OBJECTIVETo investigate the use of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with self-locking cages to treat multi-segmental cervical myelopathy.

METHODSFrom April 2008 to March 2010, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with self-locking cages were performed on 45 patients who suffered from multi-segmental cervical myelopathy, among of them there were 23 male and 22 female, aged from 32 to 67 years (average 53 years). Recording the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores and SF-36 scores in the protocol time point, in order to investigate the clinical outcome, meanwhile, accumulating the pre-operation and postoperation X-ray films of cervical spine for measuring the height of intervertebral space, whole curvature of cervical spine and the rate of fusion by repeated measures analysis of variance.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up time was 28.4 months (24 - 35 months). JOA scores ascended from preoperative 6.5 ± 3.1 to postoperative 13.4 ± 1.7 (F = 17.84, P = 0.001), the 7 scores of SF-36 improved significantly after operation (t = 1.151 - 12.207, P < 0.05), but mental health not. The fineness rate was 91.1%. Height of disc space ascended from preoperative (5.5 ± 1.8) mm to postoperative (8.3 ± 0.8) mm (F = 11.71, P = 0.043), globle curvature of cervical spine ascended from preoperative 5° ± 7° to postoperative 10° ± 14° (F = 234.53, P = 0.000), the change of the two index was significantly, respectively. Fat necrosis in one case and hematoma in another case at the bone donor-site were found, both of the two cases were cured by physiotherapy. All of the 45 cases (111 segments) achieved bone fusion.

CONCLUSIONThe use of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with self-locking cages to treat multi-segmental cervical myelopathy possess many advantages as follows: satisfactory clinical outcome, minimally invasive, higher fusion rate, higher orthopaedic ability.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; instrumentation ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC) is an exceptionally rare and malignant odontogenic tumor with aggressive growth characteristics. We describe a case of GCOC which was considerably derived from a previously resected calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor (CCOT). Cellular atypia, mitotic activity, Ki-67 labeling index and matrix metalloprotease-9 positive expression rate were all increased in the currently resected specimen compared to the initial one. This is a rare case of malignant transformation of CCOT to GCOC with respect to its histopathological and immunohistochemical findings.
Odontogenic Tumors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effectiveness of cervical arthroplasty with Mobi-C prosthesis for treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.

METHODSFrom March 2008 to November 2009, a group of 67 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were analyzed retrospectively. The short form-36 physical component summary (SF-36) and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were used to compare clinical outcome pre- and postoperatively. The follow-up was performed at 3 d, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. Static and dynamic radiography were taken to evaluate height of disc space, range of motion (ROM) and heterotopic ossification (HO) of index levels.

RESULTSFifty-one cases were followed up, 16 cases were lost. Average follow-up was for 19.7 months (13 - 31 months). All of patients had improvement for clinical symptoms. There was a significant difference on SF-36 between pre- and postoperatively. The significant difference was found in VAS score in which neck pain was decreased from preoperative 4.6 ± 0.4 to postoperative 2.0 ± 0.5 (P < 0.05), arm pain was decreased from preoperative 6.5 ± 0.4 to postoperative 1.3 ± 0.4 (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in height of disc space which was increased from preoperative (6.5 ± 1.1) mm to (7.7 ± 0.9) mm (P < 0.05). ROM was increased from preoperative 7.2° ± 3.1° to latest follow-up 8.1° ± 3.2°, however, no significant difference was found concerning ROM pre- and postoperatively (P > 0.05). No other complications were met during follow-up period other than the 17 cases of heterotopic ossification in ClassI, the 7 cases in Class II in 1 year postoperatively, but no any correlation were found between the radiographic finding in HO and clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSIONSCervical arthroplasty with Mobi-C could improve neurofunctional symptoms, maintain ROM of index level and height of disc space. For accurate patient selection, long term follow-up is still needed in prospective randomized study.

Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement ; methods ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Prosthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiculopathy ; complications ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of the classification of the spino-pelvic sagittal alignment in adluts according to lumbar lordosis (LL) and inflection point (IP).

METHODSWhole spine, standing radiographs of 223 adult volunteers were taken from July to August in 2011 .There were 111 cases(56 female and 55 male) enrolled in the study based on the inclusion criteria. The pelvic and spinal parameters, including thoracic kyphosis(TK), thoracolumbar kyphosis(TLK), LL, sacral slope(SS), pelvic tilt(PT), pelvic incidence(PI), intervertebral endplate angle, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), spino-sacral angle (SSA) and IP were measured. The spino-pelvic sagittal alignment were classified in to 3 types according to LL and IP. Type I: LL > -40°, IP located below L2 ∼ 3; Type II: -60° ≤ LL ≤ -40°, IP located in L1 ∼ 2 or T12 ∼ L1; Type III: LL < -60°, P located above T11 ∼ 12. Pearson correlation analysis was used to test the correlation between the variables. The parameters in each type were compared by oneway-ANOVA respectively,then additional multiple comparisons were performed.

RESULTSThe mean value of LL was -49° ± 10°, TK was 36° ± 7°, TLK was 6° ± 7°, PT was 11° ± 7°, SS was 34° ± 8°, PI was 45° ± 9°, SSA was 127° ± 9° and SVA was (-2.7 ± 22.8)mm, respectively. Only LL had significant statistical correlation with all the other parameters. Negative correlation presented between LL and TK, PI, SS, SSA (r = -0.387, -0.536, -0.858, -0.801,P < 0.05). Positive correlation presented between LL and TLK, SVA, PT (r = 0.319, 0.296, 0.262, P < 0.05). All the volunteers were classified into the 3 types: Type I1 9 cases, Type II 75 cases,Type III 17 cases. Oneway-ANOVA results showed statistical difference in LL, TK, TLK, PT, SS, PI, SSA, SVA among the 3 types, (F = 164.559, 7.431, 14.099, 4.217, 53.856, 6.252, 35.995, 8.626, P < 0.05 ). Multiple comparisons showed that LL, SS, SSA, PI had statistical difference between each two types comparison (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLL is the central parameter of the spino-pelvic sagittal balance. The patterns of the spino-pelvic sagittal alignment in adults could be classified into three types, according to LL and IP. The classification could describe the morphological differences and balance of the spino-pelvic sagittal alignment.

Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Anthropometry ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; anatomy & histology ; Postural Balance ; Radiography ; Spine ; anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanism by which LKB1 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in Peutz-Jeghers hamartoma and intestinal epithelial cells.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to detect gene expression of LKB1, E-cadherin, and vimentin in 20 hamartoma tissues and 10 normal intestinal tissues, and collagen fiber deposition was analyzed using Masson trichrome staining. Normal intestinal epithelial NCM460 cells were transfected with LKB1 shRNA plasmid or negative control via lentiviral vectors, and the role of LKB1 in cell polarization and migration were determined using CCK8 and Transwell assays. Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and immunofluorescence were used to assess the alterations of EMT markers in the cells with LKB1 knockdown.

RESULTSCompared with normal intestinal tissues, hamartoma polyps showed significantly decreased LKB1 and E-cadherin expressions and increased vimentin expression with increased collagen fiber deposition. The cells with LKB1 knockdown exhibited enhanced cell proliferation and migration activities (P<0.01). Western blot analysis, qPCR and immunofluorescence all detected decreased E-cadherin and increased N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail, and Slug expressions in the cells with LKB1 knockdown.

CONCLUSIONs LKB1 deficiency triggers EMT in intestinal epithelial cells and Peutz-Jeghers hamartoma, suggesting that EMT can serve as the therapeutic target for treatment of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

This study was to investigate the antiviral effects of a hot water soluble extract S-03 isolated from Isatis indigotica root on different subtypes of influenza A and B viruses in MDCK cell cultures, using plaque reduction, immunofluorescence and hemo-agglutination inhibition (HAD) assays. Chemical analysis of the extract S-03 showed that it contained high proportion of polysaccharides. The antiviral effects in vitro showed that the S-03 had no effect on different influenza viruses if the drug was used before virus adsorption, but S-03 showed obvious activities against influenza viruses if treatment after virus adsorption or direct reaction of drug and virus before virus adsorption. Hemagglutination inhibition assay showed that S-03 inhibited HA activities of different human influenza viruses (inhibition concentration ranged from 3.12 to 25 mg/mL), avain influenza viruses (inhibition concentration ranged from 25 to 50 mg/mL). The antiviral effects of S-03 on different influenza A and B viruses in vitro might be through the inhibition of the HA to prevent infection.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Influenza A virus ; drug effects ; Influenza B virus ; drug effects ; Isatis ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) based on optical microangiography (OMAG) measurements of macular vessels in normal eyes.

METHODSIn this prospective cohort study, 40 eyes of 40 healthy volunteers underwent repeated OCTA (Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 angiography system, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.) scans on two separate visit days. On each visit day, the eyes were scanned three times. The following parameters were used to quantitatively describe the OCTA images of the superficial vascular network: vessel area density (VAD), vessel skeleton density (VSD), vessel diameter index (VDI), vessel perimeter index (VPI), vessel complexity index (VCI), flux, and foveal avascular zone (FAZ). Coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated for evaluating intravisit and intervisit repeatability, as well as interobserver reproducibility.

RESULTSThe measurements showed high repeatability [CVs ⪕ 4.2% (intravisit) and ⪕ 4.6% (intervisit)] and interobserver reproducibility (ICCs ⪖ 0.923) for all parameters.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated good repeatability and reproducibility of OCTA based on OMAG for the measurement of superficial vessel parameters in normal eyes.

Adult ; Cohort Studies ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; standards ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Microvessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Retina ; diagnostic imaging ; Retinal Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; standards ; Young Adult