Unstable Non-isthmic Spondylolisthesis Following Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy Assisted Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression: A Case Report.

Lumbar decompressive laminectomy is a standard treatment for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, but in some cases, can lead to iatrogenic spondylolysis and delayed segmental instability. Iatrogenic spondylolysis occurs in most cases in pars interarticularis, but rare cases have also been reported, pediculolysis in pedicle and laminolysis in lamina. Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) is known to have a low risk of developing these iatrogenic spondylolyses, and unilateral biportal endoscopy is the MIS that has been drawing attention. We present a case of a 72-year-old female who was diagnosed with L4-5 unstable non-isthmic spondylolisthesis and severe right central disc extrusion 10 weeks after UBE assisted unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) at the consecutive segments of L3-4 and L4-5. Pre-operative imaging studies revealed severe central stenosis without spondylolisthesis at L3-L4 and L4-L5 along with L4-L5 facet tropism. She was managed by anterior lumbar interbody fusion and cement augmented pedicle screw fixation, which resulted in the complete resolution of her clinical and neurologic symptoms.

A cephalic vein drained into one of the double axillary veins through the pectoralis major muscle.

Although the cephalic vein follows a fairly consistent course, numerous variants have been reported. We found a rare anatomical presentation of the cephalic vein in a 43-year-old Korean male cadaver. The cephalic vein had anastomosed with the basilic vein and brachial vein at the level of the elbow, perforated the pectoralis major muscle between the clavicular and sternal heads, and then entered into one of the double axillary veins. Knowledge of the variations on the cephalic vein is important for clinicians as well as anatomists since the approach through the axillary base is favoured in many invasive procedures.

Oxyresveratrol suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in murine macrophages.

Excessive inflammation is considered a critical factor in many human diseases. Oxyresveratrol(trans-2,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene), a natural hydroxystilbene, has been shown to possess antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of oxyresveratrol (OxyR) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of inflammatory cytokines and mediators and further explored the mechanism of action in RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line. Production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs; extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38), and the activation of nuclear factor κ-light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) with OxyR were assayed in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. OxyR inhibited the productions of NO, PGE2, IL-6, and GM-CSF significantly in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. OxyR suppressed mRNA and protein expressions of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and GM-CSF in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. OxyR suppressed the phosphorylation of Akt and JNK and p38 MAPKs and the translocation of NFκB p65 subunit into the nucleus. These results indicate that OxyR inhibits LPS-stimulated inflammatory responses though the blocking of MAPK and NFκB signaling pathway in macrophages, and suggest that OxyR possesses anti-inflammatory effects.

Effects of Lactation Stage and Individual Performance on Milk cis-9, trans-11 Conjugated Linoleic Acids Content in Dairy Cows.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of lactation stage and individual performance on milk cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in dairy cows. In experiment 1, the milk cis-9, trans-11 CLA content from dairy cows in early (0.33±0.014%), middle (0.37±0.010%), and late stages (0.44±0.020%) showed significant differences (p<0.05); and the individual contents of the major fatty acids, especially cis-9, trans-11 CLA in cows of the same lactation were also variable. In the second experiment design as a validation test, our results once again showed that the individual contents of cis-9, trans-11 CLA were various, and a difference of about 2-fold (0.55% vs 0.95%) was observed, although the animals were offered same diet. These data demonstrated that lactation stage and individual performance have considerable effects on milk cis-9, trans-11 CLA contents.

A study on the distribution of chlorination by-products (CBPs) in treated water in Korea.

Fifteen chlorination by-products were analyzed in 416 water samples collected from 35 water treatment plants in Korea from 1996 to 1998. These samples were divided into five groups according to water sources (Han-river, Nakdong-river, Youngsan-river, Kum-river and Cheju) and detected CBPs were classified into six classes (trihalomethanes; THMs, haloacetic acids; HAAs, haloacetonitriles: HANs haloketones; HKs, chloralhydrate; CH, chloropicrin; CP) and then, it was observed the detection tendency and frequency of CBPs in each water source. The total concentration of CBPs in treated water from Nakdong-river or Han-river was higher than those from the other rivers. And the distribution pattern of each class of CBPs was similar in all water sources. THMs were the highest portion in the range of 40-50%, and HAAs and HANs were 28-35 and 9-15%, respectively. And there was a strong correlation between HANs and HKs (r=0.813). Each and total concentrations of CBPs showed to be more affected by the water source in two-way analysis of variance (two-way ANOVA) among the concentration of CBPs, the source of water and season.

Superoxide dismutase-dependent, catalase-sensitive peroxides in human endothelial cells infected by Rickettsia rickettsii.

The generation and intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species have been shown to be associated with the infection of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by Rickettsia rickettsii. In response to the oxidant superoxide, the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) increases following infection by this obligate intracellular bacterium. Other oxidants which are capable of oxidizing the fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) also accumulate intracellularly within infected cells. In the study reported here, we show that (i) an inhibitor of SOD, diethyldithiocarbamic acid, reduces the observed rise in SOD activity in infected cells by 40 to 60% and at the same time reduces the degree of intracellular oxidation of DCFH; (ii) catalase-sensitive peroxides can be detected in supernatants of R. rickettsii-infected cells shortly after rickettsial exposure; and (iii) fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis demonstrates significant intracellular oxidant activity in infected cells within 5 h after exposure to R. rickettsii. The results of these experiments indicate that hydrogen peroxide is a major oxidant associated with infection of HUVEC by R. rickettsii and that intracellular oxidant activity sensitive to SOD inhibition is detectable early and prior to significant rickettsial multiplication and much earlier than the ultrastructural manifestations of cell injury seen by electron microscopy.

Octoxynol presence in bear-bile.

The presence of octoxynol from dried bear-bile was examined. Octoxynol was coextracted when glycolipids by Folch-Suzuki partition method. Octoxynol formed mixed-micelles with glycosphingolipids. The glycolipids were purified by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column chromatography. The fractions containing mixed micelles were obtained from linear gradient solvent of 0.05M-0.5M ammonium acetate in methanol. HPLC ( Bondapak-NH(2) - linked to a Bondapak-C(18) column) chromatogram showed five peaks. Two possible structures for the fourth peak fraction were proposed as (CH(3))(3)C-CH(2)-C(CH(3))(2)-C(6)H(4)-OR and (CH(3))(3)C-C(CH(3))(2)-CH(2)-C(6)H(4)-OR by NMR spectroscopy. The structure was further confirmed by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI MS/MS). The spectrum showed a protonated molecule at m/z 559 and three different series of ions with mass difference of 44 were detected in the MS/MS spectrum. Therefore, the structure of the fourth peak fraction from HPLC was confirmed as octoxynol, (CH(3))(3)C-CH(2)-C(CH(3))(2)-C(6)H(4)-(OCH(2)-CH(2))n-OH, based on mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy.

Infection of human endothelial cells by Rickettsia rickettsii causes a significant reduction in the levels of key enzymes involved in protection against oxidative injury.

The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were significantly decreased in human endothelial cells infected with the obligate intracellular bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This observation lends additional support to our hypothesis implicating oxidative damage in endothelial cell injury caused by this microorganism.