Objective To investigate the effect of bisphosphonate medication (zoledronic acid,aclasta) on spinal fusion for osteoporotic patients through radiographic,clinical,and biological assessments.Methods A total of 79 patients with osteoporosis who were candidates for single-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion was randomly assigned to the experimental group (zoledronic acid injection,5mg,on the third day after surgery) or the control group (the same amount of saline injection,on the third day after surgery).Functional radiography and CT scans were used to evaluate fusion status.Bridging bone formation was graded into 3 categories:Grade A (bridging bone through bilateral vertebral),Grade B (bridging bone through a unilateral vertebral),or Grade C (incomplete bony bridging).The incidence of vertebral compression fractures occurring after surgery was assessed by means of MR imaging.A solid fusion was defined as less than 5° of angular motion in flexion-extension radiographs and the presence of Grade A or B bridging bone.Bone metabolic markers (β-C-terminal telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen,β-CTX; and N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰ collagen,PINP) were measured to investigate the biological effects of zoledronic acid on spinal fusion.Bone mineral density of femoral neck was measured by the dual X-ray absorptiometry.Clinical outcome was evaluated by means of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).Results Grade A or B bridging bone was more frequently observed in the experimental group at 3,6,and 9 months postoperatively (all P ＜ 0.05,respectively,Mann-Whitney U-test).At 12-months postoperative follow-up,bridging bone and solid fusion were not significantly different.No vertebral fractures were observed in the experimental group,whereas 6 patients in the control group showed vertebral compression fractures(P ＜ 0.05,Mann-Whitney U-test).Biochemical analysis of bone turnover demonstrated that zoledronic acid inhibited bone resorption from the early phase of the fusion process and also suppressed bone formation.Poor clinical results in the control group were demonstrated by ODI.Conclusions Osteoporosis patients undergoing spinal fusion who take bisphosphonates throughout the postoperative period was recommended.

OBJECTIVETo provide an intact rabbit pneumoconiosis model and a method of lung lavage for studying the pathogenesis and treatment of pneumoconiosis.

METHODSThe dust particles(< or = 5 microns diameter) were poured into the trachea of rabbit by trachea spile. The lung lavage of rabbit was carried out by the improved trachea catheter method.

RESULTSThe rabbit lungs exposed to coal dust showed many black dust spots and there were proliferation of fibroblasts. The rabbit lungs exposed to silica dust showed nodules and several fusing nodules. The X-ray film showed that there were small irregular shadows, or fusing together into flake-like or round shadows in both lungs. The recovery rate of the lung lavage was 89%-94%.

CONCLUSIONThe model made by trachea spile and the method of lung lavage by the improved trachea catheter were simple, safe and without being injured.

Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; methods ; Coal ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dust ; Lung ; pathology ; Pneumoconiosis ; etiology ; Rabbits ; Silicon Dioxide

This study was purposed to investigate the value of Histocheck and HLA-Matchmaker softwares in evaluating influence of HLA protein three dimensional conformation among individuals on outcome of unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (URHSCT). Data of the HLA-A/B/C/DRB1/DQB1 genotypes from 62 cases of URHSCT (HLA-allele 10/10 match 30 cases, 9/10 match 32 cases) were input into Histocheck and HLA-Matchmaker softwares respectively. The relationship between the software dissimilar scores and the 1 year overall survival (OS), incidence of aGVHD of III-IV grade and relapse rate was analyzed. The results showed that (1) with increase of the Histocheck scores, incidence of aGVHD of III-IV increased from 0% to 20% (p = 0.25), while no or mild aGVHD occurred in 70% cases with the high scores. For the relapsed cases, there was no significant difference between the cases with low scores and with highest scores (relapse rate 20%) except that 9 cases had no relapse in the group with higher score (11 - 20). (2) the analysis using HLA matchmaker software showed that incidence of aGVHD of III-IV grade increased with the increase of numbers of mismatch Eplets, arranging from 0% to 30%, the incidence of moderate aGVHD reduced (p = 0.019), whereas 60% cases in highest scores group had moderate aGVHD. No relapse occurred in the group with higher scores (≥ 3) (n = 10), whereas high relapse rate appeared in the lower score group (20%, p = 0.54). It is concluded that the value of Histocheck and HLA-Mtchmaker software for analysing the outcome of URHSCT may be similar despite of different calculating methods; for the certain pair of recipient and donor, correlation of the two score systems with incidence of aGVHD and relapse rate is similar, but with less accuracy; The HLA Matchmaker software appears better than Histocheck software in terms of correlation.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genotype ; Graft vs Host Disease ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Male ; Protein Conformation ; Recurrence ; Software ; Tissue Donors ; Young Adult

This study was purposed to explore the influence of number and locus of HLA allele mismatch on unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (URHSCT) in Chinese Han population. Total 10 alleles within the HLA-A/B/C/DRB1/DQB1 loci were analyzed by PCR-SSP for 101 pairs of donor and recipients who received URHSCT. 101 cases of URHSCT were divided into four groups: HLA-allele 10/10 match (n = 30), 9/10 (n = 32), 8/10 (n = 31) and 7/10 match (n = 8). The correlation of the HLA with overall survival (OS ≥ 1 year), incidence of acute GVHD (aGVHD) of grade II to IV and relapse rate of primary diseases were evaluated. The results showed that (1) The OS rates in HLA-10/10 and 9/10 groups were higher than that in HLA-8/10 match group (78% and 82% vs 50%, p = 0.39); incidence of aGVHD in the HLA-10/10 were lower than that in HLA-9/10 and HLA-8/10 group (0% vs 10% and 10%; p = 0.28); relapse rates among the 3 groups were close (16%, 18% and 20%, respectively). Although there were only 8 cases in HLA-7/10 match URHSCT, the data indicated that they were safe and effective; (2) Compared to the HLA-10/10 match URHSCT (n = 30), the HLA-C mismatch URHSCT (n = 12) harbored higher incidence of severe aGVHD (0% vs 25%, p = 0.006), longer OS (77% vs 85%, p = 0.30), and tendency to low relapse rate (8% vs17%, p = 0.47); (3) According to HLA-C1/C2, the ligands of inhibitory KIR, the 42 cases of HLA-10/10 match URHSCT and HLA-C mismatch URHSCT were grouped into donor/recipient HLA-C1/C2 match and mis-match subgroups. There was no difference between the two subgroups for OS, incidence of aGVHD and relapse rate (78% vs 80%, 14% vs 20%, and 5% vs 20%). It is concluded that for 0 to 2 locus of HLA allele mismatch in URHSCT, the fewer mismatch numbers, the longer OS, but with similar aGVHD incidence and the relapse rate; triple HLA allele mismatch (HLA-7/10 match) is safe in URHSCT. The HLA-C mismatch may be related to higher incidence of aGVHD and lower relapse rate and prolonged OS, remaining to be further studied.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; epidemiology ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult