Original Designed Uniportal-Bichannel Spinal Endoscopic System (UBiSES) for Foraminoplasty in Percutaneous Endoscopic Transforaminal Discectomy.

Objective: The study introduced uniportal-bichannel spinal endoscopic system (UBiSES) and explored the feasibility of applying UBiSES to conduct lumbar foraminoplasty in percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (PETD).

Methods: This is a cohort study. 36 patients confirmed as L5/S1 lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in our hospital from March, 2019 to November, 2019 were enrolled.

Does anxiety influence the prognosis of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation? A preliminary propensity score matching analysis.

Purpose: Previous reports revealed a correlation between psychological problems and spinal surgery. There is a lack of knowledge on the effect of anxiety on the percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) outcome at the two year follow-up. The purpose of this study is to investigate changes in anxiety after PTED among patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), to compare the effect of anxiety on the prognosis using propensity score matching analysis, and to identify the related parameters of anxiety.

Feasibility of Virtual Reality Combined with Isocentric Navigation in Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy: A Cadaver Study.

Objectives: Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (TPED) is one of the most commonly used minimally invasive spine surgeries around the world. However, conventional surgical planning and intraoperative procedures for TPED have relied on surgeons' experience, which limits its standardization and popularization. Virtual reality (VR) is a novel technology for pre-surgical planning in various fields of medicine, while isocentric navigation can guide intraoperative procedures for TPED.

Volume Navigation with Fusion of Real-Time Ultrasound and CT Images to Guide Posterolateral Transforaminal Puncture in Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy.

Background: The use of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is increasing in the treatment of lumbar disc herniations (LDH). Nerve and vessel injury may happen during the establishment of the transforaminal working channel. Also, there is usually exposure to intraop radiation when the C-arm is used to help establish the location of the transforaminal working channel.

MiR-367 negatively regulates apoptosis induced by adriamycin in osteosarcoma cells by targeting KLF4.

Diverse functions of microRNAs have been investigated in tumorigenesis in osteosarcoma (OS), involving the regulation of proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis and drug resistance. MiR-367 was found to be an oncogene and increased in OS. However, the function of miR-367 in drug resistance in OS cells is still unknown.

Oxytocin in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus reduces feeding and acutely increases energy expenditure.

Central oxytocin reduces food intake and increases energy expenditure. The ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN) is associated with energy balance and contains a high density of oxytocin receptors. We hypothesized that oxytocin in the VMN is a negative regulator of energy balance acting to reduce feeding and increase energy expenditure.

Exercise reduces diet-induced cognitive decline and increases hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor in CA3 neurons.

Background: Previous studies have shown that a western diet impairs, whereas physical exercise enhances hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Both diet and exercise influence expression of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is associated with improved cognition. We hypothesized that exercise reverses diet-induced cognitive decline while increasing hippocampal BDNF.

Whole-blood gene expression profiling in ankylosing spondylitis identifies novel candidate genes that may contribute to the inflammatory and tissue-destructive disease aspects.

We performed a comprehensive gene expression analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between AS (ankylosing spondylitis) and health controls. A total of 1454 DEGs were obtained, including 919 up-regulated genes and 535 down-regulated genes. There were 218 interactions and 224 pairs in the conPPI network.

Identification of the relationships between sagittal plane and coronal plane curvature in guppy models.

Objective: To explore the relationship between sagittal plane and coronal plane curvatures in guppies by investigating the curvature angles of sagittal and sagittal-coronal guppies.

Methods: After mating between 1000 spinal curvature guppies, 124 guppies (3-month old) were screened from progenies for the present study. Photos of all fishes were taken and the sagittal and coronal angles were calculated via angle measure tool of Photoshop 12.

Expression and significance of Kruppel-like factor 6 gene in osteosarcoma.

Purpose: Osteosarcoma is primary malignant tumour of bone. Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) is a tumor suppressor gene frequently inactivated in a number of human cancers and a ubiquitously expressed zinc-finger transcription factor. The present study aimed to first explore the relationship between the expression level of the KLF6 gene in osteosarcoma and the occurrence of bone tumours.

Factors as predictors for thoracic and thoracolumbar/lumbar structural curves in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that the Lenke system is relatively efficient and consistent in classifying scoliosis curves. Basically, fusion should include the main curve and the structural minor curve. The criteria for defining the structural minor curve were established to help guide these decision-making process.

Comparison between two pedicle screw augmentation instrumentations in adult degenerative scoliosis with osteoporosis.

Background: The operative treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis combined with osteoporosis increase following the epidemiological development. Studies have confirmed that screws in osteoporotic spines have significant lower-screw strength with more frequent screw movements within the vertebra than normal spines. Screws augmented with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or with autogenous bone can offer more powerful corrective force and significant advantages.

Factors affecting curve flexibility in skeletally immature and mature idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: The determination of factors affecting curve flexibility is important in idiopathic scoliosis patients with regard to the Risser sign. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify factors affecting curve flexibility in patients with skeletally immature and mature idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods: The records of all patients with idiopathic scoliosis who received surgical treatment from July 2001 to August 2008 at our hospital were screened.

Surgical treatment of adult idiopathic scoliosis: long-term clinical radiographic outcomes.

More adults are suffering from adult idiopathic scoliosis and seeking treatment for their spinal deformities. Adult idiopathic scoliosis can lead to painful spinal osteoarthritis, progressive deformity, spinal stenosis with radiculopathy, muscle fatigue from coronal and sagittal plane imbalance, and psychological effects with a visible deformity. Primary treatment of such conditions is conservative; however, some patients are resistant to conservative treatment or are not candidates for it, and they require surgery.

An adapted Chinese version of neck pain and disability scale: validity and reliability.

Study Design: This is a validation study to evaluate validity and reliability of a translated and culturally adapted Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPAD).

Objective: To conduct a cross-cultural adaptation and check the validity and reliability of a Chinese version of NPAD.

Summary Of Background Data: Neck pain and its associated disability are very common musculoskeletal problems.

The lighter side of BDNF.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mediates energy metabolism and feeding behavior. As a neurotrophin, BDNF promotes neuronal differentiation, survival during early development, adult neurogenesis, and neural plasticity; thus, there is the potential that BDNF could modify circuits important to eating behavior and energy expenditure. The possibility that "faulty" circuits could be remodeled by BDNF is an exciting concept for new therapies for obesity and eating disorders.

Using side-bending radiographs to determine the distal fusion level in patients with single thoracic idiopathic scoliosis undergoing posterior correction with pedicle screws.

Study Design: Prospective.

Objectives: To evaluate a strategy to determine the distal fusion level in posterior pedicle screw correction of single thoracic idiopathic scoliosis.

Summary Of Background Data: No standard method for selecting the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) for the correction of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with posterior all-pedicle screw instrumentations exists.

Using precisely controlled bidirectional orthopedic forces to assess flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: comparisons between push-traction film, supine side bending, suspension, and fulcrum bending film.

Study Design: A prospective study.

Objective: To validate the effectiveness of push-traction film (PTF) in assessment of curve flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Summary Of Background Data: There is no agreement among surgeons about the most advantageous method in flexibility evaluation of scoliosis.

Learning curve of computer-assisted navigation system in spine surgery.

Background: Spine surgery using computer-assisted navigation (CAN) has been proven to result in low screw misplacement rates, low incidence of radiation exposure and excellent operative field viewing versus the conventional intraoperative image intensifier (CIII). However, as we know, few previous studies have described the learning curve of CAN in spine surgery.

Methods: We performed two consecutive case cohort studies on pedicel screw accuracy and operative time of two spine surgeons with different experience backgrounds, A and B, in one institution during the same period.

[Analysis of posterior pedicle screw-only constructs in surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a minimum three-year follow-up].

Objective: To evaluate clinical outcomes of a group of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients undergoing posterior pedicle screw-only instrumentations.

Methods: Between April 2002 and July 2006, 121 AIS patients (93 female and 28 male, average age at operation was 15.5 years which ranged from 10 to 20 years) received posterior pedicle screw-only instrumentation and fusion.

Chronic administration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus reverses obesity induced by high-fat diet.

An acute injection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) reduces body weight by decreasing feeding and increasing energy expenditure (EE), in animals on standard laboratory chow. Animals have divergent responses to a high-fat diet (HFD) exposure, with some developing obesity and others remaining lean. In the current study, we tested two hypotheses: 1) BDNF in the PVN reverses HFD-induced obesity, and 2) animals with higher body fat have a greater physiological response to BDNF than those with less body fat.

Evaluation of a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging system for whole body composition analysis in rodents.

We evaluated the EchoMRI-900 combination rat and mouse quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) body composition method in comparison to traditional whole-body chemical carcass composition analysis (CCA) for measurements of fat and fat-free mass in rodents. Live and postmortem (PM) QMR fat and lean mass measurements were obtained for lean, obese and outbred strains of rats and mice, and compared with measurements obtained using CCA. A second group of rats was measured before and after 18 h food or water deprivation.

Adapted simplified Chinese (mainland) version of Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire.

Study Design: Validation study to define validity and reliability of an adapted and translated questionnaire.

Objective: This study attempted to validate the traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) version of the modified Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) Outcomes Instrument, SRS-22, into simplified Chinese for use in mainland China.

Summary Of Background Data: Although a traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) adaptation of the SRS-22 has been previously validated, no culturally adapted, validated SRS-22 exists for use in mainland China.

Posterior pedicle screws combined with shortening and release techniques for lumbar and thoracolumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the clinical and radiographic effects of posterior surgery with wide posterior shortening release and segmental pedicle screws techniques in a consecutive group of patients with thoracolumbar /lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods: Between April 2002 and July 2005, 114 patients (86 women and 28 men) were enrolled in this study. There were 72 Lenke type 5, 32 Lenke type 6, and 10 Lenke type 3C curves.