Objective To explore the relationship between thoracolumbar disc herniation (TLDH) and Scheuermann1's disease (SD),as well as the role of SD in the etiology of TLDH.Methods From June 2006 to June 2010,45 patients with TLDH (T10-11-L2-3) underwent surgery in our department.Forty-five patients with lower lumbar disc herniation (LDH,L3-4-L5S1) acted as controls.The incidence of SD and Scheuermann's signs of these patients were examined by reviewing CT,MRI and Ⅹ-ray films.The thoracolumbar kyphotic angles of the two groups were compared.Furthermore,in TLDH group,the incidence of disk herniation within segments with the Scheuermann's signs was compared to that within segments without Scheuermann's signs.Results All except one patient in TLDH group(97.8%) had been associated SD while the incidence of SD in LDH group was only 26.7%.The incidence of all Scheuennann's signs was higher in TLDH group than that in LDH group.The average thoracolumbar kyphotic angle of TLDH group was 15.8°±6.9° while that of LDH group was 4.8°±4.0°.In TLDH group,the incidence of disc herniation within segments with Scheuermann's signs was all higher than that within segments without Scheuermann's signs.Conclusion There is a close relationship between TLDH and SD,suggesting that TLDH is probably a manifestation of SD.Schmorl's node,irregular end plate,wedge-shaped vertebra and especially,posterior bony edge separation,are associated with disc herniation.

Objective To discuss the preservation and clinical significance of petrosal vein in microsurgical operation of acoustic neuroma. Methods 147 patients with acoustic neuroma were operated, with internal decompression of the tumor firstly then dissected the tumor with surrounding structures, the petrosal vein were protected well in 143 cases and failed to protect in 4 cases. Results No hemorrhagic infarction in cerebellar was observed in 143 cases with intact petrosal vein. One case occurred with extensive cerebellar edema, which has gait disturbance after 18 months follow-up. The other three cases occurred with vein infarction and hemorrhagic edema after petrosal vein damage. One was dead and the other two were recovered well after decompression of posterior cranial fossa. One has no significant neurological deficit after 33 months follow-up, while the other has difficulty in line walking after 12 months follow-up. Conclusion Petrosal vein should be well protected in the operation of acoustic neuroma, the decompression of posterior cranial fossa should be considered if petrosal vein failed to protect.

OBJECTIVETo identify factors that predictive of quality of life after microsurgical removal of petroclival meningiomas.

METHODSA consecutive series of 71 cases of petroclival meningiomas received microsurgical removal between July 1991 and April 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Quality of life was measured using Karnofsky performance scale (KPS). Complete pre-operative, post-operative and follow-up data were obtained from all 71 patients including 18 male and 53 female patients with the mean age of (47 ± 11) years (aging from 15 to 68 years). The duration between onset of symptoms and diagnosis ranged from 1 week to 180 months with the mean duration of (32 ± 30) months. And the tumor size was 15-72 mm with the average of (44 ± 11) mm. Main presentations included headache, unsteady gait, hemiparesis, dysphagia, hoarseness, facial numbness or pain, Bell's palsy, hearing impairment etc. The preoperative KPS was 40-100 with the average of 69 ± 11. The retrosigmoid (-transtentorial) approach was performed in most cases (91.5%). Intergroup χ² test and logistic regression analysis were conducted for prognostic factor characterization.

RESULTSThe gross total resection (all were Simpson gradeII) reached in 48 cases (67.6%) and 1 case died postoperatively. The main new neurological dysfunctions were cranial nerve paralysis and hemiplegia with the postoperative KPS of 20-100 with the average of 73 ± 16.Sixty-four cases were followed for 4-132 months with the average of (61 ± 48) months. Seven patients died during follow-up, tumor recurrence and progression were identified in 6 and 8 cases, respectively. The KPS at the last visit ranged from 50 to 100 with the average of 83 ± 13. The extent of tumor resection (OR = 0.280, 95% CI: 0.081-0.967, P = 0.044), preoperative brainstem edema (OR = 0.100, 95% CI: 0.027-0.372, P = 0.001), relationships between tumor and neurovascular structures (OR = 0.288, 95% CI: 0.084-0.985, P = 0.047) and depth of invasion into cavernous sinus (OR = 0.254, 95% CI: 0.061-1.057, P = 0.048) had significant correlations with the prognostic quality of life.

CONCLUSIONSWith regard of the choice of surgical approaches, the extent of tumor resection, the protection of neurovascular structures surrounding the tumor and the management of perioperative period, the therapeutic strategies for each patient should be customized to achieve better prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical, laboratory characteristics and PIG-A gene mutations in patients of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with PNH clones.

METHODS218 MDS patients diagnosed from August 2013 to August 2015 were analyzed. The PIG-A gene mutations were tested in 13 cases of MDS with PNH clones, 17 cases of AA-PNH and 14 cases of PNH selected contemporaneously by PCR and direct sequencing.

RESULTS13 (5.96%) MDS patients were detected with PNH clones (13/218 cases). 9 patients were treated with cyclosporin A (CsA). Patients showed hematological improvement (HI). There were significant differences between MDS-PNH and PNH patients in terms of granulocyte clone size, red cell clone size and LDH levels [19.2% (1.0%-97.7%) vs 60.2% (3.1%-98.0%), P=0.007; 4.3% (0-67.2%) vs 27.9% (2.5%-83.6%), P=0.026; 246 (89-2014) U/L vs 1137 (195-2239) U/L, P=0.049], while the differences were not statistically significant in patients between MDS-PNH and AA-PNH patients [19.2% (1.0%-97.7%) vs 23.2% (1.5%-96.0%), P=0.843; 4.3% (0-67.2%) vs 14.4% (1.1%-62.8%), P=0.079; 246 (89-2014) U/L vs 406 (192-1148) U/L, P=0.107]. PIG-A gene mutations were detected in 7 MDS-PNH patients, of them, six were missense mutations, one were frameshift mutation and four cases with the same mutation of c.356G>A (R119Q). The PIG-A gene mutations were also detected in 9/11 AA-PNH patients and 11/14 PNH patients, both of them had the mutation of c.356G>A (R119Q). The PIG-A gene mutations of MDS-PNH, AA-PNH, PNH patients were all small mutations, the majority of those (59%) were missense mutation and mainly located in exon 2.

CONCLUSIONMDS patients with PNH clones had better response to CsA, smaller PNH clone size. The PIG-A gene mutations of MDS-PNH patients mainly located in exon 2, which could be a mutational hotspot of these patients.

Anemia, Aplastic ; genetics ; Clone Cells ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; Exons ; Granulocytes ; cytology ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction