Objective To determine the radiographic feasibility of oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) corridor to treat lumbar disease at each lumbar disc level,including the corridor's numerical value and the influence of diaphragmatic crura and aorta abdominalis.Methods A retrospective CT study was conducted on 110 patients (including 69 males and 41 females,average age 47.95 years,range 16-83 years) that continuously collected and analyzed in the PACS system.The oblique corridor was defined as the area between the left lateral border of the aorta abdominalis(or iliac artery) and the right lateral border of the left psoas.The distances and angles of L1-2,L2-3,L3-4 and L4-5 levels were measured.Whether the change of diaphragmatic crura and aorta abdominalis affected the building of the corridor was also observed.Results The mean distances of oblique corridor to the levels of L1-L5 discs were:L1-2 15.90 mm,L2-3 14.82 mm,L3-4 17.57 mm,L4-5 11.16 mm.At the levels of L1-2 and L3-4,all of the images could build the corridor.But there were only 97.27％ images allowing operation at both L2-3 and L4-5,and the other 3 cases couldn't build the corridor since the aorta abdominalis was very close to psoas,and the distance was almost 0 mm.The max mean distance was 36.79 mm at L3-4 level.The mean angles were:L1-2 36.98°;L2-3 37.76°;L3-4 40.96°;L4-5 37.85°.The significant difference was at L3-4,ranged from 13.09 to 61.93°.The level of the aortic bifurcation was from the lower third of the L3 vertebral body to the middle third of the L5 vertebral body.The levels of left diaphragmatic crura's ending point in the lumbar was divided into four groups:1) Group L1 vertebral body level:the level at L1 vertebral body and above,5 cases (4.55％);Group L1-2 disc to L2 vertebral body level:at L1-2 disc and L2 vertebral body,67 cases (60.91％);Group L2-3 disc to L3 vertebral body level:at L2-3 disc and L3 vertebral body,36 cases (32.72％);Group L3-4 disc to L4 vertebral body level:at L3-4 disc and L4 vertebral body,2 case (1.81％).Conclusion The OLIF corridor can be built successfully at L1-2 and L3-4.However,it may be difficult at L2-3 and L4-5 for some patients due to the aorta abdominalis which is too close to psoas.The angles of L1-L5 levels were similar.While the left diaphragmatic crura was mainly impact the corridor insertion at L1-2 and L2-3.And the level of the aortic bifurcation was mainly located at the upper endplate of L4 to the L4-5 disc (87％).

This study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) on type 2 diabetic mice model and to provide mechanistic insights into its therapeutic effect. Type 2 diabetic animal model was established with high calorie fat diet and low dose streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Mice were then randomized into 5 groups: model control, FGF21 0.25 and 0.05 μmol x kg(-1) x d(-1) groups, insulin treatment group. Ten age-matched normal KM mouse administered with saline were used as normal controls. Serum glucose, insulin, lipid products and the change of serum and liver tissue inflammation factor levels between five groups of mouse were determined. The results showed that blood glucose, insulin, free fatty acids (FFAs), triglycerides, and inflammatory factor average FGF-21 of type 2 diabetes model group and normal control group were significantly higher (P < 0.01), while compared with insulin group, no difference was significant. Average blood glucose, insulin, blood lipid and inflammatory factor of FGF-21 treatment group compared with type 2 diabetes group was significantly lower (P < 0.01) and insulin group has no difference with the model control group. The results of OGTT and HOMA-IR showed that insulin resistance state was significantly relieved in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, this study demonstrates that FGF-21 significantly remits type 2 diabetic mice model's insulin resistance state and participates in the regulation of inflammatory factor levels and type 2 diabetes metabolic disorders.

Objective To discuss the clinical characteristics and treatment of upper cervical spine injuries in the elderly. Methods A retrospective study was done on clinical data of 28 elderly patients ( > 60 years old) with upper cervical spine injuries treated from January 2003 to December 2007. There were 20 males and 8 females, at age range of 60-86 years (mean 68.1 years). Injury causes included slip in 16 patients, traffic injury in eight and fall from height in four. Atlas fractures occurred in five patients and axis ones in 15,of which there were eight patients with odontoid fractures, six with C2 vertebral arch fractures and one with C2 body fractures. Upper cervical spine injury was combined with lower cervical spine injuries in five patients. There were combined atlantoaxial injuries including odontoid fractures combined with lateral atlas fracture in one and edontoid fractures combined with anterior atlas arch fracture in one. Atlantoaxial dislocation occurred in one patient and combined spinal injury in four. Of all, eight patients were treated conservatively, eight with open surgical operation and 12 with minimally invasive surgery. Results The average hospital stay was 16.5 days, with no statistical difference be-tween conservative treatment group and open surgical operation group ( P > 0.05 ). While the average hos-pital stay in minimally invasive surgery group was shorter than that in conservative treatment and open sur-gical operation groups ( P < 0.05 ). Of all, two patients in conservative treatment group and one in open surgical operation group died and the other 25 patients were followed up for average 16.8 months (9-56 months). The satisfaction rate was 50% in conservative treatment group, 72% in open surgical operation group and 75% in minimally invasive surgery group. Complications occurred in four patients in conserva-tive treatment group, three in open surgical operation group and two in minimally invasive surgery group. Conclusions With odontoid fracture the most common injury type, upper cervical spine injuries arema-inly caused by low-energy force and characterized by low mobidity of spinal cord injuries and high possi-bility of missed diagnosis in the elderly patients. The surgical treatment especially minimally invasive surgery can bring good results compared with conservative methods.

Objective To investigate complications associated with Coflex interspinous process device for degenerative lumbar disc diseases and methods to treat.Methods Clinical data of 121 patients with degenerative lumbar disc diseases,who had undergone surgical decompression and additional fixation of Coflex between November 2007 and June 2011,was analyzed retrospectively.There were 76 males and 45 females,aged from 37 to 75 years (average,54.6 years).Surgery-related complications and sequelae were recorded and analyzed.Results Surgery-related complications occurred in 10 patients,and the incidence was 8.3％ (10/121).There were 3 cases of device-related complications,including wing break in 1 case,prosthetic loosening in 1 case and spinal process fracture in 1 case; all 3 cases were treated conservatively and received good results.There were 7 cases of non-device-related complications,including dura mater dilaceration in 2 cases,superficial wound infection in 1 case,insufficient decompression of spinal canal in 2 cases,recurrence of disc herniation in 1 case,and intraspinal hematoma in 1 case; the former 3 patients recovered after corresponding treatment,and the latter 4 patients also recovered after re-operation.Conclusion The incidences of complications and re-operation associated with application of Coflex are low,and the incidence of device-related complications is also low.The precise intraoperative manipulation is the key to reduce incidence of device-related complications.It's absolutely necessary to strictly master surgical indications and perform sufficient decompression in order to receive good surgical results and avoid non-device-related complications.

This study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) on hypertension induced by insulin resistance in rats and to provide mechanistic insights into its therapeutic effect. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed with high-fructose (10%) water to develop mild hypertensive models within 4 weeks, then randomized into 4 groups: model control, FGF21 0.25, 0.1 and 0.05 micromol x kg(-1) x d(-1) groups. Five age-matched normal SD rats administrated with saline were used as normal controls. The rats in each group were treated once a day for 4 weeks. Body weight was measured weekly, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured noninvasively using a tail-cuff method, insulin sensitivity was assessed using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and HOMA-IR assay. At the end of the treatment, blood samples were collected, and blood glucose, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride and serum insulin were measured. The results showed that blood pressure of the rats treated with different doses of FGF21 returned to normal levels [(122.2 +/- 3.5) mmHg, P < 0.01] after 4-week treatment, whereas, SBP of untreated (model control) rats maintained a high level [(142.5 +/- 4.5) mmHg] throughout the treatment. The observation of blood pressure in 24 h revealed that SBP of FGF21 treated-rats maintained at (130 +/- 4.5) mmHg vs. (143 +/- 5.5) mmHg for model control (P < 0.01). FGF21 treatment groups improved serum lipids obviously, total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels decreased significantly to normal levels. The serum NO levels of three different doses FGF21 treatment group were significantly higher than that of the model control group [(7.32 +/- 0.11), (7.24 +/- 0.13), (6.94 +/- 0.08) vs. (6.56 +/- 0.19) micromol x L(-1), P < 0.01], and the degree of improvement showed obvious dose-dependent manner, indicating that FGF21 can significant increase serum NO in fructose-induced hypertension rat model and improve endothelial NO release function. The results of OGTT and HOMA-IR showed that insulin resistance state was significantly relieved in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, this study demonstrates that FGF21 significantly ameliorates blood pressure in fructose-induced hypertension model by relieving insulin resistance. This finding provides a theoretical support for clinical application of FGF21 as a novel therapeutics for treatment of essential hypertension.

Objective: To investigate the effects of lactoprotein iron chelates on rats with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), so as to provide insights into developing and utilizing novel iron supplements. Methods: Seventy weaning female SPF-graded rats of the SD strain were randomly divided into the control group (A), model group (B), ferrous sulfate group (C), lactoferrin group (D), lactoferrin iron chelate group (E), Casein oligopeptide iron chelate group (F) and whey protein oligopeptide iron chelate group (G), with 10 rats in each group. The rats in group A were fed with normal diet, and the others were fed with poor iron diet for IDA modeling. The corresponding interventions were given by intragastric administration once a day. The iron ion concentrations of group C, E, F and G were 2.0 mg/kg, and the protein and oligopeptide concentrations of group D, E, F and G were 2 000 mg/kg. Body weight and hemoglobin of rats were measured weekly during 21-day intervention. At the end, peripheral blood samples were collected, and blood routine, iron metabolism and liver function indicators were determined. Results: After the intervention, among blood routine indicators, the rats in group C, E, F and G showed elevated hemoglobin, red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume and hematocrit, and decreased free protoporphyrin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration when compared with the rats in group B (all P<0.05); among iron metabolism indicators, the rats in group C, E and G showed elevated serum ferritin, the rats in group C, E, F and G showed elevated serum iron, the rats in group C, D, E, F and G showed decreased unsaturated iron binding capacity and total iron binding capacity when compared with the rats in group B (all P<0.05); among liver function indicators, the rats in group E and G showed decreased alanine transaminase when compared with the rats in group B (both P<0.05). Conclusions Lactoprotein alone could not completely improve IDA in rats compared with traditional iron supplement (ferrous sulfate). Lactoprotein iron chelate, especially whey protein oligopeptide iron chelate, could significantly improve IDA, iron reserve and liver function damage in rats.

Previous studies proposed that the synergistic effect of fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) and insulin may be due to the improvement of insulin sensitivity by FGF-21. However, there is no experimental evidence to support this. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of synergistic effect of FGF-21 and insulin in the regulation of glucose metabolism. The synergistic effect of FGF-21 and insulin on regulating glucose metabolism was demonstrated by investigating the glucose absorption rate by insulin resistance HepG2 cell model and the blood glucose chances in type 2 diabetic db/db mice after treatments with different concentrations of FGF-21 or/and insulin; The synergistic metabolism was revealed through detecting GLUT1 and GLUT4 transcription levels in the liver by real-time PCR method. The experimental results showed that FGF-21 and insulin have a synergistic effect on the regulation of glucose metabolism. The results of real-time PCR showed that the effective dose of FGF-21 could up-regulate the transcription level of GLUT1 in a dose-dependent manner, but had no effect on the transcription level of GLUT4. Insulin (4 u) alone could up-regulate the transcription level of GLUT4, yet had no effect on that of GLUT1. Ineffective dose 0.1 mg kg(-1) FGF-21 alone could not change the transcription level of GLUT1 or GLUT4. However, when the ineffective dose 0.1 mg x kg(-1) FGF-21 was used in combination with insulin (4 u) significantly increased the transcription levels of both GLUT1 and GLUT4, the transcription level of GLUT1 was similar to that treated with 5 time concentration of FGF-21 alone; the transcription level of GLUT4 is higher than that treated with insulin (4 u) alone. In summary, in the presence of FGF-21, insulin increases the sensitivity of FGF-21 through enhancing GLUT1 transcription. Vice versa, FGF-21 increases the sensitivity of insulin by stimulating GLUT4 transcription in the presence of insulin. FGF-21 and insulin exert a synergistic effect on glucose metabolism through mutual sensitization.

Objective:To explore the effect of probiotics Lactiplantibacillus plantarum(LP) WCFS1 by gavage on acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) and associated ileum injury in mice. Methods:Twenty-four healthy male mice were gavaged with broad-spectrum antibiotics for 3 weeks to establish microbiota-depleted mice, and then randomly divided into control group (CON), ANP model group (ANP), LP gavage group (LP) and LP gavage and ANP induced group (LP+ ANP) , with 6 mice in each group. Mice in LP and LP+ ANP group were treated by gavage of LP (1×10 9 CFU/ml, 0.2 ml/day per mouse) for 1 week, while CON and ANP were gavaged with sterile phosphate buffered saline for 1 week instead. The ANP model was induced by intraperitoneal injection with caerulein (100 μg/kg) for 10 times with 1-hour interval between two injections and the 10th injection with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally, and the mice were sacrificed 2 h later. Levels of LP in stool and ileal mucosa were detected by real-time PCR; the pancreas and ileum were collected for pathological examination to observe the extent of tissue inflammation and to score the pathology. Serum amylase activities were determined by enzymatic kinetic chemistry; serum inflammators levels and intestinal permeability were detected by ELISA; levels of inflammators in pancreatic and ileal tissues were detected by real-time PCR; ileal tight-junction proteins (occludin, claudin-1 and ZO-1) were measured by immunofluorescence staining. Results:LP levels in the stool and ileal mucosa of mice were significantly increased after LP gavage, and the differences were statistically significant (913.30±39.12 vs 2.39±1.39, 23.11±0.50 vs 1.38±0.28, all P value <0.05). The pathological scores of pancreatic tissue of CON, LP, ANP and LP+ ANP group were (0.26±0.41), (0.17±0.26), (8.55±0.46) and (6.30±0.45); the serum amylase activities were (219.70±19.73), (217.60±11.30), (2896.24±98.32) and (1837.13±131.60)U/L, IL-1β were (0.87±0.28), (1.4±0.85), (67.41±6.45) and (36.33±5.65)pg/ml, IL-6 were (0.74±0.27), (0.16±0.16), (280586.12±39163.92) and (107912.75±31283.47)pg/ml, IL-10 were (35.52±5.27), (50.99±15.34), (2008.45±184.83) and (3070.35±403.71)pg/ml; the expression level of pancreatic IL-1β mRNA was 1.42±0.39, 0.95±25, 20.53±0.50 and 10.69±1.01, IL-6 mRNA was 1.31±0.44, 0.93±0.023, 21.97±1.71 and 11.54±1.75, IL-10 mRNA was 0.93±0.14, 0.75±0.15, 0.99±0.21 and 1.76±0.19; there was no significant difference between LP and CON group, and pancreatic pathological scores, serum amylase、IL-1β and IL-6 levels, and the expression level of pancreatic IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA were significantly decreased in LP+ ANP group compared with those in ANP group, while serum IL-10 levels and the expression level of pancreatic IL-10 mRNA were significantly increased compared with ANP group, and all the differences were statistically significant (all P values <0.05). The pathological scores of ileal tissue of CON, LP, ANP and LP+ ANP group were 0, 0, (3.17±0.41) and (1.67±0.52); the levels of serum DAO of CON, LP, ANP and LP+ ANP group were (0.03±0.03), (0.02±0.02), (0.50±0.05) and (0.49±0.06)ng/ml; LPS levels were (2.75±0.35), (3.74±0.28), (7.19±0.92) and (5.88±0.38)ng/ml; the expression level of ileal IL-1β mRNA was 1.21±0.20, 1.17±0.09, 1.81±0.25 and 1.63±0.21; IL-6 mRNA was 1.01±0.29, 2.83±0.42, 54.45±8.50 and 16.87±4.42; IL-10 mRNA was 1.12±0.41, 6.09±2.51, 11.65±1.47 and 29.86±2.93. There was no significant difference between LP and CON group, except that the ileal IL-10 mRNA expression was significantly higher than that of CON group. Ileal pathological scores, serum LPS levels and the expression level of ileal IL-6 mRNA were significantly lower in LP+ ANP group than those in ANP group, while the expression level of ileal IL-10 mRNA was significantly higher than that of ANP group; the expression of ileal tight junction proteins (ocludin, claudin-1, ZO-1) was significantly higher than those in ANP group, and all the differences were statistically significant (all P values <0.05). Conclusions:LP WCFS1 gavage could ameliorate the injury of pancreatic and ileal barrier in caerulein-induced ANP mice.

In order to obtain the lead compound for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in this study, therapeutic efficacy of three bispecific antibodies (BsAB-1, BsAB-2 and BsAB-3) against both hIL-1beta and hIL-17 were compared on CIA model mice. First, by ELISA method we compared the binding capacity of the three bispecific antibodies to the two antigens. The results showed that all three antibodies could simultaneously bind both antigens, among these antibodies, BsAB-1 was superior over BsAB-2 and BsAB-3. CIA model was established with chicken type II collagen (CII) and developed RA-like symptoms such as ankle swelling, skin tight, hind foot skin hyperemia. The CIA mice were treated with three antibodies once every two days for total of 29 days. Compared with the CIA model mice, the RA-like symptoms of the antibody treated-mice significantly relieved, while the BsAB-1 treated-mice were almost recovered. CII antibody level in the serum and cytokines (IL-2, IL-1beta, IL-17A and TNF-alpha) expression in the spleen were examined. Compared with the CIA model mice, all three antibodies could significantly reduce CII antibody and cytokine expression levels. BsAB-1 antibody was more potent than BsAB-2 and BsAB-3. In summary, BsAB-1 is superior over BsAB-2 and BsAB-3 in amelioration of RA symptoms and regulation of CII antibody production and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, therefore, BsAB-1 can be chosen as a lead compound for further development of drug candidate for treatment of RA.

Objective Retrospective study and report on cases of "symptomatic facet of residual bone mass" caused by percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED),to analysis of its causes and revision strategies.Methods Seven cases of "symptomatic facet of residual bone mass" after PTED were found in six medical centers from July 2015 to November 2017.Weintroduced the course of diagnosis and treatment,to analysis of the causes,clinical features and revision strategies of the rare complication.Results Seven patients came from different medical centers (2 cases in Ningbo No.6 Hospital and 1 case in each of the other medical centers).The average age of the subject is 67.29±9.64 years (range from 57-83 years).Among them there were 1 male and 6 female.PTED was performed for all cases with lumbar disc herniation or stenosis.The operative segments were 1 of L2,3,2 of L3,4,3 of L4,5,1 of L5S1.Symptoms occurred immediately after surgery in all cases except one after a week of operation and another one month later.Two cases were appeared symptom of contralateral irritation,and the rest were aggravated by the original symptoms.Two cerebrospinal fluid leakage caused by bone mass piercing the dural sac.The bone mass compressed the nerve root and caused 1 case of lower limb muscle weakness.Foraminoplasty was performed during PTED in all patients.After CT scan,5 cases of bone mass were found on the same side of operation,and 2 cases were in the contralateral side.The shortest time for revision was 2 days and the longest 3 months.After conservative treatment,the symptoms were relieved in only one case.Revision surgeries were performed for all the other 6 cases,2 with microendoscopic discectomy (MED),1 mobile microendoscopic discectomy (MMED),1 small incision operation,1 PTED and 1 with minimal invasive surgery of transforaminal lumbar intervertebral fusion (MIS-TLIF).The VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain was significantly relieved from 8.67±0.52 to 1.50±0.55.Conclusion FTED may lead to residual bone mass in lumbar foraminoplasty.The penetration of the bone mass block into the spinal canal can cause the compression symptoms of the corresponding segment.The patients showed the corresponding spinal canal stenosis and nerve root irritation symptoms.A revision operation is required to remove the oppressed bone mass to relieve the symptoms as soon as possible if the conservative treatment not effective.