BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that limited lumbar discectomy can harvest better clinical efficacy, but also face a higher risk of recurrence. In clinic, how to guarantee access to good effect, and meanwhile to reduce the probability of recurrent disc herniation? The annulus repair technology may be an effective way, but it is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the early clinical effects of endoscopic lumbar discectomy associated with annulus repair in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: Totaly 224 patients with lumbar disc herniation who accepted discectomy surgery were selected from the Department of Spinal Surgery, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University from January 2011 to January 2013, including 56 cases of microendoscopic discectomy associated with annulus repair (repair group) and 168 cases of microendoscopic discectomy (control group). Oswestry disability index and visual analog scale scores for lumbago and lower limb pain were recorded before and at 10 days, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 18 months after operation. Simultaneously, operative time, blood loss, surgical complications, and postoperative recurrence of lumbar disc herniation were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the repair group, only 51 patients completed the folow-up, while al the patients in the control group completed the folow-up. There was no difference between the repair and control groups before and after surgery in the Oswestry disability index and visual analog scale scores for lumbago and lower limb pain (P > 0.05), but at 10 days after surgery, the Oswestry disability index and visual analog scale scores for lumbago and lower limb pain were significantly decreased in the repair group (P < 0.05), and this trend continued until the 18th month after surgery. There were no dural tears, disc space infection, hematoma formation in the spinal canal and other serious complications. The recurrence rate was 9.5% in the control group and 3.9% in the repair group. 31.2% of relapsed patients in the control group received the second operation, while on patient in the repair group received reoperation. These findings indicate that microendoscopic discectomy associated with annulus repair can obtain remarkable early clinical results, and effectively reduce the recurrent rate and risk of secondary lumbar disc surgery, which is safe and reliable.

Objective To establish a finite element model of rotator cuff which can be used to simulate the rotator cuff injury and to evaluate the biomechanical effects of rotator cuff surgery.Methods The Dicom CT images of the right shoulder of a Chinese healthy volunteer were used to establish models of the scapula,humerus and clavicle.The rotator cuff structures were separated and modeled based on the MRI images and anatomical knowledge.After the rotator cuff model was introduced into the finite element analysis software Abaqus 6.12,the anatomical positions were simulated when the shoulder was at 30° internal rotation,30° external rotation,30° abduction,30° adduction,30° flexion and 30° extension.Results When the shoulder was in 30° flexion,the average stress was 52.2 kPa on the supraspinatus,223.0 kPa on the inffaspinatus and the teres minor,and 90.4 kPa on the subscapularis.When the shoulder was in 30° extension,the average stress was 105.0 kPa on the supraspinatus,78.2 kPa on the infraspinatus and the teres minor,and 55.7 kPa on the subscapularis,indicating that the muscle and tendon of the supraspinatus was subjected to greater stress and the humerus and the scapula produced less stress compared with the shoulder in 30° flexion.Conclusion Since our finite element model of the rotator cuff can simulate common activities of the shoulder joint and obtain stress values of the corresponding rotator cuff muscles,it can be used in simulation of rotator cuff injury and its surgery.

BACKGROUND: As the preliminary experiment for gene therapy in intervertebral disc degeneration, this study aims to construct a recombinant plasmid containing fluorescent pAAV-hSOX9-IRES-tdTomato for adeno-associated virus packaging, in a broader attempt to lay the foundation for late experiments in vitro and in vivo.OBJECTIVE: To construct human SOX9 gene overexpressing adeno-associated virus, pAAV-hSOX9-IRES-tdTomato, packaging. METHODS: The plasmid pAAV-IRES-tdTomato and plasmid pUC57-hSOX9 were connected into pAAV-hSOX9-IRES-tdTomato by enzyme digestion method. The adeno-associated virus was packaged with plasmid co-transfections method. The recombinant pAAV-hSOX9-IRES-tdTomato was transfected into 293AAV cell by calcium phosphate transfection. The purification and drop of adeno-associated virus was tested by determination of biological titer. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results of BLAST sequence comparison analysis showed that, pAAV-hSOX9-IRES-tdTomato exactly matched the synthetic gene sequence hSOX9. The titer is 1×107 TU/mL. Human gene SOX9 recombinant adenoviruses, pAAV-hSOX9-IRES-tdTomato, have been constructed successfully.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between liver stiffness and histopathological changes in a rat model of acute hepatitis using virtual touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ) technology.Methods:A total of 100 SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control ( n=30), low-dose ( n=35), and high-dose ( n=35) groups. Acute hepatitis models were induced in the low-dose and high-dose groups using 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg of Thioacetamide (TAA), respectively. Liver stiffness parameters of the right median lobe and right lobe were measured using VTIQ technology, Mean-H and Mean-L represent the liver lobes with higher and lower liver stiffness measurments, respectively, while Mean represent the average of the measurements from both liver lobes. Comparative analyses of liver stiffness parameters were performed across three groups and between the two lobes of the liver. The correlations between the Mean values of liver stiffness and semi-quantitative histopathological data were investigated. Ten rats were randomly selected from each of the 3 groups to test the repeatability of VTIQ values before and after euthanasia with intraperitoneal anesthesia. Subsequently, 10 rats after euthanasia from each 3 group were randomly chosen to assess the repeatability of VTIQ measurements for inter-observer and intra-observer variabilities. Results:VTIQ results showed statistically significant differences in Mean, Mean-H, and Mean-L among the 3 groups (all P<0.01). The high-dose group had higher measurements compared to the low-dose and control groups, with significant intergroup differences (all P<0.01). Significant differences in Mean-H and Mean-L were observed between the two liver lobes in both low and high-dose groups (all P<0.01). The Mean value showed significant positive correlations with semi-quantitative histopathological data of hepatocellular edema, periportal inflammatory cell infiltration, macrophage proliferation, and bile duct proliferation ( r=0.391, 0.648, 0.577, 0.542; all P<0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that hepatocellular edema, eosinophilic change, and bile duct proliferation significantly and positively predicted the Mean value (β=-0.278, -0.196, -0.333; all P<0.05). There were no significant differences of VTIQ measurements befor and after euthanasia (all P>0.05), with repeatability coefficients of 0.166, 0.182, 0.185 for Mean, Mean-H, and Mean-L, respectively. Post-euthanasia, inter- and intra-observer VTIQ differences remained non-significant (all P>0.05), with Mean, Mean-H, Mean-L coefficients of 0.114, 0.194, 0.165 and 0.206, 0.322, 0.268, respectively. Conclusions:VTIQ technology demonstrates potential clinical value in assessing a rat model of acute hepatitis, offering a new perspective for non-invasive evaluation of acute hepatitis. However, its clinical application requires further validation.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of endoscopic sinuvertebral nerves neurotomy for discogenic low back pain.Methods:Based on the anatomical research of sinuvertebral nerves, a total of 40 patients, including 9 males and 21 females aged 35±10 (24-55) years, with single-segment discogenic low back pain were treated with endoscopic sinuvertebral nerves neurotomy in our hospital from July 2018 to February 2019. The operating section included 4 cases of L 3,4 (10.0%, 4/40), 31 cases of L 4, 5 (77.5%, 31/40), and 5 cases of L 5S 1 (12.5%, 5/40). The preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 4.5±0.9 with the preoperative Oswestry disability index (ODI) score 49.7%±14.0%. For diagnostic nerves block, lidocaine (0.1-0.3 ml of 0.05 g/L) was successfully injected into the intersection of the lateral edge of the bilateral pedicle projection and the upper edge of the intervertebral disc projection. The initial segment of the sinuvertebral nerves was destroyed by a radiofrequency blade or a nerve dissector after bilateral percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic. All cases were followed up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, observing the changes in VAS and ODI. Results:Filamentous lumbar sinuvertebral nerve was observed under endoscope with its main trunk tranversed into the spinal canal against the intervertebral disc. The deputy trunk crossed at the posterolateral edge of the intervertebral disc and entered the intervertebral disc or the posterior edge of the vertebral body. By moving along with postcentral branches of spinal artery, the main trunk of sinuvertebral nerve was with tension and was capable of moving with the nerve root. In spite of moving the working channel along the main trunk of the sinuvertebral nerve laterally, the starting point of the sinuvertebral nerve at the ventral ganglion could be observed. All 40 patients successfully completed the sinuvertebral nerve destruction. The VAS was reduced to 1.7±0.9, 1.3±0.9, 1.2±0.8, 1.3±0.7 at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after sugery respectively, which were significantly lower than those at pre-operation ( F=116.7, P=0.00). The improvement rate of VAS in 40 cases was 68.9%± 17.1% (33.3%-100.0%) at 12 months after operation. The VAS score in 6 cases was higher at 12 months after surgery than that preoperatively ( t=4.2, P=0.48), namely 1 case of L 3, 4, 2 cases of L 4, 5, and 3 cases of L 5S 1. In all cases, the ODI was reduced to 18.3%±5.2%, 14.5%±4.3%, 13.6%±3.7%, 12.8%±3.0% points at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery respectively, which were significantly lower than those before surgery ( F=237.7, P=0.00). The improvement rate of ODI was 72.0%±11.6% (33.3%-88.9%) at 12 months after surgery in all cases. Conclusion:The destruction of sinuvertebral nerve after transforaminal endoscope could improve the pain and function in patients with discogenic low back pain at L 3,4 and L 4, 5 segments within 12 months. For patients with discogenic low back pain at L 5S 1 segment, the clinical effects could be better within 6 months.

Objective: To explore the application value of virtual touch tissue imaging quantification(VTIQ) technology in initial polymyositis(PM). Methods: Sixteen PM patients collected from February 2016 to March 2019 in Wenzhou People′s Hospital were selected as PM group, and 33 healthy subjects as healthy control group. After gray and color Doppler ultrasound, the shear wave velocity(SWV) values of target muscle and control muscle in the same side of affected limb were measured by VTIQ technique. Maximum velocity(Vmax) and minimum velocity(Vmin) were measured, average velocity(Vmean) and standard deviation(SD) were calculated, and compared between the two groups. SWV difference and ratio between target muscle and control muscle were calculated, and creatine kinase(CK) was detected in the same day. Results: Part of PM patients had abnormal ultrasonographic manifestations of full muscle shape (31.25%), increased or decreased echo of muscle bundles (56.25%), blurred muscle texture (25.00%) and increased blood flow signals (37.50%). There were significant differences in Vmin, SD, and Vmax difference, Vmin difference, Vmean difference, and Vmax ratio, Vmin ratio, and Vmean ratio between PM group and healthy control group (all P<0.01). The ROC curve analysis showed that the diagnostic efficiency of Vmin was lower than those of Vmin difference and Vmean difference, Vmin ratio and Vmean ratio with very close diagnostic efficiencies of the latter four parameters. The correlation analysis showed that Vmin difference and Vmean difference were moderately correlated with CK value(r=0.512, 0.601; all P<0.05). Conclusions Reduced VTIQ values or relative reduction of VTIQ values compared with other non-involved muscles are the manifestations of initial PM, VTIQ have certain diagnostic efficacy for initial PM.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of an accuracy evaluation method for 3D reconstructed bone model based on 3D reconstruction software Arigin3D Pro. Methods: Pig femurs were used as solid models which were scanned by CT and MRI respectively. The scan data were imported into software Arigin3D Pro for 3D model reconstruction by 3 operators with different reconstruction experience (≤1 year, 2 to 3 years, and ≥4 years, respectively). Each operator reconstructed the femurs 3 times and in each reconstruction measured the diameter of the femoral head, the length of the femur and the width of the knee joint at the distal end of the femur 3 times respectively using software Geomagic Wrap. The above parameters of the solid models were measured using a vernier caliper. The parameter values of reconstructed models and solid models were compared and the differences were analyzed. Results: The measurements by Geomagic Wrap showed deviations between the CT and MRI reconstruction models and the solid models, and the maximum deviation percentages were 1.47% and 1.08%, respectively. The percentages of intra-operater difference ranged from 0.29% to 1.53%; the 3D models reconstructed by operators with different reconstruction experience were not identical. Conclusions It is a feasible accuracy evaluation method to compare key parameters between the 3D bone model reconstructed by software Arigin3D Pro and the real animal bone. The deviations of 3D reconstructed bone model based on CT and MRI images are acceptable. The accuracy of 3D bone construction is related to the difference in operators.