EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON POST-OPERATIVE FUNCTIONAL RECOV-ERY IN PATIENTS WITH LUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC PROTRUSION

Objective To observe the influence of acupuncture on the post-operative rehabilitation in patients undergoing vertebral pulp extraction due to lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion （LIDP） so as to evaluate its efficacy in the treatment of lumbago induced by LIDP. Methods A total of 69 patients undergoing vertebral pulp extraction were randomized into acupuncture group （ n = 35） and control group （ n = 34）. Patients of acupuncture group were treated with routine rehabilitation method and electroacupuncture （EA） stimulation on Zhìbiān （秩边 BL54） and Wěizhōng （委中 BL40）, acupuncture on Shènshū （ 肾俞 BL23）, Dàchángshū （大肠俞 BL25）, BL54, BL40, Jiájǐ （夹脊 EX-B 2）, Shàngliáo （上髎 BL31）, etc., and cupping on BL40, with 15 days being a therapeutic course and for average 7. 36 courses. Patients of control group were treated with simple rehabilitation method. Functional recovery state was judged before and after surgery by using the standards of Japanese Orthopedic Association （JOA）. Results The average recovery rates of 3 months, 6 months and one year after surgery were 49.93% ,90.31% and 95.08% separately in acupuncture group, and 26.24% ,63.42% and 71.36% successively in control group. The recovery rates of acupuncture group were significantly higher than those of control group at the same time-points （P〈0. 05）. Conclusion Acupuncture has a definite effect on promoting post-operative functional recovery in LIDP patients undergoing vertebral pulp extraction and spinal fusion.

Mechanosignaling activation of TGFβmaintains intervertebral disc homeostasis

Intervertebral disc （IVD） degeneration is the leading cause of disability with no disease-modifying treatment. IVD degeneration is associated with instable mechanical loading in the spine, but little is known about how mechanical stress regulates nucleus notochordal （NC） cells to maintain IVD homeostasis. Here we report that mechanical stress can result in excessive integrin αvβ6-mediated activation of transforming growth factor beta （TGFβ）, decreased NC cell vacuoles, and increased matrix proteoglycan production, and results in degenerative disc disease （DDD）. Knockout of TGFβ type II receptor （TβRII） or integrin αv in the NC cells inhibited functional activity of postnatal NC cells and also resulted in DDD under mechanical loading. Administration of RGD peptide, TGFβ, and αvβ6-neutralizing antibodies attenuated IVD degeneration. Thus, integrin-mediated activation of TGFβ plays a critical role in mechanical signaling transduction to regulate IVD cell function and homeostasis. Manipulation of this signaling pathway may be a potential therapeutic target to modify DDD.

Cervical intervertebral disc degeneration and dizziness

Clinical studies have found that patients withcervical degenerative disease are usually accompanied by dizziness.Anterior cervical surgery can eliminate not only chronic neck pain,cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy,but also dizziness.Immunohistochemical studies show that a large number of mechanoreceptors,especially Ruffini corpuscles,are present in degenerated cervical discs.The available evidence suggests a key role of Ruffini corpuscles in the pathogenesis of dizziness caused by cervical degenerative disease(i.e.cervical discogenic dizziness).Disc degeneration is characterized by an elevation of inflammatory cytokines,which stimulates the mechanoreceptors in degenerated discs and results in peripheral sensitization.Abnormal cervical proprioceptive inputs from the mechanoreceptors are transmitted to the central nervous system,resulting in sensory mismatches with vestibular and visual information and leads to dizziness.In addition,neck pain caused by cervical disc degeneration can play a key role in cervical discogenic dizziness by increasing the sensitivity of muscle spindles.Like cervical discogenic pain,the diagnosis of cervical discogenic dizziness can be challenging and can be made only after other potential causes of dizziness have been ruled out.Conservative treatment is effective for the majority of patients.Existing basic and clinical studies have shown that cervical intervertebral disc degeneration can lead to dizziness.

Tuina Therapy of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Protrusion

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Epidural fat distribution patterns in patients with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion

Objective： To investigate epidural fat distribution patterns in patients with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion. Methods： Medical records were selected randomly from 30 patients whose diagnoses were consistent with the inclusion criteria of the study. Thickness of bilateral fat, the longest length of posterior fat, thickness of bilateral yellow ligament and the hernial distance of lumbar discs were measured by MRI at L3/L4, L4/L5 and L5/S 1 levels. According to clinical symptoms of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion, the patients were divided into two groups at all space levels. All data were analyzed by statistical software. Results： The longest length of posterior epidural fat at the symptomatic levels was shorter than that at the non-symptomatic levels in each disc space. The symptomatic levels had no effect on the whole thickness of the lateral fat and lateral yellow ligaments. Conclusion： Epidural fat distribution in patients with lumbar intcrvertebral disc protrusion is different from that in normal adults. It is affected by the hernial distance of lumbar discs. The diagnostic criteria for spinal epidural lipomatosis in normal adults may therefore prove to be inappropriate for patients with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON LUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC HERNIATION TREATED BY TRACTION COMBINED WITH ACUPUNCTURE

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of traction combined with acupuncture on lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH). Methods:Eighty-three patients diagnosed as LIDH were randomly divided into treatment group (n=42)and control group (n=41). In the treatment group, besides lumbar traction, electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2, L 3～5), Shenshu (BL 23), Qihai (CV 6), Mingmen (GV 4), Huantiao (GB 30), Chengshan (BL 57) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) was added. In the control group, only lumbar traction was applied. Results: In treatment group, the cure plus markedly effective rate was 80.95% with a total effective rate of 92.86%, while in control group, it was 39.02% with a total effective rate of 80.48%. The therapeutic effect in the treatment group was obviously better than that in the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Lumbar traction plus EA can effectively alleviate or even eliminate clinical symptoms and signs of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

Correlation between the Expression of Inflammatory Factors and the Degree of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the expression of IL-6,IL-8,IL-15,IFN-a,TNF-a and TRPC6 in the disc tissue of patients with cervical disc degeneration.Methods:The expression levels of inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-8,IL-15,IFN-a,TNF-a and TRPC6 were analyzed by RTPCR,and the correlation between inflammatory factors and Pfirrmann grade and inflammatory factors was analyzed.Results:The mRNA expression levels of IL-6,IL-8,IL-15,TNF-a and TRPC6 were significantly higher in Pfirrmann grade IV-V than in Pfirrmann grade II-III(P<0.05),and IFN-a expression level in IV-V intervertebral disc samples was significantly lower than that in II-III discs(P<0.05);The mRNA expression levels of IL-6,IL-8,IL-15,TNF-a and TRPC6 were positively correlated with pfirmann grading(P<0.05),IFN-a was negatively correlated with pfirmann grading(P<0.05),IL-6,IL-8,IL-15,TNF-a and TRPC6 were positively correlated with each other(P<0.05),IFN-a was negatively correlated with IL-6,IL-8,IL-15,TNF-a and TRPC6(P<0.05).Conclusion:IL-6,IL-8,IL-15,IFN-a,TNF-a and TRPC6 are closely related to the degree of cervical disc degeneration.

CLINICAL COMPARISION OF THE TREATMENT OF CERVICAL PROLAPSE OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC BY USING CAGE OR TITANIUM PLATE

Objective To compare the clinical effects of treating cervical prolapse of intervertebral disc by using Solis cage, titanium cage and autogenous iliac crest graft (AICG) combined with titanium plate. Methods 64 cases of cervical prolapse of intervertebral disc were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients were followed up for about one year. Group A is composed of 20 patients (30 intervertebral spaces) treated with microdiscectomy and Solis cage fusion; group B is composed of 21 patients(22 intervertebral spaces) treated with titanium cage and group C is involved of 23 patients(28 intervertebral spaces) which were dealt with AICG combined with titanium plate. The differences in the total X ray exposure time, time working on iliac bone, incidence of complications, fusion rate, incidence of JOA score recovery rate more than 50% and rehabilitation time of the three groups are analyzed. Results All indexes from group A and B were more satisfactory than those from group C (P<0.05). The statistic analysis results of the incidence of complications of cervical part, rehabilitation time in group A are 5.0±1.8, 5.1±1.2; and that is 14.3±2.6, 7.5 ±1.6 and 26.1±6.2, 8.6±2.3 in group B and group C respectively. There is significant difference between group A and group B on the incidence of complications of cervical part and rehabilitation time (P<0.05). Results of the incidence of JOA score recovery rate >50% in group A(95.8±3.2) was more satisfactory than that in group B(93.6±2.9), while there was no statistical difference between group A and group B (P>0.05). Conclusion The Solis cage is better in treating the cervical prolapse of intervertebral disc than other ways. Also, it makes the operation easier, rehabilitation time shorter, and it causes fewer complications.

Lumbar Facet Cyst Causing S1 Radiculopathy with Concomittent Acute on Chronic Cervical Prolapse Intervertebral Disc, a Rare Case Report

Tandem spinal stenosis is described as concurrent symptomatic cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis. The clinical presentation includes neurogenic claudication, gait disturbance, myelopathy and polyradicuopathy in both upper and lower limbs. A 43-year-old female presented with predominant low back pain with right S1 radiculopathy leading to diagnosis of synovial facet cyst of lumbar spine. She was managed surgically after medical treatment failed. After 1 week post operatively, she presented with severe neck pain with left radiculopathy. MRI revealed acute on chronic cervical prolapsed intervertebral disc, cervical decompression surgery proceeded. Post operative improvement was noted on follow up. We report a case of tandem spinal stenosis, which both of the pathologies were managed with endoscopic approach.

Treatment of Protrusion of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc by Massotherapy under Anesthesia—A Report of 64 Cases

Sixty-four cases of protrusion of lumbarintervertebral disc were treated by massotherapy withheavy manipulations plus blocking therapy underanesthesia from August,1997 to July,1998,withsatisfactory therapeutic results as reported in thefollowing.Clinical DataNinety-four cases in the series were randomlydivided into two groups.All the 94 cases satisfied thecriteria for diagnosis of the disorder,and thediagnosis was confirmed by

ELECTROACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF 176 CASES OF LUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC PROTRUSION

In the present paper, 176 cases of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion are treated with electroacupuncture (EA) and topical heat irradiation. Local tender-point is used as the main acupoint, combined with Tunzhong, Tiaoyue, Weizhong (BL 40) and Yanglingquan (GB 34). The treatment is conducted once daily, with 15 sessions being a therapeutic course. Following treatment, of 176 cases, 46 (26. 1%) are cured, 90 (51. 1%) have prominent improvement, 35 (19.8%) have amelioration and 5 (2.8%) have no apparent changes, with a total effective rate of 97.0%.

80 CASES OF PROLAPSE OF LUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC TREATED BY ROUND-SHARP NEEDLE

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of round-sharp needle for prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc. Methods: A total of 80 cases of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse were treated by puncturing Qihaishu (气海俞 BL 24), Guanyuanshu (关元俞 BL 26), etc., with round-sharp needle, once every week, continuously for 4 sessions. Results: After the treatment, of the 80 cases, 56 (70 %) were cured, 16 (20%) improved,and 8 (10)%) failed, with an effective rate of 90%. Conclusion: Round-sharp needle works well in the treatment of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.

SUMMARY OF RESEARCHES ON THE TREATMENT OF PROTRUSION OF LUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC BY"SHE-BIE" OINTMENT-PARTITION MOXIBUSTION

In the present paper the authors sum up their research results about "She-Bie" (black-tail snake-ground beetle) Ointment-partition moxibustion for treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion (LIDP). Animal experiments showed that when used externally, "She-Bie" Ointment had striking anti-inflammation and pain-relief actions but had no irritant and no allergic effects to the skin. In the treatment of mild type of LIDP, "She-Bie" Ointment partition moxibustion could work well in improving clinical symptoms; and in the treatment of moderate type of LIDP, it could be used as a supplementary measure and raise the excellent and good rates of the therapeutic effect further. For this reason, "She-Bie" Ointment partition moxibustion deserves being popularized in clinical treatment of LIDP.

TREATMENT OF 247 CASES OF PROLAPSE OF LUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLUM-BLOSSOM MAGNETIC NEEDLE THERAPY

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of comprehensive plum-blossom magnetic needle therapy on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc. Methods: 247 cases of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc were treated first with manual treatment and then with plum-blossom magnetic needle therapy and effect-increasing pad therapy at specified points and reactive points. Results: After treatment for 2 therapeutic courses,153 cases were cured accounting for 61.94%, 71 cases were markedly effective accounting for 28.75%, 22 cases were improved accounting for 8.91% and the rest one failed,accounting for 0.45%. Conclusion: The comprehensive plum-blossom magnetic needle therapy has a better therapeutic effect on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.

Effect of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture on Adjacent Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Objective:The influence of vertebral compression fracture on the degeneration of adjacent disc was analyzed.Methods:88 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures admitted to the orthopedic pain department from July 2014 to July 2019 were selected as the research objects.According to the previous MRI and the improved MRI results of admission,the patients were converted into old fractures after conservative treatment.They were followed up in 3,6 and 12 months after discharge,and the VAS score at each time point(visual acuity score)was calculated We collected and analyzed the classifcation of intervertebral disc degeneration and MRI index.Results:The follow-up rate was 659%(58/88);There were 42 cases(72.4%)of degenerative disc adjacent to the diseased vertebra,and 16 cases(27.5%)of adjacent intervertebral disc did not degenerate;VAS scores were 1ower at 14 days,3 months,6 months and 12 months after admission;The number of grade 1 of disc degeneration was lower in 6 months and 12 months than that in admission(P<0.05),and the number of grade 2,3 and 4 was significantly higher than that in the follow-up in December(P<0.05).The difference between 6 and 12 months was not statistically significant(P>0.05);MRI index at 6 and 12 months follow-up was lower than that at admission(P<0.05).Conclusion:Through the research and analysis,we found that osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture will have a corresponding impact on the adjacent intervertebral disc,which can make the adjacent intervertebral disc degenerate.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON TREATMENT OF 80 CASES OF PROLAPSE OF LUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC BY COMBINATION OF ACUPUNCTURE AND MEDICINE

cases of prolapse of lumbar intervetebral disc were randomly divided into treatment and control groups. 80 cases in treatment group were treated with combination of acupuncture, oral administration of Chinese medicinal herbs, traction, point injection and intravenous drip of energy dehydration mixture; 70 cases in control group were managed by combination of acupuncture, oral administration of herbal medicines, traction, acupoint injection (without energy dehydration mixture). The results showed that the curative rate and the total effective rate of the treatment group were 91.25% and 98.75% separately, while those of the control group 62.86% and 92.86% respectively. Comparison of the curative rate between the 2 groups showed a remarkable significance (P<0.01). The observation demonstrated that combined treatment of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc with traditional Chinese and Western medicine is an effective approach.

Expression and significance of VEGF and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of expression and significance of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue.Methods:Pathological sections collected from 156 patienls with lumbar disc herniation after surgery were tested by immunohistochemistry method,for evaluation of the expression of VEGF and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue.Results:98 cases(62.8%) with vascular infiltration phenomenon are found,and positive rates of VEGF and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue are 73.42% (116/156) and 58.97%(92/156);co-expression rate is 53.2%(83/l56);the expression rates of VEFG and p53 are significantly higher in the tissue with blood vessel infiltration than in the tissue without infiltration;there is a close relationship of VEGF with p53.Conclusions:VEGF and p53 gene synergetic express in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue,working together in neovascularization and infiltration,and accelerating intervertebral disc tissue degeneration.

The study of differences of antigenicity in rabbit intervertebral disc

Objective To reveal and compare the immunogenicity of glycoprotein from nucleus pulposus and collagen from anulus fibrosus in rabbit intervertebral disc.Methods According to the similarity principle of genome biology and the amount