Improvement in JOA score of treatment for complex atlas-axis fractures

The aim of this study was to explore the role of treatment for complex Atlas-Axis fractures, and compare the JOA score of surgical and conservation methods. From June 2008 to May 2012, 33 patients suffering from Atlas-Axis fracture were included in our study. Fifteen patients received posterior cervical pedicle screw fixation, and 18 patients received the conservation treatment. All the patients were followed up for 12 months after discharge. The mean operative time was about 128 minutes [ranged: 92 to 165 minutes], the mean hospital stay time was 15.5 days [ranged: 8-21 days], and the mean follow-up of all the patients was 27months [ranged: 7 to 43 months]. All patients gained a solid fusion, and no one showed any disability at the end of the follow-up. The JOA scores before treatment were 6.4 +/- 0.3 and 7.1 +/- 0.4 before and after treatment, and they significantly increased to 13.8 +/- 0.8 and 13.7 +/- 0.9 when following up for 12 months [P < 0.05]. Posterior cervical pedicle screw fixation is a feasible, effective and safe method for complex atlantoaxial fractures. This technique could achieve high JOA score, decreased blood loss and post-operative complications

Induction of bone matrix protein expression by native bone matrix proteins in C2C12 culture / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of bone matrix protein (BMP) induced by bovine bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Type I collagen, osteopontin (OPN), osteonectin (ON), osteocalcin (OC), and bone sialoprotein (BSP) were detected by immunohistochemistry in C2C12 cultured from day 1 to day 28.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The signaling of bone matrix protein expression became weaker except for type I collagen, OC and BSP after 5 days. Fourteen days after culture, the positive signaling of type I collagen, OPN, ON, OC, and BSP was gradually declined, and could be detected significantly as compared with that of the negative control on day 28. BMP assay showed that the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was higher in C2C12 culture than in the control during the 14-day culture. Also, total protein and DNA significantly increased during the 14-day culture. High levels of ALP were seen in preosteoblasts and osteoblasts in vivo and in differentiating osteoblasts in vitro. ALP was well recognized as a marker reflecting osteoblastic activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Native bovine BMP induces conversion of myoblasts into osteoblasts, produces type I collagen, and plays significantly role in osteoinduction and bone matrix mineralization of C2C12 in vitro.</p>

Osteoinductivity assay of the variability of repeated extractions of bone morphogenetic proteins from bovine bone at different times / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the activity of repeated extracts of bone matrix and the production of purified bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BMPs were extracted 1- 4 times from fresh bovine cortical bone by the modified Urist's method, with each collected precipitate separated and lyophilized as partially purified BMPs. Another fresh bovine bone was extracted three times and the precipitates were mixed and lyophilized. Meanwhile,the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured by an in vitro assay employing cultured C2C12 mouse myoblast cells through the osteoinductivity of bovine BMPs extracted four times at days 1, 4, 7, and 14, and the correlation between BMPs quantities and costing during extraction processes was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The BMPs purified and the cost showed a positive correlation (r=0.969). To separate and lyophilize each collected precipitate as partially purified BMPs raised the cost, and mixed precipitates also cost much. ALP activities of the 1st and mixed extractions of BMPs were shown to be highly osteoinductive and keep a significantly high level (P<0.05-0.01) 4 days after culturing, compared with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th extractions, especially the control group. However, the more times the extraction was done, the less activity of BMPs was shown and more costing was. The x-ray and histological analysis also showed that the 1st extraction of BMPs induced more ossicles and new bone formation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results indicated that BMPs enhanced the abilities of osteoinductivity in C2C12 culture in vitro. The first extraction of BMPs from bone is fitfull, the second extraction should be enough, while, the 3rd and 4th extractions are unnecessary for they cost more and waste more time, say nothing of mixed extractions.</p>

Expression of leukemia inhibitory factor in osteoarthritic tissues in rabbits and human:an experimental and clinical study / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Objective To investigate the regulation expression of leukemia inhibitory factor(LIF)in hu- man and animal osteoarthritic(OA)tissues and its clinical relevance.Methods 1)Thirty-five Japanese rabbits, aged eight months,were used to make models of experimental osteoarthritis.Operations were performed at the right knee and the sham ones at the left knee in each rabbit.Rabbits were sacrificed on the 3,7,14,28,42,56 and 84 days after operation respectively.Cartilage and synovium of the knee were collected to observe histological changes of osteoarthritis at different times;immunohistochemistry analysis was conducted to observe the LIF expression and distribution in the cartilage and synovium of the animals.2)From April 2003 to October 2003,32 samples of human articular tissues(cartilage,subchondral bone and synovium)were obtained in the operational procedures and a good quantity of RNA was isolated using Magnetic Beads.The patients who underwent articular operations donated the samples.In the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),the mRNA expression of LIF was mea- sured by semi-quantity analysis and the location of LIF protein was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results A slight expression of LIF was seen in normal cartilage but less in synovium.However,the expression of LIF was remarkable in synovial lining cells,superficial and middle layers of cartilage in animal os- teoarthritis.There was a significant difference in expression between the animal osteoarthritis and the control group (P＜0.05 ).In human tissue study,LIF mRNA was expressed to a very low level in normal articular tissues and there was no significant difference(P＞0.05)between different anatomical locations.In moderate degrading sub- chondral bone,LIF mRNA was expressed to its highest level.LIF was expressed to the highest level in seriously degrading cartilage tissues.The results were similar to ELISA testing results.LIF extents varied in different articular tissue sections.Conclusions LIF is an important mediator that can contribute to tbe pathogenesis of OA.The different temporal and spatial distributions of LIF in normal and OA tissues imply that LIF may play some important roles in pathogenesis of OA.