Minimally Invasive Embedding of Saturated MSU Induces Persistent Gouty Arthritis in Modified Rat Model.

INTRODUCTION: Animal models are valid for in vivo research on the pathophysiological process and drug screening of gout arthritis. Intra-articular injection of monosodium urate (MSU) is the most common method, while stable MSU deposition enveloped by inflammatory cells was rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To develop a modified gouty arthritis rat model characterized by intra-articular MSU deposition and continuous joint pain with a minimally invasive method. METHOD: A total of twenty-four rats were randomly allocated into six groups. Three intervention groups of rats received intra-articular MSU embedment. Sham groups received pseudosurgeries with equal normal saline (NS). Gross parameters and pathological features of synovium harvested from anterior capsule were estimated. Mechanical pain threshold tests were conducted over a 96-hour period postoperatively. Moreover, quantitative immunofluorescence was conducted to assess tissue inflammation. RESULT: After MSU embedding, rats got more persistent arthritic symptoms as well as tissue MSU deposition. More significant synovial swelling was detected in the MSU group compared to sham groups (P < 0.025). Behavioral tests showed that the embedding of MSU resulted in prolonged mechanical hyperalgesia during 2 hours to 96 hours postoperatively (P < 0.05). MSU depositions enveloped by inflammatory cells that express IL-1ß and TNF-α were detected in embedding groups. Quantitative immunofluorescence suggested that the frequencies of MSU interventions upregulated expression of proinflammatory factors including IL-1ß and TNF-α (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A minimally invasive method was developed to establish modified rat model of intra-articular MSU deposition. This model was proved to be a simple reproducible method to mimic the pathological characteristics of persistent gouty arthritis.

Determinants of the Fiscal Support of Governments in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Fiscal support measures have different implications for public finances in the near term and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, this paper examines the determinants of governments' fiscal support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The empirical analysis is based on the cross-sectional data estimations from 129 developed and developing countries. The estimation results indicate that a higher level of uncertainty related to COVID-19 (measured by the World Pandemic Uncertainty Indices) is positively related to fiscal support. Besides, countries with a higher total population and population over 65 years and older provide higher fiscal support. These results are valid when considering the developed countries separately. Policy implications for public finances during the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed.

No Difference between Percutaneous and Arthroscopic Techniques in Identifying the Calcaneal Insertion during Ankle Lateral Ligament Reconstruction: A Cadaveric Study.

Background. Both percutaneous and arthroscopic techniques have been introduced in anatomic ankle lateral ligaments reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to compare these two techniques in identifying the calcaneal insertion of the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL). Methods. Fifteen fresh-frozen human ankle cadaver specimens were used in this study. Each specimen was tested in three stages. For stage 1, each specimen was evaluated under arthroscopy. After debridement was performed, the insertion of the CFL on the calcaneus was identified, and a 1.5mm Kirschner wire was drilled at the center of the insertion. For stage 2, a percutaneous technique was used to identify the center of the insertion of the CFL. A second 1.5 mm Kirschner wire was drilled through the skin marker. For stage 3, the ankle was dissected, the footprint of the CFL was identified under direct vision, and the distances between the center of the CFL insertion on the calcaneus and the two Kirschner wires were measured, respectively. Results. In the arthroscopic technique group, the mean distance from the Kirschner wire to the center of the CFL insertion in the calcaneus was 3.4 ± 1.3 mm. In the percutaneous technique group, the mean distance from the Kirschner wire to the center of the CFL insertion was 3.2 ± 1.4 mm. No significant difference was found between the two groups. Conclusion. No difference in identifying the calcaneal insertion of the CFL was found between the percutaneous and the arthroscopic ankle lateral ligaments reconstruction technique. Both techniques can be used during anatomic ligaments reconstruction in treatment of chronic ankle instability.

Arthroscopic treatment combined with the ankle stabilization procedure is effective for sinus tarsi syndrome in patients with chronic ankle instability.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the results of arthroscopic treatment combined with ankle stabilization procedure for sinus tarsi syndrome (STS) in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). METHODS: A total of 57 patients (31 males and 26 females, average age 29.9 ± 8.4 years ranging from 15 to 52 years) with STS and CAI who accepted operation from 2013 to 2015 were included in this retrospective study. Surgical procedures included thorough tarsal sinus debridement and repair or reconstruction of lateral ankle ligaments according to the quality of ligaments. American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Karlsson score, and Tegner score were evaluated preoperatively and at final follow-up. RESULTS: All the patients accepted thorough debridement of tarsal sinus. Of these, 53 patients (93.0%) had an arch structure between the posterior subtalar joint and the middle subtalar joint. Further, 54 patients accepted lateral ankle ligament repair, and 3 patients accepted ligament reconstruction. A total of 40 patients were followed up with an average time of 30.7 months. The modified AOFAS score increased from 62.5 (27-90) to 93 (67-100), the Karlsson score increased from 57 (30-82) to 90 (55-100), and the Tegner score increased from 1 (1-3) to 5 (1-8). CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic treatment combined with the ankle stabilization procedure could get satisfactory results for STS in patients with CAI. The arch structure composed by medial calcaneal component of the medial root of the inferior extensor retinaculum (MCC) might contribute to the pathological mechanism of STS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole hydrazide derivatives exhibiting anti-phytopathogenic activity.

A series of new 1,2,3-triazole derivatives have been prepared and screened for their antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi using the mycelium growth inhibition method in vitro. The results indicated that the 1,2,3-triazole hydrazide scaffold displayed significant antifungal activity. Compound 6ad exhibited the most potent anti-phytopathogenic activity, with EC50 values of 0.18, 0.35, 0.37 and 2.25 µg mL-1 against Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium graminearum, and Magnaporthe oryzae, respectively. In vivo testing demonstrated that 6ad was effective for the control of rice sheath blight, rape sclerotinia rot, fusarium head blight and rice blast caused by the aforementioned phytopathogens. This work suggests that the combination of 1,2,3-triazole and hydrazide moiety could be a promising fungicide scaffold in the future.

Crystal structure of 3a,6,6,9a-tetra-methyl-dodeca-hydro-naphtho-[2,1-b]furan-2-ol.

The title compound (common name: sclaral), C16H28O2, is a sclareolide derivative, which was synthesized from sclareolide itself. In the mol-ecule, the two six-membered rings, A and B, of the labdane skeleton adopt chair conformations and the five-membered O-containing heterocyclic ring C displays an envelope conformation, with the methine C atom of the fused C-C bond as the flap. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along [100].

Crystal structure of 2-[(1R,2R,4aS,8aS)-2-hy-droxy-2,5,5,8a-tetra-methyl-deca-hydro-naphthalen-1-yl]-N-(o-tol-yl)acetamide.

The title compound, C23H35NO2, is an amide derivative of the lactone (+)-sclareolide, and was synthesized from natural sclareol. In the mol-ecular structure, the two six-membered rings (A and B) of the labdane skeleton are trans-fused, and adopt chair conformations. There is an intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond present forming an S(7) ring motif. In the crystal, O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into helical chains propagating along the b-axis direction. The chains are linked via C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming a three-dimensional structure.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of 1,2,3-triazole phenylhydrazone derivatives.

A series of 1,2,3-triazole phenylhydrazone derivatives were designed and synthesized as antifungal agents. Their structures were determined based on (1)H-NMR spectroscopy, MS, elemental analysis and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The antifungal activities were evaluated against four phytopathogenic fungi including Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium graminearum and Phytophthora capsici, by the mycelium growth inhibition method in vitro. Compound 5p exhibited significant anti-phytopathogenic activity, with the EC50 values of 0.18, 2.28, 1.01, and 1.85 µg mL(-1), respectively. In vivo testing demonstrated that 5p was effective in the control of rice sheath blight, rape sclerotinia rot and fusarium head blight. A 3D-QSAR model was built for a systematic SAR profile to explore more potent 1,2,3-triazole phenylhydrazone analogs as novel fungicides.

Synthesis of 1-acyl-3-isopropenylbenzimidazolone derivatives and their activity against Botrytis cinerea.

A series of 1-acyl-3-isopropenylbenzimidazolone derivatives were synthesized, and their structures were characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR and elemental analysis. Their fungicidal activities against Botrytis cinerea were also evaluated by spore germination assay. The acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, 4-chlorophenyl acetic acid, and 2-chlorobenzoic acid derivatives exhibited strong fungicidal activity. This implied that benzimidazolones might be potential fungicide leading compounds.

The main chemical composition and in vitro antifungal activity of the essential oils of Ocimum basilicum Linn. var. pilosum (Willd.) Benth.

The essential oils of the aerial parts of Ocimum basilicum Linn.var. pilosum (Willd.) Benth., an endemic medicinal plant growing in China, was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC-MS. Fifteen compounds, representing 74.19% of the total oil were identified. The main components were as follows: linalool (29.68%), (Z)-cinnamic acid methyl ester (21.49%), cyclohexene (4.41%), alpha- cadinol (3.99%), 2,4-diisopropenyl-1-methyl-1-vinylcyclohexane (2.27%), 3,5-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid, 2,6-dimethyl-diethyl ester (2.01%), beta-cubebene (1.97%), guaia-1(10),11-diene (1.58%), cadinene (1.41%) (E)-cinnamic acid methyl ester (1.36%) and beta-guaiene (1.30%). The essential oils showed significant antifungal activity against some plant pathogenic fungi.