Etiology of Spontaneous Extensor Tendon Injury in Northern-China Rice Farmers.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous extensor tendon injury is caused by repeated finger flexion and wrist movement. This rare disease has a relatively high incidence in northern China, mostly among rice farmers. This study aimed to elucidate the etiology of spontaneous extensor tendon injury in rice farmers. METHODS: Morphologic changes in the extensor tendons and wrist extensor retinaculum in wrist dorsiflexion were studied via ultrasound examination of the hands of 30 healthy adult men, and 34 patients with a non-rupture extensor tendon injury and 11 patients with spontaneous ruptures of the extensor tendons were also enrolled in the study. The daily workload and potential causes of injuries were assessed. RESULTS: Ultrasound images of healthy male hands showed that during wrist dorsiflexion, the extensor retinaculum of the wrist forms differently shaped trochleas as the dorsiflexion angle changes. Histopathologic examination of the wrist extensor retinaculum revealed that the inner face was abraded evenly, the synovial membrane on the surface of the wrist extensor retinaculum disappeared, the internal coarse fibers were exposed and there was fibrous debris, suggesting that dry friction occurred before the rupture. CONCLUSIONS: From clinical observation it could be concluded that the severity and progress of swelling and pain are related to the force applied during rice transplantation as abrasions were found at the front of the wrist extensor retinaculum.

A highly efficient approach to introduction of the single-base mutation in a plasmid containing adenovirus genome through Red recombination / 军事医学

Objective To construct a highly efficient approach to the introduction of the single-base mutation in a plasmid containing the adenovirus whole genome larger than 40 kb.Methods The target DNA with a mutation site was achieved by over-lapping PCR.The large plasmid with adenovirus genome and target DNA were co-transformed into Escherichia coli strain DY330 carrying a high rate Red recombination system.The positive clone was selected via colony PCR in combination with enzyme identification.The site-mutation large plasmid was transformed into E.coli strain DH10B in which the backbone of the large plasmid remained was stable.Results Two mutations were continuously introduced into the adenovirus genome,the location of which was pos.9171 and pos.24410 respectively.The integrality and stability of the plasmid backbone were verified by enzyme cutting identification.The two mutations on the plasmid were verified by DNA sequencing.Conclusion An efficient approach to the introduction of the single-base mutation in positions 9171 and 24410 from the adenovirus genome which was integrated into a plasmid is successfully established.The positive selection efficiency ranges from 5%to 15%.The construction of the approach will facilitate the study of adenovirus infection mechanism.

A comparison of osteocyte bioactivity in fine particulate bone powder grafts vs larger bone grafts in a rat bone repair model.

The osteogenic potential for bone grafts is based on numbers and activities of cells that survive transplantation. In this study, we compared the bioactivity of osteocytes in 300-500 µm fine particulate bone powder grafts to 2 mm larger bone grafts in a rat radial defect model. Expression levels of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and collagen I were semi-quantified by both immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR at days 1 and 4, as well as weeks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 post-transplantation. Within two weeks post-transplantation, more cells stained positively for BMP-2, TGF-ß1, ALP, and collagen I within the bone grafts and in the surrounding tissues in the group transplanted with the fine particulate bone powder grafts than in those with larger bone grafts (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of all four markers in the group transplanted with fine particulate bone powder graft peaked earlier and were expressed more highly than in the larger bone graft group, suggesting that fine particulate bone powder grafts provide more viable and active osteocytes to accelerate bone defect healing than larger bone grafts.

Curcumin promotes the spinal cord repair via inhibition of glial scar formation and inflammation.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious clinical situation without any effective therapy to date. Traumatic SCI triggers a complex pathological process including inflammatory response and glial scar formation. In this study, we demonstrated that curcumin, a natural product which functions as an anti-inflammatory agent, inhibited the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 and NF-kappa B in the injured spinal cord. Curcumin treatment greatly reduced the astrogliosis in SCI mice and significantly decreased the expression of IL-1ß and NO, as well as the number of Iba1(+) inflammatory cells at the lesion site. Notably, more residual axons and neurons were protected and significantly improved functional recovery was observed in the curcumin-treated mice, compared to the mice without curcumin treatment. These findings indicate that curcumin promotes spinal cord repair through inhibiting glial scar formation and inflammation and suggests the therapeutic potential of curcumin for SCI.

Surgical treatment of cervicothoracic junction spinal tuberculosis via combined anterior and posterior approaches in children.

BACKGROUND: Cervicothoracic junction spinal tuberculosis (CJST) in children is uncommon, especially when accompanied by a huge abscess. However, its consequences can be severe. Because of the special anatomic location of the cervicothoracic junction, surgical treatment is difficult and rarely reported. The aim of this clinical study was to assess the effectiveness of combined anterior and posterior approaches for focal debridement, decompression, allografting and anterior instrumentation in the treatment of CJST in children. METHODS: Ten pediatric CJST patients underwent focal debridement and cord decompression through combined anterior and posterior approaches. Then an appropriate allograft and titanium plate were applied to reconstruct the spine. The patients were asked to wear head-neck-chest braces for six months and received regular anti-tubercular drugs therapy for 12 months. RESULTS: The patients were followed-up for an average of 26 months (range, 15-32 months). There was no recurrent tuberculous infection. The bone grafts incorporated well and the instrumentation was stable. Cervical and thoracic kyphosis was successfully corrected from 40° (range, 30-52°) before the operation to 18° (range, 12-26°) post-operation. Neurological function was improved in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Combined anterior and posterior approaches for focal debridement, decompression, bone allografting and anterior instrumentation provided an effective means of treatment in children of CJST with a huge abscess in the posterior part of the vertebral body.