Applying cellular transplant methods in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury has become a new hot spot in tissue engineering and drawn much attention. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) grow fast and can be easily purified in vitro. Besides, they have the capability of differentiating into Schwann cells under specific conditions. For all the reasons above, BMSCs are considered good succedaneum of Schwann cells and new seed cells for tissue engineered peripheral nerve. In this review, the physiological functions and bionomics of Schwann cells and BMSCs are introduced, as well as various methods inducing BMSCs into nerve tissue cells and the foreground of the research.

Objective To definite the correlation of hip muscle density with proximal femoral fracture in the elderly.Methods The study included 41 proximal femoral fracture cases [14 males and 27 females,at age of (64.1 ±5.1)years] and 14 normal cases [4 males and 10 females,at age of (64.8 ± 3.9) years] that underwent CT examination for hip joint.In fracture group,19 cases sustained femoral neck fracture and 22 intertrochanteric fracture.CT imaging data were reviewed to analyze the correlation of age with hip muscle density at the level of ischium tubercle.Hip muscle density was compared between fracture side and healthy side in fracture group and between control group and fracture group.Results Hip muscle density showed a downward trend with increased age (P ＜ 0.05).Hip muscle density did not differ significantly between fracture side and healthy side in fracture group (P ＞ 0.05).Regardless of age,gender and other factors,hip anterior muscle density [(34.8 ± 4.1) Hu] and posterior muscle density [(22.1 ±5.5) Hu] were lower in fracture group than in control group [(44.4 ±5.7)Hu,(39.2 ±5.3)Hu respectively,P ＜ 0.05] but there was no significant difference in hip medial muscle density between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Hip muscle density decreases with age and has no strong correlation with fracture.Deadline of the hip muscle density may be a risk factor to proximal femoral fracture in the elderly.

As the new development of scientometrics and informetrics, knowledge graph has infiltrated into the financial, industrial and medical fields, and become a hot issue in the real world research. In this article, the concept and features of knowledge graph, construction and the existing softwares, the application status and development prospect in the TCM field were reviewed, which may provide references for research on the knowledge graph in the TCM field.

ObjectiveTo explore the proliferation of human degenerate nucleus pulposus and annular fibrosus cell in vitro and compare the different biological behavior between the two kinds of cell after degeneration,and provide the new theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of degenerative disc disease.MethodsThe samples of intervertebral disc tissue were collected from patients with lumbar disc herniation.The degree of degeneration was assessed by the pathological diagnosis and degenerate nucleus pulposus and annular fibrosus cell were cultured by enzymatic digestion and identified.In each case,the control groups of the nucleus pulposus cells and annulus fibrosus cells were cultured to the fifth generation.The inoculation density of cells was 1×105.The cell morphology of each generation was observed,while the proliferation of cells was detected by flow cytometry after 48h culture with the same conditions.ResultsThe degenerate nucleus pulposus cell and annular fibrosus cell were in good condition in vitro.The percentages of S phase cell and proliferation index (PI) were both on the rise with the subculture.The PI of nucleus pulposus cells reached the peak in the 3rd generation; The PI of annulus cells was the highest in the generation 5.The proliferation activity of degenerate nucleus pulposus cell in 2～4 generations was higher than the degenerate annular fibrosus cell within the same generations (P＜0.05).ConclusionDifferent proliferative characteristics of the degenerate nucleus pulposus and annular fibrosus cell confirmed that the disc degeneration is reversible.The response mechanisms to the degenerate micro-environment are completely different in vivo and affects the entire disc degeneration progress.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the MR findings of lumbar elements and chronic low back pain(CLBP).Methods The patients underwent lumbar MRI examinations and sent for a questionnaires of low back pain (LBP).Among them,139 patients whose questionnaires illustrated with CLBP were enrolled.The enrolled patients included 68 patients with nerve roots compression and 71 patients without.Meanwhile,198 hospital staffs underwent lumbar MRI examinations and were sentfor a LBP questionnaire.Among them,62 patients without LBP and nerve roots compression were enrolled.Categorical regression was used to analyze the relationship between MR findings and CLBP.The MR findings iucluded nerve roots compression,average disk degeneration scores(ADD),high-intensity zones (HIZ),Schmorlnodes,Modic Ⅰ change,average facet joints degeneration scores(AZZ),facet joint effusion,high T2 signal in interspinous ligament and subcutaneousparaspinal muscles edema.The regression model was used to analyze the MR imaging and CLBP.Results The regression model was statistically significant (F=9.478,P＜0.01).All predictors yielded an adjusted value was 0.446.Among all predictors,nerve roots compression,ADD,AZZ,subcutaneous or paraspinal muscles edema were statistically associated with the VAS degree (P＜0.05).The sum of the importance of the four predictors above was 0.983.The quantification of predicted VAS degree increased as ADD level increased.The quantification of predicted VAS degree increased to the top at the 2 AZZ level and then decreased.Nerve roots compression and Subcutaneous or paraspinal muscles edema yielded higher quantification of predicted VAS degree level.Conclusion ADD,AZZ,subcutaneousparaspinal muscles edema were probably associated with CLBP degree after adjusting for nerve roots compression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the proliferation of rat's osteoblasts promoted by mechanical strain via the protein kinases C ξ(PKCξ) protein path-way.MethodsOsteoblasts were retrieved from SD rats' skulls in the sterilized environment.BioDynamic testing instrument was used to exert 2％ and 0％ mechanical strain on rats' osteoblasts for 180 min on the each group(2％ mechanical strain was experimental group and 0％ mechanical strain was control group); and the same method was applied on the rats' osteoblasts which pretreated with the classical PKC ξ inhibitor with 2％ mechanical strain (inhibitor group).The cell cycles of rats' osteoblasts were measured by flow cytometry; and Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to detect expression of protein PKC ξ and phosphorylationed PKC ξ in the rats' osteoblasts.ResultsThe mechanical strain obviously increased the ratio of S period in the cell cycles.Compared to the control group and inhibitor group,a significant increase of the expression of protein PKC ξ and phosphorylationed PKC ξ in the osteoblasts was detected in the mechanical strain experimental group.ConclusionPKCξ can respond to the stimulus of the mechanical strain,which promotes the proliferation of osteoblasts through PKCξ pathway.And it plays an important role in the process of signal conduction.

Objective To describe the pathological unit and octagonal en bloc resection for the treatment of ossification ligamentum flavum(OLF)in thoracic spine with spondylotic myelopathy.Methods Ninety-five patients from January 2002 to January 2007 were diagnosed as thoracic OLF,61 males and 34 females with an average age of 53.9 years(range,31-78 years).There were upper thoracic spine OLF in 32 cases,middle thoracic spine OLF in 24 cases and lower thoracic spine OLF in 39 cases.Single-segment OLF was found in 53 cases,double segments OLF was found in 38 cases and three segments OLF was found in 4 cases.CT scan multiplanar co-localized reconstruction was employed to detect the structure of spine with OLF.The Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)lower limb motor function score,sphincter function score and motor function improvement rate were used to evaluate the outcomes.Results CT scan was engaged to observe 141 OLF pathological unite.The OLF pathology unit was defined as all the spine structures between the extension lines of the lower margin of the OLF two adjacent pedicles.Each OLF associates with an OLF pathology unit.The mean follow up duration was 38.3 months(range,24-60 months).Among 86 patients with sensations disturbance before operation,67 totally recovered and 19 relieved after operation.Trunk restrictions in 69 cases before operation were completely recovered after operation.Postoperative JOA sphincter function score was 2.651±0.334,comparing with preoperation score(2.262±0.561),and the difference was statistically significant.Postoperative JOA motor function score was 3.694±0.429,which was significantly increased than preoperative score 1.539±0.873,and motor function recovery rate was 87.57%.There was excellent in 71 cases,good in 17 cases and fair in 5 cases.The excellent and good rate was 94.74%.Conclusion The octagonal en block resection is relative safe for treatment thoracic OLF with myelopathy.Pathological unit of OLF in thoracic spine is more accurate to summarize the pathological contents and features of the OLF and its adjacent structure.

Objective To explore the value of quantitative T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2WI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters for predicting functional outcomes after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).Methods One hundred and forty CSM patients received T2WI and DTI before surgery at Tianjin Hospital between April 2014 and April 2016.They were then given systematic rehabilitation treatment after the surgery.The Japanese Orthopaedics Association (JOA) scoring system was applied to evaluate their neurological function before and after the surgery.According to the JOA recovery rate at 1-year follow-up,the patients were divided into a good recovery group (recovery rate≥ 50％) and a poor recovery group (recovery rate ＜50％).Maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC),signal change ratio (SCR),transverse area (TA),apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were compared between the two groups.Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to measure the prognostic ability and determine the best cut-off value for each variable.The independent predictors of a poor recovery were estimated using univariate and multivariate analysis.Results ROC analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of MSCC was 0.593.For SCR it was 0.682.For the TA it was 0.706.For the ADC it was 0.719 and for FA it was 0.749.The respective cut-off values were 44％ compression,1.561,0.46 cm2,1.339×10-3 mm2/s and 0.386.FA had the largest AUC,followed by ADC,TA,SCR and MSCC.MSCC and SCR had low discrimination power (AUC＜0.7) in predicting a poor recovery,whereas TA,ADC and FA had moderate discrimination power (AUC 0.7-0.9).Logistic multivariate regression showed that a low JOA score,TA≤0.46 cm2 or FA≤0.386 were independent risk factors for a poor recovery.A predicting model built according to the results of the logistic regression analysis gave an AUC of 0.87,significantly better than that of the JOA score.With a cut-off value of 0.36,the sensitivity and specificity were 80％ and 77％ respectively.Conclusions Combining T2WI and DTI parameters with the JOA score may better predict the recovery of patients with CSM.The values can also provide references for making up rehabilitation plans.

Objective To investigate the effects of different cyclic tensile strain on the proliferation of human anulus fibrosus cells from degenerated discs.Methods Anulus fibrosus(AF) cells were isolated from a degenerated human IVD,expanded in monolayer,and cyclically strained for 3 hours,applying 0,5％,10％,15％ and 20％ strains at a frequency of 0.25 Hz with the use of the DioDynamic test instrument.The flow cytometry method was used to examine the Af cells proliferation at 24 hours following application of the cyclic tensile strains.Results The proliferative index (PI) increased with the magnitude value of cyclic tensile strain except 20％ group.The most significant increase of proliferation index were found in 15％ group.Conclusion There might be some corelationships between magnitude of cyclic tensile strain and the proliferation of the degenerative AF cells.

Objective To explore the angiogenesis&neovascularization effects of naringin treatment in ovariectomized rats’fracture healing. Methods Upper 1/3 transverse tibial fracture model 4 weeks later after ovariectomized were estimated and randomly divided into the naringin group and control group. Microfil perfusion technique was used to analysis the angiogene?sis situation at two weeks after bone fracture. HE staining was used to evaluate the level of angiogenesis&neovascularization of tis?sue from histological point of view. The relative expression of VEGF in the callus was identified by real?time polymerase chain re?action. Immunohistochemical technique was used to observe the vessel endothelial growth factor?2 in the callus of the two groups. Maximum fracture load was tested by three?point bend test. Results The vascular volume and vascular density were more in nar?ingin group than control group. The HE staining of the 2 week group slices shows that the VA, VN2 of the unit of high magnifica?tion vision of the naringin group was significantly larger compared to the control group. Real?time PCR revealed that the compara?tive expression of VEGF is more in naringin group than in control group; the positive number of VEGFR?2 is more in naringin group than in control group. Naringin can promote the maximum load of the callus. Conclusion Naringin can promote ovariecto?mized rats’angiogenesis&neovascularization in the early process of fracture healing. It may be act on the signaling pathway of VEGF/VEGFR?2.