Objective To investigate the expression and significance of growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and intervertebral disc in the rat model of intervertebral disc inflammation. Methods A total of 103 adult male Sprague Dawley rats (weighing, 200-250 g) were randomly divided into the experimental group (n=48), the control group (n=48), and the blank control group (n=7). Fluoro-gold (F-G) as tracer was injected into the L5, 6 intervertebral disc of 3 groups; after 7 days of F-G injection, complete Freund’s adjuvant (50 µL) and the same volume of saline were injected in the experimental group (to prepare the model of intervertebral disc inflammation) and the control group, respectively, and the blank control group had no further treatment. After 1, 3, 7, and 14 days, T13-L6 DRG and L5, 6 intervertebral disc of experimental group and control group were harvested to detect the GAP-43 by using fluorescent immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and RT-PCR. The DRG and intervertebral disc of blank control group were also harvested after 8 days of F-G injection. Results Fluorescent immunohistochemistry results showed that the number of F-G-labeled GAP-43 immunoreaction (GAP-43-IR) cells of the DRGs in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P lt; 0.05) at 3 days, and no significant difference was found at the other time points (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in the cross-sectional area of F-G-labeled GAP-43-IR cells between the experimental group and the control group at each time point (P gt; 0.05). The co-expression of GAP-43 with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and isolectin B4 (IB4)-binding glycoprotein exhibited that the expression of CGRP was 91.4% ± 7.4% in the control group and was 87.6% ± 7.8% in the experimental group, showing no significant difference between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). There was no IB4-binding glycoprotein expression in GAP-43-IR cells of the DRGs in 2 groups. The expressions of GAP-43, CGRP, and IB4-positive nerve fibers in the intervertebral disc exhibited that the GAP-43-IR nerve fibers in the experimental group were significantly more than that in the control group (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found in the expression of CGRP between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05); and there was no IB4-binding glycoprotein expression in GAP-43-IR nerve fibers of the intervertebral disc in 2 group. In situ hybridization and RT-PCR detection showed that the positive expression cells ratio of GAP-43 mRNA and the level of GAP- 43 mRNA were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 1 day (P lt; 0.05), and no significant difference was found at the other time points (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Intradiscal inflammatory environment may induce the expression of GAP-43, and potentially promote the nerve fiber ingrowth of rat.
Objective To evaluate the cl inical outcomes of modified posterior-anterior operation in the treatment of serious lumbar fracture and dislocation. Methods From January 2002 to February 2006, 24 patients, 17 males and 7 females aged 22-69 years, underwent reduction of posterior spatium intermuscular approach combined with modified anterioroperation. Nine cases were caused by fall ing and 15 by traffic accident, involving: L1 in 5 cases, L2 in 10 cases, L3 in 4 cases, L4 in 2 case, L1,2 in 1 case and L3,4 in 2 cases. According to the Frankel grade, there were 5 cases for grade A, 11 for grade B, 7 for grade C and 1 for grade D. The recovery of neurological function was evaluated. The imageology examination was appl ied to evaluate the condition of internal fixation and bone union. The Cobb’s angle was measured by X-ray film before operation, 3 days after operation and at the final follow-up, and the difference was estimated. Results Nineteen patients were followed up for 8-52 months, 28.4 months on average. Among the 2 cases of grade A, one improved to C and the other had no improvement. Among the 9 cases of grade B, 5 improved to C, 2 improved to D, and other two had no improvement. Among the 7 cases of grade C, 5 improved to D and 2 improved to E. One case of grade D improved to E. The average Cobb’s angle was (—11.5 ± 4.6)° preoperatively, (4.2 ± 4.7)° 3 days after operation and (4.0 ± 4.8)° at the final follow-up, indicating there was a significant difference between preoperation, 3 days after operation and the final follow-up (P lt; 0.001), but no significant difference between 3 days after operation and the final follow-up (P gt; 0.05). The position of internal fixation was good during follow-up. The compl ications such as disruption, loosening and collapse were not observed. Conclusion Reduction of posterior spatium intermuscular approach combined with modified anterior operation in the treatment of serious lumbar fracture and dislocation could complete the reduction, decompression, grafting and internal fixation in one stage, and protect the paraspinal soft tissue and minimize the trauma caused by surgery. It has the merits of short time of operation, small amount of intraoperative hemorrhage, sol id union of internal fixation and satisfactory cl inical outcome.
Objective To explore the effective method for treatmentof fracturesof scapular neck.Methods A retrospective analysis of 30 patients with fractures of scapular neck was done. The patients were treated by operation or by nonoperation from May 1994 to May 2003. According to the degree of displacement,30 cases included 9 mild displaced fractures(lt;10 mm) and 21 severe displaced fractures(gt;10 mm). According to the location of fractures, there were 24 cases of surgical neck fractures and 6 cases of anatomical neck fractures. Of all 30 patients, 12 were treated by nonoperation and 18 by operation. All fractured scapularnecks were exposed through posterior approach and fixed with interfragmentary compression screws, reconstruction plates and so on after satisfactory reduction.Associated clavical fractures were exposed through Langer’s approach and fixed with Kirschner wire-tension band fixation construct, reconstruction plates and so forth. When followed up, the clinical examination was done and the X-ray filmswere taken to measure glenopolar angle(GPA). Herscovici’s score was adopted.Results Twenty-eight patients were followed up from 14 days to 9 years. Among 11 patients treated by non-operation, Herscivici score showed that 4 cases achieved the excellent result, 2 cases good, 2 cases fair and 3 cases poor and the X-ray film results showed that there were 6 cases of GPA＞20° and 5 cases of GPA＜20°. Of 17 patients treatedby operation, Herscivici score showed that 11 cases achieved the excellent result, 5 cases good and 1 case fair and the X-ray film results showed that there 16 cases of GPA＞20° and 1 case of GPA＜20°.Conclusion Fractures of scapular surgical neck with mild displacement can be treated by nonoperation, while fractures of surgical neck with severe displacement or associated with ipsilateral clavical fractures, and fractures of anatomical neck should be treated by operation to reconstruct the stabilityof shoulder and minimize the complications.
Objective To explore a practical method of culturing discs organ system by observing the changes of the nucleus pulposus after the whole intervertebral discs (including cartilage end-plate, nucleus pulposus, and annulus fibrous)were cultivated. Methods A total of 335 intervertebral discs were taken out completely from 60 healthy SD rats (about150 g) aged 5-6 weeks of clear grade and rinsed by high osmotic sal ine solution containing heparin, then put to the culture plate after being divided into 5 groups randomly. The whole intervertebral discs were cultured with high osmotic (410 mOsmol/ kg) culture medium and changed the medium once every day, then the cell viabil ity (n=15), HE staining (n=15), Safranin O staining (n=15), and immunohistochemistry staining (n=2) were observed at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days; RT-PCR result (n=5) was observed at 0, 3, 7, and 14 days. Results The cell viabil ity was not changed significantly within 14 days (P gt; 0.05) and was significantly lower at 21 days than at other time points (P lt; 0.01). The immunohistochemistry staining results for collagen type II were positive in nucleus pulposus cells at every time point. HE staining showed that the tissue integrity and morphology of the whole intervertebral discs were not changed within 14 days. Safranin O staining showed no significant difference in the matrix grey scale within 14 days (P gt; 0.05) and significant differences between 21 days and 0-14 days (P lt; 0.05). RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression of collagen type I increased with time, but the expressions of collagen type II, aggrecan, and decorin decreased, showing significant differences in the mRNA expressions of the matrix protein at each time point (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion High osmotic sal ine solution containing heparin could be used to cultivate the whole intervertebral discs, it is an ideal model for futher studies on physiology and pathology of intervertebral discs.