Serum C-Reactive Protein to Hemoglobin Ratio: Novel Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Chronic Periprosthetic Joint Infection.

Background: Despite several markers being evaluated and available in recent years, diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains challenging. There is a pressing need to explore reliable, economical, convenient, highly sensitive, and specific diagnostic biomarkers to diagnose PJI. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of combined serum markers with CRP and ESR in PJI.

Intraoperative Direct Sonication of Implants and Soft Tissue for the Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infection.

Background: Sonication is very efficacious for the microbiological diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), but it involves many steps and multiple workplaces and personnel and therefore carries a potential contamination risk. We present an innovative version of the sonication culture method that involves direct sonication of the retrieved implant and soft tissue, without a sonication tube, intraoperatively and incubation using a BACT/ALERT 3D blood culture system to enhance the efficacy of microbiological diagnosis of PJI.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of consecutive patients requiring implant removal and classified them as having PJI or aseptic failure according to standard criteria.

Factors contributing to 1-year dissatisfaction after total knee arthroplasty: a nomogram prediction model.

Background: Identifying risk factors and early intervention are critical for improving the satisfaction rate of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our study aimed to identify patient-specific variables and establish a nomogram model to predict dissatisfaction at 1 year after TKA.

Methods: This prospective cohort study involved 208 consecutive primary TKA patients with end-stage arthritis who completed self-reported measures preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively.

Strontium Ameliorates Glucocorticoid Inhibition of Osteogenesis Via the ERK Signaling Pathway.

Glucocorticoid (GC) has been widely used in clinical work due to its anti-inflammatory and immune-inhibitory properties. However, long-term or high-dose administration is associated with side effects, such as GC-induced osteoporosis (GIOP), which causes great pain for and poses a heavy financial burden on patients. We sought to investigate the potential effects of strontium on GIOP and further explore its underlying mechanisms, including its reversal of the inhibitory effect of GC on osteogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).

Low-dose strontium stimulates osteogenesis but high-dose doses cause apoptosis in human adipose-derived stem cells via regulation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Background: Strontium is a widely used anti-osteoporotic agent due to its dual effects on inhibiting bone resorption and stimulating bone formation. Thus, we studied the dose response of strontium on osteo-inductive efficiency in human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs).

Method: Qualitative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, quantitative ALP activity, Alizarin Red staining, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to investigate the in vitro effects of a range of strontium concentrations on hASC osteogenesis and associated signaling pathways.