Search

Background: Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis and closely related to metabolic syndrome, leading to excruciating pain and the decline in quality of patients' life. However, the pathogenesis of gout is still unclear, and novel biomarkers are demanded for the early prediction and diagnosis of gout. Objective: This study aimed at profiling the dysregulated metabolic pathways in asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AHU) and gout and elucidating the associations between AHU, gout and metabolomics, which may aid in performing gout screening. Methods: A total of 300 participants, including 114 healthy controls, 92 patients with AHU, and 94 patients with gout, were analyzed by using a combination of dried blood spot (DBS) sampling and mass spectrometry (MS) technology. Multiple algorithms were applied to characterize altered metabolic profiles in AHU and gout. The mainly altered metabolites were identified by random forest analysis. Results: There were significant differences in AHU and gout compared with control group. The altered metabolites were involved in oxidation of fatty acids, carnitine synthesis, urea cycle, and amino acid metabolism in AHU and gout. Random forest classification of 16 metabolites yielded 3 important features to distinguish gout from AHU. Conclusions: Distinct metabolomic signatures were observed in AHU and gout. The selected metabolites may have the potential to improve the early detection of gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many non-union animal models have been developed to explore the problems surrounding fracture healing. However, the existing models are not perfect and cannot satisfy all non-union studies. This study aimed to make a non-union model of the tibia in rats by cauterization of the posterior of 2 mm on both sides of the fracture end after open osteotomy of the tibia and fixing the fractured tibia with a Kirschner wire 0.8 mm in diameter. Methods: For this study, 96 female adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used. The rats underwent surgery to produce a tibial open fracture and were fixed with a 0.8-mm diameter Kirschner wire. In 48 of the rats, the periosteum proximal and distal to the fracture end was cauterized. Results: At 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after surgery, radiological and histological analysis showed typical physiological healing in the control group, and the healing rate was 100% at 6 weeks. But the non-union group was characterized by resorption of the fracture ends with few callus formations and no bridging callus formation, and the healing rate was 0% at 8 weeks. Conclusions: This method represents a reproducible model to create atrophic non-unions. This model provides a new option for studying the basic healing mechanisms and evaluating new therapies for bone regeneration and treatment of non-unions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional incision repair and minimally invasive repair for acute Achilles tendon repair have limitations. This study aimed to present our series of 23 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture that was repaired using two small incisions to assist the anchor repair of the tear and a new “circuit” suture technique. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 23 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture treated with the new technique at Changhai Hospital between January 2015 and December 2016 and followed up for 14–33 months. Clinical outcome was assessed using the AOFAS, Leppilahti, and Arner-Lindholm scores. Complications, range of motion (ROM), and time to return to work and light sport activity were assessed. Results: The AOFAS score was 85–96 at 3 months and 92–100 at 12 months. The 3-month ROM was 27°–37°, and the 12-month ROM was 36°–48°. The Leppilahti score was 85–95 at 3 months and 90–100 at 12 months. The recovery time of the patients was 10–18 weeks. The postoperative recovery time to exercise was 16–24 weeks. There was only one case of deep venous thrombosis. According to the Arner-Lindholm assessment criteria, patient outcomes were rated as excellent in 20 (87.0%) cases, good in three (13.0%) cases, and poor in 0 cases. The excellent-to-good rate was 100%. Conclusion: The limited-open procedure combined with a single-anchor and “circuit” suture technique could be used to repair torn Achilles sites, with a low occurrence of complications. This new and minimally invasive technique could be an alternative in the management of acute Achilles tendon rupture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]