BACKGROUND:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are widely involved in regulation of physiological processes, such as human development, cel proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, angiogenesis and lipid metabolism. MiRNAs also play an important regulating role in the pathological process of femoral head necrosis. At present, the research about the effect of icarin on miRNA expression in glucocorticoid- induced avascular necrosis is stil in the exploratory stage, and the specific targets, possible regulation mechanism and signaling pathway remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of icarin on miRNA expression of bone microvascular endothelial cels in steroids-induced human femoral head lesionsin vitro.
METHODS: Bone microvascular endothelial cels in cancelous bone of the femoral head were isolated and harvested in vitro. Icarin preconditioning preceded establishment of models of glucocorticoid-induced bone microvascular endothelial cel injury. Differential expression profiles and transcriptomes in glucocorticoid and normal groups were tested by miRNA microarrays. The most differentialy expressed miR-23b and miR-339 in microarray analysis were further confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR, Meanwhile the effects of icarin on the expression of miR-23b-5p and miR-339-5p were detected.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:According to the microarray analysis, one miRNA was up-regulated and four mi RNAs were down-regulated in the glucocorticoid group (fold > 2,P < 0.05). Results of RT-qPCR revealed that miR-23b was down-regulated and miR-339 up-regulated in the glucocorticoid group, which were in agreement with the microarray analysis (P < 0.05). Icarin pretreatment effectively prevented the imbalances of miR-23b expression induced by glucocorticoid (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that Icarin may participate in the pathological process of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis through regulating the expression of miR-23b.

BACKGROUND:Corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head is one of the major causes of the loss of hip joint function. More and more studies have shown that corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head may be associated with proliferation ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.
OBJECTIVE:To detect the proliferation and differentiation ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells isolated from patients with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head, providing rational evidences for treatment of corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head with the transplantation of autologous bone marrow containing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into the necrotic area of femoral head.
METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from the femoral heads were col ected from patients with corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head, and new femoral neck fractures without osteonecrosis who were scheduled for total hip arthroplasty. In another group, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were col ected from ilium bone marrow of the same steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head patients. The femoral neck fracture was defined as fracture without preceding trauma or in response to minimal trauma. Cases with corticoid treatment were excluded from the femur neck fracture patients. Al bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were divided three groups:femoral neck fracture group;femoral head group of corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head;ilium group of corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head. The bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated by enzyme digestion or density gradient centrifugation from bone marrow blood of the three detecting area, and then selected by the adhesive method. Passage 3 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were selected for experiments.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results of methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium assay indicated that the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells obtained from the femoral head group showed reduced proliferation ability compared with those obtained from the other two groups. The percentage of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was increased at G 0/G 1 , but decreased significantly at S+G 2/M in the femoral head group (P<0.05). The bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells obtained from the ilium group were proliferated best. The decreased proliferation ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells may play a role in the low repair capacity of corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head, and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from the ilium of patients with corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head have a better proliferative ability.

One hundred and fifty femoral head necrosis patients with intramedullary decompression received autologous stem cell transplantation. The blood was taken from unilateral or bilateral iliac, in each group the volumes of blood taken were 200, 300 or 400 ml respectively. The number of mononuclear cells was counted before and after centrifugation. The mononuclear cell count in subgroup of 200 ml,300 ml and 400 ml taken from unilateral iliac after centrifugation was (3. 11 ±1. 42) × 1010/L, (2. 62 ±1. 31 ) × 1010/L and(2. 13 ±. 91) × 1010/L. The concentration was significantly lower in subgroup of 400 ml than that of 200 ml (t=5. 118, P<0. 01). The mononuclear cells count in subgroup of 200 ml,300 ml and 400 ml taken from bilateral iliac was(4. 51 ±. 21) × 1010/L, (3. 89 ±. 06) × 1010/L and (2. 98 ±1. 39) × 1010/L, the concentration was significantly lower in subgroup of 400 ml than that of subgroup of 200 ml (t = 6. 446, P < 0. 01). Whether 200 ml or 300 ml or 400 ml blood were taken, the mononuclear cell count in blood taken from bilateral iliac after centrifugation was significantly higher than that from unilateral iliac(t = 3. 119,P < 0. 01; t = 5. 544, P < 0. 01 ;t = 2. 207 ,P < 0. 05). The results indicate that the concentration of isolated bone marrow mononuclear cells is higher from bilateral iliac than unilateral iliac. The concentration of isolated monocytes is reduced gradually with the increased blood volume.

This retrospective study was to compare the clinical effects of arthroscopie drilling with arthroscopic microfracture technology on full-thickness chondral defects in 68 patients treated between March 2003 and June 2005. The patients were followed up for an average of (20 ± 5 ) months. Lysholm score and Tegner scale were used to evaluate the efficacy. For the arthrescopic drilling group (n = 15 ) and the microfracture surgery group (n =27) , total effective rates were 12/15 and 85% (23/27), respectively. Our data suggest that those two methods provide simple and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of chondral defects of the knee; the results of arthroscopic microfracture were significantly better than arthroscopic drilling.

Objective To evaluate the early and middle-term results of in-situ single-screw fixation and subtrochanteric osteotomy of femur with external fixator for slipped capital femoral epiphysis(SCFE).Methods From June 1998 to July 2008, eleven patients (12 hips) with SCFE were treated, including 7males (8 hips) and 4 females (4 hips) with an average age of 14.3 years (range, 9-18). The average BMI was 31.1 g/m2. According to the Southwick measurement, mild (＜30°) in 6 cases (7 hips), moderate (30°-50°) in 2 cases (2 hips), and severe (＞50°) in 3 cases (3 hips). All the mild and moderate cases were undergone insitu single screw fixation, and three severe cases were performed subtrochanteric osteotomy of femur with external fixator. All the cases were evaluated at 3 months, 6 months and every year postoperatively. Results All the cases were followed up for average 5.6 years (range, 2-12). The Harris hip score increased from mean 74.8 points preoperatively to 90.6 points postoperatively, with 10 hips excellent, 1 hip good, 1 hip fair and 0 hip poor. The excellent and good rate was 91.7% (11/12). The X-ray showed the epiphyseal closure in in-situ single screw fixation cases, and no further increase in epiphyseal-shaft angle. Partial reduction of slipped epiphysis with normal joint spaces was observed in subtrochanteric osteotomy of femur with external fixator cases. Conclusion In-situ single screw fixation provides a surgical treatment option to treat mild and moderate SCFE with satisfactory clinical outcome, and profit to the prevention further slip. Subtrochanteric osteotomy of femur with external fixator is suitable for severe SCFE with late deformity. The realignment procedure can correct deformity and postpone or avoid the occurrence of osteoarthritis.

Objective To explore the relationship between the osteonecrotic volume (lesion size), angle and the index of necrotic extent on the femoral head. Methods Fifty-one hips in 39 patients with non-traumatic avascular osteonecrosis on the femoral head were divided into 12 equal segments from the head to the neck junction (a turning point of the spherical curve of the head) with whole hip displacement, each with 30 degrees on a coronal plane of weight-bearing surface. The osteonecrotic angle of the arc of each necrotic segment from the center of the femoral head was measured at the point of one- to 12-o'clock on imaging of two dimensional reconstruction of computerized tomography (CT) scans and anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. Necrotic volume on each segment of the femoral head was calculated with fluid displacement method. The index of osteonecrotic extent on the femoral head was calculated using direct anatomical measurements. Results Osteoneerotic volume on the femoral head at the point of 12- to one-o'clock on coronal plane was (74. 5 ± 7.4)% of the sphere equivalent of the whole femoral head, which was positively correlated to its necrotic angle [ (41.9±8. 3) degrees] at the point of one-o'clock on the plane, with a coefficient of correlation of 0. 843, and that at the point of one- to two-o'clock on the plane was (73.7 ±0. 4) %, which was positively correlated to its necrotic angle [ (41.9 ± 1.8) degrees] at the point of two-o'clock, with a coefficient of correlation of 0. 543. Osteonecrotic volume on the point of 11- to 12-o'cleck was (83.6±8.6)%, and the necrotic angle at the point of 12-o'clock was (44. 9±3.9) degrees, which were positively correlated each other, with a coefficient of correlation of 0. 701 (P <0. 01 ). Osteonecrotic volume on the femoral head was positively correlated to its necrotic angle , modified index of necrotic extent, index of necrotic extent and Kerboul conjugated necrotic angle, with coefficients of correlation of 0. 798, 0. 701, 0. 377 and 0. 398 ( P < 0. 01 ), respectively, at the point of one o' clock. Conclusions Measurements of osteonecrotic volume was positively correlated to the index of necrotic extent and necrotic angle on the femoral head, respectively. Necrotic angle on the plane at 30-degree of the trochanter on the femoral head can well reflect its necrotic volume.

BACKGROUND:It is a clinical difficult in the treatment of osteonecrosis with joint preservation, and to solve this problem, a variety of bone graft substitutes are at the exploration stage. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical outcome of lightbulb operation with porous bioceramic β-tricalcium phosphate in a consecutive series of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. METHODS:From January to December 2008, 58 patients (88 hips) who had undergone lightbulb operation with porous bioceramic β-tricalcium phosphate were involved in this study. Al patients were evaluated both clinicaly and radiographicaly at postoperative 3, 6, 12 months and annualy. Functional improvement was assessed with the Harris hip score. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Among these patients, 56 patients (85 hips) were folowed up for 2-5 years. According to the ARCO staging system, there were 27 hips of stage II, 40 hips of stage IIIa, 18 hips of IIIb. According to the hospital’s classification, type C was in 4 hips, L1 in 15 hips, L2 in 28 hips, and L3 in 38 hips. According to the Harris hip score system, excelent outcome was in 55 hips, good in 12 hips, fair in 5 hips and poor in 13 hips. Nine of 11 patients who failed to preserve their own joints were subjected to hip replacement. The  mean preoperative and postoperative Harris scores were 61.2 and 85.3, respectively, with a mean improvement of 24.1 points (P < 0.001). All hips were radiologically stable, with no progress of osteonecrosis, and bone density in the bone graft area increased obviously. The replacement time of porous bioceramic β-tricalcium phosphate was 1-1.5 years. These findings suggest that the porous bioceramic β-tricalcium phosphate provides an option to treat osteonecrosis of the femoral head with satisfactory clinical outcomes, and profits the repair and reconstruction of femoral head osteonecrosis. When in the lateral column of femoral head, the porous bioceramic β-tricalcium phosphate can play a supporting role in the lateral column of the necrotic area, and further prevent collapse, which is suitable for patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head, especially for those with joint preservation.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of locking compression plate (LCP) and retrograde intramedullary nail (RIMN) in the treatment of periprosthetic fractures after total knee arthroplasty (TKA),providing reference for surgeons to select the fixation approach.Methods Cochrane Library,PubMed,Embase,Medline,Wanfang database,VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals,and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched to identify the retrospective comparison studies (RCS) which compared the clinical outcomes of LCP and RIMN for patients with periprosthetic supracondylar fractures of the distal femur after TKA.The quality of included literatures was evaluated by Newcastle-Ottawa scale(NOS).Meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.3 software to compare the operation time,Knee society score (KSS),fracture healing time,nonunion rate,reoperation rate,and incidence of complications between the two groups.Results Ten retrospective comparison studies involving 487 patients were identified including LCP group (296 cases) and RIMN group (191 cases).The meta analysis results showed that no significant differences were found in the operation time (MD =10.89,95％ CI-9.56-31.33,P ＞ 0.05),KSS (MD =1.11,95％ CI-8.88-11.10,P =0.83),fracture healing time (MD =0.00,95％ CI-1.51-1.51,P ＞0.05),nonunion rate (OR =0.71,95％ CI 0.38-1.31,P ＞ 0.05),reoperation rate (OR =0.65,95％ CI 0.22-1.91,P ＞ 0.05),and complication incidence rate (0R=0.69,95％CI0.38-1.26,P＞0.05) between these two groups.Conclusions There are no significant differences in the operation time,KSS,fracture healing time,nonunion rate,reoperation rate,and complications between LCP and RIMN groups.LCP and RIMN have similar clinical outcomes in treating periprosthetic supracondylar femoral fracture following TKA.

Objective To explore the regular progressive pattern of nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in order to establish the reliable and convenient new classification of ONFH.Methods The coronal section of the femoral head was divided into three pillars (medial,central and lateral).The mid-coronal section of the femoral head on MRI was selected.The China-Japan Friendship Hospital (CJFH)classification of ONFH was established according to the site of necrotic focus in three pillars.A total of 153hips with ONFH were classified according to CJFH classification and Japanese Investigation Committee (JIC)classification,respectively.The collapse rate was observed and compared between both classifications of ONFH.Results The CJFH classification for ONFH consists of 3 types:type A,the medial pillar was involved; type B,the medial and central pillars were involved; type C,the lateral pillar was involved.According to site of necrosis focus in the lateral pillar,the type C was divided into 3 types:C1,there pillars were involved but there still was some normal tissue in lateral pillar;,C2,partial central pillar and all lateral pillar were involved; C3,the whole femoral head was involved.The natural history of the ONFH showed the collapse rate of type C2 and C3 in CJFH classification (95.3％) was higher than that (72.3％) of type C2 in JIC classification.Conclusion The CJFH classification of ONFH based on three pillars is more sensitive than JIC classification in predicting collapse of the femoral head.Moreover,the CJFH classification is convenient to use.

To describe a novel particles surface display system which is consisted of gram-positive enhancer matrix (GEM) particles and anchor proteins for bacteria-like particles vaccines, we treated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG bacteria with 10% heated-TCA for preparing GEM particles, and then identified the harvested GEM particles by electron microscopy, RT-PCR and SDS-PAGE. Meanwhile, Escherichia coli was induced to express hybrid proteins PA3-EGFP and P60-EGFP, and GEM particles were incubated with them. Then binding of anchor proteins were determined by Western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and spectrofluorometry. GEM particles preserved original size and shape, and proteins and DNA contents of GEM particles were released substantially. The two anchor proteins both had efficiently immobilized on the surface of GEM. GEM particles that were bounded by anchor proteins were brushy. The fluorescence of GEM particles anchoring PA3 was slightly brighter than P60, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). GEM particles prepared from L. rhamnosus GG have a good binding efficiency with anchor proteins PA3-EGFP and P60-EGFP. Therefore, this novel foreign protein surface display system could be used for bacteria-like particle vaccines.