Type 1.5 Split Cord Malformation : A New Theory of Pathogenesis.

To report two cases of type 1.5 split cord malformation (SCM), a subtype of SCM with combined characteristics of types I and II and to review the relevant literature and propose a new possible pathogenetic theory for type 1.5 SCM. A 52-year-old woman had hemicords within a single dural sac with a dorsal bony septum at the L5 level. A 9-year-old boy had hemicords within a single dural sac with a ventral bony septum and fibrous extension at the L3 level. Both patients underwent microsurgical treatments for removing the bony septum, detethering the spinal cord, and sectioning the filum terminale. The surgical procedure revealed an extradural partial bony septum and hemicords within an intact single dural sac in each patient. Both patients were discharged from the hospital without de novo nerve dysfunction. Published cases have validated that types I and II SCM can overlap. We recommend recent type 1.5 SCM as a normative terminology for this overlapping SCM and report two rare cases of this SCM. We propose an associated pathogenesis consisting of uneven distribution and regression to explain type 1.5 SCM. Furthermore, we postulate that the amount of condensing meninx primitiva might determine whether the left bony septum has fibrous extensions to the opposite dura in type 1.5 SCM.

Intramedullary metastasis in medulloblastoma: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Cerebellar medulloblastomas are the most common malignant tumors of the posterior fossa in childhood that frequently metastasize. Leptomeningeal dissemination and distant metastasis have been associated with medulloblastomas; however, intramedullary metastases are rare with very few case reports in the literature available. METHODS: We present a case of a 3-year-old girl with a medulloblastoma who underwent surgical resection of spinal intramedullary metastases. Histopathology revealed the tumor to be an anaplastic medulloblastoma similar to the intracranial lesions. The patient subsequently underwent postoperative chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. RESULTS: Following the surgery and subsequent follow-up, the patient showed a good recovery without any new neurological dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Intramedullary metastasis of medulloblastoma remains a rare disease. Surgical resection could play a possible role in the management in addition to radiation and chemotherapy.

Application and Analysis of Rhizopus oryzae Mycelia Extending Characteristic in Solid-state Fermentation for Producing Glucoamylase.

Enhanced application of solid-state fermentation (SSF) in industrial production and the influence of SSF of Rhizopus K1 on glucoamylase productivity were analyzed using the flat band method. A growth model was implemented through SSF of Rhizopus K1 in this experiment, and spectrophotometric method was used to determine glucoamylase activity. Results showed that in bran and potato culture medium with 70% moisture in a loose state, µ of mycelium reached to 0.15 h-1 after 45 h of culture in a thermostatic water bath incubator at 30°C. Under a low-magnification microscope, mycelial cells appeared uniform, bulky with numerous branches, and were not easily ruptured. The generated glucoamylase activity reached to 55 U/g (dry basis). This study has good utilization value for glucoamylase production by Rhizopus in SSF.

LncRNA LINC00311 Promotes the Proliferation and Differentiation of Osteoclasts in Osteoporotic Rats Through the Notch Signaling Pathway by Targeting DLL3.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Osteoporosis is a commonly occurring condition marked by a loss of bone density. Previous evidence has highlighted the roles played by microRNAs as potential treatment tools for the disease. At present, the influence of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) on the progression of osteoporosis remains largely unclear. Thus, an investigation was conducted into the target relationship between LINC00311, which has been reported to be highly expressed in osteoporosis, and delta-like 3 (DLL3), which is involved in the Notch signaling pathway, in connection with a series of bioinformatic methods. An osteoporotic rat model was established by means of ovariectomy (OVX) to evaluate the influence exerted by DLL3-binding LINC00311 on osteoclasts through the Notch signaling pathway. METHODS: Osteoclasts were extracted from osteoporotic rats and transfected with the LINC00311-vector, shRNA-LINC00311, Notch activator, or a combination of the Notch activator and LINC00311-vector. Western blotting and RT-qPCR techniques were applied to determine the expression levels of LINC00311, DLL3, Notch1, Notch2, Jagged1, Hes-1 and TRAP in tissues and cells, while cell activity was detected by MTT assay. The cell cycle as well as the rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The successfully established osteoporotic rats were designated into the OVX-siRNA, OVX-LINC00311 and OVX-control groups to observe the effects of LINC00311 on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoclasts. RESULTS: Cells transfected with the LINC00311-vector exhibited increased expression levels of Notch2 and TRPA as well as increased cell activity, while decreased expression levels of DLL3, Notch1, Jagged1 and Hes-1, along with a decreased cell apoptosis rate, were observed. The opposite tendencies of these parameters were observed in the cells treated with shRNA-LINC00311. A key observation was made when the Notch signaling pathway was activated, in that the cell activity was decreased while the rate of apoptosis increased. In comparison with the OVX-control group, the expression levels of LINC00311, Notch2 and TRAP as well as the positive expression rate of TRAP all exhibited reductions, while those of DLL3, Jagged1 and Notch1 were elevated in the OVX-siRNA group. Compared with those in the sham group, in the OVX-control and OVX-LINC00311 groups, LINC00311 and the expression levels of Notch2 and TRAP were increased; however, decreased levels of DLL3, Jagged1 and Notch1 were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the key findings of the present study suggest that LINC00311 induces proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of osteoclasts via the regulation of the Notch signaling pathway by inhibiting DLL3 expression, ultimately demonstrating that LINC00311 and its target gene DLL3 may serve as independent factors in cases of osteoporosis.

Correlations of VDR and VDBP genetic polymorphisms with susceptibility to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and efficacy of brace treatment.

OBJECTIVE: This paper aimed to elucidate the correlations of VDR and VDBP polymorphisms with susceptibility to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and efficacy of brace treatment. METHODS: AIS patients and healthy controls were enrolled. Lumbar spine bone mineral density (LSBMD) and femoral neck bone mineral density (FNBMD) were detected by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. VDR and VDBP polymorphisms were detected by PCR-RFLP. Efficacy of brace treatment was evaluated by Cobb measurement. RESULTS: The frequencies of Bsm I Bb genotype and B allele, and rs222020 CC genotype and C allele in the AIS patients were higher than in the controls. After treatment, the correction rates of average Cobb angle, AVT, AVR and TS in patients with Bsm I Bb and VDBP rs222020 CC genotypes were relatively low. CONCLUSION: VDR Bsm I and VDBP rs222020 C>T polymorphisms may be predisposition factors of AIS and the efficacy of brace treatment in AIS patients.

Recurrent hemorrhage of ligamentum flavum cyst: case report.

A 39-year-old man presented with recurrent lower back and leg pain for 8 months due to repeated hemorrhage into an L5 ligamentum flavum cyst. Lumbar MR imaging showed an extradural cystic mass originating from the ligamentum flavum on the right side in the L5 segment. Microsurgical laminotomy and flavectomy were performed. The symptoms resolved completely and the patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery.