Value of polydirectional tomography in the assessment of the postoperative spine after anterior decompression and vertebral body autografting

With the growing number of orthopedic reconstructive spinal procedures, the use of bone grafting has steadily increased in the past decade. An understanding of the biology of bone grafting is essential for both the clinician and radiologist. Despite the advent of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, conventional polydirectional tomography remains an important tool in the evaluation of vertebral body autografts. Trispiral or hypocycloidal tomography plays a valuable role in the assessment of bone graft fusion and possible complications, especially in the presence of metallic fixation devices. We present our imaging experience derived from 375 patients with cervical, thoracic, or lumbar anterior spinal fusion. True graft complications occurred in 27 patients (7%) and consisted of fracture (4%), malpositioning (3%), and infection (<1%).     

Time after excision and temperature alter ex vivo tissue relaxation time measurements

Previously unreported effects of tissue storage were recently observed in the authors' experimental magnetic resonance (MR) studies. To evaluate the effect of elapsed time after excision and storage temperature on tissue relaxation time measurements, tissue samples from the liver, pancreas, kidney, testis, spleen, and brain were obtained in rats. T1 and T2 were first measured within 5 minutes of excision, and between subsequent measurements, tubes were kept in a water bath at 40°C, at room temperature (28°C), or in an ice bath (4°C). Cellular and organellar integrity was assessed with electron microscopy and correlated with the MR findings. At 40°C (20-MHz spectrometer), the T1 of liver decreased from 280 msec ± 8 to 212 msec ± 10 during the first 60 minutes; the T1 of pancreas decreased from 276 msec ± 3 to 208 msec ± 2. Other tissues showed less than a 5% decrease in T1. T2 changes were smaller than T1 changes in all tissues. Electron microscopy of pancreatic acinar cells showed postmortem changes in mitochondria evolving over the first 60 minutes after death. Manganese loading experiments implicated mitochondrial manganese stores in the observed enhanced postmortem decrease in T1. This study calls into question reported relaxation time data for liver and pancreas. MR studies of excised tissues must account for time and temperature to prevent systematic experimental errors.     

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging assessment of vascularized free fibular grafts

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may be a noninvasive method for assessing perfusion of vascularized bone grafts placed for treatment of avascular necrosis. One proximal femur of seven beagles was devascularized, with insertion of a vascularized fibular graft. MR imaging at 1 week (seven dogs) and 6 weeks (five dogs) after surgery included pre- and postcontrast spin-echo sequences, unenhanced twodimensional time-of-flight (TOF) vascular imaging, and dynamic gradient-echo imaging during infusion of gadolinium. Relative signal intensity values of selected regions obtained from the dynamic gradientecho images were plotted as percent enhancement versus time. In the operated hip, MR imaging did not show enhancement in six of seven femoral heads and greater trochanters at 1 week after surgery, with similar results after 6 weeks. MR imaging of fibular grafts 6 weeks after surgery showed an initial rapid increase in enhancement and a subsequent slower increase in five of five dogs, although no enhancement was seen in six of seven dogs at 1 week. These findings contrasted with a rapid initial increase in enhancement followed by slow decline in non-operated hips. Two-dimensional TOP imaging did not show the vascular pedicle of the graft in any dog. Findings of radionuclide bone scanning performed 1 week after surgery were consistent with devascularization of the operated femur and fibular graft. However, tetracycline distribution and histologic findings confirmed the viability of five of five grafts within the devascularized femurs 6 weeks after surgery. Thus, dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging at 6 weeks after surgery is valuable for assessing vascular bone graft perfusion, while similar imaging at 1 week may suggest otherwise.     

藻酸钙凝胶-成骨细胞-骨粉构建工程化骨修复兔颅骨缺损的实验研究

目的探讨藻酸钙凝胶、成骨细胞、骨粉复合构建的可塑形组织工程骨修补兔颅骨缺损后的形态学变化和成骨效果.方法28只日本大耳白兔,随机分为A(n=20)、B(n=8)两组,手术在兔颅顶骨矢状缝两侧分别各建立一个直径1cm的圆形全层缺损,用两种方法藻酸钙凝胶、成骨细胞、骨粉和藻酸钙凝胶、骨粉分别构建组成可塑形的组织工程骨复合材料,分别填补修复A组兔颅骨左右两侧的缺损,B组为空白对照组,通过大体、组织学、X线观察材料的形态变化、成骨情况,并对X线片和组织学切片进行评分.结果材料植入后,局部未见红肿、积液、渗出等异常反应.①藻酸钙凝胶-成骨细胞-骨粉组修补后12周颅骨缺损基本被硬性组织所修复,镜下见修复材料大多被骨组织替代,骨粉基本被吸收,有块状凝胶残留其中,组织学评分为(5.50±1.00).X线片见兔颅骨缺损处有高密度骨痂影存在,布满整个缺损区,X线片评分为(3.25±0.95).②藻酸钙凝胶-骨粉组修补后12周部分颅骨缺损被硬性组织所修复,镜下见修复材料部分转变成骨组织,骨粉基本被吸收,有凝胶残留其中,组织学评分为(3.25±1.50).X线片见兔颅骨缺损处有高密度骨痂影存在,主要分布在缺损区的边缘部位,X线片评分(2.25±0.25).③空白对照组骨缺损主要被膜样纤维组织修复,在紧邻骨缺损边缘处有硬性组织形成,镜下见修复组织边缘有骨组织存在,中央大部为膜状致密纤维组织,组织学评分为(1.50±0.50),X线片仅见靠近骨缺损边缘的部位存在致密骨痂影,X线片评分为(1.00±0.57).结论藻酸钙凝胶、成骨细胞、骨粉构建的可塑形组织工程骨可根据颅骨缺损的形态进行塑形填补,在体内有良好的成骨能力,可达到对兔颅骨缺损的骨性修复,但部分藻酸盐凝胶吸收缓慢,手术后12周仍不能满意吸收.     

骺板软骨细胞复合三维支架体外构建组织工程软骨的研究

目的探讨将骺板软骨细胞复合三维支架经体外培养,构建组织工程软骨的效果及其生物学特点. 方法将3周龄幼兔第1代骺板软骨细胞与液态的生物凝胶混合,接种于聚磷酸钙纤维/L-聚乳酸(CPPF/PLLA)三维支架材料,构建组织工程软骨组织块,连续培养4周.行大体、倒置显微镜及组织学、Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型胶原免疫组织化学光镜观察,定量检测硫酸糖胺多糖(GAG)含量. 结果构建的组织工程软骨块在培养过程中能保持其初始外形,种子细胞呈稳定的三维均相分布,外观逐渐呈乳白色、半透明,硬度亦不断增加.培养1周有软骨细胞陷窝形成,2周后形成富含Ⅱ型胶原和蛋白聚糖、具有典型软骨组织结构的工程化软骨,且Ⅰ型胶原逐渐转为阴性.4周时构建软骨的组织结构与天然骺板软骨相类似,硫酸GAG含量平均为天然骺板软骨的34%以上. 结论骺板软骨细胞复合三维支架体外培养可生成典型软骨,且可形成类似天然骺板软骨的组织结构,能满足修复骺板缺损的基本要求.体外培养1～2周可能是植入体内修复骺板缺损的较佳时机.     

rhBMP-2对不同培养时间骨髓基质干细胞成骨能力的影响

目的：探讨不同培养阶段骨髓基质干细胞成骨能力的变化及BMP-2对其成骨能力的影响。方法：培养兔骨髓基质干细胞，测定第3代和第18代细胞碱性磷酸酶及骨钙素活性；测定BMP-2对不同培养时间骨髓基质干细胞成骨能力的影响；测定rhBMP-2对细胞增殖的影响。结果：细胞传至第18代后，分泌的骨钙素（OC）水平及ALP活力明显降低，与第3代细胞相比，差异显著（P〈0．05）。第3代细胞在rhBMP-2的诱导下，分泌的OC水平及ALP活力在原基础上进一步升高，与对照组相比，差异显著（P〈0.05）。结第18代细胞在rhBMP-2的诱导下，分泌的OC水平及ALP活力在原基础上升高，与对照组相比，差异不显著（P〉0．05）；随培养时间的延长，各组细胞数量均有所增加，rhBMP-2诱导组与对照组细胞无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。细胞的传代次数对细胞增殖无明显影响（P〉0．05）。结论：rhBMP-2对细胞增殖无影响。随着传代次数的增加，骨髓基质干细胞的成骨能力下降，rhBMP-2促进其成骨的能力亦下降。     

多巴酚丁胺负荷超声心动图及组织多普勒成像技术在诊断冠心病中的临床应用

目的探讨多巴酚丁胺负荷超声心动图(DSE)和组织多普勒成像技术(TDI)在冠心病(CHD)诊断中的应用价值,以寻求一种敏感的、无创的CHD诊断方法。方法选择胸闷或胸痛怀疑CHD患者40例,应用TDI测量静息状态(Rest)下前壁中段收缩峰值速度(Vs),以及多巴酚丁胺峰值负荷状态(Peak)下前壁中段Vs,同时测量静息心率和负荷心率;所有入选对象均进行冠脉造影,并根据左前降支狭窄程度是否大于等于50%分为左前降支狭窄组(LST组)与左前降支非狭窄组(non-LST组)。分别比较Rest和Peak前壁中段LST组与non-LST组平均Vs差别等。结果Rest前壁中段LST组与non-LST组Vs差别无显著性意义;但Peak前壁中段LST组与non-LST组差别有显著性意义。结论DSE结合TDI是诊断冠心病有价值的定量分析方法。DSE在诊断CHD时的敏感性、准确性明显优于静息状态超声心动图。     

组织工程学--21世纪面临的机遇与挑战

组织工程学是近20年来医学生命科学领域最具进展与挑战性的前沿科技领域之一,被誉为“一场意义深远的医学革命”、“再生医学的新时代”,标志着复制再生组织与器官的时代的来临!由于它具有修复创伤、重建功能、挽救生命、提高生存质量所特有的优势及巨大的社会、经济价值,而倍受国际学术界及各国政府的高度关注与支持。目前国际上组织工程皮肤、组织工程软骨已有产品面世,并得到美国FDA的批准,国际上已成立了近百家组织工程公司,我国多家大学、研究单位亦相继成立了组织工程研发中心或组织工程公司。目前不但可以构建组织工程化组织,而且复杂生命器官组织工程化构建亦已在国内外积极展开,同时,一些组织工程化组织已初步应用于临床并取得了可喜的临床疗效,显示出组织工程技术可喜的局面、巨大的生命力与宏伟的远景。然而,组织工程学是一门新兴学科,是跨领域、多学科参与合作的边缘学科,目前的工作仅仅是初始,还有大量基本科学问题尚待阐明,大量技术难题尚待攻克;光明与困难共存,机遇与挑战同在;应不失时机抓住机遇,开拓创新,迎接挑战,全力打造组织工程技术的新时代,使组织工程技术能够尽早造福于人类。     

GM1 ganglioside partially rescues cultured dopaminergic neurons from MPP-induced damage: dependence on initial damage and time of treatment

GM1 ganglioside is believed to be important in promoting the recovery of neurons from injury. The present study assesses the ability of GM1 to repair or prevent the damage of dopamine neurons caused by the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺). Treatment of mesencephalic cell cultures with 2.5 μM MPP⁺ resulted in the loss of 30% of tyrosine hydoxylase (TH) immunoreactive neurons. In contrast, cultures administered 100 μM GM1 ganglioside for 3 days after toxin treatment contained nearly control numbers of TH⁺ neurons (97%). This reparative effect of GM1 was reflected in parallel increases in TH enzyme activity, dopamine and dopac levels. Cultures sustaining greater insult from higher doses of MPP⁺ (5.0–10.0 μM) did not benefit from ganglioside treatment, suggesting that rescue by GM1 depended on the degree of initial damage to cells. Moreover, the timing of ganglioside treatment was critical; pretreatment with GM1 alone did not prevent or attenuate the damage caused by subsequent incubation in 2.5 μM MPP⁺.     

Pulsed electromagnetic fields alter phenotypic expression in chondroblasts in tissue culture

We hypothesize that pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) alter phenotypic expression of chondroblasts by promoting the production of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and altering the structure of proteoglycans. Chondroblasts from the hypertrophic zone of tibial epiphyses (HC), sternum (SC), and skin fibroblasts (F) were cultured from 16 day chick embryos. Cultures were randomly designated control (C) or experimental (E). E received PEMF for 24 h in a 6 h on, 6 h rest sequence. The controls were in the same incubator shielded by Mu metal. Assays for AP activity were performed and normalized to protein content. Proteoglycan synthesis assay involved labeling with 35S fractionating in a 5% to 20% surcrose gradient determining total protein and chondroitin sulfate content. PEMF showed no change of AP activity on F. A high AP basal activity was found in HC, but was not increased above the control. PEMF increased AP in the SC samples (E/C ratio). The sucrose gradient data showed a shift in peaks for SC only altering the ratio of carbohydrate to protein for the SC. Analysis of carbohydrate and protein indicated that the effect was decreased synthesis or degradation of protein. We conclude that PEMF alters the phenotypic expression of sternal chondroblasts in our in vitro system.