Ex vivo thickness measurement of cartilage covering the temporomandibular joint

Articular cartilage covers the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and provides smooth and nearly frictionless articulation while distributing mechanical loads to the subchondral bone. The thickness of the cartilage is considered to be an indicator of the stage of development, maturation, aging, loading history, and disease. The aim of our study was to develop a method for ex vivo assessment of the thickness of the cartilage that covers the TMJ and to compare that with two other existing methods. Eight porcine TMJ condyles were used to measure cartilage thickness. Three different methods were employed: needle penetration, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and histology; the latter was considered the gold standard. Histology and micro-CT scanning results showed no significant differences between thicknesses throughout the condyle. Needle penetration produced significantly higher values than histology, in the lateral and anterior regions. All three methods showed the anterior region to be thinner than the other regions. We concluded that overestimated thickness by the needle penetration is caused by the penetration of the needle through the first layer of subchondral bone, in which mineralization is less than in deeper layers. Micro-CT scanning method was found to be a valid method to quantify the thickness of the cartilage, and has the advantage of being non-destructive.     

Adhesion and rupture of liposomes mediated by electrostatic interaction monitored by thickness shear mode resonators

Adhesion and spreading of negatively charged unilamellar vesicles composed of POPG/POPC and DPPG/DPPC on positively charged self-assembly monolayers of 11-amino-1-undecanethiol were monitored by means of thickness shear mode (TSM) resonators with a fundamental frequency of 5 MHz. Changes of frequency and motional resistance upon vesicle adsorption were recorded as a function of surface charge density and lyotropic phase state of the lipids. From the readout of the TSM resonator, changes of the shape of the vesicles as well as the formation of supported lipid bilayers can be inferred in a quantitative manner. Increasing surface charge densities on the vesicles, which are tunable by the POPG content, led to decreasing frequency and resistance changes. At very high PG content, a lower limit of 3–12 Hz was found, indicative of the formation of planar bilayers due to vesicle rupture induced by the strong electrostatic interaction forces. Vesicles composed of DPPG/DPPC were less susceptible to deformation and rupture, a fact that can be attributed to the higher bending rigidity of DPPG/DPPC liposomes. More than 70 mol% of DPPG were needed to induce adhesion-controlled rupture of surface-attached vesicles, while only 30–50% of POPG were sufficient to form planar lipid bilayers on the quartz.     

Thickness sensing of hMSCs on collagen gel directs stem cell fate

Mechanically compliant substrate provides crucial biomechanical cues for multipotent stem cells to regulate cellular fates such as differentiation, proliferation and maintenance of their phenotype. Effective modulus of which cells sense is not only determined by intrinsic mechanical properties of the substrate, but also the thickness of substrate. From our study, it was found that interference from underlying rigid support at hundreds of microns away could induce significant cellular response. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were cultured on compliant biological gel, collagen type I, of different thickness but identical ECM composition and local stiffness. The cells sensed the thin gel (130 μm) as having a higher effective modulus than the thick gel (1440 μm) and this was reflected in their changes in morphology, actin fibers structure, proliferation and tissue specific gene expression. Commitment into neuronal lineage was observed on the thin gel only. Conversely, the thick gel (1440 μm) was found to act like a substrate with lower effective modulus that inhibited actin fiber polymerization. Stem cells on the thick substrate did not express tissue specific genes and remained at their quiescent state. This study highlighted the need to consider not only the local modulus but also the thickness of biopolymer gel coating during modulation of cellular responses.     

Transbilayer Pores Induced by Thickness Fluctuations

Thermally-induced fluctuations of individual phospholipids in a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) are converted into collective motions due to the intermolecular interactions. Here, we demonstrate that transbilayer stochastic pores can be generated via collective thermal movements (CTM). Using the elastic theory of continuous media applied to smectic-A liquid crystals, we estimate the pore radius and the energetic requirements for pore appearance. Three types of thermally-induced transbilayer pores could be formed through BLMs: open and stable, open and unstable, and closed. In most of the situations, two open and stable pores with different radii could be generated. Notably, the two pores have the same generation probability. Unstable pores are possible to appear across thin bilayers that contain phospholipids with a large polar headgroup. Closed pores are present throughout the cases that we have inspected. The effects of hydrophobic thickness, polar headgroup size of phospholipids, temperature, surface tension, and elastic compression on the pore formation and pore stability have been examined as well.     

光学相干断层成像术在近视眼视网膜神经纤维层厚度测量中的临床应用

目的:研究光学相干断层成像术(OCT)在近视眼视网膜神经纤维层(RNFL)厚度测量中的应用价值。方法:选择2016年1月到2016年5月在医院就诊的近视患者73例(138眼)纳入此次研究,根据近视情况将患者分为低度近视组(-0.30D~-3.00D)共26例(48眼)、中度近视组(-3.01~-6.00D)共24例(47眼)及高度近视组(-6.00D)共23例(43眼)。另选同期在医院体检(视力正常)的健康志愿者25例(45眼)作为对照组,对比各组不同象限的RNFL厚度,屈光度及眼轴长度,分析近视眼各象限的RNFL厚度与患者屈光度和眼轴长度的相关性。结果:高度近视组的上方象限、下方象限以及鼻侧象限的RNFL厚度均明显低于对照组及中度近视组,中度近视组的下方象限及鼻侧象限的RNFL厚度均明显低于对照组,低度近视组鼻侧象限的RNFL厚度明显低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。近视组的屈光度及眼轴长度均明显大于对照组,且高度近视组均明显大于中度近视组与低度近视组,中度近视组均明显大于低度近视组,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。根据Pearson法分析相关性可知,近视眼患者上象限、下象限、鼻侧象限的RNFL厚度与其屈光度及眼轴长度均呈负相关。结论:利用OCT技术检测近视眼RNFL厚度时,应考虑屈光度及眼轴长度可能造成的影响,综合进行分析判断,以获得最佳检测数值。     

Characterization of the C584R variant in the mtDNA depletion syndrome gene FBXL4, reveals a novel role for FBXL4 as a regulator of mitochondrial fusion

Mutations in FBXL4 (F-Box and Leucine rich repeat protein 4), a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein with an unknown function, cause mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. We report two siblings, from consanguineous parents, harbouring a previously uncharacterized homozygous variant in FBXL4 (c.1750 T > C; p.Cys584Arg). Both patients presented with encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and cardiac hypertrophy, which are reported features of FBXL4 impairment. Remarkably, dichloroacetate (DCA) administration to the younger sibling improved metabolic acidosis and reversed cardiac hypertrophy. Characterization of FBXL4 patient fibroblasts revealed severe bioenergetic defects, mtDNA depletion, fragmentation of mitochondrial networks, and abnormalities in mtDNA nucleoids. These phenotypes, observed with other pathogenic FBXL4 variants, confirm the pathogenicity of the p.Cys584Arg variant. Although treating FBXL4 fibroblasts with DCA improved extracellular acidification, in line with reduced lactate levels in patients, DCA treatment did not improve any of the other mitochondrial functions. Nonetheless, we highlight DCA as a potentially effective drug for the management of elevated lactate and cardiomyopathy in patients with pathogenic FBXL4 variants. Finally, as the exact mechanism through which FBXL4 mutations lead to mtDNA depletion was unknown, we tested the hypothesis that FBXL4 promotes mitochondrial fusion. Using a photo-activatable GFP fusion assay, we found reduced mitochondrial fusion rates in cells harbouring a pathogenic FBXL4 variant. Meanwhile, overexpression of wildtype FBXL4, but not the p.Cys584Arg variant, promoted mitochondrial hyperfusion. Thus, we have uncovered a novel function for FBXL4 in promoting mitochondrial fusion, providing important mechanistic insights into the pathogenic mechanism underlying FBXL4 dysfunction.     

哈萨克族成人腰稚间盘高度的放射学测量及其临床意义

目的：为人工椎间盘的设计提供形态学依据。方法：对56例哈萨克族成人腰椎（L）间盘高度进行放射学测量。结果：56例哈萨克族L1-2椎间盘高度男女性之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,L3-5椎间盘高度男、女性之间差异有统计学意L（P〈0．005-0．001）;哈萨克族与汉族腰椎间盘高度之间差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．005）。结论：哈萨克族腰椎间盘高度均大于汉族,临床上可通过对腰椎间盘间高度的测量,为人工椎间盘假体设计提供参数．     

Quantitative Ultrasound Assessment of Cortical Bone Properties Beyond Bone Mineral Density

The development of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) technologies to measure bone is motivated by the need to overcome the limitations of X-ray based methods, measuring bone mineral density (BMD) which is the gold standard to date for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Because it uses mechanical waves, the ultrasound modality is a particularly relevant means to probe bone mechanical resistance. The vast majority of QUS technologies commercialized to date merely aim to provide surrogate markers for BMD. During the past decade, innovative QUS approaches have emerged to assess bone beyond BMD. This may be achieved by (1) specifically assessing the cortical bone compartment, independently of trabecular bone, and (2) providing intrinsic bone properties such as cortical bone thickness and material properties. One specific motivation is to estimate intracortical porosity, a quantity reflected in material properties. This article aims at an overview of recent QUS developments to measure cortical bone properties. We also draw a picture of the current knowledge on bone material properties of interest for bone QUS. We discuss the potential of ultrasound to provide novel biomarkers of bone health through the assessment of material properties.     

面部软组织厚度测量及其在面貌复原中的应用

软组织厚度作为颅骨面貌复原的基础, 具有重要的应用价值。本文借助计算机技术对西安地区132例成年人颅面数据样本开展软组织测量、分析及应用研究, 结果表明, 1)通过分析特征点处软组织厚度和面部软组织分布图, 发现面部软组织分布具有一定的规律, 额头区域软组织厚度薄且样本间差异小, 脸颊区域软组织厚且样本间差异大; 2)通过比较不同年龄段男性软组织厚度的均值, 发现20-30岁阶段软组织厚度均值最小, 50-60岁阶段软组织厚度均值其次, 30-40岁阶段软组织厚度均值最大, 但30-40岁和40-50岁两个年龄段的软组织厚度近似; 通过比较不同年龄段女性软组织厚度的均值, 发现20-30岁阶段软组织厚度均值最小, 30-40岁阶段软组织厚度均值其次, 40-50岁阶段的软组织厚度均值最大; 3)特征点处软组织厚度标准差可以反映面貌体态的差异, 因此根据10个脸颊特征点的软组织厚度均值和标准差实现面貌体态分类; 4)根据不同性别、年龄、体态对应的软组织平均厚度, 应用计算机技术实现给定颅骨的三维面貌复原, 复原结果相比于传统手工复原的结果更加科学。