Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the postoperative analgesia after thoracotomy with different patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA)medication.Methods One hundred and twenty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients scheduled for elective thoracic surgery were randomly di-vided into four groups according to different PCIA formula:group S received sufentanil 3 μg/kg;group SD received sufentanil 1.5 μg/kg plus dezocine 0.3 mg/kg;group SF received sufentanil 1.5μg/kg plus flurbiprofen axetil 3 mg/kg;group DF received dezocine 0.3 mg/kg plus flurbiprofen ax-etil 3 mg/kg.For all four goups,the applied medicine was diluted with 0.9% saline to 300 ml,and was infused at 5 ml/h with a bolus dose of 3 ml.The lockout time was set at 1 5 min.The VAS and Ramsay sedation scale were recorded 2,4,8,24,48 h after surgery,respectively.Total pressing times and the side effects were also recorded for the 24 h period after the surgery.Results There were no significant differences of the VAS score at the time 2,4,8,24 and 48 h post surgery of press num-bers within 24 h postoperatively among all groups.The Ramsay sedation scale was significantly high-er at the time 2,4,8,24 h after surgery in group S than those in other three groups (P <0.05).The side effects were more in group S than those in other three groups (P <0.05).Conclusion Compared with sufentanil alone,combination therapy is safer and more effective for analgesia after thoracic sur-gery.With good outcomes and less side effects,it deserves more consideration in clinics.

Objective:To explore the relationship between dyslipidemia and blood pressure variability (BPV)in pa-tients with essential hypertension.Methods:A total of 251 patients with essential hypertension (EH),who were treated in our department of outpatient from Jan 2011 to Dec 2012,were selected.There were 114 patients with EH complicated dyslipidemia were regarded as EH+dyslipidemia group and 137 pure EH patients reganed as pure EH group.All patients received ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM);BPV indexes were compared between two groups.Results:Compared with pure EH group,there were significant rise in standard variations (SD)of 24h systolic blood pressure (SBP)and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)[(10.59±2.04)vs.(14.96±4.12),(10.16± 2.11)vs.(12.34±3.19)],24h SBP coefficient of variation (SBPCV)[(0.13±3.07)vs.(0.91±2.21)];daytime (d)SBPSD and DBPSD [(11.27±1.97)vs.(13.98±4.03),(8.94±2.01)vs.(11.34±3.12)],dSBPCV [(0.79±0.21)比 (1.01±0.31)];nighttime (n)SBPSD and DBPSD [(7.96±3.14)vs.(13.22±5.37),(8.13±1.97) vs.(9.95±3.47)],and nSBPCV and nDBPCV [(0.78±0.18)vs.(0.09 ±0.43),(1.07±0.34)vs.(0.13 ± 0.37)]in EH+dyslipidemia group,P <0.01 all.Conclusion:There are relationship between dyslipidemia and blood pressure variability in patients with essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND:Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has been successful y used in the field of joint replacement, fracture fixation and spinal implant, but the potential of 3D printing technology in the field of surgery for ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament of cervical spine remains to be discussed. OBJECTIVE:To determine the application value of a 3D printing model in the selection of anterior and posterior surgical decompression for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was carried out involving 15 patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament col ected by computed tomography (CT) and printed by a 3D model pre-operatively between October 2014 and October 2015 in Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University. There were isolated type (n=2), segmental type (n=6), continuous type (n=4), and combined type (n=3). The application value of a 3D printer model in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament was evaluated by Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, Visual Analog Scale scores, symptoms, and imaging data 1 month pre-operatively, 1 month post-operatively, and at the final fol ow-up. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Al 15 patients underwent successful treatment of cervical spine decompression surgery and were fol owed up for 4-16 months. The post-operative symptoms were relieved more significantly than the pre-operative symptoms. Using the posterior approach for cervical spinal surgery, 1 patient had incision fat necrosis and healed after negative pressure drainage. (2) Japanese Orthopedic Association scores 1 month pre-operatively, 1 month post-operatively, and at the final fol ow-up were 9.0±1.6, 11.7±1.8, and 15.5±1.4, respectively;the differences were statistical y significant (P<0.05). Visual Analog Scale scores 1 month pre-operatively, 1 month post-operatively, and at the final fol ow-up were 6.7±2.5, 2.13±1.4, and 1.4±0.5, respectively;the difference was statistical y significant (P<0.05). (3) The imaging results at fol ow-up showed that the anterior interbodies were fused, and the pivot of the posterior operation was healed wel without a re-closing phenomenon. (4) A 3D printer model was shown to be beneficial in observing the characteristics of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, performing the pre-operative evaluation, and simulating the surgical procedure. There was value for the choice of operative approach.

BACKGROUND:Lower cervical anterior transpedicular screw technology combines the advantages of the anterior and posterior surgery;therefore, the pressure releasing and reconstruction problems can be solved via one time anterior surgery, whereas, the difficulty and risk of the operation are increased. However, the three-dimensional (3D) printing assembly navigation template improves the safety and accuracy of screw placement. OBJECTIVE:To explore the feasibility and accuracy of 3D printing assembly navigation template in lower cervical anterior transpedicular screws and compare it with free hand pedicle screw placement. METHODS:Lower cervical spine specimens of six adult (2 males, 4 females, average age 58.5 years old ranged from 53 to 64 years) corpses were equal y and randomly divided into two groups. Group A underwent free hand pedicle screw placement. Groups B (lower cervical anterior transpedicular screws assisted by personalized 3D printing combined navigation template):Three cadaveric lower cervical spines were examined using CT and data in DICOM format were recorded. After data were processed using software Mimics for 3D model reconstruction, computer-assisted design of optimum trajactory for lower cervical (C3-C7) anterior transpedicular screws placement was worked out and made into a dril template, where the surface was created as the inverse of anterior surface of cervical vertebra. The dril template was materialized in a 3D printing and used to place the screws. Subsequently, CT scan was performed to evaluate the screw orientation and acceptability. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Thirty screws were inserted in Group A. The pedicle perforation was classified by CT, Grade 1:22 screws, Grade 2:6 screws, Grade 3:2 screws;insertion rate was acceptable (Grades 1-2):28 (93%). Thirty screws were inserted in Group B. The pedicle perforation was classified by CT, Grade 1:25 screws, Grade 2:4 screws, Grade 3:1 screw;insertion rate was acceptable (Grades 1-2):29 (97%). There were no statistical y significant differences in the rate of acceptable insertion and orientation between two groups (P>0.05). (2) These results suggested that 3D printing combined navigation template consisted with dril hole cap and screw hole, with functions of double direction. Compared with the traditional method, personalized 3D printing combined navigation template can be used simply.

BACKGROUND:At present, the main purpose of treatment for degenerative scoliosis is to relieve symptoms, surgicaly correct scoliosis, restore balance and function of the spine, but what kind of techniques is superior has been controversial. OBJECTIVE:To systematicaly assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of short fusion versus long fusion for degenerative scoliosis. METHODS:The databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, WanFang Database, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMbase published before May 2015 were electronicaly searched to colect the trials about the short fusion versus long fusion for degenerative scoliosis. Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3.4 software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Eleven studies were included, with 533 patients, including 272 cases in the short fusion group and 261 cases in the long fusion group. Meta-analysis results showed that: compare with short fusion group, long fusion group had better improvement of spine Cobb angle (P < 0.000 01) and lordosis angle (P < 0.000 01). No differences were found in the coronal imbalance (P=0.06) and lateral slippage (P=0.24) between the two groups. No significant difference was detected in Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (P=0.93), Visual analogue scale score (P=0.22), and Oswestry Disability Index score (P=0.13) between the two groups. The postoperative complications (P=0.000 6) and the rate of reoperation (P=0.03) were higher in the long fusion group than those in the short fusion group. The incidence of adjacent segment disease has no difference between the two groups (P=0.81). These findings suggest that long fusion is better than short fusion in improvement of the deformity of spine, but incidence of postoperative complications and the rate of reoperation are higher than those in the short fusion group. Comprehensive consideration should be given to the selection of a fixed fusion scheme.

BACKGROUND:Periosteal cel s have been used in bone repair, but whether nucleus puplousus cel s co-cultured with autologous periosteal cel s can differentiate into osteoblasts in spinal fusion is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE:To isolate nucleus puplousus cel s and periosteal cel s so as to observe the osteogenic ability of nucleus puplousus cel s co-cultured with periosteal cel s or not. METHODS:Type II col agenase digestion method was used to isolate and purify nucleus pulposus cel s, which were confirmed by toluidine blue and immunohistochemical staining. Periosteal cel s were isolated histological y and cultured in complete medium, and cel surface antigens CD90, CD105 were identified by immunofluorescence staining. According to the experimental needs, the cel s were assigned into two groups. Nucleus pulposus cel s and periosteal cel s were co-cultured by osteogenic induction medium in the experimental group. Nucleus pulposus cel s in the control group were cultured alone in osteogenic induction medium. Cel morphology was observed by inverted microscopy, and cel proliferation was detected by cel counting kit-8. The osteogenic differentiation indexes of cel s in each group were measured using alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red staining, and type I col agen immunohistoehemical staining. The expression of osteopontin was tested by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:CD105 and CD90 expressions of the periosteal cel s were positive. Nucleus puplousus cel s were positive for toluidine blue and col agen type II immunohistochemical staining. The proliferative ability of nucleus puplousus cel s was significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group at days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. After 2 weeks of induction, the cel s were positive for alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red staining, and type I col agen immunohistoehemical staining, but the experimental group showed higher positive expressions than the control group (P<0.05). The expression of osteopontin was also higher in the experimental group than the control group. These findings indicate that nucleus puplousus cel s possess osteogenic ability, but have lower proliferative ability in vitro. After co-culture with periosteal cel s, the proliferative ability of nucleus puplousus cel s can be increased. Under osteogenic induction, nucleus puplousus cel s co-cultured with periosteal cel s have good compatibility and adhere with each other, which have stronger osteogenic ability than cel s cultured alone.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of adult-onset non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in different genders.Methods:A total of 662 patients with adult-onset nr-axSpA (age at disease onset ≥16 years) who visited the Rheumatology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College from 1999 to 2020 were included in the study. Comparisons of baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between different genders were performed.Results:Overall, the male-to-female ratio was 1.17∶1, and the prevalence of human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27) positivity was 71.8%(475/662). The median baseline disease duration and age at diagnosis was 1.6 (0.5, 4.0) years and 25.0 (21.0, 33.0) years respectively. The males had a significantly earlier age at disease onset and diagnosis [21.0 (18.0, 28.0) vs 25.0 (21.0, 30.0), Z=5.63, P<0.001; 24.0 (19.0, 32.0) vs 27.0 (23.0, 34.5), Z=4.90, P<0.001, respectively] than females. HLA-B27 positivity was more frequent in males than in females [78.4% (280/357) vs 63.9%(195/305), χ2=17.06, P<0.001]. The prevalence of inflammatory back pain (IBP), morning stiffness, nocturnal pain, enthesitis, hip and groin pain were higher in males, whereas females showed a higher prevalence of small joint involvement of the hands. At baseline, males had higher median ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS)-C-reaction protein (CRP) [3.0(2.3, 3.8) vs 2.4(2.0, 3.0), Z=5.59, P<0.001] and a greater prevalence of high disease activity ASDAS-CRP>2.1 [81.9%(185/227) vs 67.9%(133/195), χ2=11.08, P=0.001] than females. The proportions of male patients with elevated CRP levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were also higher than those of female patients [49.0%(175/357) vs 27.9%(85/305), χ2=30.85, P<0.001; 49.3%(176/357) vs 33.4%(102/305), χ2=16.98, P<0.001, respectively]. Conclusion:The adult-onset nr-axSpA in China is characterized by a comparable sex ratio. Males have an earlier age at disease onset and are higher HLA-B27 positivity with higher prevalence of IBP, enthesitis, hip and groin pain, as well as high disease activity.