Objective To evaluate the value of MRI in diagnosing the bucket handle tear (BHT) of the knee meniscus.Methods Eighty four knees which underwent both MRI and arthroscopy (AS) examinations were analyzed. Results of AS were used as golden standard to evaluate the results of MRI. The evaluating criteria included primary reports, central displaced fragments of meniscus (CDFM), double posterior cruciate ligament sign (DPCLS) and the absent bow tie sign (ABTS). Results For MRI diagnosing BHT, the sensitivity and specificity of primary reports were 43% and 87%, respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of CDFM were 72% and 87%, respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of the DPCLF were 31% and 97%, respectively; and the sensitivity and specificity of the ABTS were 71% and 69%, respectively.Conclusions When MRI was applied to diagnose BHT, the CDFM had higher sensitivity and specificity, while the ABTS had higher sensitivity and lower specificity. The DPCLF had the highest specificity and the lowest sensitivity.

BACKGROUND:Since the meniscal blood supply is only in the red zone, the synovial fluid becomes the main nutrition source of the meniscus. As its poor self-healing ability, the meniscus is almost impossible to heal in non-blood supply regions. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression and characteristics of transforming growth factor-β3 in the rat meniscus during postnatal development. METHODS:Meniscus tissues of Wistar rats with different ages (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 days) were adopted, and immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR methods were performed to detect the location and expression pattern of transforming growth factor-β3 within the meniscus. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemistry results revealed that the expression of transforming growth factor-β3 started from the joint capsule, and gradualy extended to the red zone, gray zone, and white area;RT-PCR results showed the mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-β3 in the rat meniscus at different ages, and during development process gradualy increased until adult stage (rat weight > 100 g), which remained relatively stable.

[Objective] To discuss the clinical significance of simple synovial tuberculosis treated and diagnosed by arthroscopy. [Methods] A review study of 8 patients with simple synovial tuberculosis from September 1998 to September 2004. The 8 cases with the main clinical manifestation of articular swelling were confirmed as simple synovial tuberculosis by arthroscopic examination and arthroscopic synovectomy in pathology. [Results] The 8 cases were definitely diagnosed by arthroscopy pathologically. The average follow-up period was two years and four months. For all of the 8 cases, the articular symptoms disappeared, articular function recovered well and the therapeutic effect was satisfactory. [Conclusion] Arthroscopic examination is an effective method to diagnose synovial tuberculosis at early stage. Synovectomy with arthroscopy can remove the pathological synovial membrane and is beneficial to the control of the local tubercular focus.

BACKGROUND:In order to overcome the shortcomings of single materials, antibiotics-loaded hydroxyapatite/titanium composites have attracted people’s attentions.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the biocompatibility of vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium nanotubes.
METHODS:Mouse osteoblasts, MC-3T3-E1, were co-cultured with titanium (Cp-T), TiO2nanotubes, and vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium nanotubes, respectively. Cel morphology and growth were observed after 1, 3 and 5 days of co-culture under inverted microscope and scanning electron microscope. The cel proliferation was detected by AO-EB method. The total protein, calcium and alkaline phosphatase levels were detected at 7 and 14 days of co-culture.
RESULTSAND CONCLUSION:The MC-3T3-E1 cels with good viability and morphology adhered wel on the surface of vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium nanotubes compared with those on the surface of pure titanium and TiO2nanotubes under the scanning electron miscroscope. Moreover, there were a large amount of pseudopodia on the surface of composite nanotubes. Compared with the other two groups, the cel number on the surface and the levels of intracelular calcium and alkaline phosphatase were al higher in the vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium nanotubes group. These findings suggest that the vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium nanotubes have good biocompatibility and no cytotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Present studies have proved that titanium coating nanotubes cannot only promote the biological activity of the material itself, but also be used as a drug carrier loading antibiotics and growth factors. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antibacterial properties of vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium dioxide nanotubes in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The releasing property in vitro of vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium dioxide nanotubes and vancomycin/titanium dioxide nanotubes were detected. And 1010/L Staphylococcus aureus dilution was put onto the commercial titanium, titanium dioxide nanotube and vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium dioxide nanotube, respectively. Twenty-four hours later, the bacterial growth and activity was observed by scanning electron microscope and confocus scanning electron microscope, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Scanning electron microscope showed: the number of Staphylococcus aureus was the least on the vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium dioxide nanotube, and the bacterial morphology was destroyed. Confocus scanning electron microscope observed: the number of bacteria and viable bacteria was the least on the vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium dioxide nanotube, and the most on the commercial titanium. Besides, the releasing time of vancomycin from the hydroxyapatite/titaniumdioxide nanotube was up to 18 days, but the releasing time of vancomycin was only 4 hours from the titanium dioxide nanotube. In conclusion, the vancomycin/hydroxyapatite/titanium dioxide nanotube has good antibacterial property and slow-releasing performance.

BACKGROUND:TiO2 nanotube array prepared by anodic oxidation is a nanomaterial having a perfect promising application at present.
OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress of TiO2 nanotube in clinic.
METHODS:The key words were TiO2 nanotubes, anodization, and biomaterials. We retrieved PubMed Database for articles concerning the clinical application of TiO2 nanotube published from January 2000 to June 2013. Repetitive and old studies were excluded, and 47 literatures were included for the review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The summarized results of the 47 literatures showed that TiO2 nanotube promoted the adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells including human. In vivo experiments verified that TiO2 nanotube could be used as a carrier to carry other drugs such as growth factor and antibiotics so as to promote the biocompatibility of the materials and to prevent bacterial adhesion. Results suggested that TiO2 nanotube contributed to the osseointegration of the material in vivo, and had a good biocompatibility.

BACKGROUND:Hydroxyapatite has excellent biocompatibility, but biocompatibility of nano-hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanotube composites is rarely reported.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the biocompatibility of nano-hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanotube composites.
METHODS:First, the TiO2 nanotubes were fabricated on the surface of the titanium by anodic oxidation
technique. Second, the nano-hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanotube composites were fabricated by electrodeposition technique. The surface morphology of the composites was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Mouse osteoblasts MC-3T3-E1 were co-cultured with the nano-hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanotube composites, TiO2 nanotubes and titanium, and commercial y pure titanium to observe the celladhesion, proliferation and necrosis on scaffolds.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The morphology of the TiO2 nanotubes and nano-hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanotube composites could be control ed by altering the conditions of the anodic oxidation and electrodeposition. Under the inverted microscope, after 3 days of co-culture with TiO2 nanotubes and nano-hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanotube composites, MC-3T3-E1 cells proliferated wel with regular shape and arrangement that were superior to those on commercial y pure titanium. Under scanning electron microscope, the cellwere adhered and proliferated wel on the surface of the TiO2 nanotubes and nano-hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanotube composites after 3 days. Apoptosis rate of the cells was significantly reduced on the surface of nano-hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanotube composites (7.8%) compared with TiO2 nanotubes (9.4%) and commercial y pure titanium (13.5%), indicating nano-hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanotube composites have good biocompatibility.

BACKGROUND: Both hydroxyapatite (HA) and large diameter TiO2 nanotubes have excellent biocompatibility, but bone-forming ability of nano-HA (nHA) deposited large diameter TiO2 nanotubes is rarely reported.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the bone-forming ability of nHA/large-diameter TiO2 nanotube composite coating.METHODS: Large-diameter TiO2 nanotubes were prepared by anodic oxidation method, and then nHA was electrochemically deposited on the surface of TiO2 nanotubes. Preosteoblasts MC3T3-E1 were co-cultured with the nHA/large diameter TiO2 nanotube composite, pure titanium and TiO2 nanotube coatings, respectively. At 0.5, 1, 2 hours after culture, the initial cell adhesion was observed. At 1, 3, 5 day after culture, cell proliferation was assessed. At 2 days after culture, cell morphology was observed. At 3 and 7 days after osteogenic induction, intracellular alkaline phosphatase activity was detected. At 14 days after osteogenic induction, mineralization of extracellular matrix was detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) After 2 hours of culture, the number of adherent cells on the composite coating was significantly lower than that on the TiO2 nanotube coating (P < 0.05), but slightly higher than that on the pure titanium coating with no statistical difference. (2) After 1, 3, 5 days of culture, the cell proliferation on the composite coating was significantly lower than that on the TiO2 nanotube coating (P < 0.05), but slightly higher than that on the pure titanium with no statistical difference. (3) The cells on the pure titanium showed a spindle-shape, while those on the TiO2 nanotube coating processed filopodia. The cells on the composite coating showed polygonal shape with a larger number of filopodia. (4) The intracellular alkaline phosphatase activity of the composite coating group was significantly higher than that of the pure titanium group and TiO2 nanotube group. The trend of mineralization of extracellular matrix was ranked from high to low: the composite coating group > TiO2 nanotube group > pure titanium group. To conclude, the nHA/large diameter TiO2 nanotube composite coating not only has good biocompatibility, but also has the ideal ability to promote bone formation.