Enhancement of the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and cartilage repair by ghrelin.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is commonly utilized in chondrogenic differentiation protocols, but this often results in incomplete maturation of the derived chondrocytes. Gene expression analysis, quantitation of sulfated glycosaminoglycan and collagen, and histological staining were performed to assess the effects of ghrelin. The signaling pathways involved were investigated with inhibitors or targeted by shRNAs.

Concurrent arthroscopic osteochondral lesion treatment and lateral ankle ligament repair has no substantial effect on the outcome of chronic lateral ankle instability.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of concurrent arthroscopic osteochondral lesion (OCL) treatment and lateral ankle ligament repair on the outcome of chronic lateral ankle instability. It was hypothesized that the arthroscopic OCL treatment might have some negative effect on the outcome of chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) by compromising the rehabilitation program.

Methods: Ankle arthroscopy and anatomic lateral ankle ligament repair with suture anchors were performed for 70 patients with CLAI between 2010 and 2012.

Epigenetic dynamics and interplay during spermatogenesis and embryogenesis: implications for male fertility and offspring health.

Mapping epigenetic modifications and identifying their roles in the regulation of spermatogenesis and embryogenesis are essential for gaining fundamental medical understandings and for clinical applications. More and more evidence has shown that specific epigenetic modifications are established during spermatogenesis, which will be transferred into oocyte fertilisation, and play an important role in the early embryo development. Defects in epigenetic patterns may increase the risk of abnormal spermatogenesis, fertilisation failure, early embryogenesis abnormality and several other complications during pregnancy.

Low-dose Simvastatin Increases Skeletal Muscle Sensitivity to Caffeine and Halothane.

Objective To determine whether the myotoxic side effects of statin simvastatin affect skeletal muscle's sensitivity to caffeine and halothane.Methods Primary cultured neonate rat skeletal myotubes were treated with 0.01-5.

Relationship between quadriceps strength and patellofemoral joint chondral lesions after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background: The incidence of the patellofemoral joint chondral lesions after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is disturbingly high. Few studies have assessed the factors affecting patellofemoral joint chondral lesions postoperatively.

Hypothesis: The recovery of quadriceps strength after ACLR could be associated with patellofemoral joint cartilage damage.

20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid involved in endothelial activation and thrombosis.

Endothelial cells play an important role in the process of coagulation and the function of platelets. We have previously reported that 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), a metabolite of arachidonic acid, increased platelet aggregation and induced hemostasis. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether 20-HETE-mediated endothelial activation has effect on the coagulation and platelet aggregation.

Isolated Irreducible Chronic Volar Dislocation of the Distal Radioulnar Joint: A Case Report.

Case: We report a case of a fifty-eight-year-old woman who sustained a chronic dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) with extensive secondary cartilage damage and bone loss. We performed an open reduction to restore normal alignment of the distal part of the radius and the distal part of the ulna while preserving the structures that provide stability to the DRUJ.

Conclusion: At eighteen months postoperatively, the patient had regained 60° of pronation and 60° of supination and did not have any pain.

Comparative study on immediate versus delayed meniscus allograft transplantation: 4- to 6-year follow-up.

Background: Meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) is generally used for patients who sustain symptoms after meniscectomy, which could be called delayed MAT. Meniscus allograft transplantation for patients immediately after meniscectomy has not been reported.

Hypothesis: Compared with the conventional delayed MAT, immediate MAT might provide better clinical results and reduce joint degeneration.

Membrane nanotubes: novel communication between distant cells.

The many kinds of cell structures involved in cell-cell communication include tight junction, adherens junction and gap junction, but almost all are between adjacent cells. Recently, a general and dynamic membrane tether, termed tunneling nanotubes or membrane nanotubes (MNTs), was discovered to be involved in communication between distant cells. By facilitating intercellular communication, MNTs contribute to many biological functions and pathologic changes in cells.

Second-look arthroscopic evaluation of chondral lesions after isolated anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: single- versus double-bundle reconstruction.

Background: Double-bundle (DB) anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has been reported to yield better joint stability than single-bundle (SB) reconstruction. Few studies have compared the 2 techniques with regard to postoperative articular cartilage changes.

Hypothesis: Less cartilage damage should occur in the short term after DB ACLR than after SB ACLR.

Nicotine inhibits histone deacetylase 6 activity and chaperone-dependent activation of the glucocorticoid receptor in A549 cells.

Background: Nicotine, a major component of tobacco, is the main cause of smoking addiction. It was found that asthmatic patients who smoke were insensitive to glucocorticoid treatment. In this paper, we investigated whether nicotine could inhibit histone deacetylase 6 activity (HDAC6) and chaperone-dependent activation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in A549 cells.

Double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft: technique and 2- to 5-year follow-up.

Background: Nonanatomic transtibial single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (SB-ACLR) with a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) allograft has been used for a long time and has shown the same satisfactory clinical results as an autograft; however, it has not been reported if a double-bundle ACLR (DB-ACLR) could be performed with a BPTB allograft and achieve even better results.

Hypothesis: The DB-ACLR with a BPTB allograft is technically feasible and will be superior to the SB technique in restoring better anterior and rotating stability.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Computed tomographic measurement of gender differences in bowing of the sagittal femoral shaft in persons older than 50 years.

Surgeons do not give enough weight to the effects of bowing of the sagittal femoral shaft in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which can result in damage to the cortex, fractures, or malalignment of the femoral component. To determine gender differences in bowing, we used spiral computed tomography to scan the femurs of 26 men and 47 women older than 50 years who required TKA. Skeletal extraction of the total sagittal femoral shaft from computed tomographic images was done by a matrix laboratory.

[Experimental study on protective effect of early motion on articular cartilage after joint allograft].

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of early motion on articular cartilage after joint allograft by performing a controlled trial between different post-operation strategies after joint allograft in an animal model.

Methods: Twenty hemi-knee joints were harvested from 10 6-month-old New Zealand white rabbits (male or female, weighing 2.5-3.

Diagnostic values of 3 methods for evaluating meniscal healing status after meniscal repair: comparison among second-look arthroscopy, clinical assessment, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: The main diagnostic methods for evaluating repaired menisci include second-look arthroscopy, clinical assessment, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). None of the previous studies applied all 3 methods for each consecutive case nor made any systematic comparison among them.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the diagnostic values of the 3 different methods in an attempt to propose suggestions for evaluating meniscal healing results.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the absence of chronic bronchitis in China.

Background And Objective: COPD has a variable natural history and not all individuals follow the same course. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of COPD in the absence of chronic bronchitis (CB) based on a population survey in China, and to identify the determinants of CB in patients with COPD.

Methods: A multi-stage cluster sampling strategy was used to survey a population from seven different provinces/cities of China.

Anti-proliferative efficacy of icariin on HepG2 hepatoma and its possible mechanism of action.

The aim of the present work was to explore the anti-hepatoma effects of icariin both in vitro and in vivo and to elucidate its potential mechanism of action. The MTT assay was applied to test the anti-proliferative effects of icariin in vitro. HepG2 bearing NMRI nu/nu mice were used to test the anticancer effects of icariin in vivo.

Histological and biomechanical studies of inter-strand healing in four-strand autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in a rabbit model.

In order to observe the remodeling process of the inter-strand of the four-strand graft used for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, and to find the histological and biomechanical influences on this process by braiding the four-strand graft, we conducted this study in a rabbit model. The rabbit's ACLs were reconstructed with bilateral four-strand semitendinous tendons which are in parallel or braided shape. The specimens of the two groups were collected at 3, 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks after the operation.

MRI signal changes in completely healed meniscus confirmed by second-look arthroscopy after meniscal repair with bioabsorbable arrows.

This study evaluated the MRI signal characteristics and MRI diagnostic accuracy in identifying completely healed menisci repaired with bioabsorbable arrows. A total of 34 patients (38 menisci), with a mean age of 26.0 years, underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair with bioabsorbable arrows and concomitant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Comparative study on early period of recovery between minimally invasive surgery total knee arthroplasty and minimally invasive surgery-quadriceps sparing total knee arthroplasty in Chinese patients.

Background: Different kinds of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) procedures have now been used in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Compared with traditional TKA procedure with a long skin incision, clinical studies showed MIS procedures had some advantages. Quadriceps sparing (QS) procedures are the most minimally invasive MIS procedure until now.

[The in vitro observational investigation of antibiotic coating on implants].

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of antibiotic poly (D, L-lactide) (PDLLA) coating of implants, including its quantity, mechanical stability, sterility and antibiotic release in vitro.

Methods: The weight of the total coating mass was determined with an electronic semimicro balance before and after coating. Thickness of the coating was documented by scanning electronic microscopy.

[Clinical analysis of 73 cases of macrodactyly].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of 73 cases of macrodactyly.

Methods: Review the incidence, distribution, characteristic, X-rays, pathogenesis and treatment of involved digits on the base of the clinical documents of 73 macrodactyly which were treated from 1965 to 2006. Twenty-eight cases had been followed-up.

[Surgical resection of heterotopic ossification after open reduction internal fixation of acetabular fractures].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of surgical resection of the severe heterotopic ossification (HO) after the open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of acetabular fractures.

Methods: Five cases of severe HO after the ORIF of acetabular fractures were treated by surgical resection from October 2005 to April 2007. All patients were male, the average age was 34 years (22 to 45 years).

Effect of modified wuzi yanzong granule on patients with mild cognitive impairment from oxidative damage aspect.

Objective: To observe the effects of modified Wuzi Yanzong Granule (WYG) on memory function and the activity of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, leukocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion rate and beta-amyloid protein(1-28) (A beta(1-28)) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: Thirty-six patients with MCI were selected based on the internationally recognized Petersen's criteria, and equally and randomly assigned to two groups. The treated group was treated with WYG and the control group was treated with placebo for 3 months.