increase in individual susceptibility to OA in late adulthood, mainly due to persistently low levels of Sirt3 expression. Downregulation of Sirt3 causes impaired mitophagy in chondrocytes and abnormal mitochondrial respiratory function due to a failure to clear aged and damaged mitochondria in a timely manner. Overexpressing Sirt3 at the cellular level or using Sirt3 agonists like Honokiol in mouse models can partially rescue mitophagy disorders caused by the hyperglycemic environment and thus alleviate the progression of OA. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a significantly increased susceptibility to OA in the gestational diabetes mellitus offspring, which is partly attributed to exposure to adverse factors in utero and ultimately to the onset of disease via epigenetic modulation.

Outcomes of a Double-Cup Construct to Treat Paprosky 3A and 3B Acetabular Defects at a Mean of 39 Months.

BACKGROUND: Modular reconstruction systems based on porous tantalum (PT) prosthetic components have been increasingly used for the treatment of complex acetabular bone defects in revision total hip arthroplasty. We report a novel technique that applies a revision cup as a "super-augment" to form a "double-cup" construct for Paprosky type III defects. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on revision total hip arthroplasty cases, comparing those treated with double-cup constructs (DC group, n = 48) to those treated with PT shells and augments (PT group, n = 48). All procedures were performed at the same institute between 2017 and 2022. Clinical outcome evaluation utilized the Harris Hip Score, Oxford Hip Score, and the 36-Item Short Form Survey. Preoperative and postoperative radiographic assessments measured hip center of rotation (COR) position and leg length discrepancy. Additionally, postoperative complications and implant survivorship were monitored during the follow-up period. RESULTS: The clinical outcomes improved substantially in both groups, which showed no significant difference in the Harris Hip Score (P = .786), the Oxford Hip Score (P = .570), and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (P = .691). Compared to the PT group, the reconstruction COR was significantly closer to the anatomic COR (vertical distance: 2.630 versus 7.355 mm, P = .0034; horizontal distance: 1.881 versus -6.413 mm, P < .0001) in Paprosky 3B type defects. Additionally, postoperative leg length discrepancy was less in the DC group (-8.252 versus -1.821 mm, P = .0008). Dislocation was the main complication in the DC group, and only 1 patient received re-revision due to repeated dislocation. The cumulative survival rate of the DC group (100%; 95% confidence interval 100) was better than the PT group (83.4%; 95% confidence interval 70.5 to 98.6) when re-revisions for aseptic loosening were the endpoint (P = .046). CONCLUSIONS: The DC is a reliable revision technique for the reconstruction of Paprosky type III bone defects. Although dislocation remains challenging, the biomechanically superior restoration achieved by this technique lowers the risk of aseptic loosening.

Biofilm Homeostasis Interference Therapy via 1 O2 -Sensitized Hyperthermia and Immune Microenvironment Re-Rousing for Biofilm-Associated Infections Elimination.

The recurrence of biofilm-associated infections (BAIs) remains high after implant-associated surgery. Biofilms on the implant surface reportedly shelter bacteria from antibiotics and evade innate immune defenses. Moreover, little is currently known about eliminating residual bacteria that can induce biofilm reinfection. Herein, novel "interference-regulation strategy" based on bovine serum albumin-iridium oxide nanoparticles (BIONPs) as biofilm homeostasis interrupter and immunomodulator via singlet oxygen (1 O2 )-sensitized mild hyperthermia for combating BAIs is reported. The catalase-like BIONPs convert abundant H2 O2 inside the biofilm-microenvironment (BME) to sufficient oxygen gas (O2 ), which can efficiently enhance the generation of 1 O2 under near-infrared irradiation. The 1 O2 -induced biofilm homeostasis disturbance (e.g., sigB, groEL, agr-A, icaD, eDNA) can disrupt the sophisticated defense system of biofilm, further enhancing the sensitivity of biofilms to mild hyperthermia. Moreover, the mild hyperthermia-induced bacterial membrane disintegration results in protein leakage and 1 O2 penetration to kill bacteria inside the biofilm. Subsequently, BIONPs-induced immunosuppressive microenvironment re-rousing successfully re-polarizes macrophages to pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype in vivo to devour residual biofilm and prevent biofilm reconstruction. Collectively, this 1 O2 -sensitized mild hyperthermia can yield great refractory BAIs treatment via biofilm homeostasis interference, mild-hyperthermia, and immunotherapy, providing a novel and effective anti-biofilm strategy.

Acidity-Activatable Nanoparticles with Glucose Oxidase-Enhanced Photoacoustic Imaging and Photothermal Effect, and Macrophage-Related Immunomodulation for Synergistic Treatment of Biofilm Infection.

The pH-responsive theragnostics exhibit great potential for precision diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Herein, acidity-activatable nanoparticles of GB@P based on glucose oxidase (GO) and polyaniline are developed for treatment of biofilm infection. Catalyzed by GO, GB@P triggers the conversion of glucose into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), enabling an acidic microenvironment-activated simultaneously enhanced photothermal (PT) effect/amplified photoacoustic imaging (PAI). The synergistic effects of the enhanced PT efficacy of GB@P and H2 O2 accelerate biofilm eradication because the penetration of H2 O2 into biofilm improves the bacterial sensitivity to heat, and the enhanced PT effect destroys the expressions of extracellular DNA and genomic DNA, resulting in biofilm destruction and bacterial death. Importantly, GB@P facilitates the polarization of proinflammatory M1 macrophages that initiates macrophage-related immunity, which enhances the phagocytosis of macrophages and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, leading to a sustained bactericidal effect and biofilm eradication by the innate immunomodulatory effect. Accordingly, the nanoplatform of GB@P exhibits the synergistic effects on the biofilm eradication and bacterial residuals clearance through a combination of the enhanced PT effect with immunomodulation. This study provides a promising nanoplatform with enhanced PT efficacy and amplified PAI for diagnosis and treatment of biofilm infection.

Non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing for putative mosaic blastocysts: a pilot study.

STUDY QUESTION: What is the potential of applying non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing (niPGT) for chromosome abnormalities in blastocysts reported with a mosaic trophectoderm (TE) biopsy? SUMMARY ANSWER: niPGT of cell-free DNA in blastocyst culture medium exhibited a good diagnostic performance in putative mosaic blastocysts. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Advances in niPGT have demonstrated the potential reliability of cell-free DNA as a resource for genetic assessment, but information on mosaic embryos is scarce because the mosaicism may interfere with niPGT. In addition, the high incidence of mosaicism reported in the context of PGT and the viability of mosaic blastocysts raise questions about whether mosaicism really exists. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The study was performed between May 2020 and July 2020. First, clinical data collected by a single-center over a 6-year period on PGT for chromosome aneuploidies (PGT-A) or chromosomal structural rearrangements (PGT-SR) were analyzed. After confirming the reliability of niPGT, 41 blastocysts classified as mosaics by trophectoderm (TE) biopsy were re-cultured. The chromosomal copy number of the blastocyst embryo (BE, the gold standard), TE re-biopsy, and corresponding cell-free DNA in the culture medium was assessed. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Data on patients enrolled for PGT at a single center from 2014 to 2019 were collected and the cycles with available putative mosaic blastocysts were evaluated. To verify the diagnostic validity of niPGT, eight aneuploid blastocysts were thawed and re-cultured for 14-18 h. The concordance of the niPGT diagnosis results and the whole blastocyst testing results was analyzed. Forty-one blastocysts reported as mosaics from 22 patients were included and re-cultured for 14-18 h. The genetic material of the BE, TE re-biopsy, and corresponding cell-free DNA in the culture medium was amplified using multiple annealing and looping-based amplification cycles. The karyotype data from niPGT and TE re-biopsy were compared with that from the whole blastocyst, and the efficiency of niPGT was assessed. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Data on 3738 blastocysts from 785 PGT-A or PGT-SR cycles of 677 patients were collected. According to the TE biopsy report, of the 3662 (98%) successfully amplified samples, 24 (0.6%) yielded no results, 849 (23.2%) were euploid, 2245 (61.3%) were aneuploid, and 544 (14.9%) were mosaic. Sixty patients without euploid blastocysts opted for a single mosaic blastocyst transfer, and 30 (50%) of them obtained a clinical pregnancy. With the BE chromosome copy number as the gold standard, niPGT and TE re-biopsy showed reliable detection ability and diagnostic efficiency in eight putative aneuploid blastocysts. Of the 41 putative mosaic blastocysts re-cultured and re-tested, 35 (85.4%) showed euploid BE results. All but two of the blastocysts previously diagnosed with segmental chromosomal mosaic were actually euploid. In addition, all blastocysts previously classified as low degree (20-50%) mosaics were identified as euploid by BE PGT, whereas four of the six putative high degree (50-80%) mosaic blastocysts showed chromosomal abnormalities. The raw concordance rates of spent culture medium (SCM) and TE re-biopsies compared with BE were 74.4% and 82%, respectively, in terms of overall ploidy and 96.2% and 97.6%, respectively, per single chromosome when considering all degree mosaic results as true positives. However, when we set a mosaicism identification threshold of 50%, the concordance rates of SCM and TE re-biopsies compared with BE were 87.2% and 85% at the overall ploidy level and 98.8% and 98.3% at the chromosomal level, respectively. At the full ploidy level, the sensitivity and false negative rates for niPGT were 100% and 0, respectively. After adjustment of the threshold for mosaicism, the specificity of niPGT increased from 69.7% to 84.8% in terms of overall ploidy and from 96.1% to 98.9% at the chromosomal level. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The primary limitation of this study is the small sample size, which decreases the strength of our conclusions. If possible, identifying the clinical outcome of niPGT on reassessed mosaic blastocysts would be further progress in this field. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study is the first to explore the practicability of niPGT in diagnostic reassessment of putative mosaicism. The present study provides a novel opportunity for patients with only mosaic blastocysts and no euploid blastocysts, regardless of the technical or biological basis of mosaicism. Employing niPGT after 14-18 h of re-culturing might be a superior option for the best use of blastocysts because of its minimally invasive nature. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was supported by grants from National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFC1002004), the Central Guiding the Science and Technology Development of the Local (2018080802D0081) and College Natural Science Project of Anhui Province (KJ2019A0287). There are no competing interests to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Initial clinical features of suspected coronavirus disease 2019 in two emergency departments outside of Hubei, China.

With an increasing number of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases outside of Hubei, emergency departments (EDs) and fever clinics are facing challenges posed by the large number of admissions of patients suspected to have COVID-19. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to study the initial clinical features of patients, to better differentiate between infected and uninfected patients outside Hubei. A total of 116 patients suspected of having COVID-19 who presented to two emergency departments in Anhui for the first time between 24 January 2020 and 20 February 2020 were enrolled in the study. The initial clinical data of these patients, such as epidemiological features, symptoms, laboratory results, and chest computed tomography (CT) findings were collected using a standard case report form on admission. Thirty-two patients were diagnosed with COVID-19; the remaining 84 patients were referred to as negative cases. The median age of the diagnosed patients was 46 years, but only 35 years for negative cases. History of exposure to Wuhan or COVID-19 patients in the previous 2 weeks was observed in 63% of the diagnosed and 44% of negative cases. Median time from illness onset to ED admission was 5 days for all patients, diagnosed patients, and negative cases, respectively. Fever was observed in 27 (84%) and 57 (68%) diagnosed and negative cases, respectively. Nineteen (59%) diagnosed and 24 (29%) negative cases had lymphopenia on admission in ED. A chest CT scan on admission revealed the presence of pneumonia in the majority of the diagnosed patients (30 out of 32, 94%) and in 56 (67%) negative cases. Bilateral involvement and ground-glass opacity (GGO) were present in 91% and 47% of the diagnosed patients. Thirty-two patients were diagnosed with COVID-19; the remaining 84 patients were referred to as negative cases. The median age of the diagnosed patients was 46 years, but only 35 years for negative cases. History of exposure to Wuhan or COVID-19 patients in the previous 2 weeks was observed in 63% of the diagnosed and 44% of negative cases. Median time from illness onset to ED admission was 5 days for all patients, diagnosed patients, and negative cases, respectively. Fever was observed in 27 (84%) and 57 (68%) diagnosed and negative cases, respectively. Nineteen (59%) diagnosed and 24 (29%) negative cases had lymphopenia on admission in ED. A chest CT scan on admission revealed the presence of pneumonia in the majority of the diagnosed patients (30 out of 32, 94%) and in 56 (67%) negative cases. Bilateral involvement and GGO were present in 91% and 47% of the diagnosed patients.

Diagnosis of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome and extensive heterotopic ossification in a patient with a femoral fracture: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare complex vessel malformation syndrome characterized by venous varicosities, capillary malformations, and limb hypertrophy. However, extensive heterotopic ossification (HO) secondary to this syndrome is extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a patient with previously undiagnosed KTS and extensive HO who presented with a femoral fracture secondary to a motor vehicle accident. Extensive ossification, which leads to compulsive contracture deformity and dysfunction of the leg, was distributed on the flexor muscle side, as revealed by the radiograph. The diagnosis was finally established by combining imaging and histological analysis with classical clinical symptoms. Amputation was performed at the fracture site proximal to the infected necrotic foci. Open management of the fracture was challenging owning to the pervasive ossification and tendency for excessive bleeding. Gene sequencing analysis showed homozygous mutation of FoxO1 gene. CONCLUSIONS: Definitive diagnosis of a combination of KTS and extensive HO requires detailed imaging analysis and pathologic evidence. Mutation of the FoxO1 gene, which regulates bone formation by resistance to oxidative stress in osteoblasts, is a potential factor in the microenvironment of malformed vessels caused by KTS.

Cerium Oxide Nanozymes Improve Skeletal Muscle Function in Gestational Diabetic Offspring by Attenuating Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a significant complication during pregnancy that results in abnormalities in the function of multiple systems in the offspring, which include skeletal muscle dysfunction and reduced systemic metabolic capacity. One of the primary causes behind this intergenerational effect is the presence of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the skeletal muscle of the offspring due to exposure to a high-glucose environment in utero. Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanozymes are antioxidant agents with polymerase activity that have been widely used in the treatment of inflammatory and aging diseases. In this study, we synthesized ultrasmall particle size CeO2 nanozymes and applied them in GDM mouse offspring. The CeO2 nanozymes demonstrated an ability to increase insulin sensitivity and enhance skeletal muscle motility in GDM offspring by improving mitochondrial activity, increasing mitochondrial ATP synthesis function, and restoring abnormal mitochondrial morphology. Furthermore, at the cellular level, CeO2 nanozymes could ameliorate metabolic dysregulation and decrease cell differentiation in adult muscle cells induced by hyperglycemic stimuli. This was achieved through the elimination of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an improvement in mitochondrial oxidative respiration function. In conclusion, CeO2 nanozymes play a crucial role in preserving muscle function and maintaining the metabolic stability of organisms. Consequently, they serve to reverse the negative effects of GDM on skeletal muscle physiology in the offspring.

Piezoelectric-Enhanced Nanocatalysts Trigger Neutrophil N1 Polarization against Bacterial Biofilm by Disrupting Redox Homeostasis.

Strategies of manipulating redox signaling molecules to inhibit or activate immune signals have revolutionized therapeutics involving reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, certain diseases with dual resistance barriers to the attacks by both ROS and immune cells, such as bacterial biofilm infections of medical implants, are difficult to eradicate by a single exogenous oxidative stimulus due to the diversity and complexity of the redox species involved. Here, this work demonstrates that metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles capable of disrupting the bacterial ROS-defense system can dismantle bacterial redox resistance and induce potent antimicrobial immune responses in a mouse model of surgical implant infection by simultaneously modulating redox homeostasis and initiating neutrophil N1 polarization in the infection microenvironment. Mechanistically, the piezoelectrically enhanced MOF triggers ROS production by tilting the band structure and acts synergistically with the aurintricarboxylic acid loaded within the MOF, which inhibits the activity of the cystathionine γ-cleaving enzyme. This leads to biofilm structure disruption and antigen exposure through homeostatic imbalance and synergistic activation of neutrophil N1 polarization signals. Thus, this study provides an alternative but promising strategy for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant biofilm infections.

Balancing Bioresponsive Biofilm Eradication and Guided Tissue Repair via Pro-Efferocytosis and Bidirectional Pyroptosis Regulation during Implant Surgery.

There is an increasingly growing demand to balance tissue repair guidance and opportunistic infection (OI) inhibition in clinical implant surgery. Herein, we developed a nanoadjuvant for all-stage tissue repair guidance and biofilm-responsive OI eradication via in situ incorporating Cobaltiprotoporphyrin (CoPP) into Prussian blue (PB) to prepare PB-CoPP nanozymes (PCZs). Released CoPP possesses a pro-efferocytosis effect for eliminating apoptotic and progressing necrotic cells in tissue trauma, thus preventing secondary inflammation. Once OIs occur, PCZs with switchable nanocatalytic capacity can achieve bidirectional pyroptosis regulation. Once reaching the acidic biofilm microenvironment, PCZs possess peroxidase (POD)-like activity that can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to eradicate bacterial biofilms, especially when synergized with the photothermal effect. Furthermore, generated ROS can promote macrophage pyroptosis to secrete inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial proteins for biofilm eradication in vivo. After eradicating the biofilm, PCZs possess catalase (CAT)-like activity in a neutral environment, which can scavenge ROS and inhibit macrophage pyroptosis, thereby improving the inflammatory microenvironment. Briefly, PCZs as nanoadjuvants feature the capability of all-stage tissue repair guidance and biofilm-responsive OI inhibition that can be routinely performed in all implant surgeries, providing a wide range of application prospects and commercial translational value.

Biodegradable oxygen-evolving metalloantibiotics for spatiotemporal sono-metalloimmunotherapy against orthopaedic biofilm infections.

Pathogen-host competition for manganese and intricate immunostimulatory pathways severely attenuates the efficacy of antibacterial immunotherapy against biofilm infections associated with orthopaedic implants. Herein, we introduce a spatiotemporal sono-metalloimmunotherapy (SMIT) strategy aimed at efficient biofilm ablation by custom design of ingenious biomimetic metal-organic framework (PCN-224)-coated MnO2-hydrangea nanoparticles (MnPM) as a metalloantibiotic. Upon reaching the acidic H2O2-enriched biofilm microenvironment, MnPM can convert abundant H2O2 into oxygen, which is conducive to significantly enhancing the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-triggered sonodynamic therapy (SDT), thereby exposing bacteria-associated antigens (BAAs). Moreover, MnPM disrupts bacterial homeostasis, further killing more bacteria. Then, the Mn ions released from the degraded MnO2 can recharge immune cells to enhance the cGAS-STING signaling pathway sensing of BAAs, further boosting the immune response and suppressing biofilm growth via biofilm-specific T cell responses. Following US withdrawal, the sustained oxygenation promotes the survival and migration of fibroblasts, stimulates the expression of angiogenic growth factors and angiogenesis, and neutralizes excessive inflammation. Our findings highlight that MnPM may act as an immune costimulatory metalloantibiotic to regulate the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, presenting a promising alternative to antibiotics for orthopaedic biofilm infection treatment and pro-tissue repair.

Nanoadjuvant-triggered STING activation evokes systemic immunotherapy for repetitive implant-related infections.

Repetitive implant-related infections (IRIs) are devastating complications in orthopedic surgery, threatening implant survival and even the life of the host. Biofilms conceal bacterial-associated antigens (BAAs) and result in a "cold tumor"-like immune silent microenvironment, allowing the persistence of IRIs. To address this challenge, an iron-based covalent organic framed nanoadjuvant doped with curcumin and platinum (CFCP) was designed in the present study to achieve efficient treatment of IRIs by inducing a systemic immune response. Specifically, enhanced sonodynamic therapy (SDT) from CFCP combined with iron ion metabolic interference increased the release of bacterial-associated double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Immunogenic dsDNA promoted dendritic cell (DC) maturation through activation of the stimulator of interferon gene (STING) and amplified the immune stimulation of neutrophils via interferon-ß (IFN-ß). At the same time, enhanced BAA presentation aroused humoral immunity in B and T cells, creating long-term resistance to repetitive infections. Encouragingly, CFCP served as neoadjuvant immunotherapy for sustained antibacterial protection on implants and was expected to guide clinical IRI treatment and relapse prevention.

Starr frame-assisted minimally invasive internal fixation for pelvic fractures: Simultaneous anterior and posterior ring stability.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the surgical techniques, efficacy, and safety of Starr frame-assisted minimally invasive internal fixation for simultaneous anterior and posterior ring stability in pelvic fractures. METHODS: The clinical data of 22 patients with anterior and posterior pelvic ring injuries who underwent Starr frame-assisted minimally invasive internal fixation were retrospectively collected. The anterior pelvic ring was fixed with an anterior subcutaneous internal fixator (INFIX), and the posterior pelvic ring was fixed with sacroiliac screws. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy times, number of assistants, complications, and weight-bearing time were analyzed. The Matta score was used to evaluate the fracture reduction. The Majeed score was used to evaluate clinical efficacy, and Gibbon's classification was used to estimate the occurrence of sacral nerve injury. RESULTS: All 22 patients were treated with sacroiliac screws for posterior ring injuries, including 12 cases with single sacroiliac screws, nine with two sacroiliac screws, and one with three sacroiliac screws. INFIX was used for all anterior ring fixation, including two screws in seven cases, three screws in 13 cases, and four screws in two cases. The fracture reduction quality was excellent in 15 cases, good in four cases, and moderate in three cases by Matta scores. All patients were followed up for 6-20 (12.5 ± 5.7) months. Callus-formation time based on postoperative X-ray was 3-8 (4.3 ± 1.2) weeks. Weight-bearing time was 3-12 (6.3 ± 2.8) weeks after surgery. At the last follow-up, 15 patients were evaluated as excellent, five as good, and two as fair according to the Majeed score. Gibbons' classification showed that one of the three patients with sacral nerve injury recovered completely and two did not recover. Complications occurred in six patients, including one with internal fixation loosening, two with anterolateral thigh paresthesia, one with malunion, one with nonunion, and one with heterotopic ossification. CONCLUSIONS: Starr frame-assisted minimally invasive internal fixation could stabilize the anterior and posterior pelvic rings simultaneously, overcoming the difficulty of fracture reduction. This technique can help patients with early postoperative weight-bearing and improved functional outcomes, providing a novel modality for the minimally invasive treatment of pelvic ring injuries.

Self-Homeostasis Immunoregulatory Strategy for Implant-Related Infections through Remodeling Redox Balance.

Implant-related infections (IRIs) are catastrophic complications after orthopedic surgery. Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in IRIs create a redox-imbalanced microenvironment around the implant, which severely limits the curing of IRIs by inducing biofilm formation and immune disorders. However, current therapeutic strategies commonly eliminate infection utilizing the explosive generation of ROS, which exacerbates the redox imbalance, aggravating immune disorders and promoting infection chronicity. Herein, a self-homeostasis immunoregulatory strategy based on a luteolin (Lut)-loaded copper (Cu2+)-doped hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticle system (Lut@Cu-HN) is designed to cure IRIs by remodeling the redox balance. In the acidic infection environment, Lut@Cu-HN is continuously degraded to release Lut and Cu2+. As both an antibacterial and immunomodulatory agent, Cu2+ kills bacteria directly and promotes macrophage pro-inflammatory phenotype polarization to activate the antibacterial immune response. Simultaneously, Lut scavenges excessive ROS to prevent the Cu2+-exacerbated redox imbalance from impairing macrophage activity and function, thus reducing Cu2+ immunotoxicity. The synergistic effect of Lut and Cu2+ confers excellent antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties to Lut@Cu-HN. As demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, Lut@Cu-HN self-regulates immune homeostasis through redox balance remodeling, ultimately facilitating IRI eradication and tissue regeneration.

Metformin reverses impaired osteogenesis due to hyperglycemia-induced neutrophil extracellular traps formation.

Diabetic patients suffer from delayed fracture healing and impaired osteogenic function, but the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are not fully understood. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formed by neutrophils in high glucose microenvironments affect the healing of wounds and other tissues. Some evidence supports that NETs may inhibit osteogenic processes in the microenvironment through sustained inflammatory activation. In this study, we observed that high glucose-induced NETs led to sustained inflammatory activation of macrophages. Pro-inflammatory NETs inhibited the osteogenic function of osteoblasts in vitro. A bone defect healing model based on diabetic rat animal models confirmed that bone healing was impaired in a high glucose environment, but this process could be reversed by DNase I, a NETs clearance agent. More importantly, the classic hypoglycemic drug metformin had a similar antagonistic effect as DNase I and could reverse the inhibitory effect of NETs on osteogenesis in a high-glucose environment. In summary, we found that NETs formation induced by high glucose microenvironment is a potential cause of osteogenic dysfunction in diabetic patients, and metformin can reverse this osteogenic disadvantage.

Inflammation-Responsive Hydrogel Spray for Synergistic Prevention of Traumatic Heterotopic Ossification via Dual-Homeostatic Modulation Strategy.

Traumatic heterotopic ossification (THO) represents one of the most prominent contributors to post-traumatic joint dysfunction, which currently lacks an effective and definitive preventative approach. Inflammatory activation due to immune dyshomeostasis during the early stages of trauma is believed to be critical in initiating the THO disease process. This study proposes a dual-homeostatic modulation (DHM) strategy to synergistically prevent THO without compromising normal trauma repair by maintaining immune homeostasis and inducing stem cell homeostasis. A methacrylate-hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel spray device encapsulating a curcumin-loaded zeolitic imidazolate framework-8@ceric oxide (ZIF-8@CeO2, CZC) nanoparticles (CZCH) is designed. Photo-crosslinked CZCH is used to form hydrogel films fleetly in periosteal soft tissues to achieve sustained curcumin and CeO2 nanoparticles release in response to acidity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the inflammatory microenvironment. In vitro experiments and RNA-seq results demonstrated that CZCH achieved dual-homeostatic regulation of inflammatory macrophages and stem cells through immune repolarization and enhanced efferocytosis, maintaining immune cell homeostasis and normal differentiation. These findings of the DHM strategy are also validated by establishing THO mice and rat models. In conclusion, the CZCH hydrogel spray developed based on the DHM strategy enables synergistic THO prevention, providing a reference for a standard procedure of clinical operations.

Tracing the evolution of robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty: a bibliometric analysis of the top 100 highly cited articles.

Robotic-assisted surgical systems hold promise in enhancing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes and patients' quality of life. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the literature on robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (r-TKA), providing insights into its current development, clinical application, and research trends. A systematic search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) to identify relevant articles. Data were collected from the top 100 highly cited articles. Article evidence levels were assessed following established guidelines. Statistical analyses and visualizations were performed to reveal publication trends, citations, research hotspots, and collaborative networks. The analysis covered 100 highly cited articles meeting the research criteria, with a focus on the last five years. The United States emerged as a major contributor, with most publications and citations in the Journal of Knee Surgery and Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy. Research priorities revolved around clinical outcomes, accuracy, and alignment of r-TKA. Notably, higher evidence levels correlated with more citations, indicating greater attention. Interest in and research on r-TKA is steadily increasing, with a few countries at the forefront of these endeavors. While numerous studies have already reported short- to medium-term follow-up results, it is crucial to conduct longer-term investigations to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the clinical benefits that r-TKA offers compared to conventional techniques. Through ongoing research and a greater embrace of robotic technology, we can continue to improve the quality of life for patients undergoing knee arthroplasty.

Physically cross-linked organo-hydrogels for friction interfaces in joint replacements: design, evaluation and potential clinical applications.

This paper investigates physically crosslinked organo-hydrogels for total hip replacement surgery. Current materials in artificial joints have limitations in mechanical performance and biocompatibility. To overcome these issues, a new approach based on hydrogen bonds between polyvinyl alcohol, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), and glycerin is proposed to develop bioactive organo-hydrogels with improved mechanical properties and biocompatibility. This study analyzes local pathological characteristics, systemic toxicity, and mechanical properties of the gels. The results show that the gels possess excellent biocompatibility and mechanical strength, suggesting their potential as an alternative material for total hip replacement surgery. These findings contribute to improving patient outcomes in joint replacement procedures.