Osteoarthritis (OA), an age-related degenerative disease, is characterized by progressive degradation of the articular cartilage. There is increasing evidence that nobiletin (NOB) exerts special biological functions in a variety of diseases. However, whether it protects against OA remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective effects of NOB on IL-1β-induced human OA chondrocytes and in the surgical DMM mice OA models. In vitro, NOB treatment completely suppressed the overproduction of pro-inflammatory mediators, including PGE2, NO, COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α and IL-6 in IL-1β-induced human OA chondrocytes. Moreover, NOB exerted a potent inhibitory effect on the expression of MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5 as well as the degradation of aggrecan and collagen-II, which leads to the degradation of the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, NOB dramatically suppressed the IL-1β-stimulated phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt and activation of NF-κB in human OA chondrocytes. In addition, treatment with NOB not only prevented the destruction of cartilage and the thickening of subchondral bone but also relieved synovitis in mice OA models. In conclusion, our study suggests that NOB holds novel therapeutic potential for the treatment of OA.

Purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in the treatment of Pilon fractures. Methods. 100 patients with Pilon fractures from March 2013 to December 2016 were enrolled in our study. They were divided randomly into 3D printing group (n=50) and conventional group (n=50). The 3D models were used to simulate the surgery and carry out the surgery according to plan in 3D printing group. Operation time, blood loss, fluoroscopy times, fracture union time, and fracture reduction as well as functional outcomes including VAS and AOFAS score and complications were recorded. To examine the feasibility of this approach, we invited surgeons and patients to complete questionnaires. Results. 3D printing group showed significantly shorter operation time, less blood loss volume and fluoroscopy times, higher rate of anatomic reduction and rate of excellent and good outcome than conventional group (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.040, and P=0.029, resp.). However, no significant difference was observed in complications between the two groups (P=0.510). Furthermore, the questionnaire suggested that both surgeons and patients got high scores of overall satisfaction with the use of 3D printing models. Conclusion. Our study indicated that the use of 3D printing technology to treat Pilon fractures in clinical practice is feasible.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the influence of three dimensional printing technology on the open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of tibial plateau fractures from current randomized controlled trials and prospective comparative studies. The electronic literature database of Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched in January 2018. The data operation time, intraoperative blood loss, follow-up knee function (Rasmussen score, HSS) and complications (including infection, screw loosening, knee stiffness, knee instability, posttraumatic osteoarthritis, VTE) were extracted. Stata 12.0 software was used for our meta-analysis. 11 RCTs and 6 prospective comparative studies met our inclusion criteria with 358 tibial plateau fractures patients in the 3D group and 378 patients in the routine ORIF group. The meta-analysis showed that there were significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and bony union time between the 3D group and conventional group. As for the complications and follow-up function recovery evaluated by the excellent and good rate based on HSS and Rasmussen score, no significant differences were found. The 3D group showed shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss and faster union time for patients with tibial plateau fractures. Therefore, compared with conventional ORIF, ORIF assisted by three-dimensional printing technology should be a more appropriate treatment of tibial plateau fractures. Further large-sample randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to confirm the superiority of three-dimensional printing assisted ORIF.

Hip fracture is a severe and common injury that occurs predominantly in the elderly. Blood loss in the perioperative period is associated with a greater risk of dying in anaemic patients. The aim of the study was to explore the best way to treat stable intertrochanteric fractures, taking hidden blood loss into account. This prospective, randomised blinded study included patients aged over 65 years with stable intertrochanteric fractures (Evans grades I and II). The patients were allocated to one of two groups treated via extramedullary or intramedullary fixation. Patient data were retrieved from electronic charts. Functional recovery was evaluated using the Functional Recovery Score of Zuckerman. Postoperative complications were also recorded. The formula of Nadler and Gross was used to calculate blood loss. There were 92 patients in the extramedullary and 106 in the intramedullary group. Age, sex, the cause of injury, the type of fracture, the observed blood loss, functional recovery, time to union, complications, and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification did not differ significantly between the two groups (all p-values > 0.05). The frequencies of lung infection, electrolyte imbalance, and hypoproteinemia differed between groups (all p-values < 0.05). Total and hidden blood loss were higher in the intramedullary group (p = 0.001). Extramedullary (compared with intramedullary) fixation of stable intertrochanteric fractures significantly reduces perioperative blood loss but affords similar functional outcomes and times to union. In view of the morbidity and complications associated with acute anaemia and transfusions, extramedullary fixation may be the optimal choice for treatment of stable fractures, being associated with reduced blood loss. The study was retrospectively registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, number: ChiCTR-INQ-16009754 , trial registration date: 6th Nov. 2016.