Objective:To explore the effect of Gubi Decoction on serum related inflammatory factors and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in osteoarthritis model rats. Methods:Seventy SPF rats were randomly divided into the blank group, sham operation group, Glucosamine sulfate group, and the low, medium and high dose Gubi Decoction groups. Except the blank group and sham operation group, knee osteoarthritis animal models were prepared by the modified Hulth method in each group. On the 28th day after successful model preparation, the high, medium and low dose Gubi Decoction groups were given Gubi Decoction 24, 12 and 6 g/kg by gavage respectively; glucosamine sulfate group was given glucosamine sulfate tablet suspension 3 g/L by gavage, once a day for 28 days. The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum were detected by ELISA. The gene expressions of PI3K, Akt and mTOR in cartilage tissue were detected by Real-PCR. The protein expressions of PI3K, Akt, p-PI3K, p-Akt and mTOR were detected by Western blot. Results:Compared with the model group, the knee joint diameter[(11.17 ± 1.81) mm, (11.60 ± 1.38) mm, (10.80 ± 1.17) mm vs. (12.57 ± 0.98) mm] of the rats in the glucosamine sulfate group and the medium and high dose Gubi Decoction groups significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The content of TNF-α [(111.43 ± 21.98) ng/L, (53.42 ± 13.25) ng/L vs. (157.89 ± 23.60) ng/L], IL-1β [(67.50 ± 18.44) ng/L, (48.22 ± 9.63) ng/L vs. (96.11 ± 14.85) ng/L] in the medium and high dose Gubi Decoction groups significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the expression of PI3K (1.87 ± 0.17, 1.24 ± 0.49 vs. 2.19 ± 0.47), Akt (1.50 ± 0.51, 1.10 ± 0.32 vs. 2.68 ± 0.63), and mTOR (1.32 ± 0.54, 1.10 ± 0.33 vs. 2.94 ± 0.55) mRNA in the medium and high dose Gubi Decoction groups significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The expression of PI3K, Akt, p-PI3K, p-Akt in the low, medium and high dose Gubi Decoction groups significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the expression of mTOR in the medium dose Gubi Decoction group significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Gubi Decoction can significantly reduce the level of inflammatory factors in the serum of osteoarthritis model rats, and its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects may be related to PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of remote follow-up based on knee scoring system after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:A total of 71 patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent TKA from July 2021 to September 2022 at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 patients included in the study, including 6 males and 6 females, aged 72.83±4.22 years (range, 68-78 years), who were followed up using an online approach (remote follow-up group). According to the sample size of 1:2, patients who received outpatient follow-up during the same period were selected as controls (outpatient follow-up group), including 12 males and 12 females, aged 72.16±4.50 years (range, 65-80 years). Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), and 2011 New Knee Society Score (KSS) were used to assess outcomes after TKA.Results:The follow-up completion rate in the remote follow-up group was 17% (12/71). There were statistically significant differences in WOMAC scores between the two groups before and after operation ( F=106.18, P<0.001; F=34.33, P<0.001). The WOMAC score of remote follow-up group at the last follow-up was 11.21±5.64, which was lower than 43.83±8.52 before operation and 33.96±9.19 at 2-4 weeks after operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001, P<0.001). The WOMAC scores of the outpatient follow-up group at the last follow-up was 13.33±5.36, which was lower than 42.00±7.21 before operation and 32.83±11.00 at 2-4 weeks after operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001, P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences in OKS between the two groups before and after operation ( F=168.65, P<0.001; F=66.18, P<0.001). The OKS of remote follow-up group at the last follow-up was 15.13±4.92, which was lower than 44.50±5.84 before operation and 36.83±6.31 at 2-4 weeks after operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.001, P<0.001). The OKS of the outpatient follow-up group at the last follow-up was 16.58±3.63, which was lower than 41.42±5.05 before operation and 33.33±6.60 at 2-4 weeks after operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001, P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences in the 2011 new KSS between the two groups before and after operation ( F=164.21, P<0.001; F=51.78, P<0.001). The 2011 new KSS of remote follow-up group at the last follow-up was 83.67±6.27, which was higher than 41.33±10.33 before operation and 50.42±11.07 at 2-4 weeks after operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001, P<0.001). The 2011 new KSS of the outpatient follow-up group at the last follow-up was 83.17±6.28, which was higher than 40.08±8.91 before operation and 44.37±9.04 at 2-4 weeks after operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the three scores between the two groups before operation, 2-4 weeks, 6 weeks, 2-3 months or 4 months after operation ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The effect of remote follow-up based on knee scoring scale after TKA is similar to that of outpatient follow-up, but the rate of loss to follow-up in both groups is high. The scoring scale should be continuously optimized to improve patient compliance.