Using a 3D Navigation Template to Increase the Accuracy of Thoracic Pedicle Screws in Patients with Scoliosis.

This study compares the accuracy and safety of pedicle screw placement using a 3D navigation template with the free-hand fluoroscopy technique in scoliotic patients. Fifteen scoliotic patients were recruited and divided into a template group (eight cases) and a free-hand group (seven cases). All patients received posterior corrective surgeries, and the pedicle screw was placed using a 3D navigation template or a free-hand technique.

p53 inhibits CTR1-mediated cisplatin absorption by suppressing SP1 nuclear translocation in osteosarcoma.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone tumor mainly affecting children and young adolescents. Cisplatin is a first-line chemotherapy drug for OS, however, drug resistance severely limits the survival of OS. Nevertheless, cellular factors in cisplatin resistance for OS remain obscure.

Exosomes derived from microRNA-21 overexpressed adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells alleviate spine osteoporosis in ankylosing spondylitis mice.

MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) can induce proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to promote bone formation, we therefore aimed to investigate whether exosomes derived from miR-21 overexpressing adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) could improve spine osteoporosis in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) mice. Cultured AD-MSCs were transfected with lentivirus vectors containing miR-21 or control vector, and the supernatant was centrifugated and filtrated to harvest the exosomes (miR-21-Exos or vector-Exos). BALB/c mice were immunized with cartilage proteoglycan to establish proteoglycan-induced ankylosing spondylitis (PGIA) model.

ApoM is an important potential protective factor in the pathogenesis of primary liver cancer.

In recent years, abnormal liver lipid metabolism has emerged as one of the important pathogenesis pathways of primary liver cancer. It is highly important to identify the mechanisms to explore potential prevention and treatment targets. Apolipoprotein M is specifically expressed in the liver and participates in liver lipid metabolism, but the evidence that ApoM affects primary liver cancer is insufficient.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0076906 competes with OGN for miR-1305 biding site to alleviate the progression of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder, the pathogenic factors of which include the decreased ability of osteogenesis and enhanced osteolysis. Human-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) possess the differential capacity to osteoblasts and chondrocytes, so the application of hMSCs in bone tissue is promising to be effective. A group of RNAs which lack of 5' and 3'ends called circular RNAs (circRNAs) were discovered.

The Treatment of Oesophageal Perforation after Anterior Cervical Spinal Surgery.

Oesophageal perforation is a rare complication occurring during or after cervical spine surgery, and the risk factors are not well understood. This study presents a case of a 25-year-old man with oesophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery. It is suggested that four factors (anatomical structure, mechanism of trauma, implant dislodgment, and the operation) could induce postoperative oesophageal perforation after cervical spine surgery performed using the anterior surgical approach.

Quality of randomized controlled trials in acupuncture treatment of hepatitis B virus infection--a systematic review.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with acupuncture treatment for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A systematic review of the literature for clinical trials was performed up to September 2008. RCTs assessing acupuncture point stimulation for patients with HBV infection were considered for inclusion.

A linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach to robust H/sub 2/ sampled-data control for linear uncertain systems.

In this paper, we consider the H/sub 2/ sampled-data control for uncertain linear systems by the impulse response interpretation of the H/sub 2/ norm. Two H/sub 2/ measures for sampled-data systems are considered. The robust optimal control procedures subject to these two H/sub 2/ criteria are proposed.

Traditional chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic prostatitis in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine for treating chronic prostatitis (CPT) in China.

Design: Electronic medical database from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was searched, language is Chinese; date is from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2003. A total of 108 trials were found, and all studies with words like "randomization" or "quasi-randomization" in their abstracts were included, whether they used blinding or not.

Effects of chai hu (radix burpleuri) containing formulation on plasma beta-endorphin, epinephrine and dopamine on patients.

Chai Hu (Radix Burpleuri), a major ingredient in many traditional Chinese medicine formulas, such as Xiao Yan Wan, is used in the treatment of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome (LSSDS). The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of Xiao Yao Wan containing Chai Hu on the changes of plasma indices in patients with LSSDS. Fifty-eight cases of LSSDS were randomly divided into two groups: 41 cases in the experimental group were treated with Xiao Yao Wan containing Chai Hu and 17 cases in the control group were treated with Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan for one consecutive month in a single blind design.