Development and validation of a kinematically-driven discrete element model of the patellofemoral joint

Quantifying the complex loads at the patellofemoral joint (PFJ) is vital to understanding the development of PFJ pain and osteoarthritis. Discrete element analysis (DEA) is a computationally efficient method to estimate cartilage contact stresses with potential application at the PFJ to better understand PFJ mechanics. The current study validated a DEA modeling framework driven by PFJ kinematics to predict experimentally-measured PFJ contact stress distributions. Two cadaveric knee specimens underwent quadriceps muscle [215 N] and joint compression [350 N] forces at ten discrete knee positions representing PFJ positions during early gait while measured PFJ kinematics were used to drive specimen-specific DEA models. DEA-computed contact stress and area were compared to experimentally-measured data. There was good agreement between computed and measured mean and peak stress across the specimens and positions (r = 0.63–0.85). DEA-computed mean stress was within an average of 12% (range: 1–47%) of the experimentally-measured mean stress while DEA-computed peak stress was within an average of 22% (range: 1–40%). Stress magnitudes were within the ranges measured (0.17–1.26 MPa computationally vs 0.12–1.13 MPa experimentally). DEA-computed areas overestimated measured areas (average error = 60%; range: 4–117%) with magnitudes ranging from 139 to 307 mm² computationally vs 74–194 mm² experimentally. DEA estimates of the ratio of lateral to medial patellofemoral stress distribution predicted the experimental data well (mean error = 15%) with minimal measurement bias. These results indicate that kinematically-driven DEA models can provide good estimates of relative changes in PFJ contact stress.     

Retracted: Prelamin A overexpression promotes detrusor calcification/aging in urinary incontinence via prelamin A accumulation

Urinary incontinence (UI) is known as a distressing condition particularly among older adults, and negatively associated with health-related quality of life in both males and females. Prelamin A accumulation has been found in all progeroid laminopathies and is obviously linked to cell and organism aging. Therefore, this study was expected to investigate the effect of prelamin A on detrusor on UI. Prelamin A expression in clinical and animal samples was detected. To investigate the degree of prelamin A accumulation and detrusor calcification/aging, the detrusor cells were subcultured separately into low and high passage. The low-passage subculture cells were treated with transfection of overexpressed prelamin A plasmid, and transfection of overexpressed prelamin A plasmid and application of farnesyl transferase inhibitor (FTIs) H-9279, respectively. Zmpste24, Icmt and lamin A/C expression were detected to explore how prelamin A affected detrusor calcification/aging. Prelamin A was overexpressed in aged detrusor cells, indicating prelamin A expression was positively related to the age of subjects. The degree of prelamin A accumulation and detrusor calcification/aging was higher in aged rats and high passage subculture cells. Zmpste24, Icmt and lamin A/C were poorly expressed in cells transfected with overexpressed prelamin A, as well as cell proliferation activity decreased and calcium deposition and apoptotic rate increased. Furthermore, we also found that the effect of overexpressed prelamin A was lost when cells were treated with H-9279. These findings provide evidence that prelamin A overexpression impairs degradation of its farnesylated form, thus causing prelamin A accumulation which induces detrusor calcification/aging in UI.     

合欢花对慢性应激大鼠生长和脑单胺类神经递质含量的影响

为探讨合欢花对慢性应激大鼠生长和脑单胺类神经递质的影响,采用15只大鼠,设置了对照组、应激组和合欢花组3组实验。应激组和合欢花组均接受7天的应激刺激,之后合欢花组再灌胃合欢花10天。实验结束后,取3组大鼠的脑组织,用高效液相色谱法测定高香草酸(HVA)、去甲肾上腺素(NE)、多巴胺(DA)和5-羟色胺(5-HT)的含量。结果表明,应激组大鼠日增重显著低于对照组(P=0.011);而合欢花组大鼠的日增重极显著高于应激组(P=0.002)。应激组大鼠海马、纹状体和前额叶中的HVA含量与对照组相比,虽有升高的趋势,但无显著差异;两组间的NE、DA和5-HT也无显著差异。合欢花组大鼠海马中的HVA、DA含量明显高于应激组,而前额叶中的多巴胺和5-羟色胺,以及纹状体中的5-羟色胺均明显低于应激组。这表明合欢花对慢性应激引起的大鼠生长受抑有缓解作用,对其脑内单胺类神经递质有调节作用。     

Reproduction and recruitment of the seagrass Halophila stipulacea

The small seagrass species, Halophila stipulacea is abundant in the subtidal zone of the Bay of Eilat, Red Sea, southern Israel. Early life history characteristics of this species were investigated in summer 2002 by means of field surveys and outdoor experiments. Monospecific stands were found at depths of between 2 and 20 m. Reproduction began in late May and ripe pericarps were found for 1 month starting from the beginning of August. The ratios of female versus male plants were 0.9 at depths of between 2.5 and 10 m and 0.5 at depths of between 12.5 and 15 m. The proportion of reproductive branches was significantly larger in the shallow (2–5 m) than in the deep (7–15 m) populations, i.e., 20 ± 11% versus 6 ± 10%, respectively. Ripe seeds were predominantly produced at depths of between 2 and 5 m. Experimental studies demonstrated that full sunlight completely inhibited seedling growth at a depth of 30 cm; no macroscopic seedlings could be observed after 40-day exposure to full sunlight. If exposed to 90% photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) but protected from ultraviolet radiation (UVR), the number of macroscopic seedlings increased to 7.4 ± 2.3% of the planted seeds. If protected from both UVR and 80% of the PAR, the number of macroscopic seedlings increased to 22.5 ± 4.0% of the planted seeds. UVR exclusion and 80% PAR reduction also significantly increased the rhizome growth rates of seedlings in the first month after germination (0.14 ± 0.04 mm day⁻¹) compared with only UVR exclusion (0.04 ± 0.02 mm day⁻¹). The absence of H. stipulacea from the uppermost part of the subtidal zone (depths of 0–2 m) may be due to light inhibition of germling growth and uprooting by occasional storms.     

Do Differences in Conspecific Body Size Induce Social Stress in Domestic Rainbow Trout?

Little is known about the cognitive and subjective experiences of fish that are confined with conspecifics of varying body sizes. Plasma cortisol and several behavioural variables were recorded when a ȁ8mediumȁ9 sized fish had its familiar social group (comprised of medium, like-sized individuals) replaced with a group of fish that were either medium sized, smaller or larger than itself. Interestingly, the medium sized test fish showed very few behavioural responses indicative of stress when exposed to a new social cohort. Fish did not use a particular part of their tank, or water column, nor did they show any significant change in locomotory behaviour. There was no difference in aggressive ȁ8chasingȁ9 behaviour in any of the treatments, however, medium sized fish were frequently chased by their tank-mates when exposed to the ȁ8largeȁ9 fish treatment, and were almost never chased by fish smaller than themselves. Similarly, plasma cortisol concentrations did not differ between fish that were exposed to different size treatment groups, although there was a high increase above baseline levels; this suggests that encounters with unfamiliar fish were stressful, regardless of size.     

奥美拉唑不同给药方式治疗新生儿应激性溃疡的效果分析

目的:探讨奥美拉唑不同给药方式治疗新生儿应激性溃疡的临床效果及安全性。方法:选取2014年1月～2018年6月我院收治的应激性溃疡新生儿61例,根据随机数字表法分为两组,对照组患儿给予奥美拉唑0.6 mg/kg胃管注入治疗,观察组患儿给予奥美拉唑2 mg/kg持续24 h微泵静脉滴注。比较两组患儿的临床治疗效果、临床症状缓解时间、止血时间、胃肠喂养开始时间、p H值和不良反应的发生情况。结果:治疗后,两组患儿的临床总有效率比较无统计学差异(P0.05);观察组患儿临床症状消失时间和止血时间均显著短于对照组(P0.05),喂养开始时间≤24 h的患儿比例高于对照组,喂养开始时间≥72 h的患儿比例显著低于对照组(P0.05),pH值显著高于对照组(P0.05)。两组患儿治疗期间均未发生恶心、呕吐、便秘、皮疹等不良反应,且肝肾功能未受明显影响。结论:2 mg/kg奥美拉唑持续24 h微泵静脉滴注与0.6 mg/kg胃管注入治疗的临床总有效率相当,但微泵静脉滴注可显著提高患儿的pH值,缩短临床症状恢复时间、止血时间和胃肠喂养开始时间,且安全性高。     

超声内镜辅助下内镜黏膜下切除术对食管癌前病变患者肿瘤标志物及应激反应指标的影响

目的:探讨超声内镜(EUS)辅助下内镜黏膜下切除术(EMR)对食管癌前病变患者肿瘤标志物及应激反应指标的影响。方法:选择山东大学齐鲁医院青岛院区消化内科于2016年3月至2018年4月期间收治的食管癌前病变患者137例,采用随机数字表法将患者分为常规组(n=68,常规胃镜下行EMR)和EUS组(n=69,EUS辅助下行EMR),比较两组患者临床指标,比较两组术前、术后血清肿瘤标志物及应激反应指标水平,比较两组术前、术后1周相关遗传学分子水平。结果:EUS组手术时间、术后流质饮食时间均短于常规组(P0.05),并发食管黏膜小穿孔例数、使用钛夹止血例数均少于常规组(P0.05)。两组患者术后肿瘤特异性生长因子(TSGF)、细胞角蛋白19血清片段21-1(CYFRA21-1)、鳞状上皮细胞癌抗原(SCC-Ag)均较术前升高,但EUS组低于常规组(P0.05)。两组患者术后肾上腺素(E)、去甲肾上腺素(NE)、肾素(R)、血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)、醛固酮均较术前升高,但EUS组低于常规组(P0.05)。两组患者术后1周细胞周期素E(Cyclin E)、转化生长因子-α(TGF-α)均较术前降低,且EUS组低于常规组(P0.05)。结论:相比于常规胃镜,经EUS辅助下EMR治疗食管癌前病变可有效改善患者的临床指标,减轻患者应激反应,有利于降低血清肿瘤标志物及遗传学分子水平。     

Fragments and dust after Holmium laser lithotripsy with or without “Moses technology”: How are they different?

Urinary stones can be readily disintegrated by Holmium:YAG laser (Holmium laser lithotripsy), resulting in a mixture of small stone dust particles, which will spontaneously evacuate with urine and larger residual fragments (RF) requiring mechanical retrieval. Differences between fragments and dust have not been well characterized. Also, it remains unknown how the recently introduced “Moses technology” may alter stone disintegration products. Three complementary analytical techniques have been used in this study to offer an in‐depth characterization of disintegration products after in vitro Holmium laser lithotripsy: stereoscopic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. Dust was separated from fragments based on its floating ability in saline irrigation. Depending on initial crystalline constituents, stone dust either conserved attributes found in larger RFs or showed changes in crystalline organization. These included conversion of calcium oxalate dihydrate towards calcium oxalate monohydrate, changes in carbapatite spectra towards an amorphous phase, changes of magnesium ammonium phosphate towards a differing amorphous and crystalline phase and the appearance of hydroxyapatite on brushite fragments. Comparatively, “Moses technology” produced more pronounced changes. These findings provide new insights suggesting a photothermal effect occurring in Holmium laser lithotripsy. Figure: Appearance of hydroxyapatite hexagons on stone dust collected after Holmium laser lithotripsy of a brushite stone using “Moses technology.”      

1064 nm acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy

Photoacoustic imaging is a noninvasive imaging technique having the advantages of high‐optical contrast and good acoustic resolution at improved imaging depths. Light transport in biological tissues is mainly characterized by strong optical scattering and absorption. Photoacoustic microscopy is capable of achieving high‐resolution images at greater depth compared to conventional optical microscopy methods. In this work, we have developed a high‐resolution, acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy (AR‐PAM) system in the near infra‐red (NIR) window II (NIR‐II, eg, 1064 nm) for deep tissue imaging. Higher imaging depth is achieved as the tissue scattering at 1064 nm is lesser compared to visible or near infrared window‐I (NIR‐I). Our developed system can provide a lateral resolution of 130 μm, axial resolution of 57 μm, and image up to 11 mm deep in biological tissues. This 1064‐AR‐PAM system was used for imaging sentinel lymph node and the lymph vessel in rat. Urinary bladder of rat filled with black ink was also imaged to validate the feasibility of the developed system to study deeply seated organs.