Objective To examine matrix proteoglycan metabolic markers and probe into the turnover of matrix proteoglycan and enzyme-mediated role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and aggrecanases in reparative tissues with tissue engineering cartilage. Methods Tissue-engineered cartilage was constructed by cancellous bone matrix gelatin (BMG) with allogeneic chondrocytes in vitro for 2 weeks, then implanted to repair osteochondral defects of rabbit knee joint. Samples were obtained 6 months later to explore the expressions of 3-B-3(-) epitope, MMPs, MMP-generated epitope BC-4 and aggrecanases-generated epitope BC-13. Results In repaired tissues, the expression of 3-B-3(-) epitope increased, but that of MMPs and MMP-generated epitope BC-4 reduced. There was no expression of aggrecanases-generated epitope BC-13. Conclusion Expressions of 3-B-3(-), MMPs, BC-4 and BC-13 can help probe into the matrix proteoglycan turnover in reparative cartilage tissues. Anabolism exceeds catabolism in the repaired tissues. MMPs play an important role in the conservative baseline turnover of proteoglycan and remodeling of the graft tissues.

Objective To establish a simple scoring system for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and to observe its sensitivity and specificity. Methods Two hundred and thirty-three patients diagnosed as CHB by liver biopsy were divided into model group (N = 154) and validation group (N = 79). The general information, biochemical parameters and imaging data of all patients were observed. With hepatic fibrosis being obvious or not as the end point of primary study in the model group, we established a simple scoring system for the diagnosis. The cut-off, sensitivity and specificity of the system were tested in the model group by ROC curve, and its diagnostic efficacy was tested in the validation group. Results(1) A simple scoring system for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis called MDFS was established in the model group, and the dimensions of the system included sex, HBV-DNA, Fibroscan (FS) value and splenomegaly. In MDFS, male, HBV-DNA≥ 107 U/mL,FS value≥7.3 kPa, and splenomegaly were assigned 1 point, -2 points, 3 points, and 2 points respectively. (2) The best cut-off value in MDFS was 2 points.(3) ROC curve of the model group indicated that the specificity and sensitivity were 92.86% and 54.76% respectively, the area under curve(AUC) was 0.790, and the Youden index was 0.4762. In the validation group, the diagnostic cut-off value was over 2 points, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio were 52.17%, 82.35%, 2.96, and 0.58 respectively. (4) The scoring results of MDFS for different traditional Chinese medical syndromes of CHB showed that the scores of blood stasis blocking collaterals > damp-heat accumulation > deficiency of spleen and kidney yang> liver depression and spleen deficiency = stagnation of liver Qi. Conclusion The MDFS diagnostic scoring system has medium efficiency. The specificity of MDFS is relatively high and MDFs has a relatively low misdiagnosis rate for the diagnosis of obvious hepatic fibrosis in CHB. The MDFS is expected to be a noninvasive and simple diagnosing way for hepatic fibrosis in CHB.