BACKGROUND:The development of calcium phosphate bone cement is limited due to its poor mechanical properties and weak osteogenic ability.Silicate bioactive glass is highly favored due to its excellent biological activity and osteogenic ability.Simultaneously,fiber structures can enhance the mechanical strength of materials.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanical properties,biocompatibility,and osteogenic effect of silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement.METHODS:Different mass percentages(0％,10％,and 20％)of silicate bioactive glass fiber were added to the solid phase of calcium phosphate bone cement,mixed with the liquid phase and cured for 48 hours to obtain silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement.The mechanical properties,setting time,and ion precipitation of the cement were characterized.The three groups of bone cement extracts were co-cultured with MC3T3-E1 cells.The cell compatibility of the materials was evaluated by CCK-8 assay,live/dead staining,and phalloidin staining.After osteogenic induction,the osteogenic induction ability of the materials was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining,alizarin red staining,RUNX2 immunofluorescence staining,and RT-PCR.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)With the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content,the compressive strength and flexural strength of bone cement increased,and the setting time was prolonged.When bone cement was immersed in simulated body fluid,the precipitation of silicon ions,calcium ions,and phosphorus ions could be detected.Moreover,with the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content,the mass concentration of silicon ions and phosphorus ions released by bone cement increased,and the mass concentration of calcium ions decreased.(2)Live/dead staining and phalloidin staining results exhibited that silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement had no toxic effect on MC3T3-E1 cells.CCK-8 assay results showed that silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement could promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells.(3)With the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content in bone cement,the alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular calcium deposition of MC3T3-E1 cells increased,the expression of RUNX2 protein increased,and the expression of alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,osteopontin,and RUNX2 mRNA expression increased.(4)The results indicate that silicate bioactive glass fibers can enhance the mechanical properties and osteogenic induction ability of calcium phosphate bone cement,among which 20％silicate bioactive glass fibers have a more obvious effect.

BACKGROUND:The development of calcium phosphate bone cement is limited due to its poor mechanical properties and weak osteogenic ability.Silicate bioactive glass is highly favored due to its excellent biological activity and osteogenic ability.Simultaneously,fiber structures can enhance the mechanical strength of materials.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanical properties,biocompatibility,and osteogenic effect of silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement.METHODS:Different mass percentages(0％,10％,and 20％)of silicate bioactive glass fiber were added to the solid phase of calcium phosphate bone cement,mixed with the liquid phase and cured for 48 hours to obtain silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement.The mechanical properties,setting time,and ion precipitation of the cement were characterized.The three groups of bone cement extracts were co-cultured with MC3T3-E1 cells.The cell compatibility of the materials was evaluated by CCK-8 assay,live/dead staining,and phalloidin staining.After osteogenic induction,the osteogenic induction ability of the materials was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining,alizarin red staining,RUNX2 immunofluorescence staining,and RT-PCR.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)With the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content,the compressive strength and flexural strength of bone cement increased,and the setting time was prolonged.When bone cement was immersed in simulated body fluid,the precipitation of silicon ions,calcium ions,and phosphorus ions could be detected.Moreover,with the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content,the mass concentration of silicon ions and phosphorus ions released by bone cement increased,and the mass concentration of calcium ions decreased.(2)Live/dead staining and phalloidin staining results exhibited that silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement had no toxic effect on MC3T3-E1 cells.CCK-8 assay results showed that silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement could promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells.(3)With the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content in bone cement,the alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular calcium deposition of MC3T3-E1 cells increased,the expression of RUNX2 protein increased,and the expression of alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,osteopontin,and RUNX2 mRNA expression increased.(4)The results indicate that silicate bioactive glass fibers can enhance the mechanical properties and osteogenic induction ability of calcium phosphate bone cement,among which 20％silicate bioactive glass fibers have a more obvious effect.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the most common thyroid dysfunction, and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) has been controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between SCH and newly-diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Based on data from the Thyroid disease, Iodine nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) study, 49,433 euthyroid individuals and 7,719 SCH patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of hypertension or thyroid disease were excluded. SCH was determined by manufacturer reference range. Overall hypertension and stage 1 and 2 hypertension were diagnosed according to the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2017. Results: The prevalence of overall hypertension (48.7%), including stage 1 (28.9%) and 2 (19.8%) hypertension, increased significantly in SCH patients compared with euthyroid subjects. With elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, the hypertension prevalence also increased significantly from the euthyroid to different SCH subgroups, which was more profound in females or subjects aged <65 years. The age- and sex-specific regression analysis further demonstrated the same trends in the general population and in the 1:1 propensity matched population. Similarly, several BP components (i.e., systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP) were positively associated with TSH elevation, and regression analysis also confirmed that all BP components were closely related with SCH in female subjects aged <65 years. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension increases for patients with SCH. SCH tends to be associated with hypertension and BP components in females younger than 65 years.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the most common thyroid dysfunction, and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) has been controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between SCH and newly-diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Based on data from the Thyroid disease, Iodine nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) study, 49,433 euthyroid individuals and 7,719 SCH patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of hypertension or thyroid disease were excluded. SCH was determined by manufacturer reference range. Overall hypertension and stage 1 and 2 hypertension were diagnosed according to the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2017. Results: The prevalence of overall hypertension (48.7%), including stage 1 (28.9%) and 2 (19.8%) hypertension, increased significantly in SCH patients compared with euthyroid subjects. With elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, the hypertension prevalence also increased significantly from the euthyroid to different SCH subgroups, which was more profound in females or subjects aged <65 years. The age- and sex-specific regression analysis further demonstrated the same trends in the general population and in the 1:1 propensity matched population. Similarly, several BP components (i.e., systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP) were positively associated with TSH elevation, and regression analysis also confirmed that all BP components were closely related with SCH in female subjects aged <65 years. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension increases for patients with SCH. SCH tends to be associated with hypertension and BP components in females younger than 65 years.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and the technical details of utilizing a long segment of vein graft to bridge the vascular defect when a free flap is used to repair extensive injuries in lower extremities. Methods: For the reconstruction of extensive leg defect caused by serious composite injury, a local flap is unavailable or cannot fulfill the requirements. The main vessels of the leg could be damaged. It is challenging work to find an ideal recipient vessels for a free flap. The saphenous vein was harvested from the contralateral lower extremities and utilized to bridge the vascular gap between the recipient vessels and flap pedicle vessels. A latissimus dorsi myocutaneous or anterolateral thigh free flap was used to reconstruct the leg defect. The distal end of the grafted vein was anastomosed to the superficial femoral artery in an end-to-side fashion, and the proximal end to the artery of flap pedicle in an end-to-end fashion. When a vein insufficiency was present, the proximal and distal ends of the additional grafted vein were anastomosed to the recipient vein and vein of flap pedicle in an end-to-end fashion. Results: From July 2010 to April 2019, 27 patients underwent reconstruction of leg using the above-mentioned method. There were 20 males and 7 females. The patients′ age ranged from 16 to 54 years with an average of 30.6 years. There were 19 latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps and eight anterolateral thigh flaps. The grafted saphenous vein was used to bridge the arterial gap in 21 cases and to bridge both the arterial and venous gaps in 6 cases. The length of the grafted vein for arterial and venous defects was ranged from 14 cm to 43 cm (mean, 24.8 cm) and 5 cm to 12 cm (mean, 8.6 cm), respectively. 26 flaps completely survived after surgery. Venous congestion occurred in the remaining one flap and the flap eventually lost. The patient eventually opted for amputation. All patients were followed up for 3 to 14 months with an average of 9 months. Functional and aesthetic outcomes were obtained in both the recipient and donor sites. No obvious edema of lower extremities was observed. Conclusions For patients with a severe and large soft-tissue defect of the leg, fining an ideal recipient vessels for a free flap is crucial for a successful reconstructive surgery. It is a reliable and an additional option to choose the superficial femoral artery and/ or saphenous vein as the recipient vessels by using the grafted vein to bridge the vascular gaps.

Objective:To investigate the validity and the outcome of a new surgery method that utilizes lateral great toe flap to decoratively reconstruct the thumb pulp loss.Methods:From Jan.2009 to Jan. 2014 , 22 cases with unilateral thumb pulp defect were included, for whom, lateral great toe flap was de-ployed to reconstruct the thumb.Blood circulation was re-established by the anastomosis of the digital vessels of toes and fingers in 18 cases, the other 4 cases were conducted by a dorsal metatarsal artery and vein anastomosed to the deep branch of the radial artery and the dorsal metacarpal vein respectively; as for the nerve repair, toe-to-finger digital nerve anastomosis was performed.The donor sites were covered by full-thickness inguinal skin grafts.Results:All the 22 flaps survived without complications.With 6 to 12 months follow-up, the surviving fingers all presented aesthetically pleasant appearance with vivid loops and whorls.Normal functions like sweating were restored as well, and the two-point-discrimination ranged 3.0 to 6.0 mm (4.2 mm in average).The skin grafts to the donor sites healed uneventfully, the appearance and functions of the feet were unaffected.Conclusion: Lateral toe flap should be the first-line choice for reconstructing thumb defect, as it conveniently restores both functions and outlook.