Objective To explore the effective of minimally invasive techniques for diagnosis and treatment of the spinal fungal infec-tions. Methods The clinical data of 6 patients with spinal fungal infection in our hospital from January 2012 to June 2014 was reviewd. All patients were taken biopsy diagnosis for spinal fungal infection by percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy. Along with the oral antifungal drugs treatment,all the patients received the interbody fusion surgery by percutaneous pedicle screw fixation and debridement. The clinical and image data were collected during the 6 months following period. Results The symptoms of all the patients was relieved after surgery and no complications occurred. All the patients were followed up for 6 months. The value of ESR and CRP decreased to normal level at the first month after operation. The VAS scores decreased from (7. 0 ± 0. 8) to (0. 8 ± 0. 7) and the ODI scores decreased from (56. 1 ± 7. 7) to (5. 7 ± 2. 1). The X-ray image confirmed solid fusion at the 6 months after surgery. Conclusion The minimally invasive technique of spine is a good way to treat spinal fungal infection.

Objective To assess the biomechanical stability and vertebra strain distribution of asymmetrical posterior internal fixation for minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion ( MI-TLIF) . Methods Range of motion ( ROM) and strain distribution testing were performed in 8 fresh-frozen calf lumbar spine motion segments in flexion/extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation using 5. 0 Nm torques at the L4-5 motion segment. The sequential test configurations included intact motion segment, TLIF with unilateral pedicle screw ( UPS) , TLIF with UPS plus transfacet pedicle screws ( UPS+TFPS) , and TLIF with bilateral pedicle screw ( BPS) . The ROM was deter-mined to assess the construct stability. Strain distribution was recorded along with flexion and lateral bending configurations. Results In flexion/extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, there was no significant difference in the ROM between BPS and UPS+TFPS fixation after TLIF. After TLIF, the UPS construct provided less segment stability than BPS and UPS+TFPS fixation in flexion, lateral bending. Strain distribution under UPS+TFPS fixation was respectively 21. 8% and 24. 2% higher than that under BPS fixation along with flexion and lateral bending. Conclusion UPS+TFPS fixation provides stability comparable to that of MI-TLIF with bilateral PS, with better load share with the vertebrae body.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of trans-acting factor(s) on rat glutathione S-transferase P1 gene (rGSTP1) transcription regulation in tumor cells.

METHODSThe binding of trans-acting factor(s) to two enhancers of the rGSTP1 gene, glutathione S-transferase P enhancer I (GPEI) and glutathione S-transferase P enhancer II-1 (GPE II-1), was identified by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The molecular weight of trans-acting factor was measured in a UV cross-linking experiment.

RESULTSTrans-acting factor interacting with the core sequence of GPEI (cGPEI) were found in human cervical adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa) and rat hepatoma cell line (CBRH7919). These proteins were not expressed in normal rat liver. Although specific binding proteins that bound to GPE II-1 were detected in all three cell types, a 64 kDa binding protein that exists in HeLa and CBRH7919 cells was absent in normal rat liver.

CONCLUSIONcGPEI, GPEII specific binding proteins expressed in HeLa and CBRH7919 cells may play an important role in the high transcriptional level of the rGSTP1 gene in tumor cells.

Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic ; physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Isoenzymes ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transcription, Genetic