[Regulatory Mechanism of Mangiferin Combined with Bortezomib on Malignant Biological Behavior of Burkitt Lymphoma and Its Effect on Expression of CXC Chemokine Receptors].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of mangiferin combined with bortezomib on the proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and autophagy of human Burkitt lymphoma Raji cells, as well as the expression of CXC chemokine receptors (CXCRs) family, and explore the molecular mechanism between them to provide scientific basis for basic research and clinical work of Burkitt lymphoma. METHODS: Raji cells were intervened with different concentrations of mangiferin and bortezomib alone or in combination, then cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay, cell invasion ability was detected by Transwell chamber method, cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI double-staining flow cytometry, apoptosis, autophagy and Akt/mTOR pathway protein expression were detected by Western blot, and the expression changes of CXCR family was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: Different concentrations of mangiferin intervened Raji cells for different time could inhibit cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner (r =-0.682, r =-0.836). When Raji cells were intervened by combination of mangiferin and bortezomib, compared with single drug group, the proliferation and invasion abilities were significantly decreased, while the apoptosis level was significantly increased (P <0.01). Mangiferin combined with bortezomib could significantly up-regulate the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and down-regulate the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 after intervention in Raji cells. Caspase-3 was also hydrolyzed and activated, and then induced the apoptosis of Raji cells. Mangiferin combined with bortezomib could up-regulate the expression of LC3Ⅱ protein in Raji cells, and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ in cells was significantly up-regulated compared with single drug or control group (P <0.01). Mangiferin combined with bortezomib could significantly inhibit the phosphorylation levels of Akt and mTOR, inhibit the proliferation and invasion of Raji cells by inhibiting Akt/mTOR pathway, and induce cell autophagy and apoptosis. Mangiferin and bortezomib could down-regulate the expressions of CXCR4 and CXCR7 mRNA after single-agent intervention in Raji cells, and the down-regulations of CXCR4 and CXCR7 mRNA expression were more significant when the two drugs were combined (P <0.01). Mangiferin alone or combined with bortezomib had no significant effect on CXCR5 mRNA expression in Raji cells (P >0.05), while the combination of the two drugs could down-regulate the expression of CXCR3 (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Mangiferin combined with bortezomib can synergistically inhibit the proliferation and invasion of Raji cells, and induce autophagy and apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, and the inhibition of the expression of CXCR family.

Frequency and Type of Ponticulus Posticus and Lateralis in a Chinese Population: A CT-Based Analysis of 4047 Cases.

AIM: To investigate the prevalence and type of ponticulus posticus (PP) and ponticulus lateralis (PL) in the Chinese population by analyzing computed tomography (CT) scans, and to uncover the pathogenesis of PP and PL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 4,047 cases were included in this study. We evaluated cervical spine CT scans with three dimensional reconstructions and collected age, gender, and presence of PP and PL in each case. If either or both were present, location and type were recorded. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of PP was 8.01%. The age of patients with PP was significantly higher than those without. Men had a higher prevalence of PP than women. The presence of PP was more common on the left side than the right. According to our previous classification, the most common type of a PP was AC (32.41%), followed by CC (20.06%) and CA (16.98%). The overall prevalence of PL was 4.67%, with no differences between age groups, genders or by location. The most common type of PL was AC (43.92%), followed by CA (35.98%) and CC (20.11%). The prevalence of PP and PL occurring in the same patient was 1.26%. CONCLUSION: Based on cervical spine CT scans of 4,047 Chinese patients, we found that the prevalence of PP and PL were 8.01% and 4.67%, respectively. PP was more common in older patients, which strongly suggests that PP may be a congenital osseous anomaly of the atlas that mineralizes during aging.

Rapidly expanding giant neurofibroma of the back with intratumoral hematoma: a case report and literature review.

Neurofibromatosis type I is a common genetic disease that can lead to disfigurement, neurological and functional disorders. However, it is rare to meet the case which a huge mass is formed rapidly after neurofibroma ruptures. This case report describes a rare case of a 52-year-old female with a rapidly expanding mass on her back and mild anemia as the main symptoms. Physical examination showed a huge mass on the back and a surface ulceration with the diameter of 6 cm. Imaging examination revealed the abundant blood supply to the lesion. We performed preoperative arterial embolization, and surgical resection on the fifth day after embolization. After operation, proper blood transfusion and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) were given. Through 9-months follow-up study, the incision of the patient recovered well and there was no sign of tumor recurrence. Therefore, this case report provides clinicians with valuable experience in the treatment for rapidly expanding neurofibroma.

[The Value of T Cell subsets and Cytokine Levels Changes in the Clinical Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis Evaluation of Multiple Myeloma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between the changes of T lymphocyte subsets and cytokines in patients with MM and immune function status, biochemical indicators, and their relationships with clinical stage and prognosis, which is expected to provide a scientific basis for the prognosis analysis and condition monitoring of MM patients. METHODS: The clinical data of 89 MM patients in two hospitals were collected, and 36 healthy people without tumor or infectious diseases were selected as the control group. Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the changes of core members of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and cytokine levels, respectively. At the same time, automatic biochemical analyzer and automatic blood cell analyzer were used to detect serum ß2-microglobulin (ß2-MG), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), albumin (ALB), creatinine (CRE) and hemoglobin (HGB) levels, and the relationship between T lymphocyte subsets and the above indexes and their clinical significance were analyzed. RESULTS: The proportions of NK cells and CD8+T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of MM patients were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.01), the proportion of CD4+T and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05); however, there was no significant difference in the numbers CD3+T cells compared with the control group (P>0.05). The proportion of CD4+T and ratios of CD4+/CD8+ in MM patients were lower than those of normal controls, and were negatively correlated with MM staging (r=-0.964, r=-0.653), that is, the later the MM staging, the more obvious their levels were reduced, while CD8+T and NK cells were positively correlated with MM staging (r=0.891, r=0.728), that is, the later the MM staging, the more significant their levels increased. The levels of Treg cells (CD4+CD25highCD127low/-T cells/CD4+T cells) of MM patients in the disease stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ were (5.87±0.92)%, (7.97±1.32)%, (11.52±4.71)% respectively, the difference was statistically significant compared with control group (P<0.05), and the level of Treg cells in MM patients with stage III was significantly higher than that in controls and patients with other disease stages (P<0.01). The proportion of Treg cells (CD4+CD25highCD127low/-T cells/CD4+T cells) in MM patients was positively correlated with the concentration of ß2-MG and LDH (r=0.793, r=0.536), but had no significant correlation with HGB, ALB and CRE. The serum levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α in MM patients were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), which were closely related to MM staging(r=0.839, r=0.917, r=0.746), that is, the later the MM staging, the higher the levels; The serum IFN-γ level was negatively correlated with the stage of MM (r=-0.689), and its level gradually decreased with the increase of the disease stage and degree (P<0.01). There was no significant correlation between the levels of IL-2 and IL-4 and the disease stage, but they were all up-regulated compared with the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The abnormal regulation of the core members of T lymphocyte subsets and the levels of various cytokines are closely related to the disease progression and poor prognosis of MM patients, which is an effective indicator for the disease monitoring of MM patients.

SIRT1-Enriched Exosomes Derived from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Alleviate Peripheral Neuropathy via Conserving Mitochondrial Function.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a highly prevalent diabetic complication characterized at the molecular level by mitochondrial dysfunction and deleterious oxidative damage. No effective treatments for DPN are currently available. The present study was developed to examine the impact of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) overexpressing sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) on DPN through antioxidant activity and the preservation of mitochondrial homeostasis. A DPN model was established using 20-week-old diabetic model mice (db/db). Exosomes were prepared from control BMSCs (exo-control) and BMSCs that had been transduced with a SIRT1 lentivirus (exo-SIRT1). Sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity values were measured to assess neurological function, and mechanical and thermal sensitivity were analyzed in these animals. Exo-SIRT1 preparations exhibited a high loading capacity and readily accumulated within peripheral nerves following intravenous administration, whereupon they were able to promote improved neurological recovery relative to exo-control treatment. DPN mice exhibited significantly improved nerve conduction velocity following exo-SIRT1 treatment. Relative to exo-control-treated mice, those that underwent exo-SIRT1 treatment exhibited significantly elevated TOMM20 and Nrf2/HO-1 expression, reduced MDA levels, increased GSH and SOD activity, and increased MMP. Together, these results revealed that both exo-control and exo-SIRT1 administration was sufficient to reduce the morphological and behavioral changes observed in DPN model mice, with exo-SIRT1 treatment exhibiting superior therapeutic efficacy. These data thus provide a foundation for future efforts to explore other combinations of gene therapy and exosome treatment in an effort to alleviate DPN.

All-Inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using an Anterior Half of the Peroneus Longus Tendon Autograft.

BACKGROUND: The peroneus longus tendon (PLT) has been used as a graft in many orthopaedic surgical procedures because of its comparable biomechanical strength with the native anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Despite its potential, few studies have been performed to investigate the clinical reliability of ACL reconstruction using a PLT autograft. PURPOSE: To assess the clinical outcomes and donor-site morbidity of ACL reconstruction using an anterior half of the PLT (AHPLT) autograft in patients with an isolated ACL injury. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Between January 2016 and January 2017, a total of 21 patients with an isolated ACL injury underwent all-inside single-bundle ACL reconstruction using an AHPLT autograft. Knee stability was assessed using the Lachman test, pivot-shift test, and KT-2000 arthrometer (side-to-side difference) with 134-N anterior force and at 30° of knee flexion. Knee function was evaluated using the International Knee Documentation Committee score, Lysholm score, and Tegner score. Donor-site morbidity was assessed using ankle eversion and plantarflexion strength as well as the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society scoring system and the Foot and Ankle Disability Index. RESULTS: At a mean final follow-up of 40.1 months (range, 36-48 months), the KT-2000 arthrometer side-to-side difference was significantly lower compared with preoperatively (1.1 ± 0.62 vs 7.0 ± 2.18 mm, respectively; P < .001). The mean preoperative International Knee Documentation Committee, Lysholm, and Tegner scores were 52.0 ± 8.27, 50.9 ± 8.50, and 1.8 ± 0.87, respectively, increasing significantly to 94.2 ± 2.61, 95.2 ± 2.64, and 6.8 ± 1.50, respectively, at final follow-up (P < .001 for all). All patients had grade 5 muscle strength in ankle eversion and plantarflexion at the donor site, with mean American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society and Foot and Ankle Disability Index scores of 96.8 and 97.6, respectively. No complications or reoperations occurred. CONCLUSION: All-inside ACL reconstruction using an AHPLT autograft produced good functional scores and stability without obvious ankle-site morbidity.

Novel Mutations in Chinese Patients with Multiple Osteochondromas Identified Using Whole Exome Sequencing.

Background: Multiple osteochondromas (MO) are an autosomal-dominant disease characterized by the growth of multiple cartilage-capped prominences in the growth plate region of the metaphysis in long and flat bones. Materials and Methods: To detect genetic mutations related to MO, a three-generation Chinese family with MO was evaluated using whole exome sequencing for mutation screening. The candidate pathogenic mutation was validated by Sanger sequencing. Results: A novel frameshift (NM_000401.3:c.1321del:p.Leu441TrpfsTer28) in exon 8 of the exotosin 2 (EXT2) gene was identified in two affected individuals. Codons 441 and 468 in the EXT2 gene are highly conserved among vertebrates as demonstrated by multiple sequence alignment. The c.1321 del C resulted in an amino acid change at codon 441, which generated a premature stop codon at position 468, causing complete loss of the glycosyltransferase domain. Conclusions: A novel frameshift mutation c.1321delC detected in the EXT2 gene may help in prenatal genetic screening and early diagnosis of MO.

Identification of Novel Mutations in the EXT1 and EXT2 Genes of Chinese Patients with Hereditary Multiple Osteochondromas.

Aim: To detect mutations in the EXT1 and EXT2 genes in four Chinese families with hereditary multiple osteochondromas (HMO). HMO is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the overgrowth of multiple cartilage-capped bones in the metaphysis of long bones and flat bones. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-based amplification followed by DNA sequencing of the complete coding sequences of EXT1 and EXT2 was performed for four Chinese families with HMO. Results: The mutant allele was found in six patients: three mutations were found in EXT1 and two in EXT2. A novel frameshift mutation, which generates a premature stop codon at codon 586 and causes partial loss of the glycosyltransferase domain, was detected in exon 9 of EXT1 (F579Yfs*8). We hypothesize that F579Yfs*8 is a pathogenic mutation. Two novel missense mutations (G339S and V545D) were found in EXT1. The variant c.1634T>A (V545D) is apparently benign. In addition we found a novel deletion mutation in EXT2, c.856_864 del TTCCTCCTG, which results in the deletion of 286Phe, 287Leu, and 288Leu, that is likely pathogenic. Finally, we identified a likely benign variant in exon 13 of EXT2. c.2035-41T>C (rs3740878). Conclusions: We found three novel, potentially pathogenic mutations in EXT1 and EXT2, including a novel frameshift mutation. More importantly, our study results have expanded the spectrum of EXT mutations conducive to the genetic diagnosis and counseling of patients with HMO.

The 100 Most-Cited Publications in Endoscopic Spine Surgery Research.

STUDY DESIGN: A bibliometric review of the literature. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to identify and analyze the 100 most-cited publications in the field of endoscopic spine surgery (ESS). METHODS: In order to determine the top cited 100 articles, a 3-step approach was employed. First, the 100 most-cited ESS studies were identified using the key phrase "endoscopic spine surgery." Then, 8 keywords were identified from the 100 studies of step 1 were used to conduct a second round searching in all databases of the Web of Science. Finally, when the results of the first and second steps were overlapped, duplicated studies were removed. The 100 top-cited articles were used for further analysis. RESULTS: The citation number of the top 100 most-cited articles ranged from 44 to 236 with a mean value of 84.4. The most productive periods were from 2001 to 2010. The majority of publications came from Spine and Neurosurgery, where Spine holds the largest number of 35 articles, followed by Neurosurgery with 13 articles. Overall, 10 countries contributed to the 100 articles, with the most productive country being the United States, followed by Germany and Korea. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric study is meant to produce a list of intellectual milestones in the field of ESS. This article's identification of the most influential articles in the field of ESS gives us a unique and comprehensive insight into the development of ESS in the past several decades.

Development and Prospect of Intra-Articular Injection in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis: A Review.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease that affects the vast majority of the elderly and may eventually embark on the road of the total knee arthroplasty (TKA), although controversy still exists in the medical community about the best therapies for osteoarthritis. Compared with physical therapy, oral analgesics and other non-operative treatments, intra-articular injection is more safe and effective. Moreover, intra-articular injection is much less invasive and has fewer adverse reactions than surgical treatment. This article reviews mechanism, benefits and adverse reactions of corticosteroids (CS), hyaluronic acid (HA), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs), stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and other new therapies (for example: gene therapy). The application prospect of intra-articular injection was analyzed according to the recent progress in drug research.

Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression for the treatment of intraspinal tophaceous gout: A case report.

RATIONALE: Intraspinal tophaceous gout is relatively rare condition presenting with major clinical manifestations, such as spinal cord or nerve roots compressions (radiculopathy). It is usually difficult to differentiate intraspinal tophaceous gout, lumbar disc herniation, stenosis of spinal canal, ossification of ligamentum flavum, and other degenerative spinal disorders from each other. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 64-year-old man was admitted with a history of progressive low back pain for 11 months. He also presented with radiculopathy and numbness of his left lower extremity. DIAGNOSES: Preoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed L4/5 disc herniation and lateral recess stenosis on the left side. During the operation of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression, intraspinal chalky white material was seen. Post-operative pathologic results confirmed the diagnosis of gouty tophi. INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression was performed as treatment. Intraspinal chalky white material was seen. We removed most of the chalky white material and extruded nucleus. OUTCOMES: His symptom subsided rapidly and no deterioration was noted 1 year post-operatively. LESSONS: Although intraspinal tophaceous gout is not commonly seen, clinicians should take it into consideration as a possible differential diagnosis when the patient exhibits axial pain or neurological deficits with risk factors of gout. We identified and treated this case with percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression for the first time and got an excellent outcome. Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic surgery proved to be an effective and minimally invasive alternative for identifying and treating intraspinal tophaceous gout.

Maximal muscle strength and body composition are associated with bone mineral density in chinese adult males.

The relationship between maximal muscle strength (MMS) and bone mineral density (BMD) in males remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association of MMS, using 3 fundamental compound exercises, and body composition with BMD in Chinese male adults. One hundred forty-seven Chinese male adults aged 20 to 47 years were recruited. Total and regional BMD and body composition were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Measurements of MMS included bench press, deadlift, and squat 1-repetition maximum (1RM). Bench press, deadlift, squat 1RM, fat mass (FM), and lean mass (LM) had a significant positive association with BMD. Intriguingly, squat 1RM was found to have a stronger association than bench press or deadlift 1RM, whereas bench press 1RM was found as the strongest determinant of BMD at the forearm sites. Furthermore, LM was found to be stronger related with BMD than FM. Our findings identify LM, FM and MMS are positively associated with BMD and squat may serve as a simple, most efficient strategy to optimize peak total body BMD, while bench press fit best for forearm BMD. Our results validate the benefits of MMS training in males and underscores site-specific effects on BMD levels. These findings emphasize the need for prospective studies to investigate the maximum therapeutic potential and sex specific modifiers of MMS training.

The Top 100 Most-Cited Articles on Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Over the last several decades, both percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) have been used for pain relief in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The purpose of our study was to use citation analysis to identify and review the top 100 most-cited publications regarding PKP and PVP. METHODS: All databases of the Web of Science were searched using the keywords "kyphoplasty" and "vertebroplasty." All publications with >100 citations were identified and the results were ranked in descending order of citations. The 100 most-cited publications were included for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 6271 publications on PKP and PVP were identified. The number of citations of the 100 most-cited studies ranged from 735 to 109, with a mean of 225.3 citations per study. The most productive period was 2001-2010, which produced 79 of the top 100 publications. Thirteen journals published these 100 studies, with Spine publishing the largest number (23) of studies. Most of the identified articles originated in the United States, with France and Switzerland found to be the next most heavily represented countries of origin of the 11 countries that produced them. Most of the studies focused on treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, followed by pathologic fractures caused by tumors. CONCLUSIONS: We identified the 100 most-cited publications on PKP and PVP and performed a bibliometric analysis characterizing distinguishing features of these studies. This list can help guide clinical decision making and future research directions as clinicians and researchers continue to explore these controversial therapeutic techniques.

[Clinical application of percutaneous transforaminal endoscope-assisted lumbar interbody fusion].

OBJECTIVE: To conclude of the technical notes of percutaneous transforaminal endoscope-assisted lumbar interbody fusion (PT-Endo-LIF), and to investigate its safety and efficacy for treatment of degenerative lumbar disease. METHODS: Twenty-four patients were treated by PT-Endo-LIF combined with posterior percutaneous pedicle screws fixation from October 2017 to April 2018. There were 16 males and 8 females, ranging in age from 39 to 72 years old, with a mean of (59.6±9.5) years old. There were 15 cases diagnosed with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation combined with degenerative disc, the other 9 cases were diagnosed as low level lumbar spondylolistheses w/o segmental instability. Single segmental fusion was performed for 22 cases(one for L2,3, 3 for L3,4 and 18 for L4,5) and 2 segmental fusion was performed for the other 2 cases (both for L3,4 and L4,5). PT-Endo-LIF was performed under local anesthesia with conscious sedation, followed by decompression through endoscopic technics. After that, end-plate preparation and autogenous bone and expandable cage implantation were performed. Finally, percutaneous screws and rod instrumentation were used. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. All patients underwent X-ray, CT plain scan, three-dimensional reconstruction and MRI examination to evaluate the stability of the implants and fusion rate before 3 days and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after operation. RESULTS: All patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 18 months. The operation time of single-segment fusion was (192.3±22.7) min, and that of double-segment fusion was (272.5±24.7) min. The estimated intraoperative bleeding volume was less than 50 ml per segment, and no blood transfusion was performed in all patients. The VAS improved from preoperative 7.4±1.1 to postoperative 2.3±0.8 (t=-19.65, P<0.000 5). The ODI improved from preoperative (41.2±3.3)% to the final follow-up (12.3±2.5)%(t=-35.76, P<0.000 5). Postoperative complications occurred in 4 cases, and contralateral radicular symptoms occurred in 2 cases. After contralateral foraminoscopic decompression, the symptoms were completely alleviated. One case had neurological symptoms related to percutaneous screw placement, and the symptoms were alleviated after removal of the lateral screw rod internal fixation. The other cases had surgical incision infection and improved after debridement and suture. At the latest follow-up, no displacement or loosening of the fusion cage and screw rod system occurred in all patients, and 14 cases showed signs of fusion. CONCLUSIONS: PT-Endo-LIF is a minimal invasive, safe and efficient surgical procedure for treatment of degenerative lumbar disease. Nevertheless, the long-term results still need to be confirmed by a multi-center and lagre sample follow-up study.

Tendoscopic versus open release for de Quervain's disease: earlier recovery with 7.21 year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To compare the time return to work and long-term results of tendoscopic versus open technique for de Quervain's disease. METHODS: From 2005 to 2013, either tendoscopic or open decompression was performed on 56 consecutive patients (56 wrists) with symptomatic de Quervain's disease despite a minimum of 3 months non-operative treatment. Of the 50 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 41 patients were followed-up for a mean of 7.21 years postoperatively. Among these 41 wrists, 20 underwent tendoscopic release (group A), and 21 underwent open release (group B). The clinical evaluations were performed preoperatively, 1 month postoperatively and at last follow-up visit, using visual analog scale (VAS); the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Outcome score; and the Finkelstein's test. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was used as an esthetic evaluation tool of the scar at last follow-up. RESULTS: No significant baseline differences were found between two groups. The average time return to work in group A was less than in group B (P < 0.05), The mean VAS and DASH scores improved significantly in both groups at 1 month and last follow-up visit (P < 0.001). At 1 month, the scores in group A were significantly better than in group B (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). There was no difference between groups at last follow-up. In addition, the improvement of the mean DASH score was significantly greater in group A than in group B (34.74 ± 10.99 in group A and 23.58 ± 12.01 in group B, P < 0.01) at 1 month. For POSAS scale, both the OSAS and PSAS scores were significantly better in group A. One patient in group A had cephalic vein injury and 3 patients in group B was involved with radial sensory nerve injury. All patients showed negative on Finkelstein's test at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that tendoscopic technique for de Quervain's disease could provide earlier symptom relief and earlier recovery with fewer complications and more desirable scar, as well as equivalent successful long-term outcome, when compared with traditional open release technique.

Cauda Equina Syndrome as First Manifestation of von Hippel-Lindau Disease.

BACKGROUND: Von-Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease is rare neurocutaneous disorder arising from an inactivating mutation of the VHL gene on chromosome 3p35. The disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion and predominantly involves tissues originating from the ectodermal germ layer. Although hemangioblastomas of retina and cerebellum are the most common clinical features, multiple-organ involvement in the form of renal cell carcinomas, spinal hemangioblastomas, renal cysts, and pancreatic cysts have also been reported. Hemangioblastomas of the spinal canal could present as cauda equina syndrome. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe the case of a 55-year-old man with cauda equina syndrome as his first manifestation. An initial magnetic resonance imaging scan uncovered hemangiomas in the spinal canal. A thorough family history strongly suggested an autosomal dominant pattern of disease inheritance. Further physical examination and imaging revealed additional organ involvement consistent with VHL. We performed laminectomy and partial resection of hemangioblastoma for decompression. He recovered satisfactorily with his cauda equina syndrome resolving quickly post operation. No deterioration was apparent by the 12-month follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case with cauda equina syndrome as the first manifestation of VHL disease. Laminectomy and partial resection of hemangioblastoma are safe and effective treatments to resolve impingement of the spinal cord. VHL disease resulting in hemangioblastoma in the spinal canal is rarely seen but should be included in the differential diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome to facilitate genetic counseling for the proband and offspring.

Intra-articular injection of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fractions for knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind randomized self-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological efficacy of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) versus hyaluronic acid in patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Sixteen patients with bilateral symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (K-L grade II to III; initial pain evaluated at four or greater on a ten-point VAS score) were enrolled in this study, which were randomized into two groups. Each patient received 4-ml autologous adipose-derived SVF treatment (group test, n = 16) in one side of knee joints and a single dose of 4-ml hyaluronic acid treatment (group control, n = 16) in the other side. The clinical evaluations were performed pre-operatively and post-operatively at one month, three months, six months, and 12-months follow-up visit, using the ten-point visual analog scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the knee range of motion (ROM). The whole-organ assessment of the knees was performed with whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS) based on MRI at baseline, six months and 12-months follow-up. The articular repair tissue was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively by magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score based on follow-up MRI at six months and 12 months. RESULTS: No significant baseline differences were found between two groups. Safety was confirmed with no severe adverse events observed during 12-months follow-up. The SVF-treated knees showed significantly improvement in the mean VAS, WOMAC scores, and ROM at 12-months follow-up visit compared with the baseline. In contrast, the mean VAS, WOMAC scores, and ROM of the control group became even worse but not significant from baseline to the last follow-up visit. WORMS and MOCART measurements revealed a significant improvement of articular cartilage repair in SVF-treated knees compared with hyaluronic acid-treated knees. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that autologous adipose-derived SVF treatment is safe and can effectively relief pain, improve function, and repair cartilage defects in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

[Biological Characteristics and Therapeutic Efficacy of 103 Patients with Acute Erythroleukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological characteristics and therapeutic efficacyt of acute erythroleukemia (AEL,AML-M6). METHODS: Blood cell count, liver function, lactate dehydrogenase level, coagulation, morphology, immunology, cell genetics and molecular biology were retrospectively analyzed in 103 cases of acute erythroleukemia patients admitted in our department from May 2016 to June 2009. The therapeutic efficacy was observed by means of remission rate, relapse rate, relapse-free survival and overall survival. RESULTS: The medians of white blood cells, granulocyte, hemoglobin and platelet were 3.04×109/L, 0.67×109/L, 66 g/L, and 45×109/L,respectively. Nucleated red blood cells were found in the peripheral blood smears from 71.1% of AEL patients. None of the patients showed abnormal coagulation function. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that CD13 (93.5%),CD117(89.1%), HLA-DR(87.0%), and CD34 (80.0%) were highly expressed in AEL, and lymphoid antigens of CD4 (42.9%) and CD7(28.9%) were expressed in partial patients. Karyotype analysis in 82 patients showed 52.4% (43/82) normal karyotype, 41.5% (34/82) abnormal karyotype, and 6.1% (5/82) failed tests. In the 34 cases with abnormal karyotype, there were 14(41.2%) cases with simple chromosomal abnomality and 20(58.8%) cases with complex karyotype. The positive rate of fusion gene accounted for 16.7% in 60 patients, and the gene mutations accounted for 77.8% in 27 patients. Among 103 cases of AEL, 81 cases were treated with chemotherapy, but 66 cases can be used for therapeutic analysis, as a results the total complete remission rate derived from 2 courses of treatment was 45.5% (30/66). The relapse rate was 36.7% (11/30), and the median relapse time was 15.5 months (6.2-50 months). The median survival time of 66 patients for therapeutic analysis was 29 months. The median survival time of CR patients was very significantly longer than that of the non-CR patients(P=0.001). The 5 year survival rate of CR patients was 65%, the median time of relapse-free survival (RFS) was 46.2 months and 3-years RFS was 58%. CONCLUSION: AEL is characterized by the highly expressed CD34 antigen, and complex karyotype. Although AEL has lower CR rate and poor prognosis, CR patients can achieve long-term survival and have good quality of life.

A 5-day cytoreductive chemotherapy followed by haplo-identical hsct (FA5-BUCY) as a tumor-ablative regimen improved the survival of patients with advanced hematological malignancies.

Haplo-HSCT has been used when HLA-matched siblings are not available. Conditioning regimens aim to reduce tumor burden prior to HSCT and provide sufficient immunoablation. We report the outcome of haplo-HSCT in 63 consecutive patients from 2/2013 to 12/2015 (19 females/44 males) with high-risk or relapsed/refractory hematological malignancies (n=29-AML; 8-sAML; 19-ALL; 5-advanced-MDS; 2-CML-BC). Median age was 20 years (range: 1.1-49). Twenty-one patients achieved remission prior to transplant, while 42 did not. Patients received FA5-BUCY, i.e., 5-day salvage chemotherapy (Fludarabine/Ara-C) and conditioning (Busulfan/Cyclophosphamide). GvHD prophylaxis included ATG, CsA, MMF and short-term MTX. All patients received stem cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood, and achieved successful engraftment, except two who died before. With a median follow-up of 269 days (120-1081), 42/63 patients are still alive and disease-free. Two-year OS and RFS were similar in patients not in remission and in those in complete remission (61.3% vs 56.3%, p=0.88; 58.3% vs 56.3%, p=0.991). Non-relapse mortality and relapse incidence were 22.2% and 11.1%, respectively. Severe acute-GvHD occurred in 4/63 patients. Transplant-related mortality was low at day+100 (17.5%) and for the entire study period (20.6%). Unexpectedly, few patients experienced mild-to-moderate toxicity, and main causes of death were infection and GvHD. BM blast counts, age, and donor-recipient gender-pairs did not affect the outcome. Less chemotherapy cycles prior to HSCT might result in more favorable outcome. Thus, haplo-HSCT with FA5-BUCY appears promising for advanced disease, especially when TBI and amsacrine, used for FLAMSA, are not available and in pediatric patients for whom TBI is not recommended.