Poly-lactic acid and agarose gelatin play an active role in the recovery of spinal cord injury

Objective To investigate the role of poly-lactic acid and agarose gelatin in promoting the functional recovery of the injured spinal cord. Methods Poly-lactic acid ( PLA) or agarose was embedded in the space between two stumps of the hemisectioned spinal cord. Immunohistochemistry was used to show astroglia proliferation and the infiltration of RhoA-positive cells. Locomotor activity recovery was evaluated by testing the function of hindlimbs. Results Astrogli-as and RhoA labeled non-neuronal cells accumulated in the area adjacent to the implant, while the number of RhoA-positive cells was decreased dramatically in the absence of implant. Animals implanted with agarose gelatin recovered more quickly than those with PLA, concomitant with a higher survival rate of the neurons. Conclusion Both PLA and agarose gelatin benefited the recovery of spinal cord after injury by providing a scaffold for astroglia processes. Modulation of the rigidity, pore size and inner structure of PLA and agarose gelatin might make these biodegradable materials more effective in the regeneration of the central nervous system (CNS).     

后路半椎体切除矫治半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形

[目的]评价后路半椎体切除术治疗半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形的临床效果。[方法]2000年5月~2005年11月,采用后路半椎体切除及矫形固定融合术治疗14例完全分节半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形患者。年龄2.5~14.4岁,平均7.4岁,半椎体均为侧后方半椎体,其中胸椎7例,腰椎7例。[结果]手术时间2~7 h,平均4.7h,术中出血量150~2 500 m l,平均560 m。l固定节段2~8个椎体,平均3.5。术后随访6~36个月。平均15.6个月。术后站立位脊柱正侧位X线片示冠状面Cobb's角由术前46.2°矫正到17.3°,平均矫正率62.6%,矢状面Cobb's角由术前48.3°矫正至术后16.2°,平均矫正率68.7%。终末随访时冠状面Cobb's角平均21.7°,丢失4.4°,矢状面Cobb's角平均18.7°,丢失2.5°。围手术期并发症包括:伤口愈合不良2例,术中术后椎弓根螺钉切割椎体2例。[结论]后路半椎体切除可直接去除致畸因素,在冠状面及矢状面均获得良好的矫形效果,与前后路手术相比可缩短手术时间,减少创伤,适用于从胸段到腰段的半椎体畸形。     

Spinal epidural hematoma. Report of a case and review of the literature

We report the case of a thoracic epidural hematoma at the T7-T9 level which occurred after placement of spinal epidural catheter for continuous anaesthesia in acute pancreatitis. The male patient felt a sudden back pain after six days of successful analgesia and became paraplegic 24 hours afterwards. An emergency laminectomy and removal of the hematoma were performed; however, the patient recovered only incompletely.We discuss the clinical signs and symptoms of spinal epidural hematoma as well as its diagnostics and therapy. The controversial views from the literature concernings its etiology are critically reviewed.     

Effects of capsaicin in temporomandibular joint arthritis in rats

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis was induced in female Lewis rats by unilateral injection of a suspension of heat-killed Mycobacterium butyricum in paraffin oil into the TMJ. Control rats received paraffin oil by the same route. Arthritic and control rats were pretreated either with capsaicin or denervation of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. Tissues were collected for neuropeptide extraction and analysed by radioimmunoassay and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. In all groups, the levels of substance P- (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide- (CGRP) and neuropeptide Y- (NPY) like immunoreactivity (LI) were higher in the trigeminal ganglia than in the TMJs. In control rats, capsaicin significantly lowered the levels of SP-LI in the trigeminal ganglia and TMJ, but not CGRP-LI and NPY-LI. In the arthritic rats, capsaicin pretreatment significantly lowered the SP-LI and CGRP-LI in the trigeminal ganglia and TMJ, but not the NPY-LI. In the trigeminal ganglia the unilateral denervation significantly lowered SP-LI in control rats, and in arthritic rats SP-LI and CGRP-LI. On the denervated side of the arthritic TMJ, NPY-LI, SP-LI and CGRP- LI were significantly lowered as compared to the arthritic control rats and to the contralateral side. In this rat model, pretreatment with capsaicin and surgical denervation decreased the neuropeptide content in the trigeminal ganglia and the TMJ. The results clearly demonstrate a close interaction between increased neuropeptide release from sensory and sympathetic neurones after induction of arthritis in the rat.     

Sensory axonopathy in hereditary distal spinal muscular atrophy

A girl of 14 year is presented with a distal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with autosomal recessive inheritance. The technical findings are in agreement with the diagnosis. Light microscopical examination of sural nerve biopsy, including teased fiber studies and morphometry, showed no abnormalities. Electron microscopical investigation however demonstrated axonal pathology. The question arises if distal SMA is a distal axonopathy mainly of motor nerves, but to some extent also of sensory nerves.     

Neuropeptide levels in the basal ganglia of aged common marmosets following prolonged treatment with MPTP

Summary Aged common marmosets were treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; 0.5–2.0 mg/kg/week i.p.) for 16 or 24 weeks, observed for a total of 30 weeks and then killed for measurement of biochemical pramaters in basal ganglia. The MPTP treatment induced a marked depletion in dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid levels in the caudate nucleus and putamen. In contrast, the concentrations of five neuropeptides: [Met⁵]-enkephalin, [Leu⁵]-enkephalin, cholecystokinin, substance P and neurotensin as measured by a combined HPLC/RIA method, remained unaltered in all basal ganglia regions examined. Enkephalin precursor levels, as reflected by cryptic [Met⁵]-enkephalin content, were increased in the putamen, but not in the caudate nucleus, as a consequence of MPTP administration. Cryptic [Leu⁵]-enkephalin content remained unchanged in the striatum of MPTP treated marmosets. Overall, these results suggest an increase in striatal [Met⁵]-enkephalin release following chronic MPTP treatment of aged marmosets. However, the chronic treatment of aged marmosets with MPTP does not reproduce the neuropeptide alterations characteristic of Parkinson's disease.     

青少年特发性胸椎侧凸患者的脊髓偏移及临床意义

[目的]揭示青少年胸椎特发性侧凸患者椎管内脊髓的偏移，明确其变化趋势，并探讨其可能的发生机制和临床意义。[方法]本研究包括39名以右胸弯为主弯的青少年特发性脊柱侧凸（adolescent idiopathic scoliosis，AIS）患者。测量主胸弯节段内（T5-12）椎管内脊髓与凸凹侧椎弓根之间的距离，计算脊髓的偏移，揭示其变化趋势，并分析顶椎区脊髓偏移与主胸弯Cobb＇s角和顶椎相对偏移之间的相关性。[结果]在T5-12节段椎管内，脊髓与凸侧椎弓根之间的距离显著大于与凹侧椎弓根之间的距离（P〈0．05），即脊髓向凹侧椎弓根偏移，且以顶椎区最为显著，而逐渐向两侧端椎区递减。顶椎区脊髓偏移与主胸弯Cobb’s角和顶椎相对偏移存在显著的正相关（相关系数分别为0．631和0．546）。[结论]胸椎特发性脊柱侧凸患者存在侧凸节段椎管内脊髓偏移的现象，且以顶椎区最显著。研究结果提示脊髓偏移可能与脊椎偏移后凹侧脊神经的牵拉有关，而且凹侧置钉的风险高于凸侧。     

神经干细胞静脉移植治疗脊髓损伤的实验研究

[目的]观察神经干细胞静脉移植对损伤大鼠脊髓功能的治疗作用。[方法]取孕14—16dSD胎鼠的脑室下区组织，体外培养后鉴定细胞。制作脊髓全切模型，伤后1周将Brdu标记好的神经干细胞通过尾静脉注射移植到大鼠体内，移植后及8周行皮层体感诱发电位（CSEP）检测和BBB功能评分，并留损伤脊髓处作病理切片及免疫组化染色。[结果]（1）移植后8周BBB评分损伤组、移植组都有所恢复，但都未达到正常水平，移植组恢复较好；（2）模型制作后，CSEP波均消失，细胞移植后8周移植组的波形有不同程度的恢复，但潜伏期延长；（3）移植组大鼠脊髓损伤处存在大量Brdu染色阳性细胞，表明移植的细胞在体内可到达损伤脊髓处并能存活；脊髓损伤部位NF-200及GFAP染色阳性的细胞表明移植的细胞可以分化为具有神经元和胶质细胞特性的细胞。[结论]静脉移植的神经干细胞能到达损伤区代替受损的神经元及神经胶质细胞，使损伤的脊髓功能得到一定程度的恢复。     

腰椎间盘突出症合并椎管狭窄23 例治疗分析

目的探讨经后路椎间盘镜手术治疗合并腰椎管狭窄症的椎间盘突出症的临床应用。方法采用后路椎间盘镜进行单侧开窗减压术。通过术前标记腰椎正侧位片定位，于定位棘突间隙后正中偏患侧作长约1.5 cm小切口，逐级扩张后置入工作通道管，钻除部分椎板，置入内窥镜，于电视监视器下显露椎板、增生内聚的关节突、肥厚的黄韧带及突出的椎间盘髓核组织，彻底解除其对硬脊膜、神经根的压迫。结果本组共治疗合并腰椎管狭窄症的腰椎间盘突出症23例，平均随访7个月，按Prolo标准评定，治愈20例，有效2例，无效1例。结论本术式在严格掌握适应证前提下对合并腰椎管狭窄症的腰椎间盘突出症患者效果明显。     

Time for sport and health to be formally linked in a positive way

Preventing sports injury has rarely been cited as an appropriate action to respond to the obesity epidemic, and in fact a recent letter has suggested that those playing sport are as responsible for their predicament as those who are obese. This opinion piece argues that it is time for better prevention and management of sports injury to be seen as part of the complex solution to preventing obesity, rather than being a self-inflicted problem that governments should continue to ignore.