Objective To investigate the value of intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging (IVIM-MRI)on monitoring impairment of renal function in hydronephrosis.Methods Left hydronephrosis model of Healthy New-Zealand rabbits made by ureteral incomplete obstruction were scanned by IVIM-MRI at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks.The change of IVIM-MRI quantitative parameters (ADC values, D values, D* values, and f values) in left hydronephrosis kidney were observed.The correlation between these parameters and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were evaluated.Results ADC values, D values, D* values and f values at cortex and medulla in left hydronephrosis model of rabbits decreased gradually in the progression of renal damage after 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks.For D value, f value and ADC values, there was statistical significant difference among the group of 12 weeks, the group of 16 weeks, the control group, and the group of 4 weeks;statistical significant difference was also observed between the group of 8 weeks and the group of 16 weeks by LSD contrast.ADC values, D values, D* values, and f values were positively correlated to GFR at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks for left hydronephrosis model of rabbits.Conclusion IVIM-MRI could monitor impairment of renal function in hydronephrosis dynamically.

Objective To analyze the incidence and risk factors of contralateral radiculopathy in patients after unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgery.Methods A retrospective study was conducted within 587 patients (average age 57.1 years,range 19-71 years) who underwent unilateral TILF from January 2010 to January 2014 in our hospital,including 334 males and 253 females.Patients were divided into a symptomatic group and an asymptomatic group.The causes of contralateral neurological symptom were evaluated according to the radiological data.The difference of pre-and post-operative contralateral foramen area (CFA),segmental angle (SA) and the clinical treatment outcomes (VAS,JOA score) were compared between two groups.Results Patients were followed up for 9-21 months,average 15.1 months.Post-operative contralateral radiculopathy occurred in 28 (4.8％) of the patients who underwent unilateral TLIF,including contralateral foraminal stenosis in 16 (57.1％,16/28),screw malposition in 5 (17.9％,5/28),contralateral lateral recess stenosis and/or newly developed disc herniation in 3 (10.7％,3/28),hematoma in 1 (3.6％,1/28),cement compression in 1 (3.6％,1/28),and unknown origin in 2 patients (7.1％,2/28).Nineteen (3.2％,19/587) of the 28 patients received revision surgery because of ineffective conservative treatment.Compared with the asymptomatic group,the difference of pre-and post-operative CFA was significantly smaller (-13.8±13.2 mm2) in symptomatic group,while the SA was significantly greater (7.0°±9.8°) in symptomatic group.The JOA score at 3 months after the surgery was significantly improved in asymptomatic group (63.0％±18.1％,P＜0.05).Conclusion The incidence rate of contralateral neurological symptom was 4.8％ in the present study.The potential risk factors associated with contralateral radiculopathy were predominantly contralateral foraminal stenosis and screw malposition.The excessive restoration of SA might have an effect on contralateral nerve compression,which should arouse the attention of the surgeon.

Radiotherapy is a treatment for cancer with undesired by-effects. In order to develop a new radiation protective agent that could reduce the by-effects, we tried to express and purify human cryptochrome 1 (hCRY1). The coding sequence of hCRY1 was inserted into prokaryotic expression plasmid pET28a(+), and this protein was purified from Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) after IPTG induction, ultrasonication, inclusion body dissolution, gradient dialysis, nickel column purification and ultrafiltration. The yield of hCRY1 in 1 L E. coli culture (LB medium) was about 10-15 mg. The radiation protective efficiency of hCRY1 was monitored by detecting X-ray-induced H2A.X foci in HaCaT cells. The results of immunofluorescence show that hCRY1 significantly reduces X-ray stimulated DNA damage response. The apoptosis of HaCaT cell was also detected, and the repression of H2A.X foci formation was not due to hCRY1's cytotoxity. All these data suggest a potential application of recombinant hCRY1 as a protective agent for radiotherapy.
Cryptochromes ; biosynthesis ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis

Objective:To propose a monosegment thoracic and lumbar fracture dislocation (mTLFD) classification, and to evaluate its reliability and clinical application.Methods:All of 298 cases of thoracic and lumbar fracture dislocation who received surgical management in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. 123 cases were included in the study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. mTLFD classification was proposed based on the imaging characteristics: type I (intervertebral disc injury mainly) and type II (vertebral burst fracture mainly). The type II was classified based on distribution of injury segment: type IIa (T 11 and above) and Ttype IIb (below T 11). Six spinal surgeons (3 residents, 3 associate chief physicians) were selected to classify the 123 cases according to preoperative imaging data, and to perform reliability test of each type. The repeatability and reliability of the classification were evaluated by ICC index. Different management strategies were performedf or each type: type I was managed with posterior decompression interbody fusion and internal fixation; type IIa underwent posterior decompression and fixation, subtotal vertebral resection and fusion was performed if bony compromise was still present through intra-operative exploration. Type IIb underwent posterior decompression, posterolateral fusion and internal fixation on the first stage, while anterior subtotal vertebral resection and reconstruction was performed on the second stage if the bony compromise was still present based on post-operative CT examination. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grading of all patients was recorded, and the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswetry disability Iindex (ODI) and local Cobb angle of each type was compared between pre-operation and final follow-up. Results:The average follow-up time of all patients was 10.4±1.8 months. The average repeatability and reliability ICC index of mTLFD of 3 residents and 3 deputy chief physicians were 0.926 and 0.964, respectively, and 0.746 and 0.907, respectively. The reliability ICC index of type I, type IIa and type IIb was 0.918, 0.947 and 0.962, respectively, and the repeatability ICC index was 0.930, 0.940 and 0.966, respectively. The neurological function recovery was obtained in 56 patients. The preoperative VAS of type I, type IIa and type IIb were 8.5±1.0, 8.4±1.0 and 8.3±0.9, and 2.0±1.1, 1.8±1.0 and 1.8±0.9 at the final follow-up (all P<0.001). The ODI of type I, type IIa and type IIb were 97.0%±2.1%, 97.1%±1.9% and 97.3%±2.1% before surgery, and 29.5%±6.8%, 27.0%±6.0% and 29.0%±6.7% at the final follow-up (all P<0.001). The local Cobb angles of type I, type IIa and type IIb were 20.9°±7.1°, 29.0°±9.1° and 26.4°±6.9° before surgery, and 12.5°±5.4°, 18.0°±9.1° and 13.1°±5.1° at the final follow-up (all P<0.001). Conclusion:The mTLFD classification proposed in this study has strong repeatability and reliability, and management strategy of each type have achieved satisfactory clinical efficacy, indicating that the classification has certain significance for management of thoracic and lumbar spine fracture dislocation.