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Resveratrol shows potent anti-tumor therapeutic properties in various tumors. However, the exact effect of resveratrol on osteosarcoma cells, especially cancer stem cells, remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of resveratrol on osteosarcoma stem cells and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. Resveratrol inhibited cell viability, self-renewal ability and tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma cells, whereas showed no significant inhibition effects to normal osteoblast cells. Mechanically, resveratrol treatment decreased cytokines synthesis and inhibited JAK2/STAT3 signaling, which was consistent with the decline of cancer stem cells marker, CD133. Exogenous STAT3 activation attenuated the cancer stem cell elimination effects of resveratrol treatment. Our results demonstrated that resveratrol inhibited osteosarcoma cell proliferation and tumorigenesis ability, which was correlated with cytokines inhibition related JAK2/STAT3 signaling blockage. Resveratrol may be a promising therapeutic agent for osteosarcoma management.

Purpose: To evaluate the association of acromial morphology and subacromial impingement. Methods: Bilateral shoulder computed tomography was performed in 138 patients who received shoulder arthroscopy. Measured parameters included: acromial tilt (AT), modified acromial tilt (mAT), acromial slope (AS), acromiohumeral interval (AHI), lateral acromial angle (LAA), acromial index (AI), critical shoulder angle (CSA), acromial anterior protrusion (AAP), and acromial inferior protrusion (AIP). Acromial morphological characteristics were compared between groups. Side-to-side differences were assessed between affected and non-affected shoulders. Intra- and inter-observer agreements for each parameter were calculated. Results: AT (25.90 vs. 29.41°), mAT (18.88 vs. 22.64°), and AHI (5.46 vs. 6.47 mm) were significantly smaller in impinged patients. The impingement group demonstrated significantly larger AI (63.50 vs. 59.84%), CSA (31.78 vs. 28.74°), AAP (7.13 vs. 5.32 mm), and AIP (5.51 vs. 4.04 mm). Regarding side-to-side comparison, the acromial morphology was significantly different between the affected and non-affected shoulders in impinged patients, while the difference was slight and insignificant in control patients. All, except AS and LAA, measured parameters demonstrated good intra- and inter-observer agreements. Conclusions: Three-dimensional reconstructed CT scan is a reliable method to measure shoulder morphology. The acromial morphological variation is related with sub acromial impingement, however, the causal relationship of them should be further explored.

Osteocyte apoptosis has been reported to play a central role in bone remodeling. In addition to apoptosis, other mechanisms may be involved in osteocyte loss. This study aimed to investigate the effect of necroptosis on osteocytes in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Ninety-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into an OVX group and a sham group. At 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery, specimens from each group (n = 12 each) were harvested. Bone mineral density (BMD) and body weight were measured. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and micro-CT were used to observe the changes in cellular morphology and bone microarchitecture induced by estrogen deficiency. Osteocyte apoptosis and necroptosis were evaluated via TUNEL and immunofluorescence staining for active caspase-3. At 8 weeks after ovariectomy, a greater number of osteocytes with typical necrotic morphological features were TUNEL positive but negative for active caspase-3. Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence assessments demonstrated that the levels of receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (RIP1) and RIP3 in osteocytes were significantly increased at 8 weeks after ovariectomy. These data are the first to suggest that necroptosis accelerates osteocyte loss under conditions of estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis in OVX rats. These findings provide evidence of a potential mechanism through which osteocyte necroptosis is associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Objective To retrospectively compare the efficacy of the titanium mesh cage (TMC) and the nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide66 cage (n-HA/PA66 cage) for 1- or 2-level anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) to treat multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM). Methods A total of 117 consecutive patients with MCSM who underwent 1- or 2-level ACCF using a TMC or an n-HA/PA66 cage were studied retrospectively at a mean follow-up of 45.28±12.83 months. The patients were divided into four groups according to the level of corpectomy (1- or 2-level corpectomy) and cage type used (TMC or n-HA/PA66 cage). Clinical and radiological parameters were used to evaluate outcomes. Results At the one-year follow-up, the fusion rate in the n-HA/PA66 group was higher, albeit non-significantly, than that in the TMC group for both 1- and 2-level ACCF, but the fusion rates of the procedures were almost equal at the final follow-up. The incidence of cage subsidence at the final follow-up was significantly higher in the TMC group than in the n-HA/PA66 group for the 1-level ACCF (24% vs. 4%, p = 0.01), and the difference was greater for the 2-level ACCF between the TMC group and the n-HA/PA66 group (38% vs. 5%, p = 0.01). Meanwhile, a much greater loss of fused height was observed in the TMC group compared with the n-HA/PA66 group for both the 1- and 2-level ACCF. All four groups demonstrated increases in C2-C7 Cobb angle and JOA scores and decreases in VAS at the final follow-up compared with preoperative values. Conclusion The lower incidence of cage subsidence, better maintenance of the height of the fused segment and similar excellent bony fusion indicate that the n-HA/PA66 cage may be a superior alternative to the TMC for cervical reconstruction after cervical corpectomy, in particular for 2-level ACCF.

In this study, we prepared nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide 66/glass fibre (n-HA/PA66/GF) bioactive bone screws. The microstructure, morphology and coating of the screws were characterised, and the adhesion, proliferation and viability of MC3T3-E1 cells on n-HA/PA66/GF scaffolds were determined using scanning electron microscope, CCK-8 assays and cellular immunofluorescence analysis. The results confirmed that n-HA/PA66/GF scaffolds were biocompatible and had no negative effect on MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro. To investigate the in vivo biocompatibility, internal fixation properties and osteogenesis of the bioactive screws, both n-HA/PA66/GF screws and metallic screws were used to repair intercondylar femur fractures in dogs. General photography, CT examination, micro-CT examination, histological staining and biomechanical assays were performed at 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks after operation. The n-HA/PA66/GF screws exhibited good biocompatibility, high mechanical strength and extensive osteogenesis in the host bone. Moreover, 24 weeks after implantation, the maximum push-out load of the bioactive screws was greater than that of the metallic screws. As shown by their good cytocompatibility, excellent biomechanical strength and fast formation and ingrowth of new bone, n-HA/PA66/GF screws are thus suitable for orthopaedic clinical applications.