Objective:To clarify the effects of simple subtalar fusion on distribution of plantar pressures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 19 patients who had undergone simple subtalar fusion between January 2006 and December 2020 at Department of Orthopedics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. There were 13 males and 6 females with an age of (42.1±11.8) years and a duration of disease of 1.7 (1.0, 2.0) years. Another 14 normal subjects were recruited as normal controls [7 males and 7 females, with an age of (25.0±1.9) years]. The data of plantar pressure distribution were detected and analyzed by a Belgian Footscan? plantar pressure tester. The affected and healthy sides of the patients were compared with those of the normal group to analyze the peak pressures on different foot regions.Results:There was no significant difference in height or weight between the patients and the normal subjects ( P>0.05). The peak pressures on the first to the third metatarsal region of the forefoot and the medial region of the hindfoot of the affected foot were significantly lower than those of the normal foot in the patients ( P<0.05). The peak pressure on the forefoot region of a normal foot appeared in the third metatarsal region. In the patients, the peak pressure on the forefoot region of a healthy side shifted inward and appeared in the second metatarsal region, but the peak pressure on the forefoot region of an affected side shifted laterally and appeared in the fourth metatarsal region. The peak pressure on the midfoot of an affected side [(4.38±2.17) N/cm 2] was significantly higher than that on a healthy side [(3.04±1.80) N/cm 2] in the patients ( P=0.035). The peak pressures on the medial and lateral hindfoot regions of a healthy side were (7.12±1.91) N/cm 2 and (7.98±2.03) N/cm 2, respectively, showing no significant difference ( P=0.086). The peak pressure on the lateral hindfoot region of an affected side [(10.77±4.21) N/cm 2] was significantly higher than that on the medial hindfoot region [(8.71±2.89) N/cm 2] ( P=0.009). The peak plantar pressures on the affected side shifted to the lateral side in the patients. Conclusions:Subtalar fusion can exert significant effects on the distribution of plantar pressures. Specifically, the plantar pressures shift to the lateral side of an affected foot during all the gait stages while the plantar pressures on the healthy forefoot may compensate by transferring to the medial side in the patients.

Objective:To clarify the effects of simple subtalar fusion on distribution of plantar pressures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 19 patients who had undergone simple subtalar fusion between January 2006 and December 2020 at Department of Orthopedics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. There were 13 males and 6 females with an age of (42.1±11.8) years and a duration of disease of 1.7 (1.0, 2.0) years. Another 14 normal subjects were recruited as normal controls [7 males and 7 females, with an age of (25.0±1.9) years]. The data of plantar pressure distribution were detected and analyzed by a Belgian Footscan? plantar pressure tester. The affected and healthy sides of the patients were compared with those of the normal group to analyze the peak pressures on different foot regions.Results:There was no significant difference in height or weight between the patients and the normal subjects ( P>0.05). The peak pressures on the first to the third metatarsal region of the forefoot and the medial region of the hindfoot of the affected foot were significantly lower than those of the normal foot in the patients ( P<0.05). The peak pressure on the forefoot region of a normal foot appeared in the third metatarsal region. In the patients, the peak pressure on the forefoot region of a healthy side shifted inward and appeared in the second metatarsal region, but the peak pressure on the forefoot region of an affected side shifted laterally and appeared in the fourth metatarsal region. The peak pressure on the midfoot of an affected side [(4.38±2.17) N/cm 2] was significantly higher than that on a healthy side [(3.04±1.80) N/cm 2] in the patients ( P=0.035). The peak pressures on the medial and lateral hindfoot regions of a healthy side were (7.12±1.91) N/cm 2 and (7.98±2.03) N/cm 2, respectively, showing no significant difference ( P=0.086). The peak pressure on the lateral hindfoot region of an affected side [(10.77±4.21) N/cm 2] was significantly higher than that on the medial hindfoot region [(8.71±2.89) N/cm 2] ( P=0.009). The peak plantar pressures on the affected side shifted to the lateral side in the patients. Conclusions:Subtalar fusion can exert significant effects on the distribution of plantar pressures. Specifically, the plantar pressures shift to the lateral side of an affected foot during all the gait stages while the plantar pressures on the healthy forefoot may compensate by transferring to the medial side in the patients.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of the modified posteromedial approach combined with the anterolateral approach in the treatment of posterior pilon fractures in the supine position.Methods:A retrospective was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 54 patients [45 males and 9 females with an age of (47.7 ± 13.1) years] who had been treated surgically for posterior pilon fractures from January 2016 to December 2020 at Department of Orthopedics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their surgical positions: a supine group of 24 patients (the modified posteromedial approach combined with the anterolateral approach in the supine position) and a prone group of 30 patients (the posteromedial approach combined with the anterolateral approach in the prone position). The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, hospitalization time, radiographic outcomes (bone union time and ratio of congruent articular reduction), range of ankle motion, and postoperative complications. The post-operative function was evaluated using the Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) and the visual analogue scale (VAS).Results:There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in the general clinical data before operation, showing comparability ( P>0.05). The mean follow-up time was (19.4 ± 4.4) months for the supine group and (17.8 ± 4.2) months for the prone group. The operation time, hospitalization time, bone union time, rate of fixation of syndesmosis and ratio of congruent articular reduction were (90.8 ± 9.9) min, (9.5 ± 2.4) d, (8.4 ± 1.4) weeks, 33.3% (8/24) and 95.8% (23/24) in the supine group, and (89.1 ± 10.8) min, (9.5 ± 2.5) d, (8.1 ± 1.4) weeks, 53.3% (16/30) and 96.6% (29/30) in the prone group, showing no significant differences (all P>0.05). At the last follow-up, the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the ankle, VAS, and MOXFQ scores for pain, walking and social capability were, respectively, 15.0° ± 2.1°, 26.1° ± 4.2°, (1.0 ± 0.5) points, 20.0(0, 30.0) points, (16.5 ± 13.2) points and 12.5(0, 18.8) points in the supine group, and 15.7° ± 1.6°, 27° ± 4.0°, (1.3 ± 0.7) points, 12.5(10.0, 30.0) points, (19.0 ± 11.5) points and 15.6(6.3, 25.0) points in the prone group, showing no significant differences ( P>0.05). The total incidence of complications was 8.3% (2/24) in the supine group and 3.3% (1/30) in the prone group, showing no significant difference either ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of posterior pilon fractures, as the modified posteromedial approach combined with the anterolateral approach in the supine position is equivalent to the posteromedial and the posterolateral approaches in the prone position in terms of reduction quality, bone union time, functional outcomes and complications, it can be used as an alternative choice.

Zn²⁺ is required for the activity of many mitochondrial proteins, which regulate mitochondrial dynamics, apoptosis and mitophagy. However, it is not understood how the proper mitochondrial Zn²⁺ level is achieved to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis. Using Caenorhabditis elegans, we reveal here that a pair of mitochondrion-localized transporters controls the mitochondrial level of Zn²⁺. We demonstrate that SLC-30A9/ZnT9 is a mitochondrial Zn²⁺ exporter. Loss of SLC-30A9 leads to mitochondrial Zn²⁺ accumulation, which damages mitochondria, impairs animal development and shortens the life span. We further identify SLC-25A25/SCaMC-2 as an important regulator of mitochondrial Zn²⁺ import. Loss of SLC-25A25 suppresses the abnormal mitochondrial Zn²⁺ accumulation and defective mitochondrial structure and functions caused by loss of SLC-30A9. Moreover, we reveal that the endoplasmic reticulum contains the Zn²⁺ pool from which mitochondrial Zn²⁺ is imported. These findings establish the molecular basis for controlling the correct mitochondrial Zn²⁺ levels for normal mitochondrial structure and functions.
Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolism* ; Cation Transport Proteins/genetics* ; Homeostasis ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Zinc/metabolism*

Objective:To explore the long-term clinical efficacy of subtalar arthrodesis for treating sinus tarsi syndrome (STS) with peroneal spasm.Methods:Clinical informationof 32 patients with sinus tarsi syndrome complicated with peroneal spasm who were treated by subtalar arthrodesis from January 2006 to December 2016 was retrospectively analysed. There were 19 males and 13 females, aged 29.3±10.9 y (range: 13-56 y), and course of disease is 2.1±1.7 y (range: 1-10 y). All patients suffered from tarsal sinus pain and intractable peroneal spasm. The aetiology was foot or ankle inversion sprainin 25 patients, lower limb nerve injury in four patients, and ambiguous causes in three patients.The patients were divided into three groups according to their initial symptoms. Group A: Patients with simple peroneal spasm underwent tarsal sinus debridement firstly and subtalar joint fusion after symptom recurrence. Group B: Patients with peroneal spasm combined with other symptomsunderwent sinus tarsal cleansing and other symptomatic operations, and received subtalar joint fusion after symptoms recurred. Group C: Patients with peroneal spastic flat foot were treated withsubtalar joint fusion directly.Preoperative and postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain during daily activities, and 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) scoreswere investigated.Results:32 cases were successfully completed operation, following-up 87 (40, 133) months. Group A(14 cases): The patients were treated withsinus tarsi debridement first. But their symptoms recurred in an average of 7.7 months after surgery. Later they received subtalar joint fusion. Group B (15 cases): In addition to tarsal sinus debridement, 3 cases were undergone tarsal coalitions resection, 3 cases were got denervation of tarsal sinus, 6 cases were received subtalar joint stabilization, and 3 cases were released their peroneal tendons. Their symptoms recurred in an average of 6.4 months after surgery, and they eventually were undergone subtalar arthrodesis. Group C (3 cases): Their initial symptoms were severe, manifested as rigid flat feet caused by peroneal tendons spasm, so they directly underwent subtalar joint fusion. The average AOFAS ankle and hindfoot scores for all patients increased from 27.86±10.79 points before treatment to 86.34±7.17 points at the last follow-up after operation ( t=23.505, P<0.05). The VAS scores decreased from 8.00±1.57 points before treatment to 1.91±1.06 points at the last follow-up after operation ( t=18.407, P<0.05). The SF-36 scores increased from 35.84±12.12 points before treatment to 86.20±10.32 points at the last follow-up after operation ( t=24.203, P<0.05). Conclusion:Sinus tarsi syndrome with peroneal spasm due to its complicated etiology and pathogenesis can give priority to sinus tarsal debridement or other symptomatic surgeries. If the symptoms recur, subtalar arthrodesis can be an alternative choice to achieve the long-term effects.

Objective:To explore the consistency of peripheral whole blood and venous serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels, and the value of peripheral whole blood PCT in evaluating pediatric bacterial infection.Methods:This multicenter cross-sectional parallel control study was conducted in 11 children′s hospital. All the 1 898 patients older than 28 days admitted to these hospitals from March 2018 to February 2019 had their peripheral whole blood and venous serum PCT detected simultaneously with unified equipment, reagent and method. According to the venous serum PCT level, the patients were stratified to subgroups. Analysis of variance and chi-square test were used to compare the demographic characteristics among groups. And the correlation between the peripheral blood and venous serum PCT level was investigated by quantitative Pearson correlation analysis.The PCT resultes were also converted into ranked data to further test the consistency between the two sampling methods by Spearman′s rank correlation test. Furthermore, the ranked data were converted into binary data to evaluate the consistency and investigate the best cut-off of peripheral blood PCT level in predicting bacterial infection.Results:A total of 1 898 valid samples were included (1 098 males, 800 females),age 27.4(12.2,56.7) months. There was a good correlation between PCT values of peripheral whole blood and venous serum ( r=0.97 , P<0.01). The linear regression equation was PCT?venous serum=0.135+0.929×PCT peripheral whole blood. However, when stratified to 5 levels, PCT results showed diverse and unsatisfied consistency between the two sampling methods ( r=0.51-0.92, all P<0.01). But after PCT was converted to ordinal categorical variables, the stratified analysis showed that the coincidence rate of the measured values by the two sampling methods in each boundary area was 84.9%-97.1%. The dichotomous variables also showed a good consistency (coincidence rate 96.8%-99.3%, Youden index 0.82-0.89). According to the severity of disease, the serum PCT value was classified into 4 intervals（<0.5、0.5-<2.0、2.0-<10.0、≥10.0 μg/L）, and the peripheral blood PCT value also showed a good predictive value (AUC value was 0.991 2-0.997 9). The optimal cut points of peripheral whole blood PCT value 0.5、1.0、2.0、10.0 μg/L corresponding to venous serum PCT values were 0.395, 0.595, 1.175 and 3.545 μg/L, respectively. Conclusions:There is a good correlation between peripheral whole blood PCT value and the venous serum PCT value, which means that the peripheral whole blood PCT could facilitate the identification of infection and clinical severity. Besides, the sampling of peripheral whole blood is simple and easy to repeat.

Objective: To investigate clinical value of ankle arthroscopy in diagnosis of type Danis-Weber B ankle fracture with the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury. Methods: From August 2014 to January 2018, a total of 52 cases of type Danis-Weber B ankle fractures with an average age of 35.37±11.19 years, including 31 males and 21 females were treated. Each patient underwent preoperative assessment, according to the patient's clinical manifestations and imaging examination before operation. The Cotton test and the external rotation test were conducted in the C arm X-ray to evaluate whether there is the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury. All fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation. Repair was conducted with 3.5 mm wire anchor and nail for triangular ligament injury. The Cotton test and external rotation test were performed under ankle arthroscopy. The injury of the lower tibiofibular syndesmosis was observed and evaluated by cotton test and external rotation test in patients who were found to be associated with lower tibiofibular joint injury. After internal fixation of fracture and repair of tibiofibular syndesmosis injury with TightRope, the repair effects of tibiofibular syndesmosis injury was observed under direct vision of ankle arthroscopy. The VAS score, AOFAS score and Baird-Jackson score was used as an index to observe the pain and ankle function before and after operation for 12 months follow-up. Results: Preoperative X-ray showed 19 cases of lower tibiofibular joint injury. Preoperative CT showed 28 cases of lower tibiofibular joint injury. Preoperative MRI showed 39 cases of lower tibiofibular joint injury. A total of 36 cases of joint injury of lower tibiofibular syndesmosis were confirmed under arthroscopy of ankle. After repair of tibiofibular syndesmosis injury with TightRope, complete reduction and stability of inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis were confirmed under ankle arthroscopy. At 12 months after operation, the VAS score decreased from 8.13±1.32 points preoperation to 0.75±0.73 points after operation. The AOFAS and Baird-Jackson scores increased from 26.59±3.35 points, 16.44±3.63 points preoperation to 94.36±3.03 points, 90.29±6.45 points after operation, respectively. There was significant difference before and after operation (P<0.05). The postoperative VAS score, AOFAS score and Baird-Jackson score of 16 patients without lower tibiofibular ligament injury were confirmed in the ankle arthroscopy group, namely 0.58±0.67 points, 95.27±4.67 points, 91.98±9.23 points. Conclusion Ankle arthroscopy can be used to observe the injury of tibiofibular syndesmosis under direct vision. The positive rate of diagnosis of inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis injury was 69.2% (36/52). It can provide reliable evidence for correct diagnosis and treatment of type Danis-Weber B ankle fracture with lower tibiofibular joint injury with significant meaning in selecting operative methods and in evaluating the effect of lower tibiofibular ligament repair.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of ankle arthroscopy in diagnosis and treatment of Danis-Weber type B ankle fracture associated with injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis.Methods A retrospective study was conducted of the 35 patients who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedics,Ruijin Hospital North for Danis-Weber type B ankle fracture from February 2014 to December 2016.They were 23 males and 12 females,with an average age of 43.1 years (from 18 to 65 years).Each of them underwent 4 examinations to detect whether injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis was complicated or not:preoperative CT and MRI,C-ann roentgenography and ankle arthroscopy before and after internal fixation of the ankle.The diagnostic rates of the complicated injury by the 4 examinations were compared.The patients complicated with injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis received surgical repair of the injury using TightRope in addition to internal fixation of the ankle,and injury to the deltoid ligament was repaired simultaneously using 3.5 mm anchor nails in case the injury was concomitant.The repair and stability of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis were observed using ankle arthroscopy again.Results The Cotton and external rotation tests under C-arm roentgenography before surgery and after internal fixation of the ankle demonstrated that 13 cases were complicated with injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis.Of the other 22 patients who had not been diagnosed with the injury by C-arm roentgenography,6,13 and 11 were diagnosed with the injury respectively by CT,MRI and ankle arthroscopy.The diagnostic rates of Danis-Weber type B ankle fracture associated with injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis were 37.1％ (13/35),54.3％ (19/35),74.3％ (26/35) and 68.6％ (24/35) respectively by C-arm roentgenography,CT,MRI and ankle arthroscopy.In the sensitivity to the injury,MRI ＞ ankle arthroscopy ＞ CT ＞ C-arm roentgenography,with significant differences between them (P ＜ 0.05).The ankle arthroscopy confirmed the repair efficacy in the 24 patients complicated with injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis and negative results of Cotton and external rotation tests in them.Additionally,ankle arthroscopy revealed 16 cases of injury to the deltoid ligament at the medial ankle.Conclusions Ankle arthroscopy can provide evidence for correct diagnosis and treatment of Type B ankle fracture complicated with injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis,because it allows direct observation of the medial deltoid ligament of the ankle and the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis.It can be also used to assess the stability of the tibiofibular syndesmosis after repair of the injury.

Lysosomes are degradation and signaling centers within the cell, and their dysfunction impairs a wide variety of cellular processes. To understand the cellular effect of lysosome damage, we screened natural small-molecule compounds that induce lysosomal abnormality using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model system. A group of vobasinyl-ibogan type bisindole alkaloids (ervachinines A-D) were identified that caused lysosome enlargement in C. elegans macrophage-like cells. Intriguingly, these compounds triggered cell death in the germ line independently of the canonical apoptosis pathway. In mammalian cells, ervachinines A-D induced lysosomal enlargement and damage, leading to leakage of cathepsin proteases, inhibition of autophagosome degradation and necrotic cell death. Further analysis revealed that this ervachinine-induced lysosome damage and lysosomal cell death depended on STAT3 signaling, but not RIP1 or RIP3 signaling. These findings suggest that lysosome-damaging compounds are promising reagents for dissecting signaling mechanisms underlying lysosome homeostasis and lysosome-related human disorders.
Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Lysosomes ; drug effects ; pathology ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To evaluate the influence of simple subtalar arthrodesis to the motion and degeneration of midfoot.Methods Data of 37 patients (27 males,10 females) with an average age of 42.6 years who had undergone subtalar joint fusion from January 1996 to August 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.The MOS item short form health survey (SF-36),American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score were used.Midfoot sagittal and coronal motion were measured on ankle radiographs of maximum plantar flexion and dorsiflexion.On sagittal plane,the Meary angle was measured and the bilateral tarsometatarsal joints mobility was compared.On coronal plane,tibio-plantar angles (TPA) on 30 degrees varus slope and 30 degrees valgus slope were respectively measured on the anterio-posterior ankle X-ray films to observe the changes of midfoot activities.Besides,single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) of bilateral foot and ankle was taken to estimate the degeneration of midfoot joint.Results All the 37 patients were followed-up,with mean follow-up period of 9.2 years.The average SF-36 scores was increased from 34.26± 11.02 points preoperatively to 77.59± 12.57 points postoperatively.The average AOFAS midfoot scores were 86.14± 16.79 points preoperatively and 86.43± 16.70 points postoperatively without any statistical significant difference.On sagittal plane,medial tarsometatarsal joints mobility was limited by 20％.According to coronal plane of varus slope,the average TPA of healthy side and operated side were 61.32° and 64.91°,respectively,so the varus mobility of operated side was limited by 12.5％.While standing on the valgus slope,the average TPA of both sides were 76.54° and 82.28°,which indicated that valgus mobility of operated side was reduced by 42.6％.35.1％ patients of talonavicular joint,56.8％ patients of calcaneocuboid joint,and 27.0％ patients of metatarsal cuboid joint were found mild joint degeneration on SPECT/CT images without any clinical symptoms.Conclusion Subtalar arthrodesis can affect midfoot with less limit of sagittal mobility and more limit of coronal movement.And the lateral joints degeneration is more likely to happen for their compensatory activity.