[Objective] To discuss the operation and clinical results about surgical treatment of scoliosis of thoracic hemivertebra and diastematomyelia of adolescent.[Methods]From Jan 2001 to June 2007,15 patients were treated with one-stage posterior hemivertebrae and osseous divide resection combined with transpedicular instrumentation and bone graft.There were 6 males and 9 females with an average age of 21.2 years(range 16 to 24 years).All cases were segmented hemivertebrae.Hemivertebrae were located at T11(n=3)and T12(n=12).The status of the spinal fusion,correction rate and instrumentation were evaluated after surgery.[Results]All cases were followed up for 19 to 45 months with an average of 34 months.Cobb's angles of the main curve were 52.3??3.8?before surgery,10.2??1.4? after surgery.At the final follow-up there was 1.6? loss of correction.The mean height was increased by 3.76 cm.The district of bone graft showed good bone fusion.The time of vertebra fusion was 3 to 5 months(mean 3.6 months).No instrumentation,spinal fusion failure or other severe complications were noted.[Conclusion]One-stage posterior hemivertebrae and osseous divide resection combined with transpedicular instrumentation and bone graft can achieve a satisfactory result for the treatment of scoliosis of thoracic hemivertebra and diastematomyelia of adolescent.It can be recommended in clinical practice because of a good stability of fixation and fine spinal fusion.

Objective:To investigate the common reasons for the failure of radical mastoidectomy in order to improve the result of treatment and obtain a dry ear.Method:Twenty-eight cases,who achieved no dry ear after radical mastoidectomy,underwent secondary surgery.Result:All cases obtained dry ear without vertigo or facial paralysis after operation and postoperative dressing.Conclusion:The reasons for the failure of radical mastoidectomy result from the incomplete clearance of lesions, the insufficient ventilation of mastoid cavities, the inappropriate postoperative dressings or the residual foreign bodies in surgical cavity.It is the key points to achieve skeletonization adequately, to eliminate the pathological tissues thoroughly under microscope, and to ensure unobstructed drainage of surgical cavities for preventing secondary surgery.

Objective To study the long term results of thoracolumbar fractures treatment with AF (atlas fixator) pedicle system. Methods The clinical results of 60 cases of thoracolumbar fractures treated with AF pedicle system from 1996 2000 were analyzed retrospectively. Results The follow ups lasted from 3 to 6 years, averaging 4 years. The neurological function improved by at least 2 ASIA grades in 27 cases and by 1 ASIA grade in 33 cases. The correction of the vertebral body height averaged 95.1%, and the correction loss averaged 19.7%. Degeneration and narrowing of the disc space next to the fractured vertebrae were common, and correction loss was most evident at the upper disc spaces. Conclusions The AF pedicle system can achieve good long term clinical results for the recovery of neurological function and the vertebral body height. But the rates of implant failure and correction loss are still high probably due to deficiency of bone grafting and delayed implant removal.

Objective To investigate the anatomical and histological features of the rat endolymphatic sac. Methods The temporal bones of the healthy,adult SD rats were removed.The morphology of the endolymphatic sac were studied.Then the decalcified samples were embeded in paraffin.The sections of the endolymphatic sac were stained with HE method and observed histologically,and then examined immunohistochemically by monoclonal antibodies against IgG,CD 3 of the rat to investigate the immunocompetent cells in endolymphatic sac of the rats. Results Simple cuboidal and squamous epithelium were the main types of the epithelium in rat endolymphatic sac CD + 3,IgG + immunoreactive lymphocytes were found mainly in the epithelium of the endolymphatic sac.Conclusion\ The morphology of the rat endolymphatic sac is similar to those of human and guinea pig endolymphatic sacs.Some immunocompetent cells were found in the endolymphatic sac,suggesting that the endolymphatic sac plays an important role in immune of inner ear.\;[

Our study investigated the neurotoxicity of quinolinic acid (QA) to spiral ganglion cells (SGCs), observed the protective effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801 and magnesium ions on the QA-induced injury to SGCs, and analyzed the role of QA in otitis media with effusion (OME)-induced sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). After culture in vitro for 72 h, SGCs were exposed to different media and divided into 4 groups: the blank control group, the QA injury group, the MK-801 treatment group, and the MgCl(2) protection group. The apoptosis rate of SGCs was analyzed by Annexin V and PI double staining under the fluorescence microscopy 24 h later. SGCs were cultured in vitro for 72 h and divided into four groups: the low concentration QA group, the high concentration QA group, the MK-801 group, the MgCl(2) group. The transient changes of intracellular calcium concentration were observed by the laser scanning confocal microscopy. Apoptosis rate in QA injury group was higher than that in blank control group and MgCl(2) protection group (both P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between MK-801 treatment group and blank control group (P>0.05). In high concentration QA group, there was an obvious increase of the intracellular calcium concentration in SGCs, which didn't present in low concentration QA group. In MgCl(2) group, the peak values of the intracellular calcium concentration in SGCs were reduced and the duration was shortened, but the intracellular calcium concentration in SGCs had no significant change in MK-801 group. It was concluded that QA could injure SGCs by excessively activating NMDA receptors on the cell membrane, which might be the mechanism by which OME induced SNHL, while Mg(2+) could protect the SCGs from the neurotoxicity of QA.

Objective To compare CT and MR imaging in guiding and monitoring cryoablation of hepatic tumors. Methods A total of 131 lesions in 121 patients with malignant tumors of liver were treated with imaging-guided percutaneous cryotherapy. There were 73 males and 48 females, mean age 60 years. Of the 121 patients, 61 patients had cryoablation under CT guidance and 60 patients under the guidance of MRI. CT-guidance was performed with the Philips big-bore CT in spiral mode, with 5 mm slice thickness.The MR guidance was performed with GE 0.35 T scanner assisted with infrared navigator (Xinaomdt), and both fast gradient echo sequence and fast spin-echo sequence were used. The cryoablation system is a magnetic resonance compatible system (Galil, Israel), equipped with 17 G cryoprobes that are 1.47 mm in outside diameter. A combination of multiple eryo-probes and conformal cryoablation were adopted in accordance with the location, the shape and the adjacent structure of each lesion. Each cryoablation included two freezing-thawing cycles. Scanning was performed intermittently during the operation to monitor the degree of ablation. The mean scanning time, the lesion depiction and ablation process monitoring, the efficacies of lesion ablation, complications,and survival time were analyzed with x2 test Results The mean scanning time was (5.6±1.8)min for CT and (22.0±2.6)min for MR. CT provideda good depiction of the lesion and the ribs which were poorly displayed on MR images. The metal probe could create artifacts on the CT images and it was difficult for CT to show the formation of ice ball of the lesion formed after embolization with lipiodol. MR was superior to CT in displaying, guiding and monitoring of ablation of lesions near such special ragions as the diaphragm dome, the hepatic hilum, and the gallbladder. MR was not affected by high-density embolization material and the metal probes, and thus was superior to CT in depicting the lesion,and monitoring the formation of ice ball and the process of lesion ablation, etc.However, MR scan was time consuming, and image quality of low-field open MR was less desirable than that of CT. The 12-month overall survival rates were 90.2%(55/61) and 90.0%(54/60), respectively. The overall efficacies of lesion ablation were 75.4%(46/61) and 83.4%(50/60), respectively. Conclusion CT has advantages of fast scanning and good display of such structures as ribs in the path of puncture as compared with MR. MR can display a lesion with multi-planar imaging, and is superior to CT in monitoring the procedure of ablation,especially in displaying, guiding and monitoring ablation of lesions near such special regions as the diaphragm dome, the hepatic hilum, and the gallbladder.

Objective To investigate the safety, efficacy and feasibility of CT-guided percutaneous conformal cryoablation for lung cancer. Methods The inclusion criteria were: (1) Poor respiratory function and aged patients who can not bear the thoracic surgical operation. (2) Peripheral lung cancer involving the pleura and chest wall which can not be resected. (3) Residual tumor after other comprehensive treatment. (4) Focal lung cancer but the patient refused surgical resection. The exclusion criteria were: (1) Multifocal lesions. (2) Lesion close to mediastinum with possible risk of vessel injury. (3) Severe impairment of pulmonary functions, the maximum voluntary ventilation is less than 39%. (4) Repeated cough or dyspnea, can not cooperate with the procedure. (5) Poor systemic conditions, cachexia or bleeding. Totally, 76 lung carcinoma lesions on 66 patients were treated by CT-guided percutaneous conformal cryoablation using 17 G cryoprobes. The maximum diameters of the tumors ranged from 1.5 cm to 1.6 cm. For the tumors with the maximum diameter less than 3.0 cm, they were treated by double-needle clamping cryoablation. For those with the maximum diameter between 3.0 and 5.0 cm, they were treated by multiple-needle conformal cryoablation. For those with the maximum diameter larger than 5.0 era, they were treated with multipleneedle conformal cryoablation, with the needle distance less than 1.5 cm. All the patients were followed-up 6 to 24 months after the procedure using contrast-enhanced CT to evaluate the tumor size and enhancement. Results For 18 cases with the maximum diameters less than 3.0 cm, CT scan during the procedure showed that the frozen areas extended beyond the edge of the lesions more than 1.0 cm, the lesion attenuated, narrow-band-like encircled translucency around the lesions and "target sign" with ground-glass density of the peripheral lung tissue. There was no enhancement during the first 1 st、3 rd month follow-up, only fibrosis scar in 6 th month follow-up. Seven patients were followed up 2 years later, 5 of them have no recurrence or metastasis, one had mediastinal lymphopathy and one had bone metastasis 1 year later. For the 22 cases with maximum diameters between 3.0 cm and 5.0 cm, CT scan during procedure showed the frozen areas covered the lesions, lobulation and spiculation disappeared and the tumor size slightly enlarged. The lesions volume reduced during 1 st and 3 rd month follow-up. Nine cases were followed up for 2 years, 4 had no recurrence, 3 were stable and 2 had remote metastasis. For 26 cases with the maximum diameters larger than 5.0 cm, CT scan during the procedure showed the frozen areas covered 70%-90% of the tumor, there was no frozen damage to the surrounding lung tissue. Twenty-six patients had postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Follow-up in the 6 th month showed that 9 lesions decreased, 11 were stable and 6 progressed with remote metastasis. Complications included hemoptysis (3), bloody sputum (26), pneumothorax (19). Five pneumothorax were treated by close drainage and recovered 5 days. Conclusion CT-guided percutaneous conformal cryoablation is an effective and minimal invasive procedure for the lung carcinoma treatment.

BACKGROUND:At present,there is lack of relevant biomechanical model for the T6-T7-T8 rib-vertebral fix unit.In addition,there is no support of parameters of basic studies on reasons and reasonable explanation of screw breakage,poor quality of bone fusion and adjacent segment degeneration.OBJECTIVE:To develop a three-dimensional finite element model of bone graft with vertebral tuberculosis debridement and posterior rib-vertebral unit fixed system through tuberculosis of thoracic spine (T6-8),and to analyze the stress so as to improve it.METHODS:Spiral CT data of one male patient (172 cm,71 kg,39-year-old) with T7 vertebral tuberculosis were imported into computer to develop a three-dimensional finite element model of bone graft with vertebral debridement and posterior vertebral unit fixed system through tuberculosis of T6-8 by Mimics 13.0 and Ansys 11.0 finite element software.500 N pressure and 10 N?m torque were loaded to the vertebral body by 3 kinds of physiological loads which simulated flexion,extension and lateral bending.The stress distribution of fixation devices under different loads was compared.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At the positions of anteflexion and extension,the stress mainly concentrated to screw tail,and the stress of upper screw was greater than the middle and lower screws.For connecting rods,the stress of the middle was always less than the lower middle and the middle stress was zero.At lateral bending position,the stresses of upper and middle screw tail were quite,and the unilateral stress of connecting rod was also equivalent.For three different dynamics at the same point,the stress of middle connecting rod increased in the lateral bending motion,and the stress of lower screw tail was equivalent.These data suggested that it is prone to fatigue fracture at upper screw tail by bone graft with vertebral tuberculosis debridement and posterior rib-vertebral unit fixed system through tuberculosis of thoracic spine (T6-8) at the three positions of anteflexion,extension and lateral bending.The lower connecting rod at the positions of anteflexion and extension and the middle connecting rod at the position of lateral bending easily cause fatigue fracture.

BACKGROUND:In recent years, neural stem cels are considered to be ideal for the treatment of spinal cord injury, but the proportion of its natural differentiation into neurons in the host body is relatively low, which severely restricts the therapeutic effect on spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of erythropoietin on the differentiation of neural stem cels in vitro. METHODS:Under sterile condition, neural stem cels from the hippocampus of neonatal Wistar rats were isolated, cultured and identified by immunofluorescencein vitro. The third generation of neural stem cels were randomly divided into 0.5, 5, 50 U/mL erythropoietin groups and control group (with no erythropoietin). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, the differentiation rate of neural stem cels was significantly improved in the 0.5, 5, 50 U/mL erythropoietin groups (P< 0.05); moreover, the differentiation rate of neural stem cels in the 5, 50 U/mL erythropoietin groups was higher than that in the 0.5 U/mL erythropoietin group (P < 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference between the 5, 50 U/mL erythropoietin groups (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that erythropoietin can effectively induce the differentiation of neural stem cels into neurons in vitro, and moreover, it can significantly improve the differentiation rate of neural stem cels into neurons.

Objective To perform digital 3D measurement of anatomic parameters associated with vertebral units fixed by ribs and pedicle fixation of T4-T10,providing evidence for clinical application.Methods Spiral CT scan of T4-T10 vertebrae was conducted in 15 normal adults without spinal disorder.The data were imported into computer to establish units and disc models of thoracic and rib vertebrae T4-T10 using Mimics 16.0 software and Ansys 11.0 finite element software.The following data were measured in the vertebral pedicle-rib unit fixation group (group A) by software:transverse diameter of vertebral pedicle-rib unit,length of the outside pedicle screw,inclination angle of pedicle screw,and maximum and minimum inclination angles of pedicle screw;the following data were also measured in the pedicle fixation group (group B) by software:pedicle transverse diameter,length of pedicle screw,inclination angle of pedicle screw,and maximum and minimum inclination angles of pedicle screw.The corresponding parameters were compared between groups A and B.Results In both groups,the transverse diameters and screw lengths gradually increased with the increase in the vertebral sequence while the inclination angle of pedicle screw,and maximum and minimum inclination angles of pedicle screw decreased with the increase in the vertebral sequence.All the parameters in groups A were significantly larger than the corresponding ones in group B (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Of the spinal segment of T4-T10,the rib vertebral unit fixation can provide greater safe screw angles and screw diameters for clinical surgery.This is of vital significance for reducing the surgical complexity and improving screw prehension.