BACKGROUND:Posterior lumbar interbody fusion can thoroughly decompress the central canal, which is the common surgical technique for the central type of lumbar disc herniation with intervertebral instability at low lumbar segment. However, due to the regular traction on dural sac and nerve root in the operation, lower limb radicular pain in the early stage is inevitable. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of local use of gelatin sponge containing prednisolone acetate around the nerve roots after posterior lumbar interbody fusion on lower limb radicular pain. METHED:Sixty-three cases of lumbar disc herniation with degenerative instability were devided into treatment group (n=21) and control group (n=42) based on the type of implants. Gelatin sponge containing prednisolone acetate was implanted into patients in the treatment group after posterior lumbar interbody fusion, while pure gelatin sponge was implanted into patients in the control group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, radicular pain in the treatment group was significantly relieved within 1 week after surgery. The visual analog scale score and Oswestry disability index score were similar between the two groups. There were three cases of radicular pain recurrence in the control group, but no incision infection and epidural hematoma after surgery in both two groups. In conclusion, local use of gelatin sponge containing prednisolone acetate around the nerve roots can significantly relieve lower limb radicular pain in the early stage after posterior lumbar interbody fusion in lumbar disc herniation, contributing to early rehabilitation exercise and patient satisfaction outcomes.

BACKGROUND:The infection after spinal internal fixation was its serious complications. A number of studies have shown that erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein are of great importance in judging infections. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the trend of change of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein for patients without infection after the cervical fixation. METHODS:Total y 56 patients, who underwent cervical fixation from October 2013 to July 2014, were retrospectively analyzed, and then divided into anterior cervical group (n=29) and posterior cervical group (n=27). Patients in the anterior cervical group underwent anterior cervical decompression bone graft internal fixation. Patients in the posterior cervical group underwent posterior cervical unilateral open door decompression internal fixation. The peripheral blood was col ected before fixation and at the early morning of the 1, 3, 6, 9 days after fixation. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein values were determined. The fol ow-up of patients was more than one year. Signs of infection did not appear. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) General rule:After the cervical fixation, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was increased significantly and reached a peak on postoperative day 6. The peak level gradual y decreased but has not returned to normal at the 9 postoperative days. The C-reactive protein increased significantly on the first postoperative day and reached a peak on postoperative day 3. The peak level rapidly decreased but has not returned to normal at the 9 postoperative days. The level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate of patients in the posterior cervical group was significantly higher than that in the anterior cervical group at 3, 6 and 9 days after internal fixation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the C-reactive protein between these two groups (P>0.05). (2) These results demonstrate that C-reactive protein is an important indicator of monitoring the inflammatory response of patients after cervical internal fixation, which was conductive to the judgment of early infection after internal fixation. The abnormal inflammatory indices of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein do not suggest a presence of blade infection after internal fixation. C-reactive protein can reach the peak at 3 days after fixation. It is recommended to check blood at 2 and 3 days. If there is no apparent rebound, then the possibility of infection is smal . It may indicate the presence of infection if the inflammatory indices increased again or decreased slowly after the decrease.

BACKGROUND:The reasons for spinal imbalance include spinal deformity, spinal degenerative disease osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. We believe that the power factor (back muscle) plays a key role in spinal sagittal imbalance. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the reasons for spinal sagittal imbalance by observing clinical manifestations and therapeutic outcomes in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. METHODS:A total of 41 patients with osteoporotic compression fractures combined with spinal sagittal imbalance were retrospectively analyzed from January 2012 to May 2013. Al patients were subjected to percutaneous bal oon vertebroplasty under local anesthesia. Before treatment, they received bone density, standing ful-spine lateral X-ray, CT and MR imaging with injured vertebrae as the center. Using standing ful-spine radiographs, the height of anterior border of the injured vertebrae, Cobb angle of kyphosis and improved angle, wedging angle of the injured vertebrae and improved angle were measured. The patients underwent weight loading test and walking test. Preoperative and postoperative data were compared. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The patients affected spinal sagittal imbalance symptoms, so the walking distance was significantly shorter than that postoperatively (P<0.05). Moreover, the time of weight loading test was significantly shorter than that postoperatively (P<0.05). In standing ful-spine radiographs, the average difference of Cobb angle was (10.01±0.76)°. The mean difference of vertebral wedging improvement was (4.84±0.40)° (P<0.05). Al patients were fol owed up. Low back pain and sagittal imbalance symptoms were relieved. No severe complications appeared after percutaneous bal oon vertebroplasty. Results indicated that patients with osteoporosis compression fractures can affect the symptoms of spinal sagittal imbalance, which is not only induced by wedging of the injured vertebra. In addition, after percutaneous bal oon vertebroplasty, imbalance symptoms are apparently improved, suggesting that back pain after spinal fracture limits back muscle strength and is an important cause for spinal sagittal imbalance.

BACKGROUND:Pathological examination and MRI have been widely used in clinic, but their combination is rarely reported in discrimination of early spine infections.
OBJECTIVE:To determine the accuracy of pathology and MRI for discrimination between early pyogenic spondylitis and brucella spondylitis.
METHODS:Twenty-two patients with pyogenic spondylitis and 20 patients with brucella spondylitis who had CT-guided percutaneous biopsy and MRI of the spine were retrospectively reviewed. Pathological observations included structure and activity of bone lesions, tissue cells and their main components;MRI observations included signal and sign changes at lesion sites. Statistical analysis was performed with the chi-square test.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The patients with pyogenic spondylitis had a significantly higher incidence of pathological and MRI findings as fol ows (P<0.05):neutrophil infiltration;intervertebral disc abnormal signal, location of vertebral body lesions anterior+posterior, obviously shape change in the vertebral body, paraspinal abnormal signal, presence of intraosseous or paraspinal abscess. Pathological and MRI examination was accurate for early differentiation of pyogenic spondylitis from brucella spondylitis.

Objective To investigate the gene expression of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1?) in degenerative cervical intervertebral discs and its significance. Methods The specimens of the cervical intervertebral discs were harvested from 12 patients with cervical disc herniation (CDH) and 16 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) in surgical operations, and categorized according to the MRI disc degeneration classification. The specimens of 8 normal cervical intervertebral discs from fresh corpses were harvested as control group. The expression of IL-1? mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH) and the difference and change characteristics of IL-1? mRNA expression were compared among groups and each grades. Results The expression of IL-1? mRNA was obviously stronger in CDH and CSM groups than in the control group and stronger in discs of grades Ⅲ and Ⅳ than gradesⅠ and Ⅱ. Conclusion The gene expression of IL-1? was strengthened in degenerative cervical intevertebral discs and the more serious the degeneration, the stronger the gene expression. IL-1? may play an important role in the degeneration of cervical intervertebral discs.

Objective To explore the characteristics and advantages of the rat model of lumbar nerve root com -pression established via modified hemilaminectomy approach .Methods Forty Sprague Dawley ( SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups ( experimental group and control group ) for establishing a rat model of lumbar nerve root compres-sion.Modified hemilaminectomy apprpoach was used in the experimental group , while total laminectomy was applied in the control group.Duration of operation, estimated blood loss, wound healing status, postoperative mortality, motor function of the lower extremities , pathological changes and the gray level of cytoplasmic TNF-αand IL-1 expression were observed to e-valuate the characteristics and reliability of the two operation approaches in establishing a rat model of lumbar nerve root compression.Results Compared with the control group , duration of operation , estimated blood loss , wound healing sta-tus, postoperative mortality were significantly better in the experimental group (P<0.01), whereas there was non-signifi-cant difference between two groups with regard to motor function of the lower extremities , pathological changes and gray lev-el of the cytoplasmic expression of TNF-αand IL-1 between the two groups .Moreover, the soft tissue structural alterations were reduced in the experimental group , which might be helpful for the rat postoperative rehabilitation .Conclusions Modified hemilaminectomy approach is a reliable alternative method for establishing a rat model of lumbar nerve root com -pression, which is beneficial to shorten the operative time , improve wound healing status , reduce estimated blood loss and damages of soft tissue , and decrease mortality rate .Moreover , this modified method is more consistent with the principles of animal ethics .

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of NF-κB activation on the proliferation and apoptosis throughTLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) 5-8F cell lines. METHOD: TLR4 induced by LPS is inhibited by PE anti-human. Real-Time Quantitative PCR and Western blot were employed to evaluate the efficacy of mRNA level and protein expression. The growth inhibition rate of 5-8F by Celecoxib was evaluated with MTT method. The cell cycle and apoptosis were measured with flow cytometric method (FCM). RESULT: By using the specific inhibitor, the protein and gene expression of NF-κB and MyD88 were both significantly lower than the control group (P<. 05). Meanwhile, the down-rugulation of NF-κB could inhibit proliferation of NPC 5-8F cells and promote their apoptosis (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION By inhibiting TLR4 / MyD88 signaling pathway, the expression of NF-κB in NPC 5-8F cells could decrease, then the cell proliferation was inhibited and cell apoptosis was induced. The results showed that TLR4 / MyD88 / NF-κB induced by LPS is an important pathway in the genesis and development of NPC. This study provides evidence for targeting research of NPC.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: In lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with severe osteoporosis, screw is easily loose and pul s out during reposition, or loss of reduction and internal fixation failure easily occur after repair. Therefore, it is very important to elevate the intensity of pedicle screw fixation during repair. At present, few studies concern application of bone cement screw enhancement technology in lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of augmented pedicle screw with polymethylmethacrylate for lumbar spondylolisthesis accompanied with osteoporosis. METHODS: From June 2009 to June 2011, 27 patients suffering from lumbar spondylolisthesis accompanied with osteoporosis were included in this retrospective study. These patients received augmented pedicle screw with polymethylmethacrylate. The levels of disability and pain were evaluated by Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog scale. The internal fixation and fusion were evaluated by radiological findings. Al complications were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Al cases were fol owed up for 15-37 months. Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog scale scores were significantly better in final fol ow-up than that pre-treatment (P < 0.05). Imaging results revealed that bone cement tightly connected to bone interface. The position of screw and bone cement was good. Symptomatic bone cement leakage was not found. No fixation failure was detected during final fol ow-up. Al patients achieved interbody fusion. These results suggested that polymethylmethacrylate bone cement could increase the gripping force of the pedicle screw in osteoporotic vertebral body. It is safe and effective to treat spondylolisthesis accompanied with osteoporosis with augmented pedicle screws. Satisfactory fixation stability and interbody fusion can be obtained.

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes between conventional percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and targeted PVP in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).Methods A retrospective cohort study was designed to review 215 cases of single level OVCFs hospitalized between January 2014 and December 2015.According to the procedure techniques,the patients were assigned to targeted PVP group (89 cases) and conventional PVP group (126 cases) which was further divided into sufficient filled subgroup (110 cases) and insufficient filled subgroup (16 cases) on basis of cement distribution.Key techniques of targeted PVP included accurate needle insertion to fractured area and cement injection using a push rob with a side opening.Operating time,cement injection volume,rate and types of cement leakage,cement distribution in the fractured area and visual analogue score (VAS) of back pain were compared between the two groups.Results Operating time in targeted PVP group was longer than that in conventional PVP group (P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences in cement injection volume and rate and types of cement leakage between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).None in targeted PVP group showed insufficient cement distribution in fractured area,while 16 cases (12.7％) in conventional PVP group (P ＜ 0.05).No significant differences in preoperative VAS of back pain existed among targeted PVP group,sufficient subgroup and insufficient subgroup (P ＞ 0.05).VAS of back pain was significantly decreased after PVP in three groups (P ＜ 0.05).Difference in postoperative VAS of back pain between targeted PVP group and sufficient filled subgroup was insignificant (P ＞0.05).However,postoperative VAS of back pain in insufficient filled subgroup was significantly increased compared with targeted PVP group and sufficient filled subgroup (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Targeted PVP provides sufficient cement to fill the fractured area and decreases incidence of unsatisfactory clinical outcome compared with traditional PVP,indicating a secure and effective new technique in the treatment of OVCFs.

BACKGROUND:There are so many studies about ovariectomized rats at present, but the research on the change rules of bone mass, bone turnover markers, estrogen levels and their correlation in different periods of ovariectomized rats is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the change rules of bone mass, bone turnover markers, estrogen level and their correlation in different periods of ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Thirty-four 3-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: baseline group, ovariectomized group and sham operated group. At the beginning of the experiment, the rats in the baseline group were sacrificed, then rats in the ovariectomized group and sham operated group were executed at 4, 8, 12 weeks postoperative respectively. The bone mineral density, bone mass content, area of different zones of the L1-3 lumbar vertebrae and femurs were detected by dual-energy X-ray absorption method, and meanwhile the serum levels of type I procolagen amino-terminal pro-peptide, I colagen carboxy-terminal peptide and estrogen were determined by ELISA. At last, we analyzed the correlation between body mass, bone mineral densityin vitro, type I procolagen amino-terminal pro-peptide, I colagen carboxy-terminal peptide and estrogen levels and the age of ovariectomized rats. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The bone mineral density and bone mass content of the lumbar vertebral and femurs in the ovariectomized group were significantly lower than those in the sham operated group and baseline group at the 4th week after operation (P < 0.05). The bone mineral density and bone mass content in the ovariectomized group were ameliorated obviously at the 8th and 12th weeks compared with those at the 4th week after operation (P < 0.05). The bone mass loss was highest in the L1 and intertrochanteric regions. (2) Serum levels of type I procolagen amino-terminal pro-peptide and I colagen carboxy-terminal peptide in the ovariectomized group were significantly higher than those in the baseline group and sham operated group at the 4th week after operation, but there was no difference at the 8th and 12th weeks. (3) The serum estrogen level in the ovariectomized group was prominently lower than that in the sham operated group and baseline group at the 8th and 12th weeks after operation (P < 0.01 at the 8th week,P < 0.05 at the 12th week). (4) The age was positively correlated with body mass and bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae and femursin vitro, while the serum levels of type I procolagen amino-terminal pro-peptide and I colagen carboxy-terminal peptide were negatively correlated with the bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae and femurs in vitro (P < 0.01). These results suggested that the bone mass of the lumbar vertebrae and femurs in ovariectomized rats was decreased rapidly firstly, and then rose slowly with time; the bone mass in the L1 and intertrochanteric regions lost seriously; the bone turnover markers showed a significant increase at the beginning of ovariectomy and reduced gradualy to normal condition, while the estrogen level was increased at the first month after ovariectomy and then decreased rapidly. In addition, the body mass, bone turnover markers and estrogen level were associated with the change of bone mass.