BackgroundDisplaced femoral neck fractures (FNFs) in healthy elderly patients have traditionally been managed with hemiarthroplasty (HA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA), with studies suggesting that THA may be the better option. However, it has recently been reported that bipolar HA (BHA) also provides good outcomes, and it is not clear as to whether BHA or THA is most appropriate. The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the outcomes of BHA with THA for treating FNF in healthy elderly patients.MethodsWe searched the following databases from inception to May 2015 for relevant RCTs without language restrictions: PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE, CINAHL, the China Biological Medicine Database, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Current Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov. RCTs that met the inclusion criteria were statistically analyzed using the Cochrane review methods.ResultsEight RCTs were included (total 1,014 patients; 523 had BHA and 491 had THA). The data from included RCTs were divided into four subgroups according to different follow-up durations. The Harris Hip Score after BHA was not different from that after THA in all subgroups. Both reoperation rate and acetabular erosion rate were higher after BHA after more than 4 years, while there was a higher dislocation rate associated with THA within 4 years. THA was more favorable regarding the EQindex-5D and the mobility and pain rate, while BHA was more favorable regarding operating time. No significant differences were found regarding infection rate, general complications, 1-year mortality, blood loss, and length of postoperative hospital stay.ConclusionsFor healthy elderly patients with displaced FNFs, treatment with BHA led to better outcomes regarding dislocation rate, while THA was better regarding acetabular erosion rate and reoperation rate. When comparing BHA with THA, there were no significant differences in other important outcomes such as Harris Hip Score, infection rate, general complications, and 1-year mortality. Further high-quality RCTs are needed to provide robust evidence and evaluate the treatment options.

Osteosarcoma is one of the most serious bone malignancies with rapid speed of deterioration and low survival rate in children and teenagers. Chemotherapy is an important treatment for osteosarcoma, while the conventional small‐molecule therapeutics exhibit low efficacies and severe side effects in the clinic. Drug‐delivery platforms based on nanotechnology, particularly for self‐stabilized delivery platforms with prolonged blood circulation, enhanced intratumoral accumulation, improved antitumor efficacy, and diminished side effects, may break the deadlock on osteosarcoma chemotherapy. Here, a cisplatin (CDDP)‐crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) nanogel (CDDPHANG) is prepared for effective delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) to treat osteosarcoma. Importantly, both DOX and CDDP have led clinically used antitumor drugs, and CDDP acts as a crosslinker and ancillary anticarcinogen to prevent the premature release of DOX and to achieve synergistic therapeutic performance. Because of the enhanced stability of the nanogel, this CDDP‐crosslinked DOX‐loaded nanomedicine (CDDPHANG/DOX) exhibits an obviously prolonged circulation time compared to free drugs. Moreover, after valid tumor accumulation, DOX and CDDP are synergistically delivered into the tumor cells and synchronously released into the intracellular acidic environment. Based on the synergistic apoptosis‐inducing effects of DOX and CDDP, CDDPHANG/DOX reveals an evidently enhanced antitumor efficacy compared to free drugs and their combination, indicating its great prospects for the chemotherapy of osteosarcoma.

BackgroundBone morphogenetic protein (BMPs) as a substitute for iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) has been increasingly widely used in lumbar fusion. The purpose of this study is to systematically compare the effectiveness and safety of fusion with BMPs for the treatment of lumbar disease.MethodsCochrane review methods were used to analyze all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to nov 2013.Results19 RCTs (1,852 patients) met the inclusion criteria. BMPs group significantly increased fusion rate (RR: 1.13; 95% CI 1.05–1.23, P = 0.001), while there was no statistical difference in overall success of clinical outcomes (RR: 1.04; 95% CI 0.95–1.13, P = 0.38) and complications (RR: 0.96; 95% CI 0.85–1.09, p = 0.54). A significant reduction of the reoperation rate was found in BMPs group (RR: 0.57; 95% CI 0.42–0.77, p = 0.0002). Significant difference was found in the operating time (MD−0.32; 95% CI−0.55, −0.08; P = 0.009), but no significant difference was found in the blood loss, the hospital stay, patient satisfaction, and work status.ConclusionCompared with ICBG, BMPs in lumbar fusion can increase the fusion rate, while reduce the reoperation rate and operating time. However, it doesn’t increase the complication rate, the amount of blood loss and hospital stay. No significant difference was found in the overall success of clinical outcome of the two groups.