Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition caused by damage or dysfunction in the nervous system. While the spleen may influence neuropathic pain, its role has been poorly understood. This study demonstrates that the spleen plays a crucial role in regulating neuropathic pain through the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) - paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) neural circuit in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) mouse model. Splenectomy, splenic denervation, or splenic sympathectomy significantly increased the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and reduced macrophage infiltration in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of CCI mice. Pseudorabies virus injections into the spleen revealed connections to the BNST and PVN in the brain. Chemogenetic inhibition of the BNST-PVN circuit increased macrophage infiltration in the DRG and decreased the MWT; these effects were reversed by splenectomy, splenic denervation, or sympathectomy. These findings underscore the critical role of the spleen, regulated by the BNST-PVN circuit, in neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Neuralgia/pathology* ; Septal Nuclei/physiopathology* ; Male ; Spleen/physiopathology* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/physiopathology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Splenectomy ; Mice ; Neural Pathways/physiopathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ganglia, Spinal/physiopathology* ; Sympathectomy ; Macrophages

Complete burst fractures of the L₅ is relatively uncommon. How to accomplish a rigid internal fixation as well as preserve motor function is an enormous challenge. We report such a case treated via a single posterior vertebrectomy with 270-degree decompression and reconstruction using titanium mesh cage. The disc between L₅/S₁ was preserved by placing the titanium mesh cage on the inferior endplate of the L₅. We hope this method can offer a possible solution for other surgeons when they meet a similar fracture pattern.
Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Surgical Mesh ; Titanium

Objective To evaluate the effect of different preparation processes on preparation of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)loaded microspheres and observe the biological activity of GDNF.Methods With polylactide-co-glycolide(PLGA)as the coating material,the GDNF-loaded microspheres were prepared by using double emulsion(W1/O/W2).Two-factor factorial design variance analysis was done to analyze the effects of the composition proportion of lactic acid(LA)and glycolic acid(GA)in PLGA and the stirring speed of multiple emulsion on particle size,entrapment efficiency,burst release and in vitro release characteristics of the GDNF-loaded microspheres.PC-12 bioassay was employed to detect the biological activity of the released GDNF so as to determine the optimal preparation process.Results The composition proportion of PLGA could affect the microspheres'burst release(P ＜ 0.05),with no effect on particle size and entrapment efficiency.with the higher.With higher proportion of GA,the release speed of GDNF in the microspheres was increased.When the stirring speed of multiple emulsion was increased from 1 000 r/min to 3 000 r/min,the particle size of the microspheres was decrease significantly(P ＜ 0.01),the burst release was increased markedly(P ＜ 0.01)and the in vitro release rate was accelerated.The activity of GDNF in the microspheres could last for about 20 days at 37℃,which was 10 days longer than that of single GDNF.Conclusions Double emulsioncan prepare the GDNF-loaded microspheres with high entrapment efficiency and suitable in vitro release time.In the meantime,the microspheres can extend the validity of GDNF.

The inhibitory environment and loss of axonal connections after spinal cord injury pose many obstacles to regenerating the lost tissue.Cellular therapy provides a means of restoring the cells lost to the injury and could potentially promote functional recovery after such injuries.This review presents a summary of the various types of cellular therapy used to treat spinal cord injury.A wide range of cell types have been investigated for such uses and the advantages and disadvantages of each cell type are discussed along with the research studying each cell type.Based on the current research,suggestions are given for future investigation of cellular therapies for spinal cord regeneration.