The mechanism of Danzikang Knee Granule in regulating the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells based on TGF-ß signaling pathway in cartilage repair in knee osteoarthritis.

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Danzikang Knee Joint Granules in regulating the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into cartilage to cartilage repair of knee osteoarthritis based on the TGF-ß signaling pathway. For this purpose, 60 SD rats were divided into four groups; the control group and treated groups with low, medium, and high concentrations of Danzikang. The histopathology of rats was analyzed and TGF-ß signaling pathway-related proteins were determined. Results showed that the average optical density in serum of the Danzikang Granule intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05), and the average optical density increased with drug concentration increasing (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, Danzikang knee granule cell survival in the intervention group was elevated the serum and reduced cell apoptosis rate (P < 0.05). Danzikang knee infusion concentrations were positively correlated with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell survival rates (P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with apoptosis rate (P < 0.05). TGF-ß1, BMP2, and BMP4 were significantly increased in the three concentrations of the Danzikang Granule serum intervention group (P<0.05). TGF-ß1, BMP2 and BMP4 were significantly increased in the high concentration group, while TGF-ß1, BMP2 and BMP4 were significantly decreased in the low concentration group (P<0.05). The Wakitani histological score of the control group was significantly lower than the other three groups (P<0.05). In general, Danzikang Knee Granule plays a role in cartilage repair in knee osteoarthritis by promoting mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and cartilage differentiation, and the specific mechanism may be related to TGF-ß1/BMPs signaling pathway.

Efficiency and safety of traditional growing rod technique in the treatment of early onset dystrophic scoliosis secondary to type 1 neurofibromatosis with intraspinal rib head in children / 中华骨科杂志

Objective:To investigate the efficiency and safety of traditional growing rod in the treatment of early onset dystrophic scoliosis secondary to type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1-DS) with intraspinal rib head in children.Methods:From September 2006 to May 2020, this study recruited 20 children with intraspinal rib head with early onset NF1-DS who had received traditional growing rods. There were 13 boys and 7 girls and the age of the initial operation was 7.0±1.6 years (range, 4.1-9.8 years). There were 7 cases of simple left chest bend, 9 cases of simple right chest bend, and 4 cases of double chest bend; 13 patients had varying degrees of kyphosis deformity. Two children had neurological symptoms before surgery, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) were grade D. The proportion of the intraspinal rib head (IRP), the Cobb angle of the main chest bend, apical vertebra rotation (AVR), apical vertebral translation (AVT), trunk shift (TS) and sagittal TK, lumbar lordosis (LL), sagittal balance and T 1-S 1 height were measured before and after first time internal fixation and at last follow-up, and the complications were also evaluated. Results:All 20 patients were followed up and the average follow-up time was 41.6±23.8 months (range, 24-99 months). A total of 85 operations was conducted including 63 protrude operations. After operation, the IRP was significantly lower than that before operation (preoperative 33.1%±17.5% vs. postoperative 22.2%±11.3%, P<0.001) and no significant correction loss was found at last follow-up 23.7%±12.4% ( P>0.05). The mean Cobb angle decreased from 75.9°±26.7° preoperatively to 45.0°±18.5° postoperatively ( P<0.001) and there was still significant improvement at the last follow-up (41.0°±17.2°) compared with postoperatively ( P<0.05). The AVR was significantly reduced after surgery compared with preoperatively (33.0°±10.1° vs. 39.3°±13.3°, P<0.001), and the last follow-up (40.1°±11.4°) was significantly improved compared with postoperative ( P=0.005). The T 1-S 1 height increased from 259.8±70.7 mm preoperatively to 296.9±78.4 mm postoperatively ( P=0.001), and at the last follow-up 296.9±78.4 mm was still significantly higher than after operation ( P<0.001), with an average annual increase of 12.4±3.2 mm. Significant correction of AVT, TK, LL and sagittal balance were noted after initial surgery ( P<0.05), and no significant correction loss was found at last follow-up ( P>0.05). There were 10 complications in 7 cases. There were 5 complications of pedicle screw loosening, 1 complication of bolt droping, 2 complications of broken rod, 1 complication of distal junctional kyphosis and 1 complication of adding-on phenomenon. 2 cases with nerve injury were recover after operation (AIS grading E). None of the children had new neurological complications during growth rod insertion and multiple stretching during follow-up. Conclusion:For children with early onset NF1-DS with intraspinal rib head, if the preoperative AIS grade is D or E, traditional growing rod technique is relatively safe and effective and can make the intraspinal rib head remove from the spinal canal partly.

Platelet count as a novel potential predictor of periprosthetic joint infection / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Obtaining synovial fluid for diagnostic test of periprosthetic joint infection is invasive and painful to patients. Platelet count is a regular blood test which has been used as a possible predictor of several infectious diseases. Presumably, it could be one of the indicators of periprosthetic joint infection. OBJECTIVE: To identify the accuracies of platelet combined with white blood cell, erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection. METHODS: Patients undergoing revision arthroplasty from March 2013 to December 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine were retrospectively enrolled. A diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection was confirmed in 77 patients according to the criterions from the Musculoskeletal Infection Society; the remaining 137 patients were confirmed as aseptic cases. White blood cell, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or C-reactive protein and platelet count were compared between the two groups. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The platelet values were significantly increased in periprosthetic joint infection cases. Sensitivity and specificity of the platelet for periprosthetic joint infection were 64.94％ and 86.13％, respectively. Platelet demonstrated a higher accuracy when compared to erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. In such cases, the platelet shows a certain reference value in confirming the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection. Platelet was enough used as adjunct diagnostic tool in patients suspected with periprosthetic joint infection.

Quantitative evaluation and feasibility analysis of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image quality based on three-dimensional parameters / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image based on a single layer of image and the choice of regions of interest (ROI) is affected by individual subjectivity, making it difficult to compare the image quality. In this article, a quantitative evaluation method of CBCT image quality based on three-dimensional parameters was proposed, which was extended from single layer to multi-layer and from pixel to voxel. The selection range of ROI was discussed to reduce the error of artificial selection and realize the quantitative evaluation of image quality by three-dimensional parameters.

Quantitative evaluation and feasibility analysis of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image quality based on three-dimensional parameters / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image based on a single layer of image and the choice of regions of interest (ROI) is affected by individual subjectivity,making it difficult to compare the image quality.In this article,a quantitative evaluation method of CBCT image quality based on threedimensional parameters was proposed,which was extended from single layer to multi-layer and from pixel to voxel.The selection range of ROI was discussed to reduce the error of artificial selection and realize the quantitative evaluation of image quality by three-dimensional parameters.