Administration of L-dopa may cause release of growth hormone into the blood which in turn resuks in increased anabolism. The purpose of this article is to study the effects of oral L-dopa in rabbits on healing of fracture and repair of patellar cartilage.57 mature rabbits were divided into 4 groups in the experiment. A 3mm long segment of middle shaft of the fibula was excised and a transverse defect with a width of 1.5mm and a depth down to the calcified layer at the middle of articular cartilage of patella was created. After operation the rabbits of the first 3 groups were fed with 0.1 g L-dopa/kg BW and 0.2g L-dopa/kg BW daily for 2-4 weeks. The effects of oral L-dopa on healing of the fractures and repair of the cartilaginous defects were studied ra-diologically and histologically. Remarkable promotion on healing of the fractures and repair of the patellar cartilage was observed, more so in the 0.24 L-dopa/ kg BW group. Chondrocellular mitoses and regenerat-ing cartilage from both proximal and distal edges of the defect for its repair in over 80% of specimens were observed in L-dopa groups, while no Chondrocellular mitosis and only 23% of specimens with proximal and distal regeneration of cartilage were presented in the control group

Objective To study the expression of interleukin 6 (IL 6) and tumor necrosis factor ? (TNF ?) , location of both cytokines and their relationship with the variation of bone mineral density (BMD). Methods Cancellous bone chips were obtained from the vertebral bone of senile osteoporosis and control subjects during operation. Slides were made and stained with IL 6 and TNF ? monoclonal antibody, respectively. Results Osteoblasts and stromal cells were strongly positive to IL 6 and TNF ? in osteoporosis groups. The number of positive cells in high power field are 107 9?42 6 and 99 0?31 8 in osteoporosis groups, and 31 4?20 5 and 28 5?17 1 in controls, respectively, showing significant difference between two groups ( P

Purpose: To retrospectively analyse the characteristics of diagnosis and operative treatment of 66 cases of scwannoma in the spinal canal. Methods: Sixty-six cases, 27 of the cervical region, 13 the thoracic and 26 of the lumbar and sacral regions were treated from 1983 to 1996. Clinical manifestation and types, and results of spinal radiography, myelography, CT scannig, MR imaging, operative treatment were separately described. Results: All of the 66 cases obtained timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment. The tumors in 60 patients were completely resected; and in remaining 6 patients subtotal excision was performed. The duration of follow-up averaged two years and eleven months and excellent and good results were achieved in 90.9% of the patients. Conclusions: 1) Schwannoma in the spinal canal is not uncommon; four in this series are malignant or with malignant tendency. 2) The forms of the tumor are with lots of variations. 3)An approximate position of the lesion can be determined by clinical neurological examination. Accurate diagnosis can be made by a procedure combining clinical and imaging examinations, operative exploration and pathological examination. 4) Total resection of the tumor may result in good restoration although it is sometimes difficult and risky.

Objective To investigate the expression of nerve tissue protein S-100(S-100)and gap junctional protein connexin 43(Cx43) in rat adenohypophyseal folliculo stellate cells(FSCs) under the influence of ovariectomized osteoporosis(OVX-OP) and estrogen replacement therapy(ERT). Methods Sixty 10 month old female rats were randomly divided into sham operation control group(Sham), ovariectomy group (OVX) and ovariectomy+ERT group (OVX+ERT). L4-6 bone mineral density(BMD) of the animals in Sham group and OVX group were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA) at the end of 6 weeks after operation. From 7th week, rats in OVX+ERT group were treated with nilestriol(1 mg?kg -1?week-1) for 6 weeks. Rat L4-6 BMD in OVX+ERT group were measured at the end of 12 weeks after operation. Expression of S-100 and Cx43 in FSCs was detected using immunofluorescent histochemistry and laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM). Results L4-6 BMD was significantly lower in OVX group (0.193?0.006) g/cm2 than in Sham group(0.211?0.013) g/cm2 and in OVX+ERT group (0.204?0.010) g/cm2 (P

Objective To study the diagnosis and the treatment of the arachnoid cysts in the sacral canal. Methods After decompression laminectomy of the sacral canal, the arachnoid cysts were dealt with in three ways: 13 cases with excision of the most of the cyst wall and suture of redundant wall around the intracystic nerves, 8 cases with the excision of the most of the cyst wall and plugging the communicating hole with a block of muscle, 2 cases with excision of most of the cyst wall and leaving cystic wound unsutured. The clinical results were studied with 30.2 months follow up. The radiological changes including X-ray, CT, CTM and MRI were evaluated as well as their clinical behaviors, pathologies and post operative complications. Results Long T1 and T2 signals of the cysts could be clearly showed in MRI, and the signal density was the same as that of cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical symptoms were caused by compression of sacral nerve. Generally, there were communicating holes between cysts and thecal sacs. There were no statistical differences between the results of the first two surgical methods. The post operative complications included the wound erosion and intracranial infection. Conclusion The cyst seems to arise as a result of congenital defect of the thecal dura. Excision of the most of the cyst wall and plugging the communicating hole with a block of muscle seems to be a reasonable surgical method. No drain tube should be used and a supine position should not be allowed so as to reduce the complications

18 out of 779 operated cases for lumbar prolapsed disc at our department were reoperated with excellent or good results obtained in 17 and improvement in 1. 14 out of these were initially treated at our department with satisfactory results for from 2 months to 12 years before symptoms recurred while 4 were first operated upon at other hospitals with good results in 2 and failure for the others after the primary operation. The recurrence rate is 14/779 in our service, i. e. 1.8%, lower than those previously reported.Reoperation for recurrent cases is generally considered extremely difficult and result uncertain because of extensive scar and dense adhesions about the nerve coot and dura. More often than not the results reported in literature were not good enough to warrant reoperation. Consequently those recurrent patients in our series so badly incapacitated would have to suffer or remain crippled for lifetime were they not reoperated. However our patients were salvaged by reoperation with meticulous performance after careful clinical evaluation as to diagnosis, indication and tyfe of operation adopted. Operative procedure for exploration and resolution of coexisting spinal stenosis is discussed in detail.

Objective To study the OPG/RANKL gene expression of bone marrow stromal cell under stimulation of PTHrP.Method Primary bone marrow cells were cultured under the stimulation of 45 ng/ml PTHrP. Number of osteoclasts was counted after 6-day's culture.90 ng/ml PTHrP was used to stimulate adherent bone marrow stromal cells for 3 or 6 days.OPG and RANKL gene expression level were determined by real-time PCR. Result Large number of osteoclasts were formed in primary bone marrow cell culture after 6-day stimulation of PTHrP.RANKL gene expression level was up-regulated by PTHrP,while OPG gene expression level were down-regulated.Conclusion PTHrP stimulates osteoclast formation via up-regulating RANKL level and down-regulating OPG level.

Objective To discuss the clinical value of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in treating severe vertebral compression fracture. Methods During the period from June 2012 to March 2013, PVP was carried out in 30 patients with severe vertebral compression fracture (30 diseased vertebrae in total). The clinical data were respectively analyzed. According to the shape of compressed vertebra , the fractures were divided into three types: wedge-shaped, double concave and oblong-shaped. For wedge-shaped fracture, PVP was performed via the pedicle access of the healthy side. For double concave type , unilateral pedicle access was used, while for oblong-shaped type unilateral or bilateral access was adopted to conduct PVP according to the distribution of the injected PMMA. The therapeutic results were evaluated by using VAS and pain degree classification standard of WHO. The preoperative and postoperative vertebral height was estimated on the lateral projection. All patients were followed up for six months at out-patient clinic or by telephone. Results The success rate of puncturing was 100%. The preoperative mean VAS was 6.9 ± 0.9. The postoperative VAS at one day, one, 3 and 6 months after the procedure was 5.0 ± 0.9, 3.5 ± 0.7, 2.5 ± 0.8 and 1.6 ± 0.7 respectively. Based on WHO pain degree classification standard, complete remission (CR) was obtained in 25 cases, partial remission (PR) in 3 cases, and invalid in 2 cases. The effective rate (CR +PR) was 93.33%. The mean preoperative height of the compressed vertebrae was (5.77 ± 1.09) mm and the mean postoperative height of the compressed vertebrae was (14.33 ± 2.03) mm. Conclusion For the treatment of severe vertebral compression fractures, percutaneous vertebroplasty is clinically feasible with reliable short-term effect.

Twenty-six patients with stenosis of the thoracic spinal canal and myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum were treated from 1983 to June 1991. There were 21 patients with spastic paraplegia and 5 with flaccid paraplegia in the series. The findings on radiograms, CT scans, myelograms and MRI were described. Total laminectomy was performed in all of the patients which resulted in an effective rate of 91.6% and exellent and good results in 83.3%. The mechanism of the disease our experience in diagnosis and surgical treatment, causes of misdiagnosis and surgical techniques are discussed.

Objective: To study characteristics of diagnosis and treatment of arachnoid cysts in the sacral canal. Method: After laminectomy of the sacral canal, arachnoid cysts were treated in three ways: 13 cases underwent excision of the most of the cyst wall and suture of redundant wall around the intracystic nerve; 8 cases underwent the excision of the most of the cyst wall and plugging the communicating hole with a block of muscle; 2 cases underwent excision of most of the cyst wall and leaving them unsutured. Clinical results were evaluated after 30. 2 months' follow-up. Changes in the imaging materials (X-ray, CT, CTM and MRI) were also evaluated. The clinical behaviors, pathologies and complications post-operatively were analyzed. Result: Long T1 and T2 signals of the cysts could be clearly showed in MRI, and the signal density was the same as that of cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical symptoms were caused by compression of sacral nerve. Generally, there were communicating holes between cysts and thecal sacs. There were no statistical differences between first two methods of treatments. The complications post-operatively included erosion of wound skin and intracranial infection. Conclusion: MRI allows us to better illustrate the arachnoid cyst in sacral canal, and the cyst seems to arise as a result of congenital defect of thecal dura. Excision of the most of the cyst wall and plugging the communicating hole with a block of muscle seems to to a reasonable method to treat the carachnoid cysts in the sacral canal. Do not put the drain tube and forbidding patients to lie supinely are better for reducing the complications.