In Vivo Kinematics of Functional Ankle Instability Patients and Lateral Ankle Sprain Copers During Stair Descent

Patients with mechanic ankle instability experience increased tibiotalar and subtalar joint laxity. However, in vivo joint kinematics in functional ankle instability (FAI) patients and lateral ankle sprain (LAS) copers, especially during dynamic activities, are poorly understood. Ten FAI patients, 10 LAS copers, and 10 healthy controls were included in this study. A dual fluoroscopic imaging system was used to analyze the tibiotalar and subtalar joint kinematics during stair descent. Five key poses of stair descent were analyzed. Kinematic data from six degrees of freedom were calculated utilizing a solid modeling software. The range of motion and joint positions in each degree of freedom were compared among the three groups. The tibiotalar joints of FAI patients and LAS copers were significantly more inverted than those of healthy controls during the foot strike (p = 0.016, = 0.264). The subtalar joints of FAI patients were significantly more anteriorly translated (pose 2, p = 0.003, = 0.352; pose 3, p < 0.001, = 0.454; pose 4, p = 0.004, = 0.334), inverted (pose 4, p = 0.027, = 0.234; pose 5,p = 0.034, = 0.221), and externally rotated (pose 4, p = 0.037, = 0.217; pose 5; p = 0.004, = 0.331) than those of healthy controls during the mid‐stance and the heel off. The FAI patients showed excessive tibiotalar inversion and subtalar joint hypermobility during stair descent. Meanwhile, the LAS copers maintained subtalar joint stability, and only showed excessive tibiotalar inversion in foot strike. These data provide insight into the mechanisms behind the development of FAI after initial LAS. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:1860–1867, 2019     

Implant wear induces inflammation, but not osteoclastic bone resorption, in RANK(-/-) mice.

Signaling of RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B) through its ligand RANKL appears critical in osteolysis associated with aseptic loosening (AL). The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of RANK in a murine osteolysis model developed in RANK knockout (RANK(-/-)) mice. Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) debris was introduced into established air pouches on RANK(-/-) mice, followed by implantation of calvaria bone from syngeneic littermates. Wild type C57BL/6 (RANK(+/+)) mice injected with either UHMWPE or saline alone were included in this study. Pouch tissues were collected 14 days after UHMWPE inoculation for molecular and histology analysis. Results showed that UHMWPE stimulation induced strong pouch tissue inflammation in RANK(-/-) mice, as manifested by inflammatory cellular infiltration, pouch tissue proliferation, and increased gene expression of IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and RANKL. However, the UHMWPE-induced inflammation in RANK(-/-) mice was not associated with the osteoclastic bone resorption observed in RANK(+/+) mice. In RANK(+/+) mice subjected to UHMWPE stimulation, a large number of TRAP(+) cells were found on the implanted bone surface, where active osteoclastic bone resorption was observed. No TRAP(+) cells were found in UHMWPE-containing pouch tissues of RANK(-/-) mice. Consistent with the lack of osteoclastic activity shown by TRAP staining, no significant UHMWPE particle-induced bone resorption was found in RANK(-/-) mice. A well preserved bone collagen content (Van Gieson staining) and normal plateau surface contour [microcomputed tomography (microCT)] of implanted bone was observed in RANK(-/-) mice subjected to UHMWPE stimulation. In conclusion, this study provides the evidence that UHMWPE particles induce strong inflammatory responses, but not associated with osteoclastic bone resorption in RANK(-/-) mice. This indicates that RANK signaling is essential for UHMWPE particle-induced osteoclastic bone resorption, but does not participate in UHMWPE particle-induced inflammatory response.     

The effect of MS-818, a pyrimidine compound,on the regeneration of peripheral nerve fibers of mice after a crush injury

One of the pyrimidine compounds, 2-piperadino-6-methyl-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro(7H)pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (MS-818), has neurotropic effects in vitro. Therefore, we studied the effect of MS-818 on the regeneration of the peroneal nerve in C57BL/6J mice after a crush injury. Two test groups, which received a daily intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg MS-818, respectively, were compared with controls, which received daily intraperitoneal injections of physiological saline, over a 14-day period. The maximum foot-width ratio (crushed side/uncrushed side) was obtained on days 1, 8 and 14 after the crush injury, and the various morphometric parameters were evaluated at both 5 and 10 mm distal to the proximal portion of the crush site. The significant effects of MS-818 included a larger maximum foot width (P<0.04) and a greater number of unmyelinated axons per nerve at both levels (P<0.003) in both test groups than in controls. MS-818 had no significant effects on body weight, the increase of total transverse fascicular area after the crush injury, the total number of myelinated fibers with their size distributions, or the number of nuclei of Schwann cells and macrophages. Therefore, we conclude that MS-818 promotes axonal sprouting and elongation after a crush injury in mice.     

Lipid extract from completely sporoderm‐broken germinating Ganoderma sinensis spores elicits potent antitumor immune responses in human macrophages

Ganoderma sinensis has been used widely in Oriental countries for the prevention and treatment of various diseases including cancer. Previous studies have shown that the lipid extract from Ganoderma exhibits direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Here, it is reported that the lipid extract from germinating G. sinensis spores, at lower concentrations that have no direct tumoricidal activity, induce potent antitumor immune responses in human monocytes/macrophages. Upon stimulation with the lipid extract, monocytes/macrophages exhibited markedly increased production of proinflammatory cytokines and surface expression of costimulatory molecules. Conditioned medium from stimulated cells effectively suppressed the growth of tumor cells. Apparently, the lipid extract triggered macrophage activation via a mechanism different from that associated with LPS. Moreover, it was observed that the lipid extract could partially re‐establish the antitumor activity of the immunosuppressive tumor‐associated macrophages. These results indicated that in addition to its direct tumoricidal activity, the lipid extract from G. sinensis spores could exert antitumor activity by stimulating the activation of human monocytes/macrophages. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kindergarten children's representation and understanding of written number symbols

Two samples of kindergarten children's representation and understanding of written number symbols were examined in two time points in one academic year. About 85% of Chinese five year olds (mean = 5 years 10 months) were able to use conventional number symbols to represent the quantity of 30 or larger. At the end of the kindergarten year, 94% of Chinese six year olds (mean = 6 years 4 months) were able to use conventional number symbols to represent the quantity of 100 or larger. Some Chinese six year olds had problems in representing written addition and subtraction tasks. Children's ability to represent written number symbols, ability to represent written addition and subtraction formula and their performance on written addition and subtraction were closely related. The performance of children in a university-affiliated childcare center was better than that of the center serving working-class families in Time 1, but the performance reversed at the end of the kindergarten year.     

现代医学200词——138．黏附分子

所谓黏附分子是指存在于细胞表面，参与细胞间或细胞与细胞外基质的粘附的分子群的总称。广义来说，纤维连结蛋白、层粘连蛋白、透明质酸等细胞外基质的构成成分也是由细胞分泌并存在于细胞表面，也可归入黏附分子的范畴。但狭义所指的黏附分子是指贯通细胞膜的糖蛋白或构成细胞膜的糖脂质。膜贯通型糖蛋白黏附分子按其构造特征可分为若干家族。在免疫系统中的黏附分子主要分为整合素家族、免疫球蛋白超家族、选择素家族、钙粘素家族、连接蛋白家族以及唾液粘蛋白家族等。     

刺鼠信号蛋白对自体移植皮片中酪氨酸酶的活性影响

目的 检测刺鼠信号蛋白对自体移植皮片中酪氨酸酶的活性影响,进一步认识自体移植皮片过度色素沉着的原因。方法 建立过度色素沉着的自体移植皮片的动物模型；利用免疫组织化学方法分别检测刺鼠信号蛋白作用前后自体移植皮片中酪氨酸酶的表达,并与对照治疗组及正常皮肤相比较。结果 酪氨酸酶的表达定位于表皮基底部黑色素细胞的胞浆,在大部分组织中呈阳性表达,经刺鼠信号蛋白作用后酪氨酸酶在自体移植皮片中的表达明显减少,与在其他各对照组中的表达差异有极显著意义（P＜0.01）。结论 刺鼠信号蛋白在自体移植皮片中能竞争性拮抗α-MSH的黑色素合成,使皮片着色能力降低,从而证明皮片移植后表皮细胞中α-MSH的表达上调是皮片呈过度色素沉着的重要原因。     

Lethal effects of CCl4 and its metabolism by Mongolian gerbils pretreated with chlordecone, phenobarbital, or mirex.

Gerbils are much more sensitive to the hepatotoxic and lethal effects of CCl4 than rats as indicated by 48-hr LD50 values (0.08 vs 2.8 ml/kg). On the other hand, gerbils are refractory to chlordecone (CD) potentiation of CCl4 toxicity. To investigate the possible mechanism underlying the high sensitivity of gerbils to CCl4 lethality, the metabolism of CCl4 was studied in gerbils pretreated with dietary CD, phenobarbital (PB), or mirex (M) at 10, 225, and 10 ppm, respectively. The hepatic content of 14CCl4, the expiration of 14CCl4 and 14CCl4-derived 14CO2, and lipid peroxidation were measured and the results were compared with the previous data for rats. After the 15-day dietary pretreatment, male gerbils (60-80 g) received 14CCl4 (0.08 ml/kg; sp act 0.04 mCi/mmol) ip in corn oil and the radioactivity present in the expired air was collected for 6 hr. More than 80% of the parent compound as represented by the 14C-label in the toluene trap was expired in 6 hr regardless of the pretreatments. Expiration of 14CO2 measured during the 6 hr after 14CCl4 administration in control gerbils was 3.5-fold more than that in rats and was significantly increased in pretreated groups (M greater than PB greater than CD). PB and M pretreatments resulted in a significant increase of 14C-label bound to the nonlipid fraction of the liver as compared with CD-treated or control gerbils. The radiolabel present in the livers of control gerbils was 5-fold higher than that of rats. In vivo lipid peroxidation measured as diene conjugation in lipid extracts from the livers was lower in gerbils than in rats, and none of the pretreatments significantly affected lipid peroxidation. The serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly elevated at 6 hr after CCl4 injection in all groups of gerbils. These data indicate that the more extensive metabolism of CCl4, as represented by 14CO2 formation and 14C-label bound to hepatic tissue, in gerbils as compared with rats, may partially explain the high sensitivity of gerbils to CCl4 toxicity. However, the enhanced metabolism of CCl4 found in CD-, PB-, or M-pretreated gerbils did not lead to amplified hepatotoxic and lethal effects of CCl4. The reason gerbils may be refractory to CD amplification of CCl4 injury might be associated with other factors yet to be investigated.     

育龄妇女月经周期中心血管功能的变化

本研究采用先进的三维超声成像技术及多普勒技术对正常育龄妇女月经周期中心血管功能进行研究。结果：月经周期中ＨＲ、ＢＰ无变化；血清Ｅ２是周期性变化，排卵前达高峰。ＳＶ、ＣＯ、ＥＦ在排卵前期升高达峰值，显著高于月经期和黄体期；ＳＶＲ排卵前期最低，而Ｖｅｄ、Ｖｅｓ无变化。Ｖｍａｘ、Ａ、Ｅ在内源性Ｅ２高峰时明显加快，而Ｅ／Ａ比值无明显变化。结果提示：月经周期中随内源性Ｅ２的周期性变化，心脏功能也发生周期性变化。Ｅ２高峰时，心输出量、心搏量和射血分数达最高。外周阻力最低，心脏内血流速度加快。