Possible case of rheumatoid arthritis from Sudanese Nubia

Due to its apparent absence in archaeologically derived skeletons, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has generally been believed to be of fairly recent origin. A growing body of evidence now demonstrates that erosive lesions typical of RA are present in archaeological populations and that the antiquity of RA may be greater than previously expected. In support of this argument, a case of erosive arthritis is reported in a skeleton from Kulubnarti, Republic of the Sudan (c. 700-1450 A.D.). Lytic, erosive lesions and subchondral cysts are present bilaterally in the carpal and metacarpal joints of a female skeleton with an estimated age at death of 50+ years. These lesions are typical of those seen in clinically diagnosed rheumatoid patients. While their expression and distribution are highly suggestive of RA, interpretation must be made with due consideration for problems of differential diagnosis of this disease in archaeological material.     

先天性脊柱侧弯采用后路半椎体切除短节段融合疗效分析

目的:探讨先天性脊柱侧弯采用后路半椎体切除短节段融合治疗的临床疗效。方法:选取2011年1月~2014年1月经我院治疗的120份先天性脊柱侧弯患者,采用后路半椎体切除短节段融合治疗法进行治疗,比较手术前后、最后一次随访的脊柱全长正侧位X线片,测量并记录治疗前后及随访期间脊柱侧弯程度及后凸的Cobb's角。结果:通过治疗患者脊柱侧弯得到明显改善,半椎体节段侧弯Cobb's角术前平均44.2°,术后平均15.1°,平均矫正率为65.8%,末次随访平均14.3°,矫正率64.2%;全主弯Cobb's角术后平均矫正率60.7%,末次随访平均矫正率65.6%;半椎体节段后凸Cobb's角术前平均15.3°,术后为正常范围值;术后和末次随访的头侧、尾侧代偿弯改善明显,5项指标手术前后对比差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:先天性脊柱侧弯采用后路半椎体切除短节段融合治疗可以达到显著矫正先天性脊柱侧弯的效果。     

The Reissner Fiber Is Highly Dynamic In Vivo and Controls Morphogenesis of the Spine

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Pathological implications of nucleic acid interactions with proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases

Protein misfolding disorders (PMDs) refer to a group of diseases related to the misfolding of particular proteins that aggregate and deposit in the cells and tissues of humans and other mammals. The mechanisms that trigger protein misfolding and aggregation are still not fully understood. Increasing experimental evidence indicates that abnormal interactions between PMD-related proteins and nucleic acids (NAs) can induce conformational changes. Here, we discuss these protein–NA interactions and address the role of deoxyribonucleic (DNA) and ribonucleic (RNA) acid molecules in the conformational conversion of different proteins that aggregate in PMDs, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prion diseases. Studies on the affinity, stability, and specificity of proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases and NAs are specifically addressed. A landscape of reciprocal effects resulting from the binding of prion proteins, amyloid-β peptides, tau proteins, huntingtin, and α-synuclein are presented here to clarify the possible role of NAs, not only as encoders of genetic information but also in triggering PMDs.     

Emerging roles of non‐coding RNAs in scoliosis

Scoliosis, a complex three‐dimensional deformity of the spine with the Cobb angle (a measure of the spinal lateral curvature) >10 degree, encompasses a spectrum of pathologies, including congenital, idiopathic, syndromic and neuromuscular aetiologies. The pathogenesis is multifactorial involving both environmental and genetic factors but the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease development remain largely unknown. Emerging evidence showed that non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs), namely microRNAs, long ncRNAs and circular RNAs, are deregulated in many orthopaedic diseases, including scoliosis. Importantly, these deregulated ncRNAs functionally participate in the initiation and progression of scoliosis. Here, we review recent progress in ncRNA research on scoliosis.     

Ubiquitin ligase activity of Cul3-KLHL7 protein is attenuated by autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa causative mutation

Substrate-specific protein degradation mediated by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is crucial for the proper function of the cell. Proteins are specifically recognized and ubiquitinated by the ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and are then degraded by the proteasome. BTB proteins act as the substrate recognition subunit that recruits their cognate substrates to the Cullin 3-based multisubunit E3s. Recently, it was reported that missense mutations in KLHL7, a BTB-Kelch protein, are related to autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). However, the involvement of KLHL7 in the UPS and the outcome of the adRP causative mutations were unknown. In this study, we show that KLHL7 forms a dimer, assembles with Cul3 through its BTB and BACK domains, and exerts E3 activity. Lys-48-linked but not Lys-63-linked polyubiquitin chain co-localized with KLHL7, which increased upon proteasome inhibition suggesting that KLHL7 mediates protein degradation via UPS. An adRP-causative missense mutation in the BACK domain of KLHL7 attenuated only the Cul3 interaction but not dimerization. Nevertheless, the incorporation of the mutant as a heterodimer in the Cul3-KLHL7 complex diminished the E3 ligase activity. Together, our results suggest that KLHL7 constitutes a Cul3-based E3 and that the disease-causing mutation inhibits ligase activity in a dominant negative manner, which may lead to the inappropriate accumulation of the substrates targeted for proteasomal degradation.     

腰椎间融合器植入术治疗腰椎退行性疾病的临床疗效

目的:观察腰椎融合术结合腰椎间融合器植入对腰椎退行性疾病的治疗效果及对预后评估。方法:选择我院2013年1月至2014年1月收治的54例腰椎退行性疾病患者为研究对象,随机将其分为两组,对照组患者行单纯椎间植骨融合术,实验组患者给予腰椎融合术结合腰椎间融合器植入治疗,对两组患者的手术时间、手术失血量、住院天数、融合率及并发症情况进行观察,同时对术前、术后三个月均应用VAS评分、ODI评分评估患者恢复情况。结果:实验组融合率明显高于对照组,但实验组手术时间较对照组长,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组术中出血量及住院天数无统计学意义(P0.05);与术前比较,两组患者VAS评分、ODI评分均明显降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,实验组术后VAS评分和ODI评分降低更明显,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);疗效与并发症比较,实验组优于对照组(P0.05)。结论:腰椎融合术结合腰椎间融合器植入治疗腰椎退行性疾病临床疗效显著且安全性高,对患者预后较好。     

经后路椎体间融合术与经椎间孔椎体间融合术治疗老年退行性 腰椎滑脱合并腰椎管狭窄的疗效

目的：研究经后路椎体间融合术（PLIF）与经椎间孔椎体间融合术（TLIF）治疗老年退行性腰椎滑脱合并腰椎管狭窄症的临 床疗效。方法：选取2011 年12 月到2014 年12 月我院收治的老年退行性腰椎滑脱合并腰椎管狭窄症患者40 例,根据手术方式 将患者分为PLIF组和TLIF组,比较两组手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流量、术后卧床时间、视觉疼痛评分（VAS）、Oswestry功能 不良指数（ODI）以及并发症的发生率。结果：TLIF组术中出血量、术后引流量及术后卧床时间均显著优于PLIT 组,差异具有统计 学意义（P＜ 0.05）;两组手术时间差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;两组术后半年VAS评分及ODI评分均显著优于手术前,差异具有 统计学意义（P＜0.05）;但两组之间比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;TLIF 组并发症发生率显著低于PLIF 组,差异具有统计学 意义（P＜ 0.05）。结论：TLIF治疗老年退行性腰椎滑脱合并腰椎管狭窄症具有较好的临床疗效,且术后并发症较少。     

The association of nutritional profile and prognosis of degenerative diseases associated with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism at high altitude of district Ziarat,Pakistan

Objective

In the present study the physiological parameters, their comparative analysis with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were studied. This study suggests life style, environmental and genetic adaptations in the studied population.

Method

One hundred and ninety eight subjects were selected from different towns of District Ziarat. General characteristics of the population according to their nutritional habits including, age, body mass index(BMI), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glycemia, triglycerides, serum low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglycerides (TG) were measured.

Results

Mean cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglyceride values were significantly higher in men than women and the values increased with increasing age in both men and women. HDL and glucose values were significantly higher in females than males. In men with various nutritional groups such as A, B and C, the mean cholesterol (P < 0.001), LDL (P < 0.014), VLDL (P < 0.031) and triglyceride (P < 0.025) levels were significantly observed among comparable groups. However, in women with various nutritional groups such as A, B and C, the mean age (P < 0.047) and triglyceride values (P < 0.033) display statistically significant results.