Fresh Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation for Treatment of Large Cartilage Defects of the Femoral Head: A Minimum Two-Year Follow-Up Study of Twenty-Two Patients

Background

Controversy remains over the surgical management of large osteochondral lesions of the femoral head in young, active patients. The purpose of this study is to assess midterm clinical and radiographic outcomes after fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation (OAT) for large femoral head lesions at minimum 2-year follow-up.

跟骨解剖型钛板治疗累及关节面的跟骨骨折

目的评价跟骨解剖型钛板治疗累及关节面的跟骨骨折的临床疗效。方法对38例累及关节面的跟骨骨折患者(42足)采用跟骨解剖型钛板内固定。结果患者均获随访,时间8~18个月。按Maryland足部评分系统评价疗效:优30足,良8足,可4足,优良率90.4%。结论跟骨解剖型钛板治疗累及关节面的跟骨骨折,内固定坚强,可早期功能锻炼,疗效满意。     

The genetic polymorphism and expression profiles of NLRP3 inflammasome in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

NLRP3 inflammasome has been recently reported as an important risk factor in the development of cancer. But the relationship between polymorphisms of NLRP3 inflammasome related genes and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is rarely reported. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association of five genetic polymorphisms (NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, CARD8 and NF-κB) in 267 CML patients and 344 healthy controls. We found that the AT genotype of CARD8 (rs2043211) was significantly higher compared to TT genotype in high and intermediate risk CML patients. IL-1β (rs16944) polymorphism in early molecular response at 6?months was marginally different, with more GG and less AA genotype in BCR-ABL^IS >1% group. IL-18 (rs1946518) polymorphism was significantly different with more GG genotype in BCR-ABL^IS >1% group at 6?months. We also demonstrated that WBC count of newly diagnosed patients carrying AG genotype was significantly higher than that of GG or AA genotype of IL-1β (rs16944). The onset age of patients carrying ins/ins genotype of NF-κB (rs28362491) was significantly older than that of ins/del and del/del genotype. Moreover, IL-1β or NLRP3 mRNA expression was decreased and IL-18 mRNA expression was increased significantly in CML patients compared with controls. In conclusion, the genetic polymorphisms of NLRP3 inflammasome may be served as potential predictors for CML.     

Functional analysis of amino acids at stalk/head interface of human parainfluenza virus type 3 hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein in the membrane fusion process

Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (hPIV3) is an important respiratory pathogen that causes the majority of viral pneumonia of infants and young children. hPIV3 can infect host cells through the synergistic action of hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein and the homotypic fusion (F) protein on the viral surface. HN protein plays a variety of roles during the virus invasion process, such as promoting viral particles to bind to receptors, cleaving sialic acid, and activating the F protein. Crystal structure research shows that HN tetramer adopted a “heads-down” conformation, at least two heads dimmer on flank of the four-helix bundle stalk, which forms a symmetrical interaction interface. The stalk region determines interactions and activation of F protein in specificity, and the heads in down position statically shield these residues. In order to make further research on the function of these amino acids at the hPIV3 HN stalk/head interface, fifteen mutations (8 sites from stalk and 7 sites from head) were engineered into this interface by site-directed mutagenesis in this study. Alanine substitution in this region of hPIV3 HN had various effects on cell fusion promotion, receptor binding, and neuraminidase activity. Besides, L151A also affected surface protein expression efficiency. Moreover, I112A, D120A, and R122A mutations of the stalk region that were masked by global head in down position had influence on the interaction between F and HN proteins.     

Can osteoarthritic patients with mild varus deformity be indicated for high tibial osteotomy?

Background

Whether osteoarthritic patients with mild varus deformity can be indicated for high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is not established. We examined the preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes of HTO in patients with mild genu varum compared to patients with greater varus deformity.