Clinical efficacy of modified percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) vs. conventional PKP for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a single-center retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of using a standardized modified percutaneous kyphoplasty (transverse process­pedicle approach to percutaneous kyphoplasty, TPKP) approach for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and to explore the possibility that it may become the preferred option in the future. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a total of 81 patients (TPKP group, 43 cases; PKP group, 38 cases) with OVCFs who underwent TPKP and PKP at the Department of Spine Surgery, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, from May 2021 to October 2021. We evaluated the patients' demographic information, intraoperative data (volume of cement injection and, duration of surgery), clinical outcomes at different time points (Visual Analog Scale, Oswestry Dysfunction Index), and radiographic data (Cobb angle, anterior vertebral body height). Statistical analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of the procedure, both within and between the two groups before and after surgery. RESULTS: The difference in preoperative general information between the two groups of patients was non-statistically significant (p>0.05), and they were comparable. Additionally, no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was found between the TPKP and PKP groups in terms of operative time, length of hospital stay, recovery of injured spine height, Cobb angle, and cement leakage rate. However, significant statistical differences (p<0.05) were noted between the two groups regarding cement volume, distribution pattern, 1-day postoperative VAS scores, 1-day postoperative ODI scores, and loss of height of the injured spine. TPKP demonstrated superior performance compared to PKP in these specific areas. CONCLUSIONS: TPKP offers the same surgical safety as the conventional approach, with better cement distribution and better pain relief, as well as the advantage of maintaining the height of the operated vertebral body. The technique is easy to master and use when guided by standard puncture procedures.

[Polysaccharide from Phellinus igniarius alleviates oxidative stress and hepatic fibrosis in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of polysaccharide from Phellinus igniarius (PPI) in the improvement of oxidative stress, hepatic granuloma and hepatic fibrosis in Schistosoma japonicum-iniected in mice. METHODS: The mouse model of schistosomiasis was established by S. japonicum cercariae infection via the abdomen. Balb/c mice were randomly assigned into 5 groups, including the healthy control group (Group A), infection control group (Group B), PPI treatment group (Group C), praziquantel treatment group (Group D) and PPI-praziquantel combination group (Group E), of 10 mice in each group. Each mouse in groups B, C, D and E was infected with (30 ± 2) S. japonicum cercariae. Then, mice in groups D and E were given praziquantel by gavage at a dose of 500 mg/kg for successive two days on day 42 post-infection, while mice in groups C and E were given PPI by gavage at a dose of 400 mg/kg for successive 30 days on day 42 post-infection. Histopathological changes of hepatic tissues were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN) were determined, while the activities of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), glutathione reductase (GSH-R) and glutathione (GSH) were detected in Mouse liver homogenates. The expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was quantified in hepatic tissues using immunohistochemistry, and the Nrf2 and Gsta4 gene expression was quantified using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay. RESULTS: Untreated mice presented typical pathological changes of schistosomal hepatic disorders, while PPI treatment effectively alleviated hepatic egg granulomas and collagen deposition. S. japonicum infection resulted in aggravation of hepatic lipid peroxidation, induction of oxidative stress, elevated serum MDA level and a reduction in the activity of GSH and antioxidant enzymes activities in mice. As compared to infected but untreated mice, PPI treatment suppressed hepatic lipid peroxidation, increased the GSH activity and restored the activity of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, PPI treatment inhibited the TGF-ß signaling pathway and up-regulated the Nrf2 and Gsta4 gene expression. CONCLUSIONS: PPI plays a critical role in the treatment of schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis. It may improve oxidative stress damages through up-regulating Nrf2 and Gsta4 gene expression, thereby suppressing the development of hepatic egg granulomas and hepatic fibrosis.