[Effects of short-segment pedicle screw internal fixation surgery combined with hyperbaric oxygen treatment for acute spinal injury on the morphology and function of the spine].

OBJECTIVE: To explore effect of short-segment pedicle screw internal fixation combined with hyperbaric oxygen in treating acute spinal fractures and its influence on recovery of spinal nerve function. METHODS: A total of 96 patients with acute spinal fracture admitted from February 2017 to March 2020 were divided into combined group and control group, with 48 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with short-segment pedicle screw internal fixation. The combined group was given hyperbaric oxygen after surgery. The operation time, surgical blood loss, incision length and other general operation conditions between two groups were recorded. The differences in spinal morphology and function, Ameraican Spinal Injury Assiciation(ASIA) neurological function grade, serum inflammatory factors and ability of daily living activities were observed before and after surgery. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in operation time, surgical blood loss, and incision length between combined group and control group(P>0.05). There were no significant differences in anterior height ratio and Cobb angle between two groups before surgery, 1 week and 6 months after surgery(P>0.05). The height ratio of anterior margin of the injured spine was significantly improved in both groups at 1 week and 6 months after surgery compared with preoperative period (P<0.05), and Cobb angle was significantly reduced in both groups compared with preoperative period (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in serum interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-8(IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels between two groups at 1 d after surgery(P>0.05);the serum IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels of combined group were lower than those of control group at 1 week after surgery (P<0.05). At 6 months after surgery, ASIA neurological function grade of combined group was C grade in 2 cases, D grade in 23 cases, E grade in 22 cases. In control group, 7 cases was grade C, 26 cases was grade D, 13 cases was grade E, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). The Barthel score of combined group was higher than that of control group at 1 month and 3 months after surgery, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05);at 6 months after surgery, there was no significant difference in Barthel score between two groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-segment pedicle screw internal fixation combined with hyperbaric oxygen for the treatment of acute spinal fractures is beneficial to the recovery of spinal nerve function after surgery, and has a certain effect on the early improvement of the patients' activities of daily living.

Downregulation of lncRNA XIST promotes proliferation and differentiation, limits apoptosis of osteoblasts through regulating miR-203-3p/ZFPM2 axis.

Background: Bone fracture is a common medical condition. Evidence suggested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) could regulate the bio-function in osteoblast. In this study, we explored the role and mechanism of lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) on the proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation of osteoblasts using MC3T3-E1 cells. Methods: Expression of XIST, microRNA-203-3p (miR-203-3p), and zinc finger protein multitype 2 (ZFPM2) was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell viability and apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells were measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and the flow cytometry. Western blot was used to measure the expression of cell cycle-related proteins, apoptosis-related proteins, and ZFPM2. Levels of differentiation-related factors were measured by qRT-PCR, western blot, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) kit. Target interaction between miR-203-3p and XIST or ZFPM2 was predicted through bioinformatics analysis and verified by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, or RNA pull-down assay. Results: The expression of XIST and ZFPM2 was increased while miR-203-3p was decreased in plasmas and MC3T3-E1 cells. Knockdown of XIST promoted the proliferation, differentiation, but limited apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 cells. . Mechanically, overexpression of XIST could reverse the bio-function of miR-203-3p transfection. Additionally, miR-203-3p inverted a series of bio-functional effects of ZFPM2. Furthermore, anti-miR-203-3p rescued si-XIST-induced downregulation of ZFPM2. Conclusion: Downregulation of lncRNA XIST promoted osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, but limited apoptosis by miR-203-3p/ZFPM2 axis.

RETRACTED: Knockdown PEG10 deteriorates H2O2-injury of PC-12 cells by targeting miR-34a-5p/TLX.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. As originally reported in https://pubpeer.com/publications/9D9EBE8EAD0041A196D37E10E1BF18, Fig. 6I shows evidence of data manipulation, visible as patterns of repeated background artifacts in independent western blots that are unlikely to be the result of serendipity. The authors were contacted to investigate further the validity of these allegations and to provide the raw data but the journal received no response and therefore the Editor-in-Chief decided to retract the article.

[Comparision of surgical outcomes between percuteneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy and fenestration discectomy for L5S1 lumbar disc herniation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of percuteneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy(PEID)and fenestration discectomy(FD) for the treatment of L5S1 lumbar disc herniation(LDH). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made on 86 patients with L5S1 LDH from January 2014 to March 2017 and followed up. According to the different surgical methods, the patients were divided into PEID group(43 cases) and FD group(43 cases). All operations were performed under general anesthesia. Forty-three patients in PEID group underwent percuteneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID) and other 43 patients in FD group underwent classical fenestration discectomy (FD). Operative incision, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, duration of hospitalization, time of lying in bed after surgery, complication were compared between two groups. Pre- and postoperative visual analogue scale(VAS) of affected extremity pain and lumbar pain were recorded. Postoperative creatine kinase (CK) was observed in two groups. Modified Macnab criteria was used to evaluate the clinical effects. MRI was used to observe the survival rate of paraspinal muscle after operation. RESULTS: The length of skin incision, intraoperative blood loss, duration of hospitalization, time of lying in bed after surgery of PEID group and FD group were(0.7±0.1) cm, (8.0±3.0) ml, (3.0±1.5) d, (1.0±0.5) d and(5.0±1.8) cm, (62.0±50.5) ml, (11.0±2.5) d, (3.0±0.8) d, there was significant differences between two groups(P<0.05). VAS of affected extremity at 24 hours and 1 year after operation was obviously decreased in two groups(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups(P>0.05). VAS of lumbar pain in PEID group and FD group were respectively (2.99±0.32), (5.44±1.31) scores at 24 hours after operation, and (1.56±0.60), ( 3.05±0.24) at 1 year after operation, there was significant differences between two groups(P<0.05). CK at 24, 48 hours after operation of FD group were obviously increased(P<0.05). According the modified Macnab criteria to evaluate the clinical effect, the rate of excellent and good of PEID group and FD group were 93% and 95%, respectively. The survival rate of paraspinal muscle by MRI in PEID group at 1 year after operation was higher than that in FD group(P<0.05). No complications such as spinal dura mater tearing, nerve root injury, vascular injury, intervertebral space infection were found in two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both of the two methods are safe and can obtain satisfactory effect, but PEID is more in line with concept of minimally invasive and has more advantages in paraspinal muscle protection, operative incision, intraoperative blood loss, duration of hospitalization, time of lying in bed after operation.

Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides Alleviates Oxidative Damage Induced by H2O2 Through Down-Regulating MicroRNA-194 in PC-12 and SH-SY5Y Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Currently, scientists attempt to improve outcome of spinal cord injury (SCI) via reducing secondary injury during SCI. Oxidative stress is critical for pathophysiology of secondary damage, thus we mainly focused on the anti-oxidant effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) on PC-12 and SH-SY5Y cells as well as the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Oxidative stress was induced by H2O2 stimulation. Effects of LBPs on cell viability, apoptosis, and expression of proteins associated with apoptosis and autophagy in H2O2-induced cells were assessed by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry assay and Western blot analysis, respectively. Then, expression of miR-194 was determined by qRT-PCR. Expression of miR-194 was dysregulated, and whether LBPs affected H2O2-treated cells through modulating miR-194 was verified. The expression of key kinases in the PI3K/AKT pathway and the intracellular levels of ROS and NO were testified by Western blot analysis and flow cytometry with fluorescent probes. RESULTS: H2O2-induced decrease of cell viability and increases of apoptosis and autophagy in PC-12 cells were mitigated by LBPs treatment. Next, we found that miR-194 expression was both down-regulated by LBPs treatment in PC-12 and SH-SY5Y cells. More experiments consolidated that influence of LBPs on H2O2-treated cells was reversed by miR-194 overexpression while was augmented by miR-194 inhibition. LBPs elevated the phosphorylated levels of PI3K and AKT and reduced levels of ROS and NO through miR-194. CONCLUSION: LBPs alleviated H2O2-induced decrease of cell viability, and increase of apoptosis and autophagy through down-regulating miR-194. Moreover, LBPs activated the PI3K/AKT pathway and reduced oxidative stress through miR-194.

Therapeutic Effect of Medical Ozone on Lumbar Disc Herniation.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of low, medium, and high concentrations of medical ozone on trauma-induced lumbar disc herniation. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 80 patients were included and were grouped into a control group, a low medical ozone (20 µg/ml) group, a medium medical ozone (40 µg/ml) group, and a high medical ozone (60 µg/ml) group. The CT scan and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect IL-6 level, SOD activity, IgM, and IgG levels upon admission and at 6 and 12 months after follow-up. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated for visual analogue scale (VAS) and efficiency rate. RESULTS All patients showed disc retraction at 6- and 12-month follow-up; while patients in the medium medical ozone (40 µg/ml) group showed the greatest disc retraction rate. The IL-6, IgM, IgG, and VAS levels significantly decreased while SOD activity increased among all groups over time (p<0.05). The AUCIL-6, AUCIgG, AUCIgM, and AUCSOD was closest to 1 in the medium medical ozone (40 µg/ml) group compared with other groups (p<0.01), with the highest efficacy at 6 (35%) and 12 (85%) months during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Low concentrations of medical ozone (20 µg/ml and 40 µg/ml) reduced the serum IL-6, IgG, and IgM expression, presenting as analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, while high concentrations of medical ozone (60 µg/ml) increased the serum IL-6, IgG, IgM expression, presenting as pain and pro-inflammatory effects. The medical ozone concentration of 40 µg/ml showed the optimal treatment efficacy.

MiR-25 protects PC-12 cells from H2O2 mediated oxidative damage via WNT/ß-catenin pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with modulation of different microRNAs (miRs). This study aims to explore the role of miR-25 in PC-12 cells to reveal the potential of miR-25 in SCI treatment. METHODS: SCI model was established in C57BL/6 mice, then miR-expression in the injured spinal cords were detected by qRT-PCR. PC-12 cells were exposed to H2O2 conditions to establish an in vitro model of SCI. PC-12 cells were transfected with expressing vector or antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) of miR-25. The effects of miR-25 expression on H2O2-induced oxidative damage was evaluated by detection of cell viability, apoptosis, ROS activity, HIF-α and γH2A expression, and the level of inflammatory mediators. The expression of Nrf2 in cells was silenced by transfection with Nrf2 siRNA, and the effects of Nrf2 silence on miR-25-mediated PC-12 cells were detected. Besides, the expression of main proteins in Wnt/ß-catenin and PI3 K/AKT/ERK signaling were assessed. RESULTS: miR-25 was low expressed in injured spinal cords. miR-25 protected PC-12 cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage, as evidenced by significant suppression in cell apoptosis, increase in cell viability, decrease in the level of ROS, HIF-α and γH2A, and decrease in inflammatory mediators (IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1). However, Nrf2 silence abolished the protective functions of miR-25 on H2O2-induced damage. Furthermore, we found that Wnt/ß-catenin and PI3 K/AKT/ERK signaling were activated by miR-25. CONCLUSIONS: miR-25 protects PC-12 cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage though regulation of Nrf2 and activation of Wnt/ß-catenin and PI3 K/AKT/ERK signaling.

Correction: A highly selective ratiometric fluorescent probe for the cascade detection of Zn2+ and H2PO4 - and its application in living cell imaging.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C7RA08020D.].

A novel knee prosthesis with asymmetrical joint surfaces and natural behaviour.

The natural tibiofemoral joint (TFJ) functions according to the asymmetrical joint surfaces and the rolling-gliding mechanism. In the sagittal section, the human TFG is the tibial plateau on the medial concave side and curved on the lateral convex. With the asymmetrical joint surfaces, the flexion of the knee consists of two parts: the femur rolls backwards over the tibia plateau, and further flexion causes increased gliding. In most knee arthroplasties, these factors are not taken into account; instead, they are equipped with symmetrical medial and lateral joint surfaces. Thereby, the curvatures of the sagittal contours and the medial lateral joint surfaces create a common axis of rotation. The goal of this study was therefore to develop a novel knee endoprosthesis with asymmetrical joint surfaces and natural rolling-sliding behaviour.