The imaging techniques have been widely used in the diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis,including plain radiography,magnetic resonance imaging,computed tomography and radionuclide imaging.Plain radiography is useful in the early detection of suspected osteomyelitis,but its sensitivity is low.Due to its high resolution and sensitivity,MRI has been the most widely used but its specificity is relatively poor.CT is mainly recommended for diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis in complicated anatomic regions.Radionuclide imaging will have prospects of broad application due to its diverse radiotracers and high sensitivity.This paper reviewed the research of imaging modalities in diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis.

Objective To retrospectively analyze medical data of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) so as to provide evidence for clinical use of opportunistic screening.Methods A total of 2450 CRC patients (male 1377,female 1073) who were treated at five hospitals in North China during October 2001 and September 2011 and had complete medical records and pathological results were recruited.The correlations of incidenceofCRCwithage,gender,tumorlocationandhistologicaltypeswere analyzed.Results Of all the CRC patients,those less than 50 years old accounted for 18.14％ ; and the incidence of CRC was substantially increased in those over 50 years old.Seventy-three percent of tumor occurred at the rectum and sigmoid colon,6％ at descending colon,7％ at transverse colon and 14％ at ascending colon.Moderately,well or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma accounted for 50.33％,40.35％and 9.32％,respectively.Histological differentiation was not correlated with age and gender ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions Age and gender should not be considered a determination of opportunistic screening for CRC.Colonoscopy is recommended as an alternative CRC screening procedure.

Objective:To analysis the risk factors for calcaneal fracture combined with vertebral fracture.Methods:A retrospective study was performed of the 745 calcaneal fractures which had been surgically treated from May, 2005 to September, 2020 in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School, Nanjing University. There were 651 males and 94 females, aged from 11 to 89 years (mean, 43.8 years). The incidence of calcaneal fracture combined with vertebral fracture was recorded. The risk factors were screened out by univariate analysis from gender, age, body mass index, unilateral or bilateral calcaneal fractures, injury severity score (ISS), cause of injury, fall height, classifications of calcaneal and number of vertebral fracture; binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors from the rtsk factors with P<0.05. Results:Vertebral fracture occurred in 70 of the 745 patients with calcaneal fracture (9.40%). Univariate analysis showed significant differences in gender, body mass index, unilateral or bilateral calcaneal fractures, ISS and fall height between patients with simple calcaneal fracture and patients with calcaneal fracture combined with vertebral fracture ( P<0.05); Binary logistic regression analysis showed that gender ( OR=0.225, 95% CI:0.095~0.532, P=0.001), unilateral or bilateral calcaneal fractures ( OR=3.582, 95% CI:1.705~7.526, P=0.001), ISS ( OR=5.229, 95% CI:1.605~17.035, P=0.006), and fall height ( OR=49.820, 95% CI:23.068~107.597, P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for calcaneal fracture combined with vertebral fracture. Conclusion:A more likely combined vertebral fracture should be taken into consideration in male patient with bilateral calcaneal fractures, a falling height > 3 m, or a high ISS.

Objective:To explore the value of the static and dynamic pelvic floor MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in evaluating the morphology and function of urethra in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Methods:From July 2020 to February 2021, a total of 28 patients with SUI and 45 age-matched healthy controls were prospectively collected at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The static and dynamic pelvic floor MRI and DTI were performed for all subjects. The thickness of internal and external sphincter of middle urethra were measured on static MRI images. The functional urethral length (FUL) was measured both on static and maximal strain phase of dynamic MRI images, then the difference of FUL was calculated. The presence of bladder neck funneling and urethra opening were observed on static and dynamic MRI. The muscle fiber bundle image of urethral sphincter complex was obtained by post-processing of DTI original images. The anisotropy fraction (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and three eigenvalues (λ1, λ2, λ3) of annular sphincter and central longitudinal muscle in middle urethra were measured. The independent sample t test and chi-square test were used to analyse the difference of measured parameters in MRI, parameters of DTI and imaging signs between the two groups. Results:Compared with healthy controls, the SUI patients showed that the thickness of external sphincter in middle urethral and FUL in static status and maximal strain phase were significantly decreased ( t=-3.95, -5.72, -8.41, all P<0.001), the difference of FUL between static status and maximal strain phase was significantly increased ( t=4.41, P<0.001). The positive rate of bladder neck funneling in static status and maximal strain phase, urethral opening in maximal strain phase of SUI group increased significantly (χ2=23.09 , 22.25, 26.59, all P<0.001). In SUI group, the FA value of middle urethral annular sphincter decreased significantly ( t=-3.48, P=0.001), while the ADC, λ2 and λ3 values increased significantly ( t=3.19, 2.15 , 2.06, and P=0.002, 0.038 , 0.046, respectively). There was no significant difference in DTI parameters of middle urethral longitudinal muscle between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Static and dynamic MRI and DTI techniques can objectively evaluate the changes of urethral morphology and function of SUI patients. The thinning of the external sphincter in the middle urethra, shortening of the FUL and the destruction of the microstructure of the annular sphincter fiber bundle were the main alterations of SUI patients.

To investigate the effects of Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat shock protein 65(HSP65)on Treg/Th17 immune balance in ApoE-knockout(ApoE-/-)mice, ApoE-/- mice with a high-cholesterol diet were immunized with M. tuberculosis HSP65. Sera were obtained for measurement of anti-HSP65 antibodies by ELISA; the effect of administration of different antigens was investigated, respectively, using flow cytometry analysis on the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Tregs and CD4+IL-17+ Th17; the production of cytokines(IL-10, TGF-β1, IL-17 and IL-21)by these cells were determined by ELISA; total plasma cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)levels were detected by biochemical autoanalyzer. Atherosclerotic lesions were measured by lipid deposition stained with oil red O. The results demonstrated that the levels of anti-HSP65 IgG antibodies were increased significantly in Mycobacterium tuberculosis HSP65-treated ApoE-/- mice, revealed obvious decrease in Treg number, Treg related cytokines(IL-10, TGF-β1)levels and significant increase in Th17 number, Th17 related cytokines(IL-17 and IL-21)levels, the levels of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C did not change between groups, while the atherosclerotic lesions significantly increased. Results indicate that M. tuberculosis HSP65 could interrupt the Th17/Treg immune balance in ApoE-/- mice, suggesting a potential role in the formation and progression of atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND:The anterior cruciate ligament has unique nonlinear mechanical properties under a complex physiological loading environment.Elastin is an important contributor to the mechanical properties of the anterior cruciate ligament,but its mechanical response to the anterior cruciate ligament under axial tension is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To quantitatively analyze the effect of elastin on the tensile mechanical response of the anterior cruciate ligament. METHODS:Elastase solution and control buffer were prepared.The porcine anterior cruciate ligament samples were prepared into small-size samples and randomly soaked in 0,0.1,1.0,2.0,5.0,and 10.0 U/mL elastase solution for 6 hours,and other small samples of the same size were soaked in 2 U/mL elastase solution for 0,1,3,6,9,and 12 hours.To determine suitable soaking conditions for elastin-targeted enzymes and verify the digestive effect,histological staining was used to compare the effects of enzyme treatment on tissue structure and composition.The ligament samples were randomly divided into elastase-treated group and PBS group,and immersed in 2 U/mL elastase solution and PBS buffer for 6 hours,respectively.A mechanical tensile test was performed before and after immersion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The biochemical results showed that being treated in 2 U/mL elastase solution for 6 hours could reduce the elastin content by 31.1%,and had no significant effect on other mechanical-related components in the tissue.(2)The histological results showed that elastase was able to penetrate the tissue,and the loose degree of tissue increased after treatment.(3)In the mechanical results before and after treatment,the mechanical properties of the PBS group decreased significantly,only the low-tension elastic modulus increased significantly and the initial length increased significantly in the elastase-treated group.(4)The intergroup comparison results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in pre-treatment,but the low-tension elastic modulus,initial slopes,saturated slopes,and initial length of the elastase-treated group after treatment were significantly higher than those in the PBS group.(5)These results suggest that elastin degradation significantly affects the biomechanical properties of the anterior cruciate ligament and further complements our understanding of the structure-function relationship of the anterior cruciate ligament.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and predisposing factors associated with preoperative anemia in adult femoral shaft fractures.Methods:A retrospective analysis of clinical data from 157 patients presenting with femoral shaft fractures admitted to the department of orthopedics at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between June 2018 and June 2022 was conducted. The study cohort comprised 106 males and 51 females, with an average age of 45.06 ± 14.32 years (range: 18-65 years). Based on hemoglobin levels measured within 2 days of admission, patients were stratified into two groups: anemia group (Hb<120 g/L in adult males and Hb<110 g/L in adult females) and non-anemia group. General demographic information, AO fracture types, and clinical characteristics, as well as the results of laboratory examinations for both groups were collected. Subsequently, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted.Results:Out of the 157 patients with femoral shaft fractures, 118 (75.2%) exhibited preoperative anemia (the anemia group). Among them, 75 cases were male, and 43 cases were female, with an average age of 45.84±14.23 years (range: 18-65 years). In terms of fracture AO type, 41 cases were classified as 32A, 19 as 32B, and 58 as 32C. Regarding fracture location, 14 were situated in the upper 1/3 of the femoral shaft, 67 in the middle 1/3, and 37 in the lower 1/3. The causes of injury included 63 cases of motor vehicle accidents, 5 cases of blunt trauma, 40 cases of falls, and 10 cases of other falls, with 65 cases involving multiple injuries. Conversely, 39 patients (24.8%) did not exhibit preoperative anemia (the non-anemia group). Of these, 31 were male, and 8 were female, with an average age of 42.72 ± 14.51 years (range: 19-65 years). In terms of fracture AO type, 24 cases were classified as 32A, 5 as 32B, and 10 as 32C. Regarding fracture location, 3 were situated in the upper 1/3 of the femoral shaft, 19 in the middle 1/3, and 17 in the lower 1/3. The causes of injury included 13 cases of motor vehicle accidents, 5 cases of blunt trauma, 20 cases of falls, and 1 other fall, with 8 cases involving multiple injuries. Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences between preoperative anemia and AO fracture type, mechanism of injury, multiple injuries, time from injury to hospital admission, albumin levels, and age ( P< 0.05). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis identified AO type 32C ( OR=3.12, P=0.020), blunt trauma injuries ( OR=0.13, P=0.021), reduced albumin levels ( OR=9.90, P=0.037), and multiple injuries ( OR=3.65, P=0.016) as risk factors for preoperative anemia. Multifactorial logistic regression further revealed that multiple injuries ( OR=5.20, P=0.004) and reduced albumin levels ( OR=5.47, P=0.001) were risk factors for the severity of anemia. Conclusion:AO type 32C fractures, blunt trauma injuries, reduced albumin levels, and multiple injuries were identified as potential contributors to the development of preoperative anemia, with multiple injuries and reduced albumin levels exacerbating the severity of anemia. Clinicians should be vigilant for the occurrence of preoperative anemia in adult femoral shaft fracture patients, particularly those with blunt trauma injuries, multiple injuries, hypoalbuminemia, and AO type 32C fractures.