BACKGROUND:Radiotherapy alone is not suitable for tumor-caused vertebral fractures and neurological dysfunction. In recent years, 125I radiation particles have been widely used in a variety of primary or secondary tumors and achieved good results. Percutaneous kyphoplasty can restore vertebral height efficiently, remodel spinal stability, and relieve pain.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate safety and effectiveness of percutaneous kyphoplasty combined with 125I in patients with metastatic spinal tumors.
METHODS:A retrospective study was conducted to review 30 cases of metastatic spinal tumors undergoing percutaneous kyphoplasty combined with 125I from March 2011 to July 2012. Symptoms, signs, and imaging findings were col ected and analyzed. Al the patients had a refractoriness back pain. CT scan showed osteolytic changes in the vertebrae. The visual analogue scales, WHO standards for pain relief and Owestry disability index were recorded to analyze the clinical symptoms outcome and recovery of neurological function, and the change of height in abnormal vertebrae was measured. The fol ow-up time was 1 day, 1 month and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Operations in al the 30 patients were done successful y. Al patients got a conspicuous pain relief in 24 hours after operation, and nospinal injury or compression was found. There were significant differences in scores of visual analogue scales, pain levels, Owestry disability index, and the height of vertebral bodies before and after operation (P<0.05). During postoperative fol ow-up of 1 and 6 months, scores of visual analogue scales, pain levels, Owestry disability index, and the height of vertebral bodies showed no difference from those at 24 hours postoperatively (P>0.05). Bone cement leakage occurred in the anterior longitudinal ligament (n=2) and intervertebral space (n=2), and no serious complications occurred. Percutaneous kyphoplasty combined with 125I is a safe and effective way to treat metastatic spinal tumors, which can quickly ease the pain caused by spinal tumor, recover the abnormal vertebral height, reduce complications and improve life quality of patients.

Objective To investigate clinical efficacy of transforaminal approach debridement with fusion,thoracolumbar single segment of Brucella spondylitis pedicle screw fixation (TLIF surgery).Methods We analyzed retrospectively the clinical data of 28 patients with Brucella spondylitis treated in our department between January 2009 and January 2014 with TLIF surgery (Group A) and internal fixation with a simple posterior anterior interbody disease debridement,autogenous bone graft (Group B).The two groups were compared in operation time,blood loss,postoperative ambulation time,hospitalization days,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),Creactive protein (CRP),American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification,visual analogue scale (VAS),Oswestry Disability Index (ODI),Cobb angle of vertebral bone graft healing,and complications.Results All the patients were followed up for an average of 20.2 months (18 to 27 months).They were all cured.Compared with those in Group B,patients in Group A had shorter operation time (164.60±59.19)min,significantly reduced blood loss (346.00±108.90)mL and complications (1 case);significantly shorter postoperative ambulation time (3.36±1.11 days),hospitalization days (17.36 ± 4.19) days and duration (13.16 ± 3.94) months (P ＜ 0.05).The two groups did not significantly differ in VAS scores,ODI,ESR CRP,or Cobb angle (P＞0.05).Conclusion On the basis of norms of anti-drug treatment for brucellosis,TLIF surgery on Brucella spondylitis has the advantages including less trauma,shorter operation time,easier operation,less bleeding,earlier postoperative ambulation,and lower complication rate.

Objective:To determine the clinical efficacy of posterior intervertebral surgery for single-segment thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis.Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed in 62 patients with thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis who underwent posterior intervertebral surgery (A group) or posterior and anterior combined intervertebral surgery (B group) from January 2010 to January 2015 in Department of Spinal Surgery,General Hospital,Ningxia Medical University.The operative time,blood loss,length of hospital stay,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),C-reactive protein (CRP) level,neurological function,VAS score,vertebral Cobb angle,bone healing,and postoperative complications were compared between the 2 groups.Results:All patients were followed up for 10 to 30 (average 22) months after the operation.In the A group,operative time,blood loss,and hospital stay were less than those in the B group (P＜0.05).In the follow-up,the pain of patients was alleviated and nervous function was improved obviously in the 2 groups compared with pre-operation.The ESR and CRP at the 6 months after operation returned to the normal range in patients of the 2 groups.There were significant differences in the ESR and CRP among the pre-operation,the 6 months after operation,and the end of follow-up within the group (P＜0.05),while there were no significant differences in ESR and CRP between the 6 months after operation and the end of follow-up (P＞0.05).There were no significant differences in the ESR and CRP among the pre-operation,the 6 months after operation,and the end of follow-up in the 2 group (P＞0.05).The Cobb angles after the operation and the end of follow-up were significanthy smaller than those before the operation (P＜0.01),while there were no significant differences in Cobb angle before operation,after the operation,and the end of follow-up between the 2 groups (P＞0.05).There were no significant differences in the bone healing rate at 6 months or 1 year after operation between the A group and B group (P＞0.05) and the complication rate of the A group was lower than the B group (P＜0.01).Conclusion:Clinical efficacy of posterior intervertebral surgery is satisfatory in treating single-segment thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis with less complications.

Objective To discuss the clinical efficacy of surgical treatment of pathologic vertebral surgery for thoracic and lumbar tuberculosis. Methods All of 322 cases of thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis patients from December 2003 to June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed in our department. All patients were underwent debridement, fusion and nerve decompres?sion surgery. According to different fixed methods, patients were divided into pathologic vertebral surgery group (fixation complet?ed within lesions invaded motion unit) including 91 males and 100 females, with an average age of 41.53 years, and non?pathologic vertebral surgery group (long segments or short segment fixation) including 61 males and 70 females, with an average age of 42.72 years. We observed the tuberculosis cure rate, degrees of deformity, pain and neurological recovery, operative time, blood loss and complications by follow?up. Results The average follow?up time was 75.52 months in pathologic vertebral surgery group and 76.21 months in non?pathologic vertebral surgery group. The total number of pathologic vertebras in pathologic vertebral surgery group and non?pathologic vertebral surgery group were 277 and 218 respectively, and the average was 1.45 and 1.66. The total number of fixed segments was 277 in pathologic vertebral surgery group and 485 in non?pathologic vertebral surgery group, and the average fixed segments was 1.45 and 3.70. The cure rate was 85.86%in pathologic vertebral surgery group and 85.49%in non?pathologic vertebral surgery group at 6 months postoperatively, and 98.95%and 98.47%at the last follow?up time, with no signifi?cant difference between groups. Graft fusion rate was 89.00%in pathologic vertebral surgery group and 89.31%in non?pathologic vertebral surgery group 6 months postoperatively, 98.38%and 98.47%at the last follow?up time, without significant difference. In lumbar spine, the average correction of Cobb's angle was 12.4° in pathologic vertebral surgery group and 13.1° in non?pathologic vertebral surgery group, and the average angle loss was 1.3 and 1.4°, with no significant difference. In thoracolumbar, the average correction of Cobb’s angle was 10.9°in pathologic vertebral surgery group and 11.1°in non?pathologic vertebral surgery group, and the average angle loss was 1.7°and 1.5° respectively, without significant difference. However, in thoracic, the average correction of Cobb's angle was 10.2° in pathologic vertebral surgery group and 12.7° in non?pathologic vertebral surgery group, and the average angle loss was 3.6° and 2.5°respectively, with significant difference. The mean operation time was 210.45 min in pathologic verte?bral surgery group and 210.45 min in non?pathologic vertebral surgery group, with significant difference. The average blood loss was 726.12 ml in pathologic vertebral surgery group and 726.12 ml in non?pathologic vertebral surgery group, with significant dif?ference. The complication rate was 11.51%in pathologic vertebral surgery group and 11.45%in non?pathologic vertebral surgery group, with no significant difference. Conclusion Pathologic vertebral surgery surgery is a safe, effective and feasible method of operation for treatment of thoracic and lumbar tuberculosis, which can effectively preserve adjacent normal vertebral motion unit features. The thoracic surgery was less satisfactory than the lumbar and thoracolumbar surgery.

Objective To study the in vitro cytotoxicity of HRZ (isoniazid + rifampin + pyrazinamide) / transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 siRNA nanoliposomes on human macrophages and the underlying mechanism. Methods Self-made nanoliposomes were used to study with the cultured human macrophages in vitro. MTT assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle. Electron microscopy was used to observe autophagy. RT-PCR and Western blot were employed to analyze the silenced expression of target gene TGF-β1. Results HRZ/TGF-β1 siRNA nanoliposomes (triple liposome) inhibited macrophage proliferation within certain range of concentration, and cell cycle was captured in G2 phase. The HRZ / TGF-β1 SiRNA nanoliposomes could significantly inhibit the expression of target gene TGF-β1 in human macrophages. Conclusions The self-made triple liposome has evident effect in silencing the target gene. It is a promising biomaterial, which meets the required specifications in terms of cytotoxicity.

Infectious diseases of spine (IDS) refer to a series of infectious diseases in different parts of the spine (vertebral body, intervertebral disc, appendix of vertebra, spinal canal, and adjacent paravertebral tissues) caused by various pathogenic microorganisms, accounting for about 2%~7% of systemic musculoskeletal system infections. According to the classic classification IDS can be divided into two types: specific infection and non-specific infection. IDS often has an insidious onset, atypical clinical manifestations, and less-specific imaging and laboratory tests, which causes great difficulties for the accurate diagnosis and treatment, often leading to missed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and even mistreatment. Problems such as disordered clinical diagnosis and treatment procedures, diverse treatment methods, and non-standard medication and course of treatment still affect the prognosis of IDS. This article reviews the current research progress of the diagnosis and treatment process of IDS, in order to further standardize the diagnosis and treatment process of IDS.