Hollow microsphere probes formed by hollow core optical fiber discharging for monitoring gas pressure and temperature.

A hollow core fiber (HCF) is spliced with a single-mode fiber, and then, the end face of the HCF is etched to form a microsphere interferometer for measuring gas pressure and environmental temperature. The total length of each microsphere is less than 200 µm. We fabricated two such structures and used femtosecond laser pulses to drill micro-holes on the HCF walls of both structures. One of the structures is directly used to measure air pressure, achieving a sensitivity of up to 2.857 nm/MPa while being almost insensitive to temperature. This structure is capable of assessing pressure down to 3.4 kPa within the range of 0-0.5 MPa. Another structure is filled with thermally sensitive material dimethyl silicone oil through a micro-hole, and then, it is sealed with AB adhesive to form a harmonic Vernier effect temperature sensor, with a sensitivity of up to -5.16 nm/°C. This structure is capable of assessing temperature down to 0.38 °C within the range of 30-60 °C. Additionally, the sensors have good repeatability and stability and compact structure and simple manufacturing and can be used as a sensing probe for monitoring gas pressure and temperature under extreme environments.

CMR validation of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction measured by the IQ-SPECT system in patients with small heart size.

BACKGROUND: The IQ-SPECT system is equipped with multifocal collimators and uses ordered-subset conjugate gradient minimization (OSCGM) as its reconstruction algorithm, achieving a shorter acquisition time than conventional SPECT. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is overestimated by conventional SPECT in patients with small heart size. In this study, we compared IQ-SPECT with conventional SPECT and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for the estimation of LVEF in patients with small hearts (males: EDV ≤ 60 ml, ESV ≤ 25 ml; females: EDV ≤ 45 ml, ESV ≤ 20 ml). METHODS: The study consisted of 49 consecutive patients (20 normal and 29 with small heart size) undergoing gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI) with a 99mTc-labelled agent during stress or rest to assess the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). The data were reconstructed using filtered back-projection (FBP) for conventional SPECT and OSCGM for IQ-SPECT. ESV, EDV, and LVEF were calculated using quantitative gated SPECT (QGS). To determine the optimal ordered-subset reconstruction parameters, we compared the LVEF from SPECT to the corresponding measurement from CMR. RESULTS: EDV, ESV, and LVEF values obtained from IQ-SPECT and conventional SPECT showed that the results of these two forms of SPECT were significantly correlated, although the EDV and ESV obtained by IQ-SPECT were higher than those obtained by conventional SPECT. IQ-SPECT yielded lower LVEF measurements than conventional SPECT (normal heart size: 50.6 ± 4.3% vs. 73.4 ± 8.4%, P = 0.002; small heart size: 62.1 ± 7.8% vs. 75.0 ± 11.4%, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in LVEF measurements made by IQ-SPECT and CMR (normal heart size: 50.6 ± 4.3% vs. 53.2 ± 5.8%, P > 0.05; small heart size: 62.1 ± 7.8% vs. 64.6 ± 8.8%, P > 0.05). Five subsets (S) and 12 iterations (I) did not differ significantly in LVEF between CMR and IQ-SPECT for patients with small hearts (64.6 ± 8.8% vs. 62.1 ± 7.8%, P = 0.120), while 3 S and 10 I were the best parameters for patients with normal heart size (50.6 ± 4.3% vs. 53.1 ± 5.8%, P = 0.117). CONCLUSION: With CMR as the standard, IQ-SPECT yields more reliable LVEF values than conventional SPECT for populations with small heart size. The best reconstruction parameters from IQ-SPECT were 5 S and 12 I for patients with small hearts.

Nitric oxide-mediated DNA methylation enhances cold resistance in postharvest peach fruit.

Low temperature can affect DNA methylation. Since exogenous use of NO can reduce cold damage in peach fruit during cold storage, this study investigated the roles of NO on DNA methylation of peaches suffering cold stress. The results showed that exogenous NO effectively alleviated the decrease in total DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activity and transcript levels induced by cold stress, whereas c-PTIO exacerbated the decrease in total DNMT activity and transcript levels. Further BSP analysis of the promoter regions of four cold resistance genes (PpCBF5-IS2, PpICE1-IS, PpMYC2-IS, PpCOR-IS1) in peaches showed that in peaches treated with exogenous NO, PpCBF5-IS2 and PpICE1-IS were modified by hypermethylation, PpMYC2-IS was modified by methylation, PpCOR-IS1 was modified by demethylation and insensitive to NO. It was suggested that NO could enhance the cold resistance of postharvest peaches by mediating DNA methylation.

A novel rotation method with variable-angle anterior probe for correcting the depth of the kidney to optimize renal dynamic imaging.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the effect and significance of the rotation method with variable-angle anterior probe corrected for the depth of two kidneys on the determination of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in total and single kidneys by the renal dynamic imaging Gates method. METHODS: Seventy-two patients who underwent dynamic renal imaging by the rotation method and abdominal CT in our hospital were collected in the present study. CT scanning, rotation method, Tonnesen's formula, and Li-Qian's formula were compared in terms of the depth of two kidneys, the depth difference between the two kidneys, and the total renal and single GFR obtained by substituting the renal depth values into Gates' formula. RESULTS: ①The depth of kidneys and GFR: Compared to CT, Tonnesen's formula significantly underestimated the depth of both kidneys and the total and single renal GFR (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the depth of both kidneys and the total and single renal GFR between Li-Qian's formula and the rotation method (P > 0.05), with a strong agreement and with the least bias in the values measured by the rotation method. ②Renal depth difference: Compared to CT, Tonnesen's formula and Li-Qian's formula underestimated the difference in depth between the two kidneys (P < 0.05). None of the differences were statistically significant based on the rotation method (P > 0.05). The depth difference was positively correlated with the resulting changes in single renal function (|R(CT)-R(Li-Qian)|) and (|R(Rotation)-R(Li-Qian)|) (r = 0.881, 0.641, P < 0.001). As the depth difference increased, Li-Qian's formula could not visualize changes in single renal function accurately. In contrast, the accuracy of the rotation method in assessing single renal function remains unaffected. CONCLUSION: The rotation method obtains an accurate depth and depth difference between the two kidneys without additional CT radiation, enhancing the accuracy of the Gates method for determining total and single renal GFR. Trial registration Medical Ethics Committee of First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, 2021BAL0146. Registered 12 January 2021.

High sensitivity gas pressure sensor based on different inner diameter quartz capillary cascading and Vernier effect.

In this paper, a highly sensitive optical fiber gas pressure sensor is proposed and experimentally verified. The sensor is composed of two Fabry-Pérot (F-P) cavities, and two F-P cavities are fabricated by a single-mode fiber and two quartz capillaries with different inner diameters splicing. Among them, the small inner diameter capillary is used as a gas channel connecting the large inner diameter capillary and the external environment. The manufacturing process of the sensor only involves capillary cleaver and splicing and does not involve other complex manufacturing technologies. By correctly adjusting the length of the two quartz capillaries, when the free spectral range of the two F-P cavities is very close, the optical Vernier effect will be observed and used as a sensitive probe for detecting gas pressure. The experimental results show that, in the pressure range of 0-0.8 MPa, the gas pressure sensitivity of the sensor reaches -81.73 nm/MPa with a linearity of 99.7%, and the temperature cross-sensitivity is only 1.82 kPa/°C. Due to its easy manufacture, high sensitivity, compact structure, and small volume, the sensor has become one of the preferred structures for large-scale use in the field of gas sensing.

Evaluation of N-(6-[18F]Fluoropyridin-3-yl)glycine PET renography to detect renal function progression in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE: Given the limitation of biomarkers to predict the renal function progression in diabetic nephropathy, N-(6-[18F]Fluoropyridin-3-yl)glycine (6-[18F]FPyGly) was used to evaluate renal function progression in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, including the healthy control group (HC group), diabetic nephropathy group (DNM group), routine diet treated diabetic nephropathy group (RDNM group), and high fat/high sucrose -diet-fed diabetic nephropathy group (HDNM group). All renal function parameters were determined from animal PET renograms. P and Tmax represent the curve peak counts and the time to the curve peak counts of 6-[18F]FPyGly in kidneys after injection, C1/2 and the 15 min/Peak ratio represent the time from peak to 1/2 peak in the clearance phase, and the ratio of the curve counts at 15 min to the curve peak counts. RESULTS: P, Tmax, C1/2, and 15 min/peak ratio of each rat were significantly correlated with S-Cr, BUN. There were significant differences in Tmax, P, serum creatinine (SCr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels between HC and DNM groups. P and the 15 min/Peak ratio were significantly different among DNM, RDNM, and HDNM groups, while Tmax and C1/2 were only significantly different between DNM and RDNM or HDNM groups. There only was a significant difference in BUN between the DNM and HDNM groups. CONCLUSION: The renal function parameters P, Tmax, C1/2 and 15 min/peak value obtained by dynamic renal imaging based on 6-[18F]FPyGly could reflect changes of renal function in rats, which had a good correlation with SCr and BUN, and showed more efficient in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy and renal function classification than SCr and BUN.

Diallyl Trisulfide Enhances the Survival of Multiterritory Perforator Skin Flaps.

The multiterritory perforator flap is one of the widest flap patterns used to repair tissue defects. However, flap necrosis of the distal part is still a challenging issue for plastic surgeons. Diallyl trisulfide (DATS) is an efficient ingredient extracted from garlic, exerting many important effects on different diseases. Our experiment aims to reveal whether DATS has a beneficial effect on the survival of perforator flaps and to explore its mechanism of action. The results showed that DATS enhanced angiogenesis and autophagy and reduced cell apoptosis and oxidative stress, thereby improving the survival rate of skin flaps. After co-administration with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3MA), perforator flap survival was further improved. Mechanistically, we showed that PI3K/Akt and AMPK-HIF-1α signaling pathways in flap were activated under DATS treatment. All in all, DATS promoted the survival of multiterritory perforator flaps via the synergistic regulation of PI3K/Akt and AMPK-HIF-1α signaling pathways, and inhibition of DATS-induced autophagy further improves flap survival.

Impaired coronary flow reserve in patients with supra-normal left ventricular ejection fraction at rest.

PURPOSE: Recently, a "U" hazard ratio curve between resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and prognosis has been observed in patients referred for routine clinical echocardiograms. The present study sought to explore whether a similar "U" curve existed between resting LVEF and coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients without severe cardiovascular disease (CVD) and whether impaired CFR played a role in the adverse outcome of patients with supra-normal LVEF (snLVEF, LVEF ≥ 65%). METHODS: Two hundred ten consecutive patients (mean age 52.3 ± 9.3 years, 104 women) without severe CVD underwent clinically indicated rest/dipyridamole stress electrocardiography (ECG)-gated 13 N-ammonia positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were followed up for 27.3 ± 9.5 months, including heart failure, late revascularization, re-hospitalization, and re-coronary angiography for any cardiac reason. Clinical characteristics, corrected CFR (cCFR), and MACE were compared among the three groups categorized by resting LVEF detected by PET/CT. Dose-response analyses using restricted cubic spline (RCS) functions, multivariate logistic regression, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were conducted to evaluate the relationship between resting LVEF and CFR/outcome. RESULTS: An inverted "U" curve existed between resting LVEF and cCFR (p = 0.06). Both patients with snLVEF (n = 38) and with reduced LVEF (rLVEF, LVEF < 55%) (n = 66) displayed a higher incidence of reduced cCFR than those with normal LVEF (nLVEF, 55% ≤ LVEF < 65%) (n = 106) (57.9% vs 54.5% vs 34.3%, p < 0.01, respectively). Both snLVEF (p < 0.01) and rLVEF (p < 0.05) remained independent predictors for reduced cCFR after multivariable adjustment. Patients with snLVEF encountered more MACE than those with nLVEF (10.5% vs 0.9%, log-rank p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with snLVEF are prone to impaired cCFR, which may be related to the adverse prognosis. Further investigations are warranted to explore its underlying pathological mechanism and clinical significance.

Paeoniflorin Suppresses TBHP-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells via the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway and Improves Skin Flap Survival.

Random-pattern skin flap is a vital technique frequently applied in reconstruction surgeries for its convenience and effectiveness in solving skin defects. However, ischemic necrosis, especially in the distal areas of the flap, still needs extra attention after surgery. Earlier evidence has suggested that paeoniflorin (PF) could stimulate angiogenesis and suppress ischemic cardiovascular disease. However, few studies have focused on the role of PF in flap survival. In this study, we have demonstrated that the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with PF can alleviate tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-stimulated cellular dysfunction and apoptosis. To better evaluate, HUVECs' physiology, cell tube formation, migration, and adhesion were assessed. Mechanistically, PF protects HUVECs against apoptosis via stimulating the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) pathway. PF also downregulates mitochondrial ROS production to reduce excessive intracellular ROS production induced by TBHP and restore TBHP-induced mitochondrial depolarization. As a result, silencing Nrf2 partially abolishes the protective effect of PF exposure on HUVECs. In in vivo experiments, the oral administration of PF was shown to have enhanced the vascularization of regenerated tissues and promote flap survival. However, the PF-mediated protection was partially lost after co-treatment with ML385, a selective Nrf2 inhibitor, suggesting that PF is a crucial modulator regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. In summary, our data have provided a new insight into PF as a potential therapy for enhancing random-pattern flap viability.

Changes in radiological parameters during reduction of femoral neck fractures: A radiographic evaluation of cadavers.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in the Garden index and other radiological parameters during reduction of femoral neck fractures. METHODS: Ten healthy, human femoral specimens were obtained. A 2.0 mm diameter Kirschner wire was implanted in the centre of the femoral head. A perpendicular osteotomy was made in the middle of the femoral neck. The distal osteotomy surface was used as the angle of rotation (pronation and supination up to 90° at 10° intervals). Anterior-posterior and lateral view radiographs were taken at different angles. The Garden index and other relevant data were analysed using the picture archiving and communication system. Changes in the area of the femoral head fovea at different rotation angles were measured. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the Garden index between 0-30° of pronation and supination (p > .05). For angles of 40-90°, there were statistically significant differences in the Garden index (p < .05). The area of femoral head fovea decreased with increasing pronation angle, and increased with increasing supination angle. CONCLUSIONS: The Garden index does not change significantly if the angle of fracture rotation is 0-30° (in either pronation or supination) during femoral neck fracture reduction. Therefore, it is impossible to judge the rotation of fracture in this range of angles. The Garden index can detect the rotation of fracture for rotation angles of 40-90° (in either pronation or supination). Changes in the area of the femoral head fovea can help determine the rotation of femoral neck fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.

Radiosynthesis and evaluation of N5-(2-18F-fluoropropanyl) ornithine as a potential agent for tumor PET imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have confirmed that tumorigenesis is related to an imbalance of polyamine metabolism and over-expression of oncogenes resulting in the up-regulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, the first rate-limiting enzyme for regulating intracellular polyamines biosynthesis), which has become a target for anti-tumor therapy. In this study, an ornithine derivative, N5-(2-[18F]fluoropropionyl) ornithine (N5-[18F]FPO), has been prepared and its potential utility for tumor PET imaging evaluated. METHODS: N5-[18F]FPO was successfully prepared via a nucleophilic fluorination reaction and a subsequent efficient deprotection step. The in vitro and in vivo stability were determined by HPLC conducted in fetal bovine serum, saline and rat urine. Cellular uptake studies were conducted in HepG2 cells and the biodistribution and micro-PET/CT imaging performed in normal ICR mice and three tumor-bearing mice models, respectively. RESULTS: Total synthesis time of N5-[18F]FPO was about 80 min with a radiochemical yield of 15% ± 6% (uncorrected, based on 18F-, n = 6) and a high radiochemical stability can be seen in vitro and vivo. The N5-[18F]FPO exhibited fast uptake in HepG2 cells and the cellular uptake ability of N5-[18F]FPO can be inhibited by L-ornithine and DFMO, which indicated that the transport pathway of N5-[18F]FPO is similar to that of L-ornithine, interacting with ODC after being transported into the cell. The biodistribution and micro-PET/CT images demonstrate that N5-[18F]FPO was excreted by the urinary system, and excellent tumor visualization with high tumor-to-background ratios can be observed in the three tumor-bearing mice models studied. CONCLUSION: All the above results suggest that N5-[18F]FPO has the potential to be a novel radiotracer for imaging ODC expression in solid tumors.

Novel Rim Plating Technique for Treatment of the Inferior Pole Fracture of the Patella.

To aim of the present paper was to introduce a novel fixation technique for the treatment of inferior pole fracture of the patella. We performed a prospective observational study of consecutive cases of inferior pole fracture of the patella that were treated at our institution between January 2018 and June 2019. The patients include three men and one woman, with an average age of 47 years (range: 42-59 years). All patients were treated with the novel rim plating fixation technique for preserving the inferior pole of the patella. During the surgery, a 2.4 mm straight locking compression plate was contoured to adapt to the arc of the lower half of the patella as the rim plate. After reduction of the fracture, the rim plate was fixed to the proximal fragment of the patella through multiple locking screws, against the continuous pull of the patellar tendon. The rim plate encircles and constricts the inferior pole fragments, functioning as a compression and blocking construct. If necessary, an additional anterior tension band or mini locking plate can be used to further prevent anterior displacement of the inferior pole fragments. Under this rigid fixation, motion of the knee and full weight-bearing were encouraged postoperatively. The patients were followed up monthly until 12 months after surgery. The time to achieve 90°pain-free, full range of motion of the knee, and fracture healing, were recorded. Related complications were monitored, including infection, loss of reduction, fixation failure, anterior knee pain, and soft-tissue irritation. The modified Cincinnati knee rating system was used for knee function assessment. The average operative time was 58.8 min (range: 52-63 min). The average blood loss was 59.8 mL (range: 45-71 mL). For all patients, pain-free 90° range of motion was restored in 2-4 weeks, and the full range of motion was restored in 8-11 weeks. All patients achieved bone union in 6-9 weeks with no displacement of the fragments or breakage of the implant. No patient complained of anterior knee pain or soft-tissue irritation. The modified Cincinnati score at 12-month follow up demonstrated excellent outcomes in all four patients. The rim plating technique may be a feasible option for the treatment of the inferior pole fracture of the patella.

A biomechanics study on ligamentous injury in anterior-posterior compression type II pelvic injury.

BACKGROUND: Anterior-posterior compression (APC) type II pelvis fracture is caused by the destruction of pelvic ligaments. This study aims to explore ligaments injury in APC type II pelvic injury. METHOD: Fourteen human cadaveric pelvis samples with sacrospinous ligament (SPL), sacrotuberous ligament (SBL), anterior sacroiliac ligament (ASL), and partial bone retaining unilaterally were acquired for this study. They were randomly divided into hemipelvis restricted and unrestricted groups. We recorded the separation distance of the pubic symphysis and anterior sacroiliac joint, external rotation angle, and force when ASL ruptured. We observed the external rotation damage to the pelvic bone and ligaments. RESULT: When ASL failed, there was no significant difference in pubic symphysis separation (28.6 ± 8.4 mm to 23.6 ± 8.2 mm, P = 0.11) and anterior sacroiliac joint separation (11.4 ± 3.8 mm to 9.7 ± 3.9 mm, P = 0.30) between restricted and unrestricted groups. The external rotation angle (33.9 ± 5.5° to 48.9 ± 5.2°, P < 0.01) and force (553.9 ± 82.6 N to 756.6 ± 41.4 N, P < 0.01) were significantly different. Pubic symphysis separation between two groups ranged from 14 to 40 mm. In the restricted group, both SBL and SPL were injured. SPL ruptured first, and then SBL and the interosseous sacroiliac ligament were damaged while the posterior ligament remained unharmed. In the unrestricted group, interosseous sacroiliac ligament and posterior sacroiliac ligaments were damaged, while SBL and SPL were not. When the ASL, SBL, and SPL all failed, pubic symphysis and anterior sacroiliac joint separation between two groups increased significantly (from 28.6 ± 8.4 to 42.0 ± 7.6 mm, 11.4 ± 3.8 to 16.7 ± 4.2 mm respectively, all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pelvic external rotation injury is either hemipelvic restricted or unrestricted, which can result in different outcomes. When the ASL ruptures, the unrestricted group needs greater external rotation angle and force, without SBL or SPL injury, while both SBL and SPL were injured in another group. When ASL fails in two groups, pubic symphysis separation fluctuates considerably. Finally, when the ASL ruptures, SBL and SPL may be undamaged.

Comparison of percutaneous cross screw fixation versus open reduction and internal fixation for pelvic Day type II crescent fracture-dislocation: case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical outcomes of percutaneous cross screws internal fixation for pelvic Day type II crescent fracture-dislocation. METHODS: We reviewed 66 consecutive patients undergoing surgical treatment for Day type II crescent fracture-dislocation from June 2005 to December 2017. Percutaneous cross screws internal fixation was performed in 40 patients, and open reduction and internal fixation was performed in 26 patients. The patient characteristics, surgical complications, radiographic and clinical outcomes and were compared. RESULTS: There was no statistically difference on the mean time from injury to surgery between the two groups. The time of operation, the amount of blood loss, the length of incision, and the hospital stay were significantly shorter in the percutaneous cross screws internal fixation group. No significant difference on Matta scores and Majeed scores between the two groups. The open reduction and internal fixation group resulted in a higher rate of intraoperative hemorrhage, nerve injury, discomfort, and pain. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous cross screws internal fixation for Day II type pelvic crescent fracture-dislocation was safe and effective. Minimally invasive fixation had the advantages of short operation and hospitalization time, less intraoperative bleeding, and surgical trauma.

A novel percutaneous crossed screws fixation in treatment of Day type II crescent fracture-dislocation: A finite element analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Day type II crescent fracture-dislocation is a subtype of pelvic lateral compression injury. At present, there is still a controversy on the operative approach and fixation technique. We have put forward closed reduction and percutaneous crossed screws fixation for treating type-II crescent fracture-dislocation. Finite element analysis is used to compare the biomechanical properties between percutaneous crossed screws and other internal fixations. METHODS: A three-dimensional finite element model of Day type-II crescent fracture-dislocation was simulated using 5 implants, including double anterior plates (Model A), one posterior plate and one iliac screw (Model B), one sacroiliac joint screw (Model C), crossed one iliac screw and one sacroiliac joint screw (Model D), and crossed two iliac screws and one sacroiliac joint screw (Model E). 600-N stress was applied to S1 vertebral end-plate. To evaluate the biomechanical properties, the stress distribution and displacement distribution of the pelvis, stress distribution of the crescent fragment and stress distribution of plate and cannulated screw were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Under the loading of 600N, the maximum pelvic displacements in the finite element model were compared as follows: model E (0.070 â€‹mm), model D (0.071 â€‹mm), model A (0.080 â€‹mm), model C (0.096 â€‹mm), and model B (0.112 â€‹mm). The maximum displacements of crescent fragment were compared as follows: model E (0.018 â€‹mm), model B (0.022 â€‹mm), model D (0.023 â€‹mm), model A (0.030 â€‹mm), and model C (0.043 â€‹mm). The maximum stress of all implants were compared as follows: model D (90.01 â€‹Mpa), model E (81.60 â€‹Mpa), model C (69.07 â€‹Mpa), model A (56.51 â€‹Mpa), model B (18.29 â€‹Mpa). Model E and model D could provide better mechanical support for whole pelvic. CONCLUSIONS: With sufficient biomechanical stability and minimally invasive advantage, percutaneous crossed screw fixation is a recommended treatment for Day Type-II Crescent Fracture-dislocation. It is recommended to fix crescent fracture fragment and sacroiliac joint simultaneously during the operation. If it is difficult to fix the both position, the sacroiliac joint is preferentially fixed. THE TRANSLATIONAL POTENTIAL OF THIS ARTICLE: There is a controversy on the operative approach and fixation technique of Day type-II crescent fracture-dislocation. This article proves that percutaneous crossed screw fixation is a recommended treatment for Day type-II crescent fracture-dislocation by finite element analysis.

3D printing-based Ganz approach for treatment of femoral head fractures: a prospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Femoral head fractures are uncommon injuries. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of femoral head fracture is the preferred treatment for most patients. There are several surgical approaches and treatments for this difficult fracture. However, the optimal surgical approach for the treatment of femoral head fracture remains controversial. Meanwhile, the operation is difficult and the complications are numerous. We prospectively reviewed patients with femoral head fractures managed surgically through the 3D printing-based Ganz approach to define a better approach with the least morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2012 and 2017, a total of 17 patients were included in this study. An exact 1:1 3D printing model of the injured hip side was fabricated for each patient and simulated surgery was finished preoperative. The surgical approach was performed as described by Ganz. Functional assessment was performed using the modified Merle d'Aubigne scores. The reduction of the fracture was evaluated according to Matta's criteria. The incidence of complications, such as heterotopic ossification (HO) and avascular necrosis (AVN), and the need for additional surgery were also documented. RESULTS: Twelve of 17 patients (four females and eight males) were available for 2 years follow-up. The mean follow-up was 35 months (25-48 months). Average age for the 12 patients was 39.9 ± 12.2 years. According to the Pipkin classification, four patients were type I fracture, three patients were type II fracture, and five patients were type IV fracture. The mean operative time was 124.2 ± 22.1 min, and the estimated blood loss was 437.5 ± 113.1 ml. According to Merle d' Aubigne scores, excellent results were achieved in six of the 12 patients; four good and two poor results occurred in the rest of the patients. On the radiograph evaluation, fracture reduction was defined as anatomical in eight patients, and imperfect in four. Most patients had good outcomes and satisfactory hip function at last follow-up. Almost all great trochanteric osteectomy healed uneventfully. One patient developed symptomatic AVN of the femoral head and underwent THA at 3 years. After THA, she regained a good hip function with the ability to return to work and almost no reduction in sports activities. Heterotopic ossification was found in four cases (type I-1, type II-2, and type III-1). CONCLUSIONS: The 3D printing-based Ganz approach provides a safe and reliable approach and satisfactory results of treatment in femoral head fractures. Using 3D printed model for the fracture of the femoral head, the fracture can be viewed in every direction to provide an accurate description of fracture characteristics, which contributes to make a reasonable surgical plan for patients. In addition, the 3D printing-based Ganz approach can obtain excellent surgical exposure and protection of the femoral head blood supply, reduce the operation time and intraoperative blood loss, make the precise osteotomy, anatomically fix the intra-articular fragments, and effectively reduce postoperative complications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: We register our research at http://www.researchregistry.com . The Unique Identifying Number (UIN) from the Research Registry of the study is researchregistry4847 .

Synthesis of N-(6-[18F]Fluoropyridin-3-yl)glycine as a potential renal PET agent.

OBJECTIVE: Given the requirements of high sensitivity and spatial resolution, the development of new positron emission tomography (PET) agents is required for PET renography. The objective of this study was to investigate a new fluorine-18 labeled hippurate analogue of picolinamide, N-(6-[18F]Fluoropyridin-3-yl)glycine, as a new renal PET agent for evaluating renal function. METHODS: N-(6-[18F]Fluoropyridin-3-yl)glycine was prepared via a two-step reaction, including the nucleophilic substitution reaction of Br with 18F using methyl 2-(6-bromonicotinamido)acetate as a precursor followed the hydrolysis with sodium hydroxide and purification by preparative-HPLC. The in vitro and in vivo stability were determined using HPLC, and the plasma protein binding (PPB) and erythrocyte uptake of N-(6-[18F]Fluoropyridin-3-yl)glycine were determined using blood collected from healthy rats at 5 min post-injection. Biodistribution and dynamic micro-PET/CT imaging studies were conducted in healthy rats. RESULTS: N-(6-[18F]Fluoropyridin-3-yl)glycine was prepared within 45 min with an uncorrected radiochemical yield of 24.5 ±â€¯6.7% (n = 6, based on [18F]F-) and a radiochemical purity of >98%. N-(6-[18F]Fluoropyridin-3-yl)glycine demonstrated good stability both in vitro and in vivo. The results of the biodistribution and dynamic micro-PET/CT imaging studies in normal rats indicated that N-(6-[18F]Fluoropyridin-3-yl)glycine was rapidly and exclusively excreted via the renal-urinary pathway. CONCLUSION: N-(6-[18F]Fluoropyridin-3-yl)glycine is has been shown to be a promising renal PET agent and warrants further evaluation of renal function.

Eupatilin protects chondrocytes from apoptosis via activating sestrin2-dependent autophagy.

Cartilage degradation is the main characterization of osteoarthritis (OA). Accumulating evidence suggests that chondrocyte apoptosis and autophagy are associated with cartilage degradation. Thus, we investigated the protective effect and underlying mechanism of eupatilin for treating OA. IL-1ß was used to simulate OA in vitro. Data show that eupatilin treatment attenuated IL-1ß-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes. Autophagy was also activated by eupatilin in a dose-dependent manner. Then, pretreatment with chloroquine (CQ), an autophagic inhibitor, decreased eupatilin-induced autophagy and increased apoptosis in the chondrocytes. To investigate the mechanism of eupatilin, the expressions of sestrin2 and mTOR were measured using Western blot; eupatilin upregulated sestrin2 but downregulated mTOR phosphorylation. The administration of sestrin2-siRNA significantly decreased autophagy and reversed the protective effect of eupatilin against chondrocyte apoptosis and degradation of the cartilage matrix. Thus, eupatilin can inhibit IL-1ß-induced apoptosis via sestrin2-dependent autophagy in chondrocytes.

The efficacy of using 3D printing models in the treatment of fractures: a randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing models for preoperative planning in cases of complex fracture. METHODS: In total, 48 patients with AO type C fractures of the distal radius were enrolled in the study between January 2014 and January 2015. They were divided randomly into 3D model (n = 23) and routine treatment (n = 25) groups. A 3D digital model of each distal radius fracture in the former group was constructed. The model was exported to a 3D printer for construction of a full solid model. During each operation, the operative time, amount of blood loss, and frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy were recorded, which were regarded as primary outcome measures. Patients were followed to evaluate surgical outcomes by Gartland-Werley scores, radiological evaluation, and range of motion of wrist, and these were regarded as the secondary outcome measures. In addition, we invited surgeons and patients to complete questionnaires. RESULTS: The treatment of complex fractures using the 3D printing approach reduced the frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy, blood loss volume, and operative time, but did not improve postoperative function compared with routine treatment. The patients wanted the doctor to use the 3D model to describe the condition and introduce the operative plan because it facilitated their understanding. The orthopaedic surgeons thought that the 3D model was useful for communication with patients, but were much less satisfied with its use in preoperative planning. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that 3D printing models effectively help the doctors plan and perform the operation and provide more effective communication between doctors and patients, but can not improve postoperative function compared with routine treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on May 9, 2017 (ChiCTR-IRP-17011343, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=19264 ).