Role of motor-evoked potential monitoring in conjunction with temporary clipping of spinal nerve roots in posterior thoracic spine tumor surgery

Background contextThe vascular supply of the thoracic spinal cord depends on the thoracolumbar segmental arteries. Because of the small size and ventral course of these arteries in relation to the dorsal root ganglion and ventral root, they cannot be reliably identified during surgery by anatomic or morphologic criteria. Sacrificing them will most likely result in paraplegia.PurposeThe goal of this study was to evaluate a novel method of intraoperative testing of a nerve root's contribution to the blood supply of the thoracic spinal cord.Study design/settingThis is a clinical retrospective study of 49 patients diagnosed with thoracic spine tumors. Temporary nerve root clipping combined with motor-evoked potential (MEP) and somatosensory-evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring was performed; additionally, postoperative clinical evaluation was done and reported in all cases.MethodsAll cases were monitored by SSEP and MEPs. The nerve root to be sacrificed was temporarily clipped using standard aneurysm clips, and SSEP/MEP were assessed before and after clipping. Four nerve roots were sacrificed in four cases, three nerve roots in eight cases, and two nerve roots in 22 cases. Nerve roots were sacrificed bilaterally in 12 cases.ResultsMost patients (47/49) had no changes in MEP/SSEP and had no neurological deficit postoperatively. One case of a spinal sarcoma demonstrated changes in MEP after temporary clipping of the left T11 nerve root. The nerve was not sacrificed, and the patient was neurologically intact after surgery. In another case of a sarcoma, MEPs changed in the lower limbs after ligation of left T9 nerve root. It was felt that it was a global event because of anesthesia. Postoperatively, the patient had complete paraplegia but recovered almost completely after 6 months.ConclusionsTemporary nerve root clipping combined with MEP and SSEP monitoring may enhance the impact of neuromonitoring in the intraoperative management of patients with thoracic spine tumors and favorably influence neurological outcome.     

Bilateral cervical spondylolysis of C7

Background context

Cervical spondylolysis, which is defined as a cleft between the superior and inferior articular facets of the articular pillar, is a rare condition. The sixth cervical vertebra (C6) is the level most commonly affected. Cases involving C2, C3, C4, or C5 have also been reported. However, to date, no case of C7 spondylolysis has been reported.

Purpose

To present a rare case of bilateral spondylolysis of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) in a 58-year-old man.

Study design

A case report.

Methods

A 58-year-old man visited our hospital with chronic posterior neck pain radiating to the left upper extremity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study revealed left foraminal disc herniations at C5–C6 and C6–C7. Cervical spondylolysis involving C7 was discovered incidentally during computed tomography (CT)–guided transforaminal steroid injection. Plain radiographs, CT images, and MRIs were reviewed thoroughly once again.

Results

The patient’s symptoms were relieved after he received CT-guided transforaminal steroid injections. Plain radiographs revealed a radiolucent defect in the articular pillar and cleft at the spinous process of C7. Computed tomography confirmed bilateral spondylolysis and spina bifida occulta of the C7 vertebra. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed absence of edema, which was suggestive of a chronic lesion.

Conclusion

Involvement of C7 is not exceptional in a case of cervical spondylolysis.     

Aesthetic reconstruction of lower leg defects using a new anterolateral lower leg perforator flap.

Our objective in this study was to report on the successful clinical use of a new perforator flap obtained from the proximal quarter of the anterolateral lower leg. Eight patients had the procedure either as a result of trauma (seven patients) or to treat Marjolin's ulcer (one patient). During the procedure, a line was drawn from the anterior fibular head to the anterior lateral malleolus. Then, using Doppler, a septocutaneous perforator from the fibular head to the proximal quarter point of the line was identified. The subfascial dissection was continued to the detected perforator. Along the perforator in the anterior intermuscular (peroneal) septum, a deep dissection was performed. The perforator was then separated and the flap harvested. The septocutaneous perforator was the perforator of the superficial peroneal nerve accessory artery in three cases, the perforator of the superior lateral peroneal artery in one case, and the perforator originating directly from the anterior tibial artery in four cases. Seven of eight cases were treated successfully. The results obtained were satisfactory, both aesthetically and functionally. This flap is a valuable alternative to the various perforator flaps from the lower leg. This flap has the advantage of being very thin, which makes it suitable for reconstruction of defects in the foot, ankle, pretibial area, and knee. However, one limitation of this procedure is that the diameter of the perforator was approximately 0.6-1.2 mm.     

Cotyloplasty in Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty for an Insufficient Acetabulum

Background

Cotyloplasty is a technique that involves making a perforation of the medial wall of a shallow acetabulum and then inserting an acetabular cup with the medial aspect of its dome beyond the Kohler line. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) using cotyloplasty with focusing on the amount of medial cup protrusion.

Methods

Sixteen hips with insufficient acetabulum in sixteen patients were treated by cementless THA using cotyloplasty. The average patient age was 47 years. The diagnoses included dysplastic hip (12) and infection sequelae (4). All the patients were followed up for at least 2 years. Clinically, the Harris hip scores were assessed and radiologically, the amount of cup protrusion, the hip center movement and cup fixation were evaluated.

Results

The average Harris hip score improved from 57 to 94 postoperatively. The average proportion of cup surface beyond the Kohler line was 44.1% and the hip centers were medialized by an average of 23 mm. Stable fixation of the acetabular cup was achieved in all the cases except one. In this one case, migration of the cup was detected 2 weeks postoperatively and a reoperation was performed.

Conclusions

Using cotyloplasty, good coverage of the acetabular cup was obtained without a block bone graft, and the hip joint centers were medialized. However, the safety margin for the amount of protrusion should be established.     

Transosseous capsuloplasty improves the outcomes of Lindgren–Turan distal metatarsal osteotomy in moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity

Introduction

Lindgren–Turan osteotomy used in hallux valgus deformity is a subcapital, transverse displacement osteotomy of the first metatarsal without any additional capsular repair. The aims of this study are to describe a transosseous capsuloplasty technique in this procedure and evaluate whether capsuloplasty would improve the clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity.

Methods

Twenty-three feet operated by Lindgren–Turan osteotomy (Group B) and 25 feet operated by the same osteotomy combined with transosseous capsuloplasty (Group A) were evaluated retrospectively for the correction of the hallux valgus, intermetatarsal and distal metatarsal articular angles, sesamoid reduction, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Clinical Rating Scale as well as patient satisfaction. The mean postoperative follow-up was 14 (range 12–28) months.

Results

All radiological parameters improved considerably as a result of both groups. However, postoperative improvements in intermetatarsal and distal metatarsal articular angles were greater in Group A. Complete reduction of medial sesamoid was achieved in 52% of patients in Group A, whereas 17.4% of patients in Group B had complete reduction. AOFAS scores and number of patients with complete satisfaction in Group A were significantly greater than that in Group B.

Conclusion

Better clinical and radiological outcomes can be achieved in patients with moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity operated by Lindgren–Turan distal metatarsal osteotomy, when it combines with transosseous capsuloplasty.     

舍尼通~和抗生素联合用药治疗慢性非细菌性前列腺炎临床研究

目的:评价舍尼通与抗生素联合用药治疗慢性非细菌性前列腺炎的有效性及耐受性。方法:采用双盲、平行对照、多中心临床试验研究方法,通过Stam ey试验、前列腺按摩液(EPS)常规及美国国立卫生院慢性前列腺炎症状评分(NIH-CPSI),筛选出160例慢性非细菌性前列腺炎患者,随机分为试验组(80例,脱落1例)和对照组(80例)。试验组前4周合用舍尼通和左氧氟沙星,后4周单用舍尼通,服用剂量为舍尼通2次/d,1片/次,左氧氟沙星2次/d,0.1 g/次;对照组方法同上,仅将舍尼通换为安慰剂。所有患者均行入组前、治疗第4周和第8周随访并行NIH-CPSI评分、EPS等检查及药物不良反应的评估。结果:治疗后4周和8周,试验组疼痛评分降低分别为3.34±2.45,4.33±3.13,排尿评分降低分别为2.22±1.79,2.77±2.04;对照组疼痛评分降低分别为2.28±2.42,3.30±3.29,排尿评分降低分别为1.24±1.67,1.83±2.25。两组治疗前后的自身对比均差异有显著性(P<0.01),生活质量影响评分差异也有显著性(P<0.05)。组间比较,试验组较对照组第4周和第8周疼痛和排尿评分差异均有显著性(P<0.01或P<0.05)。两组治疗前后白细胞、卵磷脂小体差异无显著性(P>0.05),对药物的耐受性差异无显著性(P>0.05),无严重不良反应事件发生。结论:舍尼通与抗生素联合用药方案能更有效地缓解慢性非细菌性前列腺炎患者的疼痛不适症状和排尿症状,耐受性好,值得在临床上推广应用。     

前哨淋巴结活检判断口腔癌颈部淋巴结转移的系统评价

目的:系统评价前哨淋巴结活检(SLNB)预测口腔癌颈淋巴结转移的临床价值。方法:通过计算机检索CENTRAL、Medline、EMBASE、IFCC、中国生物医学文献数据库系统(CBM)、中国期刊全文数据库(CNKI)、中文科技期刊全文数据库(CQVIP)、万方数据库等,收集应用前哨淋巴结活检判断口腔癌颈淋巴转移的诊断试验,应用统计软件Meta-DiSc 1.4进行数据分析。结果:纳入分析的文献9篇,前哨淋巴结活检判断口腔癌颈淋巴转移的敏感度、特异度、阳性似然比(+LR)、阴性似然比(-LR)、诊断优势比(DOR)及系统接收操作特性曲线(SROC)下面积分别为84%(95%CI 73%～92%)、100%(95%CI97%～100%)、19.16(95%CI 7.65～47.77)、0.22(95%CI 0.10～0.51)、97.72(95%CI 29.69～321.61)和0.99。结论:前哨淋巴结活检可作为临床上判断口腔癌颈淋巴结转移有效可行的方法。     

Association of CD26 with CD45RA outside lipid rafts attenuates cord blood T-cell activation

CD26 is a T-cell activation antigen that contains dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity and binds adenosine deaminase. Recent work showed that specialized membrane microdomains, also known as lipid rafts, play a key role in T-cell signaling. In this study, we investigate the role of CD26 in cord blood T-cell activation and signal transduction. We demonstrated that different expression levels of CD26 were observed between cord blood T cells (CBTCs) and peripheral blood T cells (PBTCs) and that CD26(+)CD45RA(+) CBTCs were different compared with CD26(+)CD45RA(+) PBTCs. Moreover, the comitogenic effect of CD26 was not as pronounced in CBTCs as in PBTCs. We also showed that CD26 cross-linking induced less phosphorylation of T-cell receptor-signaling molecules, lymphoid T-cell protein tyrosine kinase (Lck), zeta-associated protein 70 (ZAP-70), T-cell receptor zeta (TCRzeta), and linker for activator of T cells (LAT) in CBTCs than in PBTCs. Furthermore, CD26 molecules associated with CD45RA molecules outside lipid rafts in CBTCs. Our results suggest that strong physical linkage of CD26 with CD45RA outside lipid rafts may be responsible for the attenuation of T-cell activation signaling through CD26, which may be responsible for immature immune response and the low incidence of severe graft-versus-host disease in cord blood transplantation.     

蒙药小白蒿的炮制工艺及炮制品的药理研究

目的:优选小白蒿蒙医炮制工艺,并观察其饮片安全有效性。方法:以炮制品绿原酸含量为主要指标并参考槲皮素含量进行正交试验,以考察炒制温度、时间和药材粒度的影响,确定最佳工艺;采用小白鼠急性毒性实验,断尾实验测定出血时间,眼眶静脉丛取血测定凝血时间,断头采全血计数血小板总数,评价安全有效性。结果:本品在270℃温度下翻动炒制20 min效果最佳,经方差分析证明炒制温度、时间和粒度因素对所监测的两种成分的含量均没有显著影响;小白蒿炮制后可缩短小白鼠的出血时间,显著增高血小板计数。结论:小白蒿经过合理的炒制后,可提高其安全性和止血药效,为验证传统蒙药小白蒿用药理论,提供了参考依据。