Percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy for the treatment of L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation and the influence of iliac crest height on its clinical effects

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy for the treatment of L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation and the influence of iliac crest height on its clinical effects Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):866. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10298. Epub 2021 Jun 13. ABSTRACT The present study aimed to explore the clinical effects of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy using a transforaminal endoscopic spine system (TESSYS) technique for the treatment of L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation and to analyse the influence of iliac crest height on these clinical effects. The clinical data of 76 patients with L5-S1 single-segment disc herniation treated with TESSYS at The Second Affiliated Hospital and Third Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between January and December 2016 were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into the following three groups according to the positional relation between the highest point of the iliac crest and the L4 and L5 pedicles in the lateral lumbar, as determined by X-ray: Group I, iliac crest height below the upper edge horizontal line of the L5 pedicle (n=42); gr oup II, iliac crest height between the lower edge horizontal line of the L4 pedicle and the upper edge horizontal line of the L5 pedicle (n=29) and group III, iliac crest height above the lower edge horizontal line of the L4 pedicle (n=5). Changes in the postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) of the lower back and lower limbs were observed, and the effects were compared among the three groups. The mean operating time was 86.5±13.5 min. A single patient experienced cerebrospinal fluid leakage due to a mild tear of the dura mater during the operation, which improved after symptomatic treatment. The same operation was repeated in one patient due to the recurrence of disc herniation. In all patients, the VAS pain score and ODI of the lower back and lower limbs at 1 week and 1, 3 and 12 months following the operation were significantly lower than those before the operation (all P<0.05). Furthermore, the postoperative VAS pain score an d ODI of the lower back and lower limbs were poorer in group III (L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation complicated with high iliac crest) than in groups I and II (P<0.05). These results suggested that TESSYS was effective in treating lumbar disc herniation. Whether the iliac crest is higher than the lower edge horizontal line of the L4 pedicle is suggested to be one of the factors influencing the outcome of the operation. PMID:34194544 | PMC:PMC8237383< /a> | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10298 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway regulates the proliferation and damage of intestinal epithelial cells in patients with ulcerative colitis via H3K27ac

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway regulates the proliferation and damage of intestinal epithelial cells in patients with ulcerative colitis via H3K27ac Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):890. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10322. Epub 2021 Jun 17. ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway on intestinal epithelial barrier injury in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Fifty-two patients with UC and 21 healthy subjects were recruited. The expression level of IL-6 in plasma was determined by ELISA. Normal human colon mucosal epithelial NCM460 cells were treated with IL-6 or plasma from the patients with UC. Then, the transepithelial electrical resistance value, fluorescein yellow permeability and zonulin release were evaluated. Using reverse transcription-quantitative (q)PCR and western blotting, claudin (CLDN) 1 and CLDN2 expression levels were analyzed. Furthermore, western blotting was used to detect phosphorylation of STAT3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR was performed to investigate the enrichment of H3K27ac in the promoter region s of CLDN1 and CLDN2. The present study revealed that IL-6 content was elevated in the plasma from patients with UC and increased with the progression of the disease. IL-6 was also observed to induce intestinal epithelial cell barrier injury and regulate barrier function by influencing the expression of tight junction-related proteins, as well as STAT3. The IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway regulated transcription of CLDN1 and CLDN2 by affecting the enrichment of histone H3K27ac in their promoter regions. Thus, the significantly increased expression level of IL-6 in the peripheral blood of patients with UC indicates a positive association with the development of UC. Furthermore, the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway influences the function of the intestinal barrier by affecting the H3K27ac level in intestinal epithelial cells. PMID:34194568 | PMC:PMC8237277 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10322 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Knockdown of lncRNA NORAD inhibits the proliferation, inflammation and fibrosis of human mesangial cells under high-glucose conditions by regulating the miR-485/NRF1 axis

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Knockdown of lncRNA NORAD inhibits the proliferation, inflammation and fibrosis of human mesangial cells under high-glucose conditions by regulating the miR-485/NRF1 axis Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):874. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10306. Epub 2021 Jun 14. ABSTRACT Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve major roles in diabetic nephropathy (DN). The present study investigated the regulatory mechanism of lncRNA non-coding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) on DN in vitro. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of lncRNA NORAD, microRNA-485 (miR-485) and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) in the tissues of patients with DN and high-glucose (HG)-induced human mesangial cells (HMCs). The viability of HMCs was determined using an MTT assay. The levels of inflammatory [tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6] and fibrotic [type IV collagen (Col. IV), fibronectin (FN) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1)] factors in HMCs were measured by ELISA. The interactions between miR-485 and NORAD/NRF1 were predicted using StarBase and miRDB softwares and confirmed by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Western blot analysis was utilized to measure NRF1 protein levels. lncRNA NORAD was highly expressed in tissues and HG-induced HMCs. NORAD knockdown suppressed cell viability in HG-induced HMCs. The levels of the inflammatory and fibrotic factors in HG-induced HMCs were inhibited by NORAD knockdown. miR-485 was the direct target of NORAD. NORAD reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-485 on HG-induced HMCs. Furthermore, NRF1 was the target gene of miR-485. Downregulation of miR-485 and upregulation of NRF1 reversed the inhibitory effects of NORAD knockdown on HG-induced HMCs. NORAD knockdown inhibited HG-induced HMC proliferation, inflammation and fibrosis by regulating miR-485/NRF1, providing a possible therapeutic strategy for DN. PMID:34194552 | PMC:PMC8237396 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10306 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Insulin growth factor-1 promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Insulin growth factor-1 promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):891. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10323. Epub 2021 Jun 17. ABSTRACT Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are stem cells that exist in bone marrow tissue and have osteogenic differentiation potential. Insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a key role in the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. However, the specific mechanism of IGF-1 in cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation remains unclear. In the present study, BMSCs were transfected with lentivirus carrying the siRNA-Wnt3a gene, and the Wnt3a level in BMSCs was revealed to be reduced by western blotting, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence detection. Then, BMSCs were treated with 80 ng/ml IGF-1 in complete medium for 5 days. CCK-8 and cell cycle assays revealed that cell proliferation was significantly decreased in the siRNA-Wnt3a group than in the control group. The protein and mRNA levels of β-catenin and cyclin D1 were significantly downregulated in the siRNA-Wnt3a group compared with the control group. In addition, BMSCs were treated with IGF-1 in osteogenic differentiation medium for 7 and 21 days, and alkaline phosphatase staining and Alizarin Red staining demonstrated significantly reduced osteogenic differentiation ability in the siRNA-Wnt3a group compared with the control group. Furthermore, the protein and mRNA levels of β-catenin, RUNX2, and OPN were downregulated compared with the control group. Our findings revealed that IGF-1 promoted the proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs at least partially through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These findings provided new insight into the clinical treatment of bone disease. PMID:34194569 | PMC:PMC8237273 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10323 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Difluoromethylornithine attenuates isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating apoptosis, autophagy and the mitochondria-associated membranes pathway

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Difluoromethylornithine attenuates isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating apoptosis, autophagy and the mitochondria-associated membranes pathway Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):870. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10302. Epub 2021 Jun 13. ABSTRACT Myocardial hypertrophy is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases and is closely associated with the incidence of heart failure. In the present study, we hypothesized that difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) could attenuate cardiac hypertrophy through mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM) and autophagy. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in male rats by intravenous administration of isoproterenol (ISO; 5 mg/kg/day) for 1, 3,7 and 14 days. For DFMO treatment group, rats were given ISO (5 mg/kg/day) for 14 days and 2% DFMO in their water for 4 weeks. The expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA,heart parameters, apoptosis rate, fibrotic area and protein expressions of cleaved caspase3/9, GRP75, Mfn2, CypD and VDAC1 were measured to confirm the development of cardiac hypertrophy, apoptosis and autophagy induced by ISO. ANP mRNA and MAM protein expression levels were assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting to evaluate hypertrophy and the effects of DFMO oral administration. The results demonstrated that heart parameters, ANP mRNA levels, fibrotic area and apoptosis rate were significantly increased in the heart tissue for ISO 7 and 14 day groups compared with the control group. Furthermore, treatment with DFMO significantly inhibited these indicators, and DFMO downregulated the MAM signaling pathway and upregulated the autophagy pathway in heart tissue compared with the ISO 14 day group. Overall, all ISO-induced changes analyzed in the present study were attenuated following treatment with DFMO. The findings form this study suggested that DFMO treatment may be considered as a potential strategy for preventing ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy. PMID:34194548 | PMC:PMC8237397 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10302 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Vaginal birth after Cesarean experience in Romania: A retrospective case-series study and online survey

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Vaginal birth after Cesarean experience in Romania: A retrospective case-series study and online survey Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):894. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10326. Epub 2021 Jun 18. ABSTRACT The high Romanian Cesarean delivery rates have led to an increase in a women's desire to achieve vaginal birth after Cesarean delivery (VBAC), but certain impediments make this process difficult. We retrospectively evaluated the VBAC cases in a tertiary maternity hospital from Romania, and assessed the Romanian women's opinion about VBAC using a questionnaire that was distributed to three specific Facebook groups. We evaluated 63 patients who achieved VBAC between January 2014 and August 2020. In addition, an online survey with 41 open and closed questions assessed the participants' opinion regarding VBAC in Romania. The results are summarized and discussed. The results revealed that VBAC rates were under 1%. The main observed complications that followed VBAC were postpartum hemorrhage (15.8%), and uterine atony (7.93%), while the most frequent ty pes of lesions encountered after VBAC were cervical tear (12.6%), followed by labial fissure (9.5%) and vaginal tear (7.9%). The patient's confidence in the health care system is low, and many women decide to try TOLAC at home. In conclusion, VBAC is an important topic in the context of high Romanian Cesarean rates, and the decision factors must provide consistent strategies that promote this mode of delivery. PMID:34194570 | PMC:PMC8237270 | D OI:10.3892/etm.2021.10326 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Jianpiyiqi formula ameliorates chronic atrophic gastritis in rats by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Jianpiyiqi formula ameliorates chronic atrophic gastritis in rats by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):878. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10310. Epub 2021 Jun 15. ABSTRACT Jianpiyiqi formula is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) prescription and is used for the clinical treatment of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). The aim of the present study was to examine the underlying mechanisms of Jianpiyiqi formula treatment for CAG via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) chromatogram of Jianpiyiqi formula was constructed. A CAG rat model induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and ranitidine was established. The body weight and food intake of the rats was recorded and rat gastric morphology was visually examined. Pathological analysis of rat gastric tissue was also performed. The levels of gastrin (GAS), pepsin (PP), somatostatin (SS) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in rat serum were detected using ELISAs. The expression levels of proteins and genes associated with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were measured via immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The HPLC chromatogram of Jianpiyiqi formula was determined and as active components, liquiritin and hesperidin were identified from the chromatogram. Compared with the blank group, the body weight and feed intake of the rats were decreased, and gastric mucosal atrophy and inflammation appeared in the model group. Treatment with Jianpiyiqi formula increased the body weight and feed intake of the rats, as well as relieved the gastric atrophy and inflammation. The contents of GAS, PP, SS and PGE2 were significantly reduced in the model group compared with the blank group. Jianpiyiqi formula significantly increased GAS, PP, SS and PGE2 levels in serum of rats with CAG. In the model group, Wnt1, β-catenin and cyclin D1 protein expression levels were increased, and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) protein ex pression levels were decreased. Jianpiyiqi formula decreased the protein expression levels of Wnt1, β-catenin and cyclin D1 and increased the protein expression levels of GSK-3β. Compared with the blank group, the mRNA expression levels of Wnt1, Wnt5a, β-catenin, cyclin D1 and MMP7 were upregulated, and the mRNA expression levels of GSK-3β were downregulated in the model group. Treatment with Jianpiyiqi formula downregulated the mRNA expression levels of Wnt1, Wnt5a, β-catenin, cyclin D1 and MMP7 and upregulated the mRNA expression levels of GSK-3β. All of the experimental results indicated that Jianpiyiqi formula exerted a therapeutic effect on rats with CAG and inhibited the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Thus, Jianpiyiqi formula, as an effective TCM prescription for treating patients with CAG, may be more widely used in the clinic. PMID:34194556 | PMC:PMC8237394 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10310 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Office-based phonosurgery

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Office-based phonosurgery Via hno HNO. 2021 Jun 30. doi: 10.1007/s00106-021-01081-6. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Significant and new impulses regarding the treatment concept for outpatient phonosurgery on unsedated patients are currently coming from various Anglo-American authors. These "office-based procedures" have been propagated as an alternative to many conventional surgical interventions under anesthesia. The main reason for this remarkable development is the use of new endoscopic techniques in com bination with photoangiolytic laser (KTP and blue laser), which allow safe and efficient phonosurgical procedures. Patient acceptance is high since outpatient procedures are considered to have a lower surgical risk. Despite the widespread euphoria, there is a lack of studies evaluating the medical decision criteria and safety management of office-based laryngeal surgery. PMID:34195859 | DOI:10.1007/s00106-021-01081-6 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Morphological features of the chiasma tendinum and its relation with surface landmarks and pulleys: a cadaveric study

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Morphological features of the chiasma tendinum and its relation with surface landmarks and pulleys: a cadaveric study Via radiol anat Surg Radiol Anat. 2021 Jul 1. doi: 10.1007/s00276-021-02783-w. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT AIM: Chiasma tendinum (Camper's chiasm) is of great importance in the delicate movements and stability of the fingers and takes place poorly in the literature. This study aims to reveal the morphometric details of the chiasma tendinum in relation with pulleys and other relevant structures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Palm and 2nd to 5th fingers of 10 (6 male, 4 female) formalin fi xed cadavers were used bilaterally. After determining the superficial reference points on the fingers, the skin and the tendon sheath were incised, and then measurements of chiasma tendinum and related tendons were performed. The measurements were analyzed with respect to fingers, genders, and sides. Finally, the types of chiasma tendinum were identified and then grouped as symmetrical, asymmetrical, and pseudo chiasm. RESULTS: Pulley and chiasma tendinum positions were correlated with finger length (p < 0.01). Pulley lengths were significantly less in females. Asymmetrical chiasma tendinum types were found in 45% of the fingers. In most comparisons, values for fifth finger were significantly different than that of other fingers and chiasma tendinum types differed according to fingers and gender. The case of no fiber exchange was observed only in the 5th finger in 15%. CONCLUSION: Findings related to the prediction of location of the pulleys and chiasma tendinum accor ding to the superficial signs, awareness of cases where one of the two arms of the flexor digitorum superficialis is extremely thin and no fiber exchanges that may be risk factors for spontaneous tendon rupture may help provide more accurate approaches in relevant clinical applications. PMID:34196774 | DOI:10.1007/s00276-021-02783-w View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Management and outcome of vagus nerve stimulator implantation: experience of an otolaryngeal/neuropediatric cooperation

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Management and outcome of vagus nerve stimulator implantation: experience of an otolaryngeal/neuropediatric cooperation Via http://link.springer.com/journal/405,European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology,The European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Jul 1. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-06943-x. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implantation is an established therapy for pharmacoresistant epilepsy that is not amenable to curative epilepsy surgery. Historically, VNS implantation has been performed by neurosurgeons, but otolaryngologist involvement is increasingly common. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VNS implantation in children and adolescents from the otolaryngologists' perspective. METHODS: This study included children and adolescents who had undergone VNS implantation at the study center between 2014 and 2018. Patient files were analyzed with regards to the durations of device implantation and hospitalization, postoperative complications, and clinical outcome, including seizure frequency, clinical global impression of improvement (CGI-I) score, and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: A total of 73 children underwent VNS surgery. The median age at implantation was 9.3 ± 4.6 years, and median epilepsy duration before VNS surgery was 6 ± 4 years. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome was the most common syndrome diagnosis (62.3%), and structural abnormalities (49.3%) the most frequent etiology. Operation times ranged from 30 to 200 min, and median postoperative hospitalization length was 2 ± 0.9 days. No complications occurred, except for four revisions and two explantations due to local infections (2.7%). Among our patients, 76.7% were responders (≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency), 72.1% showed improved CGI-I scores, and 18.6-60.5% exhibited considerable improvements in the QoL categories energy, emotional health, and cognitive functions. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that VNS implantation is a highly effective and safe treatment option for children and adolescents with AED-refractory epilepsies who are not candidates for curative epilep sy surgery. PMID:34196736 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-06943-x View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.