Haitao Chen

Aims: A strong correlation has been observed between diabetes mellitus (DM) with the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). This study aimed to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which DM exacerbates OA, through multiomics analysis of synovium and cartilage from OA patients with type 2 DM (T2DMOA). Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing, bulk RNA sequencing, and metabolome profiling were performed on knee cartilage and synovium from 21 patients with OA or T2DMOA to investigate the differences in transcriptional landscape, intercellular signalling networks, transcription factor regulatory patterns, and alterations in metabolic pathways. Results: Single-cell profiling of synovium-cartilage tissues revealed distinct pathological alterations in T2DMOA patients compared to non-diabetic OA controls. In the T2DMOA synovium, we observed significantly enhanced differentiation of sublining fibroblasts into lining fibroblasts, along with enriched pathways governing energy metabolism, vasculogenesis, and cell proliferation. For cell-cell communication between cartilage and synovium, hepatocyte growth factor ( HGF )-mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor ( MET ), fibroblast growth factors ( FGF ) 10-FGF receptor 1 ( FGFR1 ), and nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase ( NAMPT )-(integrin subunit alpha 5 ( ITGA5 ) + integrin subunit beta 1 ( ITGB1 )) from synoviocytes to chondrocytes, as well as angiopoietin-like protein 2 ( ANGPTL2 )-toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4 ) and ANGPTL2- ( ITGA5 + IGTB1 ) from chondrocytes to synoviocytes, showed a notable increase in T2DMOA patients. Conversely, T2DMOA cartilage exhibited a pronounced suppression of metabolic activity, particularly in amino acid transport and glycan biosynthesis. Additionally, transcription factors of synoviocytes and chondrocytes were clustered into five and four major modules, respectively, with various functions. Conclusion: Our findings define a diabetes-specific OA phenotype, characterized by aberrant synovial fibroblast activation, dysregulated synovium-cartilage crosstalk, and impaired cartilage metabolism. This integrated view establishes T2DMOA as a unique metabolic-subtype of OA, driven by disrupted intercellular communication and metabolic reprogramming. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2026;15(6):584–600.

BACKGROUND Sleeve fracture of the patella is an unusual fracture, almost unique to children. The majority of sleeve fractures involve the inferior patellar pole. However, sleeve fractures of the superior pole of the patella are extremely rare in adults. CASE SUMMARY An 18-year-old male patient fell while running in the morning. The patient had tenderness to palpation at the superior pole of the patella, with a palpable gap over the upper part of the patella in both knees. We applied two 4.5-mm suture anchors with the Krackow stitch to repair the sleeve fracture, augmented by autogenous gracilis through performing the figure-of-eight technique. The patient regained approximately the full range of motion of the knee joint without any quadriceps weakness and a normal gait 6 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSION Sleeve fractures of the superior pole of the patella are extremely rare in adults, especially bilateral sleeve fractures. Suture anchors, augmented by autogenous gracilis, provided secure fixation and achieved excellent results in this rare injury.

Aims: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease that leads to pain, disability, and reduced quality of life. Orientin exhibits considerable anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, but its role in chondrocyte senescence and OA progress has not yet been fully characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of orientin on OA.Methods: The role of orientin in extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, mitochondrial homeostasis, and chondrocyte senescence was investigated in vitro. Meanwhile, we used molecular docking, small molecular inhibitors, and RNA interference to screen and validate candidate proteins regulated by orientin. In an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) rat model, radiograph, micro-CT, and various histological examinations were applied to evaluate the therapeutic effects of orientin on OA.Results: We found that orientin inhibited ECM degradation and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factor expression in interleukin (IL)-1β-treated chondrocytes. Additionally, orientin reduced the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improved mitochondrial homeostasis. Furthermore, orientin suppressed IL-1β-induced activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway. We also found that orientin bound to phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and inhibited NF-κB cascades via the PI3K/AKT pathway. In vivo, we demonstrated that orientin improved cartilage wear and reduced synovial inflammation and osteophyte in an ACLT rat model.Conclusion: Orientin improves mitochondrial homeostasis, inhibits chondrocyte senescence, and alleviates OA progress via the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB axis, which suggests that orientin is a potential effective therapeutic agent for OA.Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2025;14(3):245–258.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by low-grade inflammation and cartilage degradation. Dendrobine (DEN) is reported to inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress in some diseases, but its role in chondrocyte senescence and OA progress has not yet been elucidated. Our study aimed to explore the protective effects of DEN on OA both in vitro and in vivo. We found that DEN inhibited extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and promoted ECM synthesis. Meanwhile, DEN inhibited senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors expression and senescence phenotype in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes. Furthermore, DEN improved mitochondrial function and reduced the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Also, DEN suppressed IL-1β-induced activation of the NF-κB pathway. Further, using NAC (ROS inhibitor), we found that DEN might inhibit NF-κB cascades by reducing ROS. Additionally, X-ray, micro-CT, and histological analyses in vivo demonstrated that DEN significantly alleviated cartilage inflammation, ECM degradation, and subchondral alterations in OA progression. In conclusion, DEN inhibits SASP factors expression and senescence phenotype in chondrocytes and alleviated the progression of OA via the ROS/NF-κB axis, which provides innovative strategies for the treatment of OA.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. We aimed to identify a new prognostic model of HCC based on differentially expressed (DE) immune genes. Methods: The DE immune genes were identified based on an analysis of 374 cases of HCC and 50 adjacent non-tumor specimens from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Univariate Cox analysis, Lasso regression, and multivariate Cox analysis were used to construct the model based on the training group. Survival analysis and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate model performance. The testing group and the entire group were subsequently used for validation of the model. Results: A five-immune gene model consisted of HSPA4, ISG20L2, NDRG1, EGF, and IL17D was identified. Based on the model, the overall survival was significantly different between the high-risk and low-risk groups (P = 7.953e-06). The AUCs for the model at 1- and 3-year were 0.849 and 0.74, respectively. The reliability of the model was confirmed using the validation groups. The risk score was identified as an independent prognostic parameter and closely related to the content of immune cells from human HCC specimens. Conclusion: We identified a five-immune gene model that can be used as an independent prognostic marker for HCC.

Objective This study aimed to identify osteoarthritis (OA) related genes based on microarray data in synovium with a more robust integrative analysis method. Methods Four series GSE55457, GSE12021, GSE55235, and GSE55584 (36 OA and 29 normal samples) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of GSE55457, GSE12021, and GSE55235 were identified using the LIMMA package. Overlapping DEGs from the intersection of the three series were detected. Simultaneously, samples in the four series were pooled to identify DEGs with integrated analysis using the Sva package. Results In total, 74 overlapping DEGs and 242 DEGs by integrating four series were detected. Based on them, 70 common DEGs were used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, involving 61 nodes and 206 edges. Also, three gene modules and five hub genes, named JUN, IL6, VEGFA, MYC, and EGR1, were identified. Conclusions Seventy DEGs were finally identified with a more robust integrative analysis method. JUN, IL6, VEGFA, MYC, and EGR1 were identified as hub genes in the development of OA. Key Points • 76 overlapping DEGs were detected from the intersection of DEGs in GSE55457, GSE12021, and GSE55235. • 242 DEGs were identified by integrating four series using Sva package. • 72 common DEGs were finally identified based on the overlapping DEGs and the integrated DEGs. • JUN, IL6, VEGFA, MYC, and EGR1 were identified as hub genes in the development of OA.

Background: Popliteus tendinitis is an unusual factor to cause pain of the knee joint in its posterolateral compartment. There are few reports that the arthroscopy used for the treatment of refractory and symptomatic popliteus tendinitis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of arthroscopic treatment of popliteus tendinitis via an auxiliary extreme lateral approach and to investigate the pathogenesis and treatment of popliteus tendinitis.Methods: From 2014 to 2018, arthroscopic popliteus tendon ablation was performed in 15 patients (15 knees) with popliteus tendinitis via an auxiliary extreme lateral approach. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Lysholm knee scoring scale, the Tegner score, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score and the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score at the 24-month follow-up after surgery.Results: A total of 15 patients (mean age, 51.1 ± 7.1 years) were included; they had a mean body mass index of 23.8 ± 2.1. The minimum follow-up period was 24 months. Comparing the postoperative state to the preoperative state, the mean postoperative Lysholm score, Tegner score, and IKDC score improved significantly from 70.0 ± 5.0, 3.0 ± 0.9, and 62.3 ± 5.5 to 89.3 ± 4.2, 4.6 ± 0.61, and 80.5 ± 4.4, respectively (p < 0.01). The preoperative VAS score for pain improved from 4.3 ± 0.7 to 0.9 ± 0.6 (p < 0.01). No patients were lost to follow-up.Conclusion: Following arthroscopic-assisted treatment, all the patients with popliteus tendinitis achieved satisfactory clinical outcomes in terms of pain relief and improved function.

Background: Colon cancer is a common malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Abnormal alternative splicing (AS) events played a part in the occurrence and metastasis of the tumor. We aimed to develop a survival-associated AS signature in colon cancer. Methods: The Percent Spliced In values of AS events were available in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) SpliceSeq database. Univariate Cox analysis was carried out to detect the prognosis-related AS events. We created a predictive model on account of the survival-associated AS events, which was further validated with a training-testing group design. Kaplan-Meier analysis was applied to assess patient survival. The area under curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was performed to evaluate the predictive values of this model. Meanwhile, the clinical relevance of the signature and its regulatory relationship with splicing factors (SFs) were also evaluated. Results: In total, 2132 survival-related AS events were identified from colon cancer samples. We developed an eleven-AS signature, in which the 5-year AUC value was 0.911. Meanwhile, the AUC values at five years were 0.782 and 0.855 in the testing and entire cohort, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression displayed that the T category and the risk score of the signature were independent risk factors of colon cancer survival. Also, we constructed an SFs-AS network based on 11 SFs and 48 AS events. Conclusions: We identified an eleven-AS signature of colon cancer. This signature could be treated as an independent prognostic factor.