Objective To evaluate whether the presence of subchondral bone marrow edema (BME)in magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) are associated with the different levels of knee pain among the patients suffering osteoarthritis(OA). Methods Based on rating scale of pain, 264 patients with knee OA were divided into three groups: 47 in the no pain group, 184 in the mild pain group, 33 in the moderate or severe pain group. Contingency table analyses and rank sum tests were used to compare the difference of OA stage and BME score among these groups. OA was classified by the X-ray as the Kellgren-Lawrence(K-L) scoring scale system: 52 mild(K-L Ⅱ degree), 142 middle(K-L Ⅲ degree), 70 severe(K-L Ⅳ degree); while BME was identified from MRI: 69 with grade 0(no BME), 127 with grade 1(small BME), 68 with grade 2(large BME). Results There were no statistical significance of OA stage among three pain groups(?2=5.251, P=0.263), though severe OA were more likely to occur in moderate or severe pain group as compared with the no pain and mild pain groups(42.4% vs 23.4% and 24.5%). Also in the three groups, the prevalence of each score BME was of great significant difference(?2=28.157, P

[Objective]To clarify the precise displacement of the popliteal artery(PA) during knee flexion using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).[Method]MRI was used in 16 knees at 0? and 90? of flexion to measure the distance between the popliteal artery and the posterior tibial cortex(bone to artery distance,BAD)at two levels corresponding to the levels of osteotomy in total knee arthroplasty(TKR) and in high tibial osteotomy(HTO).The results were analysed using paired-samples t test.[Result]At the level of TKR(0.5 to 1 cm below the tibial articular surface),the mean posterior movement of BAD from extension to 90? of flexion was 1.8 mm(-2～+5 mm) with a statistical significance(P=0.005).At the level of HTO(1.5 to 2 cm below the tibial articular surface),the mean change in BAD 1.4mm(-2～+4mm)was also statistically significant(P=(0.005)).At the two levels,the artery moved toward the tibia in 2 cases,respectively.[Conclusion]Knee flexion may be considered to be a safer position,still there is possible potential popliteal artery injury.

OBJECTIVEChronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) animal model was used to mimic the status of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in order to investigate the pathological mechanism of CIH-induced cardiac remodeling and observe the protective effect of antioxidants.

METHODSFVB mice (8-10 weeks-old) were randomly divided into control (saline, i.p.) group and CIH group, reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase inhibitor, apocynin (APO, 3 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1), i.p.) alone or CIH+APO, SOD mimic MnTMPyP (SODM, 5 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1), i.p.) alone or CIH+SODM (n = 5 each). After 4 weeks, cardiac function and structure were determined by echocardiography, cardiac inflammation, apoptosis, cardiac fibrosis and cardiac MDA contents were examined by Western blot and chemical-biological methods, respectively.

RESULTS(1) Heart weight, LVIDd and LVIDs were increased while LVEF and FS were reduced in CIH group compared to control group (all P < 0.05). (2) Myocardial protein expression of ANP and VCAM-1 was significantly upregulated, myocardial MDA content and apoptosis as well as myocardial fibrosis marker CTGF and PAI-1 were increased in CIH group compared to control group (all P < 0.05). (3) Above parameters were similar between APO and CIH+APO as well as SODM and CIH+SODM (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCIH could induce cardiac remodeling and CIH-induced cardiac inflammation, cardiac oxidative injury, cardiac apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis serve as the pathological mechanisms of CIH-induced cardiac remodeling. The protective effects of the two antioxidants suggest that the main mechanism of CIH-induced cardiac injury is oxidative stress.

Acetophenones ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; physiology ; Apoptosis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart ; Hypoxia ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Myocardium ; NADPH Oxidases ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; biosynthesis ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Remodeling

Objective: To study the intracellular location and characteristic of SFTSV NP protein in different phases using mini singlet oxygen generator (miniSOG) labeling technique. Methods: MiniSOG is a recently-invented genetically-encoded tag for EM. MiniSOG-fused SFTSV NP (NPSOG) gene was cloned by PCR, and inserted into pcDNA3.0 plasmid to form pTPL-NPSOG, which was used to transfect 293 cells. The transfected cells of different phases were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in situ, stained with DAB through the photooxidation activity of miniSOG, and used to prepare ultrathin sections. Intracellular location and characteristic of SFTSV NP protein in different phases were studied by observing the sections under transmission electron microscope. Results: After transfecting the plasmid with NPSOG to 293 cells, NP protein was expressed in cytoplasm and peri nucleus, and gradually aggregated, which connected with endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus to form larger volume and irregular inclusion bodies in cytoplasm. No obvious subcellular structure changes were found. Conclusions The SFTSV nucleoprotein can be expressed separately to form inclusion bodies without the assistance of other viral proteins. The formation of inclusion bodies requires the directional movement and aggregation of a certain number of NP proteins, which may involve the interaction of NP protein and host organelles during this period.