Gray Matter Abnormalities in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Voxel-Based Morphometry Studies.

Background: Numerous studies utilizing voxel-based morphometry (VBM) have documented gray matter (GM) alterations in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) compared to healthy controls. However, the inconsistency in GM abnormalities observed across different studies has hindered their potential application as objective neuroimaging biomarkers or therapeutic targets. To address this issue, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of VBM studies to identify robust GM differences between CLBP patients and healthy controls.

SESN1 is a FOXO3 effector that counteracts human skeletal muscle ageing.

Sarcopenia, a skeletal muscle disorder in which loss of muscle mass and function progresses with age, is associated with increased overall frailty, risk of falling and mortality in the elders. Here, we reveal that SESN1 safeguards skeletal muscle from ageing downstream of the longevity gene FOXO3, which we recently reported is a geroprotector in primate skeletal muscle. Knockdown of SESN1 mimicked the human myotube ageing phenotypes observed in the FOXO3-deficient human myotubes, whereas genetic activation of SESN1 alleviated human myotube senescence.

[Analysis of clinical effects and risk factors of short implant followed up for 7-9 years].

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term clinical efficacy of short implants and analyze the influencing factors of the survival rate.

Methods: A total of 178 patients who received implant therapy in the Department of Stomatology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2010 to December 2014 were selected, including 334 short implants of Bicon (implant length ≤6 mm). The basic condition, restoration design, short implant survival rate and complications were observed and analyzed.

Surgical treatment of sacral fractures following lumbosacral arthrodesis: Case report and literature review.

Sacral fractures following posterior lumbosacral fusion are an uncommon complication. Only a few case series and case reports have been published so far. This article presents a case of totally displaced sacral fracture following posterior L4-S1 fusion in a 65-year-old patient with a 15-year history of corticosteroid use who underwent open reduction and internal fixation using iliac screws.

[Analysis of sagittal parameters about senior thoracolumbar proximal junctional kyphosis after lumbar long segment fusion].

Objective: To explore the radiographic risk factors of senior thoracolumbar proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) after lumbar long segment fusion.

Methods: From January 2009 to December 2011, the PJK group enrolled 9 patients who satisfied the following criteria: being older than 60 years, having lumbar fusion operation no less than 4 levels, upper instrumented vertebrae being L1 or L2, emerging PJK in 2-year follow-up, and the control group enrolled 10 matched patients without PJK. Their sagittal parameters including sagittal vertical axis, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, upper instrumented vertebral angle, pelvic incidence, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, lumbo-pelvic lordosis on full length spine lateral film were measured, the oswestry disability index (ODI ) scores of the two groups in the last follow up recorded, and the parameters and ODI scores of two groups compared.

[Retrospective study of complication of interspinous implants for degenerative lumbar disease].

Objective: To summarize and analyze the complications of interspinous implants for degenerative lumbar disease.

Methods: From September 2007 to September 2011, 177 cases with degenerative lumbar diseases were treated with interspinous implants. There were 99 male patients and 78 female patients, the average age was 44.

[Clinical characteristics and reoperation of symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration postoperation of lumbar fusion].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and reoperation of symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration postoperation of lumbar fusion.

Methods: In the study, 28 cases of symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration postoperation of lumbar fusion from May 2007 to April 2012 were retrospectively reviewed,with an average age of (64.3±8.

[Prevention for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after spinal surgery].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of venous thrombus embolism (VTE) prophylaxis according to risk stratifications after spinal surgery.

Methods: From June 2008 to June 2009, we separated 298 spinal patients who had different VTE risk factors into low-, medium- and high-risk groups for 22 cases, 48 cases and 228 cases respectively. Physical prevention measures such as thigh-length thromboembolic deterrent stockings (TEDS) and pneumatic sequential compression device (PSCD) were used in low- and medium-risk groups.

[Biomechanical study of interspinous fixational effect on the stiffness of adjacent segments].

Objective: To discuss the effect of interspinous fixation (Wallis) on the stiffness of adjacent segments by biomechanical measurements.

Methods: The surgical segments of all 23 patients were L4/5 lumbar disc herniation with or without lumbar stenosis. Thirteen patients (experimental group) underwent interspinous (Wallis) fixation, and ten patients (control group) underwent PLIF.

[Retrospective study of combined application of interspinous process fixation system and rigid fixation system for degenerative lumbar diseases].

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of combined application of interspinous process fixation system and rigid fixation system for degenerative lumbar diseases.

Methods: From September 2007 to September 2008, 16 cases with degenerative lumbar diseases were treated with combined application of interspinous process fixation system and rigid fixation system. The clinical results were assessed by VAS of pain of lumbar and lower limbs, lumbar JOA score and Prolo functional score.

[Distant pain after thoracolumbar compressive fracture].

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the causes and treatment of distant pain after thoracolumbar compressive fracture.

Methods: The investigators retrospectively analyzed 14 cases of thoracolumbar compressive fracture with distant pain, observed the pain region and its relationship with thoracolumbar compressive fracture and administered the treatment of pain.

Results: There were 14 cases of thoracolumbar compressive fracture with lumbar sacral pain whose painful region were located in paravertebral muscles (n = 6), near iliac crest (n = 5) and in hypochondrium (n = 3).

[Hydrology and pollution characteristics of urban runoff: Beijing as a sample].

The purpose of this study is identification and characterization of hydrological process of urban runoff, as well as concentration variation of pollutants in it. Samples were collected in 4 rainfall events in Beijing from Jun. 2006 to Aug.

[Surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic amyotrophy].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of cervical spondylotic amyotrophy.

Methods: 9 cervical spondylotic amyotrophy patients and 15 cervical radiculopathy, myelopathy spondylosis patients were included in this study. Their clinical manifestation, MRI image results and treatment were analysis.