Construction and biological assessment of tissue engineering intervertebral disc / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) transformed by nucleus pulposus (NPs) for construction of tissue engineering disc.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BM-MSCs and fetal NPs were cultured in vitro, planted on polylactic acid-polyglycolic acid copolymer (PLGA), and observed with inverted microscope and scanning electronic microscope. PLGA scaffolds with adherent BM-MSCs and NPs, as well as BM-MSCs and NPs suspension were implanted into intervertebral discs of New Zealand white rabbits, respectively. Intervertebral signal intensity was evaluated by Thompson grading 12 weeks later. Proteoglycan and type IIcollagen were determined by spectrophotometric method and immunohistochemistry, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Spindle or multi-angular BM-MSCs turned into fibro-like phenotype coculture of BM-MSCs and NPs, which grew well with normal morphology when they attached on PLGA scaffolds. There was statistical difference in intervertebral signal intensity, and the expression of proteoglycan and type IIcollagen between PLGA scaffolds group and control group (P < 0.05), the content of proteoglycan was (3.93 ± 0.31) mg/100 mg in the PLGA scaffolds group whereas (3.52 ± 0.26) mg/100 mg in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BM-MSCs can be induced into NPs by cocultivation, and PLGA scaffolds can provide good growing conditions, and maintain high mechanical properties and spacial structure which meet the requirement of tissue engineering disc to prevent degeneration.</p>

Diagnosis and treatment of disc herniation at cervical vertebra 7-thoracic vertebra 1 (C(7)-T(1)) / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the outcome of laminoforaminotomy with posterolateral discectomy for patients with lateral disc herniation at C(7)-T(1).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August 2000 to August 2008, 12 patients with lateral disc herniation at C(7)-T(1) underwent posterolateral discectomy were analyzed retrospectively. Neurologic function were evaluated with the Motor Scoring System. Preoperative motor were compared with postoperative one. The unique clinical manifestation, imageology features and intraoperative findings were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All these twelve patients were lateral type. All the patients showed hand intrinsic muscles atrophy and hand weakness. Nine patients had no paraesthesia. The average follow-up period was 26 months. Postoperative scores were significantly higher than preoperative ones.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Disc herniation at C(7)-T(1) is predominantly lateral type and present C(8) nerve motor deficit (hand intrinsic muscles atrophy and hand weakness) and only minority has paraesthesia in C(8) nerve dermatome. Posterolateral cervical discectomy technique is safe and effective for patients with lateral disc herniation at C(7)-T(1).</p>