Osteotomy configuration of the proximal wedge and analysis of the affecting factors in the medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were (1) to confirm the disparity of the measured thickness at the lateral hinge between anterior-posterior (AP) radiograph and 3D CT image, (2) to evaluate the affecting factors, and (3) to evaluate the differences between uniplanar and biplanar osteotomies. METHODS: From 2012 to 2014, a prospective comparative study was performed with 30 patients who received uniplanar osteotomy (group I) and 35 patients who received biplanar osteotomy (group II). For measurement of the proximal wedge, postoperative AP radiograph and 3D CT images were used. In the AP radiograph, medial and lateral bony bridge thicknesses were measured. In the 3D CT, the anterior and posterior images parallel to the coronal plane were selected for the evaluation. Coronal osteotomy slope was measured with the anterior image of the 3D CT scan. Sagittal osteotomy slope was measured with the sagittal section of the CT scan. RESULTS: Differences between the lateral bony bridge thicknesses measured in AP radiograph and the posterolateral posterolateral bony bridge thicknesses measured in 3D CT were statistically significant in both groups. Negative correlation was observed in the biplanar osteotomy group. Differences of the sagittal osteotomy slope from the native tibial slope showed negative correlation in the biplanar osteotomy group. CONCLUSION: Thickness of the posterolateral bony bridge was smaller compared to the observed thickness on the AP radiograph image that is routinely used for the follow-up. The thickness would be getting smaller if osteotomy is performed with an abrupt angle on the coronal plane and reverse slope on the sagittal plane. Therefore, osteotomy with abrupt angle on the coronal plane and reverse slope on the sagittal plane should be avoided for the proper thickness of the posterolateral bony bridge. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Carbamylated low-density lipoprotein attenuates glucose uptake via a nitric oxide-mediated pathway in rat L6 skeletal muscle cells.

Carbamylation is a cyanate-mediated posttranslational modification. We previously reported that carbamylated low-density lipoprotein (cLDL) increases reactive oxygen species and apoptosis via a lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor mediated pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. A recent study reported an association between cLDL and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the current study, the effects of cLDL on glucose transport were explored in skeletal muscle cells. The effect of cLDL on glucose uptake, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation, and signaling pathway were examined in cultured rat L6 muscle cells using 2-deoxyglucose uptake, immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis. The quantity of nitric oxide (NO) was evaluated by the Griess reaction. The effect of native LDL (nLDL) from patients with chronic renal failure (CRF-nLDL) on glucose uptake was also determined. It was observed that cLDL significantly attenuated glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation to the membrane, which was mediated via the increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-induced NO production. Tyrosine nitration of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS­1) was increased. It was demonstrated that CRF-nLDL markedly reduced glucose uptake compared with nLDL from healthy subjects. Collectively, these findings indicate that cLDL, alone, attenuates glucose uptake via NO-mediated tyrosine nitration of IRS­1 in L6 rat muscle cells and suggests the possibility that cLDL is involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM.

Selective catalytic burning of graphene by SiOx layer depletion.

We report catalytic decomposition of few-layer graphene on an Au/SiOx/Si surface wherein oxygen is supplied by dissociation of the native SiOx layer at a relatively low temperature of 400 °C. The detailed chemical evolution of the graphene covered SiOx/Si surface with and without gold during the catalytic process is investigated using a spatially resolved photoelectron emission method. The oxygen atoms from the native SiOx layer activate the gold-mediated catalytic decomposition of the entire graphene layer, resulting in the formation of direct contact between the Au and the Si substrate. The notably low contact resistivity found in this system suggests that the catalytic depletion of a SiOx layer could realize a new way to micromanufacture high-quality electrical contact.

Registration of human embryonic stem cell lines: Korea, 2010.

In an effort to increase the credibility of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines established in Korea, obligatory registration was introduced by the Bioethics and Safety Act 2008, effective as of January 1, 2010. The DNA fingerprint, chromosome stability, expression of pluripotency markers, and contamination of mycoplasma of the submitted lines were analyzed by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The characterization data and ethical aspects, such as informed consent for donation of surplus embryos, were reviewed by a 10-member advisory review committee for stem cell registry. A total of 55 domestic hESC lines were submitted for registration in 2010; among them 51 were registered. Among these submitted lines, 26 were additionally characterized by KCDC, while 25 lines previously characterized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology were not additionally analyzed by KCDC. Registration completed an oversight system for embryo research by registering the products of licensed embryo research projects, making embryo research more transparent in Korea. Information about hESC lines is available at the website of the Korea Stem Cell Registry (kscr.nih.go.kr).