LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 promotes the apoptosis and inflammatory response of microglia by regulating the miR-589-5p/NPTN axis after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating traumatic condition accompanied with excessive inflammatory response and apoptosis of microglia. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been confirmed to be key regulators of cell inflammatory response. Nevertheless, the role of lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 in microglia apoptosis or inflammatory response after SCI remains to be explored. Our study focused on exploring the role and mechanism of KCNQ1OT1 in microglia after SCI. RT-qPCR showed that SCI induced the increase of KCNQ1OT1 level in mice spinal cord. Inhibition of KCNQ1OT1 suppressed the inflammatory response and apoptosis of microglia. In addition, KCNQ1OT1 was proved to bind with miR-589-5p, and NPTN was directly targeted by miR-589-5p. Furthermore, KCNQ1OT1 was negatively correlated with miR-589-5p and positively associated with NPTN. Rescue assays indicated that NPTN overexpression reversed the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis effects of KCNQ1OT1 silencing. In summary, these data revealed that KCNQ1OT1 promoted inflammatory response and apoptosis of microglia by regulating the miR-589-5p/NPTN axis after SCI, which may offer a novel promising therapeutic target for SCI.

Meta-analysis of the association between adiponectin SNP 45, SNP 276, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine whether the polymorphisms at rs2241766 and rs1501299 on the ADIPOQ gene were related to the susceptibility of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Eight databases, PubMed, GWAS, Embase, Lochrane, Ebsco, CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure), VIP (Viper Database) and ChinaInfo were searched, and a meta-analysis of susceptibility was conducted between SNP45, SNP276 polymorphisms and T2DM. Furthermore, HWE test was conducted to assess the genetic balance of the study, evaluate the quality of Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale (NOS), and establishing allelic, dominant, recessive, heterozygous, and homozygous gene models. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 53 articles, encompassing 9285 cases with rs2241766 and 14156 controls and 7747 cases with rs1501299 and 10607 controls. For the rs2241766 locus, a significant correlation was found in the three models by the subgroup analysis. Western Asians: dominant gene model (TT + TG vs. GG, P = 0.01); heterozygous gene model (TG vs. GG, P = 0.02); homozygous gene model (TT vs. GG, P = 0.01). South Asians: dominant gene model (TT + TG vs. GG, P = 0.004); heterozygous gene model (TG vs. GG, P = 0.009); homozygous gene model (TT vs. GG, P = 0.005). However, no statistically significant correlation was established among the five genetic models for rs1501299 locus. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study indicated that the T allele of rs2241766 polymorphism is the susceptibility locus of T2DM in the West Asian population, but has a protective effect in the South Asian population, albeit further studies are needed in other populations. Also, no association was found between the ADIPOQ rs1501299 polymorphism and T2DM.

Three-year postoperative outcomes between MIS and conventional TLIF in1-segment lumbar disc herniation.

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes between minimally invasive (MIS) and conventional transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in treating one-segment lumbar disc herniation (LDH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: One-hundred and six patients treated by MIS-TLIF (50 cases) or conventional TLIF (56 cases) were included. Perioperative results were evaluated. Clinical outcomes were compared preoperatively and postoperatively. Radiologic parameters were based on a comparison of preoperative and three-year postoperative lumbar lordosis, segmental lordosis, sacral slope, the cross-sectional area of the paraspinal muscle and fusion rates. RESULTS: MIS TILF had significantly less blood, shorter operation time, mean return to work time and lower intramuscular pressure compared with the conventional group during the operation. VAS scores for lower back pain and ODI in MIS-TLIF were significantly decreased. The mean cross-sectional area of the paraspinal muscle was significantly decreased after surgery in the conventional TLIF group and no significant intragroup differences were established in the MIS-TLIF group. No significant differences were found in fusion rate, lumbar lordosis, segmental lordosis and sacral slope. CONCLUSIONS: Both MIS and conventional TLIF were beneficial for patients with LDH. However, MIS-TLIF manifests a great improvement in perioperative outcomes, low back pain, disability and preventing paraspinal muscle atrophy during the follow-up period observation.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in dorsal root ganglia of a lumbar spinal stenosis model in rats.

This study aimed to investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of a rat model of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Adult male rats were divided into the operation and sham operation groups. The operation group was comprised of the rat models of LSS. Walking distance and BDNF expression levels in DRG were measured in the two groups at different time points. The total BDNF protein levels and positive cell mean optical density (MOD) values in the operation group were significantly higher at each time point compared with that of the sham operation and preoperative control groups (P<0.05). The total BDNF protein levels and MOD values following sport in the operation group were significantly higher compared with those prior to sport (P<0.05). In the sham operation group, BDNF protein levels and MOD values before and after sport at each time point showed no significant differences than those of the operation group (P>0.05). Moreover, BDNF protein levels and MOD values in the operation group indicated a negative correlation with walking distance. The present study demonstrated that the expression of BDNF in rat models of LSS increased with time and was associated with a decrease in walking distance. BDNF was therefore important for the process of intermittent claudication caused by LSS.

Treatment of thoracolumbar fracture with pedicle screws at injury level: a biomechanical study based on three-dimensional finite element analysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanical mechanisms of treatment of thoracolumbar compression fracture with pedicle screws at injury level based on a three-dimensional finite element method. We constructed one three-dimensional finite element model of T11-L1 in a patient with a compression fracture of the T12 vertebral body(anterior edges of vertebral body were compressed to 1/2, and kyphosis Cobb angle was 18.6°) fixed by four pedicle screws and another model fixed by six pedicle screws at the injured vertebrae, and then assigned different forces to the two models to account for axial compression, flexion, extension, left lateral bending, and rightward axial rotation by Ansys software. After different loading forces were applied to the models, we recorded stress measurements on the vertebral pedicle screws, as well as the maximum displacement of T11. The stress distribution suggested that stress concentration was appreciable at the root of the pedicle screws under different loading modalities. Under axial compression, flexion, extension, left lateral bending, and rightward axial rotation load, the stress for the superior screw was significantly greater than the stress for the inferior screw (P < 0.05). The stress in the six pedicle screw fixation model was significantly decreased compared to the four screw interbody fusion model (P < 0.05), but the maximum displacement of T11 between two models under different loadings was not statistically different. The use of pedicle screws at injured vertebral bodies may optimize internal fixation load and reduce the incidence of broken screws.

[Treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with transpedicular intervertebral bone graft and pedicle screws fixation in injured vertebrae].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of transpedicular intervertebral bone graft and pedicle screws fixation in injured vertebrae for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. METHODS: Between February 2007 and January 2009, 25 patients with thoracolumbar fractures were treated by posterior short-segment fixation combined with transpedicular intervertebral bone graft and pedicle screw fixation in injured vertebrae. There were 18 males and 7 females with a mean age of 46 years (range, 28-63 years). The injured vertebrae were located at T10 in 1 case, T11 in 2 cases, T12 in 8 cases, L1 in 6 cases, L2 in 6 cases, L3 in 1 case, and L4 in 1 case. According to Denis classification, there were 14 cases of burst fractures and 11 cases of compression fractures. Based on Frankel classifications, 2 cases were rated as grade A, 4 cases as grade B, 8 cases as grade C, 7 cases as grade D, and 4 cases as grade E. The time between injury and operation was 6 hours to 7 days (mean, 4.6 days). The X-ray film was taken to measure the relative height of fractured vertebrae and Cobb angle, and Frankel classification was conducted to evaluate the function recovery of the spinal cord. RESULTS: The operations were performed successfully, and incisions healed primarily. All the patients were followed up 12-25 months (mean, 16 months). CT and X-ray films showed good bone graft healing and no loosening or breakage of screws and rods. The relative height of fractured vertebrae were 56.8% +/- 15.6% at preoperation, 91.2% +/- 10.7% immediately after operation, and 89.6% +/- 10.3% at 1 year after operation, showing significant differences between preoperation and postoperation (P < 0.01), while no significant difference between immediately after operation and 1 year after operation. The Cobb angles were (18.2 +/- 2.6), (7.5 +/- 1.4), and (8.7 +/- 1.1) degrees, respectively, showing significant differences between preoperation and postoperation (P < 0.01), while no significant difference between immediately and 1 year after operation. At 1 year after operation, the neural function in 16 cases was improved 1-3 grades. CONCLUSION: Treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with transpedicular intervertebral bone graft and pedicle screw fixation in injured vertebrae has satisfactory effectiveness, which can reconstruct vertebral body height, increase the stability of anterior and middle column of the injured vertebrae, and prevent height loss of the injured vertebrae and loosening of instrumentation.