Evaluation of Knees in Asymptomatic Amateur Ice Hockey Players Using 3.0-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Case-Control Study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Research on the changes to knee structures in asymptomatic amateur ice hockey players (AAIHPs) has been limited. We aimed to assess the performance of the knees in AAIHPs using 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).</p><p><b>Methods</b>A total of 71 asymptomatic knees (32 AAIHPs and 39 age- and sex-matched controls) were imaged using a 3.0-T MRI scanner at the Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University in April 2017. Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists were blinded to assess all MRI findings, including bursae around the knee, bone marrow edema (BME), meniscal signal changes, and articular cartilage and ligament damage. Any disagreements were resolved by a third professor of musculoskeletal radiology. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test and continuous variables using the Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test.</p><p><b>Results</b>The most common finding was fluid-filled bursae surrounding the knee. In the AAIHP group, which totaled 32 knees and 416 bursae, 155 (37%) fluid-filled bursae were present. In the control group, there were a total of 39 knees and 507 bursae, and 91 (18%) fluid-filled bursae were present. There was a significant difference in the number of fluid-filled bursae between the two groups (P < 0.05). However, in AAIHPs, the prevalence of meniscal signal changes (16 knees, 50%) was higher than in the control group (2 knees, 5%; P < 0.001). Importantly, 15 of the 19 were grade II signals. Other changes were only found in AAIHPs. Articular cartilage lesions were detected in 47% of their knees, predominantly at the patellofemoral joint, and BME was found in 34% of their knees.</p><p><b>Conclusion</b>The MRI findings of knees in AAIHPs mainly manifested as self-protection reaction, and proper ice hockey exercise could be advocated.</p>

Inhibition of vegfr-2 gene expression by RNA interference / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore a novel potential gene target for therapy of malignant tumor. The recombinant expression plasmids of VEGF/VEGFR-2 were designed, constructed and then transfected into A549 cells by using lipofectamine. The expressions of VEGF/VEGFR-2 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The cell proliferation was assayed by CCK-8 and the cell apoptosis was detected using Hoechst Staining. The results indicated that as compared with the blank control, pGenesil-1 and scramble groups, the interference effect of pGenesil-1-vegfr-2-shRNA-1 vector group was more obvious. As the expression of endogenous vegfr-2 mRNA decreased, the expression of VEGFR-2 protein decreased correspondingly. The proliferation of A549 cells was inhibited significantly by RNAi at 72 hours (p<0.01). The apoptosis of A549 cells was induced at 48 hours after being transfected with pGenesil-1-vegfr-2-shRNA-1 and the typical apoptosis morphology could be seen by fluorescence microscopy. It is concluded that the expression of vegfr-2 gene is inhibited effectively by vegfr-2 specific shRNA. The proliferation of A549 cells is inhibited significantly and the apoptosis of cells is induced. This result showed that VEGF/VEGFR-2 signaling pathway can be an effective target for the prevention and treatment of malignant tumor.

Study Progress on Relationship between Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor and Hematologic Malignancy / 实用儿科临床杂志

Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is one of the best characterized angiogenic regulators which has many effects in promoting endotheliocyte proliferation and differentiation,increasing the microvascular permeability,inducing the angiogenesis,triggering the growth,survival and migration of tumor cells by combining its specificity receptor (VEGFR).Dysregulation of VEGF expression and signaling pathways therefore plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and clinical features of hematologic malignancies,direct and indirect targeting of VEGF and its receptors therefore may provide a potent novel therapeutic approach to overcome bone marrow angiogenesis and multidrug resis-tance thereby improve patient outcome.Recent years,a novel VEGF blockade system using RNA interference attracts more and more people's attention.The small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting VEGF/VEGFR can completely inhibits the expression of VEGF and induce the silence of corresponding genes.