Objective To assess the additional diagnostic value of mesenteric CT angiography (MCTA) for localization of intestinal diseases detected by 64-slice helical CT. Methods Pretreatment abdominal CT data from 60 cases of intestinal diseases confirmed surgically and pathologically were analyzed retrospectively. Two radiologists blindly evaluated the images in group A (including axial and multi-plane reconstructive images) and group B (including images in group A and CT angiography). Both the localization and qualitation of intestinal diseases were evaluated by comparison of the surgical and pathological findings. Results The accuracy of localization of intestinal diseases in groups A and B was 83.3% and 98.3%, respectively. Conclusion Mesenteric CT angiography can obviously increase the accuracy in localization of intestinal diseases.

Abnormal mechanical loading is the main risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis (OA), and it can lead to collagen degradation, glycosaminoglycan loss and chondrocyte apoptosis, as well as damage to articular cartilage and subchondral bone. However, due to the lack of understanding in chondrocytes mechanotransduction pathway and invalid method of cartilage repair and regeneration, there is an urgent need for understanding chondrocytes mechanotransduction pathway and mechanism of cartilage damage induced by mechanical loading. In this review, how chondrocytes sense and transmit mechanical signals from cell membrane to cecullar mechanosensors is introduced in detail, and the role of chondrocytes mechanotransduction in OA development is discussed with emphasis.

Objective To investigate the difference of matrix stiffness in different regions of tibial plateau in osteoarthritis (OA) and its effects on morphology of the cartilage and mitochondria. Methods The tibial plateau cartilage specimens of OA were obtained for nanoindentation test, transmission electron microscopy and histological analysis. The stiffness of cartilage matrix in different regions of OA tibial plateau was detected by nano-indentation. The morphology of cartilage mitochondria in different regions was observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the changes of mitochondrial plane area, shape and ridge volume density were quantitatively analyzed. Cartilage injury in different regions of OA tibial plateau was observed by histological staining. Results The cartilage of OA tibial plateau showed regional heterogeneity, and the cartilage and mitochondria on medial side of varus knee OA were more severe, and the matrix stiffness was higher. The OA scores were positively correlated with matrix stiffness. There was also a significant correlation between OA scores and mitochondrial morphology: the higher OA scores, the larger and rounder mitochondrial plane area, and the lower cristae volume density. Conclusions The differences of tibial plateau revealed the correlation between cartilage matrix stiffness, OA scores and mitochondrial morphological parameters. The increased cartilage matrix stiffness may be the main cause of chondrocyte mitochondrial injury, and further aggravate the progression of OA.