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Objective To explore inhibition of nicotine on apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by monosodium iodoacetate ( MIA) .Methods Rat primary chondrocytes were isolated by enzyme digestion, and the cells were treated with 10 -8 , 10 -7 , 10 -6 , 10 -5 mol/L nicotine for 48 h.The cases were randomly divided into five groups, except for normal group, the other four groups were treated with 4μmol/L MIA 24 h, and three groups were treated 10 -8 , 10 -7 , 10 -6 mol/L nicotine.The viability of chondrocytes was detected by MTT assay.The apoptosis of chondrocytes was examed by Annexin V-FITC/PI flow dual-staining method.The activity of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 ( Caspase 3 ) was measured by spectrophotography method.The activation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase ( PI3K)/protein kinase B ( AKT) and the expression of down-stream molecule Bax, Bcl-2 was assayed by western blot.Results 10 -7 , 10 -6 mol/L nicotine increased chondrocytes' viability (P0.05).10 -8, 10 -7, 10 -6 mol/L nicotine could increase MIA-induced chondrocytes' viability (P<0.05), suppress MIA-induced chondrocytes' apoptosis and the activity of MIA-induced Caspase 3 (P <0.05).Moreover, 10 -7, 10 -6 mol/L nicotine could increase the expression of PI3K and phosphorylation of AKT ( P<0.05) , down-regulate the expression of Bax and up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 in MIA-induced rat chondrocytes ( P<0.05 ) .Conclusion These results suggested nicotine could exert anti-apoptosis in MIA-induced rat chondrocytes, which might be related to PI3K/AKT signal pathway.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of vertebral pedicle screw fixation for lumbar fractures without nerve injury. Methods A total of 100 patients with vertebral fractures from February 2012 to December 2012 in our hospital were researched.According to the order of the patient admitted to the hospital,50 patients from February 2012 to June 2012 were divided into observation group,50 pa-tients from 2012 July to December 2012 were divided into control group.The observation group were treated with vertebral pedicle screw fixa-tion,the control group were treated with a four nail fixation.The therapy and complications between two groups were compared after treatment, and the satisfaction of two groups were investigated.Results There was no significant difference in vertebral anterior height compression rate and Cobb angle between two groups before treatment(t =0.356 9,t =0.633 6,P =0.721 9,P =0.527 8),but after a week of treatment,ver-tebral anterior height compression rate and Cobb angle in observation group was better than those of the control group,the difference was sta-tistically significant(t =2.705 7,t =2.840 2,P =0.008 0,P =0.005 5).After one-year follow-up,there was no significant difference in effi-cacy between two groups(t =0.914 7,t =0.464 6,P =0.362 6,P =0.643 2).The postoperative complication rate of observation group was 4%,compared with 16% of control group,the difference was statistically significant (χ2 =4.000 0,P =0.045 5).The satisfaction rate of patient in observation group was 96%,compared with 84%of the control group,the difference was statistically significant (u =2.477 9,P =0.013 2). The fracturesof patients in two groups after 12 months were cured,without aggravating circumstances in nerve damage .Conclusion The ver-tebral pedicle screw fixation can effectively correct angular deformity,restore vertebral body height,strengthen the stability of the spine for treatment of patients with lumbar vertebrae without nerve injury.
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OBJECTIVE@#To observe the imaging features for chronic whiplash alar ligament injury in elderly patients and to provide an effective diagnostic method for long-term neck pain and headaches due to alar ligament injury in elderly patients.@*METHODS@#A total of 134 elderly patients, who engaged in the work or activities related to whiplash motion and suffered from chronic neck pain, were enrolled for the study. All patients were performed comprehensive health examination (CT, MR, ultrasound and laboratory examination) and high resolution PDWI. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the results of comprehensive health examination: a clear etiology group(CE group, n=96) and an unknown etiology group(UE group, n=38). Th e characteristics of PDWI signal in the ligament were analyzed between the 2 groups.@*RESULTS@#Th e anatomy and signal characteristics of the alar ligament were clearly displayed by high resolution PDWI. Th e alar ligaments were effectively displayed by oblique coronal image. In the CE group, 7 patients (7/96) showed the positive sign of ligament injured, while 21 (21/38) patients showed positive sign of ligament injured in the UE group (P<0.01). Chronic whiplash ligament injury was proved to be the reason for long-term neck pain and headaches in 15.7% patients.@*CONCLUSION@#Th e whiplash injury of alar ligament is an important reason for chronic neck pain in elderly patients. High resolution PDWI is an effective method to evaluate the image features of alar ligament and can provide an accurate diagnosis for chronic neck pain and headaches caused by the alar ligament whiplash injury.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Cervical Vertebrae , Chronic Pain , Fascia , Ligaments , Pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Whiplash Injuries , DiagnosisABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the imaging features of alar ligament and its extent, and provide the basis forclinical treatment.Methods 3.0 T superconducting MRI was used to scan the alar ligament with high resolution PDWI sequence (Proton density weighted imaging, PDWI)in 109 patients of emergency admissions due to head and neck trauma. Based on imaging features, ligamentous injury was classified into three degrees(Ⅰ to Ⅲ degrees).Patients with Ⅰ degree ligamentous injury were treated conservatively, andⅡtoⅢdegree injury patients were treated with surgery, then follow-up was performed with MRI for the recovery of ligaments and clinical evaluation for symptoms (6 months follow-up period). Results High-resolution PDWI showed 78 patients with no ligament injury.On follow-up, patients recovered well (atlantoaxial joint motor function and clinical symptoms). Thirty one patients had alar ligament injury in varying degrees, of which 18 patients had grade Ⅰ injury, nine patients had degree Ⅱinjury, and four patients had degreeⅢinjury .All gradeⅠinjury patients received conservative treatment. Follow-up of patients showed good recovery, MR revealed the lesions shrank in varying degrees or disappear. Six gradeⅡinjury patients had surgical treatment, and three received conservative treatment. On follow-up, seven patients had a good recovery, two patients underwent surgical treatment within 3 months after injury and recovered well.Three gradeⅢpatients treated by surgery, and all with good recovery postoperative, and a patient died of respiratory failure. Conclusions High resolution PDWI is an effective tool to evaluate the extent of the alar ligament injury. Grade Ⅰ ligamentous injury patients treated conservatively can achieve good results, GradeⅡandⅢligamentous injury patients should receive surgical treatment early.
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OBJECTIVE@#To explore the imaging characteristics of the transverse ligament in healthy adolescents, and further understand the imaging characteristics of the ligament injury.@*METHODS@#We used 3.0T-MR to scan the transverse ligament with proton-weighted sequence in 32 young volunteers, scanned coronally, horizontally and sagittally, and then observed the morphology, thickness, running and signal characteristics of the ligament.@*RESULTS@#The anatomy and signal characteristics of the transverse cervical ligament were clearly displayed by high resolution proton density weighted imaging (PDWI). The whole picture of the transverse ligament was effectively displayed by coronal combined with horizontal image. The transverse ligament was located in the rear of the odontoid, and connected to the inside of both sides of the block like half-arc. The length was (20.4±3.3) mm, the ligament center was the thickest, and both sides gradually became thinner. The middle width of the ligament was (7.3±0.6) mm, the ligament ends narrowed down, and the middle was (2.1±0.4) mm thick; 75% of the transverse ligament showed homogeneous low signal in PDWI, while 25% of the local transverse ligament had high signal.@*CONCLUSION@#High resolution PDWI with 3.0T-MR is a effective method to evaluate the structure of the transverse cervical ligament. Local high signal may not necessarily be the sign of ligament injure. There may also be some high signal in the normal adolescent ligament, so we must pay much attention to clinical diagnosis and treatment.