Objective To explore the effect of anterior decompression plus posterior intradural release in treatment of old thoracolumbar fractures with paraparesis. Methods A total of 22 patients with old thoracolumbar fractures with paraparesis were admitted to our hospital since January 2004 to Jan-uary 2008. Before admission, all patients were treated with decompression and internal fixation with pos-terior pedicle system, with bony compression to the spinal cord found through CT scanning and intact spi-nal cord found by MRI but without obvious neurofunction recovery. Of all, 20 patients were kept with the original posterior fixation except for two patients that were fixed with Z-plate after removal of posterior hardware. Autologous bone grafts from iliac were utilized in all patients. Intradural release was done 3-6 months after anterior decompression. Results Of all, 19 patients were followed up for 17-49 months (average 28 months). Twenty patients obtained varied recovery of neurofunction after anterior decompres-sion, with ASIA motor scores increasing from average 59.4 points before decompression to 71.3 after de-compression. The followed-up patients won further recovery after secondary posterior intradural release, with ASIA motor scores further increasing to average 80.6 points. Conclusion For patients with old thoracolumbar fractures combined with paraparesis, the release of intradural sear and fibrocompression is also important besides anterior decompression.

BACKGROUND:Open reduction and Kirschner wire tension band technique has been a traditional surgical method for the treatment of patela fracture. However, there stil exist some complications such as Kirschner wire slippage and breakage. Cable-Pin system is a new fixation device. A series of good clinical results has been achieved in patients with patela fracture using this fixation device through a minimaly invasive way. OBJECTIVE:To compare and investigate the clinical results of minimaly invasive fixation with Cable-Pin system and Kirschner wire tension band technique for patela fracture and the complications. METHODS:Eighty patients with radiology-confirmed transverse displacement of patela participated in this trial, and were randomly divided into two groups. Forty patients underwent a minimaly invasive technique and the others had conventional open surgery using Kirschner wire. At postoperative intervals of 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale scores, range of motion was measured by goniometry, and knee function was evaluated using the Bostman clinical grading scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Easement of pain was better in the minimaly invasive surgery group than in the control group at 1 and 3 months after treatment (P < 0.05). Above dominance disappeared at 6 months after treatment. At 3-24 months, the knee flexion training was faster and flexion angle was greater in the minimaly invasive surgery group, and results were significantly better than in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of discomfort fixation-induced complications was lower in the minimaly invasive surgery group than in the conventional open surgery group (P < 0.05). These data confirm that after minimaly invasive fixation with Cable-Pin system, pain was noticeably lessened, range of motion of affected knee was great, the recovery of knee function was better, the incidence of complications was reduced, and the repair effect was better than the conventional Kirschner wire fixation.

Objective:To compare the clinical outcomes and correction effects of kyphosis between Zero-profile device (Zero-p) and plate/cage structures (PCC) in treating cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients with cervical kyphosis.Methods:From August 2016 to July 2018, a total of 54 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients with cervical kyphosis were analyzed retrospectively, including 26 cases treated with Zero-p and 28 cases treated with PCC system. There was no significant difference between the two groups in gender, age, body mass index (BMI) and operative segment. The operation duration and the blood loss were recorded. The clinical outcomes of the patients were measured by visual analogue score (VAS) for neck pain and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score for neurological function. Moreover, JOA recovery rate was obtained to assess the surgical results. The cervical lordosis (C 2-C 7 Cobb angle), the Cobb angle of the operation segment, the C 2-C 7 vertical axis (C 2 SVA) and the cervical range of motion (ROM) were measured on the lateral and dynamic radiographs of the cervical spine, respectively. Results:In the Zero-p group, the operation duration was 83.0±14.9 (range 60-120) min, intraoperative blood loss was 70.5±27.3 (range 30-150) ml. In PCC group, the operation duration was 100.0±23.9 (range 65-145) min, intraoperative blood loss was 104.2±38.8 (range 30-250) ml. There were significant difference in above parameters between two groups ( t=3.40, 2.06; P=0.00, 0.04). The follow-up duration in Zero-p group was 30.4±5.8 (range 24-36) months and 31.2±4.9 (range 24-36) months in PCC group without significant difference ( t=1.061, P=0.291). The VAS/JOA score of the Zero-p group was improved from (5.9±1.0)/(9.2±1.7) preoperatively to (2.1±0.8)/(14.9±1.0) at 1 month postoperatively, and to (3.4±1.0)/(15.1±0.9) at the last follow-up. The difference between them was statistically significant ( F=130.96, 221.40, P=0.00). The VAS/JOA score of the PCC group was improved from (5.9±1.1)/(8.7±1.6) preoperatively to (2.3±0.9)/(14.9±1.0) at 1 month after surgery, and to (2.6±0.9)/(15.6±1.1) at the last follow-up. The difference between them was statistically significant ( F=303.35, 126.64, P=0.00). However, the VAS score of neck pain in the Zero-p group at the last follow-up was significantly deteriorated, which was significantly higher than that in PCC group ( P<0.05). The cervical lordosis/operative segment Cobb angle in the Zero-p group was improved from preoperative (-6.7°±2.7°)/(-6.5°±3.2°) preoperatively to (14.2°±4.9°)/(12.9°±4.9°) at 1 month postoperatively, and to (5.9°±4.7°)/(5.0°±4.0°) at the last follow-up with statistical significance ( F=196.98, 179.97, P=0.00). The cervical lordosis/operative segment Cobb angle in the PCC group was improved from (-5.7°±3.5°)/(-6.1°±4.0°) preoperatively to (13.9°±6.9°)/(13.0°±6.4°) 1 month after surgery, and to (11.0°±5.5°)/(10.4°±5.6°) at the last follow-up with statistical significance ( F=127.27, 119.98, P=0.00). However, the cervical lordosis and operative segment Cobb angle at the last follow-up in the Zero-p group were significantly lost compared with those at 1 month after surgery, which were significantly smaller than those in the PCC group ( P<0.05). The incidence of dysphagia after operation was 7.7% (2/26) in the Zero-p group and 28.6% (8/28) in the PCC group (χ 2=5.11, P=0.02). Conclusion:For CSM patients with cervical kyphosis, PCC could achieve much better mid-term kyphotic correction and clinical outcomes. However, Zero-p should be avoided as much as possible.

Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is a cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) sensing protein that can recognize the dsDNA released during cell disturbance and pathogen invasion and trigger the activation of inflammasome cascade. Activation of inflammasomes leads to the maturation and release of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β and interleukin-18), induces pyroptosis, and initiate innate immune response. Among these inflammasomes, AIM2 and its mechanism of action and clinical significance in liver diseases has become a research hotspot at present. This article summarizes and discusses the importance of AIM2 in the pathogenesis of various liver diseases including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis B virus infection, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, so as to provide new ideas and a reference for clinical treatment.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a difficult and critical disease with rapid progression and limited treatment methods in the field of liver disease， and it is urgently needed to make breakthroughs in its pathogenesis. Selection of appropriate prevention and treatment strategies is of great importance in delaying disease progression and reducing the incidence and mortality rates. This article reviews the theory of “turbid toxin pathogenesis” and related prevention and treatment strategies for hepatic encephalopathy in traditional Chinese medicine/Zhuang medicine， proposes a new theory of “turbid toxin pathogenesis”， analyzes the scientific connotations of “turbid”， “toxin”， and the theory of “turbid toxin pathogenesis”， and constructs the “four-step” prevention and treatment strategies for hepatic encephalopathy， thereby establishing the new clinical prevention and treatment regimen for hepatic encephalopathy represented by “four prescriptions and two techniques” and clarifying the effect mechanism and biological basis of core prescriptions and techniques in the prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy， in order to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.