Objective To detect the MRI manifestations and discrimination of tuberculous spondylitis and pyogenic spondylitis with atypical features in early stage. Methods Six patients with pathologically proved tuberculous spondylitis and 7 patients of pyogenic spondylitis with atypical clinical features and were included. MRI features of the vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, paraspinal soft tissues and their enhancement patterns were analyzed. Chi-Square test was used to compare the MRI features of two diseases. Results Patients with pyogenic spondylitis had a significantly higher incidence of disk space narrowing (8 intervertebral bodies), abnormal signal in superior/inferior of vertebral body (12 intervertebral bodies) and endplate with high signal (13 intervertebral bodies), which were not seen in the patients with tuberculosis spondylitis (P<0.05).Patients with tuberculous spondylitis had a significantly higher incidence of local abnormal signal in anterior of vertebral body (4 intervertebral bodies) and paraspinal abscess spanning vertebral body (5 intervertebral bodies), while none of them was found in patients with pyogenic spondylitis (P<0.05). Conclusion MRI is accurate for the differentiation of tuberculous spondylitis and pyogenic spondylitis with atypical feature in early stage.

Objective:To screen the appropriate anti-human IgG (secondary antibody) for conjugating with colloidal gold by dot immunogold filtration assay,and put forward the method of using multiple evaluation indicators for secondary antibody comparing and analyzing. Methods:Three different secondary antibodies A,B and C from three different companies were screened. Firstly the titration was used to determine the optimal reaction conditions. Then three secondary antibodies were conjugated to the colloidal gold,tested with a dot immunogold filtration assay for hydatidosis specific antibody detection. The optimal conjugated secondary antibody were compared with the standard indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:The optimal pH of three secondary antibodies were 8. 5,the binding capacity were 38. 4,24 and 19. 2μg /ml colloidal gold. According to the comprehensive evaluation,the diagnostic effects of sec-ondary antibody B was better than others. Its diagnostic effects in dot immunogold filtration assay was compared with enzyme-linked im-munosorbent assay. The Kappa was 0. 895(P<0. 05) and showed the two methods were in good agreement. Conclusion:The appropriate secondary antibody for conjugating with colloidal gold could be screened by dot immunogold filtration assay and the evaluation indicators which put forward by this study,the screening method would have an important reference value for all kinds of colloidal gold test kit to screen the suitable secondary antibody.

Objective To set up the 3D-finite element(FE)model of normal acetabulum-cartilage-femoral head,so that to provide an effective model for biomechanical analysis of femoral head.Methods(1)The hip joint in one healthy adult male volunteer was scanned by MRI at coronal section.The 3D reconstruction model of acetabulum-cartilage-femoral head was constructed with MATLAB and ANSYS software.(2)The 3D orthotropy finite element model of the acetabulum-cartilage-femoral head was constructed by givig the corresponding material parameters to the different structures of the model of acetabulum-cartilage-femoral head and divided into networks through ANSYS software.(3)The standing status was imitated on the model to set boundary condition and loading and then calculated.The effect of the model was evaluated in comparison with that of literature.Results A 3D orthotropy FE model of acetabulum-cartilage-femoral head was established successfully,including 89 961 points of 448 159 units.The maximal displacement was on the femoral head,and the maximal Von Mises stress was on the femur neck.The stress analysis was the same as the results of literature and the actuality.Conclusion A 3D orthotropy FE model of acetabulum-cartilage-femoral head can be setup based on MRI images,which can provide a reasonable and effective model for biomechamical analysis of femoral head.

Objective To investigate the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging ( DCE-MRI) in differentiating serological negative early stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from osteoarthritis (OA)in hand. Methods Plain MRI, enhanced MRI of whole hand and DCE-MRI of single slice were performed in 53 patients suspected of RA or OA and 18 healthy volunteers. Twenty-three of them were diagnosed as RA,including 18 cases of serological negative RA and 18 of them were diagnosed as OA after 3 to 6 months follow-up. The contrast rate,slope, thickening of synovial membrane were measured on DCE-MRI in three groups and the MRI findings were also were detected in both RA and OA groups. The contrast rate and slope of synovial membrane were compared among three groups using rank sum test. The thickening of synovial membrane were compared among three groups using variance analysis. MRI signs of RA and OA group were evaluated with rank sum test Results The dynamic contrast rate of synovial membrane in RA group,OA group and control group was(100.78±61.96)%,(40.44±15.43)% and (23.56±9.14)%,respectively.Individually,RA group to OA group,u=3.101,P=0.002;RA group to control group,u=4.669,P=0.000;OA group to control group,u=3.482,P=0.000.The slope of contrast curve of synodal membrane of RA group,OA group and control group was 72.50°±13.34°,45.39°±9.94°,14.56°±5.75°,respectively.Individually,RA group to OA group,u=8.002,P=0.000;RA group to control group,u=17.102,P=0.000;OA group to control group,u=9.100,P=0.000.The synovial membrane thickening of RA group,OA group and control group was(3.3±0.5),(2.8±0.7)and (1.4±0.6)mm,respectively.Individually,RA group to OA group,q=2.622,P=0.011;RA group to control group,q=9.583,P=0.000;OA group to control group,q=6.961,P=0.000.Conclusion The quantitative index of DCE-MRI,including contrast rate and synovial membrane thickening may provide useful information for differentiating OA from semlogical negative early stage RA.The contrast rate and thickening of synovial membrane in RA group are higher than those in OA group.Many signs of MRI Can help differentiate OA from RA.

Objective To study the risk factors of MRI for the prediction of collapse in patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head.Methods Twenty-two patients (39 hips) diagnosed avascular necrosis of femoral head by MR were enrolled in our study.The following MR appearances were evaluated:bone marrow edema,joint fluids,signal intensity and location of the lesion.The volume and surface area of the necrosis zone were calculated.The time of follow-up was 18-84 months (median,25 months).Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the risk factors by SPSS 13.0.The maximum value of Youden index was selected as the critical point to predict the collapse of femoral head and to define the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy.Results In the 39 hips with femoral head necrosis,21 hips had collapse.Bilateral collapse occurred in 5 cases.In 25 hips with the necrosis surface larger than 25％,collapse occurred in 21 (84％); In 8 hips with the volume of femoral head necrosis larger than 30％,collapse occurred in all cases; 1n 33 hips with the necrosis locating at the superolateral quadrant,collapse occurred in 21 (63.6％); In 22 hips with necrotic areas showing heterogeneous signal intensity,collapse occurred in 18(81.8％) ;In 25 hips with large amount of joint effusion,collapse occurred in 16 (64％) ;in 18 hips with bone marrow edema,collapse occurred in 13 (65％).Joint fluid,heterogeneous signal intensity and lesions in the superolateral quadrant,volume ratio,and area ratio were the high risk factors,while bone marrow edema was a relatively low risk factor.The area under ROC curves for area ratio of NASA was greater than that for volume ratio (0.987 vs 0.902).When the critical value for area ratio was 26.7％,the true positive rate was 95.2％,true negative rate was 94.4％,and Youden's index was 0.896.Conclusions The collapse of necrosis of femoral head may result from many factors.The femoral head was easy to collapse when it had large enough area of necrosis and mixed signal intensity,a large amount of joint effusion,bone marrow edema,and superolateral quadrant location.The critical value for area ratio to predict the collapse of femoral head was about 26.7％.The area ratio is more accurate than volume ratio in predicting the collapse of necrosis of femoral head.

Objective To investigate incidence and related factors of dysphagia after fusion with an anterior cervical plate plus cage or a stand-alone cage (Zero-p cage) following anterior cervical discectomy procedure for treating multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM).Methods From September 2008to September 2011,226 patients with MCSM underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using an anterior cervical plate plus cage (118 patients,P&C group) or a stand-alone cage (108 patients,Zero-p group).Neurological function was evaluated by Japan orthopedic association (JOA) scores before and after operation.Cervical X-rays were taken to assess the graft fusion,internal fixation related complications and the thickness of the prevertebral soft tissue.The Bazaz dysphagia score and Swallowing Quality of Life questionnaire were used to assess the incidence and degree of dysphagia.Results The average follow-up time was 2.4years (range,1.0 to 3.5 years).The incidence of dysphagia was 41.53％ in P&C group,while 33.33％ in Zero-p group at 2 days after operation.The thickness of the prevertebral soft tissue in P&C group was significantly thicker than that in Zero-p group at 2 days and 2 months after surgery.In Zero-p group,the incidence of dysphagia was 43.1％ in patients who underwent operation from C3 to C6,while 22％ in patients who underwent operation from C4 to C7.Conclusion Dysphagia is common after multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.The choice of implants and the extent of operation are important influencing factors of postoperative dysphagia.The use of stand-alone cage can decrease the incidence of dysphagia.The operation at higher levels has a higher incidence of dysphagia.

BACKGROUND:Transformation growth factor-β(TGF-β) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are the main regulatory factors in the process of spinal cord injury. There are many researches for TGF-βand BDNF pathogenesis in the spinal cord injury, but the regulation of Ginsenoside Rg1 intervention on TGF-βand BDNF in the spinal cord injury is rarely reported.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 intervention on TGF-βand BDNF expression at themolecular protein levels, and to study the protection effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 on the spinal cord and nerve function after spinal cord injury.
METHODS:Experimental rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model group and Ginsenoside Rg1 group. In the model and Ginsenoside Rg1 groups, spinal cord injury model was established with the impact method in rats. In the Ginsenoside Rg1 group, rats were intraperitoneal y injected with 10 mg/kg Ginsenoside Rg1 24 hours after modeling, once per day, for 14 days. Rats in the blank control and model groups were injected with equal saline.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, serum malondialdehyde levels increased, the content of superoxide dismutase decreased, TGF-βexpression levels in spinal cord tissue increased, and BDNF expression levels decreased in the model and Ginsenoside Rg1 groups. Compared with the model group, serum malondialdehyde levels decreased, the content of superoxide dismutase increased, TGF-βexpression levels in spinal cord tissue decreased, and BDNF expression levels increased in the Ginsenoside Rg1 group. Ginsenoside Rg1 can protect the injury spinal cord in rats after spinal cord injury.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of Smad4 in peripheral hepatocytes of lesions in mice with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.Methods Eight mice in the test group were inoculated with alveolar echinococcosis and 8 mice in the control group were injected with normal saline.The expression of Smad4 protein in the hepatic tissue of the mice was detected by immunohistochemistry method,and the data were analyzed by chi-square test.The effect of alveolar echinocoeeosis on the expression of Smad4 protein was investigated.Results Smad4 was detected in cell nuclei and partly in the cytoplasm.Six months after the establishment of the mice model for alveolar echinococeosis,the expression of Smad4 in the hepatic tissue in the test group was significantly higher than in the control group(x2=19.869,P＜0.05).The number of Smad4 with positive expression in the hepatocytes in the test group was slightly higher than in the control group,and the expression intensity of Smad4 in the test group was greater than in the control group(x2=58.3 10,P＜0.05).Conclusions The increase of the expression of Smad4 protein in the periphery hepatocytes and tissues of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis lesions may play a role in hepatic cirrhosis and immune evasion.

BACKGROUND:Chinese herb extracts can restore and protect the nervous system of rats through intervention of neural stem cels. OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of ginsenosides Rg1 in the proliferation and protection of neural stem cels. METHOD:Sprague-Dawley rats at pregnant 19 days were dissected to take out fetal rats, and then the hippocampal tissues from fetal rats were isolated to extract neural stem cels. Neural stem cels were co-cultured with DMEM/F12 medium containing 50 g/L ginsenosides Rg1 as intervention group, with DMEM/F12 medium as blank control group, and with DMEM/F12 containing 0.64% phenol as positive control group, respectively. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of neural stem cels in each group, and western blot method to detect the protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and transforming growth factor-β in neural stem cels. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Rat neural stem cels were round single cels with clear border at early period after isolation but at 2 days after inoculation, the cels were adherent and aggregated into smal cel spheres. Compared with the blank control group, the proliferative rate of neural stem cels was significantly increased in the ginsenosides Rg1 group (P < 0.05), but decreased in the positive control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the blank control group, in the ginsenosides Rg1 group, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor was elevated, and the expression of transforming growth factor-β was reduced, indicating ginsenosides Rg1 has a certain effect to promote the proliferation of neural stem cels as wel as to protect the neural stem cels.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of total disc replacement (TDR) in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM) with sympathetic symptoms.MethodsTwenty-seven patients (15 males and 12 females) with CSM at single level accompanied by sympathetic symptoms,who underwent TDR surgery(Prestige or Discover prosthesis) with the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) resected at the area of decompression between October 2008 and May 2011,were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were followed up for at least 6 months (average,15.1 months).Clinical and radiologic evaluations were obtained preoperatively,1 week postoperatively,and at the final follow-up.The sympathetic symptoms were scored by our original 20-point system.The clinical outcomes were assessed by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36).ResultsThe sympathetic symptoms were improved in all patients and the score was significantly improved after surgery.The sympathetic symptoms scores were (8.5±2.5) points preoperatively,(1.6±1.4) points 1 week postoperatively,and (2.3±1.1) points at the final follow-up.The patient's subjective satisfaction was excellent in 15 patients,good in 8,fair in 4,with an excellent and good rate of 85.2％.The corresponding JOA scores were(10.8±2.4) poiuts, (11.1±2.5) points,and (14.9±1.4) points,respectively.The SF-36 scores showed statistical improvements from preoperative (102.7±8.7) points to postoperative (129.8±5.5) points.Based on X-ray examination,the range of motion of the treated segment were reserved.During the follow-up period,there was no prosthesis subsidence or excursion.ConclusionThe CSM patients with sympathetic symptoms could be managed successfully with TDR.And thoroughly resection of the PLL may be the key factor for good prognosis.