Spinal column shortening versus revision detethering for recurrent adult tethered cord syndrome: a preliminary comparison of perioperative and clinical outcomes.

Objective: Recurrent tethered cord syndrome (TCS), believed to result from tension on the distal portion of the spinal cord, causes a constellation of neurological symptoms. Detethering surgery has been the traditional treatment for TCS. However, in cases of recurrent TCS, there is a risk of new neurological deficits developing, and subsequent retethering is difficult to prevent.

PCOS serum-derived exosomal miR-27a-5p stimulates endometrial cancer cells migration and invasion.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among reproductive-age women. Women with PCOS have a 2.7-fold increased risk for developing endometrial cancer (EC).

Patient and provider factors associated with enrolment in the pre-end-stage renal disease pay-for-performance programme in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: The incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Taiwan have been ranked the highest worldwide. Therefore, the National Health Insurance Administration has implemented the pre-ESRD pay-for-performance (P4P) programme since November 2006, which had significantly reduced the incidence of dialysis and all-cause mortality. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the enrolment in the pre-ESRD P4P programme.

[Reduction of the atlantoaxial dislocation associated with basilar invagination through single-stage posterior approach: using Xuanwu occipital-cervical reduction surgical suite].

To examine the effect of posterior reduction in atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) associated with basilar invagination(BI) using Xuanwu occipital-cervical fusion system in single stage. Thirty-seven AAD accompanied with BI cases treated at Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical Universiy and the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retrospective analyzed. There were 15 males and 22 females with age of (42.

Downregulations of circulating miR-31 and miR-21 are associated with preeclampsia.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are highly stable in circulating, which suppress target gene expression by base-pairing to the 3'-untranslated region. We compared the expressions of 3 circulating miRs (miR-31, miR-21, and miR-16), which are related to the control of cell apoptosis, invasion, angiogenesis and immune tolerance in non-pregnancy (n = 10), 20-34 gestational weeks normal pregnancy (20-34 GW NP, n = 20), early onset preeclampsia (EOPE, n = 20), 34-41 gestational weeks normal pregnancy (34-41 GW NP, n = 20) and late onset preeclampsia (LOPE, n = 20). Using quantitative RT-PCR, we found the levels of miR-31, miR-21 and miR-16 changed throughout different stages of pregnancy with the non-pregnancy as the calibrator.

The Value and Limitation of Cervical Traction in the Evaluation of the Reducibility of Atlantoaxial Dislocation and Basilar Invagination Using the Intraoperative O-Arm.

Objective: To assess the value and limitation of cervical traction in the evaluation of the reducibility of atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) and basilar invagination (BI) using the intraoperative O-arm.

Methods: A total of 22 patients with hyperextensive, irreducible AAD were included. The cervical traction test under general anesthesia was performed, and the degree of reduction was evaluated using the O-arm before the operation started.

Molecular Characterization of Giardia duodenalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi Isolated from Tibetan Sheep and Tibetan Goats Under Natural Grazing Conditions in Tibet.

In the present study, fecal samples from a total of 620 Tibetan sheep and 260 Tibetan goats from six counties in Tibet were examined by nested PCR. The results showed that the overall infection rates of Giardia duodenalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi were 0.8% (5/620) and 15% (93/620), respectively, in Tibetan sheep, and 0% (0/260) and 9.

Identification of human pathogenic Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Cyclospora cayetanensis, and Cryptosporidium parvum on the surfaces of vegetables and fruits in Henan, China.

Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Cyclospora cayetanensis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are known etiological agents of self-limiting diarrhea, chronic disorders, and severe debilitating illnesses in humans, particularly children and patients with immunodeficiency diseases. To assess the pathogen carriage status of raw vegetables and fruits and the potential transmission routes of the aforementioned parasites in Henan province, China, a total of 1099 vegetables and fruits samples (21 items) were purchased and collected from agricultural farms or open markets.

Spontaneous Resolution of Syringomyelia with a 16-Year Serial Magnetic Resonance Imaging Follow-Up: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: The natural course of syringomyelia is unpredictable. Only a few cases of adults with spontaneous resolution of syringomyelia associated with Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) have been reported. The timing of surgical intervention for syringomyelia remains controversial.

Posterior revision surgery using an intraarticular distraction technique with cage grafting to treat atlantoaxial dislocation associated with basilar invagination.

Objective: The treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) and basilar invagination (BI) is challenging, especially in symptomatic patients with a history of previous surgery. Although seldom reported, posterior revision surgery to revise prior constructs can be advantageous over an anterior or combined approach. The authors describe their experience in performing posterior revision surgery using Goel's technique.

Control of Three Species of Stored-Product Insects in Wheat Treated With Steam and Hot Air.

The effect of 105°C steam or hot air on adult mortality of three species of stored-product insect pests outside wheat kernels of 12.5, 14.5 and 16.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Chiari Malformation Type I in Adult Patients with Dysphagia.

Objective: To explore the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of Chiari malformation type I (CMI) in patients with dysphagia.

Methods: Adult patients diagnosed with CMI were retrospectively and consecutively reviewed from January 2013 to December 2016. Symptoms and medical characteristics were recorded.

FAT4-USP51 complex regulates the proliferation and invasion of endometrial cancer via Hippo pathway.

Recent studies have identified FAT tumour suppressor homologue 4 (FAT4), an essential component of adherents junctions, involved in several cancers. However, its role in endometrial cancer (EC) remains unclear. In this study, we first analyzed the association between FAT4 expression and tumour stage, tumour type, and patient prognosis in 552 tumour samples and 35 non-tumour samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

Analysis of the association of TNF-α, IL-1A, and IL-1B polymorphisms with peri-implantitis in a Chinese non-smoking population.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the genetic variations which could regulate inflammatory responses were associated with the risk of peri-implantitis.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated three genetic variants including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) - 308G/A, interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1A) - 889C/T, and IL-1 beta (IL-1B) + 3954C/T, as risk factors for peri-implantitis, in a total of 144 patients with peri-implantitis and 174 healthy controls in a Chinese non-smoking population.

Results: Logistic regression analyses revealed that subjects carrying the T allele of IL-1A - 889C/T and IL-1B + 3954C/T had a significant 2.

Multilocus genotyping of Giardia duodenalis isolated from patients in Egypt.

Human giardiasis is a common waterborne/foodborne parasitic disease worldwide, especially in developing countries. Prevalence and molecular identity of Giardia parasites are largely controversial. The present study was conducted to determine the occurrence of Giardia parasites and the genetic profile of circulating assemblage(s) in patients attended the outpatient clinic at Kafrelsheikh University hospital, Kafr El Sheikh Province, Egypt.

Rapid and sensitive detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum using a newly developed recombinase polymerase amplification assay.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the bacterial pathogen responsible for tick-borne fever and human granulocytic anaplasmosis, can seriously affect the health of humans and a wide range of other mammals. In this study, we developed a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay to detect A. phagocytophilum in clinical samples.

TSP-1 is downregulated and inversely correlates with miR-449c expression in Cushing's disease.

The pathogenesis of Cushing's disease, which is caused by pituitary corticotroph adenoma, remains to be studied. Secreted angioinhibitory factor thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is an adhesive glycoprotein that mediates cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions and is associated with platelet aggregation, angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. We have found that the expression of TSP-1 is significantly lower in human pituitary corticotroph tumours compared with normal adenohypophysis.

Spondylolisthesis with Uncommon Congenital Deformity of L4-L5 Vertebral Fusion Treated by Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Background: Diagnosis and management of congenital anomalies of the spine can be a challenge because of their complex presentations. We present an uncommon case of congenital deformity of the spine with L4-L5 vertebral fusion, mimicking a single vertebra, and L3 spondylolisthesis treated by oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF).

Case Description: A 69-year-old woman presented with increasing lower back pain radiating to the left leg, with aggravation of symptoms for the past 6 months, causing difficulty in walking.

Influences of Stored Product Insect Movements on Integrated Pest Management Decisions.

Insect movement inside and outside grain bulks and processed products influences pest management decisions. Movement allows insects to find essential food resources, shelters (refuges), warmer and/or humid locations, mating and egg-laying sites, even when they are rare in fields, buildings, mills, warehouses, and inside grain masses. This review discussed the advantages and disadvantages of stored product insect movements, and the influence of insect mobility on some integrated pest management practices.

Bite force measurements for objective evaluations of orthodontic tooth movement-induced pain in rats.

Objective: To examine the reliability of bite force for evaluating orthodontic tooth movement-induced pain in rats.

Design: Orthodontic tooth movement-induced pain was induced by mounting springs (40 g) between incisors and ipsilateral molars in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Five group sets of animals were used: for the first group set, 20 rats were randomly divided into a force group (n = 10) and a sham group (n = 10); for the second group set, 20 rats were divided into a 20-g group and a 80-g group; for the third group set, 20 rats were randomly divided into either a CFA group (complete freund's adjuvant) (n = 10) receiving periodontal injections of CFA at baseline or a control group (n = 10) receiving periodontal injections of saline at baseline; for the forth group set, 24 rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: force + saline, control + saline, force + antiNGF and control + NGF (NGF: nerve growth factor).

Quantitative Correction of Cervical Sagittal Deformity in Atlanto-Axial Dislocation.

Study Design: A mechanism-based reasoning and retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To establish a quantitative relationship between the change of clivo-axial angle (CXA) and the change of subaxial cervical lordosis (CL) in correction surgery of atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD).

Summary Of Background Data: The evolving understanding of mechanism has dramatically improved the treatment modality of AAD.

Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes following Combined Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Lateral Instrumentation for the Treatment of Degenerative Spine Deformity: A Preliminary Retrospective Study.

Objective: The authors recently used a combination of minimally invasive oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) and lateral fixation for the treatment of degenerative spine deformity. The early results were promising. Radiographic and clinical results as well as complications were retrospectively assessed in the current study.

Multilocus Typing of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Pig Reveals the High Prevalence, Zoonotic Potential, Host Adaptation and Geographical Segregation in China.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is one of the most frequently diagnosed Microsporidia of humans and most animals. However, there is no information on E. bieneusi infection of pigs in Tibet and Henan, China.