Methods: From March 2020 to March 2023, 100 inpatients with DS were classified into groups A, B, C, and D based on the CARDS classification system. Preoperative radiological data were analyzed to measure the severity of central canal stenosis, facet joint arthropathy, intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal epidural lipomatosis, osteophyte formation, range of motion (ROM), and computed tomography value of the vertebral bodies. The radiological characteristics and clinical contraindications for OLIF were compared among the groups. Results: Of the 100 patients, 51% had clinical contraindications for OLIF, which included 85%, 25%, 62.5%, and 20% of patients in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Compared with group B, group A demonstrated greater severity of central canal stenosis, whereas group C showed a higher degree of facet joint arthropathy. More patients in groups A and C had severe central canal stenosis. Regarding the ROM results, group A had segmental stiffness, whereas group D presented relatively unstable slip segments. Conclusions Patients with different DS subtypes have varied radiological characteristics. Groups B and D are suitable candidates for OLIF. Most patients in group A are unsuitable for OLIF because of bony hyperplasia, severe spinal stenosis, and segmental stiffness.

Objective To explore the predictive value of serum C-reactive protein(CRP)/albumin(Alb)ratio,cystatin C(CysC),procalcitonin(PCT),and serum amyloid A(SAA)levels for urinary tract infection after percutaneous nephrolithotripsy in patients with upper urinary tract calculi.Methods A retrospective se-lection was made of 127 patients with upper urinary tract calculi who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotrip-sy in this hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 as the research subjects.The patients were divided into the infection group(n=66)and the non-infection group(n=61)according to their postoperative urinary tract infection conditions.Analyze the distribution of pathogenic bacteria in the infection group,as well as the com-parison of clinical data,CRP/Alb ratio,CysC,PCT and SAA levels between the two groups.Multivariate Lo-gistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of postoperative urinary tract infection in patients.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value of CRP/Alb ratio,CysC,PCT and SAA levels for postoperative urinary tract infection in patients.Results The pathogenic bacte-ria in the infection group were mainly Gram-negative bacteria[44(66.67％)].The proportions of smoking history and operation duration ≥60 minutes in the infection group were higher than those in the non-infection group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The CRP/Alb ratio,CysC,SAA and PCT levels in the infection group were higher than those in the non-infection group,and the difference was statisti-cally significant(P＜0.05).The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that smoking his-tory,operation duration ≥60 min,upregulation of CRP/Alb ratio,CysC,SAA,and PCT levels were risk fac-tors for postoperative urinary tract infection in patients(P＜0.05).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the combined prediction of CRP/Alb ratio,CysC,SAA and PCT for postoperative urinary tract infection in patients had a sensitivity of 89.41％,a specificity of 90.22％,and an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.933.The AUC of the combined prediction was higher than that of the individual predictions of CysC,SAA and PCT(Z=3.564,2.846,2.644,P＜0.05).Conclusion The serum CRP/Alb ratio,CysC,PCT,and SAA levels have important predictive value for urinary tract infection after percutaneous nephrolithotripsy in patients with up-per urinary tract calculi.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of a primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) family, and analyze the pathogenic mechanism of MYORG gene variants. Methods:A 17-year-old female who presented to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine on 13 May 2024 with " paroxysmal limb twitching for 1 day" was enrolled. The patient and her parents underwent clinical evaluation and neuroimaging. Peripheral blood was collected for whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and interpreted using the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants (hereinafter referred to as the ACMG Guidelines). This study was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Ethics No. 2020-674). Results:① The patient experienced epileptic seizures. Cranial CT revealed multiple calcifications in the bilateral basal ganglia and cerebellum, with a total calcification score of 23. ② WES identified compound heterozygous variants in MYORG: c. 337_348dup (p.Leu113_Arg116dup), a known pathogenic variant, and c. 1268T>G (p.Val423Gly). Segregation analysis showed that the father carried the c. 337_348dup heterozygous variant, whereas the mother carried the c. 1268T>G heterozygous variant. ③ According to ACMG guidelines, the c. 1268T>G variant was classified as "likely pathogenic" (PM2_Supporting + PM3_Supporting + PP1_Supporting + PP3_Moderate + PP4_Supporting). Conclusion:The novel compound heterozygous MYORG variants c. 337_348dup and c.1268T>G have broadened the mutational spectrum of the MYORG gene and further supported compound heterozygosity as an important genetic mechanism in MYORG-related PFBC.

Methods: From March 2020 to March 2023, 100 inpatients with DS were classified into groups A, B, C, and D based on the CARDS classification system. Preoperative radiological data were analyzed to measure the severity of central canal stenosis, facet joint arthropathy, intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal epidural lipomatosis, osteophyte formation, range of motion (ROM), and computed tomography value of the vertebral bodies. The radiological characteristics and clinical contraindications for OLIF were compared among the groups. Results: Of the 100 patients, 51% had clinical contraindications for OLIF, which included 85%, 25%, 62.5%, and 20% of patients in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Compared with group B, group A demonstrated greater severity of central canal stenosis, whereas group C showed a higher degree of facet joint arthropathy. More patients in groups A and C had severe central canal stenosis. Regarding the ROM results, group A had segmental stiffness, whereas group D presented relatively unstable slip segments. Conclusions Patients with different DS subtypes have varied radiological characteristics. Groups B and D are suitable candidates for OLIF. Most patients in group A are unsuitable for OLIF because of bony hyperplasia, severe spinal stenosis, and segmental stiffness.

Methods: From March 2020 to March 2023, 100 inpatients with DS were classified into groups A, B, C, and D based on the CARDS classification system. Preoperative radiological data were analyzed to measure the severity of central canal stenosis, facet joint arthropathy, intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal epidural lipomatosis, osteophyte formation, range of motion (ROM), and computed tomography value of the vertebral bodies. The radiological characteristics and clinical contraindications for OLIF were compared among the groups. Results: Of the 100 patients, 51% had clinical contraindications for OLIF, which included 85%, 25%, 62.5%, and 20% of patients in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Compared with group B, group A demonstrated greater severity of central canal stenosis, whereas group C showed a higher degree of facet joint arthropathy. More patients in groups A and C had severe central canal stenosis. Regarding the ROM results, group A had segmental stiffness, whereas group D presented relatively unstable slip segments. Conclusions Patients with different DS subtypes have varied radiological characteristics. Groups B and D are suitable candidates for OLIF. Most patients in group A are unsuitable for OLIF because of bony hyperplasia, severe spinal stenosis, and segmental stiffness.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of a primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) family, and analyze the pathogenic mechanism of MYORG gene variants. METHODS: A 17-year-old female who presented to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine on 13 May 2024 with "paroxysmal limb twitching for 1 day" was enrolled. The patient and her parents underwent clinical evaluation and neuroimaging. Peripheral blood samples were collected for whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and interpreted using the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants (hereinafter referred to as the ACMG Guidelines). This study was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Ethics No. 2020-674). RESULTS: The patient experienced epileptic seizures. Cranial CT revealed multiple calcifications in the bilateral basal ganglia and cerebellum, with a total calcification score of 23. WES identified compound heterozygous variants in MYORG: c.337_348dup (p.Leu113_Arg116dup), a known pathogenic variant, and c.1268T>G (p.Val423Gly). Segregation analysis showed that the father carried the c.337_348dup heterozygous variant, whereas the mother carried the c.1268T>G heterozygous variant. According to ACMG guidelines, the c.1268T>G variant was classified as "likely pathogenic" (PM2_Supporting + PM3_Supporting + PP1_Supporting + PP3_Moderate + PP4_Supporting). CONCLUSION The novel compound heterozygous MYORG variants c.337_348dup and c.1268T>G have broadened the mutational spectrum of the MYORG gene and further supported compound heterozygosity as an important genetic mechanism in MYORG-related PFBC.
Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Brain Diseases/genetics* ; Calcinosis/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing ; GPI-Linked Proteins/genetics* ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Glycoside Hydrolases

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of a primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) family, and analyze the pathogenic mechanism of MYORG gene variants. Methods:A 17-year-old female who presented to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine on 13 May 2024 with " paroxysmal limb twitching for 1 day" was enrolled. The patient and her parents underwent clinical evaluation and neuroimaging. Peripheral blood was collected for whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and interpreted using the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants (hereinafter referred to as the ACMG Guidelines). This study was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Ethics No. 2020-674). Results:① The patient experienced epileptic seizures. Cranial CT revealed multiple calcifications in the bilateral basal ganglia and cerebellum, with a total calcification score of 23. ② WES identified compound heterozygous variants in MYORG: c. 337_348dup (p.Leu113_Arg116dup), a known pathogenic variant, and c. 1268T>G (p.Val423Gly). Segregation analysis showed that the father carried the c. 337_348dup heterozygous variant, whereas the mother carried the c. 1268T>G heterozygous variant. ③ According to ACMG guidelines, the c. 1268T>G variant was classified as "likely pathogenic" (PM2_Supporting + PM3_Supporting + PP1_Supporting + PP3_Moderate + PP4_Supporting). Conclusion:The novel compound heterozygous MYORG variants c. 337_348dup and c.1268T>G have broadened the mutational spectrum of the MYORG gene and further supported compound heterozygosity as an important genetic mechanism in MYORG-related PFBC.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of MRI-based or CT-based measurements and the combined evaluation methods for preoperative bone quality assessment in patients with cervical degenerative diseases.Methods:Patients who underwent spine surgery for cervical degenerative diseases at the Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University from September 2020 to March 2022 with available preoperative X-ray, CT, MRI and dule energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DEXA) data were included in this study. Vertebral bone quality score (VBQ) based on MRI T1-weightedimages and CT Hounsfiled unit (HU) values of the cervical spine were measured, and a combined diagnostic formula based on the binary logistic regression was constructed. The patients were divided into normal bone mass (T≥-1.0) and osteopenia/osteoporosis groups (T<-1.0). The student's t-test and Chi-square test were performed for comparisons between groups. The Pearson correlation coefficient was also used to investigate the correlation between DEXA-T scores, cervical VBQ and CT HU values. In addition, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were plotted to explore the diagnostic efficacy of VBQ, CT HU and their combined diagnosis. Meanwhile, the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were obtained. Results:A total of 71 patients were included in this study (17 in the normal group and 54 in the osteopenia/osteoporosis group). The student's t-test showed that VBQ (2.90±0.70 vs. 3.83±0.83, t=4.23, P<0.001) and CT HU values (370.26±85.38 vs. 295.20±67.96, t=3.73, P=0.002) were significantly different between the two groups. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for VBQ and CT values of the cervical spine were 0.81 and 0.75, respectively, and the AUC for the combined diagnostic value constructed on the basis of both was 0.85. Applying VBQ scores alone had a diagnostic sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 70%, and the combined diagnosis with VBQ and CT HU had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 75%. Person correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between DEXA T value, cervical VBQ value and CT HU value. The detailed formula was: DEXA T score=-0.63×cervical VBQ+0.64 ( r=-0.55, P<0.001), CT HU value=-40.20×cervical VBQ+458.40 ( r=-0.45, P<0.001), DEXA T score=0.006×CT HU-3.47 ( r=0.45, P<0.001). Conclusion:This study confirmed the feasibility of using cervical VBQ values, CT HU values and combined diagnostics for preoperative bone density screening in patients with degenerative cervical spine diseases. This method allows surgeons to perform an initial preoperative bone density screening based on the patient's existing imaging data, and thus could aid in confirming the indication and scheme of surgery. The method could be a powerful tool for preoperative bone density assessment screening in patients with cervical degenerative diseases.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between paraspinal muscle atrophy, morphological changes of facet joints and adjacent segment disease (ASDis) after lumbar fusion operation.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted among 195 patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion again for ASDis at this institution from January 2014 to December 2020, including 29 patients with ASDis whose initial surgical fusion segment was L 4,5. According to Roussouly's staging, there were 5 cases of type I, 9 cases of type II, 10 cases of type III, and 5 cases of type IV. Another 29 cases were selected from patients without ASDis after lumbar fusion as a control group. The control group was paired 1∶1 with the ASDis group according to gender, fusion segment, and Roussouly typing of the lumbar spine. The cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat infiltration (FI) of paravertebral muscle, facet joint angle (F-J) and pedicle facet (P-F) angle before the first (second) operation were measured and compared between the two groups. Then logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of ASDis after posterior lumbar fusion. Finally, the receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve was described, and the area under the curve (AUC) and cut-off point were calculated. At the same time, the paraspinal muscle atrophy before the second operation in ASDis group was measured. Results:The average follow-up time of 98 patients was 59.25±6.38 months (range, 49-73 months). The average body mass index (BMI) of ASDis group was 24.76±3.64 kg/m 2, which was higher than that in control group (22.24±2.92 kg/m 2) ( t=2.481, P=0.041). The average CSA and relative cross-sectional area (rCSA) of paraspinal muscle in ASDis group were 3 214.32± 421.15 mm 2 and 1.69±0.36 respectively, which were less than 3 978.91±459.87 mm 2 and 2.26±0.29 in control group ( t=10.22, P=0.012; t=9.47, P=0.038). The FI degree of paraspinal muscle in ASDis group (21.95%±5.89%) was significantly higher than that in control group (14.64%±7.11%) ( t=7.32, P=0.002). The F-J angle in ASDis group was 35.06°±3.45°, which was less than 38.39°±4.67° in control group ( t=4.76, P=0.027). The P-F angle in ASDis group was 117.39°±8.13°, which was greater than 111.32°±4.78° in control group ( t=5.25, P=0.031). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher BMI ( OR=1.34, P=0.038), smaller rCSA of paraspinal muscle ( OR=0.02, P=0.017) and higher FI of paraspinal muscle ( OR=1.58, P=0.032) were the risk factors of postoperative ASDis. The ROC curve showed that the AUC of BMI was 0.680 and the cut-off point was 22.58 kg/m 2; The AUC of the FI of paraspinal muscle was 0.716 and the cut-off point was 15.69%; The AUC of rCSA of paraspinal muscle was 0.227 and the cut-off point was 1.92. For ASDis patients, the paraspinal muscle before the second operation had a higher degree of FI (25.47%±6.59% vs. 21.95%±5.89%, t=3.99, P=0.042) and a smaller rCSA (1.52±0.28 vs. 1.69±0.36, t=3.85, P=0.038) than that before the first operation. The difference between the FI degree of paraspinal muscle before the second operation and the first operation was negatively correlated with the occurrence time of ASDis ( r=-0.53, P=0.039) , and the difference of rCSA was positively correlated with the occurrence time of ASDis ( r=0.64, P=0.043) . Conclusion:When BMI >22.58 kg/m 2, FI of paraspinal muscle >15.69%, and rCSA of paraspinal muscle <1.92, it suggests that ASDis is more likely to occur after operation. And the more obvious paraspinal muscle atrophy after the first operation, the earlier ASDis may occur. Morphological changes of facet joints cannot be used as an index to predict the occurrence of ASDis.

Objective:To investigate the influence of interbody cage height during oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) on lumbar biomechanics with different degrees of degeneration and to provide a reference for cage choice.Methods:The finite element model of normal lower lumbar spine (L 3-S 1) was built and validated, then constructed three different degenerative segments in L 3, 4, and the cages with different height (8, 10,12, 14 mm) were implanted into L 4, 5 disc. All the twelve models were loaded with pure moment of 7.5 N·m to produce flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation motions on lumbar spine, and the effects of cage height on range of motion (ROM), intervertebral pressure in adjacent segments and stress in facet joints were investigated. Results:The ROM of adjacent segments and the maximum stress of intervertebral discs increased with the increase of cage height, but this trend was not obvious in moderate and severe degeneration groups. After implantation of 4 different height cages (8, 10, 12, 14 mm), the ROM of L 3, 4 segment reached the maximum during extension. The ROM of mild degeneration group was 2.68 °, 2.71 °, 2.94 °, 2.98 °, moderate degeneration group was 2.33°, 2.37°, 2.41°, 2.49°, and severe degeneration group was 1.94 °, 1.99 °, 2.14 °, 2.21 °. The stress of L 3, 4 intervertebral disc reached the maximum during right bending. The maximum stress of L 3, 4 intervertebral disc was 23.95 MPa, 24.60 MPa, 24.90 MPa and 25.34 MPa in mild group, 25.57 MPa, 25.60 MPa, 25.82 MPa and 25.89 MPa in moderate group, and 25.95 MPa, 25.99 MPa, 26.48 MPa and 27.13 MPa in severe group. The maximum stress of L 3, 4 facet joint was 15.87 MPa, 15.78 MPa, 16.29 MPa and 16.43 MPa in mild group, 15.97 MPa, 16.31 MPa, 16.53 MPa and 16.79 MPa in moderate group, and 16.17 MPa, 16.49 MPa, 16.95 MPa and 17.35 MPa in severe group. Conclusion:For patients with mild lumbar degeneration requiring OLIF surgery, the intervertebral height of the surgical segment should not be overstretched. But for patients with moderate to severe lumbar degenerative disease who need to undergo OLIF surgery, it is recommended that the cage height be 0-2 mm higher than the original intervertebral space height.