OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical results of rotating hinged knee systems in the treatment of complex knee diseases. METHODS: A total of 18 patients (11 males and 7 females, aged 58.7 years, ranging 34-66 years) with complex knee diseases were selected from Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, who underwent 20 primary knee arthroplasties (11 left and 9 right knees) using rotating hinged prosthesis from June 2003 to May 2008. These cases included 8 rheumatoid arthritis and 10 osteoarthritis, and presented 20?-30? varus or valgus deformity or 25?-40? fixed flexion deformity. Two patients underwent bilateral knee arthroplasty. Preoperatively bone loss and deformities in all cases was evaluated by AORI and X-ray. Postoperatively the clinical results were evaluated by the HSS knee rating score system. RESULTS: Knee arthroplasty was performed in all patients successfully and unilateral operative time was 95-147 minutes (average 129 minutes). The patients were followed up form 11 months to 6 years (average 4.2 years). All the knee pain was released and the deformities were corrected. The range of joint movements was up to 100?-136?. The patients could walk without assistance of walking stick. No light or deep infection, prosthesis subsidence, dislocation or fracture resorption was found. The average HSS score was 86 (78-95 scores) post-operation while 42 (25-56 scores) pre-operation. Excellent results were received in 11 cases, good in 6 cases. The rate of excellent or good was 94%. CONCLUSION: The knee arthroplasty using rotating hinged knee systems is an effective method to treat complex knee diseases such as severe extroversion or varus. It can release the knee pain and improve joint function and the quality of life.

AIM: To investigate the function of the prot ein tyrosine kinase of focal adhesion kinase subfamily gene, the gene regulation and the signaling pathway related to ventricular septal defect during heart dev elopment. METHODS: The ALK3 downstream genes were screened usin g microarray. The ALK3 downstream genes was identified using RT-PCR and real tim e quantitative RT-PCR.RESULTS: It was found that the protein ty rosine kinase of focal adhesion kinase subfamily gene was up-regulated 3.7 fold in the 11.5 days embryonic heart of cardiac- specific deletion of ALK3 mice. CONCLUSION: The protein tyrosine kinase of focal adhesion kinase subfamily possibly is a regulatory factor in bone morphogenetic protein signalin g pathway and may be related with the development of ventricular septal defect.

Objective To observe the short-term effect of radial head replacement for the treatment of terrible triad of the elbow.Methods In the period between June 2011 and June 2012,the radial head replacements were carried out in six patients with terrible triad of elbow.There were five acute elbow fracture-dislocation cases and one old fractnre case.All cases underwent open reduction and fixation coronoid fracture with screws or nonabsorbable sutures,radial head replacement,repair of lateral ligament complex and repair or reconstruction of annular ligament.All patients initiated the rehabilitation program under supervision within 5-7 days after surgery.The X-ray and Computed tomography of elbow was used to evaluate the posi tion of radial head prosthesis.Functional outcome of elbow was assessed by Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and complications.Results All patients were participated in follow-up for 10-24 months and the mean duration of follow-up was 16.8 months.The MEPS was from 85 to 95 points and the mean MEPS was 91.7 points.The outcome of MEPS was excellent in 5 cases,good in 1 case.The range motion of elbow flexion was from 82 to 95 degrees and the average of elbow flexion was 87 degrees; the range motion of extension was from 15 to 32 degrees and the average of elbow extension was 21 degrees.The range motion of fore-ann pronation was from 82 to 90 degrees with 86 degrees in average.The motion range of supination was from 45 to 80 degrees with 56 degrees in average.All cases got persistent stability in elbow with painless movement.None of patient suffered traumatic arthritis and infection.The motion range of elbow was restricted due to the unfit relative position of radial head prosthesis and capi tellum in one case,characterized by decreasing radiocapitellar joint space.Two cases developed into heterotopic ossification in elbow without hampering the motion range of elbow.Conclusion The outcome of the radial head replacement on the treatment of radial head fracture in the elbow terrible triad was satisfactory.However,the longer duration of observation was essential to verify the favorable effect of radial head replacement on dealing with terrible triad in elbow.

AIM: Endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs) are a group of stem cells/progenitor cells,which exist in postnatal body and can be of specially homing to the foci of angiogenesis and then differentiate into endothelial cells.This investigation was to study the method for culturing endothelia progenitor cells(EPCs) in vitro,and to observe its feasibility and condition formed vessel-like structure.METHODS: The cells were isolated from born marrow,peripheral blood,umbilical cord blood or spleen in different laboratories.The EPCs derived from human umbilical cord blood and rabbit peripheral blood were cultured in vitro through adhesion selection and were differentiated into endothelial cells under the induction of special cytokines.The expression of CD34,VEGFR-2,AC133 and VE-cadherin were detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting.The endothelial cell lineage was confirmed by DiI-ac-LDL up-taking and Ⅷ factor immunocytochemistry.RESULTS: The EPCs derived from human umbilical cord blood and rabbit peripheral blood were cultured in vitro successfully,forming cord-like and tube-like structure.The EPCs derived from rabbit peripheral blood differentiated more mature and formed vessel-like structure.CONCLUSION: The EPCs derived from human umbilical cord blood and rabbit peripheral blood formed vessel-like structure in vitro.EPCs may be a potential resource of vessel tissue engineering.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of particulate bone grafting on reconstruction of femoral defects in revision total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Fifteen patients (20 hips) with femoral defects were treated by revision total hips arthroplasty with particulate bone grafting. After the operations, 14 patients (19 hips) were evaluated by X-rays and the Harris score. RESULTS: During a follow-up of 43.6 months (11 approximately 65 months), 17 hips (89.5%) were cured, without obvious bone absorption or prosthesis sinking. Harris scores improved from 34.18 pre-operation to 86.6 post-operation. CONCLUSION Reconstruction of femoral defects with particulate bone grafting is an effective method for bone defects in revision total hip arthroplasty.
Acetabulum ; pathology ; surgery ; Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Bone Cements ; Bone Substitutes ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Female ; Femur ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of bone cement, with different amounts of alendronate on osteoblast, and determine the cytotoxicity of alendronate-integrated bone cement from the viewpoint of cell biology. METHODS: According to different additions (0, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1 000 mg) of alendronate in 50 g Cemex®XL bone cement powder, the experiments were divided into 6 groups, namely G0-G5 groups. In all groups, the adhesive capacity of osteoblast-like cells MG-63 was evaluated by electron microscope, the optical density (OD) value of cells by MTT colorimetry method, the alkaline phosphatase activity (AKP) by AKP assay kit, the apoptosis rates by Annexin-V-FITC apoptosis detection kit, and the bone mineralization potentiality by phase contrast microscope. RESULTS: The adhesive capacity of MG-63 was good in all groups. Compared with the G0 group, the cell apoptosis was inhibited in G1-G4 groups while in G5 group the cell apoptosis was promoted and cell proliferation was inhibited (P<0.05). In all groups, no significant difference was found in alkaline phosphatase activity and bone mineralization potentiality (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Less than 500 mg alendronate added in Cemex®XL 50 g bone cement powder has no cytotoxicity on osteoblasts.
Alendronate ; Apoptosis ; Bone Cements ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of alendronate amount on the static mechanical properties of bone cement before elution and 4 weeks after elution, and determine suitable amount of alendronate in cement from the perspective of biomechanics. METHODS: Samples of compression strength and bending strength (modulus) were prepared with bone cement adding 0, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 mg alendronate in 50 g Cemex®XL bone cement powders respectively (named as G0-G5 groups). The compression strength, bending strength, and bending modulus of bone cement were examinated by INSTRON 8032 tester before the elution and 4 weeks after the elution. Some broken samples of 4-point bending test were examinated by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and some other samples of bending strength (modulus) tests by micro-CT. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the compression strength before the elution,4 weeks after elution in the 6 groups, and before and after the elution in the respective groups (P>0.05). Compared with G0 group, G1-G4 groups had no obvious difference in the bending strength before the elution and 4 weeks after the elution (P>0.05), while G5 group had difference (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the bending strength before and after the elution in the respective groups (P>0.05). Taken G0 group as the control group, G1-G4 groups had no visible effects on the bending modulus 4 weeks after the elution (P>0.05), while G5 group decreased it significantly (P<0.05). Bending modulus before the elution in the 6 groups didn't show obvious difference (P>0.05), while bending modulus before and after the elution in the respective groups displayed a marked difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Less than 500 mg alendronate added in Cemex?XL 50 g bone cement powder does not decrease the compressive strength, flexural strength and flexural modulus before the elution and 4 weeks after the elution.
Alendronate ; chemistry ; Bone Cements ; Compressive Strength ; Elastic Modulus ; Materials Testing ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Powders

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) antagonist telmisartan on retina vessel endothelial cell apoptosis and its impact on the ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas axis in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR).

METHODSThirty-six SHR 16 week-old were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 12 each): SHR, SHRT (telmisartan 10 mg · kg-1 · d-1 by gastric gavage) and SHRTA group (telmisartan 10 mg · kg-1 · d-1 by gastric gavage plus intravenous injection of A-779 0.5 mg · kg-1 · d-1), twelve WKY rats served as normotensive control group. Systolic blood pressure was measured at pre-treatment and 8 weeks later. After 8 weeks, rats were sacrificed, the expression of ACE2 and Mas in retina were analyzed by qRT-PCR, Western blot and Immunohistochemistry, the Ang-(1-7) concentration in serum was measured by ELISA. Specimens were obtained and stained by hematoxylin and eosin, and the morphology of retina vessel was observed. Apoptosis of vessel endothelial cells were determined by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling method.

RESULTSThe systolic blood pressure of SHR, SHRT and SHRTA groups at baseline were significantly higher than age-matched WKY group (all P < 0.01). Eight weeks later, the systolic blood pressure group was significantly lower in SHRT group than in the SHR group (P < 0.01), this effect was partly reversed in SHRTA group. The retinal ACE2 mRNA and protein expression was significantly lower in SHR group than in WKY and SHRT groups (P < 0.01), which was similar between SHRT group and SHRTA group (P > 0.05). The retinal Mas mRNA and protein expression were significantly lower in SHR group compared to WKY and SHRT groups (all P < 0.01), which was significantly lower in SHRTA group than in the SHRT group (P < 0.05). ELISA results showed that serum Ang-(1-7) protein level was significantly lower in SHR group than in WKY group and SHRT group (both P < 0.05), which was lower in SHRTA group compared to SHRT group. Retinal vessel endothelial cell apoptosis was higher in SHR group than in WKY group, which could be reduced by cotreatment with telmisartan and this beneficial effect could be reversed by A-779.

CONCLUSIONTelmisartan can reduce retinal vessel endothelial cell apoptosis via upregulating the ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas axis.

Angiotensin I ; metabolism ; Angiotensin II ; analogs & derivatives ; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzimidazoles ; pharmacology ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Blood Pressure ; Endothelial Cells ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Retina ; Systole ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVES: Pauwels III fracture is a kind of femoral neck fractures, in which the angle of the fracture line in the coronal plane and the upper edge of the acetabulum is more than 50°. Internal fixation for the treatment of femoral neck fractures is largely performed by cannulated compression screw (CCS), dynamic hip screw, or locking plate. This study aims to compare the biomechanical properties of parallel CCS combined with medial buttress plate fixation and F-type CCS fixation in the treatment of Pauwels III femoral neck fracture by finite element modeling and to determinate the most suitable procedure for such fractures. METHODS: A 52-year-old male volunteer, 176 cm in height and 72 kg in weight, with no history of hip joint, was selected. X-ray and CT examination confirmed that the morphology and bone condition of the right hip of the volunteer were normal. A simulation model of Pauwels III femoral neck fracture was established from the collected CT data of the right proximal femur of the volunteer by the finite element method. Four internal fixations were developed to treat the finite element model: Three CCSs in an inverted triangular parallel configuration combined with medial buttress plate model served as Group A, 2 CCSs in a vertical parallel configuration combined with medial buttress plate model served as Group B, 2 CCSs in a horizontal parallel configuration combined with medial buttress model served as Group C, and the "F" shaped CCS model served as Group D. The distribution of stress, the peak stress, the distribution and maximum of displacement of internal fixations and fracture ends in different models were evaluated. RESULTS: For Groups A, B, C, and D, the peak stresses on the internal fixation were 362.74, 586.84, 558.25, and 208.66 mPa, respectively, all of which occurred near the fractures and the stress distribution in Group D was the most uniform. The maximum displacements of internal fixations in Groups A, B, C, and D were 0.39, 0.45, 0.44, and 0.41 mm, respectively; the peak stresses on the fracture ends were 70.62, 98.48, 55.84, and 65.39 mPa, respectively, all of which were concentrated on the base of femoral neck and lateral cortex of the femoral shaft, and the stresses of Groups C and D were more evenly distributed than those of Groups A and B. The maximum displacements of fracture ends in Groups A, B, C, and D were 0.44, 0.52, 0.50, and 0.44 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The biomechanical stability of F-type CCS fixation is similar to that of 3 CCSs in an inverted triangular parallel configuration combined with medial buttress plate, with a better dispersion of stress. F-type CCS fixation may be a well option for the treatment of femoral neck fracture of Pauwels III.
Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Femoral Neck Fractures/surgery* ; Finite Element Analysis ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged