[Application of different puncture techniques to inject bone cement in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To study the application of different puncture techniques to inject bone cement in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). METHODS: The clinical data of 282 patients with OVCFs treated from January 2017 to December 2019 were collected for a retrospective study. According to the surgical plan the patients were divided into group A and B, with 141 cases in each group. In group A, extreme lateral puncture was used to inject bone cement through unilateral puncture and bilateral puncture. In group B, bone cement was injected through unilateral pedicle puncture through pedicle approach. The operation status(operation time, radiation exposure time, bone cement injection volume, hospital stay) and complications were observed between two groups. Before operation and 6, 12 months after operation, the pain mediators such as serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), prostaglandin E2(PGE2), substance P(SP) were compared, bone mineral density, anatomical parameters of the injured vertebrae (height of the anterior edge of the vertebral body, height of the posterior edge of the vertebral body, Cobb angle), visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were evaluated between two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant difference in operation time, radiation exposure time, hospital stay between two groups (P>0.05). The amount of bone cement injected in group A was greater than that in group B (P<0.05). The serum 5-HT, SP and PGE2 levels of group A were lower than those of group B at 12 months after operation (P<0.05). The height of anterior edge and height of the posterior edge of vertebral body in group A were greater than those of group B at 12 months after operation, Cobb angle of group A was smaller than that of group B, VAS and ODI were lower than those of group B(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in bone mineral density between two groups at 6 and 12 months postoperatively(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups in postoperative complications (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with unilateral puncture of the pedicle approach, unilateral puncture and bilateral cement injection technique is more conducive to the recovery of the injured vertebral anatomy and function, and do not prolong operation time, radiation exposure time, hospital stay, nor do increase the risk of nerve damage and bone cement leakage, and postoperative bone metabolism and bone mineral density are improved well, which is a safe and reliable surgical method for the treatment of OVCFs.

Adapalene Inhibits Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation In Vitro and In Vivo by Inducing DNA Damage, S-phase Cell Cycle Arrest, and Apoptosis.

Aims: Prostate cancer is a well-known aggressive malignant tumor in men with a high metastasis rate and poor prognosis. Adapalene (ADA) is a third-generation synthetic retinoid with anticancer properties. We investigated the anti-tumor activity and molecular mechanisms of ADA in the RM-1 prostate cancer cell line in vivo and in vitro. Methods: The effects of ADA on cell proliferation were estimated using the CCK-8 and colony formation assays. The wound-healing assay and the Transwell assay were employed to examine the migratory capacity and invasiveness of the cells. Flow cytometry was utilized to evaluate the cell cycle and apoptosis, and Western blotting analysis was used to assess the expression of the associated proteins. Micro-CT, histomorphological, and immunohistochemical staining were used to assess the effects of ADA on bone tissue structure and tumor growth in a mouse model of prostate cancer bone metastasis. Result: ADA dramatically inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness, and induced S-phase arrest and apoptosis. ADA also regulated the expression of S-phase associated proteins and elevated the levels of DNA damage markers, p53, and p21 after ADA treatment, suggesting that the anti-tumor effect of ADA manifests through the DNA damage/p53 pathway. Furthermore, we observed that ADA could effectively inhibited tumor growth and bone destruction in mice. Conclusion: ADA inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation, elicited apoptosis, and arrested the cell cycle in the S-phase. ADA also slowed the rate of tumor growth and bone destruction in vitro. Overall, our results suggest that ADA may be a potential treatment against prostate cancer.

Adenovirus-mediated GDF-5 promotes the extracellular matrix expression in degenerative nucleus pulposus cells.

OBJECTIVE: To construct a recombinant adenovirus vector-carrying human growth and differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) gene, investigate the biological effects of adenovirus-mediated GDF-5 (Ad-GDF-5) on extracellular matrix (ECM) expression in human degenerative disc nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, and explore a candidate gene therapy method for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). METHODS: Human NP cells of a degenerative disc were isolated, cultured, and infected with Ad-GDF-5 using the AdEasy-1 adenovirus vector system. On Days 3, 7, 14, and 21, the contents of the sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and hydroxyproline (Hyp), synthesis of proteoglycan and collagen II, gene expression of collagen II and aggrecan, and NP cell proliferation were assessed. RESULTS: The adenovirus was an effective vehicle for gene delivery with prolonged expression of GDF-5. Biochemical analysis revealed increased sGAG and Hyp contents in human NP cells infected by Ad-GDF-5 whereas there was no conspicuous change in basal medium (BM) or Ad-green fluorescent protein (GFP) groups. Only cells in the Ad-GDF-5 group promoted the production of ECM, as demonstrated by the secretion of proteoglycan and up-regulation of collagen II and aggrecan at both protein and mRNA levels. The NP cell proliferation was significantly promoted. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that Ad-GDF-5 gene therapy is a potential treatment for IDD, which restores the functions of degenerative intervertebral disc through enhancing the ECM production of human NP cells.

Repair of articular cartilage defects in rabbits through tissue-engineered cartilage constructed with chitosan hydrogel and chondrocytes.

OBJECTIVE: In our previous work, we prepared a type of chitosan hydrogel with excellent biocompatibility. In this study, tissue-engineered cartilage constructed with this chitosan hydrogel and costal chondrocytes was used to repair the articular cartilage defects. METHODS: Chitosan hydrogels were prepared with a crosslinker formed by combining 1,6-diisocyanatohexane and polyethylene glycol. Chitosan hydrogel scaffold was seeded with rabbit chondrocytes that had been cultured for one week in vitro to form the preliminary tissue-engineered cartilage. This preliminary tissue-engineered cartilage was then transplanted into the defective rabbit articular cartilage. There were three treatment groups: the experimental group received preliminary tissue-engineered cartilage; the blank group received pure chitosan hydrogels; and, the control group had received no implantation. The knee joints were harvested at predetermined time. The repaired cartilage was analyzed through gross morphology, histologically and immunohistochemically. The repairs were scored according to the international cartilage repair society (ICRS) standard. RESULTS: The gross morphology results suggested that the defects were repaired completely in the experimental group after twelve weeks. The regenerated tissue connected closely with subchondral bone and the boundary with normal tissue was fuzzy. The cartilage lacuna in the regenerated tissue was similar to normal cartilage lacuna. The results of ICRS gross and histological grading showed that there were significant differences among the three groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Chondrocytes implanted in the scaffold can adhere, proliferate, and secrete extracellular matrix. The novel tissue-engineered cartilage constructed in our research can completely repair the structure of damaged articular cartilage.