Riveting technique in percutaneous balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia remedy.

BACKGROUND: The percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) is a safe and simple treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. It works by compressing the Gasserian ganglion to block pain signals from the trigeminal nerve. To ensure effectiveness, it is important to focus the compression on the lower part of the balloon. OBJECTIVE: To validate the efficacy of a riveting technique, specifically pulling an inflated balloon, in order to apply enhanced compression on the ganglion. METHODS: To compare this novel technique with the conventional approach, a retrospective investigation was conducted on consecutive PBCs performed in our department between 2019 and 2022. For postoperative outcome assessment, efficacy was defined as achieving a VAS score of 0 or an improvement exceeding 5 points. Postoperative numbness was graded as none, mild, or severe based on its impact on daily life and tolerance level. RESULTS: Excluding cases with missed follow-up, a total of 179 participants were included in the study, and their follow-up period ranged up to 40 months. Postoperatively, symptomatic remission was achieved by 98.1% (52/53) of patients in the riveting technique group compared to 87.3% (110/126) in the conventional group (P<0.05). At the last follow-up period, with recurrence observed over time, the long-term efficacy of riveting and conventional groups were 94.3% and 74.6%, respectively (P<0.05). The majority of cases in both groups experienced ipsilateral facial numbness immediately following PBC, which appeared to diminish after 3 months in both groups without significant difference between them (P>0.05).

Lumbar Endoscopic Unilateral Laminotomy With Bilateral Decompression Surgery in Severe Lumbar Stenosis Under Electrophysiological Monitoring-Focused on Full-Visualized Trephine/Osteotome.

OBJECTIVE: Although endoscopic drill has the advantages in manipulation and hemostasis, whose low efficiency and blurred vision reduce the efficacy of lumbar endoscopic unilateral laminotomy with bilateral decompression (LE-ULBD). The present study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of full-visualized trephine/osteotome in the LE-ULBD surgery for severe lumbar stenosis. METHODS: Fifty-seven severe lumbar stenosis patients who underwent LE-ULBD between January 2020 to January 2023 were enrolled, who were divided into drill and visualized trephine groups. The medical records including demographics, operative duration, intraoperative electrophysiological findings, postoperative hospital stay or hospital stay, postoperative outcomes and complications were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients included 15 in drill and 42 in trephine group were enrolled in the study. There was significant difference in the pre- and postoperative visual analogue scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores in both groups (p < 0.05). The mean operative duration in the trephine group (101.05 ± 12.18 minutes) was shorter than that in the drill group (134.67 ± 9.68 minutes) (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups in electrophysiological monitoring, posthospital stays, postoperative outcomes and complications. Abnormal free-electromyography (EMG) were recorded in 2 (13.3%) and 5 patients (11.9%) in the drill and trephine group. Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential changes occurred in 3 (20%) and 3 patients (7.1%) in the drill and trephine group and all patients recovered immediately when surgery ended. No serious complications and recurrence occurred in all the patients. CONCLUSION: Full-visualized trephine/osteotome has been approved to be convenient, safe and efficient in our study, which combined with translaminar inside-out technique and EMG monitoring especially free-EMG may offer a new choice in LE-ULBD surgery for lumbar stenosis patients.

Downregulation of TET1 Promotes Bladder Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Reducing DNA Hydroxymethylation of AJAP1.

Ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) is a member of methylcytosine dioxygenase, which catalyzes 5-methylcytosine (5 mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5 hmC) to promote the demethylation process. The dysregulated TET1 protein and 5 hmC level were reported to either suppress or promote carcinogenesis in a cancer type-dependent manner. Currently, the role of TET1 in the development of urinary bladder cancer (UBC) and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we found that TET1 expression was downregulated in UBC specimens compared with normal urothelium and was inversely related to tumor stage and grade and overall survival, suggesting its negative association with UBC progression. TET1 silencing in UBC cells increased cell proliferation and invasiveness while the ectopic expression of wild-type TET1-CD, but not its enzymatic inactive mutant, reversed these effects and suppressed tumorigenicity in vivo. In addition, as a direct regulator of TET1 activity, vitamin C treatment increased 5 hmC level and inhibited the anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenicity of UBC cells. Furthermore, we found that TET1 maintained the hypomethylation in the promoter of the AJAP1 gene, which codes for adherens junction-associated protein 1. The downregulation of AJAP1 reversed TET1-CD-induced nuclear translocation of ß-catenin, thus inhibiting the expression of its downstream genes. In human UBC specimens, AJAP1 is frequently downregulated and positively associated with TET1. Notably, low expression levels of both TET1 and AJAP1 predict poor prognosis in UBC patients. In conclusion, we found that the frequently downregulated TET1 level reduces the hydroxymethylation of AJAP1 promoter and subsequently activates ß-catenin signaling to promote UBC development. The downregulation of both TET1 and AJAP1 might be a promising prognostic biomarker for UBC patients.

[Investigation of the prevalence of periodontal diseases among naval personnel during prolonged sailing].

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of periodontal diseases among naval personnel during prolonged sailing. METHODS: The calculus index-simplified (CI-S), plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), community periodontal index (CPI), attachment loss (AL), number of missing tooth (NMT) and prevalence of periodontal disease were recorded among 186 naval personnel who participated in prolonged sailing before and after sailing. The data was analyzed with SPSS 14.0 software package. RESULTS: Each periodontal index after sailing was significantly higher than that of before sailing(P<0.01). Before sailing, the prevalence of periodontal diseases from 186 objects was 59.7%; While after sailing the prevalence increased to 83.3%. Among them, patients who suffered from gingivitis and mid or moderate periodontitis raised greatly, and significant differences were found in the prevalence and degree of periodontal disease (P<0.01) compared between pre-sailing and post-sailing. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged sailing environment, food constraint and poor oral hygiene can influence periodontal state of naval personnel. To enhance propaganda and education on oral hygiene promptly and effectively, to develop the habit of correct toothbrushing, to have balanced and rational diet, and to perform proper periodontal non-surgical treatment and medication are essential to periodontal health of naval personnel during prolonged sailing.

[The effects of ADAM28 AS-ODN on biological function of human gingival fibroblasts].

PURPOSE: To study the effects of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 28 (ADAM28) antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), and analyze the possible mechanism. METHODS: Cell culture, gene transfection, MTT chromatometry, enzyme dynamics, and flow cytometry (FCM) techniques were used to detect the effects of ADAM28 AS-ODN on biological characteristics of HGFs after transfected into HGFs. The statistical differences were evaluated by SNK test with SPSS 16.0 software package. RESULTS: In ADAM28 AS-ODN group, the proliferation activity of HGFs decreased significantly. Cell percentage in S phase in AS-ODN group was notably lower than that of S-ODN and untransfected groups, and cell percentage in G2+M phase was remarkably lower than that of untransfected group. Cell proliferation index (PI=S+G2M) in AS-ODN group was significantly lower than that of the other two groups. There was a significant difference between the groups. In AS-ODN group, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) secretion activity and percentage of apoptotic cell notably increased. CONCLUSIONS: ADAM28 AS-ODN could inhibit HGFs proliferation significantly and influence the changes of cell cycle, promote HGFs differentiation and induce HGFs apoptosis remarkably.

[The effect of different factors on forming-dentin differentiation of rat dental mesenchymal cells].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of combined use of bFGF, IGF1, BMP4 and TGF-ß1 on forming-dentin differentiation of rat dental mesenchymal cells (rDMCs). METHODS: Enzyme and differential digestions were performed to isolate and culture rDECs and rDMCs, and immunofluorescence staining against cytokeratin and vimentin were carried out to identify cell sources. Then alizarin red staining and Gomori calcium-cobalt method were used to detect the mineralization ability of rDMCs after mineralized induction. Immunohistochemistry, image analysis, real-time PCR and Western blot were utilized to determine the expression differences of DSPP/CAP/OPN/OCN in rDMCs after induction by bFGF+IGF1 (group 1), TGF-ß1+BMP4 (group 2) and bFGF+IGF1+TGF-ß1+BMP4 (group 3), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 14.0 software package. RESULTS: The rDECs and rDMCs were isolated, cultured and identified successfully. Calcium nodus and ALP staining were positive in cytoplasms of rDMCs after being induced by mineralization liquid. In groups 1 and 2, the expression levels of DSPP/CAP/OPN/OCN mRNA and protein were notably higher than those of control group, significant differences were found between groups (P<0.01). Among them, the expression levels of CAP/OCN in group 1 and DSPP/OPN in group 2 were the highest, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The rDMCs possess osteogenesis property after mineralization induction. bFGF+IGF1 can notably promote the expressions of CAP/OCN, and accelerate rDMCs to differentiate into cementoblast and osteoblast, and the mineralization of cementum matrix and bone matrix. TGF-ß1+BMP4 can markedly increase the expressions of DSPP/OPN, and quicken rDMCs to differentiate into odontoblast and osteoblast, and the mineralization of dentinal matrix and bone matrix which display osteogenesis trend. Combined use of four factors had no significant synergism.

[Effects of ADAM28 AS-ODN on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of HPDLSC].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 28(ADAM28) antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of human periodontal ligament stem cell(HPDLSC) and possible mechanism. METHODS: HPDLSC was isolated, cultured in vitro and identified. Synthetic ADAM28 AS-ODN and S-ODN were transfected into HPDLSC, respectively. MTT chromatometry, enzyme dynamics and flow cytometry (FCM) were used to detect the effects of ADAM28 AS-ODN on biological characteristics of HPDLSC. Statistical significance was assessed by the Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test with SPSS 13.0 software package. RESULTS: In ADAM28 AS-ODN group, the proliferation activity and index of HPDLSC were significantly lower than those of S-ODN group and untransfected group, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) secretion level and percentage of apoptotic cells went up obviously. Significant difference was detected between AS-ODN group and other groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: ADAM28 AS-ODN could inhibit HPDLSC proliferation and influence the changes of cell cycle, promote ALP secretion and induce HPDLSC apoptosis significantly.

[The construction of ADAM28 eukaryotic expression plasmid and expression after transfected into HDFC].

PURPOSE: To construct a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM28) eukaryotic expression plasmid and detect the expression of ADAM28 gene in human dental follicle cells (HDFC) after eukaryotic plasmid was transfected into HDFC. METHODS: Gene rebuilt technique was used to construct ADAM28 eukaryotic expression plasmid, cell culture and gene transfection into HDFC mediated by Lipofectamine2000, immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of ADAM28 in HDFC. RESULTS: ADAM28 eukaryotic plasmid was constructed, identified successfully and transiently transfected into HDFC for 72 hours. The detection verified that HDFC of eukaryotic plasmid group all expressed ADAM28 protein, and no expression was found in two control groups. CONCLUSIONS: ADAM28 could be correctly translated and expressed in HDFC, which might be used for further study of biological functions of ADAM28 in odontogenic cells.