Ginsenoside Rg1 regulates astrocytes to promote angiogenesis in spinal cord injury via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey) is a common traditional Chinese medicine used for anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, anti-oxidative stress, and neuroprotection. Ginsenosides Rg1, the main active components isolated from ginseng, may be a feasible therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI). AIMS OF THE STUDY: SCI causes endothelial cell death and blood vessel rupture, ultimately resulting in long-term neurological impairment. As a result, encouraging spinal angiogenesis may be a feasible therapy for SCI. This investigation aimed to validate the capacity of ginsenoside Rg1 in stimulating angiogenesis within the spinal cord. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats with SCI were injected intraperitoneally with ginsenoside Rg1. The effectiveness of ginsenoside Rg1 was assessed using the motor function score and the motor-evoked potential (MEP). Immunofluorescence techniques were applied to identify the spinal cord's angiogenesis. Angiogenic factors were examined through Western Blot (WB) and Immunohistochemistry. Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was employed to establish the hypoxia-ischemia model in vitro, and astrocytes (As) were given ginsenoside Rg1 and co-cultured with spinal cord microvascular endothelial cells (SCMECs). Immunofluorescence, wound healing test, and tube formation assay were used to identify the co-cultured SCMECs' activity. Finally, network pharmacology analysis and siRNA transfection were applied to verify the mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 promoting angiogenesis. RESULTS: The rats with SCI treated with ginsenoside Rg1 indicated more significant functional recovery, more pronounced angiogenesis, and higher levels of angiogenic factor expression. In vitro, the co-culture system with ginsenoside Rg1 intervention improved SCMECs' capacity for proliferating, migrating, and forming tubes, possibly by promoting the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in As via the janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Ginsenoside Rg1 can regulate As to promote angiogenesis, which may help to understand the mechanism of promoting SCI recovery.

Deep learning-based spinal canal segmentation of computed tomography image for disease diagnosis: A proposed system for spinal stenosis diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc herniation was regarded as an age-related degenerative disease. Nevertheless, emerging reports highlight a discernible shift, illustrating the prevalence of these conditions among younger individuals. METHODS: This study introduces a novel deep learning methodology tailored for spinal canal segmentation and disease diagnosis, emphasizing image processing techniques that delve into essential image attributes such as gray levels, texture, and statistical structures to refine segmentation accuracy. RESULTS: Analysis reveals a progressive increase in the size of vertebrae and intervertebral discs from the cervical to lumbar regions. Vertebrae, bearing weight and safeguarding the spinal cord and nerves, are interconnected by intervertebral discs, resilient structures that counteract spinal pressure. Experimental findings demonstrate a lack of pronounced anteroposterior bending during flexion and extension, maintaining displacement and rotation angles consistently approximating zero. This consistency maintains uniform anterior and posterior vertebrae heights, coupled with parallel intervertebral disc heights, aligning with theoretical expectations. CONCLUSIONS: Accuracy assessment employs 2 methods: IoU and Dice, and the average accuracy of IoU is 88% and that of Dice is 96.4%. The proposed deep learning-based system showcases promising results in spinal canal segmentation, laying a foundation for precise stenosis diagnosis in computed tomography images. This contributes significantly to advancements in spinal pathology understanding and treatment.

Association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and postoperative fatigue in elderly patients with hip fracture.

Background: and purpose: Postoperative fatigue (POF) is a common and distressing post-operative symptom. This study aimed to explore the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and POF in elderly patients with hip fracture. Method: Elderly patients (age ≥65 years) with acute hip fracture admitted to the Department of Orthopedics of Anqing Municipal Hospital from June 2018 to June 2020 were included. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale at the 3-month follow-up postoperatively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the associations between NLR and POF. The diagnostic performance of NLR was analysed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the Delong test. Result: A total of 321 elderly patients with hip fractures were included; 120 (37.4 %) of them were diagnosed with POF. Univariate analysis indicated significant differences in NLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), education, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated neutrophil count (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.27-1.67), lymphocyte count (OR 0.32, 95 % CI 0.19-0.53), NLR (OR1.81, 95 % CI 1.50-2.17) and PLR (OR 1.005, 95 % CI 1.001-1.009) were significantly associated with POF. The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) of neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, NLR and PLR were 0.712, 0.667, 0.775 and 0.605, respectively. The Delong test indicated that NLR had the best diagnostic performance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: NLR independently predicts POF in elderly patients with acute hip fracture.

Curative effect of external fixation combined with kirschner wire versus hollow screw in the treatment of first metacarpal bone base fracture.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted aimed at comparing the curative effect of external fixation combined with Kirschner wire fixation versus hollow screw fixation in the treatment of first metacarpal bone base fracture. METHODS: The current retrospective study included a total of 80 patients diagnosed with first metacarpal bone base fracture who were admitted in Wuxi 9th People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University between October 2017 and October 2020. The patients enrolled were equally divided into the combined group (40 cases, receiving external fixation combined with Kirschner wire fixation), and the control group (40 cases, receiving hollow screw fixation). Perioperative indices were collected and compared between the two groups. Pain scores before operation and three months, six months, and one year after operation were compared. Additionally, we compared the finger function in the last follow-up visit ( the follow-up period was 1 year) and rate of complications. RESULTS: Operation time, amount of bleeding, length of incision, length of hospital stay, and fracture healing time did not differ between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Pain score was comparable between the two groups before operation (P = 0.704). Despite lower results showing at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation in both groups, the pain score did not significantly differ in any time point between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Additionally, no significant differences were observed in finger function and rate of complications at the last follow-up between the two groups (both P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: External fixation combined with Kirschner wire fixation and hollow screw fixation exhibited similar curative effect in treating first metacarpal bone base fracture, indicating both surgery methods may be considered as the preferred approach.

A novel mini-open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar degenerative diseases: technical note and preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is an effective and popular surgical procedure for the management of various spinal pathologies, especially degenerative diseases. Surgeons have been pursuing minimally invasive technology as soon as TLIF was appeared. Currently, TLIF can be performed with transforaminal approaches by open surgery, minimally invasive surgery or percutaneous endoscope. We provide a detailed description of a new modified open TLIF with percutaneous pedicle screws, which we refer to as mini-open TLIF. The objective of this study was to present feasibility of this procedure and the preliminary results. METHODS: The study is a prospective study. From January 2021 to March 2022, 96 patients (43 males and 53 females) with neurological symptoms due to degenerative lumbar spine diseases were enrolled. Operation time, blood loss, ambulatory time, hematocrit and complications were recorded during perioperative period. Clinical symptoms were evaluated 1 week, 3 months and 12 months after surgery. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for lower back pain and leg pain and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were assessed. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively to emulate cross-sectional area of paraspinal muscles. The lumbar interbody fusion rate was evaluated by CT scanning. RESULTS: The mean operation time of single level was 112.6 min, and the mean operation time of multilevel was 140.1 min. Intraoperative blood loss of single level was 64.5 ml and was 116.3 ml of multilevel. The VAS and ODI scores before and after surgery were significantly different (P < 0.0001) and reached minimal clinically important difference. Atrophy rate of paraspinal muscles was 2.5% for symptomatic side and 1.2% for asymptomatic side. The cross-sectional area before and after the operation and atrophy rate had no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Mini-open TLIF is effective and feasible for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases especially in multilevel disease, with minor damage to muscle and shorter operation time. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (No. JD-LK2023045-I01).

Comparison of diaphyseal and metaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomies for the treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) is a common surgical procedure for the treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome (UIS). The purpose of this study was to compare the results of metaphyseal and diaphyseal USO.  METHODS: This retrospective study compared the clinical outcomes and complications of 32 patients who underwent diaphyseal step-cut USO (n = 10), diaphyseal oblique USO (n = 12), or metaphyseal USO (n = 10). RESULTS: Patient characteristics, ulnar variance, wrist range of motion, preoperative pain, grip strength, and functional scores (quick disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand and patient-rated wrist evaluation) were comparable. Both operation time (79.5 vs. 138/139 min) and incision length (7.80 vs. 9.67/13.00 cm) were shorter in the metaphyseal USO than in the diaphyseal oblique/step-cut USO. Compared with diaphyseal oblique/step-cut USO, metaphyseal osteotomies were associated with greater improvement in the pain on postoperative day 3 and shorter bone healing time. The requirements for implant removal were the same among the three groups. No complications were observed in any group. CONCLUSION: Compared with diaphyseal USO, metaphyseal USO has advantages for operation time and incision length, early postoperative pain, bone healing in UIS management. The results suggested that metaphyseal USO could be widely applied to the surgical treatment of UIS. However, the long-term outcomes of these techniques still require further evaluation using more large-scale, randomized clinical trials.

Ginsenoside Rg1 promotes astrocyte-to-neuron transdifferentiation in rat and its possible mechanism.

INTRODUCTION: Neuronal loss caused by spinal cord injury (SCI) usually contributes to irreversible motor dysfunction. Promoting neuronal regeneration and functional recovery is vital to the repair of SCI. AIMS: Astrocytes, activated by SCI with high proliferative capacity and proximity to neuronal lineage, are considered ideal cells for neuronal regeneration. As previous studies identified several small molecules for the induction of astrocyte-to-neuron, we confirmed that ginsenoside Rg1, a neuroprotective herb, could promote the direct transdifferentiation of astrocyte-to-neuron in rat. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunofluorescence staining showed that 26.0 ± 1.5% of the induced cells exhibited less astroglial properties and more neuronal markers with typical neuronal morphologies, reflecting 20.6 ± 0.9% of cholinergic neurons and 22.3 ± 1.9% of dopaminergic neurons. Western blot and qRT-PCR revealed that the induced cells had better antiapoptotic ability and Rg1-promoted neuronal transdifferentiation of reactive astrocytes might take effect through suppressing Notch/Stat3 signal pathway. In vivo, a revised SCI model treated by Rg1 was confirmed with faster functional recovery and less injury lesion cavity. CONCLUSION: In summary, our study provided a novel strategy of direct transdifferentiation of endogenous rat reactive astrocytes into neurons with Rg1 and promotion of neuronal regeneration after SCI.

Sweat contamination induced surgical site infections after spine surgery: Three case reports and literature review.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most intractable complications following spine surgery during the early postoperative stage. Elderly (age > 70 years), body mass index > 30, smoking, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, anemia, low serum albumin, operation time > 3 h, and perioperative blood loss > 500 mL are the common risk factors of SSI after spine surgery. However, there are few published reports about sweat contamination induced surgical site infections with Staphylococcus epidermidis up to date. Staphylococcus epidermidis is a permanent member of the normal human microbiota and has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen in SSI. We aim to detect the influence of sweat infiltration on SSI with Staphylococcus epidermidis and effective management. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old male, a 54-year-old male and a 73-year-old female were admitted to our hospital. All of them underwent posterior compression and fusion surgery with internal fixation and got surgical site infection after primary surgery. Two of them suffered moderate surgical site infection while the third patient with comorbidities suffered severe surgical site infection. Antibiotic therapy and debridement with internal fixation retained were utilized during which microbiological culture were taken. The moderate infection patients got fully recovered after debridement and primary suture while the serious one had recurrence after the first debridement, and then the second operation was performed. SSI, however, relapsed after three days. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system was placed in the third debridement. The severe patient got well recovered and discharged after displacement of VAC system. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: This report serves to explore a normal but overlooked factor for SSI. SSI is one of the most intractable complications after spine surgery and the report introduce some uncomplicated but effective methods to moderate and severe SSI. CONCLUSION: Sweat-contaminated is an inducement of SSI with Staphylococcus epidermidis that should attract surgeons' attention. For mild infection, changing dressing and infrared treatment can achieve good results. For moderate infection, one debridement and primary suture are enough. For severe infection, early application of VAC system can reduce the number of debridement and achieve good clinical outcome.

Determinants of complex regional pain syndrome type I in patients with scaphoid waist fracture- a multicenter prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the incidence of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) in patients with scaphoid waist fracture and to explore associated factors. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective observational study. Demographic, imaging indicators and clinical data were collected before the conservative treatment of scaphoid waist fracture patients. The occurrence of CRPS I and pain condition were the main outcomes. To explore the factors associated with CRPS I, multivariate logistic regression model was used. RESULTS: A total of 493 scaphoid waist fracture participants undergoing conservative treatment were recruited for this study. The incidence of CRPS I was 20% (n = 87). The average time between injury and the onset of CRPS I was 6.7 ± 2.1 weeks. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex (odds ratio (OR): 1.669; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.189-2.338), diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.206; 95% CI: 2.284-4.492), and severe pain condition before treatment (visual analog scale (VAS) score more than 4 cm) (OR: 27.966; 95% CI: 19.924-39.187) were independently associated with CRPS I. CONCLUSIONS: Patients suffering from scaphoid waist fracture may be at a higher risk of CRPS I, especially in women with diabetes mellitus who report severe pain before treatment. Early screening and regular follow up evaluation are recommended in these patients.

[Clinical application of Wide-awake technique in flexor tendon tenolysis].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the method and effectiveness of Wide-awake technique in flexor tendon tenolysis. METHODS: The clinical data of 16 patients (22 fingers) with flexor tendon adhesion treated by Wide-awake technique for flexor tendon tenolysis between May 2019 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were all male, aged from 18 to 55 years old, with an average of 35 years old. Among them, 4 cases (7 fingers) after replantation of severed fingers, 4 cases (7 fingers) after flexor tendon rupture repair, and 8 cases (8 fingers) after open reduction and internal fixation of proximal fractures. The time from the original operation to this operation was 6-18 months, with an average of 8 months. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the patient's pain during local anesthesia (when the first needle penetrated the skin), intraoperative, and 24 hours postoperatively; and the recovery of finger movement was evaluated by total finger joint active range of motion (TAM) evaluation system and Strickland (1980) standard after operation. RESULTS: Intraoperative hemostasis and anesthesia were satisfactory, and the patient could fully cooperate with the surgeon in active finger movements. There were different degrees of pain during local anesthesia (VAS score was 2-4), no pain during operation (VAS score was 0), and different degrees of pain after operation (VAS score was 1-8, 9 patients needed analgesics). All incisions healed by first intention after operation. All 16 cases were followed up 9-15 months with an average of 12 months. Finger function was significantly improved, no tendon rupture occurred. At last follow-up, the patients after proximal fracture open reduction and internal fixation were rated as excellent in 4 fingers and good in 4 fingers according to the TAM standard, and both were excellent according to the Strickland (1980) standard; and the patients after replantation of severed fingers and flexor tendon rupture repair were rated as excellent in 4 fingers and good in 10 fingers according to TAM standard, and as excellent in 6 fingers and good in 8 fingers according to Strickland (1980) standard. CONCLUSION: Wide-awake technique applied in flexor tendon tenolysis can accurately judge the tendon adhesion and release degree through the patient's active activity, achieve the purpose of complete release, and the effectiveness is satisfactory; the effectiveness of tendon adhesion release surgery after fracture internal fixation is better than that of patients after tendon rupture suture and replantation.

Ginsenoside Rg1-induced activation of astrocytes promotes functional recovery via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway following spinal cord injury.

AIMS: To determine whether ginsenoside Rg1 is involved in scratch wound healing through altered expression of related molecules in astrocytes and improved functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Astrocytes were isolated from rats, followed by Rg1 treatment. The wound healing test was performed to observe the scratch wound healing in different groups. The expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and components of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway were detected by western blot. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the altered expression of laminin (LN) and fibronectin (FN). A revised Allen's method for the SCI model was performed, followed by Rg1 treatment. Then, functional scoring was conducted to evaluate the functional recovery. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining showed changes in the void area. Finally, western blot assessed the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). KEY FINDINGS: Rg1 mediated scratch wound healing through inducing an increased release of LN, FN, NGF, GDNF, and bFGF in vitro. Additionally, Rg1 activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and promoted the functional recovery of hindlimb movement in rats. Furthermore, Rg1 significantly reduced the void area and downregulated the expression of GFAP and CSPGs. SIGNIFICANCE: Rg1 not only enhanced the scratch wound repair in vitro through the release of astroglial neurotrophic factors, adhesion factors, and inhibitory factors, but it also improved the functional recovery in vivo following SCI.

Comparison of arterial input functions measured from ultra-fast dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and dynamic contrast enhanced computed tomography in prostate cancer patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of arterial input functions (AIFs) measured from dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI following a low dose of contrast media injection. The AIFs measured from DCE computed tomography (CT) were used as 'gold standard'. A total of twenty patients received CT and MRI scans on the same day. Patients received 120 ml Iohexol in DCE-CT and a low dose of (0.015 mM kg-1) of gadobenate dimeglumine in DCE-MRI. The AIFs were measured in the iliac artery and normalized to the CT and MRI contrast agent doses. To correct for different temporal resolution and sampling periods of CT and MRI, an empirical mathematical model (EMM) was used to fit the AIFs first. Then numerical AIFs (AIFCT and AIFMRI) were calculated based on fitting parameters. The AIFMRI was convolved with a 'contrast agent injection' function ([Formula: see text]) to correct for the difference between MRI and CT contrast agent injection times (~1.5 s versus 30 s). The results show that the EMMs accurately fitted AIFs measured from CT and MRI. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the maximum peak amplitude of AIFs from CT (22.1 ± 4.1 mM/dose) and MRI after convolution (22.3 ± 5.2 mM/dose). The shapes of the AIFCT and [Formula: see text] were very similar. Our results demonstrated that AIFs can be accurately measured by MRI following low dose contrast agent injection.

Ginsenoside Rg1 Promotes the Migration of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells via the PI3K/Akt Pathway to Repair Rat Spinal Cord Injury.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on the migration of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) in vitro, and its influence on the therapeutic efficacy of OECs transplanted in vivo for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). Primary cultured and purified OECs (prepared from rats) were treated with ginsenoside Rg1. The wound healing test indicated that ginsenoside Rg1 promoted the migration of OECs. Real-time RT-PCR demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 upregulated the expression of migration-related factors of OECs, including matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1). Moreover, Western blot analysis indicated that ginsenoside Rg1 significantly promoted the migration of OECs via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. An SCI rat model was induced in vivo using a revised Allen's method. The Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scores and histological analysis demonstrated that OECs, which were treated with ginsenoside Rg1, exhibited significant improvement in SCI compared with both the control group and the OEC group. Thus, ginsenoside Rg1 may represent a novel treatment target for SCI.

Left extensive infection in the forearm caused by whitlow infected by mycobacterium tuberculosis: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Whitlow is a common disease in clinic, characterized by pain and swelling of finger. However, few articles had reported on extensive infection in the forearm caused by whitlow infected by mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). PATIENT CONCERNS: A 70-year-old Chinese female complained of fester in back of left hand for 5 days. She had a history of recurrent whitlow for 14 months and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). She received treatment in another hospital due to whitlow on July 2016. Then she was treated with incision and drainage. However, whitlow presented again several times before coming to our hospital. She came to our hospital on September 7, 2017 and x-ray of forearm showed that radius, ulna, and carpal were eroded. DIAGNOSES: She was diagnosed with left extensive infection in the forearm caused by whitlow infection by MTB. INTERVENTIONS: Considering her serious and extensive condition, we performed left forearm amputation on September 12, 2017. We collected some soft tissue cut down during surgery and conducted pathological examination. Finally, pathological result showed MTB infection. Then that patient was treated with antituberculosis therapy. OUTCOMES: Up to now, illness condition has not progressed. A recent x-ray of forearm showed no osteolysis in humerus. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive infection in the forearm after recurrent whitlow infection by MTB is rare. So when we face recurrent whitlow, a rapid diagnosis and treatment are required to prevent complications. This case reminds us that recurrent whitlow is dangerous. Attention must be paid to recurrent whitlow. If necessary, amputation should be considered.

Electromagnetic Navigation in Distal Locking of Long Diaphyseal Interlocking Intramedullary Nailing.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the applications and effects of electromagnetic navigation (EN) technology in distal locking for the treatment of long diaphyseal fracture (LDF) with interlocking intramedullary nailing (IIN). STUDY DESIGN: An interventional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, China, from March 2013 to July 2014. METHODOLOGY: Patients who underwent IIN-LDF were selected. Twenty-four (50%) of whom were operated under EN guidance (group A) and the other 24 (50%) under conventional targeting guidance (group B). The distal locking time and X-ray irradiation time of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Each group included 16 (33.3%) cases of femoral fracture and 8 (16.7%) cases of tibial fracture. The success rate of distal locking in group A was higher than that in group B (95.8% vs. 83.3%, p=0.045). There were statistically significant differences in the distal locking time and X-ray irradiation time of femoral intramedullary nailing between the two groups (p=0.027 and p=0.001, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in the distal locking time and X-ray irradiation time of tibial intramedullary nailing between the two groups (p=0.347 and p=0.056, respectively). CONCLUSION: EN-IN was advantageous as it enabled easy targeting, significantly reduced intraoperative fluoroscopy and operation time and small trauma and had other advantages when used for treating LDFs, especially femoral diaphyseal fractures.

Effect of comfort pads and incubator design on neonatal radiography.

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing interest in patient dose reduction in neonatal intensive care units. Removing comfort pads for radiography has been identified as a potential means to decrease patient dose. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of comfort pads and support trays on detector entrance exposure (DEE) and image quality for neonatal radiography, and its implication for patient dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comfort pads and support trays from three incubator and warmer systems were examined. The attenuation of the primary beam by these structures was measured using a narrow beam geometry. Their effect on DEE and image quality was then assessed using typical neonatal chest radiography techniques with three configurations: 1) both the comfort pad and support included in the beam, 2) only the support tray included and 3) both the comfort pad and support tray removed. RESULTS: Comfort pads and support trays were found to attenuate the primary beam by 6-15%. Eliminating these structures from the X-ray beam's path was found to increase the detector entrance exposure by 28-36% and increase contrast-to-noise ratio by more than 21%, suggesting room for patient dose reduction when the same image quality is maintained. CONCLUSION: Comfort pads and tray support devices can have a considerable effect on DEE and image quality, with large variations among different incubator designs. Positioning the image detector directly underneath neonatal patients for radiography is a potential means for patient dose reduction. However, such benefit should be weighed against the risks of moving the patient.

[Activation of hepatocyte growth factor-induced apoptosis in hepatic stellate cells].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether apoptosis is induced in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in response to activation of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) by using a co-culture system of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and HSCs. METHODS: In this study, cells were divided into the following five groups: HSC control group: HSCs co-cultured with fibroblast cells; HSCs blank group: HSCs cultured alone; BMSCs blank group: BMSCs cultured alone; Experimental group: BMSCs + HSCs; HGFA intervention group: HSCs treated with 70 ng/mL of HGFA. The culture systems were established in culture plates with transwell inserts, and cells were assessed at 24, 48, and 72 h of growth. Dynamic changes in cell morphology were observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope. The surface markers of BMSCs and the apoptosis rate of HSCs were detected by Annexin-V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI). Expression of a-smooth muscle actin (SMA) in HSCs was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The presence of activated HGF (HGF-a chain) was determined by immunofluorescent staining. HSC proliferation was measured by MTT assay, and the concentrations of HGF and HGFA were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: MTT results indicated that treatment with HGF alone had no effect on HSC proliferation rate (vs. HSC blank group, P more than 0.05), but that 24 h treatment with HGFA significantly inhibited the proliferation rate (0.26 ± 0.00 vs. blank group: 0.13 ± 0.04, P = 0.02); moreover, this effect was concentration-dependent. Expression of HGF-a was lower in the experimental group than in the HGFA intervention group at 72 h (37.24 ± 1.03 vs. 40.44 ± 0.77, P = 0.04), and both of these groups had higher expression than the control group at all time points examined (P less than 0.05). The apoptosis rate was consistently higher in the experimental group than in the HGFA intervention group, but most robustly at 72 h (40.77 ± 1.16% vs. 33.35 ± 2.04%, P = 0.00); moreover, the apoptosis rate was significantly higher than that in the control group at all time points examined (P less than 0.01). The concentration of HGF in the experimental group and the HGFA intervention group showed a time-dependent reduction, and was consistently lower than that in the HSCs control group (P less than 0.05). Finally, the concentration of HGFA was higher in the experimental group than in the blank group at all time points examined (P less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: The BMSC-HSC co-culture system can promote secretion of HGFA from HSCs and HGF activation, thereby inducing apoptosis of HSCs.

Pedicle screw instrumentation plus augmentation vertebroplasty using calcium sulfate for thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurologic deficits.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of posterior instrumentation plus vertebroplasty and posterolateral fusion using calcium sulfate for thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurologic deficits. METHODS: Between July 2005 and January 2008, a total of 45 patients who had been diagnosed as having thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurologic deficits were treated with pedicle screw instrumentation plus vertebroplasty using calcium sulfate in our unit. The Cobb angles and loss rates of anterior-middle columns height at different time intervals were measured on lateral radiographs, and the preoperative and postoperative functional outcomes were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: The Cobb angles and loss rates of anterior-middle columns height postoperatively period were restored significantly compared with those noted preoperatively. The angles and heights were well maintained for at least two years using this technique. The mean postoperative VAS (back pain) score was 2.1 ± 0.8, which was significantly better (P < 0.001) than the mean preoperative VAS score 7.9 ± 1.1. The average preoperative ODI was 66.6 ± 8.1% and this had improved significantly to 15.5 ± 4.5% by the latest follow-up (P < 0.001). No instrumentation failure was detected in this study. The calcium sulfate had been absorbed completely by 3-6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Pedicle screw instrumentation plus augmentation vertebroplasty with calcium sulfate is an economic, efficient and reliable technique for treating unstable thoracolumbar fractures without neurologic deficits.

Ginsenoside Rg1 promotes proliferation and neurotrophin expression of olfactory ensheathing cells.

Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) is currently considered to be one of the most promising repair strategies for human spinal cord injury. However, the factors that regulate OECs are still poorly understood. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), the phytosterol from Panax ginseng, is a potent neuroprotective agent that promotes axonal regeneration. The aim of this study is to determine whether Rg1 would influence the biological activity of OECs. Primary cultured OECs from the olfactory bulb of neonatal rats were treated with Rg1 of various concentrations and durations. Using MTT and bromodeoxyuridine assays, we found that Rg1 significantly promoted cell proliferation, with an optimal concentration of 40 mug/ml of Rg1 at 72 h. In addition, RT-PCR and ELISA assays showed that Rg1 could upregulate the mRNA expression and secretion of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and nerve growth factor. These results suggest that Rg1 may have a great potential in OEC therapy.

[Biocompatibility of silk fibroin nanofibers scaffold with olfactory ensheathing cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biocompatibility of silk fibroin nanofibers scaffold with olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and to provide an ideal tissue engineered scaffold for the repair of spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Silk fibroin nanofibers were prepared using electrospinning techniques and were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Freshly isolated OECs from SD rats purified by the modified differential adherent velocity method were cultured. The cells at passage 1 (1 x 10(4) cells/cm2) were seeded on the poly-l-lysine (control group) and the silk fibroin nanofibers (experimental group) coated coverslips in Petri dish. At desired time points, the morphological features, growth, and adhesion of the cells were observed using phase contrast inverted microscopy. The OECs were identified by the nerve growth factor receptor p75 (NGFR p75) immunofluorescence staining. The viability of OECs was examined by live/dead assay. The proliferation of OECs was examined by MTT assay. The cytotoxicity of the nanofibers was evaluated. RESULTS: The SEM micrographs showed that the nanofibers had a smooth surface with solid voids among the fibers, interconnecting a porous network, constituted a fibriform three dimensional structure and the average diameter of the fibers was about (260 +/- 84) nm. The morphology of OECs on the experimental group was similar to the cell morphology on the control group, the cells distributed along the fibers, and the directions of the cell protrusions were in the same as that of the fibers. Fluorescence microscopy showed that the purity of OECs was 74.21% +/- 2.48% in the experimental group and 79.05% +/- 2.52% in the control group 5 days after culture. There was no significant difference on cell purity between two groups (P > 0.05). The OECs in the experimental group stained positive for NGFR p75 compared to the control group, indicating that the cells in the experimental group still maintained the OECs characteristic phenotype. Live/dead staining showed that high viability was observed in both groups 3 days after culture. There was no significant difference on cell viability between two groups. The proliferation activity at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days was examined by MTT assay. The absorbency values of the control group and the experimental group had significant differences 3 and 5 days after culture (P < 0.05). The relative growth rates were 95.11%, 90.35%, 92.63%, 94.12%, and 94.81%. The cytotoxicity of the material was grade 1 and nonvenomous according to GB/T 16886 standard. CONCLUSION: Silk fibroin nanofibers scaffold has good compatibility with OECs and is a promising tissue engineered scaffold for the repair of SCI.