Objective To summarize the reasons and management strategies of reoperation after oblique lateral interbody fusion(OLIF),and put forward preventive measures.Methods From October 2015 to December 2019,23 patients who under-went reoperation after OLIF in four spine surgery centers were retrospectively analyzed.There were 9 males and 14 females with an average age of(61.89±8.80)years old ranging from 44 to 81 years old.The index diagnosis was degenerative lumbar intervertebral dics diseases in 3 cases,discogenie low back pain in 1 case,degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis in 6 cases,lumbar spinal stenosis in 9 cases and degenerative lumbar spinal kyphoscoliosis in 4 cases.Sixteen patients were primarily treated with Stand-alone OLIF procedures and 7 cases were primarily treated with OLIF combined with posterior pedicle screw fixation.There were 17 cases of single fusion segment,2 of 2 fusion segments,4 of 3 fusion segments.All the cases underwent reoperation within 3 months after the initial surgery.The strategies of reoperation included supplementary posterior pedicle screw instrumentation in 16 cases;posterior laminectomy,cage adjustment and neurolysis in 2 cases,arthroplasty and neuroly-sis under endoscope in 1 case,posterior laminectomy and neurolysis in 1 case,pedicle screw adjustment in 1 case,exploration and decompression under percutaneous endoscopic in 1 case,interbody fusion cage and pedicle screw revision in 1 case.Visu-al analogue scale(VAS)and Oswestry disability index(ODI)index were used to evaluate and compare the recovery of low back pain and lumbar function before reoperation and at the last follow-up.During the follow-up process,the phenomenon of fusion cage settlement or re-displacement,as well as the condition of intervertebral fusion,were observed.The changes in in-tervertebral space height before the first operation,after the first operation,before the second operation,3 to 5 days after the second operation,6 months after the second operation,and at the latest follow-up were measured and compared.Results There was no skin necrosis and infection.All patients were followed up from 12 to 48 months with an average of(28.1±7.3)months.Nerve root injury symptoms were relieved within 3 to 6 months.No cage transverse shifting and no dislodgement,loosening or breakage of the instrumentation was observed in any patient during the follow-up period.Though the intervertebral disc height was obviously increased at the first postoperative,there was a rapid loss in the early stage,and still partially lost after reopera-tion.The VAS for back pain recovered from(6.20±1.69)points preoperatively to(1.60±0.71)points postoperatively(P＜0.05).The ODI recovered from(40.60±7.01)％preoperatively to(9.14±2.66)％postoperatively(P＜0.05).Conclusion There is a risk of reoperation due to failure after OLIF surgery.The reasons for reoperation include preoperative bone loss or osteoporosis the initial surgery was performed by Stand-alone,intraoperative endplate injury,significant subsidence of the fusion cage after surgery,postoperative fusion cage displacement,nerve damage,etc.As long as it is discovered in a timely manner and handled properly,further surgery after OLIF surgery can achieve better clinical results,but prevention still needs to be strengthened.

Objective To observe the cage subsidence after oblique lateral interbody fusion(OLIF)for lumbar spondylo-sis,summarize the characteristics of the cage subsidence,analyze causes,and propose preventive measures.Methods The data of 144 patients of lumbar spine lesions admitted to our hospital from October 2015 to December 2018 were retrospectively ana-lyzed.There were 43 males and 101 females,and the age ranged from 20 to 81 years old,with an average of(60.90±10.06)years old.Disease types:17 patients of lumbar intervertebral disc degenerative disease,12 patients of giant lumbar disc hernia-tion,5 patients of discogenic low back pain,33 patients of lumbar spinal stenosis,26 patients of lumbar degenerative spondy-lolisthesis,28 patients of lumbar spondylolisthesis with spondylolisthesis,11 patients of adjacent vertebral disease after lumbar internal fixation,7 patients of primary spondylitis in the inflammatory outcome stage,and 5 patients of lumbar degenerative scoliosis.Preoperative dual-energy X-ray bone mineral density examination showed 57 patients of osteopenia or osteoporosis,and 87 patients of normal bone density.The number of fusion segments:124 patients of single-segment,11 patients of two-seg-ment,8 patients of three-segment,four-segment 1 patient.There were 40 patients treated by stand-alone OLIF,and 104 patients by OLIF combined with posterior pedicle screw.Observed the occurrence of fusion cage settlement after operation,conducted monofactor analysis on possible risk factors,and observed the influence of fusion cage settlement on clinical results.Results All operations were successfully completed,the median operation time was 99 min,and the median intraoperative blood loss was 106 ml.Intraoperative endplate injury occurred in 30 patients and vertebral fracture occurred in 5 patients.The mean follow-up was(14.57±7.14)months from 6 to 30 months.During the follow-up,except for the patients of primary lumbar interstitial in-flammation and some patients of lumbar spondylolisthesis with spondylolisthesis,the others all had different degrees of cage subsidence.Cage subsidence classification:119 patients were normal subsidence,and 25 patients were abnormal subsidence(23 patients were grade Ⅰ,and 2 patients were grade Ⅱ).There was no loosening or rupture of the pedicle screw system.The height of the intervertebral space recovered from the preoperative average(9.48±1.84)mm to the postoperative average(12.65±2.03)mm,and the average(10.51±1.81)mm at the last follow-up.There were statistical differences between postop-erative and preoperative,and between the last follow-up and postoperative.The interbody fusion rate was 94.4％.The low back pain VAS decreased from the preoperative average(6.55±2.2 9)to the last follow-up(1.40±0.82),and there was statistically significant different.The leg pain VAS decreased from the preoperative average(4.72±1.49)to the final follow-up(0.60± 0.03),and the difference was statistically significant(t=9.13,P＜0.000 1).The ODI index recovered from the preoperative av-erage(38.50±6.98)％to the latest follow-up(11.30±3.27)％,and there was statistically significant different.The complication rate was 31.3％(45/144),and the reoperation rate was 9.72％(14/144).Among them,8 patients were reoperated due to fusion cage subsidence or displacement,accounting for 57.14％(8/14)of reoperation.The fusion cage subsidence in this group had obvious characteristics.The monofactor analysis showed that the number of abnormal subsidence patients in the osteopenia or osteoporosis group,Stand-alone OLIF group,2 or more segments fusion group,and endplate injury group was higher than that in the normal bone mass group,OLIF combined with pedicle screw fixation group,single segment fusion group,and no endplate injury group,and the comparison had statistical differences.Conclusion Cage subsidence is a common phenomenon after 0-LIF surgery.Preoperative osteopenia or osteoporosis,Stand-alone OLIF,2 or more segments of fusion and intraoperative end-plate injury may be important factors for postoperative fusion cage subsidence.Although there is no significant correlation be-tween the degree of cage subsidence and clinical symptoms,there is a risk of cage migration,and prevention needs to be strengthened to reduce serious complications caused by fusion of cage subsidence,including reoperation.

OBJECTIVE: To explore characteristics, management strategies and preventive measures of fusion device displacement after oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) in treating lumbar lesions. METHODS: The clinical data of 12 patients with fusion device displacement after OLIF for lumbar lesions in 4 medical centers from October 2014 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 4 males and 8 females, aged from 53 to 81 years old;2 patients with lumbar disc degeneration, 4 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, 3 patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and 3 patients with lumbar degenerative kyphosis;preoperative dual-energy X-ray bone mineral density (BMD) was detected in 1 patient with T-value > -1 SD, 5 patients with T-value >-1~-2.5 SD, and 6 patients with T-value <-2.5 SD;9 patients with single-segment fusion, 1 patient with 2-segment fusion, and 2 patients with 3-segment fusion;standalone OLIF was performed in 9 patients and OLIF combined with posterior pedicle screws in 3 patients. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate low back pain and lumbar function recovery at the time of fusion graft displacement and at the latest follow-up, respectively. In addition, according to imaging results during follow-up, the fusion device subsidence or redisplacement, loosening or fracture of internal fixation, and interbody fusion were observed, and the changes in the height of interbody space on the segment with fusion device displacement were measured and compared. RESULTS: There were no necrosis or infection in skin incision of 10 patients after reoperation, and 12 patients were followed up for 12 to 48 months. VAS for low back pain decreased from 3 to 8 points at the time of fusion device displacement to 0 to 2 points at the latest follow-up. ODI recovered from 31% to 51% at the time of fusion transfer to 5% to 13% at the latest follow-up. There was no loosening or fracture of the pedicle screw system during follow-up. All 11 patients with bone grafting with fusion apparatus had fusion apparatus subsidence and no further displacement of fusion apparatus. The vertebral space height recovered from 9.0 to 12.7 mm at the time of fusion graft displacement to 8.0 to 11.8 mm at the latest follow-up. Interbody fusion was obtained in all patients except 1 with no imaging results at the latest follow-up. CONCLUSION OLIF could be used for fusion of lumbar lesions, and there is a risk of fusion organ displacement after operation, especially in cases of bone loss or osteoporosis before surgery, end-plate injury during surgery, and Stand-alone mode, and most of them occur within 3 months after operation. Surgery is required for the transposition of the fusion apparatus in the Stand-alone OLIF mode during the primary operation. Although good clinical results could be obtained by timely detection and accurate treatment, it is still necessary to emphasize the precise selection of cases before operation, the appropriate application of OLIF, and precise operation during operation to prevent displacement of fusion device.
Humans ; Spinal Fusion/instrumentation* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pedicle Screws

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the causes of vertebral fracture during oblique lateral interbody fusion in the treatment of lumbar spondylopathy, summarize the clinical results, and propose preventive measures. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was made on the data of 8 cases of lumbar spondylopathy and vertebral fracture treated by oblique lateral interbody fusion in three medical centers from October 2014 to December 2018. All were female, aged from 50 to 81 years with an average of 66.4 years. Disease types included 1 case of lumbar degenerative disease, 3 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, 2 cases of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and 2 cases of lumbar degenerative scoliosis. Preoperative dual energy X-ray bone mineral density test showed that 2 cases had T-value >-1 SD, 2 cases had T-value -1 to -2.5 SD, and 4 cases had T-value <-2.5 SD. Single segment fusion was in 5 cases, two segment fusion in 1 case and three segment fusion in 2 cases. Four cases were treated with OLIF Stand-alone and 4 cases were treated with OLIF combined with posterior pedicle screw fixation. Postoperative imaging examination showed vertebral fracture, and all of them were single vertebral fracture. There were 2 cases of right lower edge fracture of upper vertebral body at fusion segment, 6 cases of lower vertebral body fracture at fusion segment, and 6 cases with endplate injury and fusion cage partially embedded in vertebral body. Three cases of OLIF Stand-alone were treated with pedicle screw fixation via posterior intermuscular approach, while one case of OLIF Stand-alone and four cases of OLIF combined with posterior pedicle screw fixation were not treated specially. RESULTS: The 5 cases of initial operation and 3 cases of reoperation did not show wound skin necrosis or wound infection. The follow-up time was from 12 to 48 months with an average of 22.8 months. Visual analogue scale (VAS) of low back pain was preoperative decreased from 4 to 8 points (averagely 6.3 points) and postoperative 1 to 3 points (averagely 1.7 points) at the final follow-up. Oswestry disability index (ODI) was preoperative 39.7% to 52.4% (averagely 40.2%), and postoperative 7.9% to 11.2% (averagely 9.5%) at the final follow-up. During the follow-up, there was no loosening or fracture of the pedicle screw system, and no lateral displacement of the fusion cage;however, the fusion cage at the vertebral fracture segment had obvious subsidence. The intervertebral space height of vertebral fracture segment was preoperaive 6.7 to 9.2 mm (averagely 8.1 mm), and postoperative 10.5 to 12.8 mm (averagely 11.2 mm). The improvement rate after operation was 37.98% compared to preoperative. The intervertebral space height at final follow-up was 8.4 to 10.9 mm (averagely 9.3 mm), and the loss rate was 16.71% compared with that after operation. At the final follow-up, interbody fusion was achieved in all cases except for one that could not be identified. CONCLUSION The incidence of vertebral fracture during oblique lateral interbody fusion in the treatment of lumbar spondylopathy is lower, and there are many reasons for fracture, including preoperative bone loss or osteoporosis, endplate injury, irregular shape of endplate, excessive selection of fusion cage, and osteophyte hyperplasia at the affected segment. As long as vertebral fracture is found in time and handled properly, the prognosis is well. However, it still needs to strengthen prevention.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spondylolisthesis/surgery* ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Fusion/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and clinical effect of Stand-alone oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) in the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration with Modic changes and endplate sclerosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 16 cases with lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration with Modic changes and endplate sclerosis admitted to three medical centers from January 2015 to December 2018. There were 6 males and 10 females, the age ranged from 45 to 67 years old with an average of (55.48±8.07) years old, the medical history ranged from 36 to 240 months with an average of (82.40±47.68) months. The lesion sites included L_2,3 in 2 cases, L_3,4 in 5 cases, and L_4,5 in 9 cases. All patients presented with chronic low back pain with lower limb neurological symptoms in 3 cases. All patients were treated by Stand-alone oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion. Clinical and radiological findings and complications were observed. RESULTS: There was no vascular injury, endplate injury and vertebral fracture during the operation. The mean incision length, operation time, and intraoperative blood loss were(4.06±0.42) cm, (45.12±5.43) min, (33.40±7.29) ml, respectively. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) of the incision pain was (1.14±0.47) at 72 hours after operation. There was no incision skin necrosis, poor incision healing or infection in patients. Sympathetic chain injury occurred in 1 case, anterolateral pain and numbness of the left thigh in 2 cases, and weakness of the left iliopsoas muscle in 1 case, all of which were transient injuries with a complication rate of 25%(4/16). All 16 patients were followed up from 12 to 36 months with an average of (20.80±5.46) months. The intervertebral space height was significantly recovered after operation, with slight lost during the follow-up. Coronal and sagittal balance of the lumbar spine showed good improvement at the final follow-up. There was no obvious subsidence or displacement of the cage, and the interbody fusion was obtained. At the final follow-up, Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA) score and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were significantly improved. CONCLUSION As long as the selection of case is strict enough and the preoperative examination is sufficients, the use of Stand-alone OLIF in the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration with Modic changes and endplate sclerosis has a good results, with obvious clinical advantages and is a better surgical choice.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion/methods*

Objective:To investigate the safety and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic pro-ximal gastrectomy (LPG) for proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 385 patients with proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction who underwent LPG in the 15 medical centers, including the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University et al, from January 2014 to March 2022 were collected. There were 304 males and 81 females, aged (63±9)years. Of the 385 patients, 335 cases undergoing LPG were divided into the laparoscopic group and 50 cases undergoing open proximal gastrectomy were divided into the open group. Observation indicators: (1) intraoperative and postoperative situations; (2) follow-up; (3) stratified analysis. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Repeated measurement data were analyzed using the repeated ANOVA. Results:(1) Intraoperative and postoperative situations. The operation time, cases with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis and esophageal-jejunal anastomosis, cases with postoperative pathological staging as stage 0?Ⅰ and stage Ⅱ?Ⅲ, duration of postoperative hospital stay, cases with postoperative early complications were (212±96)minutes, 270, 65, 177, 107, 10(range, 8?14)days, 40 in patients of the laparoscopic group, with 51 cases missing the data of postoperative pathological staging. The above indicators were (174±90)minutes, 39, 11, 22, 28, 10(range, 8?18)days, 10 in patients of the open group. There were significant differences in the opera-tion time and postoperative pathological staging between the two groups ( t=2.62, χ2=5.93, P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the reconstruction of digestive tract, duration of post-operative hospital stay, postoperative early complications between the two groups ( χ2=0.19, Z=0.40, χ2=2.50, P>0.05). (2) Follow-up. Of the 385 patients,202 cases were followed up during the post-operative 12 months, including 187 cases in the laparoscopic group and 15 cases in the open group. Cases with reflux esophagitis, cases with esophageal anastomotic stenosis were 48, 11 in patients of the laparoscopic group, versus 5, 2 in patients of the open group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( P>0.05). The body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb) at postoperative 6 months and 12 months were (21±3)kg/m 2, (130±15)g/L, (40±4)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (132±14)g/L, (41±4)g/L in patients of the laparoscopic group, versus (21±3)kg/m 2, (121±19)g/L, (37±5)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (125±21)g/L, (43±6)g/L in patients of the open group. There were significant differences in postoperative Hb between the two groups ( Fgroup=5.88, Ftime=5.49, Finteraction=19.95, P<0.05) and there were significant differences in time effect of postopera-tive BMI and Alb between the two groups ( Ftime=9.53, 49.88, P<0.05). (3) Stratified analysis. ① Incidence of postoperative of reflux esophagitis and esophageal anastomotic stenosis in patients with different reconstruction of digestive tract. Of the 202 patients, cases with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis and esophageal-jejunal anastomosis were 168 and 34, respectively. The incidence rates of postoperative of reflux esophagitis were 26.79%(45/168)and 23.53%(8/34)in cases with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis and esophageal-jejunal anastomosis, showing no significant difference between them ( χ2=0.16, P>0.05). Cases undergoing esophageal anastomotic stenosis were 13 in patients with reconstruction of diges-tive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis. ② The BMI, Hb, Alb in patients with different reconstruc-tion of digestive tract. The BMI, Hb, Alb were (24±3)kg/m 2, (135±20)g/L, (41±5)g/L in the 168 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis before the operation, versus (23±3)kg/m 2, (130±19)g/L, (40±4)g/L in the 34 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophageal-jejunal anastomosis before the operation, showing no significant difference between them ( t=1.44, 1.77, 1.33, P>0.05). The BMI, Hb, Alb at postoperative 6 months and 12 months were (21±3)kg/m 2, (128±16)g/L, (39±4)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (131±16)g/L, (41±4)g/L in the 168 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis, versus (20±4)kg/m 2, (133±13)g/L, (43±3)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (135±12)g/L, (44±3)g/L in the 34 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophageal-jejunal anastomosis. There were significant differences in the group effect and time effect of postoperative Alb between patients with different reconstruction of diges-tive tract ( Fgroup=15.82, Ftime=5.43, P<0.05), and there was also a significant difference in the time effect of postoperative BMI between them ( Ftime=4.22 , P<0.05). Conclusion:LPG can be used to the treatment of proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction, with a good safety and short-term efficacy.

Objective: To examine the clinical efficacy of 3 anti-reflux methods of digestive tract reconstruction after proximal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: The clinical data and follow-up data of gastric cancer patients who underwent anti-reflux reconstruction after proximal gastrectomy in 11 medical centers of China from September 2016 to August 2021 were retrospectively collected, including 273 males and 65 females, aging of (63±10) years (range: 28 to 91 years). Among them, 159 cases were performed with gastric tube anastomosis (GTA), 107 cases with double tract reconstruction (DTR), and 72 cases with double-flap technique (DFT), respectively. The duration of operation, length of postoperative hospital stay and early postoperative complications (referring to Clavien-Dindo classification) of different anti-reflux reconstruction methods were assessed. Body mass index, hemoglobin and albumin were used to reflect postoperative nutritional status. Reflux esophagitis was graded according to Los Angeles criteria based on the routinely gastroscopy within 12 months after surgery. The postoperative quality of life (QoL) was evaluated by Visick score system. The ANOVA analysis, Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, χ² test and Fisher's exact test were used for comparison between multiple groups, and further comparison among groups were performed with LSD, Tamhane's test or Bonferroni corrected χ² test. The mixed effect model was used to compare the trends of Body mass index, hemoglobin and albumin over time among different groups. Results: The operation time of DFT was significantly longer than that of GTA and DTR ((352±63) minutes vs. (221±66) minutes, (352±63) minutes vs. (234±61) minutes, both P<0.01). The incidence of early complications with Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅱ to Ⅴ in GTA, DFT and DTR groups was 17.0% (27/159), 9.7% (7/72) and 10.3% (11/107), respectively, without significant difference among these three groups (χ²=3.51, P=0.173). Body mass index decreased more significantly in GTA than DFT group at 6 and 12 months after surgery (mean difference=1.721 kg/m², P<0.01; mean difference=2.429 kg/m², P<0.01). body mass index decreased significantly in DTR compared with DFT at 12 months after surgery (mean difference=1.319 kg/m², P=0.027). There was no significant difference in hemoglobin or albumin fluctuation between different reconstruction methods perioperative. The incidence of reflux esophagitis one year after surgery in DTR group was 12.9% (4/31), which was lower than that in DFT (45.9% (17/37), χ²=8.63, P=0.003). Follow-up of postoperative quality of life showed the incidence of Visick grade 2 to 4 in DFT group was lower than that in GTA group (10.4% (7/67) vs. 34.6% (27/78), χ²=11.70, P=0.018), while there was no significant difference between DFT and DTR group (10.4% (7/67) vs. 22.2% (8/36, P>0.05). Conclusions: Compared with GTA and DTR, DFT is more time-consuming, but there is no significant difference in early complications among three methods. DFT reconstruction is more conducive to maintain postoperative nutritional status and improve QoL, especially compared with GTA. The risk of reflux esophagitis after DTR reconstruction is lower than that of DFT.
Aged ; Albumins ; Esophagitis, Peptic/surgery* ; Female ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of Chinese medicine (CM) involving triple rehabilitation therapy on the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of 722 patients recruited from 38 community health service centers located in China from March 2013 to March 2017 were randomly divided into treatment and control groups equally, using a cluster randomization design. Health education combined with CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy for KOA (electro-acupuncture, Chinese medicinal herb fumigating-washing, and traditional exercises) was administered in the treatment group while conventional rehabilitation therapy (physical factor therapy, joint movement training, and muscle strength training) was administered in the control group. Patients with a visual analog scale (VAS) scores ≽4 were treated with dispersible meloxicam tablets (7.5 mg, once daily). The Lequesne index scores, VAS scores, range of motion (ROM), lower limb muscle strength, knee joint circumference, quantitative scores of KOA symptoms, and the short-form 36 item health survey questionnaire (SF-36) scores were measured for each patient at 5 checkpoints (before treatment, at the 2nd week and the 4th week during the 4-week treatment period, at 1 month and 3 months after end of treatment), and adverse reactions were observed also. RESULTS: A total of 696 patients completed the entire process, with 351 in the treatment group and 345 in the control group. At all treatment checkpoints, the treatment group demonstrated better outcomes than the control group with regard to the total Lequesne index scores, effective rate and improvement rate of the total Lequesne index scores, VAS scores, lower limb muscle strength, knee circumference, quantitative scores of KOA symptoms, and SF-36 scores as well (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No adverse reactions were encountered in this study. CONCLUSIONS CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy can alleviate KOA-related pain and swelling, improve lower limb muscle strength, promote flexion and activity of the knee and improve the quality of life in patients undergoing KOA. It is suitable for patients with early or mid-stage KOA. (Registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002538).
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy* ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore effects of exercise on the expression of adiponectin mRNA and protein in visceral adipose tissue, plasma adiponectin concentration, and insulin resistance of aged obese rats. METHODS: Male SD rats age to 21 days old were fed with high-fat diet (fat percentage was 36.3% to 40.0%) for three stages of adolescence, maturity and old age to establish elderly obesity rats model. When the rats aged to 60 weeks old, natural growing elderly rats were randomly divided into control group (C) and aged exercise group (AE), =6; elderly obesity rats were randomly divided into obesity control group (OC) and obesity exercise group (OE), =6. The treadmill grade was 0°, the exercise speed and time were 15 m/min×15 min, 4 groups each time, between consecutive groups the rats had 5 minutes rest, the rats were exercised for 60 minutes every day, five days a week, continuous exercise for 8 weeks. Then, the expressions of adiponectin mRNA and protein in visceral adipose tissue were determined. The concentrations of blood glucose, plasma adiponectin and insulin were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated. RESULTS: Comparison with control group, the expressions of adiponectin mRNA and protein were obviously decreased, the concentration of blood glucose and insulin resistance were significantly increased in obesity control group, while the expressions of adiponectin mRNA and protein were obviously increased. Comparison with obesity control group, the expressions of adiponectin mRNA and protein, the concentration of plasma adiponectin were obviously increased, the concentration of blood glucose and insulin resistance were significantly decreased in obesity exercise group. CONCLUSIONS Adiponectin mRNA and protein expression in visceral adipose tissue is decreased and accompanied by high blood glucose and insulin resistance in elderly obesity rats. Exercise can increase the adiponectin mRNA and protein expression in visceral adipose tissue, elevate levels of plasma adiponectin, and decrease the level of blood glucose and insulin resistance in elderly obesity rats.
Adiponectin ; Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Obesity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Tianma(the tuber of Gastrodia eleta) is a widely used and pricy Chinese herb. Its counterfeits are often found in herbal markets, which are the plant materials with similar macroscopic characteristics of Tianma. Moreover, the prices of Winter Tianma(cultivated Tianma) and Spring Tianma(mostly wild Tianma) have significant difference. However, it is difficult to identify the true or false, good or bad quality of Tianma samples. Thus, a total of 48 Tianma samples with different characteristics(including Winter Tianma, Spring Tianma, slice, powder, etc.) and 9 plant species 10 samples of Tianma counterfeits were collected and analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS techniques. After optimizing the procedure of sample preparation, chromatographic and mass-spectral conditions, the HPLC chromatograms of all those samples were collected and compared. The similarities and Fisher discriminant analysis were further conducted between the HPLC chromatograms of Tianma and counterfeit, Winter Tianma and Spring Tianma. The results showed the HPLC chromatograms of 48 Tianma samples were similar at the correlation coefficient more than 0.848(n=48). Their mean chromatogram was simulated and used as Tianma HPLC fingerprint. There were 11 common peaks on the HPLC chromatograms of Tianma, in which 6 main peaks were chosen as characteristic peaks and identified as gastrodin, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, parishin A, parishin B, parishin C, parishin E, respectively by comparison of the retention time, UV and MS data with those of standard chemical compounds. All the six chemical compounds are bioactive in Tianma. However, the HPLC chromatograms of the 10 counterfeit samples were significantly different from Tianma fingerprint. The correlation coefficients between HPLC fingerprints of Tianma with the HPLC chromatograms of counterfeits were less than 0.042 and the characteristic peaks were not observed on the HPLC chromatograms of these counterfeit samples. It indicated the true or false Tianma can be identified by either the similarity or characteristic peaks on HPLC fingerprint. Comparing the Winter Tianma with Spring Tianma showed that the HPLC chromatograms of 15 winter Tianma samples and 11 spring Tianma samples were similar at the mean correlation coefficient of 0.908. But the intensity of the characteristic peaks were different between the two groups of Tianma samples, i.e. the intensity of gastrodin, paishin A and C in winter Tianma was lower than those in spring Tianma. The Winter Tianma and Spring Tianma could be discriminated by either the Fisher unstandardized discrimination function or Linear discriminant function, based on the peak areas of 11 common peaks on HPLC chromatograms as variate.