Objective To explore the indications of physiotherapy and operative treatment for gluteal muscles contracture, and discuss the principles and necessity of classification in order to facilitate clinical management. Methods The standards of classification of gluteal muscles contracture were based on the signs and pathological examination, It consisted of three stages upon our standards. 210 patients could be divided into stage Ⅰof 23 cases, stage Ⅱand Ⅲ of 187 cases. For the patients of stageⅠ, physiotherapy was performed; However, all cases of stageⅡand Ⅲ, operative treatment was adopted by small superomedial incision above the greater trochanter. Furthermore, in the cases of stage Ⅱ, tight fibrotic gluteal muscles and thick contracted fascia lata should be released; For stage Ⅲ lesion, the release should be extended to the capsule of hip, and incision of the posterior capsule was necessary. Results In the group of stageⅠ, The symptoms and signs were relieved by maneuver , the rate of excellent and good results was 39%; while in the group of stageⅡand Ⅲ, it was 97% by operative treatment. Conclusion The staging system of gluteal muscles contracture could demonstrate exactly the severity degree of the disease, and is useful in choosing therapeutic method. Non-operatiive method can obtain satisfactory results in about 1/3 cases of stage Ⅰof gluteal muscles contracture; operative method is indicated for the patients of stage Ⅱand Ⅲ.

Objective To explore the influence of the acute cauda equina compression on the lumbosacral spinal cord; To clarify the pathologic change of the motor neuron after acute cauda equina compression. Methods 27 canis familiaris were randomly divided into 9 groups (3 in each) : one for normal group, one for control group, and seven for compression groups. The control group and compressed groups was given operation and the sac made of silica gel was placed under the lamina of L5-6. Water was injected into the sac until their posterior legs paralysis in compressed groups, the animals had been compressed for 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 168 hours. The control group were not injected water. Cells apoptosis was investigated with the technology of TdT-mediated biotin dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL)staining. The Bcl-2 Bax and Caspase-3 protein was investigated by immunohistochemical method. Results TUNEL staining cells in anterior horn presented after compressed 8-12 hours, and at 72 hours the number of positive cells got to maximum, it decreased subsequently after 168 hours. The protein of Bax, Bcl-2 expressed a little in normal motor neuron. The caspase-3 protein didn't express in normal cell. They all reached the peak at 72 hours after compression.Conclusion The apoptosis of motor neuron occurred earlier after cauda equina acute compression. Bax protein restrained Bcl-2 protein then active caspase-3 and conduced apoptosis of motor neuron.

BACKGROUND: There are no effective treatments for spinal cord injury. Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) has achieved great progress in repairing spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of OECs transplantation on pathological and ultrastructural alterations of spinal cord, and the role in spinal cord injury developing.METHODS: A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into blank, model, transplantation and DF12 groups, with 15 animals in each group. The entire vertebral plate of T_(10), and partial vertebral plate of T_9 and T_(11) of blank group were cut open, and gelatin sponge was used for hemostasis. In the model group, the spinal cord was excised. In the transplantation and DF12 groups, OECs and DF12 culture solution were injected following spinal cord excision. The incision was sutured. Two rats from each group were anesthetized 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56 days following injury, and injured areas were observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Following spinal cord injury, pathological and ultrastructural changes occurred, such as hemorrhage, edema, degeneration, necrosis, cavitation, gliacyte proliferation and nerve fiber regeneration. OECs transplantation attenuated neuronal and nerve fiber necrosis, relieved degree of pathological reaction, protected injured neurons, prevented gliacyte proliferation and increased nerve fiber regeneration. Results show that OECs transplantation ameliorated pathological reactions and promoted spinal cord injury repair.

Objective:To investigate the relationship of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and clinical features in patients with intracranial aneurysm and arteriovenous malformation (AVM).Methods:A total of 64 patients with AVM and intracranial aneurysm,who were treated in First Hospital of Shijiazhuang from February 2011 to November 2015,were chosen as research subjects,AVM were 32 cases and intracranial aneurysm were 32 cases.The samples were sectioned for VEGF immunohistochemical staining;the location and intensity of staining were recorded;the positive indexes were computed.The VEGF expression of different age and Hunt&Hess classification in patients with intracranial aneurysms were analysed;the VEGF expression of different diameters,ages,Spetzler classification in patients with AVM were analysed.Results:There were no statistical differences in the VEGF expression of different ages in patients with intracranial aneurysms (P＞0.05);the VEGF expression of different Hunt&Hess classification in patients with intracranial aneurysms was statistical difference (P＜0.05).The positive rate of VEGF in the artery of AVM was lower than that in the vein,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).There were no statistical differences in the VEGF expression of the different Spetzler classification,different diameters and different ages in patients with AVM (P＞0.05).Conclusion:The expression of VEGF in the vein and the artery of patients with AVM is different,the expression of VEGF is not correlated with the age of intracranial aneurysm and the size and age of AVM.VEGF cannot be used as a predictor in the patients with intracranial aneurysms and AVM.

Designing of natural product-like compounds using natural products as template structures is an important strategy for the discovery of new drugs. Gambogic acid (GA), which is a Garcinia natural product with a unique caged xanthone scaffold, inhibits potent antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. This review summarized the researches on the identification of the antitumor pharmacophore of GA, and the design, structural optimization and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of natural product-like caged xanthones based on it.

BACKGROUND:Previous study has found that hsa-miR-182 is probably related to the apoptosis-related genes such as cytochrome C (Cycs C) and calcineurin subunit CnB (PPP3R1) in nucleus pulposus cells.
OBJECTIVE:To determine whether miR-182 plays a regulatory role in nucleus pulposus cel apoptosis by detecting the relative gene expression levels after transfecting miR-182 with Cycs C and PPP3R1 into nucleus pulposus cel s via plasmid delivery.
METHODS:After a bioinformatics prediction about miR-182, miR-182 and target genes were transfected into the nucleus pulposus cel s, and at the same time, blank control group was established. Then the expression levels of the target genes were detected through cel lysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:miR-182 significantly inhibited the expression of Cycs C in nucleus pulposus cel s compared with the blank control group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, miR-182 made no inhibitory effect on the expression of PPP3R1. These findings suggest that miR-182 may play a regulatory part in nucleus pulposus cel apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of Cycs C.

Objective To find out an effective therapeutic method for and observe whether there is any synergistic action or not between fetal spinal cord transplantation (FST) and methylprednisolone (MP).Methods Fifty male adult SD rats were randomly divided into group A,B,C,D and E,10 in each group.Group A was treated with both large dosage of MP and FST,group B with MP only, grop C with FST only and group D without any treatment.Group E served as blank control.Fetal spinal cord was obtained from 14-day pregnant rats .Spinal cord Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) examination and behavior observation were performed in 24 hours and in 8 months after treatment By the way of reduced silver staining, the condition of nerve plerosis and regeneration could be observed.Results There were significant differences in the latent period and amplitude of N1 wave in SSEP between group A and group B,C and D (P＜0.05).No obvious behavior changes were found except partial sensory recovery in the left lower limbs in Group A.Histologically,more nerve fibers contacting with branches at injury area could be found in Group A than in Group B,C and D.Conclusion The combination of large dosage of MP and FST can produce synergistic effect in the recovery of the injured spinal cord.

BACKGROUND:We have designed and manufactured a novel artificial cervical vertebra and intervertebral complex (ACVC) which combines the cervical titanium cage with the artificial cervical disc, and also developed the ACVC with a hydroxyapatite biocoating (ACVC-HA). OBJECTIVE:To evaluate biomechanical properties of the joint system, and the role of HA coating in promoting osseointegration and long-term stability. METHODS:Twenty-four goats were randomly divided into three groups and underwent the anterior C2/3 and C3/4 discectomy, and C3 subtotal corpectomy, fol owed by ACVC implantation (group 1) and ACVC-HA implantation (group 2), and given no intervention (black control group), respectively. group. At 12 weeks after surgery, C1-5 samples were col ected to undergo biomechanical tests and histological staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Prior to the fatigue test, compared with the blank control group, the range of motion and neural zone of groups 1 and 2 in the directions of flexion-extension and lateral bending showed no significant differences, but the above indicators were significantly increased in the direction of rotation (P<0.05). Additional y, the stiffness in al three directions was significantly lower than that in the blank control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the range of motion and neural zone in al directions between groups 1 and 2. Similar results were found after the fatigue test. The histological staining showed that both two implants had good biocompatibility and abradability, but more new bone formed on the ACVC-HA. These results suggest that ACVC can effectively reconstruct the motor function of the cervical spine after decompression. Furthermore, HA coating can markedly improve bone-implant interface to promote osseointegration.

Objective Todetecttheexpressionlevelsoftumornecrosisfactor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)inintracranialaneurysms.Methods Sixteenconsecutivepatients(aneurysm group)with intracranial aneurysm confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA)and clipped by microneurosurgery were enrolled retrospectively. A total of 19 trauma patients without vascular disease confirmed by CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)in the same period were used as a control group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE)staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the aneurysm wall tissue and the colored portions of TNF-α and IL-6 in normal vessel wall,the mean value of optical density after its expression was analyzed,and the intensity of staining was compared. Results (1)Each layer of artery walls of the control group had no obvious TNF-α and IL-6 expression. The inner,media and out membranes of the aneurysm wall tissue of the aneurysm group had positive expression of TNF-αand IL-6. (2)The mean optical densities of TNF-α and IL-6 in patients of the aneurysm group were 0. 182 ± 0. 069 and 0. 148 ± 0.062 respectively,and they were higher than 0. 144 ± 0. 031 and 0. 105 ± 0. 020 of the control group. The differences were statistically significant (all P<0. 05). (3)The mean optical densities of TNF-α expression of each layer of the inner,media and out membranes in the aneurysm walls were 0. 224 ± 0. 071,0. 134 ± 0. 040,and 0. 106 ± 0. 065,respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.01). (4)The mean optical density expressed by IL-6 in the out membrane of the aneurysm walls was lower than the media and inner membranes (0. 096 ± 0. 018 vs. 0. 145 ± 0. 050,and 0. 148 ± 0. 070). There were significant differences (P<0. 05). (5)The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the mean optical density of TNF-αof the aneurysm group was positively correlated with that of IL-6 (r=0. 452, P<0.05).Conclusion TheexpressionlevelsofTNF-αandIL-6intheaneurysmwalltissueare higher,and they may be involved in intracranial aneurysm formation and rupture.

BACKGROUND:Animal studies have shown that cauda equina compression can induce apoptosis of lumbosacral spinal cord anterior horn motor neurons.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the pathological change in lumbosacral spinal cord after acute cauda equina compression in dogs.
METHODS:A total of 27 dogs were randomly divided into nine groups, with three dogs in each group. There were one normal control group, seven experimental groups and one sham surgery group. In the experimental group, an empty water sac was implanted above epidural fat below L6 vertebral plate. Compression was given by injecting water at 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours. In the sham surgery group, an empty water sac was implanted, but compression was not given. At the time of compression, the spinal cord sent out by cauda equina nerve and adjacent to the head end was subjected to histopathological examination.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Results of light microscope:at 4-48 hours of compression, spinal cord anterior horn motor neurons did not alter. At 72 hours, motor neurons became smal , cel membrane shrank and separated from surrounding tissues. Cel s were homogenous and darkly stained. At 168 hours, motor neurons disappeared, but spinal cord sections of the adjacent head end did not shown abnormal motor neurons in the spinal cord anterior horn. (2) Results of electron microscope:at 12 hours, spinal cord tissue began to swel , and the swel ing aggravated with prolonged time of compression. The swel ing of glial cel s was apparent. At 168 hours, myelin sheath structure dissolved;axons showed vacuolization;axoplasm spil ed, and exhibited inflammatory injury-like changes. (3) Apoptotic results of spinal cord anterior horn motor neurons:apoptosis appeared at 12 hours of compression, became increased, and showed an increased trend at 168 hours.