1.Construction Process and Quality Control Points of the Database for Facial Phenotypes and Clinical Data of Pediatric Growth and Development-related Diseases
Jiaqi QIANG ; Yingjing WANG ; Danning WU ; Runzhu LIU ; Jiuzuo HUANG ; Hui PAN ; Xiao LONG ; Shi CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(3):552-557
The growth and development of children is an important stage for health, and its monitoringand intervention are related to the long-term development of individuals. The construction of a standardized and multi-dimensional database of pediatric growth and development-related diseases is an important basis for realizing precise diagnosis and treatment and health management. Based on the needs of clinical practice, this study proposes to establish a specialized database of pediatric growth and development-related diseases that integrates facial phenotypes and clinical diagnosis and treatment information. This study elaborates on the construction process, including data sources, data collection content, and the operation and management of the database; and proposes key points for quality control, including the establishment of quality control nodes, database construction standards, and a full-process quality control framework. The above ensure the integrity, logic and effectiveness of the data, so that the database can provide an objective basis for the screening and diagnosis of pediatric growth and development-related diseases. On the basis of scientific data management and strict quality control, the database will help reveal the patterns of children's growth and development, and promote the level of children's health management.
2.4 Weeks of HIIT Modulates Metabolic Homeostasis of Hippocampal Pyruvate-lactate Axis in CUMS Rats Improving Their Depression-like Behavior
Yu-Mei HAN ; Chun-Hui BAO ; Zi-Wei ZHANG ; Jia-Ren LIANG ; Huan XIANG ; Jun-Sheng TIAN ; Shi ZHOU ; Shuang-Shuang WU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1468-1483
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of 4-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in modulating the metabolic homeostasis of the pyruvate-lactate axis in the hippocampus of rats with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) to improve their depressive-like behavior. MethodsForty-eight SPF-grade 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the normal quiet group (C), the CUMS quiet group (M), the normal exercise group (HC), and the CUMS exercise group (HM). The M and HM groups received 8 weeks of CUMS modeling, while the HC and HM groups were exposed to 4 weeks of HIIT starting from the 5th week (3 min (85%-90%) Smax+1 min (50%-55%) Smax, 3-5 cycles, Smax is the maximum movement speed). A lactate analyzer was used to detect the blood lactate concentration in the quiet state of rats in the HC and HM groups at week 4 and in the 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after exercise, as well as in the quiet state of rats in each group at week 8. Behavioral indexes such as sucrose preference rate, number of times of uprightness and number of traversing frames in the absenteeism experiment, and other behavioral indexes were used to assess the depressive-like behavior of the rats at week 4 and week 8. The rats were anesthetized on the next day after the behavioral test in week 8, and hippocampal tissues were taken for assay. LC-MS non-targeted metabolomics, target quantification, ELISA and Western blot were used to detect the changes in metabolite content, lactate and pyruvate concentration, the content of key metabolic enzymes in the pyruvate-lactate axis, and the protein expression levels of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). Results4-week HIIT intervention significantly increased the sucrose preference rate, the number of uprights and the number of traversed frames in the absent field experiment in CUMS rats; non-targeted metabolomics assay found that 21 metabolites were significantly changed in group M compared to group C, and 14 and 11 differential metabolites were significantly dialed back in the HC and HM groups, respectively, after the 4-week HIIT intervention; the quantitative results of the targeting showed that, compared to group C, lactate concentration in the hippocampal tissues of M group, compared with group C, lactate concentration in hippocampal tissue was significantly reduced and pyruvate concentration was significantly increased, and 4-week HIIT intervention significantly increased the concentration of lactate and pyruvate in hippocampal tissue of HM group; the trend of changes in blood lactate concentration was consistent with the change in lactate concentration in hippocampal tissue; compared with group C, the LDHB content of group M was significantly increased, the content of PKM2 and PDH, as well as the protein expression level of MCT2 and MCT4 were significantly reduced. The 4-week HIIT intervention upregulated the PKM2 and PDH content as well as the protein expression levels of MCT2 and MCT4 in the HM group. ConclusionThe 4-week HIIT intervention upregulated blood lactate concentration and PKM2 and PDH metabolizing enzymes in hippocampal tissues of CUMS rats, and upregulated the expression of MCT2 and MCT4 transport carrier proteins to promote central lactate uptake and utilization, which regulated metabolic homeostasis of the pyruvate-lactate axis and improved depressive-like behaviors.
3.Analysis of the availability of bronchodilators listed in the medical insurance catalog for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in community health service centers in Shanghai
Hui DENG ; Qundi YANG ; Han WU ; Danni LIU ; Xuena LA ; Yang ZHENG ; Yan SHI
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(5):390-396
ObjectiveTo assess the availability of bronchodilators for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in community health service centers (CHCs) in Shanghai. MethodsOn the basis of previous research, the questionnaire was updated, and surveys were conducted from April to May 2023 in CHCs in Shanghai, with a focus on the availability of medications for COPD treatment. According to the National Basic Medical Insurance, Work Injury Insurance, and Maternity Insurance Drug List (2023 Edition), a total of 24 types of bronchodilators for COPD treatment were identified. The availability rates were used to assess the accessibility of specific drugs in CHCs, and the dispensing rates were used to evaluate the variety of these medications in CHCs. ResultsA total of 248 CHCs responded, with a response rate of 100.0%. Among them, a total of 232 CHCs (93.5%) were equipped with bronchodilators. In terms of availability rates, the availability rates for β2 adrenoreceptor agonists, muscarinic antagonists, combination drugs, and xanthines drugs were 86.3%, 52.0%, 52.4%, and 85.1%, respectively. Regional differences were observed, in that salbutamol/levalbuterol and budesonide-formoterol were less available in suburban CHCs, ipratropium bromide had lower availability in urban CHCs, and aminophylline was more available in suburban CHCs. Regarding the dispensing rates of the 24 types of bronchodilators for COPD treatment, the median of types equipped by CHCs was 5, with a total of 200 CHCs (80.6%) equipped with fewer than 7 types of bronchodilator drugs. ConclusionThe proportion of CHCs in Shanghai equipped with bronchodilators for COPD is relatively high. However, there exist problems such as limited variety of stocked medications, significant differences in the availability of different drugs, and regional imbalances in drug stocking. To improve the standardized diagnosis, treatment, and management of COPD patients, it is recommended to enhance the availability of COPD treatment medications in CHCs.
4.Analysis of T7 RNA Polymerase: From Structure-function Relationship to dsRNA Challenge and Biotechnological Applications
Wei-Chen NING ; Yu HUA ; Hui-Ling YOU ; Qiu-Shi LI ; Yao WU ; Yun-Long LIU ; Zhen-Xin HU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2280-2294
T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP) is one of the simplest known RNA polymerases. Its unique structural features make it a critical model for studying the mechanisms of RNA synthesis. This review systematically examines the static crystal structure of T7 RNAP, beginning with an in-depth examination of its characteristic “thumb”, “palm”, and “finger” domains, which form the classic “right-hand-like” architecture. By detailing these structural elements, this review establishes a foundation for understanding the overall organization of T7 RNAP. This review systematically maps the functional roles of secondary structural elements and their subdomains in transcriptional catalysis, progressively elucidating the fundamental relationships between structure and function. Further, the intrinsic flexibility of T7 RNAP and its applications in research are also discussed. Additionally, the review presents the structural diagrams of the enzyme at different stages of the transcription process, and through these diagrams, it provides a detailed description of the complete transcription process of T7 RNAP. By integrating structural dynamics and kinetics analyses, the review constructs a comprehensive framework that bridges static structure to dynamic processes. Despite its advantages, T7 RNAP has a notable limitation: it generates double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as a byproduct. The presence of dsRNA not only compromises the purity of mRNA products but also elicits nonspecific immune responses, which pose significant challenges for biotechnological and therapeutic applications. The review provides a detailed exploration of the mechanisms underlying dsRNA formation during T7 RNAP catalysis, reviews current strategies to mitigate this issue, and highlights recent progress in the field. A key focus is the semi-rational design of T7 RNAP mutants engineered to minimize dsRNA generation and enhance catalytic performance. Beyond its role in transcription, T7 RNAP exhibits rapid development and extensive application in fields, including gene editing, biosensing, and mRNA vaccines. This review systematically examines the structure-function relationships of T7 RNAP, elucidates the mechanisms of dsRNA formation, and discusses engineering strategies to optimize its performance. It further explores the engineering optimization and functional expansion of T7 RNAP. Furthermore, this review also addresses the pressing issues that currently need resolution, discusses the major challenges in the practical application of T7 RNAP, and provides an outlook on potential future research directions. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of T7 RNAP, ranging from its structural architecture to cutting-edge applications. We systematically examine: (1) the characteristic right-hand domains (thumb, palm, fingers) that define its minimalistic structure; (2) the structure-function relationships underlying transcriptional catalysis; and (3) the dynamic transitions during the complete transcription cycle. While highlighting T7 RNAP’s versatility in gene editing, biosensing, and mRNA vaccine production, we critically address its major limitation—dsRNA byproduct formation—and evaluate engineering solutions including semi-rationally designed mutants. By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying key challenges, this work aims to provide novel insights for the development and application of T7 RNAP and to foster further thought and progress in related fields.
5.Enhancing Disciplinary Development Through Journal Columns: Taking the "Clinical Practice Guidelines"Column in Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital as an Example
Meihua WU ; Hui LIU ; Qi ZHOU ; Qianling SHI ; Na LI ; Yule LI ; Xiaoqing LIU ; Kehu YANG ; Jinhui TIAN ; Long GE ; Bin MA ; Xiuxia LI ; Xuping SONG ; Xiaohui WANG ; Yaolong CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(5):1315-1324
To explore the role of the "Clinical Practice Guidelines" column and others in the We collected papers published by the Lanzhou University Evidence-Based Medicine Center team in the "Clinical Practice Guidelines" column and others from 2018 to 2025. These publications were analyzed across multiple dimensions, including authorship and institutional affiliations, citation metrics, and research themes and content. A total of 59 papers were included in the analysis, with authors representing 70 domestie and international research institutions. The cumulative citation count was 639, with the highest single-paper citation frequency reaching 101. The average citation per paper was 10.8, and total downloads exceeded 30 000. The content focused on key themes such as guideline terminology, development methodology, guideline evaluation, and dissemination and implementation. The evolution of research topics progressed from critiques of common misconceptions and hot topies in the field to multidimensional evaluations of thecurrent state of Chinese guidelines, culminating in the fommulation of industry standards for guidelines. These contributions have provided critical references for translating guideline theory into practice in China and have garnered widespread attention and discussion among scholars in the field. The "Clinical Practice Guidelines" column and others in the
6.Safety and efficacy of Angong Niuhuang Pills in patients with moderate-to-severe acute ischemic stroke (ANGONG TRIAL): A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial.
Shengde LI ; Anxin WANG ; Lin SHI ; Qin LIU ; Xiaoling GUO ; Kun LIU ; Xiaoli WANG ; Jie LI ; Jianming ZHU ; Qiuyi WU ; Qingcheng YANG ; Xianbo ZHUANG ; Hui YOU ; Feng FENG ; Yishan LUO ; Huiling LI ; Jun NI ; Bin PENG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(5):579-588
BACKGROUND:
Preclinical studies have indicated that Angong Niuhuang Pills (ANP) reduce cerebral infarct and edema volumes. This study aimed to investigate whether ANP safely reduces cerebral infarct and edema volumes in patients with moderate to severe acute ischemic stroke.
METHODS:
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial included patients with acute ischemic stroke with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ranging from 10 to 20 in 17 centers in China between April 2021 and July 2022. Patients were allocated within 36 h after onset via block randomization to receive ANP or placebo (3 g/day for 5 days). The primary outcomes were changes in cerebral infarct and edema volumes after 14 days of treatment. The primary safety outcome was severe adverse events (SAEs) for 90 days.
RESULTS:
There were 57 and 60 patients finally included in the ANP and placebo groups, respectively for modified intention-to-treat analysis. The median age was 66.0 years, and the median NIHSS score at baseline was 12.0. The changes in cerebral infarct volume at day 14 were 0.3 mL and 0.4 mL in the ANP and placebo groups, respectively (median difference: -7.1 mL; interquartile range [IQR]: -18.3 to 2.3 mL, P = 0.30). The changes in cerebral edema volume of the ANP and placebo groups on day 14 were 11.4 mL and 4.0 mL, respectively ( median difference: 3.0 mL, IQR: -1.3 to 9.9 mL, P = 0.15). The rates of SAE within 90 days were similar in the ANP (3/57, 5%) and placebo (7/60, 12%) groups ( P = 0.36). Changes in serum mercury and arsenic concentrations were comparable. In patients with large artery atherosclerosis, ANP reduced the cerebral infarct volume at 14 days (median difference: -12.3 mL; IQR: -27.7 to -0.3 mL, P = 0.03).
CONCLUSIONS:
ANP showed a similar safety profile to placebo and non-significant tendency to reduce cerebral infarct volume in patients with moderate-to-severe stroke. Further studies are warranted to assess the efficacy of ANP in reducing cerebral infarcts and improving clinical prognosis.
TRAIL REGISTRATION
Clinicaltrials.gov , No. NCT04475328.
Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Double-Blind Method
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects*
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Ischemic Stroke/drug therapy*
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Pilot Projects
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Stroke/drug therapy*
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Treatment Outcome
7.Proposal and research idea of "traditional Chinese medicine processing chemical biology".
Peng-Peng LIU ; Qian CAI ; Ji SHI ; Nan XU ; Hui GAO ; Ke-Wu ZENG ; Tian-Zhu JIA
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):833-839
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) processing is a unique and highly distinctive pharmaceutical technology in China. Utilizing modern scientific methods to elucidate the connotations of traditional processing theory and its effects is expected to facilitate the inheritance, development, innovation, and enhancement of TCM processing, and lead to more original research outcomes in the field of TCM. The breakthrough in TCM processing lies in the study of its underlying principles, and analyzing these principles involves researching the transformation mechanisms of chemical components and the biological effect mechanisms of the transformed components. This paper proposed the concept of "TCM processing chemical biology"(TCMPCB) for the first time. Under the guidance of TCM theory, the active components transformed during TCM processing were used as chemical tools to study their targets and molecular regulatory mechanisms, aiming to clarify the scientific principles by which TCM processing affected biological effects in the organism. The research findings also provided new directions for discovering novel active components, new lead compounds, creating new decoction pieces, and developing new TCM drugs. This paper provided a detailed introduction to the background, definition, research content, research ideas, research methods, and prospects of TCMPCB, with the aim of offering new research perspectives for analyzing the principles of TCM processing and providing new pathways for achieving the "four new and eight transformations" in TCM processing.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
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Humans
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Animals
8.Research progress on cardiovascular protective mechanism of resveratrol.
Qian WU ; Hui-Min LI ; Chun-Kun YANG ; Ying-Tian YANG ; Shi-Han WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(12):3244-3251
Resveratrol(Res) is a kind of polyphenolic compound, possessing multiple biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and anticancer effects. In recent years, the cardiovascular protective mechanism of Res has become a research hotspot. Studies have shown that Res has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system through various pathways, such as inhibiting oxidative stress, regulating ferroptosis of cells, improving ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) injury, regulating lipid metabolism, suppressing inflammatory responses, and enhancing endothelial function. It can also alleviate cardiotoxicity caused by drugs and chemicals. In terms of oxidative stress, Res reduces the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS) by enhancing the expression of proteins such as silent information regulator 1(SIRT1) and regulating mitochondrial function, thereby alleviating myocardial cell damage. Regarding ferroptosis, Res inhibits the occurrence of ferroptosis by regulating the expression of proteins related to iron metabolism. Res can also improve I/R injury through mechanisms such as activating autophagy and the mitochondrial quality control network. In regard to improving endothelial function, Res protects the function of endothelial cells by regulating multiple signaling pathways, such as downregulating the PREP1-mediated pathway. Res can also regulate lipid metabolism and inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis. In terms of inflammatory responses, Res exerts anti-inflammatory effects through mechanisms such as inhibiting the nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathway. In addition, Res has an improving effect on cardiotoxicity caused by different drugs or environmental factors. However, the clinical application of Res still faces limitations such as poor pharmacokinetic properties. In the future, in-depth exploration is needed at multiple levels from basic research to clinical application to clarify the dose-response relationship and standardize the standards of medication regimens with the expectation of providing more effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Humans
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Resveratrol/pharmacology*
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Animals
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Cardiotonic Agents/pharmacology*
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Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
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Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics*
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Cardiovascular System/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
9.Development of intelligent equipment for rapid microbial detection of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma decoction pieces based on measurement technology for traditional Chinese medicine manufacturing.
Yang LIU ; Wu-Zhen QI ; Yu-Tong WU ; Shan-Xi ZHU ; Xiao-Jun ZHAO ; Qia-Tong XIE ; Yu-Feng GUO ; Jing ZHAO ; Nan LI ; Shi-Jun WANG ; Qi-Hui SUN ; Zhi-Sheng WU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4610-4618
Microbial detection and control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) decoction pieces are crucial for the quality control of TCM preparations. It is also a key area of research in the measurement technology and equipment development for TCM manufacturing. Guided by TCM manufacturing measurement methodologies, this study presented a design of a novel portable microbial detection device, using Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma decoction pieces as a demonstration. Immunomagnetic separation technology was employed for specific isolation and labeling of target microorganisms. Enzymatic signal amplification was utilized to convert weak biological signals into colorimetric signals, constructing an optical biosensor. A self-developed smartphone APP was further applied to analyze the colorimetric signals and quantify target concentrations. A portable and automated detection system based on Arduino microcontroller was developed to automatically perform target microbial separation/extraction, as well as mimetic enzyme labeling and catalytic reactions. The developed equipment specifically focuses on the rapid and quantitative microbial analysis of TCM active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates in TCM manufacturing, and final TCM products. Experimental results demonstrate that the equipment could detect Salmonella in samples within 2 h, with a detection limit as low as 5.1 × 10~3 CFU·mL~(-1). The equipment enables the rapid detection of microorganisms in TCM decoction pieces, providing a potential technical solution for on-site rapid screening of microbial contamination indicators in TCM. It has broad application prospects in measurement technology for TCM manufacturing and offers strong technical support for the modernization, industrialization, and intelligent development of TCM.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis*
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Atractylodes/microbiology*
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Rhizome/microbiology*
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Biosensing Techniques/methods*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Colorimetry/instrumentation*
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Quality Control
10.One-year recovery after lateral retinaculum release combined with chondroplasty in patients with lateral patellar compression syndrome.
Zhen-Long LIU ; Yi-Ting WANG ; Jin-Ming LIN ; Wu-Ji ZHANG ; Jiong-Yuan LI ; Zhi-Hui HE ; Yue-Yang HOU ; Jian-Li GAO ; Wei-Li SHI ; Yu-Ping YANG
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(6):462-468
PURPOSE:
Lateral patellar compression syndrome (LPCS) is characterized by a persistent abnormally high stress exerted on the lateral articular surface of the patella due to lateral patellar tilt without dislocation and lateral retinaculum contracture, leading to anterior knee pain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and prognosis of lateral retinaculum release (LRR) combined with chondroplasty in the treatment of LPCS.
METHODS:
This retrospective study evaluated 40 patients who underwent LRR combined with chondroplasty for LPCS between 2020 and 2021. The assessment included improvement in postoperative tenderness and knee joint function. Patients were evaluated using the Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 scoring systems, as well as the visual analog scale, both preoperatively and postoperatively, with the paired comparisons analyzed using a t-test. Additionally, intraoperative observations were made regarding knee joint lesions, including cartilage damage and osteophyte formation, with analysis by the Chi-square test.
RESULTS:
The visual analog scale score for tenderness showed a significant decrease after surgery (p < 0.001). Evaluation of knee joint function also indicated significant improvements, as demonstrated by increased Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 scores postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.011, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, all LPCS patients included in the study presented with cartilage injuries and osteophyte formation. Significant differences were noted in the incidence of cartilage damage and osteophyte formation at different locations within the knee among patients with LPCS.
CONCLUSION
LRR combined with chondroplasty is an effective surgical approach for treating patients with LPCS, with satisfactory recovery observed at the 1-year follow-up. Additionally, the incidence of cartilage damage and osteophyte formation in LPCS patients varies significantly depending on the specific location within the knee joint.
Humans
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Male
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Female
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Retrospective Studies
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Adult
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Middle Aged
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Patella/surgery*
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Knee Joint/physiopathology*
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Recovery of Function
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Young Adult
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Treatment Outcome
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Cartilage, Articular/surgery*
;
Adolescent

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