Thoracic spinal cord injury and paraplegia caused by intradural cement leakage after percutaneous kyphoplasty: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) is a pivotal intervention for osteoporotic fractures, pathological vertebral compression fractures, and vertebral bone tumors. Despite its efficacy, the procedure presents challenges, notably complications arising from intradural cement leakage. Timely and accurate diagnosis, coupled with emergent intervention is imperative to improve patient prognosis. This case report illuminates the intricacies and potential complications associated with PKP, emphasizing the critical need for vigilant monitoring, prompt diagnosis, and immediate intervention to mitigate adverse outcomes. CASE SUMMARY: A 58-year-old male patient, experiencing a T7 osteoporosis-related pathological compression fracture, underwent PKP at a local hospital. Two weeks post-procedure, the patient developed paraplegic and dysuric symptoms, necessitating emergency decompression surgery. Gradual improvement was achieved, marked by the restoration of muscle strength, sensation, and mobility. CONCLUSION: PKP Intradural cement leakage following PKP is unusual and potentially fatal. Prompt imaging examinations, urgent evaluation, and the decompression surgery are essential, which help alleviate symptoms associated with spinal damage, markedly improving the overall prognosis.

Syringic Acid Attenuates the IL-1ß-Induced Akt Pathway in Chondrocyte ATDC5 Cells.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic progressive joint ailment that is largely predominant worldwide. However, it typically gets worse over time, occurs more frequently, and becomes more crippling. OBJECTIVES: Syringic acid (SA) is a well-known phenolic compound reported to suppress inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis of various cancer cells. Since the role of SA in OA remains unknown, there is a need to hypothesize the anti-inflammatory activities of SA on IL- 1ß-induced ATDC5 chondrocyte­like cells and to elucidate its protective action against OA. METHODS: The cytotoxicity, inflammatory mediators, mRNA expression of MMPs, ADAMTS, COX-2, and Akt/NF-κB protein expression of SA activity on ATDC5 cells were examined through CCK-8 assay, ELISA, RT-qPCR, and western blot. It was found that SA (10, 20, and 30 µM) did not show any inhibitory effects on the viability of the ATDC5 cells in a concentrationdependent manner. RESULTS: SA markedly reduced the inflammatory mediators, cytokines, PGE2, MMPs, COX-2, and ADAMTS in a concentration-dependent manner. Likewise, SA expressively attenuated IL- 1ß-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and NF-κB activation as well as IL-1ß- induced ATDC5 chondrocytes. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that SA is a novel candidate applicable for the treatment of OA.

[Establishment of estrogen receptor alpha trans-activation system].

OBJECTIVE: To construct estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) trans-activation system. METHODS: The full length ERalpha and its different function regions [(transcriptional activation function 1 (AF1), DNA binding domain (DBD), and transcriptional activation function 2 (AF2)] were amplified from pcDNA3-ERalpha by PCR and cloned into the pGAL vector. The expressions of the recombinant plasmids constructed were detected via immunoblotting. The 293T cells transfected with recombinant plasmids of full length ERalpha, its different function regions and empty vector were divided into 5 groups; each group was divided into 2 parts which were treated with or without estrogen (E(2)). The transcriptional activity of each group was detected in 293T cells after the recombinant plasmid was co-transfected with 0.2 microg of estrogen receptor element luciferase (ERE-LUC) and 0.1 microg of plasmid expressing beta-galactosidase and treated with or without 10 nmol/L E(2) for 24 hours. RESULTS: The full length ERalpha and its different function regions were expressed in the 293T cells. Compared with the empty pGAL vector, the transcription activities of full length ERalpha, AF1, AF2 and DBD recombinant plasmids were raised about 20.44 +/- 1.01, 2.09 +/- 0.11, 8.09 +/- 0.30 and 1.05 +/- 0.09 fold, respectively, with the induction of E(2) after transfection in the 293T cells. CONCLUSION: The trans-activation system of ERalpha has been successfully established.

[Identification of differential genomic genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and attenuated strain H37Ra by suppression subtractive hybridization].

To study the virulence-related genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, we used suppression subtractive hybridization to clone the differential genomic genes between Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence strain H37Rv and attenuated strain H37Ra. All of 54 different genes were cloned, sequenced and analyzed by Southern-blotting. Two different DNA fragments in H37Ra are new genes so far, and get the new Genbank number AY534505 and AY560011. Eight different DNA fragments in H37Rv were obtained. One is the fragment of a gene coding virulence factor mce; one fragment belongs to the gene coding for purC synthenzyme; one for PE family protein; the other 4 fragments for putative gene; and the last one is a non-coding fragment. PCR analysis indicated that 2 of the different genes were present exclusively in the clinical virulent strain and in H37Rv, but not in the clinical avirulent strain and in H37Ra. The novel differential genes may provide an important clue for studying the mechanism of M. tuberculosis pathogenesis.