Research progress of risk factors and early diagnostic biomarkers of gout-induced renal injury.

Gout renal injury has an insidious onset, no obvious symptoms, and laboratory abnormalities in the early stages of the disease. The injury is not easily detected, and in many cases, the patients have entered the renal failure stage at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, the detection of gout renal injury-related risk factors and early diagnostic biomarkers of gout renal injury is essential for the prevention and early diagnosis of the disease. This article reviews the research progress in risk factors and early diagnostic biomarkers of gout renal injury.

Fixed-bearing vs mobile-bearing prostheses for total knee arthroplasty after approximately 10 years of follow-up: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The benefits and risks of fixed-bearing and mobile-bearing designs for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were compared, and long-term functional, clinical and radiological outcomes were analysed. METHODS: A comprehensive search in the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Central databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing fixed-bearing and mobile-bearing designs with no less than 9 years of follow-up. Primary outcome measures were Knee Society Scores (KSSs), range of motion (ROM) in knee joint values, complication rates and revision rates. The final search was performed on 23 April 2021. RESULTS: Six RCTs were included. A total of 451 patients with 612 knees met the inclusion criteria. The mobile-bearing design, in contrast to the fixed-bearing design, can clearly increase the KSFSs, especially with posterior cruciate retention. There was no significant difference in the KSKSs, ROM values, revision rates or complication rates between the two bearing design groups. CONCLUSION: After approximately 10 years of follow-up, the mobile-bearing design has advantages in KSFSs over the fixed-bearing design. The mobile-bearing design may also have advantages in the revision rates over the fixed-bearing design when the posterior cruciate ligament is substituted. There may be no clear difference in KSKSs, ROM values or complication rates between these two designs.

Bisphosphonates Can Maintain Periprosthetic Bone Mass Density after Total Hip Replacement, with Controversy in Region of Interest 5.

BACKGROUND: Total hip replacement (THR) is the standard surgical treatment of hip diseases. Periprosthetic bone mass density (BMD) loss may be a cause for revision surgery. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are now the principal class medications for osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the effect of BPs on treating periprosthetic osteoporosis after THR via a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, the Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed for RCTs on the effect of BPs on treating periprosthetic osteoporosis after THR and clinical outcomes relative to controls. The primary outcome measures were the change in BMD in each region of interest (ROI), the change in serum bone turnover marker levels, the change in functional parameters and the risk of adverse effects (AEs). The final search was performed in March, 2020. RESULTS: Nine RCTs were included. A total of 359 patients met the inclusion criteria. BPs can clearly maintain periprosthetic BMD in ROIs at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 at 6, 12 and 24 months. In addition, BPs can clearly decrease serum procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) levels at 12 months. There was no significant difference in the risk of AEs between the BP and control groups; however, BPs can cause more patients to decline participation. CONCLUSION: BPs can effectively maintain overall periprosthetic BMD, but BMD in ROI 5 remains controversial. In addition, the safety of BPs is relatively high, but the compliance may be relatively low.

Erratum.

Due to an overlook, publication type in the article entitled as "Bisphosphonates Can Maintain Periprosthetic Bone Mass Density after Total Hip Replacement, with Controversy in Region of Interest 5" by Dr. Dongsheng Hao published in the journal "Current Pharmaceutical Design" Volume 26, No 38, Page no. 4925-4933 was wrong. The corrected publication type is Research Article. Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused. The Bentham Editorial Policy can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policies-main.php.

[Non-operation related risk factors of wound complications of calcaneal fractures using lateral extensive L-shaped incision].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the non-operation related risk factors of the wound complications by using lateral extensive L-shaped incision for open reduction and internal fixation of calcaneal fractures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 58 patients with closed calcaneal fractures (63 calcaneus) treated by using lateral intensive L-shaped incision for open reduction and internal fixation between September 2006 and August 2011. There were 52 males (56 calcaneus) and 6 females (7 calcaneus), aged 18 to 64 years (mean, 35 years). The causes of injury included fall injury in 53 cases (58 calcaneus), traffic injury in 5 cases (5 calcaneus). The mean time between injury and operation was 8 days (range, 3-22 days). According to Sanders classification, 4 calcaneus were rated as type II, 31 calcaneus as type III, and 28 calcaneus as type IV. Postoperative complications were observed and graded; 58 patients were divided into complication group (> or = grade 2) and control group (< grade 2). The univariate analysis was used to analyze 18 factors which may lead to wound complications; multi-factor unconditioned logistic regression analysis was done for the factors showing significant difference. RESULTS: According to postoperative wound complications grading, 41 patients (46 calcaneus) were included in the control group, whose incision healed primarily, and 17 patients (17 calcaneus) in the complication group. In 17 patients of the complication group, 14 had skin necrosis or dehiscence, and 3 had superficial infection; they obtained healing after symptomatic treatment. The univariate analysis showed significant differences in combined spinal fracture, diabetes mellitus, and long-term smoking between 2 groups (P < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis revealed that combined spinal fracture was an independent risk factor for wound complications (95% confidence interval: 0.004-0.360, P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Combined spinal fracture is an independent risk factor for wound complications after open reduction and internal fixation of calcaneal fracture using lateral extensive L-shaped incision.

Increased synovial fluid visfatin is positively linked to cartilage degradation biomarkers in osteoarthritis.

The aim of this study is to investigate visfatin levels in both synovial fluid (SF) and plasma of patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) and its relationship with biomarkers of cartilage degradation in SF. Thirty OA patients, 12 SF control, and 12 plasma control subjects were enrolled in this study. Visfatin levels in both SF and plasma were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Degradation biomarkers of collagen II and aggrecan in SF were also measured. The radiographic grading of OA in the knee was performed by the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) criteria. Compared to controls, OA patients had higher SF visfatin concentration (8.95 ± 2.5 vs. 4.48 ± 2.49 ng/ml, P < 0.001). SF visfatin levels in KL grade 4 were significantly elevated compared with those of KL grade 3 (10.57 ± 2.49 vs. 7.54 ± 1.5 ng/ml, P = 0.001). SF visfatin positively correlated with degradation biomarker of collagen II, CTX-II (r = 0.497, P = 0.005), and degradation biomarker of aggrecan, AGG1 (r = 0.451, P = 0.012) and AGG2 (r = 0.434, P = 0.017). These findings suggest that SF visfatin might involved in cartilage matrix degradation.

TNFα-mediated apoptosis in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes sensitized by PI3K-NF-κB inhibitor, not mTOR inhibitor.

To investigate apoptosis of osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes stimulated with different inhibitors targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) pathway, we isolated first passage chondrocytes from OA patients and then treated them with the inhibitors in combination with TNFα, and then collected the stimulated chondrocytes for Western blotting. Chondrocytes from OA patients expressed cleaved caspase-3 and PARP, suggesting apoptotic background. We here, validated that 10 ng/ml of TNFα couldn't induce more chondrocytes apoptosis. PI3K inhibitor LY294002 or NF-κB inhibitor CAPE, but not mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 in combination with TNFα could facilitate apoptosis. CAPE-induced more apoptosis could be explained by c-FLIP downregulation more than cIAP1 upregulation. And, we showed the first time that PI3K-NF-κB pathway, but not mTOR pathway could prevent chondrocytes apoptosis induced by a pro-apoptotic factor TNFα and call for attention while trying to inhibit NF-κB as a therapeutic target.

[Primary culture and adipogenic process of pre-adipocytes from infrapatellar fat pad of osteoarthritic patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the primary culture and adipogenic process of pre-adipocytes from infrapatellar fat pad of osteoarthritic patients. METHODS: The pre-adipocytes were isolated by enzymatic digestion. The morphological changes of cultured cells were observed and the growth curve was drawn by CCK-8 method. During the adipogenic process, the intracytoplasmic lipid of differentiated cells was determined by oil red O staining. And the adiponectin levels in the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). RESULTS: The primary cultured fibroblast-like cells were spindle-shaped. In the process of adipogenesis, the intracytoplasmic lipid droplets were observed at Day 3 and over 80% of the cells differentiated into adipocytes at Day 21. With the increasing number of adipocytes, the adiponectin levels in the culture supernatant elevated and peaked at Week 3. The differentiated cells were proven to be adipocytes functioning actively. CONCLUSION: The primary culture and adipogenic process of pre-adipocytes in infrapatellar fat pad of osteoarthritic patients has been successfully established. Thus it may provide an ideal model for the study of endocrine function of infrapatellar fat pad and understanding its role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

[The Biomechanics Influence of unilateral laminectomy and discectomy surgery on the adjacent different grades of Disc Degeneration].

OBJECTIVES: To study the stress distribution of the adjacent different grades of disc degeneration underwenting unilateral laminectomy and discectomy surgery using non-linear finite element analysis. METHODS: Based on the lumbar CT scans, the finite element model (FEM) of lumbar spinal segment (L3-L5) was established. According to L3-L4 intervertebral disc degeneration, different grades of disc degeneration (healthy, mild, moderate and severe) models were established and unilateral laminectomy and discectomy surgery were also established. Physiological action such as flexion, extension, lateral bending and lateral rotation was simulated and the von Mises stress in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus matrix of L3-L4 disc was investigated. RESULTS: After unilateral laminectomy and discectomy surgery, the extremum value of von Mises stress of nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus matrix was maximum during extension and minimus left bending in the healthy intervertebral disc. Compared with healthy disc, the increment of extremum value was found during left bending in the mildly degenerated disc. When the value decreased in the moderately degenerated disc, but still higher than that in the healthy disc. When the adjacent disc is severely degenerated, the extremum value of nucleus pulposus decreased, in addition to axial rotation, and even lower than that of healthy disc. The value of annulus matrix decreased and still higher than that of healthy disc, especially during left bending. CONCLUSIONS: After unilateral laminectomy and discectomy surgery, avoiding lateral bending will reduce the abnormal stress in the degenerated disc and decreased the risk of accelerating disc degeneration.

Overexpression of BMI-1 promotes cell growth and resistance to cisplatin treatment in osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: BMI-1 is a member of the polycomb group of genes (PcGs), and it has been implicated in the development and progression of several malignancies, but its role in osteosarcoma remains to be elucidated. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In the present study, we found that BMI-1 was overexpressed in different types of osteosarcomas. Downregulation of BMI-1 by lentivirus mediated RNA interference (RNAi) significantly impaired cell viability and colony formation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo of osteosarcoma cells. BMI-1 knockdown sensitized cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis through inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway. Moreover, BMI-1-depletion-induced phenotype could be rescued by forced expression of BMI-1 wobble mutant which is resistant to inhibition by the small interfering RNA (siRNA). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest a crucial role for BMI-1 in osteosarcoma pathogenesis.

Synovial fluid level of adiponectin correlated with levels of aggrecan degradation markers in osteoarthritis.

The objective of this study was to investigate adiponectin levels in both plasma and synovial fluid of female patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to analyze the correlation between adiponectin and degradation markers of cartilage matrix in synovial fluid. Thirty female patients with knee OA were enrolled in this study. Levels of adiponectin and degradation markers of cartilage matrix were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Adiponectin level in synovial fluid was significantly lower with respect to paired plasma level (0.93 ± 0.64 vs. 7.50 ± 3.29 µg/ml, P < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed that synovial fluid adiponectin significantly correlated with degradation markers of aggrecan, AGG1 (r = 0.441, P = 0.015) and AGG2 (r = 0.445, P = 0.014), but not significantly correlated with degradation marker of collagen II, CTX-II. These findings suggest that adiponectin might involve in the regulation of the degradation of cartilage matrix in OA.

A Gaussian-3 theoretical study of small silicon-lithium clusters: electronic structures and electron affinities of SinLi(-) (n = 2-8).

The molecular structures of neutral Si n Li ( n = 2-8) species and their anions have been studied by means of the higher level of the Gaussian-3 (G3) techniques. The lowest energy structures of these clusters have been reported. The ground-state structures of neutral clusters are "attaching structures", in which the Li atom is bound to Si n clusters. The ground-state geometries of anions, however, are "substitutional structures", which is derived from Si n+1 by replacing a Si atom with a Li (-). The electron affinities of Si n Li and Si n have been presented. The theoretical electron affinities of Si n are in good agreement with the experiment data. The reliable electron affinities of Si n Li are predicted to be 1.87 eV for Si 2Li, 2.06 eV for Si 3Li, 2.01 eV for Si 4Li, 2.61 eV for Si 5Li, 2.36 eV for Si 6Li, 2.21 eV for Si 7Li, and 3.18 eV for Si 8Li. The dissociation energies of Li atom from the lowest energy structures of Si n Li and Si atom from Si n clusters have also been estimated respectively to examine relative stabilities.