Lumbar fusion is currently the major treatment of lumbar degenerative disease, spinal instability and discogenic disease etc. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a novel lumbar fusion technique in recent years, and with the progress of minimally invasive spinal surgery, minimally invasive TLIF (mini-TLIF) technique has also got access to rapid development, which has more advantages compared with traditional open TLIF. The authors review the indications and contraindications, surgical method, development and advantages and minimally invasive surgical assistant instruments of mini -TLIF.

BACKGROUND: Wnt signaling pathways can stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cel s, and promote the repair of spinal cord injury. The electrical field stimulation can change the protein expression of Wnt signaling pathways.
QBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of oscil ating electric field on motor function recovery and the expression of Wnt-3a protein in rats with spinal cord injury.
METHODS: A total of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats models with spinal cord injury were induced by the Al en’s method. Al rats were randomly divided into oscil ating electric field stimulation group and spinal cord injury group. The stimulating electrodes were added in both groups. The oscil ating electric field stimulation group received oscil ating electric field intervention.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 3 days after model establishment, Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale scores and Wnt-3a expression were similar between the oscil ating electric field stimulation group and spinal cord injury group. At 7 and 14 days, significant differences in BBB scores and Wnt-3a expression were detected. These results indicate that oscil ating electric field stimulation can activate Wnt signaling protein in the early stage of spinal cord injury, which may be associated with the promoting effect of oscil ating electric field stimulation on spinal cord injury.

Objective To investigate the clinical and renal pathological features in the new rat model induced by anti-human podocyte-protein antibody. Methods The rat model was induced by once intravenous injection of rabbit anti-human podocyte-protein antiserum which was prepared at first. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=36) were randomly divided into six groups (6rats in each group): control group (CG), the time points of day 7 group (D7), day 14 group (D14),day 21 group (D21) and day 28 (D28) group after antiserum injection, and day 28 group after the normal rabbit serum injection (NRG). The level of 24 hour proteinuria, the clearance of creatinine,albumin, blood urea nitrogen, triglyceride, cholesterol and serum creatinine were measured. The renal morphology was detected under the light microscope, immunofluorescence microscope, and electron microscope. Results 24-hour proteinuria (mg) was gradually increased, and the level of proteinuria in D28 (48.56±13.80) was significantly higher than that in CG (5.34±2.77, P＜0.01)and NRG (11.32±4.90, P＜0.01). The clearance of creatinine (ml/min) and serum creatinine (μmol/L) in D28 (0.90±0.47, 33.48±9.94) were significantly different from CG (1.68±0.54, P＜0.05;26.03±2.67, P＜0.05), but showed no difference with NRG (1.34±0.87, P＞0.05; 27.40±4.73, P＞0.05). The level of albumin (g/L) was lower in D7, D14, D21, D28 (28.20±0.87, 27.80±1.97,27.42±1.66, 27.77±1.95) than CG (29.98±0.76, P＜0.05). But there was no difference in the level of albumin among the groups after antiserum injection and NRG (28.68±1.18, P＞0.05). The level of blood urea nitrogen, triglyceride, cholesterol showed no difference among the groups (P＞0.05). The renal morphology showed no obvious changes between CG and NRG. Among the groups after antiserum injection, the renal pathological changes under the light microscope were some spikes formation in D28. Immunostained for rabbit IgG in rat glomeruli progressively decreased over the 28 days, while rat IgG progressively increased. The renal section deposition for rat complement 3 reached a maximum at day 21 then decreased afterward. Under the electron microscope, there were immune complexes and foot process fusion at day 14. Conclusions The new rat model induced by anti-human podocyte-protein antibody showing typically clinical and pathological changes of the membranous nephropathy is successfully established.

Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a first-line treatment for very-early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whereas the efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for very-early-stage HCC remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify this issue by comparing the safety and efficacy of percutaneous MWA with percutaneous RFA in treating very-early-stage HCC. Methods: Clinical data of 460 patients who were diagnosed with very-early-stage HCC and treated with percutane-ous MWA or RFA between January 2007 and July 2012 at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Mili-tary Medical University, in Shanghai, China were retrospectively analyzed. Of these 460 patients, 159 received RFA, 301 received MWA. Overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), local tumor progression (LTP), complete ablation, and complication occurrence rates were compared between the two groups, and the prognostic factors associated with survival were analyzed. Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the 1-, 3-, or 5-year OS rates (99.3%, 90.4%, and 78.3% for MWA vs. 98.7%, 86.8%, and 73.3% for RFA, respectively;P= 0.331). Furthermore, no signif-icant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the corresponding RFS rates (94.4%, 71.8%, and 46.9% for MWA vs. 89.9%, 67.3%, and 54.9% for RFA, respectively;P= 0.309), the LTP rates (9.6% vs. 10.1%,P= 0.883), the complete ablation rates (98.3% vs. 98.1%,P= 0.860), or the occurrence rates of major complications (0.7% vs. 0.6%,P= 0.691). By multivariate analysis, LTP, antiviral therapy, and treatment of recurrence were independent risk fac-tors for OS (P < 0.001), and the alpha-fetoprotein level was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (P= 0.002). Conclusions: MWA is as safe and effective as RFA in treating very-early-stage HCC, supporting MWA as a first-line treatment option for this disease.

Adult ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Nitrobenzenes ; poisoning ; Occupational Exposure ; Poisoning ; complications ; therapy

This study is designed to obtain recombinant human acetylcholinesterase (rhAChE) and apply it in screening acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The rhAChE was overexpressed in HEK293 cells transfected by plasmid of pCMV-AChE with the cationic liposome and rhAChE was found to be secreted into cell culture medium. AChE activity was assayed according to modified Ellman method to obtain kinetic parameters. IC so50 values for donepezil compounds of rhAChE were calculated to determine their activities of inhibition. The results showed that Km value was 151.9 micromol.L-1 donepezil inhibited rhAChE in a mixed competitive-noncompetitive way (Ki= 16.03 nmol.L-1, Ki = 18.36 nmol.L-1) and that most new compounds tested exhibited high activities of inhibition on rhAChE. The study suggests that rhAChE is available to be applied in screening AChE inhibitors in vitro.
Acetylcholinesterase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; analysis ; pharmacology ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Indans ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Kinetics ; Piperidines ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

Objective To detect the gene mutation of thyroid hormone receptor β ( TRβ ) in a family with thyroid hormone resistance syndrome.Methods The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes of the patient and his 5 family members.The exons 1-10 ofTRβ gene were amplified by PCR.The products of PCR were sequenced directly to detect the gene mutation.Results Two members of this family were confirmed to have the C y A transition mutation at nucleotide 1642 site within exon 10 of TRβ gene,which was a missense mutation causing the substitution of Proline to Threonine (P453T).The mutation was Heterozygous.Conclusions It was confirmed that the patient has TRβ gene mutation P453T in exon 10.The mutation may lead to the occurrence of thyroid hormone resistance syndrome.

Objective To investigate the role of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-l (sTREM-1) in children with community acquired pneumonia.Methods One hundred and seventy-six children with community acquired pneu-monia, 98 cases were mild and 78 cases were servere, were recruited. Thirty healthy children were recruited as control group. The white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil percentage (N%), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and sTREM-1 were measured.Results The levels of WBC, N%, CRP, IL-6, IL-10, IL-6/IL-10, PCT, and sTREM-1 were signiifcantly different among children with mild pneumonia, severe pneumonia, and healthy controls. All of the indicators were elevated in children with mild and severe pneumonia than those in healthy controls (P<0.05). IL-6/IL-10 sTREM-1 were further signiifcantly elevated in children with severe pneumonia than children with mild pneumonia (P<0.05). IL-6/IL-10 was positively correlated with sTREM-1 (r=0.42,P<0.05).Conclusions sTREM-1 may help for evaluating the severity and outcome of children with community acquired pneumonia.

Objective:To compare the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation between human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from orofacial bone(OMMSCs)and those from long bone(BMMSCs).Methods:OMMSCs were isolated from orthognathic surgical sites and cultured by limited dilution.BMMSCs were obtained from bone marrow of volunteers and isolated by density gradient centrifugation method.The surface markers of the cells were detected by flowcytometry.Single-colony formation,CCK assay and cell circle analyses were conducted.Osteogenic differentiation ability was evaluated by ALP activity test and Alizarin red staining after osteogenic induction culture.Results:The cell surface markers STRO-1 and CD105 of both stem cells were positive,CD34,CD31 and CD45 were negative. OMMSCs generated significantly higher numbers of colonies than BMMSCs.In addition,OMMSCs had a higher proliferation rate and more cells in proliferative(S +G2 )stage than BMMSCs.After osteogenic induction for 3,5,7 and 10 d,OMMSCs showed higher levels of ALP activity.OMMSCs formed significantly more mineralized nodules than BMMSCs after 21-day ostogenic induction.Conclusion:The proliferation and osteogenic differentiation capacity of OMMSCs are higher than those of BMMSCs.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effect of phycocyanin on the apoptosis of human laryngeal cancer HEP-2 cells and to explore the inhibitory mechanism of phycocyanin to tumor.METHODS:Highly purified phycocyanin was ex-tracted from spirulina.The effects of phycocyanin at different concentrations on the growth of human laryngeal cancer HEP-2 cells were detected by MTT assay.In addition, the cell structures were observed under electron microscope.The cell ap-optosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The production of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) was measured by flow cytometry. Enzymatic activities of caspase-3,-8 and-9 were measured by chemical colorimatry.The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, P53, caspase-3 and caspase-9 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.RESULTS:MTT test confirmed that phycocyanin inhibited the cell activity of HEP-2 cells with time and dose dependent manners.The result of electron microscope observation and flow cytometry indicated that phycocyanin induced the apoptosis of HEP-2 cells.The intracellular content of ROS was increased.The activities of caspase-3, -8 and -9 were increased.RT-PCR showed that the mRNA expression of Bax, Fas, P53, caspase-3, caspase-9 was increased and Bcl-2 was decreased.The results of Western blot were consistent with the results of RT-PCR.CONCLUSION:Phycocyanin might induce apoptosis of HEP-2 cells by down-regulating Bcl-2, up-regulating Bax, Fas and P53, and the transduction of apoptotic signals in the human laryngeal cancer cells.