Objective: To analyze the disease burden of pelvic fractures at the global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2023 using data from the 2023 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD), and to predict the disease burden through 2050.
Methods: Leveraging data from the GBD 2023, this study investigated the disease burden of pelvic fractures across 204 countries and regions. Assessment indicators included incidence rate, prevalence rate, and years lived with disability (YLDs). The Joinpoint regression model was employed to analyze trends in pelvic fracture burden from 1990 to 2023, while the average annual percentage change (AAPC) was used to quantify this temporal trend. The relationship between the socio-demographic index and pelvic fracture burden was evaluated. Furthermore, the long short-term memory (LSTM) model was applied to predict trends in pelvic fracture burden through 2050.
Results: In 2023, the estimated number of new pelvic fracture cases globally was 7 479 884 [95% uncertainty interval ( UI): 5 293 401-10 611 876], representing a 42.74% increase from 1990. In the same year, the number of prevalent pelvic fracture cases and YLDs were 23 007 508 (95% UI: 21 021 518-25 327 165) and 3 909 228 person-years (95% UI: 2 725 498-5 194 385), respectively. Additionally, age-standardized rates exhibited an opposing downward trend. Significant disparities in the disease burden of pelvic fractures were identified across different age groups, genders, and social contexts. According to predictions from the LSTM model, the global age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of pelvic fractures will be approximately 88.44 per 100 000 persons by 2050, while the total number of incident cases will rise to 8 547 095.
Conclusion: Although the overall incidence rate, prevalence rate, and YLDs of pelvic fractures have exhibited an upward trend over the past three decades, the ASIR, age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), and age-standardized years of life lost rate (ASYR) have shown a downward trend. It is predicted that over the upcoming 26-year period, the age-standardized rate of disease burden due to pelvic fractures will further decrease, while the number of incident cases and prevalent cases will continue to exhibit an upward trend. Formulating more targeted disease prevention strategies is critical to addressing disparities across genders, regions, and other dimensions, and to mitigating the burden of pelvic fractures.
Objective: To explore the mechanism by which ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (hereinafter referred to as "ω-3") exert antioxidant stress protection and promote osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells, and to reveal the relationship between ω-3 and the key antioxidant stress pathway involving nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and NAD (P) H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in MC3T3-E1 cells.
Methods: The optimal concentration of H 2O 2 (used to establish the oxidative stress model of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro) and the optimal intervention concentrations of ω-3 were screened by cell counting kit 8. MC3T3-E1 cells were divided into blank control group, oxidative stress group (H 2O 2), low-dose ω-3 group (H 2O 2+low-dose ω-3), and high-dose ω-3 group (H 2O 2+high-dose ω-3). After osteoblastic differentiation for 7 or 14 days, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was measured by fluorescence staining and flow cytometry, and the mitochondrial morphological changes were observed by biological transmission electron microscope; the expression levels of Nrf2, NQO1, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), Mitofusin 1 (Mfn1), and Mfn2 were detected by Western blot to evaluate the cells' antioxidant stress capacity; the expression levels of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and osteocalcin (OCN) were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot; osteogenic potential of MC3T3-E1 cells was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining.
Results: Compared with the oxidative stress group, the content of ROS in the low and high dose ω-3 groups significantly decreased, and the protein expressions of Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1 significantly increased ( P<0.05). At the same time, the mitochondrial morphology of MC3T3-E1 cells improved, and the expressions of mitochondrial morphology-related proteins Mfn1 and Mfn2 significantly increased ( P<0.05). ALP staining and alizarin red staining showed that the low-dose and high-dose ω-3 groups showed stronger osteogenic ability, and the expressions of osteogenesis-related proteins RUNX2 and OCN significantly increased ( P<0.05). And the above results showed a dose-dependence in the two ω-3 treatment groups ( P<0.05).
Conclusion: ω-3 can enhance the antioxidant capacity of MC3T3-E1 cells under oxidative stress conditions and upregulate their osteogenic activity, possibly through the Nrf2/NQO1 signaling pathway.
Objective: To summarize recent research progress in hydrogel-based growth factors for treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).
Methods: The relevant literature on hydrogel-based growth factors for IDD treatment at home and abroad was extensively reviewed, and their advantages and therapeutic effects in repairing IDD were analyzed and summarized.
Results: Hydrogels exhibit high hydration, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, enabling targeted delivery and sustained release of growth factors such as growth differentiation factors and transforming growth factors. This facilitates enhanced efficacy in promoting cell proliferation, extracellular matrix synthesis, and reducing inflammatory responses. Consequently, hydrogels demonstrate broad application prospects in the repair of IDD.
Conclusion: Research on hydrogel-based growth factors for treating IDD demonstrates advantages such as avoiding disc damage caused by repeated injections and controlling growth factor release concentrations. However, drawbacks include the limited variety of loaded growth factors and the need to verify the long-term stability and biocompatibility of hydrogels. Therefore, further research is required on aspects such as the types of loaded growth factors and the long-term stability and biocompatibility of hydrogels to establish an experimental foundation for their clinical application.
Objective: To analyze the current status and trends of the disease burden of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in China from 1990 to 2023, and to examine the epidemiological characteristics of age, gender differences, and attribution to high body mass index (BMI), in order to provide a basis for formulating prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the disease burden of KOA in China.
Methods: Based on the 2023 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) database, data on the number, rate, and age-standardized rate of incidence, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for KOA, and DALYs for KOA attributable to high BMI in the Chinese population from 1990 to 2023 were integrated. The Joinpoint 5.4.0.0 software was used to analyze the age and gender differences in KOA and the epidemiological characteristics attributable to high BMI.
Results: The standardized incidence, prevalence, and DALYs rates of KOA in China in 2023 increased by 6.46%, 6.43%, and 6.93%, respectively, compared with 1990. In terms of age, the disease burden of KOA in China was lowest in the age group of 30-34 years, with the highest incidence rate in the age group of 50-54 years, whereas the prevalence rate and DALYs rate continued to increase with age, and both were highest in the age group of ≥70 years. In terms of gender, all disease burden standardized rate indicators were higher in females than in males, and the difference widened with age. The rate of BMI-attributable DALYs increased at an annual average rate of 1.57% (95% CI: 1.55, 1.59) from 1990 to 2023, again with significant age and gender differences.
Conclusion: The continued growth of the KOA disease burden and significant population differences characterizing China call for focused attention on the female middle-aged and elderly population, enhanced weight management, and implementation of targeted preventive and control measures.
Objective: To explore the methods, fixation points, and effectiveness of staged therapy using external fixation frame in treatment of infectious nonunion near knee joint.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 60 patients with infectious nonunion near knee joint, who underwent staged therapy using external fixation frame between June 2021 and June 2024 and were followed up. There were 48 males and 12 females with an average age of 47.9 years (range, 16-70 years). The disease duration ranged from 9 months to 20 years, with a median of 14 months. Among them, 21 cases of infectious nonunion located in the distal femur, 36 cases in the proximal tibia, and 3 cases in the patella; 12 cases exhibited segmental bone defects (≥4 cm), while 48 cases presented with localized bone defects (<4 cm). Osteomyelitis was classified using the Cierny-Mader system, with 3 cases classified as type Ⅰ, 6 cases as type Ⅱ, 35 cases as type Ⅲ, and 16 cases as type Ⅳ. Preoperative C-reactive protein levels ranged from 15.1 to 55.8 mg/L (mean, 36.4 mg/L). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 35-80 mm/1 h (mean, 56.9 mm/1 h). The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score for knee joint was 69.3±17.7 and the range of motion was (70.61±40.60)°. After debridement and placement of antibiotic carriers at the first-stage operation, unilateral orbital frames ( n=14), combined frames ( n=27), or Ilizarov frames ( n=19) were used for cross joint fixation ( n=9) or joint preservation fixation ( n=51). After 6-8 weeks of infection control, the bone grafting or bone transport was performed at the second-stage operation based on the type of bone defect, with internal fixation employed as an adjunct if necessary. After operation, the infection control and fracture healing were observed and the bone healing time was recorded. The knee joint function was assessed using the HSS score, and the knee joint range of motion was measured as well as the angle of motion loss. Patients were grouped according to the site of nonunion, type of external fixation frame, and fixation method. The bone healing time, change value of HSS score, and knee joint range of motion loss (difference between pre- and post-operation) were compared between groups.
Results: All infection markers returned to the normal range within 6 weeks after the first-stage operation. All patients were followed up 12-48 months (mean, 22.0 months) after the second-stage operation. There were 5 cases of needle tract infection during the external fixation period, and 3 cases of infection recurrence after the second-stage operation, all of which were cured after symptomatic treatment. The bone healing time was 6-18 months (mean, 11.0 months). At last follow-up, the HSS score was 88.5±7.9 and the range of motion was (61.84±40.59)°, with significant differences compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05);

