Publications by authors named "Ren-Jie Zhang"
Objective: The incidence of vertebral fragile fractures peaked among the elderly population, and identifying individuals at high risk of vertebral fractures and promptly instituting preventions are of critical importance. This study aims to determine the efficacy and values of Hounsfield unit (HU) values, vertebral bone quality (VBQ) scores, bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) to discriminate between patients with and without vertebral fractures.
Methods: A thorough search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wan Fang Database to identify potential studies that met the eligibility criteria.
Article Synopsis
- Robot guidance (RG) and computer-assisted navigation (CAN) methods are being increasingly used in cervical spine surgery to enhance the accuracy of cervical screw placement, which can prevent serious complications associated with malpositioning.
- A meta-analysis of multiple studies, including data from 946 patients, showed that both RG and CAN provide significantly better accuracy rates, fewer postoperative complications, and reduced blood loss compared to conventional freehand (FH) techniques.
- Despite the advantages in accuracy and safety, there were no significant differences in operation time or patient-reported outcomes between the navigation and FH methods at the final follow-up.
Article Synopsis
- The study looks at how different surgery techniques for the spine affect its stability, particularly when treating a condition called degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.
- Researchers created computer models using CT scans to compare six methods: a basic OLIF, and OLIF combined with various types of screws.
- Results showed that the BCBT method was the best for keeping stress low and stability high, while the standalone OLIF had the most movement and stress overall.
Background: Shizao decoction (SZD) consisted of Euphorbia kansui (EK), Euphorbia pekinensis (EP), Daphne genkwa (DG), and Fructus Jujubae (FJ) is a classic Chinese herbal medicine formula for treating malignant ascites, which is closely related to the modulation of gut microbiota by our previous study. For water-expelling members (WEM) including EK, EP, and DG may have side effects on the intestine, FJ is employed for detoxification and effectivity enhancement of WEM. However, the underlying mechanism for the compatibility of WEM and FJ is still unknown.
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- The study aimed to develop a new method for screw placement in lumbar spine surgeries by creating a cortical bone trajectory (CBT) that targets different vertebral areas, particularly for patients with osteoporosis.
- Using imaging software, the researchers simulated three types of CBTs and measured various parameters like screw size and angles to evaluate their effectiveness and safety for placement in the lumbar spine.
- Results showed a 72.25% success rate for screw placement using the new CBT designs, with a notable improvement in screw placement success compared to traditional methods, highlighting the importance of pedicle width in planning.
Article Synopsis
- The study explores the potential of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and ADAMTS7 as biomarkers for intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), a condition causing significant disability.
- Researchers collected tissues and blood from both rabbit models and human patients, analyzing the expression of COMP and ADAMTS7 in relation to IVDD severity.
- The findings revealed that levels of COMP and ADAMTS7 rose with IVDD progression, and their combination provided a more accurate diagnostic tool for IVDD compared to testing each biomarker individually.
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a major contributor to low back pain (LBP), and inflammatory factors play crucial roles in its pathogenesis. Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) has been reported to induce an inflammatory response in chondrocytes, microglia and preadipocytes, but its role in the pathogenesis of nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) degeneration remains unclear. In this study, we mainly utilized an acidosis-induced NPC degeneration model and a rabbit puncture IVDD model to investigate the role of FSTL1 in IVDD both in vitro and in vivo.
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- - The study investigates the effectiveness of Hounsfield units (HU), vertebral bone quality (VBQ), and bone mineral density (BMD) as predictors for thoracolumbar fragility fractures by analyzing 156 patients, including a control group.
- - Results showed that HU had the strongest predictive power (AUC = 0.863) for fractures, followed by DEXA-measured BMD (AUC = 0.813), while VBQ had the lowest predictive ability (AUC = 0.602).
- - The study concludes that all three indicators can predict fracture risk, with HU being the most effective, and provides specific thresholds for fracture prediction: HU (88), VBQ (3
Article Synopsis
- Chronic low back pain (CLBP) significantly affects patients' quality of life and is often linked with psychological issues like depression and anxiety, highlighting the need for effective psychological treatments in managing CLBP.
- A systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted on randomized clinical trials to evaluate various nonpharmacological interventions aimed at alleviating psychological symptoms in CLBP patients, using resources like PubMed and Cochrane Library.
- The review included 66 trials with over 4,800 participants, revealing that the quality of evidence was generally low and there were notable risks of bias, though it identified seven intervention categories with 26 specific strategies for addressing psychological symptoms in clinical practice.
Article Synopsis
- C1 transpedicular screw (C1TS) placement offers good stability but faces challenges in patients with basilar invagination (BI) due to anatomical variations and arterial complications.
- This study aims to classify posterior arch variations of the atlas, investigate the necessary characteristics for C1TS placement in BI patients, and compare these with non-BI individuals.
- Results indicate that the BI group has smaller lateral mass dimensions and a lower prevalence of suitable posterior arch types for C1TS compared to controls, highlighting the need for careful consideration when planning these surgical interventions.
Article Synopsis
- The study compares the intra-pedicular accuracy of robot-assisted (RA) techniques versus conventional freehand (FH) methods for placing cervical pedicle screws in patients with cervical traumatic diseases.
- In a retrospective analysis of 52 patients, the RA method demonstrated a significantly higher rate of optimal accuracy (82.7% grade A) compared to the FH method (60.8% grade A).
- Despite the improved accuracy with the RA technique, it also resulted in longer surgical times and less postoperative drainage, but outcomes in blood loss and complications were similar between both methods.*
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted (RA) screw placement in cervical spine surgery, acknowledging the complexity and potential complications involved in this area compared to thoracolumbar surgeries.
- - A meta-analysis including one RCT, three comparative cohort studies, and three case series with a total of 160 patients and 719 cervical screws reports a high accuracy rate of 88% for optimal placement and 98.4% for clinically acceptable placement using robotic guidance.
- - Subgroup analyses showed varied accuracy rates for screw placement based on type and cervical segments, with optimal accuracy of 88.2% for pedicle screws and 96.2%, 89.7%, and 82.6% for screws in
Article Synopsis
- Dynesys stabilization (DS) aims to maintain mobility in spinal segments while preventing issues in adjacent segments, but its long-term benefits remain debated in clinical settings.* -
- A study compared outcomes of DS versus instrumented fusion in treating degenerative lumbar spine disease over at least 2 years, analyzing pain scores, surgical revisions, and radiation metrics.* -
- Results revealed that DS patients reported less pain and had fewer surgical revisions and adjacent segment degeneration compared to those who underwent fusion, while DS maintained better range of motion in stabilized segments.*
Article Synopsis
- * It included 410 patients, examining various insertion parameters and bone density, finding that those with BI had significantly smaller laminae and lower bone density values.
- * Results indicated that the BI group had lower rates of successful screw fixations compared to the control group, and factors like gender and vertebral variations influenced screw insertion parameters.
Ferroptosis: A potential target for the intervention of intervertebral disc degeneration.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)
November 2022
Article Synopsis
- * Early studies on ferroptosis focused on a specific signaling pathway (involving GPX4), but new research has revealed additional mechanisms that don't depend on GPX4.
- * This type of cell death is linked to various health issues like drug-resistant cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, making it a potential target for therapies aimed at treating intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD).
Objective: To determine the rates and risk factors of pedicle screw placement accuracy and the proximal facet joint violation (FJV) using TINAVI robot-assisted technique.
Methods: Patients with thoracolumbar fractures or degenerative diseases were retrospectively recruited from June 2018 and June 2020. The pedicle penetration and proximal FJV were compared in different instrumental levels to identify the safe and risk segments during insertion.
Article Synopsis
- The study compares the accuracy of robot-assisted (RA) and cortical bone trajectory (CBT) methods for placing pedicle screws in spine surgery, particularly focusing on their superiority in protecting facet joints compared to conventional methods.
- Analysis involved 166 patients undergoing posterior L4-5 fusion, assessing screw accuracy and facet joint violation (FJV) rates through postoperative CT images.
- Results showed that RA had the highest optimal screw placement accuracy at 87.3%, and both RA and CBT techniques resulted in fewer FJVs compared to conventional pedicle screw insertion, with CBT identified as an independent risk factor affecting accuracy.
Background: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a biomarker for cancer. However, the relationship between serum LDH levels and the survival of patients with brain metastasis has been fully revealed. We aimed to evaluate the serum LDH levels and assess its prognostic value in patients with BM.
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- The study investigates carbon emissions in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, focusing on the efficiency of carbon emissions and their spatial organization.
- It finds that while carbon emission efficiency has improved, disparities remain among cities, indicating a certain hierarchy and differentiation at the provincial level.
- Critical groups in the carbon emission efficiency network are identified, and the paper offers policy recommendations for enhancing efficiency through technology and market systems.
Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Objective: To investigate the effect of HRVA on the intrapedicular accuracy of C2PS placement through the freehand method in patients with BI and analyse the possible risk factors for C2PS malpositioning.
Method: A total of 91 consecutive patients with BI who received 174 unilateral C2PS placements through the freehand method were retrospectively included.
Article Synopsis
- C2 pedicle screw placement in patients with basilar invagination (BI) and high-riding vertebral artery (HRVA) poses significant risks due to anatomical variations, yet no prior studies have established a safe entry point or trajectory for this procedure.
- This study aimed to identify and compare the ideal parameters for screw placement among BI patients with HRVA, BI patients without HRVA, and patients without BI, providing a reference for safer surgical practices.
- The research included 396 patients and evaluated insertion metrics, revealing specific angles and distances for optimal screw placement, while also analyzing factors affecting these measurements through statistical methods.