Combined single-photon emission computerized tomography and conventional computerized tomography (SPECT/CT) : clinical value for the knee surgeons?

Single-photon emission computerized tomography in combination with conventional computer tomography (SPECT/CT) is an emerging technology that may hold great clinical value to the orthopaedic knee surgeon. Post-operative knee pain is a familiar condition seen in most orthopaedic clinics. Here, we present the value of SPECT/CT in three such cases of pain after surgical treatment of knee osteoarthritis (high tibial osteotomy, medial unicompartmental arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty). In these patients with post-operative knee pain, SPECT/CT has proved to be beneficial in establishing the diagnosis and providing guidance for further treatment

Identification of phagocytosis regulators using magnetic genome-wide CRISPR screens.

Phagocytosis is required for a broad range of physiological functions, from pathogen defense to tissue homeostasis, but the mechanisms required for phagocytosis of diverse substrates remain incompletely understood. Here, we developed a rapid magnet-based phenotypic screening strategy, and performed eight genome-wide CRISPR screens in human cells to identify genes regulating phagocytosis of distinct substrates. After validating select hits in focused miniscreens, orthogonal assays and primary human macrophages, we show that (1) the previously uncharacterized gene NHLRC2 is a central player in phagocytosis, regulating RhoA-Rac1 signaling cascades that control actin polymerization and filopodia formation, (2) very-long-chain fatty acids are essential for efficient phagocytosis of certain substrates and (3) the previously uncharacterized Alzheimer's disease-associated gene TM2D3 can preferentially influence uptake of amyloid-β aggregates. These findings illuminate new regulators and core principles of phagocytosis, and more generally establish an efficient method for unbiased identification of cellular uptake mechanisms across diverse physiological and pathological contexts