Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty should not be selected as the primary option for intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients aged 85 years or more.

This study aimed to compare the early outcome of proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BPH) in elderly intertrochanteric fractures (ITFs) patients aged 85 years or more.This is a prospective cohort study, and we analyzed 120 elderly patients aged 85 years or more presented with ITFs who underwent BPH and PFNA between January 2017 and July 2018. 84 patients treated with PFNA were set as Group A, and 36 patients treated with BPH were set as Group B. Data such as gender, age, period of follow-up, fracture classification (according to Evans-Jensen classification), preoperative ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status, interval between injury and operation, method of anaesthesia, duration of operation time, blood loss during surgery, time of weight bearing after operation, incidence of complications 2 weeks after operation, mortality rates and Harris Hip Score 12 months after operation were recorded and compared.There are no statistically significant differences when compared general data in patients from group A and B (P > .05). Operation time in Group A is less than Group B (103.33, 40-230 min vs 122.64, 75-180 minute, P < .01). Blood loss during surgery in Group A is less than Group B (70.24, 50-100 mL vs 194.44, 100-500 mL, P < .01). Time of weight bearing after operation in Group A is longer than Group B (50.70, 7-100 days vs 6.67, 4-14 days, P < .01). Incidence of complications 2 weeks after operation in Group A is less than Group B (14.12% vs 36.11%, P < .01). Mortality rates 12 months after operation in Group A is similar with Group B (13.10% vs 19.44%, P > .05). Harris Hip Score 12 months after operation in Group A is similar with Group B (64.64,0-91 points vs 64.41, 0-90 points, P > .05).Although BPH and PFNA have similar functional outcome and mortality rates 12 months after operation, BPH has more postoperative complications in elderly patients aged 85 years or more with ITFs, Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty should not be selected as the primary option for ITFs in elderly patients aged 85 years or more.

Identification of aberrantly methylated differentially expressed genes targeted by differentially expressed miRNA in osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone tumors diagnosed in children and adolescents. Recent studies have shown a prognostic role of DNA methylation in various cancers, including OS. The aim of this study was to identify the aberrantly methylated genes that are prognostically relevant in OS. METHODS: The differentially expressed mRNAs, miRNAs and methylated genes (DEGs, DEMs and DMGs respectively) were screened from various GEO databases, and the potential target genes of the DEMs were predicted by the RNA22 program. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using the STRING database and visualized by Cytoscape software. The functional enrichment and survival analyses of the screened genes was performed using the R software. RESULTS: Forty-seven downregulated hypermethylated genes and three upregulated hypomethylated genes were identified that were enriched in cell activation, migration and proliferation functions, and were involved in cancer-related pathways like JAK-STAT and PI3K-AKT. Eight downregulated hypermethylated tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) were identified among the screened genes based on the TSGene database. These hub genes are likely involved in OS genesis, progression and metastasis, and are potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. CONCLUSIONS: TSGs including PYCARD, STAT5A, CXCL12 and CXCL14 were aberrantly methylated in OS, and are potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Our findings provide new insights into the role of methylation in OS progression.

Data analysis in the post-genome-wide association study era.

Since the first report of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on human age-related macular degeneration, GWAS has successfully been used to discover genetic variants for a variety of complex human diseases and/or traits, and thousands of associated loci have been identified. However, the underlying mechanisms for these loci remain largely unknown. To make these GWAS findings more useful, it is necessary to perform in-depth data mining. The data analysis in the post-GWAS era will include the following aspects: fine-mapping of susceptibility regions to identify susceptibility genes for elucidating the biological mechanism of action; joint analysis of susceptibility genes in different diseases; integration of GWAS, transcriptome, and epigenetic data to analyze expression and methylation quantitative trait loci at the whole-genome level, and find single-nucleotide polymorphisms that influence gene expression and DNA methylation; genome-wide association analysis of disease-related DNA copy number variations. Applying these strategies and methods will serve to strengthen GWAS data to enhance the utility and significance of GWAS in improving understanding of the genetics of complex diseases or traits and translate these findings for clinical applications.