ObjectiveTo quantitatively determine the levels of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ collagen mRNA in the intervertebral disc cartilage endplate of injured animal model, and to clarify the cytological function of intervertebral disc chondrocytes during fibrosis repair after intervertebral disc injury.MethodsForty healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into fibrosus puncture group, upper cartilage endplate single puncture group, upper and lower cartilage endplate multiple puncture group, and sham group. Two experimental animals were randomly selected from each group on the 2nd day, and the 2nd, 8th, 12th, and 24th week after the animal modeling operation to obtain intervertebral disc specimens. The levels of type Ⅰ collagen and type Ⅱ collagen in cartilage endplate cells of the intervertebral disc were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RNA was extracted from the endplate of the intervertebral disc, and the RNA concentration and the ratio of RNA concentration to protein concentration were determined by nucleic acid analyzer. Reverse transcription was performed by Revertaid M-Mulv reverse transcriptase, type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ collagen primers were designed to establish a PCR reaction system, 2% agarose gel electrophoresis (120 V, 40 min) was prepared by using 0.5×TBE electrophoresis buffer. The amplification results were observed under ultraviolet light, and the gray values of different electrophoresis bands were determined.ResultsThe level of type Ⅰ collagen mRNA in each operation group showed a progressive increase after 8 weeks, and the magnitude of the increase was related to the degree of injury. The level of type Ⅱ collagen mRNA showed a transient increase in the fibrosis puncture group and the upper endplate single-puncture group in the first two weeks after the endplate punctures were completed, and then began to decline progressively; in the multiple puncture group, it showed a downward trend from the beginning of the operation. ConclusionsThe synthesis of type Ⅰ collagen in chondrocytes of the injured nucleus pulposus tissue continues to increase with time, while the synthesis of type Ⅱ collagen begin to decrease progressively after a small increase. The formation and change of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ collagen in injured intervertebral disc chondrocytes are different from natural degeneration.
Objective To investigate the risk factors and preventions of functional delayed gastric emptying (FDGE) after pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD). Methods The clinical data of 41 patients after undergoing PPPD between 2003 and 2009 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively.Results In all 41 cases, postoperative complications developed in 13 patients (31.7%), in which 7 patients developed FDGE (17.1%). The complications excluding FDGE (P=0.010) and diabetes (P=0.024) had remarkable relations with the FDGE in the univariate analysis; Compared with the non-FDGE patients, the albumin was declined obviously (P=0.020) while the serum direct bilirubin increased significantly (P=0.036) in the FDGE patients, while the development of FDGE had relation only with the albumin (P=0.039) and the complication of diabete (P=0.047) by the binary logistic regression analysis. Conclusion In the patients undergoing PPPD, preoperative control of the blood glucose, preoperative correction of hypoproteinemia and hyperbilirubinemia, and centralizing PPPD in high-volume have possibly positive significance for the prevention of FDGE.
Objective The rel iable animal model of intervertebral disc degeneration, can provide important experimental carrier to research pathogenesis and treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration. To establ ish three kinds of injury induced rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration models and to compare the characteristics among them by using biochemical and radiological methods. Methods Twenty-five healthy New Zealand white rabbits (weighing 2.0-2.5 kg) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=5). The L3, 4, L4, 5 and L5, 6 discs in each rabbit were used for study. Groups A and B were forannulus puncture with an 18-gauge needle and a 22-gauge needle, respectively; group C was for nucleus aspiration; group D was for endplate injury and group E was used as a control. The lumbar spinal plain radiographs and magnetic resonance images (MRI) were evaluated, the raltive height of intervertebral disc was measured and the grades of disc degeneration were recorded 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 weeks after operation. The water and the sulfated-glycosaminoglycan (s-GAG) contents of the nucleus were measured after sacrifice (randomly choose one rabbit from each group at each time point). Results In groups A, B, C and D, the height of intervertebral space in plain radiograph gradually decreased after operation. The anterior bony excrescences of vertebral body and varying degrees of calcification of endplate were also observed. The signal intensity of disc in T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging decreased with time too. Compared with group E, the significant changes of height of intervertebral discs and grades of disc degeneration in MRI occurred at different time points within 4 weeks in groups A-D (P lt; 0.05). The significant change in groups C and D occured earl ier than in groups A and B. The water and s-GAG contents of discs decreased gradually in groups A-D after operation, while the significant change occurred at varying time points within 8 weeks compared with group E (P lt; 0.05). The apparent downward trend in groups C and D occured earl ier than in groups A and B. Conclusion All three methods are successful in inducing intervertebral disc degeneration. The degenerative process induced by endplate injury and nucleus aspiration is faster and more severe than that induced by annulus puncture.
Objective To review the l iterature about the multiple level artificial disc replacement and investigate the prel iminary the cl inical outcome of the first case in China applying three-level PRESTIGE® LP artificial disc replacement for cervical disc degenerative disease. Methods In April 2009, one female patient aged 44 years old was treated. She was diagnosed as disc protrusion at the C4, 5, C5, 6, and C6, 7 level. She had paresthesia, decreased muscle strength and positivepathological reflex in her left upper extremity. The neck disabil ity index (NDI) was 43. The visual analogue scale (VAS) of the neck and the upper l imb was 6.6 and 8.1, respectively. SF-36 physical and psychological score was 28 and 36, respectively. The surgery was performed via routine anterior cervical approach. After complete decompression of three segments, prostheses were implanted from the cephal ic to the caudal end under radiographic monitoring. The patient was followed up 1 and 3 months after operation, respectively. Results The time of operation was 220 minutes and the blood loss during operation was 270 mL. The incision healed by first intention. There was no occurrence of compl ications such as aggravation of nerve symptoms, hoarse voice, difficult in swallow, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. At 3 months after the operation, the patient had pain rel ief, muscle force recovery and improvement of l ife qual ity. X-ray films showed that the sequence of cervical vertebra was well-maintained, there was no loosening and displacement of prosthesis, and the position and function were good. NDI was decreased to 7, indicating that the l imitation was mild. The VAS of the neck and the upper l imb was 0.5 and 0.6, respectively. SF-36 physical and psychological score was 48 and 53, respectively. The result of operation was graded as excellent according to Odom’s criterion. The patient went back to her job. Conclusion Three-level PRESTIGE® LP artificial disc replacement for cervical disc degenerative disease has satisfactory prel iminary cl inical results. However, more cl inical case studies and longer cl inical followup are needed to confirm its therapeutic effect on multi-level disc disease.
ObjectiveTo discuss the effectiveness of the modified Hueter direct anterior approach in treatment of Pipkin typeⅠ and Ⅱ femoral head fractures.MethodsBetween September 2014 and May 2016, 12 patients with Pipkin type Ⅰ and Ⅱ femoral head fractures were treated with the modified Hueter direct anterior approach. There were 8 males and 4 females, aged from 32 to 60 years (mean, 40.2 years). The disease causes included traffic accident injury in 9 cases and falling from height injury in 3 cases. According to Pipkin typing, 8 cases were rated as type Ⅰ and 4 cases as type Ⅱ. The interval of injury and admission was 2-28 hours (mean, 7.2 hours). Reduction was performed in all patients within 6 hours after admission, and then bone traction was given. The operation was performed in 3-7 days (mean, 4.3 days) after redution. The modified Hueter direct anterior approach was applied to expose and fix femoral head fractures by Herbert screws compressively. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded, and the effectiveness was evaluated according to the Thompson-Epstein scale at last follow-up.ResultsThe operation time was 80-130 minutes (mean, 97.5 minutes), and the intraoperative blood loss was 100-200 mL (mean, 130.2 mL). All fractures achieved anatomical reduction and successful fixation. All 12 patients were followed up 12-32 months (mean, 24.3 months). All patients achieved bone union in 15-20 weeks (mean, 16.3 weeks) and no wound infection, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, or heterotopic ossification occurred. Traumatic arthritis occured in 3 patients. According to the Thompson-Epstein scale at last follow-up, the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 5 cases, fair in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 83.3%.ConclusionThe modified Hueter direct anterior approach has the advantages of clear anatomic structure, less trauma, and shorter operation time, and it can effectively expose and fix the Pipkin typeⅠ and Ⅱ femoral head fractures.
Objective Polylactic acid (PLA) patch has proper steric configuration, sufficient mechanic strength, and flexibil ity, to investigate the blocking effect on the intra-discal inflammation after annulus puncture sticked by medical glue so as to seal the pinhole left after annulus puncture. Methods Twenty healthy New Zealand white rabbits (weighing 2.0-2.5 kg) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=5): groups A, B, C, and D. In group A, the rabbits underwent exposure of intervertebral disc and transverse process at L2-7 as a control; in group B, the rabbits received annulus puncture at L2-7 with an 18-gauge needle; and in groups C and D, the pinholes were sealed respectively with a PLA patch sticked with medical gel and medical gel alone after annulus puncture at L2-7. General condition of rabbits was observed after operation. The intervertebral disc tissue was harvested 1 week after operation. The tissue structure was observed by HE and Masson staining. And the expressions of inflammatory factors l ike interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs) were detected with immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Results All the animals survived till the end of the experiment. In group A at 1 week, the nucleus pulposus tissue had normal structure. In group B at 1 week, leak of nucleus pulposus from the pinhole and sl ight adhesion to the adjacent tissue could be seen, and the nucleus pulposus tissue had significant degenerative change by histological observation. In groups C and D, clots of coagulated medical gel and extensive adhesion to the adjacent tissue could be seen; histological observation suggested that the nucleus pulposus tissue of group C had similar histology manifestation to that of group A; while group D had similar histology manifestation to group B with obviously-decreased cells and disorder of matrix. ELISA test showed remarkably elevated expression level of inflammatory factors including IL-1β, TNF-α, and iNOs in groups B and D when compared with groups A and C, showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05), and similar expression level were observed in groups A and C, groups B and D (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The PLA patch sticked with medical gel is effective in blocking the intra-discal inflammation 1 week after annulus puncture.