椎体终板的凹陷角与腰椎间盘退变的相关性

目的研究下腰椎椎体终板的凹陷角以及它在腰椎间盘退变时的变化规律.方法129例研究对象依据椎间盘退变情况分成3组对照组27例,共54个椎间盘(L4,5、L5S1椎间盘各27个);腰椎间盘退变102例,共158个椎间盘(L4,5椎间盘84个,L5S1椎间盘74个),按退变程度分为2组腰椎间盘轻度退变组,共99个椎间盘(L4,5椎间盘53个,L5S1椎间盘46个);腰椎间盘重度退变组,共59个椎间盘(L4,5椎间盘31个,L5S1椎间盘28个).所有病例摄腰椎正侧位X线片及腰椎MR检查,将X线片及MR图像输入计算机.在MRI正中矢状面T2加权像上测量终板凹陷角,并观察退变椎间盘相邻椎体骨髓的MRI信号改变;在X线片上测量椎体的相对前高、后高和矢状径.结果①终板凹陷角在男女两性间差异无显著性(P＞0.05);②终板的凹陷角在对照组、腰椎间盘轻度和重度退变组逐渐增大,两两间差异有显著性(P＜0.05);③退变椎间盘的上下位椎体的相对前高、后高在对照组、腰椎间盘轻度和重度退变组逐渐减小,而相对矢状径逐渐增大,两两间比较差异均有显著性(P＜0.05);④椎间盘轻度、重度退变组的相邻椎体骨髓的MRI信号改变率分别为24%和44%,差异有显著性(P＜0.05).结论腰椎间盘退变时,病变间隙椎体终板凹陷角增大、终板倾向平坦化,其平坦化程度与退变的严重程度有关.终板的平坦化是椎间盘退变时椎体骨重建结果,可能是对椎间盘退变时生物力学变化的一种自我保护机制.     

Local delivery of FTY720 in PCL membrane improves SCI functional recovery by reducing reactive astrogliosis

FTY720 has recently been approved as an oral drug for treating relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, and exerts its therapeutic effect by acting as an immunological inhibitor targeting the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor subtype (S1P1) of T cells. Recently studies demonstrated positive efficacy of this drug on spinal cord injury (SCI) in animal models after systemic administration, albeit with significant adverse side effects. We hereby hypothesize that localized delivery of FTY720 can promote SCI recovery by reducing pathological astrogliosis. The mechanistic functions of FTY720 were investigated in vitro and in vivo utilizing immunofluorescence, histology, MRI and behavioral analysis. The in vitro study showed that FTY720 can reduce astrocyte migration and proliferation activated by S1P. FTY720 can prolong internalization of S1P1 and exert antagonistic effects on S1P1. In vivo study of SCI animal models demonstrated that local delivery of FTY720 with polycaprolactone (PCL) membrane significantly decreased S1P1 expression and glial scarring compared with the control group. Furthermore, FTY720-treated groups exhibited less cavitation volume and neuron loss, which significantly improved recovery of motor function. These findings demonstrated that localized delivery of FTY720 can promote SCI recovery by targeting the S1P1 receptor of astrocytes, provide a new therapeutic strategy for SCI treatment.     

Congenital absence of the medial meniscus associated with lipoma arborescens

Congenital abnormalities of the medial meniscus are extremely rare and have been reported commonly with other deformities. We report an isolated aplasia of the medial meniscus. A 37-year-old man presented with a slow-growing painless swelling, accompanied by intermittent effusion of his left knee. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated frond-like proliferations of fatty synovium. He was initially diagnosed with synovial chondromatosis, but later found to have lipoma arborescens. While an arthroscopic synovectomy was being performed, congenital absence of the medial meniscus was discovered as an incidental finding.     

The safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant five-antigen Staphylococcus aureus vaccine among patients undergoing elective surgery for closed fractures: A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,multicenter phase 2 clinical trial

BackgroundVaccines are urgently required to control Staphylococcus aureus hospital and community infections and reduce the use of antibiotics. Here, we report the safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant five-antigen Staphylococcus aureus vaccine (rFSAV) in patients undergoing elective surgery for closed fractures.MethodsA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase 2 clinical trial was carried out in 10 clinical research centers in China. Patients undergoing elective surgery for closed fractures, aged 18–70 years, were randomly allocated at a ratio of 1:1 to receive the rFSAV or placebo at a regimen of two doses on day 0 and another dose on day 7. All participants and investigators remained blinded during the study period. The safety endpoint was the incidence of adverse events within 180 days. The immunogenicity endpoints included the level of specific antibodies to five antigens after vaccination, as well as opsonophagocytic antibodies.ResultsA total of 348 eligible participants were randomized to the rFSAV (n = 174) and placebo (n = 174) groups. No grade 3 local adverse events occurred. There was no significant difference in the incidence of overall systemic adverse events between the experimental (40.24 %) and control groups (33.72 %) within 180 days after the first immunization. The antigen-specific binding antibodies started to increase at days 7 and reached their peaks at 10–14 days after the first immunization. The rapid and potent opsonophagocytic antibodies were also substantially above the background levels.ConclusionsrFSAV is safe and well-tolerated in patients undergoing elective surgery for closed fractures. It elicited rapid and robust specific humoral immune responses using the perioperative immunization procedure. These results provide evidence for further clinical trials to confirm the vaccine efficacy.China's Drug Clinical Trials Registration and Information Publicity Platform registration number: CTR20181788. WHO International Clinical Trial Registry Platform identifier: ChiCTR2200066259.