Factors as predictors for thoracic and thoracolumbar/lumbar structural curves in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recent studies have demonstrated that the Lenke system is relatively efficient and consistent in classifying scoliosis curves. Basically, fusion should include the main curve and the structural minor curve. The criteria for defining the structural minor curve were established to help guide these decision-making process. The present study was designed to investigate predictors of the structural curve, and see whether it was possible to prevent the formation of the structural curve by interfering with influencing factors to decrease the fusion level.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Age, gender, Cobb angle, Perdriolle rotation, Risser sign and the number of vertebrae included in the curve, brace treatment, and curve location were recorded in 145 idiopathic scoliosis patients from July 2001 to January 2007. The patients were divided into two groups: structural and non-structural groups. Demographics and baseline characteristics were compared between the two groups as an initial screen. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors affecting the minor curve to become the structural curve.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the non-structural group, the structural group had a higher Cobb angle ((51.34 ± 13.61)° vs. (34.20 ± 7.21)°, P < 0.001), bending angle ((33.94 ± 9.92)° vs. (8.46 ± 5.56)°, P < 0.001) and curve rotation ((23.25 ± 12.86)° vs. (14.21 ± 8.55)°, P < 0.001), and lower flexibility ((33.48 ± 12.53)% vs. (75.50 ± 15.52)%, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in other parameters between the two groups. The results of the Logistic regression analysis showed that the Cobb angle (OR: 9.921, P < 0.001) and curve location (OR: 4.119, P = 0.016) were significant predictors of structural curve in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Every 10° change of Cobb angle increased the possibility of turning the minor curve into the structural curve by 10-fold. And thoracic curve showed, on the average, the possibility of becoming the structural curve about 4-fold more often than did the thoracolumbar/lumbar curve.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Curve severity and curve location affect the minor curve's structural features in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.</p>

The preliminary study of the efficiency of using cervical vertebral maturation of growth level of female adolescent idiopathic scoliosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the reliability of cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) and to verify the possibility in the growth evaluation of female adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients as a helpful supplementary to the Risser sign.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Coronal and lateral full-length spine X-ray film and left hand-wrist radiographs of 77 female adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis were selected from January 2010 to October 2010. The interval period between lateral length of the spine and left hand-wrist radiographs did not exceed 3 months. The CVM was assessed by a method developed by Baccetti and co-workers, whereas hand-wrist maturation was assessed by Fishman's method. The results were analyzed by Spearman correlation with patients Risser sign, chronological age, and menarche period.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were strong correlations between CVM and SMI or Risser sign (r = 0.862 and 0.762, P < 0.01). While in 26 patients whose Risser sign were 0-I, the correlation between CVM and SMI was more pronounced (r = 0.761, P < 0.01), compared with the correlation between Risser sign and SMI (r = 0.641, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CVM is a valid indicator of skeletal growth evaluation and can be used as a helpful supplementary to Risser sign.</p>

Learning curve of computer-assisted navigation system in spine surgery / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Spine surgery using computer-assisted navigation (CAN) has been proven to result in low screw misplacement rates, low incidence of radiation exposure and excellent operative field viewing versus the conventional intraoperative image intensifier (CIII). However, as we know, few previous studies have described the learning curve of CAN in spine surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed two consecutive case cohort studies on pedicel screw accuracy and operative time of two spine surgeons with different experience backgrounds, A and B, in one institution during the same period. Lumbar pedicel screw cortical perforation rate and operative time of the same kind of operation using CAN were analyzed and compared using CIII for the two surgeons at initial, 6 months and 12 months of CAN usage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CAN spine surgery had an overall lower cortical perforation rate and less mean operative time compared with CIII for both surgeon A and B cohorts when total cases of four years were included. It missed being statistically significant, with 3.3% versus 4.7% (P = 0.191) and 125.7 versus 132.3 minutes (P = 0.428) for surgeon A and 3.6% versus 6.4% (P = 0.058), and 183.2 versus 213.2 minutes (P = 0.070) for surgeon B. In an attempt to demonstrate the learning curve, the cases after 6 months of the CAN system in each surgeon's cohort were compared. The perforation rate decreased by 2.4% (P = 0.039) and 4.3% (P = 0.003) and the operative time was reduced by 31.8 minutes (P = 0.002) and 14.4 minutes (P = 0.026) for the CAN groups of surgeons A and B, respectively. When only the cases performed after 12 months using the CAN system were considered, the perforation rate decreased by 3.9% (P = 0.006) and 5.6% (P < 0.001) and the operative time was reduced by 20.9 minutes (P < 0.001) and 40.3 minutes (P < 0.001) for the CAN groups of surgeon A and B, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the long run, CAN spine surgery decreased the lumbar screw cortical perforation rate and operative time. The learning curve showed a sharp drop after 6 months of using CAN that plateaued after 12 months; which was demonstrated by both perforation rate and operative time data. Careful analysis of the data showed CAN is especially useful for less experienced surgeon to reduce perforation rate and intraoperative time, although further comparative studies are anticipated.</p>

Effects of acrylonitrile in drinking water on monoamine neurotransmitters and its metabolites in male rat brains / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To elucidate the possible involvement of monoamine neurotransmitters in the development of neurobehavioral damage produced by acrylonitrile in drinking water in male rat brains.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, the control group (n = 10), low dosage group (n = 10), and high dosage group (n = 10), which were respectively administered 0 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 200 mg/L acrylonitrile (AN) in drinking water. The treatment was lasted for 12 weeks. Seven animals were randomly selected from each group for determination of monoamine neurotransmitters in striatum and cerebellum by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector and activities of monoamine oxidase in cortex.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The contents of dopamine in the striatum of low and high dosage groups were decreased to (2.2 +/- 0.7) and (3.2 +/- 2.0) microg/g wet tissue, respectively, and compared with that of control group (9.0 +/- 4.2) microg/g wet tissue, the differences were statistically significant. There were no statistical differences among the contents of dopamine in the cerebellum of all rats, and the levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), the major metabolite of dopamine in the cerebellum were (186 +/- 41), (245 +/- 90) and (115 +/- 65) ng/g wet tissue in the control, low and high dosage groups, respectively and in low-dosage group they were significantly higher than those in other groups. There was dosage-dependently decreasing of the contents of serotonin of striatum in the control (249 +/- 34) ng/g wet tissue, low dosage (155 +/- 95) ng/g wet tissue and high dosage groups (128 +/- 101) ng/g wet tissue.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study underlines the importance of alterations in the monoamine neurotransmitters system as a possible causative mechanism behind the behavioural and functional changes produced by acrylonitrile.</p>

Significance of bcl-2 and c-myc gene expression in nordihydroguaiaretic acid-induced apoptosis of a human malignant glioma cell line / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To investigate the changes and their significance of bcl-2 and c-myc in nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)-induced apoptosis of human malignant glioma cell line SHG-44. Methods　The apoptosis of SHG-44 cells was observed with light and electron microscopy and TUNEL method. The expression of bcl-2 and c-myc gene was measured with immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and image analysis. Results ① The SHG-44 cell apoptosis was induced by NDGA at a concentration lower than 200 μmol/L in a time-dependent manner. ② The expressions of bcl-2 and c-myc gene in SHG-44 cells were decreased after the treatment of 100 μmol/L NDGA with the elapse of time, indicating a close association with cell apoptosis. ③ The expressions of bcl-2 and c-myc mRNA in SHG-44 cells were decreased after the treatment with 100μmol/L NDGA, which was apparently consistent with the immunohistochemical results. Conclusion　The NDGA-induced apoptosis in human malignant glioma cells might be related with the down-regulated expressions of bcl-2 and c-myc gene. The exact mechanism needs further research.

Roles of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) in nordihydroguaiaretic acid-induced inhibitory effect on proliferation of human malignant glioma cells / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To investigate roles of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) in nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)-induced inhibitory effect on proliferation of human malignant glioma cells. Methods　The techniques of cell culture, cell counts, flow cytometry, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry and image analysis were employed in this study. Results　①A concentration-dependent inhibition of proliferation was demonstrated in the SHG-44 cells incubated for 24 hours in the presence of NDGA, and cell proliferation was blocked in the G1→S phase. ②The activity of CDK4 was decreased apparently in the SHG-44 cells treated for 24 hours with 10 to 200 μmol/L NDGA in a concentration-dependent way. ③The expression of CDK4 gene was downregulated in the cells after NDGA treatment. Conclusion　CDK4 plays an important role in NDGA-induced inhibition of glioma cell proliferation.

Effects of nordihydroguaiaretic acid on the expression of GFAP gene of human malignant glioma cell line SHG-44 / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To investigate the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene and its significance in the process of glioma cell differentiation induced by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). Methods　Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization were used to detect the expression changes of GFAP protein and GFAP mRNA qualitatively and quantitatively. Results　The expression levels of GFAP protein and GFAP mRNA in NDGA treatment group were significantly increased compared with the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion　NDGA could induce GFAP gene in malignant glioma cells and the up-regulation of this gene expression might be one of the mechanisms by which NDGA induces glioma differentiation.

Effects of nordihydroguaiaretic acid on genomic methylation pattern of malignant glioma cells and its significance / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To investigate the genomic methylation pattern of a malignant glioma cell line in the process of differentiation induced by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). Methods　Methylation-sensitive arbitrarily primed PCR was used to study the genomic methylation changes. Results　Fragments of genomic DNA of PCR products in control groups digested with MspⅠ were smaller than those with HpaⅡ. No large fragment could be identified and at least three fragments of different sizes were demonstrated in the control group. In NDGA treatment group, comparing MspⅠ digestion with HpaⅡ digestion, the amount of PCR products was smaller with more DNA bands. The amount of PCR products in NDGA treatment group was increased with more DNA bands compared with that in the control groups. Conclusion　The genomic methylation level in SHG-44 cells was increased by NDGA in the differentiation process of SHG-44 cells. It suggests that genomic methylation pattern may be one of the targets for glioma cell differentiation induced by NDGA.

Significance of bcl-2 and c-myc gene expression in nordihydroguaiaretic acid-induced apoptosis of a human malignant glioma cell line / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To investigate the changes and their significance of bcl-2 and c-myc in nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)-induced apoptosis of human malignant glioma cell line SHG-44. Methods　The apoptosis of SHG-44 cells was observed with light and electron microscopy and TUNEL method. The expression of bcl-2 and c-myc gene was measured with immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and image analysis. Results ① The SHG-44 cell apoptosis was induced by NDGA at a concentration lower than 200 μmol/L in a time-dependent manner. ② The expressions of bcl-2 and c-myc gene in SHG-44 cells were decreased after the treatment of 100 μmol/L NDGA with the elapse of time, indicating a close association with cell apoptosis. ③ The expressions of bcl-2 and c-myc mRNA in SHG-44 cells were decreased after the treatment with 100μmol/L NDGA, which was apparently consistent with the immunohistochemical results. Conclusion　The NDGA-induced apoptosis in human malignant glioma cells might be related with the down-regulated expressions of bcl-2 and c-myc gene. The exact mechanism needs further research.

Roles of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) in nordihydroguaiaretic acid-induced inhibitory effect on proliferation of human malignant glioma cells / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To investigate roles of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) in nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)-induced inhibitory effect on proliferation of human malignant glioma cells. Methods　The techniques of cell culture, cell counts, flow cytometry, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry and image analysis were employed in this study. Results　①A concentration-dependent inhibition of proliferation was demonstrated in the SHG-44 cells incubated for 24 hours in the presence of NDGA, and cell proliferation was blocked in the G1→S phase. ②The activity of CDK4 was decreased apparently in the SHG-44 cells treated for 24 hours with 10 to 200 μmol/L NDGA in a concentration-dependent way. ③The expression of CDK4 gene was downregulated in the cells after NDGA treatment. Conclusion　CDK4 plays an important role in NDGA-induced inhibition of glioma cell proliferation.

Effects of nordihydroguaiaretic acid on the expression of GFAP gene of human malignant glioma cell line SHG-44 / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To investigate the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene and its significance in the process of glioma cell differentiation induced by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). Methods　Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization were used to detect the expression changes of GFAP protein and GFAP mRNA qualitatively and quantitatively. Results　The expression levels of GFAP protein and GFAP mRNA in NDGA treatment group were significantly increased compared with the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion　NDGA could induce GFAP gene in malignant glioma cells and the up-regulation of this gene expression might be one of the mechanisms by which NDGA induces glioma differentiation.

Effects of nordihydroguaiaretic acid on genomic methylation pattern of malignant glioma cells and its significance / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To investigate the genomic methylation pattern of a malignant glioma cell line in the process of differentiation induced by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). Methods　Methylation-sensitive arbitrarily primed PCR was used to study the genomic methylation changes. Results　Fragments of genomic DNA of PCR products in control groups digested with MspⅠ were smaller than those with HpaⅡ. No large fragment could be identified and at least three fragments of different sizes were demonstrated in the control group. In NDGA treatment group, comparing MspⅠ digestion with HpaⅡ digestion, the amount of PCR products was smaller with more DNA bands. The amount of PCR products in NDGA treatment group was increased with more DNA bands compared with that in the control groups. Conclusion　The genomic methylation level in SHG-44 cells was increased by NDGA in the differentiation process of SHG-44 cells. It suggests that genomic methylation pattern may be one of the targets for glioma cell differentiation induced by NDGA.