Notochordal cells stimulate migration of cartilage end plate chondrocytes of the intervertebral disc in in vitro cell migration assays

Background contextIt was recently demonstrated that the postnatal transition from a notochordal to a fibrocartilaginous nucleus pulposus (NP) is accomplished exogenously by chondrocytes migrating from hyaline cartilage end plates (CEs) into the ectopic notochordal NP region. Although our previous in vivo studies showed evidences for the migration of CE chondrocyte from hyaline CEs into the notochordal NP, it is unknown whether CE chondrocytes of the intervertebral disc (IVD) really have a motile property. In addition, the effect of notochordal cells on this property has not been elucidated.PurposeThe purpose of this in vitro study was to demonstrate whether CE chondrocytes of the IVD are capable of migration, and whether there is any biological link between notochordal cells and CE chondrocytes that may regulate the CE chondrocyte migration.Study design/settingIn vitro cell migration assays were performed using rat IVDs.MethodsNotochordal cells and chondrocytes were obtained from the NP and CE tissues, respectively, and were cultured separately. The different numbers of notochordal cells and the supernatant (conditioned medium) that contained soluble factors produced by notochordal cells were used to demonstrate their effects on the migration of CE chondrocytes. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively.ResultsCompared with BSA, LPA, notochordal cells (N=4×, 2×, 1×, and 0.5×10⁵), and its conditioned media (unconcentrated and fivefold concentrated) significantly increased migration of CE chondrocytes (p<.05 in all comparisons). Particularly, notochordal cells and its conditioned media increased migration in a number- and concentration-dependent manner, respectively.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that CE chondrocytes of the IVD are capable of migration and that soluble factors produced by notochordal cells stimulate the migration. These results provide a plausible explanation to the question of why CE chondrocytes of the IVD migrate into the ectopic NP region during the natural transition from the notochordal to fibrocartilaginous NP.     

Delayed wound healing in Mac-1–deficient mice is associated with normal monocyte recruitment

The Mac-1 integrin is an important mediator of migration and inflammatory activation of neutrophils and monocytes. However, the role of Mac-1 in modulating macrophage emigration and activation and its subsequent impact on cutaneous wound healing have not been fully elucidated. To examine the significance of Mac-1 to murine wound healing, we measured epithelialization and granulation tissue formation in partial-thickness ear wounds and full-thickness head wounds, respectively, in Mac-1-deficient mice. Wounds were histologically analyzed at postwounding days 3, 5, and 7. The gap measured between the leading edges of inward-migrating granulation tissue was significantly increased in knockout mice compared with control animals at day 5 (3.8+/-0.3 vs. 2.6+/-0.5 mm; p<0.001) and day 7 (2.2+/-0.4 vs. 0.96+/-0.73 mm; p=0.005). Epithelial gap measurements were also increased in knockout mice vs. wild-type controls at days 3 (0.62+/-0.02 vs. 0.54+/-0.07 mm; p<0.05) and 5 (0.58+/-0.06 vs. 0.39+/-0.08 mm; p<0.001). Immunohistochemistry showed equal numbers of macrophages in knockout and control wounds. These findings show that Mac-1 is required for normal wound healing but that the attenuation in the deposition of granulation tissue and wound epithelialization in Mac-1 knockout mice is not associated with decreased monocyte migration into the wound.     

Inhibition of bone healing by pamidronate in calvarial bony defects.

OBJECTIVE: Pamidronate has been studied as a therapeutic drug for various osteopenic diseases. However, avascular osteonecrosis in the jawbone has been recently reported in patients receiving pamidronate. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of pamidronate on bone regeneration in a controlled animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine the effect of parmidronate on bone healing in a local bony defect area, a rabbit calvarial bony defect model was used and poly L-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) used as a drug carrier material. Four defect groups were made in each rabbit calvaria and the defects were treated as follows: untreated bony defect (group 1), PLGA only (group 2), 2 mg of pamidronate with PLGA (group 3), and 3 mg of pamidronate with PLGA (group 4). Bone healing was evaluated by radiography and histology at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: In radiographic analysis, radiopacity was lower in pamidronate groups than non-operated rabbit calvarial bone at all observation points (P < .05). In histological analysis, the initial bone formation at 1 week was not different among groups, but it was much lower in the pamidronate groups than in the control or PLGA group after 2 weeks. Newly formed bone at 1 week underwent avascular necrosis after 2 weeks in both pamidronate groups. Avascular necrosis was not observed until 8 weeks in both topically applied pamidronate groups. CONCLUSION: Collectively, pamidronate inhibits bone healing in rabbit calvarial bony defect and it may explain the avascular necrosis of the jaws in patients receiving pamidronate.     

邻近皮瓣修复面部皮肤缺损

目的 探讨邻近皮瓣修复面部皮肤缺损的应用效果。方法 162例面部病变切除后皮肤缺损患者，其中先天性色素痣63例，基底细胞癌28例，鳞状细胞癌6例，其他皮肤病变65例。均采用邻近皮瓣即时修复，其中菱形皮瓣57例、双叶皮瓣8例，A-T皮瓣23例、V-Y皮瓣13例、Z成形术23例、推进皮瓣27例、鼻状皮瓣11例。结果 162例皮瓣存活良好，手术切口1期愈合，存活后皮瓣颜色与邻近部位无明显差异，术后无眼睑、眉毛、鼻梁及口角牵扯歪钭，术后3个月切口不显露。结论 邻近皮瓣是修复面部较大皮肤缺损的良好方法，手术外观效果好。     

上胸椎骨折手术治疗方法的探讨

目的 探讨上胸椎骨折的特点及治疗。方法 15例病人按AO分型，A型2例、B型10例、C型3例。均经后路切开复位、脊髓减压、长节段内固定、取髂骨植骨融合术治疗。结果 随访18-24个月，后路长节段固定随访时无一例失败，完全瘫的患者9例中有1例神经功能改善I级．不完全瘫的5例均有Ⅲ级改善，1例无神经损伤。结论 上胸椎骨折损伤严重，后路长节段固定技术是一种合理的有效治疗方法。     

Ⅰ期趾甲延长术9例报告

目的:总结Ⅰ期在第2足趾游离移植再造拇(手)指中行趾甲延长的临床应用经验.方法:采用趾甲延长方法对9例(男7,女2例)第2足趾移植再造拇(手)指的患者进行了趾甲延长术,其中拇指8例,食指1例.年龄18～46岁,平均25岁.在再造指距甲根皮缘5 mm处,去除1块矩形皮肤,勿损伤皮下血管网.其高度2 mm,宽度与趾甲相等,将U形皮瓣向近端柔和推剥并缝合.结果:1例术后供区发生表浅感染,经换敷料逐渐愈合.再造的拇(手)指全部成活,可延长趾甲2～3 mm,改善了再造拇(手)指的外形,无指甲生长畸形发生.随访7个月～2年(平均13个月),趾甲外形较好.结论:在第2足趾游离移植再造拇(手)指中应用Ⅰ期趾甲延长术,使趾甲从短小向纵向延长,缩小手指甲与足趾甲之间差异,能改善再造拇(手)指甲外形,且不影响再造指的活动功能,是一种简单有效的手术方法.     

TGF-β1、Smad 3和P-Smad 2/3在病理性瘢痕中的表达

目的检测瘢痕疙瘩、增生性瘢痕和正常皮肤组织中转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)、Smad3和P-Smad2/3的表达情况,探讨上述细胞因子对瘢痕产生的重要性及影响。方法采用免疫组织化学的方法检测上述3种细胞因子在3种不同组织共36例标本中的表达,ImagePro-Plus6.0软件进行阳性面积测量和细胞计数。结果TGF-β1在瘢痕疙瘩和增生性瘢痕中均为增强高表达,而在正常皮肤中几乎不表达;Smad3在三组标本间表达水平无显著性差异;P-Smad2/3在瘢痕疙瘩中表达最强,增生性瘢痕次之,正常皮肤组织中最低。结论TGF-β1表达增强是病理性瘢痕产生的重要原因,P-Smad2/3的表达水平则可认为与瘢痕增生程度密切相关。     

Foot Polydactyly and Polysyndactyly: Genetic Implications in Two Families

The purpose of this study was to determine the genetic characteristics of foot polydactyly and identify its inheritance pattern by analyzing familial pedigree. Five cases from 2 Korean families were studied: 1 is a family whose members have been affected for 4 generations and the other for 2 generations. Using peripheral blood samples, we performed chromosomal analysis using the banding technique with Giemsa stain and karyotyping. We investigated the shape and structure of 46 chromosomes, looking for translation, deletion, inversion, ring chromosome, and isochromosome abnormalities. All peripheral blood samples demonstrated no chromosomal abnormalities, though the genetic nature of foot polydactyly and a new genetic locus was identified recently by other studies. Familial pedigree analysis suggested that polydactyly was inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in the first family. The mode of inheritance for the second family could not be determined due to an insufficient number of family members. The result of this study brought us to the conclusion that, while genetic factors play a major role in polydactyly, other factors may contribute to its occurrence.     

Genetic Analyses of the Mouse Deafness Mutations Varitint-Waddler (Va) and Jerker (Espnje)

Genetic studies on spontaneous mouse mutants with hearing defects have provided important insights into the function of genes expressed in inner ear hair cells. Here we report on our genetic analyses of the deaf mutants varitint-waddler (Va) and jerker (Espnje). A high-resolution genetic map localizes VaJ to a 0.14 ± 0.08 cM region between D3Mit85 and D3Mit259 on distal chromosome 3. By comparative mapping, the human ortholog resides at 1p22.3 between markers D1S3449 and D1S2252. To study the effect of different genetic backgrounds on the hearing phenotype, Espnje and VaJ were crossed to various inbred strains. Auditory-evoked brainstem response tests on F2 progeny demonstrate that expression, inheritance, and penetrance of the hearing phenotype are solely controlled by the mutant allele. To test for a genetic interaction between Espnje and Cdh23v, auditory function was analyzed in double heterozygotes; no significant increases of thresholds of sound pressure levels were observed. The results establish the framework for cloning the Va gene and provide valuable insights into the genetics of deafness mutations in the mouse.     

In vivo intrarater and interrater precision of measuring apparent bone mineral density in vertebral subregions using supine lateral dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Analysis of apparent bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine is commonly based on anteroposterior (AP) scanning using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Although not widely used, clinically important information can also be derived from lateral scanning. Vertebral bone density, and therefore strength, can may vary in different subregions of the vertebral body. Therefore, subregional BMD measurements might be informative about fracture risk. However, the intrarater and interrater precision of in vivo subregional BMD assessments from lateral DXA remains unknown. Ten normal, young (mean: 24 yr) and 10 older (mean: 63 yr) individuals with low BMD were scanned on one occasion using an AP/lateral sequence. Each lateral scan was reanalyzed six times at L2 by three raters to determine the intrarater and interrater precision in selecting seven regions of interest (subregions). Precision was expressed using percentage coefficients of variation (% CV) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Intrarater precision ranged from ICC(1,1) 0.971 to 0.996 (% CV: 0.50-3.68) for the young cohort and ICC(1,1) 0.934 to 0.993 (% CV: 1.46-5.30) for the older cohort. Interrater precision ranged from ICC(2,1) 0.804 to 0.915 (% CV: 1.11-2.35) for the young cohort and ICC(2,1) 0.912 to 0.984 (% CV: 1.85-4.32) for the older cohort. Scanning a subgroup of participants twice with repositioning was used to assess short-term in vivo precision. At L2, short-term in vivo precision ranged from ICC(1,1) 0.867 to 0.962 (% CV: 3.38-9.61), at L3 from ICC(1,1) 0.961 to 0.988 (% CV: 2.02-5.57) and using an L2/L3 combination from ICC(1,1) 0.942 to 0.980 (% CV: 2.04-4.61). This study demonstrated moderate to high precision for subregional analysis of apparent BMD in the lumbar spine using lateral DXA in vivo.