0.05).A statistical significance on the visual analog scale(VAS) between two groups was noted after treatment(P

[Objective]To evaluate the curative effects of the posterior or anterior lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of superior position intervertebral disc herniation. [Method] Forty-seven patients with superior position intervertebral disc herniation were followed up.There were 29 males and 18 females with mean age of 53.3 years(from 35 to 67 years).Twewty-five patients were treated with posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF)using facet joint autograft and cage additional of pedicle screw internal fixation(posterior way group),and 22 patients were treated with anterior disckectomy,bone graft and plates internal fixation(anterior way group).The mean follow-up time was 53.5?5 months(from 24 to 78 months).The clinical results were compared between two groups.Clinical functional assessment standard was used to evaluate the clinical curative effect.The changes of the therapeutic effects,the radiographic findings and complications were evaluated.[Result]In regard to the operation time and bleeding,the posterior way group was superior to anterior way group.There was no difference between the two groups in clinical recovery rates and nerve root injury rates.Complications included dural tear(n=3),and pedicle screw deviating(n=1) in the posterior way group;and dural tear(n=2),unilateral transient lower extremity paresthesia(n=3),and hard controlled singultation(n=1) in the anterior way group.The rates of bone fusion were 96.00% and 95.45% in the posterior and anterior way groups. [Conclusion] Operation for the superior position intervertebral disc herniation is effective.The posterior lumbar interbody fusion using facet joint autograft and cage additional of pedicle screw internal fixation to shorten the operation time and decrease bleeding is recommend for the treatment of superior position intervertebral disc herniation.

Objective To retrospectively study the character, surgical interventions of chordomas in the cervical spine. Methods All the clinical data of 8 cases of chordoma arising in the cervical spine which under went surgical treatment in our department from 1989 to 2006 were retrospectively reviewed, which including 5 males and 3 females. The patients ranged from 34 to 72 years at diagnosis, with an average age of 53.8 years. Surgical interventions were defined according to WBB criteria. 3 patients underwent subtotal centrum or total centrum resection, 2 patients underwent sagital resection and 2 patients received subtotal or total spondylectomy. Extracapsular excision was performed in a intradural invasion case. Autogenic iliac blocks were used as bone graft in 5 cases and titanium mesh with bone cement filling-in for anterior pedestal in 2 cases for reconstructing the stability of spine. Radiation therapy was given as an adjuvant treatment after surgery. Results Symptom of nerve root irritation disappeared or relieved prominently and the patients suffering spinal cord compression symptom got well recovery with at least 1 or 2 levels after operation. The typical “Physaliphorous cell” could be found in the oncologic examination in all those cases. Follow-up average 43.5 months, ranged from 3 to 120 months. All the internal fixation got well fusion and the rate of fusion for the bone graft was 100%. There were 4 cases in which the postoperative local recurrence of the tumor can be seen, with one patient dead of complications of high paralysis, but no local recurrence was observed in the cases which received total spondylectomy. No evidence of distant metastasis was observed in 7 cases for our series except the special intradural case which had the operation history for “sacral chordoma” before. So we consider it as a intradural metastasis case of the primary sacral chordoma. Conclusion Chordomas are rarely seen in the cervical spine and the typical clinical manifestation is rare in pristine cases. So we should think highly of the CT and MR examination for diagnosis. Total spondylectomy with postoperative radiation therapy could lower the rate of local recurrence.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of Jintiange capsules combined with zoledronic acid on bone mineral densi-ty(BMD),VAS scores and lab indexes of patients with postmenopausal diabetic osteoporosis. METHODS:140 patients with post-menopausal diabetic osteoporosis were divided into control group and treatment group according to randomized blocks,with 70 cas-es in each group. Both group received 0.9% Sodium chloride injection 100 ml intravenously before and after treatment,and were given vitamin D and calcium. Control group was given Zoledronic acid injection 5 mg intravenously for more than 15 min,once ev-ery 4 weeks. Treatment group was additionally given Jintiange capsules 1.2 g,po,tid,on the basis of control group. Both groups received 6 months of treatment. BMD,VAS score,lab indexes before and after treatment and the occurrence of ADR were com-pared between 2 groups. RESULTS:After treatment,BMD of 2 groups were increased significantly compared to before treatment, and the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). VAS score of 2 groups after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment,and VAS score of treatment group was significantly lower than that of control group after treatment,with statistical significance(P<0.05). The levels of blood calcium and serium inorganic phosphorus had no change in 2 groups;but the level of osteocalcin was significantly higher than before treatment,while the level of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase was significantly lower than before treatment,and the levels of osteocalcin and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase in treatment groups were significantly better than in control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in the incidence of ADR between 2 groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Jintiange capsules combined with Zoledronic acid injection in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis patients with diabetes can significantly in-crease BMD,relieve pain and improve lab index levels. Moreover,it doesn’t increase the risk of ADR.

Objective To investigate the in vivo transduction capability of fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP with mice.Methods Two prokaryotic expression plasmids pET15b-EGFP and pET15b-PEP-1-EGFP were constructed and transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3) to express EGFP and fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP,respectively.The expressed EGFP and PEP-1-EGFP were purified with Ni2+-resin affinity chromatography.Five hundred micrograms of EGFP and PEP-1-EGFP fusion protein were injected into mouse through caudal vein,respectively,the mice were euthanized and perfused with PBS 2 hours after administration.Then,the heart,brain,liver,spleen and kidney were removed and sectioned with a cryostat at 7 ?m for visualization with a inverted fluorescent microscope.ResultsThe brain,heart,liver,spleen and kidney injected with PEP-1-EGFP showed bright and homogenous green fluorescence whereas that with EGFP showed no green fluorescence at all.Conclusion The successful expression and purification of PEP-1-EGFP fusion protein and its efficient transduction into mice in vivo provide a basis for the research on transmembrane delivery of macromolecule drugs mediated by the cell-penetrating peptide,PEP-1.

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of modified eggshell technique through posterior approach for the treatment of hard thoracic disc herniation. Methods From January 2006 to June 2009, 22 patients admitted for hard thoracic disc herniation were reviewed, including 13 males and 9 females, with an average age of 49.5 years (range, 33-69). The courses of disease were 11 months on the average (range, 3-18 ). The lesions located in T8-9 for 4 cases, T9-10 for 9, T10-11 for 7, T11-12 for 2. Each of the patients underwent X-ray, CT scanning and MRI examination before surgery. There were 16 cases of central type, and 6 cases of paracentral type. All patients were treated surgically by modified eggshell technique via posterior approach. Results The mean operative time was 210 min (range, 180-300 min), with a mean blood loss of 860 ml (range, 600-1200 ml). All surgeries were performed successfully without neurological symptoms aggravation. Surgical complications included dural laceration in 2 cases, both dural lacerations were repaired intraoperatively, epidural hematoma in 1 case with lower extremity neurological symptoms, full neurologic recovery was observed after surgical removal of the hematoma. All patients were followed up for average 27.5 months (range, 12-54). The mean JOA score increased from 3.36±1.79 before operation to 7.45±2.99 after the operation at 12 months follow up, and the mean improvement rate of neurological status was 58.3%±30.7%. There was significant difference in JOA score before and after surgery(t=10. 12,P＜0.01 ).The results of 14 cases were ranked as good, 6 as fair, 2 as unchanged, and none as worsened. All cases obtained bony fusion without instrument failure. Conclusion Modified eggshell technique enable ventral and dorsal spinal decompression from the posterior approach in cases of hard thoracic disc herniation, with reduction of the rate of postoperative paralysis.

Objective To investigate whether increased signal intensity (ISI) can help assess the prognosis in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) by means of measuring the ratio of signal intensity. Methods A retrospective study with two or more years follow-up of 57 patients with CSM underwent posterior cervical decompression were carried out from February 2000 to February 2006. 1.5T MRI was performed in all patients before surgery. T2-weighted images (T2WI) of sagittal ISI on the cervical spinal cord were obtained, For those with ISI, the values of signal intensity of the spinal cord on T2-weighted image (T2Wl) and TI-weighted image (TIWI) of sagittal view were measured at the location where there was ISI on T2WI, and the ratio of signal intensity of T2WI / T1WI (T2/T1 ratio) at the same level of the spinal cord and with similar area was calculated on the computer. Patients with ISI were subdivided into 2 groups according to T2/T1 ratio. Results ISI was not observed in 20 patients (group 1). The range of T2/T1 ratio of other 37 patients was from 1.28 to 2.80 and the median was 1.65. Nineteen patients were divided into group 2 (ratio range, 1.28-1.63), and 18 into group 3 (ratio range, 1.67-2.80). Significant differences were noted in age at surgery, duration of disease, recovery rate, pre and preoperative JOA score among three different groups.Spearman's rank correlation showed that T2/T1 ratio was positively correlated with age at surgery and duration of disease, negatively with pre- and postoperative JOA score and recovery rate. Conclusion Patients with ISI and higher T2/T1 ratio tend to have relatively severe preoperative state of illness and poor prognosis after surgical intervention. Spinal cord signal intensity change on T2-weighted MRI might be a predictor of a poor outcome in terms of functional recovery rate in patients underwent operations for multi-level CSM.

This study was aimed to establish the three-dimensional model of C_(3-7) segment of lower cervical spine after artificial disc implantation, to analyze the movement of lower cervical spine after artificial disc replacement. According to CT films of 1 patient at 6 months after artificial disc implantation, three-dimensional finite element model that included Bryan~(TM) artificial cervical disc prosthesis of the lower cervical spine was established using finite element method, then introduced into Ansys 9.0, the vertebral cortical bone, cancellous bone and intervertebral disc were meshed and analyzed by using under several states such as flexion/extension, lateral bending and rotation, thus understanding their motion characteristics. By comparison with previous research findings, test results nearly accorded with or exhibited identical trend with previous study. The results suggest that, cervical disc replacement can basically guarantee the stability of lower cervical spine movement.

BACKGROUND: Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis could be treated by laminectomy internal fixation placement,unilateral or bilateral decompression,posterior laminectomy and so on.However,whether laminectomy internal fixation placement can be used remains unclear.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of interbody fusion cage implantation of pedicle screw fixation,in combination with posterior lumbar laminectomy,bilateral resection and decompression of the inferior articular process,autologous facet joint bone transplantation in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.METHODS: A total of 41 patients of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis,who failed after 3 months of conservative therapy,including 23 males and 18 females,at a mean of 60.3 years,Received posterior lumbar laminectomy,bilateral inferior articular process resection and decompression,autologous facet joint bone and cage interbody fusion implant pedicle fixation.They were followed up for 24 months,preoperative and postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA)score evaluations were performed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of the patients,radiological examination was done to investigate the graft fusion and vertebral stability of surgical segments in patients.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: During the follow-up,JOA score significantly increased compared with the preoperative score(P＜0.01)and clinical excellence rate was 90%; 40 cases obtained bony fusion,with a fusion rate of 98%,1 patient exhibited signs of lumbar instability.There was no loosening,fracture and other complications after internal fixation,but 2 cases appeared dural tear,1 case pedicle position deviation,1 case pseudoarticulation formation.The results suggest that the posterior lumbar laminectomy,bilateral inferior articular process resection and decompression,autogenous facet joint bone and cage interbody fusion implanted pedicle screw fixation show good clinical effects for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitative treatment after extended open-doorlaminoplasty of the cervical spine for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.Methods Sixty patients(mean age 61.7 ±12 years)who had undergone extended open-door laminoplasty of the cervical spine for cervical spondylotic myelopa-thy were studied for an average of 40.7 months.They are divided into a rehabilitation group and a control group with 30 patients in each.The patients in the rehabilitation group received systematic rehabilitation therapy pre-and post-operation.In both groups,the neurological recovery rate,the cross-sectional areas of the cervical posterior muscles,and the incidence of axial symptoms and post-operative complications were recorded and compared. Results The wounds of patients in the rehabilitation treatment group healed with no complicating infections,but the wounds of three patients in the control group became infected.There was no statistically significant difference in neurological recovery between the two groups.In the rehabilitation treatment group,the rate of atrophy and the cross-sectional areas of the cervical posterior muscles were significantly lower than in the control group.At the same time,the rate of neck axial symptoms was 23% in the rehabilitation group but 60%in the control group.a difference which was statistically significant. Conclusions Although rehabilitation treatment pre-and post-operation may not speed up neurological recovery,it may prevent postoperative atrophy of the cervical extensors and lower the incidence of neck axial symptoms.