Lumbar Spinal Cord Stimulation Can Improve Muscle Strength and Gait Independently of the Analgesic Effect: A Case Report

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is widely used for pain relief in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and muscle weakness is a common finding in patients with chronic pain. We present here a single case report of a 47‐year‐old woman, who, after SCS for FBSS, had continuous improvement in lower leg muscle strength and gait, but only transient and minimal pain relief. To the authors’ knowledge, this is only the second published case report of significant improvement in “motor” function, independent of the analgesic effect following SCS in FBSS. If SCS, in fact, does improve muscle strength, new strategies for the management of patients with chronic pain might be opened up. Further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.     

Psoriasis confined strictly to vitiligo areas – a Koebner‐like phenomenon?

Vitiligo and psoriasis are both common skin disorders. However, psoriasis strictly confined to pre-existing vitiligo areas is rare and suggests a causal relationship. We report here on two patients with a strict anatomical colocalization of vitiligo and psoriasis. The histopathological examinations showed typical changes for both diseases together with a dense infiltrate of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. By immunohistochemistry, intracytoplasmatic granzyme B and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected within the T-cell population, suggesting the functional activity of these cells and the creation of a local T helper 1 (Th1)-cytokine milieu. Additionally, in one patient we could identify anti-melanocytic T cells by tetramer staining and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) analysis. These skin-infiltrating lymphocytes might trigger, by the local production of Th-1 cytokines such as TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), the eruption of psoriatic plaques in patients with a genetic predisposition for psoriasis.     

骨形成蛋白2基因修饰的老年大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞成骨分化能力的研究

目的观察年龄因素对骨髓间充质干细胞(marrow mesenchymal stem cells, MSCs)成骨分化能力的影响;了解基因治疗对老年大鼠MSCs成骨分化能力的影响. 方法 1月龄(幼年组)、9月龄(成年组)及24月龄(老年组)雄性Wistar大鼠各6只,取MSCs经体外分离、培养及携带骨形成蛋白2(bone morphogenetic protein 2,BMP-2)基因的腺病毒载体(Ad-BMP-2)转染后,定量检测BMP-2、碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphate,ALP)表达,以及成骨细胞标志性蛋白:Ⅰ型胶原、骨涎蛋白(bone sialoprotein,BSP)和骨桥素(osteopontin, OPN)的表达.将转染的各组MSCs分别与磷酸三钙(tricalcium phosphate, TCP)复合后植入裸鼠体内,3周后取材,比较各组诱导异位成骨能力. 结果 ELISA检测表明BMP-2基因修饰的MSCs可以有效表达BMP-2,且表达量在各年龄组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);各组ALP于诱导后第9天达高峰,但组间差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05);诱导后第7天,RT-PCR半定量检测示各组均有成骨细胞特征性蛋白,即:Ⅰ型胶原、OPN及BSP的明显表达,表达量在各组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);BMP-2基因转染的MSCs与TCP复合后可诱导裸鼠体内异位成骨,各组成骨量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05). 结论 BMP-2基因修饰的老年大鼠MSCs可以恢复成骨分化能力,基因治疗可能为老年性骨骼疾病提供一种新的治疗途径.     

不同区域晶状体上皮细胞基因表达差异分析

【目的】比较不同区域猪晶状体上皮细胞的基因表达在转录组水平上的差异。【方法】解剖显微镜下分离晶状体前囊膜，将附着于其上的上皮细胞分为中央（直径为10．56mm）和周边两部分。分别提取两个样本的总RNAs并经PCR扩增，以Cy3和Cy5分别标记扩增的中央与周边部分的cDNA。与含7548个基因的表达谱芯片杂交，经图像分析，生物信息学处理获得基因表达在转录水平差异的相关信息。【结果】中央与周边区域的猪晶状体上皮细胞在转录组水平共鉴定出952个有效表达的基因点，其中差异表达基因261个．以中央区域为参照，周边上皮细胞mRNA上调137个，下调124个。差异表达基因主要涉及的功能有：细胞周期与凋亡、细胞骨架蛋白及细胞外基质、转录、细胞信号分子等。【结论】中央与周边区域猪晶状体上皮细胞基因表达在转录组水平上差异明显。这类差异呈明显的功能聚类。     

骨髓间充质干细胞分化为皮肤附属器细胞的初步实验研究

目的探讨骨髓间充质干细胞(marrowmesenchymalstemcells,MSCs)分化为创面皮肤附属器细胞的可能性,及其参与创面修复的可能机制。方法无菌条件下取Wistar大鼠股骨骨髓细胞,密度梯度离心分离、纯化MSCs,体外培养扩增后,用BrdU标记细胞。另于同种雄性Wistar大鼠背部正中,制备1cm×1cm全厚皮肤缺损创面模型,将BrdU标记的1×106/mlMSCs从阴茎静脉输注,术后第3天与第7天切取创面组织,行BrdU免疫组织化学单染色,以及BrdU和广谱角蛋白免疫组织化学双染色。结果BrdU阳性细胞出现在创面皮下组织、皮脂腺、毛囊和骨髓腔中。免疫组织化学双染色结果显示,皮脂腺和毛囊有BrdU阳性细胞,同时表达广谱角蛋白。结论创面愈合过程中,MSCs归巢并参与创面修复;在实验性全身皮肤缺损创面微环境下,MSCs可分化为皮肤附属器细胞。     

体外培养骨髓单个核细胞分泌促血管生长因子的实验研究

目的分析体外培养的骨髓单个核细胞持续分泌促血管生长因子的能力。方法从大鼠胫骨及股骨采集骨髓,密度梯度离心法分离出骨髓单个核细胞进行体外培养,并连续收集4周培养上清液。酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)法测定培养上清液中碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)、血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)和白介素-1β(IL-1β)等因子水平。结果第1、2、3、4周骨髓单个核细胞体外培养上清液中VEGF分别为(24.40±7.99)pg/m、l(89.28±5.13)pg/m、l(115.24±10.08)pg/m、l(157.00±15.64)pg/m l;bFGF含量分别为(52.72±2.13)pg/m、l(48.10±6.41)pg/m、l(44.71±3.21)pg/m、l(25.61±2.42)pg/m l;IL-1β含量分别为:(31.28±5.44)pg/m、l(71.87±3.01)pg/m、l(55.77±11.94)pg/m、l(41.75±9.14)pg/m。l结论体外培养骨髓单个核细胞可持续分泌VEGF、bFGF、IL-1β等多种促血管生长因子。     

Improvements in healthcare and cost benefits associated with botulinum toxin treatment of spasticity and muscle overactivity

Spasticity is a widespread, disabling form of muscle overactivity affecting patients with central nervous system damage resulting in upper motor neurone syndrome. There is a range of effective therapies for the treatment of spasticity (e.g. physical, anaesthetic, chemodenervation and neurolytic injections, systemic medication and surgery), but all therapies must be based on an individualized, multidisciplinary programme targeted to achieve patient goals. Appropriate therapy should be based on the extent and severity of spasticity, but spasticity and its consequences, regardless of presentation or cause, are commonly treated with systemic agents. This may be ill-advised as systemic treatment is associated with many undesirable effects. In particular, elderly patients with post-stroke spasticity are at risk from the central adverse effects of systemic medication (e.g. sedation and gait disturbance), which make them more susceptible to falling, with an associated increased risk of fracture. The rising costs of fracture care and its sequelae are fast becoming an international problem contributing to high healthcare expenditure. Botulinum toxin type-A (BoNT-A) treatment is highly effective for some of the more common forms of spasticity and muscle overactivity, and has a favourable profile when compared with systemic agents and other focal treatments. Therefore, the clinical benefits of BoNT-A treatment outweigh the apparent high costs of this intervention, showing it to be a cost-effective treatment.     

移植人羊膜细胞对大鼠创伤性脑损伤的实验研究

目的 探究大鼠TBI后脑内移植人羊膜细胞（HACs）对大鼠运动功能的影响。方法 HACs经分离、Hoechst33342标记后重悬调整细胞浓度为10^5/μl；采用改进的Feeney自由落体法打击大鼠脑皮层后肢运动区域，损伤后24h经微量注射器和立体定向仪将Hoechst33342标记的HACs 10μl分别移植于挫伤灶中心和挫伤灶边缘；在TBI后的28d内采用钉板平衡木行走测试大鼠运动功能变化，运动功能检测结束后取出脑组织行组织学检测。结果 治疗组滑落脚步数明显少于对照组（P〈0．05）；移植的HACs呈蓝色荧光；部分移植HACs可见MAP-2阳性表达。结论 移植HACs使大鼠TBI后运动功能明显改善。