Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis with Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Conjunction with Unilateral Pedicle Screw Fixation via the Wiltse Approach.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) in conjunction with unilateral pedicle screw fixation (UPSF) via the Wiltse approach in treating degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS). METHODS: The article is a retrospective analysis. Twelve patients with DLS who underwent combined OLIF and UPSF between July 2017 and December 2018 were included. The study included 2 male and 10 female patients, with a mean age at the time of the operation of 67.2 ± 9.1 years. The surgical characteristics and complications were evaluated. The clinical and radiological data such as the correction of deformity, coronal and sagittal profile were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time of the study was 26.8 ± 1.8 months. At the final follow-up, all patients who underwent combined OLIF and UPSF achieved statistically significant improvements in coronal Cobb angle (from 19.6° ± 4.8° to 6.9° ± 3.8°, P < 0.01), distance between the C7 plumb line and central sacral vertebral line (from 2.5 ± 1.7 cm to 0.9 ± 0.6 cm, P < 0.01), sagittal vertebral axis (from 4.3 ± 4.3 cm to 1.5 ± 1.0 cm, P = 0.03), lumbar lordosis (from 29.4° ± 8.6° to 40.8° ± 5.8°, P < 0.01), pelvic tilt (from 27.6° ± 10.8° to 18.3° ± 7.0°, P < 0.01), pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch (from 23.3° ± 10.5° to 11.9° ± 8.4°, P < 0.01), and cross-sectional area of the dural sac (from 87.33 ± 39.41 mm2 to 124.70 ± 39.26 mm2 , P < 0.01). The visual analogue score for back and leg pain and Oswestry Disability Index of all patients significantly improved postoperatively (P < 0.01). One case of lumbar plexus injury was found after surgery. During the follow-up period, one patient had cage subsidence. A fusion rate of 100% and good positioning of the pedicle screws were achieved in all patients at the final follow-up. CONCLUSION: OLIF in conjunction with UPSF is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure for correcting both coronal and sagittal deformities, as it results in an improved quality of life in patients with DLS.

The inhibitory effect of Binens bipinnata L. extract on U14 tumour in mice.

The objective of this paper was to study the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effect of Bidens bipinnata L. extract on growth of cervical carcinoma U14 cells. MTT method was used to determine the inhibitory effect of Bidens bipinnata L. extract on U14 tumour cells, and the effects of Bidens bipinnata L. extract on inhibition rate of solid tumour and life prolongation rate of ascites tumour were observed through the establishment of two animal models of mouse cervical carcinoma U14 solid tumour and ascites tumour. In the in vitro MTT assay, the inhibition rate gradually increased with the increase of dose of Bidens bipinnata L. and the extension of time. Its inhibition rate was 70.44% at a concentration of 80µg/L. Solid tumour inhibition rates in the high- and low-dose groups and cisplatin group were 49.13%, 2.26% and 75.72% respectively; life prolongation rates in each ascites tumour group were 63.63%, 34.86% and 87.34% respectively. The Bidens bipinnata L. extract has a certain inhibitory effect on growth of mouse cervical carcinoma U14.

Synergistic antitumor activity of reversine combined with aspirin in cervical carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

A recent report showed that reversine treatment could induce murine myoblasts dedifferentiation into multipotent progenitor cells and inhibit proliferation of some tumors, and other reports showed that apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells could be induced by aspirin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the synergistic antitumor effects of reversine and aspirin on cervical cancer. The inhibition rate of reversine and aspirin on cervical cancer cell lines' (HeLa and U14) was determined by MTT method, cell cycle of HeLa and U14 cells was analyzed by FACS, mitochondrial membrane potential of HeLa and U14 was detected using a JC-1 kit. HeLa and U14 colony formation was analyzed by soft agar colony formation assay. The expression of caspase-3, Bcl-2/Bax, cyclin D1 and p21 was detected by qRT-PCR and Western Blotting. Moreover, tumor weight and tumor volume was assessed using a murine model of cervical cancer with U14 cells subcutaneously (s.c.) administered into the neck, separately or combined with drug administration via the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. The inhibition rate of cells in the combination group (10 µmol/L reversine, 10 mmol/L aspirin) increased significantly in comparison to that when the drugs were used alone (P < 0.05); moreover, this combination could synergistically inhibit the proliferation of five cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, U14, Siha, Caski and C33A). In the therapeutic mouse model, tumor weight and tumor volume of cervical cancer bearing mice was more reduced when compared with the control agents (P < 0.05) in tumor-bearing mice. The combination of reversine and aspirin exerts synergistic growth inhibition and apoptosis induction on cervical cancers cells.

A temporary self-expanding metallic stent for malignant colorectal obstruction.

AIM: To investigate the clinical safety and efficacy of a temporary self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) for malignant colorectal obstruction. METHODS: From September 2007 to June 2012, 33 patients with malignant colorectal obstruction were treated with a temporary SEMS. The stent had a tubular configuration with a retrieval lasso attached inside the proximal end of the stent to facilitate its removal. The SEMS was removed one week after placement. Clinical examination, abdominal X-ray and a contrast study were prospectively performed and both initial and follow-up data before and at 1 d, 1 wk, and 1 mo, 3 mo, 6 mo and 12 mo after stent placement were obtained. Data collected on the technical and clinical success of the procedures, complications, need for reinsertion and survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Stent placement and removal were technically successful in all patients with no procedure-related complications. Post-procedural complications included stent migration (n = 2) and anal pain (n = 2). Clinical success was achieved in 31 (93.9%) of 33 patients with resolution of bowel obstruction within 3 d of stent removal. Eleven of the 33 patients died 73.81 ± 23.66 d (range 42-121 d) after removal of the stent without colonic re-obstruction. Clinical success was achieved in another 8 patients without symptoms of obstruction during the follow-up period. Reinsertion of the stent was performed in the remaining 12 patients with re-obstruction after 84.33 ± 51.80 d of follow-up. The mean and median periods of relief of obstructive symptoms were 97.25 ± 9.56 d and 105 ± 17.43 d, respectively, using Kaplan-Meier analysis. CONCLUSION: Temporary SEMS is a safe and effective approach in patients with malignant colorectal obstruction due to low complication rates and good medium-term outcomes.

[CHL prevent colon neoplasms in mice and its selective inhibition on COX-2].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Chlorophyllin (CHL) was proved to have strong anti-inducement effect toward many mutagens and epicarcinogens. This study was to explore effect of CHL in preventing colon neoplasms in mice induced by dimethylhydrazine (DMH), and the selective inhibition on cyclooxygenase 2(COX-2). METHODS: The colorectal neoplasms were induced with DMH in mice and the different dose of CHL were administered in different phases, then the prevention of colorectal neoplasms by CHL was examined; The IC50 and growth curve of HT29 cells were measured with MTT method after treated with CHL; The effect of CHL on the expression of COX-1 mRNA and COX-2 mRNA in HT29 cells were measured with RT-PCR method; The effect of CHL on the expression of COX-2 protein and NF-kappaB protein were measured with western blot and immunohistochemistry methods. RESULTS: The incidence of colon cancer, average tumor amount, and percentage of carcinoma in CHL group were significantly lower than those in DMH group (P< .05); CHL could inhibit the growth of HT29 cells. The effects were dose dependent; CHL could selectively inhibit the expression of COX-2mRNA in HT29 cells,the expression of COX-2 protein in colon neoplasms and HT29 cells, and the expression of NF-kappaB protein in colon neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS: CHL could prevent colon neoplasms in mice induced by DMH and the preventive effect related to selective inhibition on COX-2, furthermore, the inhibition of CHL on COX-2 was realized by inhibiting NF-kappaB protein.