OBJECTIVETo investigate the early clinical effects and radiological outcome of dynamic cervical implant (DCI) internal fixation in treating cervical spondylosis, and evaluate its safety and efficiency.

METHODSFrom June 2009 to December 2011, 19 patients with cervical spondylosis correspond to the indication of DCI internal fixation in the study, including 5 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and 14 cases of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. There were 8 males and 11 females, aged from 35 to 54 years with a mean of 43.2 years. Pathological segments included C3,4 in 1 case, C4,5 in 6, C5,6 in 6, C6,7 in 4, C3,4 and C5,6, C6,7 in 2. All patients were treated with anterior discectomy and decompression and DCI internal fixation, meanwhile, 2 cases of them with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion plate fixation. Clinical evaluation included Modified Japanese orthopedics association (mJOA), neck disability index (NDI), visual analogue scale (VAS) score and patient satisfaction index (PSI) at pre-operation and final follow-up. Radiographic evaluation included flexion/extension lateral view at operative level and adjacent segment. The adjacent level degeneration was analyzed according to Miyazaki classification on MRI images.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 42 months with an average of 19.8 months. Preoperative mJOA score was 13.6±1.1 and at final follow-up was 16.3±1.2 with improvement rate of 85.0%. Preoperative VAS,NDI was 6.6± 1.4, 17.1±7.4 and at final follow-up was 1.4±0.8, 6.1±3.9, respectively; there was statistical significance in all above-mentioned results between preoperative and final follow-up (P<0.05). Preoperative ROM at operation level was (7.6±1.9)° and final follow-up was (7.8+2.1)°; preoperative ROM at C2-C7 was (38.6±7.2)° and final follow-up was (39.9±6.4)°; there was no statistical significance in all above-mentioned results between preoperative and final follow-up (P>0.05). Preoperative DHI at operation level was (6.3±1.1) mm and final follow-up was (7.1±0.8) mm, there was statistical significance in DHI between preoperative and final follow-up (P<0.05). No heterotopic ossification was found. All patients followed up MRI, degeneration of 3 segments aggravated 1 degree in 38 adjacent segments, without clinical symptom.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of cervical spondylosis with dynamic cervical implant can got satisfactory outcome in early follow-up. Activity of operative segment obtain reservation in some degree. The incidence of adjacent segment degeneration is lower and no adjacent segment disease occur. Nevertheless a longer follow-up time should be needed to assess the long term functionality of the DCI and the influence on adjacent levels.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Spondylosis ; physiopathology ; surgery

Objective To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) ( ≤ 2. 0 cm) with liver cirrhosis after contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) examination. Methods Forty five patients with liver cirrhosis received CECT and CEUS examinations before operation or needle biopsy and the diagnosis was confirmed by pathological examination.CEUS and CECT findings of 51 liver space-occupying lesions from 45 patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among all 51 lesions detected CEUS and CECT found 49 and 35, respectively. The typical characteristics of SHCC were "fast-in and fast-out" and "fast-in and slow-out". The sensitivity of CEUS and CECT in diagnosis of SHCC was 88. 9% (32/36) and 69. 4 % (25/36) respectively ( x2 = 3. 02, P =0. 08);the diagnostic accuracy was 84. 3 % (43/51 ) and 56. 9% (29/51 ) respectively ( x2 = 1.46, P =0. 22). Among 16 lesions missed by CECT, 12 were detected by CEUS. Conclusions CEUS and CECT show the similar diagnostic rate for typical SHCC ,however, CEUS is more sensitive for atypical lesions. With high time resolution, CEUS have advantages for follow-up study of benign liver lesions.

Adult ; Cartilage ; surgery ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; surgery ; Ear Auricle ; surgery ; Esthetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; surgery ; Tympanoplasty ; methods

Objective:A patient with L3-5 lumbar disc herniations and right spinal recess stenosis at L4-5 level associated with type IIB lumbosacral nerve anomaly(LSNA) at right side according to Neidre and Macnab classification system missed preoperatively and initially misdiagnosed as type IIA intraoperatively was reported. The reasons leading to missed diagnosis preoperatively and misdiagnoses intraoperatively were analyzed. Methods: A 62-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for intermittent radiating pain and claudication to the right lower extremity for about 20 years, radiating pain to the left lower extremity for 2 weeks. Physical examination found the left L5 nerve and right L4 and L5 nerves were impinged. CT and MR scannings revealed L3-4 disc herniation at right side, L4-5 disc herniation at central and left side with severe lateral recess stenosis at right L4-5 level. Image examinations failed to find a nerve root anomaly preoperatively. Following failed conservative treatment, the patient accepted decompression operation initially at left side. Left L5 nerve compressed by the herniated L4-5 disc was found firstly, which was liberated by discectomy. When doing decompression exploration at right side, it was found that two lumbar nerve roots exited L4-5 intervertebral foramen while the upper one was compressed by the herniated L3-4 disc which was liberated by discectomy and the lower one was free of compression. With exposing the right side and partly unroofing of stenosed right L4-5 lateral recess, no typical L5 nerve root was found passing over the posterior surface of the herniated L4-5 disc except that there was a slim membrane-like structure covering it. The patient was initially considered as type IIA LSNA skeptical according to Neidre and Macnad Classification. But detailed observation of the axial CT and MR sequences at L4-5 lateral recess space and sagittal CT and MR sequences at L5S1 intervertebral foramen found there was nerve-like structure, which was further confirmed to be the L5 nerve root by total unroofing of stenosed lateral recess. The membrane-like structure covering the L4-5 disc was confirmed to be the flattened right L5 nerve root compressed by herniated L4-5 disc and stenosed lateral recess, which emerged from the dura’s ventral-lateral side just above the L4-5 disc, the L5 nerve was stripped and pushed medially from its lateral boundary meticulously, L4-5 discectomy was done at right side. Intervertebral cages were inserted after L3-4 and L4-5 disc spaces preparation, following pedicle screw system fusion. Results: No nerve damage occurred intraoperatively. The patient was free of radiating pain to the left lower extremity the day after operation, two weeks later the radiating pain to the right lower extremity alleviated after temporary aggravating. Conclusion: type II lumbar nerve anomalies were not easily to be detected by CT or MR images preoperatively, that closer distance between the conjoined nerves existing the L4-5 foramen and careless observation was responsible for missed diagnosis preoperatively. That the flattened right L5 nerve covering the L4-5 disc was difficult to be recognized intraoperatively for losing its typical contour and color was responsible for misdiagnosing type-IIB anomaly as IIA LSNA.. The operators should be alert and observed carefully in case of misdiagnosing.

Objective To measure the circumferential cortical thickness of anterior entrance and anterior half of lower cervical pedicles on computed tomography (CT) images, providing a reference for accurate anterior cervical pedicle screws. Methods CT scanning was performed in 10 normal lower cervical vertebrae from fresh cadavers, and the coronal and sagittal reconstructed images were obtained. The images were then opened in AutoCAD-2007 software to perform quantitative measurement (accuracy was 0. 1 mm) using the “dimaligned function” of dimension menu, and measurement parameters included the thicknesses of superior, medial, inferior and lateral cortex of anterior entrance of pedicle (SAE. MAE. IAE and LAE. respectively), and thicknesses of superior, medial, inferior and lateral cortex of anterior half of pedicle (SPA, MPA, IPA and LPA, respectively). Results Average thicknesses of SAE. MAE. IAE. LAE, SPA, MPA. IPA, and LPA at left and right side from Q to C7 were (1. 9 + 0. 6) and (1. 9 + 0. 5) mm, (1. 9 + 0. 7) and (1.9+0. 4) mm. (2.4 + 0. 6) and (2. 4 + 0. 5) mm, (0. 9 + 0. 5) and (0. 9 + 0. 6) mm, (2. 3 + 0. 9) and (2. 3 +0. 7) mm, (2. 1 + 0. 5) and (2. 1 + 0. 6) mm, (2. 2+0. 8) and (2. 2+0. 7) mm, and (1. 0 + 0. 7) and (1. 0 + 0. 6) mm, respectively. There was no significant difference in same measurement parameter between left and right sides at same cervical level (P>0. 05). Single factor random block analysis of variance found LAE and LPA were significantly thinner than the other 6 parameters of the same side of same cervical vertebra (all P0. 05). Conclusion LAE and LPA are the thinnest among the 8 measurement parameters from C3 to C7, which suggests LAE and LPA have the weakest resistance to exotic force if resistance strength to exotic force is parallel to cortex thickness. We should avoid locating close to LAE when finding anterior entrance or close to LPA when inserting anterior cervical pedicle screws.

Objective To investigate the association between arsenic(+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to endemic arsenism.Methods Polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-RFLP-SSCP) technology was performed to detect mutations of AS3MT gene intron 8 and exon 9 in genome DNA of the 79 cases and 110 controls.PCR products with abnormal band forms were further sequenced to find the types and sites of mutation.Chi-square test and multivariate Logistic analyses were conducted.Results The incidence of the 9149 base mutation(A→C) in AS3MT gene intron 8(AS3MT-9149) in case group(19.0％,15/79) was lower than that in control group (23.6％,26/110).The incidence of the codon 287 mutation(ATG→AT/CG) in AS3MT gene exon 9(AS3MT-287)in case group(10.1％,8/79) was lower than that in control group (11.8％,13/110).However,statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in both mutations between two groups[AS3MT-9149:odds ratio(OR) =0.59,95％ confidence interval(CI):0.26-1.31,P =0.195; AS3MT-287:OR =0.85,95％ CI:0.32-230,P =0.751].Conclusions There are no significant association between the genetic polymorphisms of AS3MT-9149,AS3MT-287 and the susceptibility to endemic arsenism.Similarly,due to small sample amount,we can not exclude the possibility that these gene polymorphisms are related to susceptibility to endemic arsenism.

In our previous study, we found that Si Miao Formula (SMF) had the effect of improving the disorder of glucose metabolism caused by high fat and high sucrose diet, and significantly altered the composition of gut microbiota, especially increasing the level of Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila). However, it is unclear that the role of intestinal flora and A. muciniphila play in SMF improving blood glucose homeostasis, and the mechanism of how SMF increases the level of A. muciniphila. Therefore, this study will explore the correlation between SMF improving the insulin resistance and increasing the level of A. muciniphila, as well as the mechanism of SMF-induced growth of A. muciniphila using the in vitro and in vivo experiments. We explored the effect of intestinal flora and A. muciniphila on SMF-improved insulin resistance through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and antibiotic intervention. In order to study the mechanisms underlying SMF on elevating A. muciniphila, we disassembled SMF to find the key component which can particularly elevate the number of A. muciniphila. Using the in vitro anaerobic culture system combined with cell and animal experiments, we explored the mechanism of the key component in elevating A. muciniphila. The research was approved by the Animal Ethical and Welfare Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Our results showed that the gut microbiota altered by SMF can improve high fat and sucrose diet induced insulin resistance in recipient mice, and the improvement was closely related to the abundance of A. muciniphila. Cortex Phellodendri played the most important role in regulating the composition of intestinal flora and increasing the number of A. muciniphila, of which, berberine was the key component of Cortex Phellodendri which up regulated A. muciniphila. We have found that berberine cannot directly promote the growth of A. muciniphila in vitro, but it can stimulate the expression of mucin, which, in turn, promote the growth of A. muciniphila. The above results show that the improved insulin sensitiviy by SMF depends on the increased level of A. muciniphila. The effect of SMF on elevating the amount of A. muciniphila might be correlated with the increased expression of mucin stimulated by berberine.

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects between arthroscopic medial retinaculum plication and plaster external fixation for the treatment of acute patellar dislocation.

METHODSFrom February 2006 to October 2012,29 patients with acute patellar dislocation were divided into two groups: operation group and non-operation group. The patellar dislocation duration was 2 weeks. In operation group, there were 7 males and 10 females, with an average age of (16.2 ± 6.2) years old, and the patients were treated with arthroscopic medial retinaculum plication. In non-operation group, there were 5 males and 7 females,with an average age of (16.3 ± 5.0) years old,and the patients were treated with plaster external fixation. The Kujala scores, patellar tilt angle measured on CT film, apprehension test and recurrence rate of patellar instability were observed before and 1 year after treatment.

RESULTSIn operation group, the pre-treatment and post-treatment patellar tilt angles had no statistical difference, but the post-treatment Kujala score was lower than that of pre-treatment; while in non-operation group, the post-treatment patellar tilt angle was larger than that of pre-treatment, and the post-treatment Kujala score was lower than that of pre-treatment. At 1 year after treatment, the patellar tilt angle (21.2 ± 5.3) of patients in non-operation group was larger than (13.5 ± 3.5) of operation group, and the Kujala score 73.3 ± 10.5 of patient in non-operation group was lower than 84.1 ± 5.6 of operation group.

CONCLUSIONDuring 1 year after operation, arthroscopic medical retinaculum plication is a more effective treatment for acute patellar dislocation compared with plaster external fixation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arthroscopy ; Case-Control Studies ; Casts, Surgical ; Child ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; Humans ; Male ; Patellar Dislocation ; surgery ; therapy ; Patellar Ligament ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate retrospectively the difference and complementary of contrastenhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (CEMR) in early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC)(≤2.0 cm) in patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods Forty-five patients with space-occupying lesions in cirrhotic livers were included, who were referred to CEUS and CEMR before operations. Numbers as well as diagnosis results were recorded respectively,and all cases were confirmed by pathological examination. Results Seventy-five lesions were found after CEUS and CEMR,with 69 and 58 respectively. Forty-one lesions were diagnosed pathologically as SHCC by surgery or needle biopsy. Overlapping exited in enhanced mode between CEUS and CEMR.Most SHCC displayed as mode Ⅰ "fast-in and fast-out" and mode Ⅱ "fast-in and slow-out" in both examination,which can be considered as a reliable criterion. The diagnostic accuracy of CEUS and CEMR was 77. 3% (58/75) and 62. 7% (44/75) respectively (0. 50＜ P ＜0. 75). Differences of the diagnostic accuracy of SHCC with atypical enhanced mode between CEMR and CEUS were statistically significant.Conclusions There is no significant difference of diagnostic accuracy of SHCC between CEMR and CEUS.Both of these two examing procedure have its own advantages for atypical lesions, which accounts for its diagnostic difference of small SHCC and benign lesions.

Objective To investigate specific immune responses in mice induced by recombinant major outer membrane protein(rMOMP)of C.trachomatis serovaf E.Methods Thirty-six female BALB/cmice aged 3 to 4 weeks Were divided into three groups.i.e.,adjuvant group vaccinated、with purified rMOMP and Freund's adjutant,solitary group vaccinated with rMOMP only and control group vaccinated with phosphate buffered saline(PBS).All the mice were intramuscularly vaccinated on week 0,2 and 4.Blood samples and vaginal washes were obtained from these mice on week 6,then,mice were challenged with elementary body(EB)of C.trachomatis serovar E at the footpad followed by the observation of delayed hypersensitivity.On week 7.mice were genitally infected with C.trachomatis EB;one week later,blood samples and vaginal washes were obtained again;six weeks later,spleen lymphocytes were isolated from the mice and stimulated bv C.trachomatis or ConA followed by the detection of cell proliferation with MTT assay.In vitro neutralization assay was also performed.ELISA was used to determine the titers of Chlamydia-specific IgO antibody in sera and IgA antibody in vaginal washes,as well as the level of IFN-γ in culture supernatant of lymphocytes and sefa of mice.Vaginal swabs were collected after genital challenge and subjected to C.trachomatis culture.Results The absorbance at 405 ms of Chlamydia-specific IgG antibody and proliferation index of lymphocytes were 0.641±0.059 and 5.085±1.291.respectively,in mice immunized with rMOMP and Frennd's adjuvant.significantly higher than those in mice immunized with rMOMP only(0.424±0.015 and 3.123 ±0.840.both P<0.05).The thickness of right hind footpad increased by 0.324±0.054 mm and 0.272±0.064 mm,respectively,in solitary group and adjuvant group,respectively,with significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).A significant increase was also observed in the adjuvant group compared with the control group in the above three parameters(all P<0.01).Conclusion The rMOMP of C.trachomatis could efficiently induce Chlamydia-specific humoml and cellular immune responses in mice.