Differential expression of microRNAs related to apoptosis in human osteoblasts induced by sodium fluoride / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Long-term excessive intake of fluoride, especially through drinking water, can cause chronic fluorosis of bone. The disease can lead to bone damage and deformity, and is difficult to recover.Unfortunately, we have not developed a noninvasive or minimally invasive method for its early diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of apoptosis-related miRNAs under the action of excessive fluorine in human osteoblasts. METHODS: The fluorine model was established in the human osteoblasts by cultured with 20 and 40 mg/L sodium fluoride for 24 and 48 hours, respectively. The expression levels of apoptosis-related miRNAs were determined by PCR array. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 24-hour treatment of sodium fluoride, 48 kinds of miRNAs were upregulated and 4 ones were down-regulated in the osteoblasts. After 48-hour treatment of sodium fluoride, 21 kinds of miRNAs were upregulated and 2 ones were down-regulated. It showed that nine up-regulated miRNAs and one down-regulated miRNA were same in two periods. The 10 miRNAs are selected for target gene analysis on bioinformatics software that refer to the effect of anti-apoptosis and pro-apoptosis, which is of great significance for the early identification of skeletal fluorosis.

Treatment of thoracolumbar deformity with transpedicular eggshell technique / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical effects of transpedicular eggshell technique in treating thoracolumbar deformity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From December 2008 to December 2011,36 patients with thoracolumbar deformity were treated with transpedicular eggshell technique. There were 20 males and 16 females with an average age of 45 years old (ranged from 20 to 58). Among them, 5 cases were congenital hemivertebrae deformity, 12 cases were secondary to tuberculotic deformity, 14 cases were post-traumatic deformity with pain, 5 cases were ankylosing spondylitis. Low back pain, living ability, scoliotic Cobb angle were analyzed according to VAS scoring, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), radiological examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Average operative time was 245 min and average bleeding was 1 900 ml in 36 patients. All patients were followed up more than 1 year and obtained bone fusion at 1 year after operation. Preoperative,postoperative at 1 week and 1 year, VAS scoring was 7.2 +/- 1.4, 2.5 +/- 1.0, 1.8 +/- 0.5, respectively; ODI was (72.50 +/- 10.80)%, (42.50 +/- 11.10)%, (22.50 +/- 7.90)%, respectively; kyphosis Cobb angle was (76.31 +/- 2.52) degrees, (23.66 +/- 1.16) degrees, (23.67 +/- 1.16) degrees, respectively; lumbar scoliosis Cobb angle was (71.86 +/- 4.02) degrees, (30.81 +/- 2.33) degrees, (30.82 +/- 2.32) degrees, respectively. Postoperative at 1 week and 1 year,above data had obviously improved than that of preoperative (P < 0.05); and there was no significant difference in Cobb angle between postoperative at 1 week and postoperative at 1 year (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment of thoracolumbar deformity with transpedicular eggshell technique could obtain effective correcting and clinical results.</p>

Experimental study of the correlation of telomerase and intramedullary scar after spinal cord injury in rats / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of telomerase in glial scar and its correlation with glial scar.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>There were 120 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into non-interference group of telomerase, interference group of telomerase and control group. Non-interference group and interference group were for spinal cord injury, which adopted Allen's Weight Dropping to make molding; control group was for sham operation to open the vertebral plate and expose spinal marrow, in which spinal cord injury would not be caused. The expression of telomerase and glial fibrillary acidic profein (GFAP) was detected by PCR-ELISA and Western blot, and the formation of glial scar was observed by immunofluorescence on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th, 28th, 42 th and 56th day after the spinal injury, and analyzed its relativity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of telomerase in non-interference group was (0.180 ± 0.004 - 1.217 ± 0.072), which was significantly higher than those in interference group (0.028 ± 0.007 - 0.092 ± 0.004, χ(2) = 28.753 - 37.518, P < 0.05) and control group (0.072 ± 0.007 - 0.075 ± 0.004, χ(2) = 18.618 - 41.093, P < 0.05) at all the time, with statistical significance. The expression of GFAP in non-interference group was (1.98 ± 0.15 - 19.40 ± 0.55) which was significantly higher than those in interference group (1.10 ± 0.13 - 16.64 ± 1.02, χ(2) = 14.538 - 37.366, P < 0.05) and control group (0.44 ± 0.05 - 0.48 ± 0.04, χ(2) = 16.733 - 34.041, P < 0.05) at all the time, with statistical significance. The expression of GFAP showed a linear correlation with that of telomerase in non-interference group, and with statistical differences (r = 0.755, P < 0.01). The expression of telomerase in interference group and control group were always negative. Glial scar observed by immunofluorescence in non-interference group was heavier than that in interference group, and control group showed no formation of glial scar.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Telomerase shows a dynamic expression in glial scar and has positive correlational linear relationship with GFAP which shows the formation of glial scar. And the telomerase may be an important factor in promoting the formation of glial scar.</p>

One-stage radical eradication and wedged vertebral osteotomy through a purely posterior procedure in treating thoracic and lumbar spine tuberculosis associated with kyphosis or scoliokyphosis demormity / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility, clinical indications and significance of one-stage radical eradication, wedged vertebral osteotomy and instrumentation in the treatment of tuberculosis of thoracic and lumbar spine associated with kyphosis or scoliokyphosis through a purely posterior procedure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen cases with tuberculosis of thoracic and lumbar spine associated with kyphosis or scoliokyphosis were treated by one-stage radical eradication, wedged vertebral osteotomy and instrumentation fixation through posterior procedure. All patients included 12 males and 4 females, and the average age was 37.1 years (from 17 to 53 years). The preoperative average Cobb angle of kyphosis was 78.3 degrees (range from 54 degrees to 138 degrees ). There were 2 cases associated with scoliosis (the Cobb angle of scoliosis was 31 degrees and 24 degrees), and 1 case with lateral transition. Spinal cord compression were found in 7 cases. According to the Frankel's classification, 2 cases belonged to C degree, and 5 cases to D degree. There were 2 cases with caudal equina or nerve root lesions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average blood loss during the operation was 1100 ml (range from 450 to 2200 ml), and the average operation time was 265 min (range from 215 to 325 min). The postoperative results were satisfactory, 14 cases were excellent and 2 cases were good. Obvious improvement was obtained in 9 cases with neurological dysfunction. The postoperative average Cobb' angle was 28.5 degrees (range from 0 degrees to 67 degrees), and the corrective rate was 63.6%. The followed-up was ranged from 14 to 52 months with an average of 26.3 months. There were no major complications related to the fixations, loss of correction and the fusion were achieved in all patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>One-stage radical eradication, wedged vertebral osteotomy and instrumentation is a feasible and an effective procedure in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis associated with kyphosis or scoliokyphosis. Compared with combined anterior and posterior procedure, the surgical technique may decrease injuries and has better result.</p>

The efficacy of allogenic strut bone graft and instrumentation for anterior cervical fusion following subtotal corpectomy and decompression in cervical myelopathy / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of allogenic strut bone graft and instrumentation for anterior cervical fusion following subtotal corpectomy and decompression in cervical myelopathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-five patients with cervical myelopathy were treated by the procedure of allogenic strut bone graft and instrumentation for anterior cervical fusion following subtotal corpectomy and decompression. The preoperative average JOA scale score was 8.7 point (Range 4-15).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty-nine vertebral were corpectomized and 104 levels were decompressed and fused with an average of 3 levels. Among the cases, 1 vertebrae was corpectomized in 7 cases, 2 vertebra in 22 cases, 3 vertebra in 6 cases. There were no surgery-related complications. The patients were followed up from 11-37 months, with an average of 17.4 months. No plate breakage, screw loose, graft infection, lysis and absorption was discovered. The fusion rate was 100%, the average time of fusion was 9.3 months (range from 6-15 months). The postoperative average JOA scale score was 14.8 point (range 7-17), the recovery ratio was 73.5% and the excellent and good results was 82.8%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The use of allogenic strut bone graft and instrumentation for anterior cervical fusion following subtotal corpectomy and decompression in cervical myelopathy may not only simplify surgical procedure and decrease injuries and complications, but also the fusion is satisfactory and reliable.</p>