[Two different techniques combined with MIS-TLIF in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis:a case-control study]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the difference in clinical efficacy of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) under Quadrant channel system combined with microscope and percutaneous pedicle screw in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

METHODS

A total of 114 patients with single-segment degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis from June 2015 to February 2019, were divided into three groups according to the surgical methods, such as the MIS-TLIF under the microscope surgery group ( microscope group), MIS-TLIF combined with percutaneous pedicle screw technique surgery group(percutaneous group) and posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery group (open group). In the microscope group, there were 12 males and 26 females, aged from 42 to 83 years with an average of (63.29±9.09) years. In the percutaneous group, there were 16 males and 22 females, aged from 45 to 82 years with an average of (63.37±7.50) years. In the open group, there were 12 males and 26 females, aged from 51 to 82 years with an average of (63.76±8.21) years. The general conditions of operation, such as operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, length of surgical incision, frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy and postoperative time of lying in bed were recorded to analyze the differences in surgical related indicators. Visual analogue scale (VAS) of waist and leg pain in preoperative and postoperative period (3 days, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months) were recorded to evaluate pain remission;Oswestry Disability Index(ODI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were recorded to evaluate the recovery of waist and leg function on preoperative and postoperative 12 months. The lumbar spondylolisthesis rate and intervertebral height at 12 months after operation were recorded to evaluate the reduction of spondylolisthesis. The Siepe intervertebral fusion standard was used to analyze the intervertebral fusion rate at 12 months after operation.

RESULTS

①All 114 patients were followed up more than 1 year, and no complications related to incision infection occurred. In the microscope group, there was 1 case of subcutaneous effusion 8 days after operation. After percutaneous puncture and drainage, waist compression, and then the healing was delayed. In the percutaneous group, 2 cases of paravertebral muscle necrosis occurred on the side of decompression, and the healing was delayed after debridement. In open group, there was 1 case of intraoperative dural tear, which was packed with free adipose tissue during the operation. There was no postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage and other related complications.① Compared with microscope group, percutaneous group increased in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative wound drainage, surgical incision length, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, and postoperative bed rest time. In open group, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative wound drainage, surgical incision length, and postoperative bed rest time increased, but the intraoperative fluoroscopy time decreased. Compared with percutaneous group, the intraoperative blood loss, wound drainage, surgical incision length, and postoperative bed rest time in open group increased, but operative time and the intraoperative fluoroscopy time decreased(P<0.05). ②ODI and JOA scores of the three groups at 12 months after operation were improved compared with those before operation (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the three group(P>0.05). ③Compared with microscope group, the VAS of low back pain in percutaneous group increased at 3 days after operation, and VAS of low back pain in open group increased at 3 days, and 12 month after operation. Compared with percutaneous group, the VAS low back pain score of the open group increased at 3 months after operation (P<0.05). ④ The lumbar spondylolisthesis rate of the three groups of patients at 12 months afrer operation was decreased compared with that before operation(P<0.05), and the intervertebral heigh was increased compared with that before operation(P<0.05), however, there was no significant difference among three groups at 12 months afrer operation(P>0.05). ⑤ There was no significant difference between three groups in the lumbar fusion rate at 12 months afrer operation(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The MIS-TLIF assisted by microscope and the MIS-TLIF combined with percutaneous pedicle screw are safe and effective to treat the degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with single-segment, and the MIS-TLIF assisted by microscope may be more invasive, cause less blood loss and achieve better clinical efficacy.

Upregulated mGluR5 induces ER stress and DNA damage by regulating the NMDA receptor subunit NR2B

Dysfunction caused by mGluR5 expression or activation is an important mechanism in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). Early clinical studies on mGluR5 negative allosteric modulators have shown some limitations. It is therefore necessary to find a more specific approach to block mGluR5-mediated neurotoxicity. Here, we determined the role of NMDA receptor subunit NR2B in mGluR5-mediated ER stress and DNA damage. In vitro study, rotenone-induced ER stress and DNA damage were accompanied by an increase in mGluR5 expression, and overexpressed or activated mGluR5 with agonist CHPG induced ER stress and DNA damage, while blocking mGluR5 with antagonist MPEP alleviated the effect. Furthermore, the damage caused by CHPG was blocked by NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801. Additionally, rotenone or CHPG increased the p-Src and p-NR2B, which was inhibited by MPEP. Blocking p-Src or NR2B with PP2 or CP101,606 alleviated CHPG-induced ER stress and DNA damage. Overactivation of mGluR5 accompanied with the increase of p-Src and p-NR2B in the ER stress and DNA damage was found in rotenone-induced PD rat model. These findings suggest a new mechanism wherein mGluR5 induces ER stress and DNA damage through the NMDA receptor and propose NR2B as the molecular target for therapeutic strategy for PD.

Nonreciprocal Tamm plasmon absorber based on lossy epsilon-near-zero materials

Contrary to conventional Tamm plasmon (TP) absorbers of which narrow absorptance peaks will shift toward short wavelengths (blueshift) as the incident angle increases for both transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) polarizations, here we theoretically and experimentally achieve nonreciprocal absorption in a planar photonic heterostructure composed of an isotropic epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) slab and a truncated photonic crystal for TM polarization. This exotic phenomenon results from the interplay between ENZ and material loss. And the boundary condition across the ENZ interface and the confinement effect provided by the TP can enhance the absorption in the ENZ slab greatly. As a result, a strong and nonreciprocal absorptance peak is observed experimentally with a maximum absorptance value of 93% in an angle range of 60∼70°. Moreover, this TP absorber shows strong angle-independence and polarization-dependence. As the characteristics above are not at a cost of extra nanopatterning, this structure is promising to offer a practical design in narrowband thermal emitter, highly sensitive biosensing, and nonreciprocal nonlinear optical devices.

[Pharmacokinetics of contragestazol (DL-111-IT), a new non-steroid antifertility agent in monkeys]

The pharmacokinetics of contragestazol, an early pregnancy temperating agent [3-(2-ethylphenyl)-5-(3-methoxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole, DL-111-IT] was studied in Rhesus monkey. The blood concentration of DL-111-IT was determined by coupled column system HPLC method. Using an aqueous vehicle (20% cremophor EL in saline) DL-111-IT was injected intravenously to monkeys at doses of 25, 12.5 and 6.3 mg.kg-1. Blood drug concentration were measured. Using a programmable calculator the calculated pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: alpha 1.83 h-1, 4.71 h-1 and 3.61 h-1, beta 0.15 h-1, 0.08 h-1 and 0.09 h-1; T1/2 beta 6.63 h, 10.2 h and 10.1 h; AUC 9.54 micrograms.h-1.ml-1, 3.94 micrograms.h-1.ml-1 and 3.75 micrograms.h-1.ml-1. An oil solution of DL-111-IT was injected intramuscularly in monkeys at doses of 50, 25 and 12.5 mg.kg-1. Its blood concentrations were determined at 0.08, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after administration. From the time vs concentration curve, the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained were as follows: Ka 0.98 h-1, 1.03 h-1 and 1.45 h-1; Ke 0.42 h-1, 0.37 h-1 and 0.60 h-1; T1/2Ke 1.66 h, 1.90 h and 1.16 h; T (peak) 1.52 h, 1.57 h and 1.09 h; AUC 4.86 micrograms.h-1.ml-1, 5.61 micrograms.h-1.ml-1 and 1.74 micrograms.h-1.ml-1.

[Studies on quantitative determination of total flavonoid in qingpi, zhiqiao and zhishi by TLC-densitometric methods]

A method for the determination of total flavonoid contents in Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride (Qingpi), Fructus Aurantii (Zhiqiao) and Fructus Aurantii Immaturus (Zhishi) was established by the use of TLC-densitometry. The results show that the total flavonoid contents in Qingpi and Zhishi are higher than in Zhiqiao. The content in Zhiqiao is 9.81%-15.85%.