Exosomal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial factors that mediate the extracellular communication in tumor microenvironment. DOCK9 antisense RNA2 (DOCK9-AS2) is an exosomal lncRNA which has not been investigated in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Based on the result of differentially expressed lncRNAs in PTC via bioinformatics databases, we discovered that DOCK9-AS2 was upregulated in PTC, and presented elevation in plasma exosomes of PTC patients. Functionally, DOCK9-AS2 knockdown reduced proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) and stemness in PTC cells. PTC-CSCs transmitted exosomal DOCK9-AS2 to improve stemness of PTC cells. Mechanistically, DOCK9-AS2 interacted with SP1 to induce catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) transcription and sponged microRNA-1972 (miR-1972) to upregulate CTNNB1, thereby activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway in PTC cells. In conclusion, PTC-CSCs-derived exosomal lncRNA DOCK9-AS2 activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway to aggravate PTC progression, indicating that DOCK9-AS2 was a potential target for therapies in PTC.

Fibronectin 1 (FN1) is a glycoprotein molecule widely distributed in cell structures such as smooth muscle cell layer, vascular cell membrane and nerve cell layer. It participates in cell adhesion, migration and movement of various cells. In recent years, FN1 has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of various malignant tumors such as lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and ovarian cancer. However, its regulation and mechanism of action in gastric cancer have been rarely reported, and these are also associated with some controversy. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of FN1 in gastric cancer, to study the effects of FN1 on proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of GC cells, and the mechanisms involved. The expression of FN1 in gastric cancer tissues was determined using immunohistochemistry staining. The comparative expression levels of FN1 were assayed with RT-PCR and Western blotting. The correlation amongst FN1 expression, clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of gastric cancer patients was determined. Cell transfection was used to silenceFN1 expression in gastric cancer cells. Plate cloning and CCK-8 assays were used to determine cell proliferation, while apoptosis was assayed with flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion was measured with transwell assay. The expressions of EMT-related proteins were assayed using western blotting.The results showed that FN1 was upregulated in GC tissues and cell lines, and its expression level was closely related to tumor invasion, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and survival. Inhibition of FN1 expression significantly reduced proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT processes of GC cells, and enhanced cell apoptosis. These results confirm that FN1 is up-regulated in GC, thereby functioning as an oncogenic gene. The high expression of FN1 might affect the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of gastric cancer patients.

Background No consensus exists on the treatment of proximal humerus fractures, especially in the elderly patients with osteoporosis. This study was aimed to evaluate the biomechanical characteristics of a novel external fixator in treating two-part surgical neck fracture of the proximal humerus in the elderly patients with osteoporosis. Methods Sixteen female elderly humeral shaft specimens with osteoporosis were randomized into 2 groups. Models with the surgical neck two-part fracture of the proximal humerus were built, in which a novel external fixator (test group) and a clover plate (control group) were applied separately. In the test group, the fracture was firstly fixed with intersection pinning using 3 Schanz pins (3.5 mm), followed by the novel external fixation frame. In the control group, a clover plate and 6 cortical bone screws were applied. Biomechanical testing of the specimens was performed to assess the resistance to load bearing and torsional stress. The parameters of the two groups were compared using independent t-test. Results Ultimate bearing capacity and load bearing at different parts with the humerus rotation were higher ( P < 0.05) in the external fixator group (145.16 ± 17.42 N and 140 N respectively) than those in the plate group (120.21 ± 13.15 N and 69.63 ± 25.16–90.78 ± 17.18 N respectively). As for resistance to torsional stress, plate’s torque fluctuated between 1 Nm and 5 Nm, while the external fixator’s torque values were more evenly ( P < 0.01) distributed with the fluctuation within 1 Nm. Conclusions In the fixation of two-part humeral fracture in elderly patients with osteoporosis, the new external fixator seemed to be superior to plate fixation in load bearing and resistance to torsional stress.

Background:Insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) is a common finding in the clinic. However, consensus on its mechanism, pathological process, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation is lacking. Thus, the Chinese Society of Sports Medicine organized and invited experts representing the fields of ankle disease and tendinopathy to jointly develop an expert consensus on IAT.Study Design:A consensus statement of the Chinese Society of Sports Medicine.Methods:A total of 34 experts in the field of sports medicine and orthopaedics were invited to participate in the compilation of a consensus statement regarding IAT. Consensus was achieved according to the Delphi method. First, 10 working groups composed of 34 experts were established to compile draft statements about clinical problems related to IAT by reviewing and analyzing the available literature. An expert consensus meeting to discuss drafts was then arranged. Each statement was individually presented and discussed, followed by a secret vote. Consensus was reached when more than 50% of the experts voted in its favor. The strength of the proposed recommendation was classified based on the proportion of favorable votes: consensus, 51% to 74%; strong consensus, 75% to 99%; unanimity, 100%.Results:Of the 10 expert consensus statements on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of IAT, there was strong consensus for 8 statements and unanimity for 2 statements.Conclusion:This expert consensus focused on the concepts, causes, pathological process, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of IAT. Accepted recommendations in these areas which will assist clinicians in carrying out standardized management of related diseases.

Background Fracture of the medial malleolus is one of the most frequent injuries treated surgically; however, the classification of the fracture has not attracted much attention and a good classification system is still lacking. Methods Consecutive cases of medial malleolus fractures were prospectively enrolled. Based on the 3-D reconstruction CT morphology and centered on the posterior colliculus of the medial malleolus, we classified the fractures into 4 types: type 1 with no involvement of the posterior colliculus, type 2 with partial involvement of posterior colliculus, type 3 with the entire involvement of posterior colliculus, and type 4 with the fracture line 4 vertically extended from the intercollicular groove to the comminuted fracture of the posterior malleolus. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the clinical significance of the classification. Results There were 273 cases prospectively enrolled. The distribution of the cases was type 1 of 12.1%, type 2 of 41.0%, type 3 of 30.0%, and type 4 of 16.8%. Statistics showed that the new classification had significant associations but did not totally depend on the classical ankle fracture classifications. Results showed that the new classification had implications in the severity of ankle fractures. From type 1 to type 4, the ankle joint was more and more unstable. Furthermore, comminuted medial malleolar fractures could be subdivided, and the new classification could provide useful information for surgical decision-making. Conclusions The novel classification was a useful system to describe the 3-D geometry of the fractured medial malleolus.