A Feasibility Study on Using Hanging Arm Test to Assess Elbow Stability During Surgical Treatment for Varus Posteromedial Rotatory Instability.

Objectives: The aim of this study to investigate the safety and effectiveness of performing the hanging arm test during surgical treatment for elbow varus posteromedial rotatory instability (VPMRI) to assess elbow stability and determine whether to repair the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL). Methods: In a retrospective study from August 2014 to March 2019, 27 patients with VPMRI who had a negative result in the hanging arm test after fixation of coronoid fracture were selected. Intraoperative bleeding, operative time, elbow range of motion (ROM), and complications were recorded. Elbow function was evaluated with the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) and the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score. Results: The operation time was 85.9 ± 11.06 min (range 65-110). The intraoperative blood loss was 70.7 ± 9.31 ml (range 60-100). At the last follow-up, the elbow joint averaged 73.8° ± 2.931° in pronation, 78.9° ± 2.941° in supination, 7.2° ± 3.207° in extension, and 123.3° ± 6.651° in flexion. The MEPS score was 90.7 ± 4.36 (range 74-95), and the DASH score was 9.8 ± 2.58 (range 6.67-13.3). One patient presented with symptoms of ulnar nerve entrapment 2 months after operation and was treated with ulnar nerve release. The symptom of numbness went away completely 1 week after operation. No complications such as wound infection, arthritis, or chronic instability of the elbow were found in the other patients. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that not all VPMRI patients need the LUCL to be repaired, and the hanging arm test is a safe and reliable method to assess whether to repair the LUCL in the treatment of elbow VPMRI. Level of evidence: Level IV; Retrospective studies.

Incretins Beyond the Pancreas: Exploring the Impact of GIP and GLP-1/2 on Bone Remodeling.

Incretin hormones, such as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 and 2 (GLP-1, 2), belong to the group of gastrointestinal hormones. Their actions occur through interaction with GIP and GLP-1/2 receptors, which are present in various target tissues. Apart from their well-established roles in pancreatic function and insulin regulation, incretins elicit significant effects that extend beyond the pancreas. Specifically, these hormones stimulate osteoblast differentiation and inhibit osteoclast activity, thereby promoting bone anabolism. Moreover, they play a pivotal role in bone mineralization and overall bone quality and function, making them potentially therapeutic for managing bone health. Thus, this review provides a summary of the crucial involvement of incretins in bone metabolism, influencing both bone formation and resorption processes. While existing evidence is persuasive, further studies are necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the therapeutic potential of incretins in modifying bone health.

Assisted-GNSS positioning algorithm based on one-way fuzzy time information.

In order to solve the problem that the accuracy of approximate position and approximate time information is limited by the traditional auxiliary positioning algorithm, this paper analyzes the problem that the calculation amount may increase and fail when these auxiliary information exceeds the precision requirement range and puts forward a positioning algorithm based on one-way fuzzy time assistance that is suitable for the positioning solution of GNSS satellite navigation receivers under the condition of fuzzy time information, such as the rotation condition. Methods using the reference information in the ephemeris information, the relatively accurate approximate time information can be reasonably searched and verified so as to achieve the effect of obtaining the positioning result with less calculation. The experimental results show that this method can accurately calculate the exact position even if there is an error in the approximate position information under the condition of one-way time assistance, which not only solves the problem that it cannot be positioned under the conditions of rotation but also does not increase the additional calculation amount and has practical engineering value.

Overexpression of TaMYB4 Confers Freezing Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Freezing stress is one of the main factors limiting the growth and yield of wheat. In this study, we found that TaMYB4 expression was significantly upregulated in the tillering nodes of the strong cold-resistant winter wheat variety Dongnongdongmai1 (Dn1) under freezing stress. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis, qRT-PCR and protein-DNA interaction experiments demonstrated that monodehydroascorbate reductase (TaMDHAR) is a direct target of TaMYB4. The results showed that overexpression of TaMYB4 enhanced the freezing tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis. In TaMYB4 overexpression lines (OE-TaMYB4), AtMDHAR2 expression was upregulated and ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle operation was enhanced. In addition, the expression of cold stress marker genes such as AtCBF1, AtCBF2, AtCBF3, AtCOR15A, AtCOR47, AtKIN1 and AtRD29A in OE-TaMYB4 lines was significantly upregulated. Therefore, TaMYB4 may increase freezing tolerance as a transcription factor (TF) in Arabidopsis through the AsA-GSH cycle and DREB/CBF signaling pathway. This study provides a potential gene for molecular breeding against freezing stress.

Identification of novel prognostic model based on homologous recombination deficiency associated lncRNAs in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) was revealed to have better response to immunotherapy. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate multiple processes including HRD acting as potential biomarkers in tumors. The function of HRD-associated lncRNAs in lung cancer arouses our interests. Methods: Two independent cohorts were enrolled containing 838 lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. HRD-associated lncRNAs were defined as the lncRNAs that were differential expressed in high-HRD group and low-HRD group which were classified in accordance with the HRD score. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator cox regression was employed to construct a signature according to prognostic HRD-associated lncRNAs. The signature robustness was evaluated by using the prognosis analysis, multivariate-cox analysis, ROC curve, and nomogram. The participating pathways were estimated by gene set enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis. The infiltration of immune cells was estimated by using xCell. The tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) and immunophenoscore (IPS) were both utilized for the prediction of immunotherapy response. Results: Seventeen HRD-associated lncRNAs were screened to classify the LUAD patients into two groups with variant survival that inferior overall survival was found in high-risk patients comparing to those with low-risk. Our model not only was the independent prognostic factor in LUAD but also had better performance on the prognosis prediction when making a comparison with other clinical and molecular signatures. Additionally, the high-risk group was suggested to have increased genomic instability and less response to immunotherapy. Conclusion: A great predicative efficient prognostic signature was established based on 17 HRD-associated lncRNAs in LUAD. The signature might be the predictor for genomic instability and immunotherapy response in LUAD. Our findings provided new insight for the improvement of clinical stratification in LUAD.

Advances in Selective Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Alkynes to Alkenes.

Selective electrochemical hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes under ambient conditions is a promising alternative to the traditional energy-intensive and high-cost thermocatalytic hydrogenation. However, the systematic summary on the electrocatalysts and electrolyzers remains lacked. Herein, we demonstrate a comprehensive review about recent achievements in the electrocatalysts including noble metal and non-noble-metal materials. Several effective strategies of catalyst design were developed to improve alkyne conversion, and alkene selectivity, for example, accelerating the formation of active hydrogen species, enhancing alkyne adsorption and suppressing the side reactions. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of various electrolyzers are systematically discussed. Accordingly, major challenges and future trends in this field are proposed.

Long-term results of postoperative unsuspected small cell lung cancer on real-world data.

BACKGROUND: In traditional opinion, solid pulmonary nodule suspected lung cancer should be confirmed by pathology before the operation to exclude small cell lung cancer (SCLC), considering SCLC tends to be aggressive and surgical effect in the management of SCLC remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival result and risk factors of postoperative unsuspected SCLC. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with postoperative unsuspected SCLC who were confirmed by pathology and referred to Chinese PLA General Hospital between 2000 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed (surgery group). Additionally, 120 patients with limited-stage SCLC who underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the same period were enrolled in the chemoradiotherapy group.. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival; the Log-Rank test was used to compare survival rates between different groups; a COX stepwise regression model was used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Among 120 patients in the surgery group, 28 were with central type and other 92 with peripheral type. The median survival (OS) was 44.85 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 46%. The 5-year survival rates for stage I, II, and III were 52.1%, 45.4%, and 27.8%, respectively. The mean disease-free survival time (DFS) was 30.63 ± 4.38 months, and the 5-year DFS rate was 31.5%. In the chemoradiotherapy group, the mean OS was 21.4 ± 4.26 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 28.3%. The 5-year survival rates for clinical stage I, II, and III were 42.5%, 39.8%, and 20.5%, respectively. The mean progression-free survival (PFS) was 10.63 ± 3.6 months. In the surgery group, one-way ANOVA revealed that the gender, symptoms, smoking history, tumor location, and postoperative radiotherapy were not associated with OS (P ≥ 0.05), while age, surgical approach, surgical method, N stage, TNM stage, and vascular tumor thrombus were related to OS (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that the N stage was associated with OS (HR = 1.86 P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: Surgery and adjuvant therapy were found to have encouraging outcomes in postoperative unsuspected SCLC. Patients with stage I, stage II and part of stage IIIA SCLC could benefit from surgery and the standard lobectomy, and systematic lymph node dissection, is also recommended for these patients.

Aptamer-siRNA chimera and gold nanoparticle modified collagen membrane for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion.

Malignant pleural effusion is one of the most common complications of advanced lung cancer and there is no effective clinical treatment at present. Here, we constructed an aptamer-siRNA chimeras/PEI/PEG/gold nanoparticle (AuNP)/collagen membrane that can progressively activate T cells by layer by layer assembly. Electron microscope showed this collagen membrane could be divided into 10 layers with a total thickness of 50-80µm, and AuNPs could be observed. Aptamer-siRNA chimeras could bind specifically to OX40+ cells and silencing programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) gene. In vitro experiments demonstrated that chimeras/PEI/PEG/AuNPs gradually activated T cells to continuously kill lung adenocarcinoma cells in malignant pleural effusion. Animal experiments showed that chimeras/PEI/PEG/AuNP/collagen membrane effectively treated malignant pleural effusion. Compared with PD-1 inhibitor group, the number of cancer cells, ki-67 proliferation index and CD44 expression in the pleural effusion was significantly decreased and the lymphocyte/cancer cell ratio was significantly increased in the chimeras/AuNP-CM group. Flow cytometry showed that compared with PD-1 inhibitor group, T cell number in the chimeras/AuNP-CM group was significantly increased, while the proportion of PD-1+ T cells was markedly decreased. In conclusion, we constructed an chimeras/PEI/PEG/AuNP/collagen membrane, which was more effective in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion, and had less side effects than PD-1 inhibitors.

The Inhibitory Effect of Regulatory T Cells on the Intimal Hyperplasia of Tissue-Engineered Blood Vessels in Diabetic Pigs.

Severe inflammatory response and functional impairment of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) often lead to the implantation failure of EPC-captured tissue-engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) in diabetes. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are the most important inhibitory immune cells, but their effects in angiogenesis remain undefined, and the differences in the microenvironment may be an important reason. Here, we constructed a TEBV coated with an anti-CD34 antibody-functionalized heparin-collagen multilayer (anti-CD34 antibody-modified TEBV) using layer-by-layer self-assembly. Then, TEBVs were implanted into diabetic pigs. All TEBVs remained unobstructed 60 days after implantation, although varying degrees of intimal hyperplasia were detectable. Severe intimal hyperplasia was observed in the control group and peripheral injection of Treg cells group. Intravenous injection of Treg cells significantly inhibited intimal hyperplasia, inflammation, and cell apoptosis. Moreover, intravenous injection increased the proportion of circulating EPCs, while peripheral injection did not have these effects and reduced microvessel density around the TEBV. Interestingly, many Nestin+ cells could be detected in TEBVs, most of which were fusiform, showing the characteristics of smooth-muscle cells. Treg cell intravenous transplantation markedly reduced the number of Nestin+ cells in the TEBV. In conclusion, Treg cells inhibited the intimal hyperplasia of TEBVs in diabetic pigs by promoting EPC mobilization, anti-inflammatory action, and cellular protection.

Efficacy and safety of combined treatment with pembrolizumab in patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the real world.

Background: Treatments for patients with advanced esophageal cancer are still limited. Pembrolizumab has demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with advanced esophageal cancer in previous studies. Few studies have assessed safety and efficacy in routine clinical practice. We investigated the real-world outcomes of pembrolizumab for patients with advanced esophageal cancer. Methods: This retrospective, observational study collected 57 advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients from October 1, 2019 to October 1, 2021, 57 who received different patterns of treatments according to the staging were collected. Briefly, patients diagnosed with locally advanced and surgically resectable ESCC received neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery. For patients with locally advanced, unresectable ESCC, the treatment regimen including chemoradiotherapy combined with pembrolizumab was performed. Patients with metastatic ESCC or those not suitable for radiotherapy received pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy. Safety was assessed in all treated patients. The objective response rate (ORR) was used to evaluate the efficacy. Results: The ORR was 74.1% (40/54) among all patients. The most common adverse events (AEs) were leukopenia (36.8%, 21/57), nausea (28.1%, 16/57), and thrombocytopenia (14%, 8/57). Grade III and higher AEs were observed in 9 of the 57 patients (15.8%). Conclusions: For patients with advanced ESCC, combined treatment with pembrolizumab was effective and safe. Multicenter studies should be carried out for further confirmation.

Transcriptome analysis of the winter wheat Dn1 in response to cold stress.

BACKGROUND: Heilongjiang Province has a long and cold winter season (the minimum temperature can reach -30 ℃), and few winter wheat varieties can safely overwinter. Dongnongdongmai1 (Dn1) is the first winter wheat variety that can safely overwinter in Heilongjiang Province. This variety fills the gap for winter wheat cultivation in the frigid region of China and greatly increases the land utilization rate. To understand the molecular mechanism of the cold response, we conducted RNA-sequencing analysis of Dn1 under cold stress. RESULTS: Approximately 120,000 genes were detected in Dn1 under cold stress. The numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the six comparison groups (0 ℃ vs. 5 ℃, -5 ℃ vs. 5 ℃, -10 ℃ vs. 5 ℃, -15 ℃ vs. 5 ℃, -20 ℃ vs. 5 ℃ and -25 ℃ vs. 5 ℃) were 11,313, 8313, 15,636, 13,671, 14,294 and 13,979, respectively. Gene Ontology functional annotation suggested that the DEGs under cold stress mainly had "binding", "protein kinase" and "catalytic" activities and were involved in "oxidation-reduction", "protein phosphorylation" and "carbohydrate metabolic" processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs performed important functions in cold signal transduction and carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, major transcription factors (AP2/ERF, bZIP, NAC, WRKY, bHLH and MYB) participating in the Dn1 cold stress response were activated by low temperature. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to explore the Dn1 transcriptome under cold stress. Our study comprehensively analysed the key genes involved in cold signal transduction and carbohydrate metabolism in Dn1 under cold stress. The results obtained by transcriptome analysis could help to further explore the cold resistance mechanism of Dn1 and provide basis for breeding of cold-resistant crops.

Deep Scale-Variant Network for Femur Trochanteric Fracture Classification with HP Loss.

Achieving automatic classification of femur trochanteric fracture from the edge computing device is of great importance and value for remote diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless, designing a highly accurate classification model on 31A1/31A2/31A3 fractures from the X-ray is still limited due to the failure of capturing the scale-variant and contextual information. As a result, this paper proposes a deep scale-variant (DSV) network with a hybrid and progressive (HP) loss function to aggregate more influential representations of the fracture regions. More specifically, the DSV network is based on the ResNet and integrated with the designed scale-variant (SV) layer and HP loss, where the SV layer aims to enhance the representation ability to extract the scale-variant features, and HP loss is intended to force the network to condense more contextual clues. Furthermore, to evaluate the effect of the proposed DSV network, we carry out a series of experiments on the real X-ray images for comparison and evaluation, and the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed DSV network could outperform other classification methods on this classification task.

N6-methyladenosine methyltransferase WTAP-stabilized FOXD2-AS1 promotes the osteosarcoma progression through m6A/FOXM1 axis.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in tumor progression regulation, including osteosarcoma. Evidence indicates that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification modulates mRNA stability to regulate osteosarcoma tumorigenesis. Here, present research aims to detect the roles of m6A-modified lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 in the osteosarcoma pathophysiological process. Clinical data unveiled that osteosarcoma patients with higher FOXD2-AS1 expression had a poorer overall survival rate compared to those with lower FOXD2-AS1 expression. Functional research illuminated that FOXD2-AS1 accelerated the migration, proliferation and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, a remarkable m6A-modified site was found on the 3'-UTR of FOXD2-AS1, and m6A methyltransferase WTAP (Wilms' tumor 1 associated protein) promoted the methylation modification, thus enhancing the stability of FOXD2-AS1 transcripts. Furthermore, FOXD2-AS1 interacted with downstream target FOXM1 mRNA through m6A sites, forming a FOXD2-AS1/m6A/FOXM1 complex to heighten FOXM1 mRNA stability. In conclusion, these findings propose a novel regulatory mechanism in which m6A-modified FOXD2-AS1 accelerates the osteosarcoma progression through m6A manner, which may provide new concepts for osteosarcoma tumorigenesis.

tae-miR399-UBC24 Module Enhances Freezing Tolerance in Winter Wheat via a CBF Signaling Pathway.

Although the regulation of Pi homeostasis by miR399 has been studied in various plant species, its underlying molecular mechanism in response to freezing stress is still poorly understood. In this work, we found that the expression of tae-miR399 and its target gene TaUBC24 in the tillering nodes of the strong cold-resistant winter wheat cultivar Dongnongdongmai1 (Dn1) was not only significantly altered after severe winters but also responsive to short-term freezing stress. TaUBC24 physically interacted with TaICE1. Enhanced freezing tolerance was observed for tae-miR399-overexpressing Arabidopsis lines. Under freezing stress, overexpression of tae-miR399 ultimately decreased the expression of AtUBC24, inhibiting the degradation of AtICE1, which increased the expression of genes involved in the CBF signaling pathway and starch metabolism and promoted the activities of antioxidant enzymes. These results will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism through which the miR399-UBC24 module plays a cardinal role in regulating plant freezing stress tolerance through mediation of downstream pathways.

The relationship between the number of circulating tumor cells and the prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection has become a novel approach in clinical study of EC. In this study, the relationship between CTCs/c-Kit expression of CTCs and the prognosis of EC patients was analyzed in EC. METHODS: A total of 43 EC patients with R0 resection were recruited for this study. The CanPatrol method was used to detect the CTC number in the peripheral blood of patients before and after operations, and the epithelial/interstitial type was classified. Multiple RNA in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH) was used to observethe c-Kit expression of CTCs. Post-operation follow-up occurred over 3 years. Logistic regression or the Cox proportional risk regression model was applied to analyze the relationship between CTC number, CTCs and disease characteristics, pathological stages and prognosis of patients with EC, and changes in CTCs before and after operations. c-Kit expression in different CTCs and the relationship between c-Kit expression and prognosis were also studied. RESULTS: The detection rate of CTCswas 81% (35/43). The detection rates of epithelial-, mixed- and stromal-type CTCs were 53%, 63%, and 33%, respectively. The 3-year overall survival rate was 67%. A CTC level of >2 indicated an increased risk of recurrence, metastasis, and death (P=0.018, 0.002, respectively). Following the operations, the total number of CTCs decreased in 29 cases. Of these, 6 cases were unchanged, and 8 cases demonstrated elevated CTCs. There was a significant difference in the positive rate of mixed-type CTCs before and after the operations. The rate of c-Kit expression in CTCs of EC patients was 46% pre-operation. No statistically significant correlations were found between c-Kit expression and postoperative recurrence/metastasis/survival of EC patients. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CTC numbers, especially interstitial CTCs, were used as an auxiliary index in the prognosis of EC patients. The mRNA expression of c-Kit was detected in CTCs preoperatively in patients with EC, but no significant correlation between the c-Kit expression and the prognosis of EC patients was found.

Screening and diagnosis of colorectal cancer and advanced adenoma by Bionic Glycome method and machine learning.

Colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the major health problems worldwide, mostly develops from colorectal adenomas. Advanced adenomas are generally considered as precancerous lesions and patients are recommended to remove the adenomas. Screening for colorectal cancer is usually performed by fecal tests (FOBT or FIT) and colonoscopy, however, their benefits are limited by uptake and adherence. Most CRC develops from colorectal advanced adenomas, but there is currently a lack of effective noninvasive screening method for advanced adenomas. N-glycans in human serum hold the great potentials as biomarker for diagnosis of human cancers. Our aim was to discover blood-based markers for screening and diagnosis of advanced adenomas and CRC, and to ascertain their efficiency in classifying healthy controls, patients with advanced adenomas and CRC by incorporating machine learning techniques with reliable and simple quantitative method with "Bionic Glycome" as internal standard based on the high-throughput Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS). The quantitative results showed that there is a positive correlation between multi-antennary, sialylated N-glycans and CRC progress, while bi-antennary core-fucosylated N-glycans are negatively correlated with CRC progress. Machine learning is a powerful classification tool, suitable for mining big data, especially the large amount of data generated by high-throughput technologies. Using the predictive model constructed by machine learning, we obtained the classification accuracy of 75% for classification of 189 samples including CRC, advanced adenomas and healthy controls, and the accuracy of 87% for detection of the disease group that required treatment, including CRC and advanced adenomas. To our delight, the model successfully applied to the prediction of 176 samples collected a few months later, and five samples were wrongly predicted in the disease group. Overall, this diagnostic model we constructed here has valuable potential in the clinical application of detecting advanced adenomas and colorectal cancer and could compensate for the limitations of the current screening methods for detection of CRC and advanced adenomas.

Controllable Synthesis of Biocompatible Fluorescent Carbon Dots From Cellulose Hydrogel for the Specific Detection of Hg2.

Heavy metal ions overload can seriously harm human health. Simple and effective strategies for the specific detection of heavy metal ions are of great important. In this work, using different pretreatment methods, a series of carbon dots (CDs) with different particle sizes and doped with varying amounts of elements (O, N, S) were prepared based on the natural polymer, cellulose hydrogel. The CDs exhibit excellent fluorescence and biocompatibility. When the particle size decreased from 8.72 to 2.11 nm, the fluorescence quantum yield increased from 0.029 to 0.183. In addition, doping with elements (N) also effectively enhanced the fluorescent performance of the CDs. The fluorescence of the CDs, especially for the smallest, CD-4a, was significantly quenched in the presence of the heavy metal ion, Hg2+. Thus, CD-4a may be used as a fluorescence sensor for the detection of Hg2+. The fluorescence intensity of CD-4a exhibited a two-stage, concentration-dependent fluorescence response in the range 0.2-10 and 10-100 µmol/L Hg2+, with each stage having different slopes; the detection limit was 0.2 µM. More importantly, even in the presence of interfering metal ions, the detection of Hg2+ using the CDs-4a remained stable. Therefore, these biocompatible CDs may serve as a promising candidate for the specific detection of Hg2+.

Comparative assessment of biomechanics induced by hinge knee prostheses with two different motion axial system.

We aimed to evaluate the biomechanical contact characteristics of rotating hinge knee (RHK) prostheses with different motion axial systems. We performed finite element (FE) analyses to investigate and compare the peak contact stress and contact location on tibial insert and bushing during a gait cycle. The biaxial (BA) system and spherical center axial (SA) system RHK prostheses were included in this study. The comparisons between experimental tests and FE analyses were performed to verify the validation of FE models. Decreased ISO loadings were then applied to the validated FE models to investigate the peak contact stress and contact location on tibial insert and bushing. The contact areas obtained from experimental tests and FE analyses were in a good agreement. The peak contact stresses on tibial insert and bushing of BA prosthesis were higher than those of SA prosthesis. The contact locations on the superior surface of tibial insert in SA and BA prostheses were at the middle-posterior and posterior side, while those on the rotating axial surface were at the medial and lateral sides, respectively. This study indicate that the tibial insert and bushing of an SA prosthesis have lower peak contact stresses and better contact locations than those of a BA prosthesis during a gait cycle, which may decrease the risk of long-term complications of RHK prostheses. Future studies should be performed to confirm the relationship between the contact characteristics and wear in RHK prostheses.

Identification of Abnormal Spindle Microtubule Assembly as a Promising Therapeutic Target for Osteosarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the expression of abnormal spindle microtubule assembly (ASPM) in clinical osteosarcoma tissue specimens collected in our hospital, and to explore the function of ASPM in osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Tissue specimens from 82 cases of osteosarcoma were collected and analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay. We also investigated the relationship between ASPM expression and clinicopathological characteristics in the patients. We transfected shASPM plasmid and the empty control plasmid, respectively, and then used quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis to detect ASPM expression. Cell colony assay and MTT were used to observe the proliferation ability. In vivo study was undertaken to explore the ASPM function further. RESULTS: In this study, ASPM showed high expression in osteosarcoma tissue samples compared with non-tumor normal tissues. ASPM was positively correlated with clinical pathological characteristics, including tumor size (P = 0.024) and clinical stage (P = 0.045). Our results further showed that ASPM depletion dramatically inhibited the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells (with fewer cells in the sh-RNA-ASPM group compared with the control group(P < 0.05, respectively), and the in vivo assays further confirmed that ASPM ablation markedly blocked tumor growth compared with control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data provides strong evidence that the high expression of ASPM in osteosarcoma promotes proliferation in vitro and in vivo, indicating its potential role as an osteosarcoma therapeutic target.

Clear cell tumor of the lung could be aggressive: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Clear cell tumors of the lung (CCTLs) are rare and mostly benign pulmonary neoplasms arising from perivascular epithelioid cells. Only approximately 100 cases have been reported, and half of them were in China. Limited details about CCTLs often cause diagnostic or therapeutic problems. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a case of a 28-year-old woman with multiple gradually replicating and enlarging nodules in the left lower lobe. The patient underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy and was diagnosed with CCTL. A left lower lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection were performed. The gradual changes in size (1.4 cm to 2.8 cm) and quantity (10 to 49) of the CCTLs in this case were the biggest differences from previously reported cases. CONCLUSIONS: CCTLs are very uncommon and mostly benign PEComatous tumors with no specific morphologic features. We present a case of CCTL with multiplicity and rapid growth, which may indicate its aggressive nature. The accumulation of similar cases will help clarify the exact nature and improve our understanding of the disease.