ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of our meta-analysis is to understand the relationship between the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in multiple disease tissues in osteoarthritis patients. METHODS: The following electronic databases were searched, without language restrictions, to retrieve published studies relevant to VEGF and osteoarthritis: MEDLINE (1966 ~ 2013), the Cochrane Library Database (Issue 12, 2013), EMBASE (1980 ~ 2013), CINAHL (1982 ~ 2013), Web of Science (1945 ~ 2013) and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) (1982 ~ 2013). Meta-analysis of the extracted data was performed using the STATA statistical software. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 11 case-control studies, containing 302 osteoarthritis patients and 195 healthy controls, met our selection criteria for this meta-analysis. Our analyses of the data available from multiple disease tissues demonstrate that VEGF expression levels in osteoarthritis patients are significantly higher than healthy controls (SMD = 1.18, 95% CI: 4.91 ~ 9.11, P < 0.001). A subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed that both Asian and Caucasian osteoarthritis patients had higher levels of VEGF expression compared to their respective healthy counterparts (Asians: SMD = 5.49, 95% CI: 3.44 ~ 7.54, P < 0.001; Caucasians: SMD = 15.17, 95% CI: 5.21 ~ 25.13, P = 0.003; respectively). We also performed other subgroup analyses based on country, language and sample source, and the results showed that, in all these subgroups, osteoarthritis patients had higher levels of VEGF expression than healthy controls (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis provides evidence that higher VEGF expression levels strongly correlate with the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.
Subject(s)
Osteoarthritis/etiology , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism , Case-Control Studies , Humans , Osteoarthritis/metabolismABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the biological activity of rat dorsal root ganglion cell (DRGC) and human vascular endothelial cell (HMVEC) in mono- and co-culture. Expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Western blot analysis was used to identify VEGF and NGF protein expressions. Cell injury was assessed by measuring cell viability with methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The results showed that VEGF and NGF mRNA levels in the HMVEC+DRGC group were significantly higher than those in the DRGC and HMVEC groups (all p < 0.05). There were also greater increases in both VEGF and NGF protein expressions in the HMVEC+DRGC group than those in the DRGC and HMVEC groups (all p < 0.05). The results of MTT analysis revealed significant differences in cell viability among the HMVEC+DRGC group and the DRGC and HMVEC groups (all p < 0.05). In summary, our findings provide evidence that DRGC and HMVEC in co-culture may exhibit greater biological activity than DRGC in mono-culture.
Subject(s)
Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Ganglia, Spinal/metabolism , Animals , Cell Proliferation , Cells, Cultured , Coculture Techniques , Gene Expression , Humans , Nerve Growth Factor/genetics , Nerve Growth Factor/metabolism , RNA, Messenger , Rats , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the etiology, pathological mechanism and treatment of cervical fracture-dislocation without spinal cord injury. METHODS: Nine patients with cervical fracture-dislocation without spinal cord injury were male and aged 22 to 63 years. Based on the clinical symptoms and roentgenographic changes, the injury mechanism was analyzed; and the pathological characteristics and treatment principle were put forward. RESULTS: Anterior reduction was employed in all 9 cases. Eight cases were reduced completely while 1 case was reduced partially. After following up 1 to 3 years, 7 cases recovered completely and the other 2 cases relieved their symptoms obviously. No nervous symptoms aggravated during the following-up period. CONCLUSION: Fracture-dislocation of the cervical spine without spinal cord injury has special pathological mechanism. The surgical intervention is needed for solid fixation and complete decompression without any delayed neurosymptoms.
