Association of IL‑6 and MMP‑3 gene polymorphisms with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A systematic review and meta‑analysis.

The pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) remains unclear. It has been found that interleukin-6 (IL-6) rs1800795 locus and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) rs3025058 locus gene polymorphisms may be associated with AIS susceptibility, which has been controversial and needs to be further confirmed by updated meta-analysis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of MMP-3 rs3025058 and IL-6 rs1800795 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with susceptibility to AIS.

The association of growth differentiation factor 5 rs143383 gene polymorphism with osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by a complex set of pathophysiological factors. The genetic factors involved in the occurrence and progress of the disease have been widely discussed by scholars. It was found that growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) gene polymorphisms may be linked to OA susceptibility, which has been controversial and needs to be further confirmed by an updated meta-analysis.

Anti-inflammatory effects of interleukin-4 on intervertebral disc cells.

Background Context: Inflammation has been associated with a number of pathological conditions including intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, increased risks of low back pain and other spinal diseases. Downregulating disc inflammation may be a strategy to reduce degeneration and more importantly back pain. Interleukin (IL)-4 was first discovered as a T-cell secreted factor that enhanced the proliferation of anti-IgM stimulated B cells and is now known as a cytokine that can stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation, tissue regeneration and neurological functions.

Working Cannula-Based Endoscopic Foraminoplasty: A Technical Note.

Purpose: Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is a minimally invasive disc surgery that can be performed under local anesthesia and requires only an eight-mm skin incision. For the patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis, the migrated disc is difficult to remove with a simple transforaminal approach. In such cases, the foraminoplasty techniques can be used.

Minimally invasive surgery through the interlaminar approach in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis: A retrospective study of 31 patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of minimally invasive spinal decompression combined with local chemotherapy in treating patients with thoracic/lumbar tuberculosis (TB) and abscess compression of the spinal canal. Clinical data of 31 patients with thoracic/lumbar TB and spinal epidural abscess, admitted to our hospital between December 2005 and June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received initial conservative treatment but achieved unsatisfactory results and then underwent minimally invasive spinal canal decompression, focus debridement and catheter drainage through a posterior interlaminar approach.

[Long-term clinical studies on the treatment of lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis with CT-guided minimally invasive surgery].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of CT-guided percutaneous puncture and local chemotherapy for lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis.

Methods: From January 2002 to March 2013, 145 patients (84 males and 61 females) with lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis underwent failed conservative treatment were treated with CT-guided minimally invasive surgery. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.

En bloc spondylectomy combined with chest wall excision for spinal tumor via a modified posterior approach: a retrospective study on 21 patients.

Objective: This study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) combined with chest wall excision through a modified posterior approach in treating the patients with thoracic spinal tumor and posterior chest wall invasion.

Methods: Clinical data of 21 consecutive patients (7 males, 14 females; average age: 41.5, range: 20-69) who underwent the combined TES and chest wall excision through a modified posterior approach from 08/2005 to 01/2014 were retrospectively analyzed.

Stepwise Therapy for Treating Tuberculosis of the Upper Cervical Spine: A Retrospective Study of 11 Patients.

Aims: Tuberculosis of the upper cervical spine is a rare occurrence with serious consequence, and its optimal treatment protocol remains inconclusive. This study aims at investigating the clinical characteristics and management outcomes of the stepwise therapy for different stages of tuberculosis of the upper cervical spine.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 11 patients with tuberculosis of the upper cervical spine who received anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy for 15 months.

Immune characterization of mesenchymal stem cells in human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly and derived cartilage cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly (hWJMSCs) became prospective seed cell candidate for tissue engineering and cell-based therapy because of its variety source, easy procurement, robust proliferation, and high purity compared with bone marrow- and adipose-derived MSCs. Such neonatal stem cells can be isolated from a variety of extraembryonic tissues and appear to be more primitive and have greater multi-potentiality than their adult counterparts. In this study, we investigated the immune characters of hWJMSCs and its derived cartilage cells (hWJMSC-Cs) by detecting the expression of major histocompatibility complex I/I(MHC-I/II), costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80 and CD86) and immune inhibitors including human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G), indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).

[The change in bone marrow after intraosseous hypertonic saline-hydroxyethyl starch infusion for resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock in dog].

Objective: To observe the change in bone marrow after intraosseous hypertonic saline- hydroxyethyl starch (HSH) in dogs with hemorrhagic shock.

Methods: Eighteen male dogs were randomly divided into sham group, normal saline (NS) group (0.9% sodium chloride) and HSH group (7.