Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of SRS-Schwab grade 4 osteotomy and vertebral column resection (VCR) in the surgical correction of type II congenital kyphosis (CK).Methods:A retrospective review was conducted on clinical and radiographic data from patients with type II CK who underwent corrective surgery at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between June 2008 and December 2021. Patients were divided into two groups based on the osteotomy technique employed: the VCR group (21cases) and the SRS-Schwab grade 4 osteotomy group (19 cases). Clinical parameters, including operative duration, estimated blood loss (EBL), number of segmentation failure levels, number of fused segments, and the use of anterior support cages, were compared between groups. Radiographic parameters included the number of segmentation fusion and measurements of segmental kyphosis (SK) preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. The degree and rate of SK correction were also calculated and compared. Complications such as neurophysiological monitoring events, neurological injury, implant breakage, proximal junctional kyphosis/lordosis (PJK/PJL), sagittal translation (ST), and implant failure were recorded. Additionally, SRS-22 questionnaire scores were assessed preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the latest follow-up.Results:A total of 40 patients were included, with a mean follow-up duration of 48.96±21.31 months (range, 24-96 months). Compared to the SRS-Schwab group, the VCR group had significantly more levels of segmentation defect (3.85±0.79 vs. 2.68±0.54), required more fused segments (8.00±2.23 vs. 5.47±2.04), had longer operative time (358.71±77.06 min vs. 212.52±77.05 min), and greater EBL (963.66±278.49 ml vs. 698.94±222.20 ml), all with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in local kyphotic angle, correction magnitude, or correction rate between groups postoperatively (P>0.05). Among patients with ≤48 months of follow-up, the SRS-Schwab group showed significantly lower SK (13.00°±16.28° vs. 34.00°±21.37°) and a higher correction rate (82.52%±21.40% vs. 52.84%±24.67%) at final follow-up ( P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in patients with >48 months of follow-up ( P>0.05), or in the overall cohort regardless of follow-up duration ( P>0.05). Complication rates were comparable between groups ( P>0.05). One neurophysiological monitoring event, 1 neurological injury, 3 cases of PJK, 1 case of PJL, 2 cases of ST, and 2 implant failures were observed in VCR group. The SRS-Schwab Grade 4 osteotomy group had 1 neurophysiological monitoring event, 1 neurological injury, 4 cases of PJK, 2 cases of ST, and 1 implant failure. The complication rates between the groups were not statistically different ( P>0.05). Both groups showed significant improvements in the self-image domain of the SRS-22 postoperatively and at the final follow-up ( P<0.05). In the function domain, both groups also demonstrated significant improvement at the final follow-up ( P<0.05), while the SRS-Schwab group showed earlier improvement at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05). Conclusions:SRS-Schwab grade 4 osteotomy provides comparable correction of segmental kyphosis to VCR but offers the advantages of significantly reduced blood loss and shorter operative time. Both surgical techniques effectively improve patients' quality of life.

Objective:To investigate the effects of decellularised extracellular matrix material(dECM)extract on macrophage survival,migration,phagocytosis,pro-inflammatory factor expression and ROS production.Methods:CCK-8 method was used to detect whether the extract of dECM material had cytotoxicity on macrophages;effects of dECM material extracts on macrophage recruit-ment and chemotaxis were examined by Transwell migration assay;effects of dECM material extract on macrophage phagocytosis were detected by pHrodo staining;effects of dECM material extract on expression of pro-inflammatory genes and pro-inflammatory specific functional molecules were detected by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence staining;detection of the effect of dECM material extracts on macrophage ROS production by the DCFH-DA fluorescent probe approach.Results:Compared with DMEM complete medium,①CCK-8 assay showed that dECM material extract had no toxic effect on macrophages,and could promote the formation of macrophage colonies;②pHrodo staining assay showed that dECM material extract did not affect phagocytosis of macrophages;③Transwell migra-tion assay showed that dECM material extract did not promote macrophage migration;④RT-qPCR results showed that dECM material extracts were able to down-regulate gene expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and specific functional molecules;⑤Flow cytome-try results showed that dECM material extract could reduce the production of ROS by macrophages.dECM material extract had excel-lent biocompatibility for macrophages.Conclusion:dECM material extract is non-toxic to macrophages and is able to reduce macro-phage pro-inflammatory gene expression and ROS production.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference of effectiveness between medial-lateral approach and posteromedian approach in the release of elbow stiffness after distal humeral fracture surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 41 patients with elbow stiffness following medial and lateral plate fixation for distal humeral fractures, admitted between January 2021 and June 2023 and meeting selection criteria. Patients were divided into the medial-lateral approach release group (study group, 20 cases) and the posteromedian approach release group (control group, 21 cases) based on surgical approach. Baseline data including age, gender, affected side, body mass index, disease duration, and preoperative extension angle, flexion angle, range of motion, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, Mayo elbow performance score, ulnar nerve symptoms, and heterotopic ossification showed no significant difference between groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and complication incidence were recorded and compared between groups. Clinical effectiveness was evaluated using pre- and postoperative Mayo score, VAS score, elbow extension/flexion angles, and range of motion on the affected side. Statistical analysis focused on changes in these indicators relative to preoperative values. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups ( P>0.05). Patients in both groups were followed up 15-36 months, with a mean of 23.8 months; there was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the two groups ( t=-1.542, P=0.131). In the control group, 1 patient had obvious subcutaneous hematoma and 5 patients had poor wound healing within 2 months after operation, all of which were cured by symptomatic treatment, while no related complications occurred in the study group, there was a significant difference in poor wound healing incidence between the two groups ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, 2 patients in the study group and 3 patients in the control group had mild symptoms of ulnar nerve numbness, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of ulnar nerve symptoms ( P>0.05). All patients had no recurrence or new onset of heterotopic ossification, no skin necrosis or reoperation due to complications. At last follow-up, elbow extension angle, flexion angle, flexion-extension range of motion, VAS score, and Mayo score significantly improved in both groups when compared with the preoperative ones ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the change values in elbow extension angle and VAS score between the two groups ( P>0.05); the change values in flexion angle, range of motion, and Mayo score in the study group were significantly better than those in the control group ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION The medial-lateral approach can release the elbow stiffness and concurrently remove the medial, lateral, or posterior lateral plates. The incision minimizes disruption to rehabilitation exercises and reduces complications like inadequate wound healing, ultimately leading to improved treatment outcomes.
Humans ; Humeral Fractures/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Elbow Joint/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/adverse effects* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Postoperative Complications/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged ; Humeral Fractures, Distal

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of SRS-Schwab grade 4 osteotomy and vertebral column resection (VCR) in the surgical correction of type II congenital kyphosis (CK).Methods:A retrospective review was conducted on clinical and radiographic data from patients with type II CK who underwent corrective surgery at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between June 2008 and December 2021. Patients were divided into two groups based on the osteotomy technique employed: the VCR group (21cases) and the SRS-Schwab grade 4 osteotomy group (19 cases). Clinical parameters, including operative duration, estimated blood loss (EBL), number of segmentation failure levels, number of fused segments, and the use of anterior support cages, were compared between groups. Radiographic parameters included the number of segmentation fusion and measurements of segmental kyphosis (SK) preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. The degree and rate of SK correction were also calculated and compared. Complications such as neurophysiological monitoring events, neurological injury, implant breakage, proximal junctional kyphosis/lordosis (PJK/PJL), sagittal translation (ST), and implant failure were recorded. Additionally, SRS-22 questionnaire scores were assessed preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the latest follow-up.Results:A total of 40 patients were included, with a mean follow-up duration of 48.96±21.31 months (range, 24-96 months). Compared to the SRS-Schwab group, the VCR group had significantly more levels of segmentation defect (3.85±0.79 vs. 2.68±0.54), required more fused segments (8.00±2.23 vs. 5.47±2.04), had longer operative time (358.71±77.06 min vs. 212.52±77.05 min), and greater EBL (963.66±278.49 ml vs. 698.94±222.20 ml), all with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in local kyphotic angle, correction magnitude, or correction rate between groups postoperatively (P>0.05). Among patients with ≤48 months of follow-up, the SRS-Schwab group showed significantly lower SK (13.00°±16.28° vs. 34.00°±21.37°) and a higher correction rate (82.52%±21.40% vs. 52.84%±24.67%) at final follow-up ( P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in patients with >48 months of follow-up ( P>0.05), or in the overall cohort regardless of follow-up duration ( P>0.05). Complication rates were comparable between groups ( P>0.05). One neurophysiological monitoring event, 1 neurological injury, 3 cases of PJK, 1 case of PJL, 2 cases of ST, and 2 implant failures were observed in VCR group. The SRS-Schwab Grade 4 osteotomy group had 1 neurophysiological monitoring event, 1 neurological injury, 4 cases of PJK, 2 cases of ST, and 1 implant failure. The complication rates between the groups were not statistically different ( P>0.05). Both groups showed significant improvements in the self-image domain of the SRS-22 postoperatively and at the final follow-up ( P<0.05). In the function domain, both groups also demonstrated significant improvement at the final follow-up ( P<0.05), while the SRS-Schwab group showed earlier improvement at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05). Conclusions:SRS-Schwab grade 4 osteotomy provides comparable correction of segmental kyphosis to VCR but offers the advantages of significantly reduced blood loss and shorter operative time. Both surgical techniques effectively improve patients' quality of life.

Objective:To investigate the effects of decellularised extracellular matrix material(dECM)extract on macrophage survival,migration,phagocytosis,pro-inflammatory factor expression and ROS production.Methods:CCK-8 method was used to detect whether the extract of dECM material had cytotoxicity on macrophages;effects of dECM material extracts on macrophage recruit-ment and chemotaxis were examined by Transwell migration assay;effects of dECM material extract on macrophage phagocytosis were detected by pHrodo staining;effects of dECM material extract on expression of pro-inflammatory genes and pro-inflammatory specific functional molecules were detected by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence staining;detection of the effect of dECM material extracts on macrophage ROS production by the DCFH-DA fluorescent probe approach.Results:Compared with DMEM complete medium,①CCK-8 assay showed that dECM material extract had no toxic effect on macrophages,and could promote the formation of macrophage colonies;②pHrodo staining assay showed that dECM material extract did not affect phagocytosis of macrophages;③Transwell migra-tion assay showed that dECM material extract did not promote macrophage migration;④RT-qPCR results showed that dECM material extracts were able to down-regulate gene expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and specific functional molecules;⑤Flow cytome-try results showed that dECM material extract could reduce the production of ROS by macrophages.dECM material extract had excel-lent biocompatibility for macrophages.Conclusion:dECM material extract is non-toxic to macrophages and is able to reduce macro-phage pro-inflammatory gene expression and ROS production.

Objective To evaluate the clinical safety and effectiveness of intravascular stent combined with 125I seed strip implantation in the treatment of superior vena cava syndrome(SVCS)caused by malignant tumors.Methods The clinical data of 43 patients with SVCS,who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University of China from May 2017 to October 2022,were retrospective analyzed.Of the 43 patients,27 received intravascular stent combined with l25I seed strip implantation(observation group),and 16 received simple intravascular stent implantation(control group).The stent patency rate,clinical symptom relief rate,and survival time were compared between the two groups.Results Successful operation was accomplished in all the 43 patients.In the observation group,the postoperative 3-month stent patency rate and average survival time were 88.7％and 39.1 weeks respectively,which were significantly higher than 62.5％and 21.8 weeks respectively in the control group,the differences between the two groups were statistically significant(P=0.033 and P=0.035 respectively).After treatment,all the clinical symptoms were relieved.Conclusion For the treatment of SVCS,intravascular stent combined with 125I seed strip implantation is clinically safe and effective,it can be used as the preferred treatment option.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:632-635)

LIN28 is an RNA binding protein with important roles in early embryo development, stem cell differentiation/reprogramming, tumorigenesis and metabolism. Previous studies have focused mainly on its role in the cytosol where it interacts with Let-7 microRNA precursors or mRNAs, and few have addressed LIN28's role within the nucleus. Here, we show that LIN28 displays dynamic temporal and spatial expression during murine embryo development. Maternal LIN28 expression drops upon exit from the 2-cell stage, and zygotic LIN28 protein is induced at the forming nucleolus during 4-cell to blastocyst stage development, to become dominantly expressed in the cytosol after implantation. In cultured pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), loss of LIN28 led to nucleolar stress and activation of a 2-cell/4-cell-like transcriptional program characterized by the expression of endogenous retrovirus genes. Mechanistically, LIN28 binds to small nucleolar RNAs and rRNA to maintain nucleolar integrity, and its loss leads to nucleolar phase separation defects, ribosomal stress and activation of P53 which in turn binds to and activates 2C transcription factor Dux. LIN28 also resides in a complex containing the nucleolar factor Nucleolin (NCL) and the transcriptional repressor TRIM28, and LIN28 loss leads to reduced occupancy of the NCL/TRIM28 complex on the Dux and rDNA loci, and thus de-repressed Dux and reduced rRNA expression. Lin28 knockout cells with nucleolar stress are more likely to assume a slowly cycling, translationally inert and anabolically inactive state, which is a part of previously unappreciated 2C-like transcriptional program. These findings elucidate novel roles for nucleolar LIN28 in PSCs, and a new mechanism linking 2C program and nucleolar functions in PSCs and early embryo development.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Embryo, Mammalian/metabolism* ; Embryonic Development ; Mice ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; RNA, Ribosomal ; RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Zygote/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the clinical outcomes and complication of posterior surgery for Scheuermann kyphosis fusing to different distal fusion levels.Methods:From January 2012 to December 2017, a consecutive cohort of 34 patients who were treated with posterior spinal instrumented correction and satisfied the inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed, including 29 males and 5 females, aged 17.1±4.3 years (range, 12-30 years). All of the patients had a minimum follow-up of 2 years. According to the distal fusion level, patients were divided into 2 groups. Group sagittal stable vertebra (SSV) (22 cases) included patients whose lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) was SSV; Group SSV-1 (12 cases) included patients who had a LIV one level above the SSV. Radiographic parameters including global kyphosis (GK), lumbar lordosis (LL), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral slope (SS) were measured in the standing radiographs before and after operation and at the latest follow up. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. The Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire (SRS-22) were conducted at pre-operation and the final follow up to evaluate the clinical outcomes. The sagittal radiographic parameters and the incidence of distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) were compared between the two groups.Results:There were no significant differences in terms of age, sex, radiographic measurements and scores of SRS-22 between two groups preoperatively ( P>0.05). The correction rates of GK in the SSV group and the SSV-1 group were 42.8%±7.6% and 43.2%±8.4% ( t=0.151, P=0.881) respectively. While the correction rates loss were 1.2%±5.2% and 3.9%±7.2% ( t=0.767, P=0.449) at the latest follow up. No significant difference was observed in terms of other radiographic parameters ( P>0.05). During the postoperative follow up period, 3 patients (16.7%) in SSV group and 2 patients (13.6%) in SSV-1 group developed DJK. The incidence of DJK did not show any significant difference between two groups ( χ2=0.057, P=0.812). At the final follow-up, the function scores of SRS-22 in SSV-1 group (4.1±0.6) was significantly higher than SSV group (3.7±0.5) ( t=2.300, P=0.028) and there was no significant difference in the rest of the domain ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with stopping at SSV, fusion to SSV-1 could achieve comparable curve correction with the preservation of more lumbar motility. Moreover, it would not increase the risk of DJK. As a result, we recommend selecting SSV-1 as the ideal LIV for SK patients.

Objective:To establish age- and gender-based normative values of sagittal spinal-pelvic alignment in Chinese adult population, and to investigate influence of age, gender and ethnicity on sagittal spinal-pelvic alignment in Chinese normal adults.Methods:A total of 786 asymptomatic Chinese adult volunteers aged between 20 and 89 years were prospectively recruited from different spine centers. The inclusion criteria were: 1) age between 20 to 89 years old; and 2) Oswestry disability index (ODI) scored lower than 20. The exclusion criteria were: 1) previous history of spinal, pelvic or lower limb pathologies that could affect the spine; 2) presence of recent and/or regular back pain; 3) previous surgeries on spine, pelvic and/or lower limb; and 4) pregnancy. Demographic characteristics of these subjects including age, gender, body weight and height were recorded. During the enrollment of volunteers, 16 groups were defined based on the age (20 s, 30 s, 40 s, 50 s, 60 s, 70 s and 80 s) and gender. Whole body biplanar standing EOS X-ray radiographs were acquired to evaluate the sagittal alignment. Spinal-pelvic parameters including pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), thoracic kyphosis (T 5-T 12, TK), lumbar lordosis (L 1-S 1, LL), lower lumbar lordosis (L 4-S 1, LLL), global tilt (GT), T1 pelvic angle (TPA) and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured. Values of PI-LL and lordosis distribution index (LLL/LL, LDI) were calculated. Radiographic measurements of 100 subjects were randomly selected to determine the intra- and inter-observer reliabilities using inter- and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). The spinal-pelvic parameters were compared among volunteers between different age and gender groups. The comparison was also made among various ethnic population. Results:The mean value was 23.7±7.1 kg/m 2 for BMI and 6.9%±2.5% (range, 0-18%) for ODI score. Each sagittal spinal-pelvic parameter was presented with mean value and standard deviationbased on age and gender. The ICCs of radiographic measurements ranged from 0.89 to 0.95, suggesting good to excellent intra- and inter-observer reliabilities. Significant differences were observed between males and females in multiple sagittal parameters (all P values <0.05). Compared to the male subjects, significantly higher values of PI (41.4° for male vs. 45.0° for female, P<0.001), PT (10.7° for male vs. 13.9° for female, P<0.001), PI-LL (-0.5° for male vs. 1.8° for female, P<0.001), and GT (10.9° for male vs. 13.5° for female, P<0.001) were documented in female subjects. Males had significantly higher values of LLL (28.6° for male vs. 26.6° for female, P<0.001) and LDI (0.68 for male vs. 0.63 for female, P<0.001). PI-LL, SVA, GT and TPA increased with aging from Group 40 s to Group 80 s, while LL, LLL and LDI decreased gradually, and TK decreased slowly with aging. Comparison of sagittal spinal-pelvic parameters between different ethnic subjects showed that Chinese adult population presented lower PI, SS, TK and LL as compared with American population; lower PI, SS and LL as compared with Japanese population. But the variation trend with aging tended to be consistent among different ethnic populations. Conclusion:Age- and gender-based normative values of sagittal spinal-pelvic alignment were established in asymptomatic Chinese adult population. Sagittal spinal-pelvic alignment varies with age and gender, and presented different compensation mechanism among different ethnic populations. Therefore, to achieve balanced sagittal alignment, age, gender and ethnicity should be take intoconsideration when planning spine correction surgery.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes and complications of second sacral alar-iliac (S 2AI) technique utilized in adult patients with neuromuscular scoliosis, and to evaluate the impact on patients' quality of life. Methods:All of 11 patients (6 males and 5 females) applying S 2AI technique from January 2014 to December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The average age of the patients was 39.6±12.7 years. Among them, 8 cases were poliomyelitis, 2 cases were spinal muscular atrophy and 1 case was muscular dystrophy. All of 11 patients underwent posterior spinal fusion and utilized S 2AI screws for pelvic fixation. All patients were taken anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the entire spine. Cobb's angle, spinal pelvic obliquity (SPO), regional kyphosis (RK), sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were recorded at pre-operation, post-operation and last follow-up. The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 questionnaires and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were utilized to evaluate the patient-reported outcomes. All complications were also recorded. Repeated measurement analysis of variance, t-test or non-parametric test was used to analyzed the data, respectively. Results:The average follow-up period was 62.4±10.8 months. The pre-operative Cobb angle was 98.0°±24.0°, and the post-operative Cobb angle was 60.7°±20.8°, of which difference was significant ( Z=3.015, P=0.003). The correction rate of Cobb angles was 57.2%±17.7%. 1-year after operation, the Cobb angle was 62.8°±23.6°, no loss of correction was found ( Z=0.294, P=0.797). And at last follow-up, the Cobb angle was 61.6°±21.7°, the correction maintained well ( Z=0.603, P=0.594). The pre-operative, post-operative, 1-year post-operative and last follow-up spinal pelvic obliquity were 37.0°±11.8°, 21.5°±11.6°, 23.2°±10.1° and 21.1°±8.6°. The significant improvement was obtained ( Z=2.934, P=0.003) and no loss of correction was found ( Z=0.690, P=0.519; Z=0.000, P=1.000). The pre-operative, post-operative, 1-year post-operative and last follow-up regional kyphosis were 46.8°±23.6°, 18.6°±10.6°, 18.9°±11.4° and 19.5°±9.8°. The significant improvement was obtained postoperatively ( Z=4.364, P<0.001) and remained stable at the last follow-up ( Z=0.074, P=0.945; Z=0.271, P=0.838). When compared the pre- and post-operative sagittal vertical axis, no significant difference was detected. In these patients, one patient had rod breakage and underwent revision, one patient suffered deep infection, and recovered by debridement surgery, one patient suffered from severe pain in the lower back and relieved with conservative treatment. Conclusion:The S 2AI technique utilized in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis could obtain satisfying clinical outcomes and provides safe, durable fixation with low rates of complications.