Sexual dimorphism and interpopulation differences in lizard hind limb length: locomotor performance or chemical signalling?

Intraspecific variation in morphology has often been related to fitness differences through its effects on performance. In lizards, variation in hind limb length can be shaped by natural selection for increased locomotor performance, sexual selection on the number or size of femoral pores involved in chemical signalling, or both. Here, we analyse the selective forces involved in sexual dimorphism and differences in hind limb length between two populations of Psammodromus algirus living at different elevation. Males were more robust and had longer hind limbs and limb segments than females, and low‐elevation lizards had longer limbs than high‐elevation lizards. However, differences in locomotor performance were small and non‐significant, making natural selection for faster runs an unlikely explanation for the observed pattern. On the other hand, males had more femoral pores than females, and lizards had more pores at lower elevation, although the difference was significant only for males (which invest more in chemical signalling). In males, the number of pores, which remains constant along a lizard's life, was not correlated with hind limb length. However, femur length was positively correlated with mean pore size, allowing low‐elevation males to have larger than expected pores, which could increase the effectiveness with which they spread their signals in a dry and warm habitat where chemicals become volatile rapidly. Also, saturation of the sexual coloration of the head was higher for low‐elevation males, suggesting that sexual selection pressures may be more intense. Overall, our results indicate that sexual selection plays a significant role in shaping intraspecific variation in hind limb length. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 104 , 318–329.     

人工关节置换与加压螺钉内固定治疗高龄骨质疏松性股骨颈骨折的疗效观察

目的:探讨人工关节置换与加压螺钉内固定治疗高龄骨质疏松性股骨颈骨折的疗效。方法:选取2010年8月至2013年3月我院收治的120例高龄骨质疏松性股骨颈骨折患者,将所有患者随机分为人工置换组和内固定组两组,每组各60例,内固定组采用加压螺钉内固定术治疗,人工置换组采取人工关节置换术治疗,评定两组患者的手术时间、术中出血量、下地时间、术后并发症发生率及末次随访时Harris评分优良率。结果:人工置换组手术时间及术中出血量分别为(124.8±16.7)min、(369.2±99.7)ml,明显高于内固定组的(73.5±15.1)min、(78.4±25.6)ml;但人工置换组术后下地时间为(15.3±4.8)d,明显低于内固定组的(40.2±7.5)d;人工置换组与内固定组患者术后并发症的发生率分别为20%、66.7%,人工置换组明显低于内固定组,其中,泌尿系褥疮的组间差异最为显著;末次随访时Harris评分优良率,相比于内固定组的61.67%,人工置换组为78.33%,明显偏高。差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:加压螺钉内固定术和人工关节置换术在治疗高龄骨质疏松性股骨颈骨折方面各有优劣,对于能够耐受人工关节置手术且经济条件好的的老年患者而言,采用人工关节置换术治疗,疗效更佳。     

两种不同术式对老年股骨颈骨折治疗对比

目的：探讨全髋关节置换术与股骨头置换术治疗对比。方法：回顾性的分析对2007年1月-2008年12月年我院接收的70例60岁以上的老年股骨颈骨折的进行股骨头置换和全髋关节置换两组不同手术方式的临床资料。结果：两组股骨颈骨折治疗的手术时间、住院时间及术后并发症及治疗效果无明显统计学差异,两组术后半年到一年半的Harris评分较术前评分有显著的统计学意义。结论：人工股骨头置换术和髋关节置换是治疗老年股骨颈骨折的有效方法,可根据患者的自身情况、疾病特点等选择不同术式。     

Comparative analysis of vascular endothelial cell activation by TNF-α and LPS in humans and baboons

As an Old World nonhuman primate, baboons have been extensively used for research on dyslipidemia and atherogenesis. With increasing knowledge about the endothelium's role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, the value of the baboon model can be increased by developing it for research on the role of dysfunctional endothelium in atherogenesis. Toward that goal, we have established and validated methods of isolating and culturing baboon femoral artery endothelial cells (BFAECs) and compared baboon endothelial cellular characteristics with those of humans. Our results indicated that baboon and human endothelial cells share similar growth and culture behaviors. As was the case for human endothelial cells, BFAECs responded to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α stimulation with increased expression of adhesion molecules (maximum increase for intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM): 1.76±0.26-fold; vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM): 1.65±0.25-fold; E-selectin: 2.86±0.57-fold). However, BFAECs were hyporesponsive to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (range, 0.25–20 μg/mL) in adhesion molecule expression, whereas 1 μg/mL LPS induced 2.14- to 3.71-fold increases in human endothelial cells. The differential responses to LPS were not related to TLR-2 and toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 expression on the cell surface. And baboon microvascular endothelial cells had similar features as BFAECs. We observed constitutive expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in both human and baboon endothelial cells, and these cytokines were further induced by TNF-α and LPS. We also demonstrated that the responses to TNF-α or LPS varied among baboons maintained under the same dietary and environmental conditions, suggesting that response may be controlled by genetic factors.     

Sonic hedgehog signaling regulates Gli3 processing, mesenchymal proliferation, and differentiation during mouse lung organogenesis

Lack of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling, mediated by the Gli proteins, leads to severe pulmonary hypoplasia. However, the precise role of Gli genes in lung development is not well established. We show Shh signaling prevents Gli3 proteolysis to generate its repressor forms (Gli3R) in the developing murine lung. In Shh(-/-) or cyclopamine-treated wild-type (WT) lung, we found that Gli3R level is elevated, and this upregulation appears to contribute to defects in proliferation and differentiation observed in the Shh(-/-) mesenchyme, where Gli3 is normally expressed. In agreement, we found Shh(-/-);Gli3(-/-) lungs exhibit enhanced growth potential. Vasculogenesis is also enhanced; in contrast, bronchial myogenesis remains absent in Shh(-/-);Gli3(-/-) compared with Shh(-/-) lungs. Genes upregulated in Shh(-/-);Gli3(-/-) relative to Shh(-/-) lung include Wnt2 and, surprisingly, Foxf1 whose expression has been reported to be Shh-dependent. Cyclins D1, D2, and D3 antibody labelings also reveal distinct expression patterns in the normal and mutant lungs. We found significant repression of Tbx2 and Tbx3, both linked to inhibition of cellular senescence, in Shh(-/-) and partial derepression in Shh(-/-); Gli3(-/-) lungs, while Tbx4 and Tbx5 expressions are less affected in the mutants. Our findings shed light on the role of Shh signaling on Gli3 processing in lung growth and differentiation by regulating several critical genes.     

股骨近端防旋髓内钉与联合加压交锁髓内钉治疗老年股骨转子间骨折的疗效比较研究

目的:研究对比股骨近端防旋髓内钉(PENA-Ⅱ)与联合加压交锁髓内钉(Inter Tan)治疗老年股骨转子间骨折的疗效。方法:选择2014年6月至2016年6月我院收治的老年股骨转子间骨折患者92例,按照随机数字表法分为PENA-Ⅱ组与Inter Tan组,每组各46例。两组患者分别接受PENA-Ⅱ治疗和Inter Tan治疗,术后进行为期12个月的随访。比较两组临床疗效、手术相关指标(手术时间、术中出血量、骨折愈合时间)、手术前后骨密度水平变化情况以及并发症发生情况。结果:PENA-Ⅱ组优良率为89.13%,略高于Inter Tan组的86.96%,但两组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。PENA-Ⅱ组患者手术时间、术中出血量分别为(65.2±15.3)min、(57.2±29.3)m L,明显低于Inter Tan组患者的(84.3±13.8)min、(104.7±36.5)m L(P0.05),两组患者骨折愈合时间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。术前、术后12周以及术后24周PENA-Ⅱ组患者的腰椎骨密度水平与Inter Tan组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。两组切口感染、肺部感染、下肢深静脉血拴、近端股骨外侧皮质劈裂以及髋内翻发生率对比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:PENA-Ⅱ与Inter Tan治疗老年股骨转子间骨折的临床疗效相当,且两种手术方法对骨密度水平的影响及术后并发症发生率相似。但PENA-Ⅱ治疗具有手术时间短以及术中出血量少等优势,值得临床推广应用。     

Factors affecting the distribution of enamel hypoplasias within the human permanent dentition

Frequencies and morphological and chronological distributions of enamel hypoplasias are presented by tooth type (permanent I1 to M2s), based on a sample of 30 prehistoric Amerindians with complete and unworn dentitions. There is nearly a tenfold variation in frequency of defects by tooth, ranging from 0.13 per mandibular second molar to 1.27 per maxillary central incisor. The six anterior teeth average between 0.70 and 1.27 defects/tooth, whereas the eight posterior teeth average between 0.43 and 0.13 defects/tooth. Earlier developing teeth, such as incisors, have earlier peak frequencies of defects (2.0-2.5 years), while later developing teeth, such as second molars, have subsequent peak frequencies (5.0-6.0 years). These variations are relevant when comparing hypoplasia data based on different teeth. Differences in hypoplasia frequencies among teeth are not solely due to variation in time of crown development, as is usually reported. Rather, there is evidence for biological gradients in susceptibility to ameloblastic disruption. Anterior teeth are more hypoplastic than posterior teeth. More developmentally stable "polar" teeth are more hypoplastic than surrounding teeth. Polar teeth may be more susceptible to hypoplasias because their developmental timing is less easily disrupted. In all teeth, hypoplasias are most common in the middle and cervical thirds. Crown development and morphological factors, such as enamel prism length and direction, may influence the development and expression of enamel surface defects.     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy ameliorates osteonecrosis in patients by modulating inflammation and oxidative stress

Early stages of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVNFH) can be conservatively treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). This study investigated how HBOT modulates inflammatory markers and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in patients with AVNFH. Twenty-three male patients were treated with two cycles of HBOT, 30 sessions each with a 30 days break between cycles. Each session consisted of 90?minutes of 100% inspired oxygen at 2.5 absolute atmospheres of pressure. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and ROS production were measured before treatment (T0), after 15 and 30 HBOT sessions (T1 and T2), after the 30-day break (T3), and after 60 sessions (T4). Results showed a significant reduction in TNF-α and IL-6 plasma levels over time. This decrease in inflammatory markers mirrored observed reductions in bone marrow edema and reductions in patient self-reported pain.