BACKGROUND:When performing percutaneous minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion to implant an intervertebral cage,due to the narrow operating range of the approach,there is a risk of nerve root injury or poor position of cage. To solve the above problems,a novel mechanical deformable press-fit cage (YP-cage) was invented.OBJECTIVE:To preliminarily evaluate the mechanical strength characteristics of this new lumbar fusion device YP-cage.METHODS:Static axial compression and torsion tests were conducted on 9,11,and 13 mm YP-cages (n=9) and poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK)-cages (n=9). The force-displacement curves were collected to calculate yield displacement and load,ultimate load displacement and stiffness,yield angular displacement and torque,ultimate load and angle displacement torque and stiffness for comparative analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) In the static axial compression test,YP-cage was superior to PEEK-cage in terms of stiffness,yield load,ultimate displacement,and load limit in three groups of tests (9,11,13 mm) (P<0.01),but the yield displacement of YP-cage was smaller than that of PEEK-cage (P<0.05). (2) In the static torsion test,there was no significant difference in the ultimate torsion angle between YP-cage and PEEK-cage in 9 mm group. YP-cage was lower thanPEEK-cage in yield torque,yield torsion angle,and ultimate torque (P<0.01),while YP-cage torsional stiffness was greater than PEEK-cage in 9 mm group and 11 mm group (P<0.01). (3) The results show that the novel press-fit mechanical lumbar cage has higher compressive strength than PEEK cage,but the torsional strength is not as good as PEEK-cage.

BACKGROUND:When performing percutaneous minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion to implant an intervertebral cage,due to the narrow operating range of the approach,there is a risk of nerve root injury or poor position of cage. To solve the above problems,a novel mechanical deformable press-fit cage (YP-cage) was invented.OBJECTIVE:To preliminarily evaluate the mechanical strength characteristics of this new lumbar fusion device YP-cage.METHODS:Static axial compression and torsion tests were conducted on 9,11,and 13 mm YP-cages (n=9) and poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK)-cages (n=9). The force-displacement curves were collected to calculate yield displacement and load,ultimate load displacement and stiffness,yield angular displacement and torque,ultimate load and angle displacement torque and stiffness for comparative analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) In the static axial compression test,YP-cage was superior to PEEK-cage in terms of stiffness,yield load,ultimate displacement,and load limit in three groups of tests (9,11,13 mm) (P<0.01),but the yield displacement of YP-cage was smaller than that of PEEK-cage (P<0.05). (2) In the static torsion test,there was no significant difference in the ultimate torsion angle between YP-cage and PEEK-cage in 9 mm group. YP-cage was lower thanPEEK-cage in yield torque,yield torsion angle,and ultimate torque (P<0.01),while YP-cage torsional stiffness was greater than PEEK-cage in 9 mm group and 11 mm group (P<0.01). (3) The results show that the novel press-fit mechanical lumbar cage has higher compressive strength than PEEK cage,but the torsional strength is not as good as PEEK-cage.

Tumor biomarkers have multiple characteristics, including noninvasive, repeatable analysis and real-time monitoring, and they have important application value in early diagnosis and prognosis monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In recent years, the researches on tumor markers of HCC have developed rapidly. There are not only traditional serological tumor markers, such as alpha fetoprotein, des-gamma carboxy prothrombin, Golgi protein 73, glypican-3, etc., but also new emerging "liquid biopsy" tumor markers, such as circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA etc. Further study on the correlation between tumor biomarkers and HCC can provide reference for the treatment and prognosis evaluation of HCC.

Objective To perform facial nerve monitoring in patients under the low level of neuromuscular blockade during resection of acoustic neurinomas.Methods Twenty-eight patients with large,or medium acoustic neuroma underwent the surgery of acoustic neurinomas resection. During the operation,TOF and EEG monitoring were performed in order to detect the degree of muscle relaxation and the depth of anesthesia. Neuromuscular relaxation was maintained at T_4/T_1=25%～50% by adjusting doses of muscle relaxant and aneasthetic. Free-run EMG and Triggered EMG of orbicularis oris, orbicularis oculi, masseter and trapezius were recordered to monitor the function of the facial, trigeminal and accessory nerves, respectively. The function of the facial nerve was evaluated at first week and half year postoperatively according to House-brackmann classification.Results The facial never was successfully identified and mapped by neurominitoring in all 28 patients. successfully, tThe electrical stimulation was 0.1 mA-0.3 mA and no any involuntary body movement was observed in all patients ne of patients have moved during operation. The preservation of the facial nerve function following surgery was good. Five patients had a HB grade I, 13 a HB grade II, 8 a grade III and 2 a HB grade IV The facial nerve function was HB Grade Ⅰin 5 of 28 patients, HB GradeⅡ in 13, HB Grade Ⅲ in 8 and HB Grade Ⅳ in 2 immediately after operation. Six months after surgery, 10 casespatents showed demonstrated a HB GradeⅠof facial never function, 12 cases exhibited a slight palsy (HB Grade II) , and 5 cases exhibited a HB Grade III palsy and . Another 1 cases a exhibited severe palsy (HB Grade IV).Conclusions Facial nerve monitoring in patients under the low level of neuromuscular blockade can ensure the surgical safety and preserve the facial never function.