BACKGROUND: Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy is one important cause of spinal stenosis. Ligamentum flavum thickness of more than 4 mm measured on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging is considered hypertrophy, but causes of hypertrophy and distribution characteristics remain poorly understood. Previous studies showed that the ligamentum flavum thickness at the segments L2/3, L3/4, L4/5 and L5/S1 was positively correlated with age.It remains unclear whether ligamentum flavum thickness is associated with nationality, sex and obesity. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the risk factors for ligamentum flavum hypertrophy in lumbar spinal stenosis patients from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, single-center, case analysis at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, China. We collected lumbar CT imaging data of 104 patients diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University from May 2012 to May 2016. The primary outcome was the ligamentum flavum thickness of patients with different nationalities, sexes, heights, ages, and weights. The secondary outcomes were the morphology of lumbar vertebrae in patients with different nationalities, sexes, heights, ages, and weights; the correlation of nationality, sex, height, age, and weight with ligamentum flavum thickness; results of multiple linear regression analysis of relevant factors for ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. This trial has been registered at clinical Trials.gov (indentifier: NCT03057353). This protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Xinjiang Medical University and will be performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, formulated by the World Medical Association. Signed informed consent regarding trial procedure and treatment will be obtained from each participant.DISCUSSION: This study will determine the variations in the ligamentum flavum thickness of lumbar spinal stenosis patients of different nationalities, sexes, heights, ages, and weights in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region by measuring the ligamentum flavum thickness using CT, and analyzing risk factors for ligamentum flavum hypertrophy; the findings will provide quantitative reference data for preventing lumbar spinal stenosis induced by ligamentum flavum hypertrophy in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Objective To study the mechanism of killing microfilariae in host by detecting the change of amino acids in Brugia malayi microfilariae. Methods The composition and contents of amino acid in microfilariae of periodic Brugia malayi before and after the effect of cytotoxicity were analyzed with automatic amino acid analyzer. Results The result showed that microfilariae contained 17 kinds of amino acids, but lacked Tryptophan. The total amount of amino acids of the microfilariae after cytotoxicity was lower than that before cytotoxicity( P

Objective To investigate the protective efficiency of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on lung injury in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:(1) Sham operation (S) group,(2) SAP group,(3) LMWH treatment (LT) group:LMWH was administrated 4 hours after SAP model was constructed.The levels of serum amylase,endothelin1(ET-1),tumor necrosis factor ? (TNF-?),lung wet/dry weight ratios,pulmonary morphology,the expressions of P65mRNA and P65 protein in pulmonary specimens were detected at 1d after the models were set up,and the 3 days survival rate in each group was also observed.Results (1) The levels of serum amylase,TNF-?,ET-1 in SAP group were significantly increased than those in S group and LT group (all P

Objective To investigate the effect of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on kidney injury in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Sham operation (S) group,SAP group, and LMWH treatment (LT) group. In LT group LMWH was administrated 4 hours after SAP model establishment. The levels of serum amylase, creatinine (Cr) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?), renal morphological change, and the expression of p65 mRNA and protein in renal specimens were determined 24 hours after model establishment or LMWH treatment. Results The levels of serum amylase,Cr,TNF-? in SAP group were significantly higher than those in S group and LT group (all P0.05). The expression of p65 protein and mRNA of renal tissues in SAP group was significantly higher than that in S group and LT group (all P

Objective To investigate low molecular weight heparin(LMWH) therapy for pancreatic encephalopathy in severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).Methods SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:(1) Sham operation(S) group,(2) SAP group and(3) LMWH treatment(LT) group:LMWH was administrated at 4 hours after construction of SAP model.The levels of serum amylase,myelin basic protein(MBP),tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-?),interleukin 6(IL-6),brain water contents and pathological changes of pancreas and brain were measured at 24 h after models were set up in SAP and in S group,and 24 h after LMWH was administrated in LT group.Results(1) The levels of serum amylase,TNF-?,IL-6 in SAP group were significantly higher than those in S group and LT group(all P 0.05).(2) The brain water content in SAP group was significantly higher than that in S group and LT group(P

Objective To investigate the clinical efficac y of internal fixation with Titanium Alloy(TIA)reconstruction plate in treatment o f clavicular midpiece fracture.Methods 37cases of clavicular midpiece frac-ture underwent open reduction and in ternal fixation with TIA.All the 37c ases were followed up and their clini cal efficacy were analyzed.Results All the clavicle fractures achieved clinical union and satisfactory fun ctional re-covery.Conclusion Open reduction and internal fixatio n with TIA reconstruction plate is on e of the best choices for clavicular midpiece fractures,for it can free the patients from distress of reoperation.[

The cell killing effects and bystander effects of double suicide gene on pulmonary carcinoma cells were explored. Lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) were transfected with different titers of adenovirus vector and followed with different concentrations of 5-FC after a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying CD/UPRT gene (Ad-CD/UPRT) was constructed. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay 4 days later. The cell viability was dropped to 30.57 %-8.62 % after 10 MOI of Ad-CD/UPRT transfected and 5-FC (10-1000 microg/mL) administration. Furthermore, Ad-CD/UPRT-infected A549 cells showed a profound neighbor cell killing effect in the same methods. These results suggested that Ad-CD/UPRT/5-FC system can effectively suppress growth of lung adenocarcinoma cells, which may provide a novel and powerful candidate for lung cancer gene therapy strategies.

BACKGROUND:Spinal canal decompression reduction fixation combined with bone graft fusion has been extensively applied in the clinic. Bilateral pedicle screw assisted interbody fusion and unilateral pedicle screw assisted interbody fusion are main methods to treat degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and lumbar spondylolisthesis. OBJECTIVE:To compare early clinical therapeutic effects of bilateral and unilateral pedicle screw assisted interbody fusion in elderly patients with spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis. METHODS:A total of 60 elderly patients with spinal stenosis with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis were selected, including 37 males and 23 females, at the age of 60 to 78 years old. They were divided into two groups, and subjected to decompression of spinal canal. In the treatment group (n=30), patients received unilateral pedicle screw assisted interbody fusion. In the control group (n=30), patients received bilateral pedicle screw assisted interbody fusion. After treatment, they were folowed up for 1 year. The recovery of joint function was assessed using Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores in both groups. Simultaneously, complications were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were 25.7±1.9 and 25.8±1.8 in the treatment and control groups, respectively, and no significant difference was found between groups. In the treatment group, three cases affected lower limb numbness and two cases suffered from dural tear, with the incidence of complication of 17%. In the control group, three cases affected lower limb numbness and three cases suffered from dural tear, with the incidence of complication of 20%; no significant difference was detected between the two groups. No adverse reaction related to bone graft was found in the two groups. These results confirm that bilateral or unilateral pedicle screw assisted interbody fusion in treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis obtained good therapeutic effects.

BACKGROUND:Traumatic or iatrogenic dural defects can cause persistent cerebrospinal fluid leakage, even progressing to life-threatening purulent meningitis. In patients with meningitis combined with cerebrospinal fluid leakage, most antibiotics are unable to enter the cerebrospinal fluid, as the cerebrospinal fluid is a good medium for bacteria and there is the presence of blood-brain barrier. So meningitis presents with acute onset, rapid development and infection difficult to control. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the outcome of continuous lumbar subarachnoid drainage plus intrathecal administration of antibiotics for postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage combined with meningitis after biomaterial repair of dural defects. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out to review the 12 cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage combined with meningitis among 126 of 2 266 cases who developed cerebrospinal fluid leakage (5.56%) undergoing spinal surgery from June 2008 to June 2013. During the operation, dural defects were directly sutured or repaired with autologous fascial sheet. Al cases underwent thorough debridement and intravenous injection of sensitive antibiotics folowed by continuous lumbar drainage and intrathecal administration of sensitive antibiotics (usualy vancomycin), and then the incision was closed at stage I. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The cerebrospinal fluid leakage was found in the 12 cases at 24-72 hours after surgery, averagely 48 hours; the infection was found at 812 days days after surgery, averagely 9.5 days. Headache and fever were significantly relieved at the 2nd day of intrathecal administration of antibiotics, and intracranial infection disappeared at 7-14 days after continuous lumbar drainage. Biochemical test of the cerebrospinal fluid and routine examination were done thrice, and the results were al normal. No bacterial growth was found in bacterial culture test, and the drainage tube was removed. There was no intraspinal infection, intracranial hypotension headache and hernia caused by the drainage tube. These findings indicate that autologous fascia repair combined with continuous lumbar subarachnoid drainage plus intrathecal administration of antibiotics is an effective method in the treatment of cerebrospinal fluid leakage with meningitis.

Objective To compare the ultrasonographic manifestations of ligamenta patella and their entheses of healthy volunteers with those of professional athletes. Methods Sonography was performed using a GE Logiq 700 MR Expert Series ultrasound equipment and a 5-10 MHz multifrequency linear array transducer. Fifty-two healthy volunteers and 20 professional athletes underwent sonography on ligamentum patella of both sides. Results The normal ligamenta patella′s contour was regular and sharply defined, appearing as tightly packed echoic structures with fine parallel internal linear echoes with a synovial sheath to a thickness of 0.02 cm. The attaching bone surface was smooth and continuous. The ligamenta patella of male was longer than that of the female(P