Genome-wide association study in Dachshund: identification of a major locus affecting intervertebral disc calcification

Intervertebral disc calcification and herniation commonly affects Dachshund where the predisposition is caused by an early onset degenerative process resulting in disc calcification. A continuous spectrum of disc degeneration is seen within and among dog breeds, suggesting a multifactorial etiology. The number of calcified discs at 2 years of age determined by a radiographic evaluation is a good indicator of the severity of disc degeneration and thus serves as a measure for the risk of developing intervertebral disc herniation. The aim of the study was to identify genetic variants associated with intervertebral disc calcification in Dachshund through a genome-wide association (GWA) study. Based on thorough radiographic examinations, 48 cases with ≥ 6 disc calcifications or surgically treated for disc herniation and 46 controls with 0-1 disc calcifications were identified. GWA using the Illumina CanineHD BeadChip identified a locus on chromosome 12 from 36.8 to 38.6 Mb with 36 markers reaching genome-wide significance (P(genome) = 0.00001-0.026). This study suggests that a major locus on chromosome 12 harbors genetic variations affecting the development of intervertebral disc calcification in Dachshund.     

Short aggrecan gene repetitive alleles associated with lumbar degenerative disc disease in Turkish patients

We investigated a possible association between aggrecan gene polymorphism and lumbar degenerative disc disease in Turkish patients. One hundred 20-30-year-old patients with or without low back pain were selected for the study. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging was performed on all patients. The patient group had low back pain clinically and degenerative disc disease radiographically. The control group included patients with and without low back pain: all were negative radiographically for degenerative disc disease. Genomic DNA was extracted from all participants. A PCR assay were used to evaluate variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism of aggrecan gene alleles to determine if there was any correlation with degenerative disc disease. Significant associations were found between short repeated alleles of the aggrecan gene and severe disc degeneration. A significant association was also found between short repeated alleles of the aggrecan gene and multilevel disc herniation as well as extrusion and sequestration types of disc herniation. In Turkish population, short repeated alleles of the aggrecan gene are associated with increased disc degeneration and disc herniation.     

腰椎间盘突出症的CT及MRI诊断

目的：总结分析１９１例腰椎间盘突出症的ＣＴ及ＭＲＩ影像特征。方法：ＣＴ组１０４例,ＭＲＩ组８７例,同时行ＣＴ及ＭＲ检查４４例。结果：ＣＴ组中,椎间盘同位于Ｌ３－４者１２例,Ｌ４－５者３２例,Ｌ５－Ｓ１者６０例。骨质增生３１例,髓核钙化１１例,后纵韧带钙化９例。ＭＲ组中,椎间盘突出位于Ｌ３－４者１３例,Ｌ４－５者３９例,Ｌ５－Ｓ１者３５例,椎间盘突变性４１例。     

腰椎间盘突出症260例临床分析

目的：总结腰椎间盘突出症的临床特点及诊治要点。方法：回顾性分析260例腰椎间盘突出症手术患者的临床资料。结果：直腿抬高与影像学检查结果符合率为100％,治疗优良率这88．08％,有效率100％。结论：腰、下肢和臀部疼痛、下肢麻木、体位改变、运动障碍、感觉障碍、肌萎缩都是腰椎间盘突出症的主要临床表现;直腿抬高试验高试验可作为早期诊断的重要参考指标,要要根据患者体征、病程等具体情况选择适合的最佳治法。     

不同手术方式对腰椎间盘突出症治疗的效果比较分析

目的:探讨应用微创技术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效.方法:对我院脊柱骨科自2005年l1月～2010年10月收治的128例腰椎间盘突出症患者应用不同手术方式进行治疗,其中应用APLD( automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy)治疗单纯腰椎间盘突出症48例;应用MED(microendoscopic discectomy)治疗复杂型腰椎间盘突出症42例;应用传统后路椎板开窗技术治疗单纯腰椎间盘突出症38例;比较各组手术时间、术中出血、术后住院时间、疗效及并发症.术后均随访8个月～3年,观察复发情况.结果:三组不同手术方式手术时间及优良率比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),APLD及MED组术中出血量及术后住院时间与传统手术组比较,差异有显著性(P＜0.05);术后随访疼痛全部缓解,无复发.结论:在严格掌握适应症的基础上,采用微创技术和采用传统手术治疗腰椎间盘突出症疗效相当,但微创技术创伤小、术中出血量少,术后住院日短,恢复快,优于传统手术.     

针刺联合红外线照射治疗腰椎间盘突出症的随机对照研究

目的：评价针刺联合红外线照射治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效。方法：选择2010 年9 月～2012 年1 月我院收治的90 例 腰椎间盘突出症患者为研究对象,并将其随机分为对照组和治疗组,每组45 例。对照组患者给予药物治疗,而治疗组患者给予针 刺联合红外线照射治疗,治疗后评价和比较两组患者的临床疗效及腰腿痛的改善情况。结果：针刺联合红外线照射治疗腰椎间盘 突出症显效率为62.2%,药物组显效率为26.7%,两组有显著性差异(Ｐ<0.05)。治疗后,治疗组患者腰腿痛疼痛评分明显低于对照 组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论：以针刺联合红外线照射治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效肯定,值得临床推广。     

经皮椎板间内镜与椎板小开窗术治疗腰椎间盘突出症临床疗效比较

目的：分析和比较椎板间内镜与椎板小开窗术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效和安全性指标。方法：使用回顾性分析的方法 对2012-2014 年共计126 例在我科行椎板间内镜手术或椎板小开窗手术的腰椎间盘突出患者进行分析和比较。通过纳入和排除 标准的筛选,经皮椎板间内镜组纳入48例,椎板小开窗组纳入78 例。结合详实的术后随访,对两组患者在花费,住院时间等一般 性指标,疼痛指标,功能指标,并发症等数据进行分析和比较。结果：两组患者在术后均取得明显的治疗疗效,在疼痛、功能等指标 中都有明显的改善。但两组之间并无明显统计学差异(P>0.05)。而椎板间内镜组在住院时间,出血量,切口长度及并发症等方面明 显的优于小开窗组,具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论：经皮椎板间内镜手术作为一种脊柱微创手术,治疗效果确切,安全性好,能体 现微创的优势,可作为椎间孔镜技术在治疗椎间盘突出症的有益补充,在临床中进一步的开展和推广。     

Asporin, a susceptibility gene in osteoarthritis, is expressed at higher levels in the more degenerate human intervertebral disc

Introduction  

Asporin, also known as periodontal ligament-associated protein 1 (PLAP1), is a member of the family of small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) family. It is present within the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM), and is reported to have a genetic association with osteoarthritis. Its D14 allele has recently been found to be associated with lumbar disc degeneration in Asian subjects. There have been no studies, however, of this gene's normal immunohistochemical localization within the human intervertebral disc, or of expression levels in Caucasian individuals with disc degeneration.     

经皮椎间盘镜与椎间孔镜技术治疗腰椎间盘突出症临床对比分析

目的:比较椎间盘镜髓核摘除术(microendoscopic discectomy,MED)与椎间孔镜髓核摘除术(percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy,PELD)治疗腰椎间盘突出症的优缺点、安全性及临床疗效。方法:分析和回顾2012.06-2015.06第四军医大学唐都医院骨科收治的共计118例腰椎间盘突出症患者。经严格的进行纳入和排除标准筛选,其中椎间盘镜组共纳入患者46例,椎间孔镜组患者共纳入患者72例。对所有患者均进行了6个月以上的术后随访,记录和分析两组患者在手术时间、卧床时间、出血量、切口长度、疼痛、并发症等指标。并通过Macnab腰椎功能评分等对两组患者的功能恢复进行比较。结果:在术后,两组患者在疼痛评分及功能恢复方面均有明显的提高,且两组之间并无显著统计学差异(P0.05)。而椎间孔镜组在手术时间、卧床时间,总花费等指标中要优于椎间盘组(P0.05)。但在住院时间,出血量,切口长度及并发症等方面两组无明显的显著性差异(P0.05)。结论:两种手术方式作为脊柱微创手术,能够有效地治疗腰椎间盘突出症,安全程度较高,各有其优劣性,在临床中应根据不同的患者的实际情况进行个性化的选择。     

正常椎间盘胶原的研究

腰椎间盘突出症是引起腰腿痛常见的原因。胶原作为椎间盘结构的主要成分,构成椎间盘的纤维框架,其类型与分布直接决定着椎间盘结构的强度和功能的稳定。本文利用溴化氰消化椎间盘胶原产生多肽,借助于梯度层析。SDS-PAGE及光密度定量扫描等对正常人椎间盘胶原进行了研究。结果表明:正常人椎间盘含Ⅰ型及Ⅱ型两种胶原,它们的分布呈明显而特征性的移行性变化:纤维环外层边缘以Ⅰ型胶原为主(83％),由外向内Ⅰ型胶原逐渐移行为Ⅱ型胶原,靠近髓核处以Ⅱ型胶原为主(72％);髓核中心含有Ⅱ型胶原。此为椎间盘的一个结构特性,以满足椎间盘的特殊功能的需要。     

退变腰椎间盘组织细胞凋亡相关蛋白酶Caspase-10 的表达研究

目的:探讨凋亡相关蛋白酶Caspase-10在腰椎间盘退变中的表达。方法:45例腰椎间盘突出症病人按年龄分为青年、中年和老年患者组,5例青少年型特发性脊柱侧弯病人作为对照组。患者组标本均为术中所取出L4/5新鲜椎间盘髓核组织,对照组标本均为术中所取出L2/3新鲜椎间盘髓核组织。采用TUNEL法和免疫组织化学S-P法,分别检测腰椎间盘髓核中的凋亡阳性细胞率及Caspase-10的表达情况。结果:对照组髓核内TUNEL阳性细胞率为(17.80±0.62)%。青年、中年、老年患者组髓核内TUNEL阳性细胞率分别为(45.71±2.05)%、(53.65±2.93)%和(68.39±4.33)%。四个组两两之间差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。对照组髓核内Caspase-10染色阳性细胞率为(32.60士1.64)%。青年、中年、老年患者组髓核内Caspase-10染色阳性细胞率分别为(50.67士2.89)%、(63.12士4.61)%和(75.28士4.26)%。四个组两两之间差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。髓核内Caspase-10染色阳性细胞率与TUNEL阳性细胞率和年龄之间均呈正相关(P<0.01)。结论:退行性变腰椎间盘组织中凋亡细胞率以及Caspase-10的表达均高于正常椎间盘组织,年龄是细胞凋亡的重要影响因素,细胞凋亡以及Caspase-10的表达上调可能在腰椎间盘退行性变的发生和发展中发挥重要作用。     

A Combinatorial Relative Mass Value Evaluation of Endogenous Bioactive Proteins in Three-Dimensional Cultured Nucleus Pulposus Cells of Herniated Intervertebral Discs: Identification of Potential Target Proteins for Gene Therapeutic Approaches

Painful degenerative disc diseases have been targeted by different biological treatment approaches. Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells play a central role in intervertebral disc (IVD) maintenance by orchestrating catabolic, anabolic and inflammatory factors that affect the extracellular matrix. IVD degeneration is associated with imbalances of these factors, resulting in a catabolic inflammatory metabolism. Therefore, accurate knowledge about their quantity and quality with regard to matrix synthesis is vital for a rational gene therapeutic approach. NP cells were isolated from 63 patients operated due to lumbar disc herniation (mean age 56 / range 29 - 84 years). Then, three-dimensional culture with low-glucose was completed in a collagen type I scaffold for four weeks. Subsequently cell proliferation evaluation was performed using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and intracellular concentration of 28 endogenously expressed anabolic, catabolic, inflammatory factors and relevant matrix proteins was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Specimen-related grades of degeneration were confirmed by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Independent from gender, age and grade of degeneration proliferation rates remained similar in all groups of NP cells. Progressive grades of degeneration, however, showed a significant influence on accumulation of selective groups of factors such as disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4 and 5, matrix metalloproteinase 3, metalloproteinase inhibitor 1 and 2, interleukin-1β and interleukin-1 receptor. Along with these changes, the key NP matrix proteins aggrecan and collagen II decreased significantly. The concentration of anabolic factors bone morphogenetic proteins 2, 4, 6 and 7, insulin-like growth factor 1, transforming growth factor beta 1 and 3, however, remained below the minimal detectable quantities. These findings indicate that progressive degenerative changes in NP may be problematic with regard to biologic treatment strategies. Hence, gene therapeutic interventions regulating relevant bioactive factors identified in this work might contribute to the development of regenerative treatment approaches for degenerative disc diseases.     

Morphologic features of spontaneous annular tears and disc degeneration in the aging sand rat (Psammomys obesus obesus)

The sand rat, a member of the gerbil family, is a valuable small animal model in which intervertebral disc degeneration occurs spontaneously as the animal ages. Radiographic features of cervical and lumbar degeneration resemble those in human spines. We conducted a retrospective analysis of spines of 140 animals 3?41 months old focusing specifically on the presence of annular tears that are not visible by radiography and have not been described previously in the sand rat disc. During degeneration of the nucleus pulposus, notochordal cell death occurs and granular material, which stains with Alcian blue for proteoglycans, accumulates. Lamellar architecture also deteriorates and annular tears occur that are morphologically similar to the concentric, radiating and transdiscal annular tears in human discs. These tears contain granular material that provides a “marker” that can be used to distinguish the annular tears from artefactual separations during sectioning. We observed lamellar degeneration and separation in the annulus fibrosus at 4 months with associated tears that contained granular material in the nucleus. Tears that contained granular material and displacement of the degenerating nucleus were common in cervical and lumbar discs of animals older than 9 months; some specimens showed tears at 4 and 5 months. With advanced degeneration, granular globules were displaced dorsally adjacent to and into the spinal cord area and also ventrally into regions where osteophytes formed. We present morphologic data that expand the utility of this rodent model of spontaneous age-related disc degeneration and provide novel information on annular tears and disc degeneration.     

O型臂引导下经皮椎间孔镜治疗腰椎间盘突出症

目的:总结O型臂引导下经皮椎间孔镜治疗腰椎间盘突出症术后疗效。方法:回顾性分析77例采用侧入路椎间孔镜技术治疗腰椎间盘突出症患者的临床资料,采用视觉模拟评分法(visual analogue score,VAS)及Oswestry功能障碍指数(Oswestry disability index,ODI)评估术后疼痛、功能改善等。结果:患者术前VAS7.5±1.2,ODI(%)62.7±16.0,术后6个月VAS1.6±1.9,ODI(%)32.1±24.3,治疗效果明显,且无严重并发症,少数短期并发症可恢复。结论:O型臂引导下经皮椎间孔镜是治疗腰椎间盘突出症安全、有效的微创手术方式。     

3.0T磁共振扩张量成像对腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压的诊断价值及其与Oswestry功能障碍指数及视觉模拟评分的相关性

目的:研究3.0T磁共振扩张量成像(DTI)对腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压的诊断价值及其与Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI)及视觉模拟评分(VAS)的相关性。方法:纳入我院从2017年1月~2019年1月收治的腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压患者50例进行研究,记作研究组。另取同期我院收治的单纯腰椎间盘突出患者50例作为对照组。两组受试者均接受DTI扫描以及ODI、VAS评分。比较两组神经根不同层面的各向异性分数(FA)值、弥散系数(ADC)值、ODI、VAS评分,并作相关性分析。同时,以手术病理诊断为金标准,分析DTI诊断腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压的敏感性、特异性、准确度。结果:研究组患者神经根近层、中层、远层的FA值均显著低于对照组,而ADC值均显著高于对照组(均P<0.05)。以手术病理诊断为金标准,DTI诊断腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压的敏感性为94.00%、特异性为96.00%、准确度为95.00%。研究组ODI、VAS评分分别为(43.22±7.25)分、(6.68±1.92)分,相较于对照组的(28.56±6.22)分、(4.02±1.34)分显著更高(均P<0.05)。经Pearson相关性分析可得:腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压患者的FA值与ODI、VAS评分均呈负相关关系(均P<0.05),而ADC值与ODI、VAS评分无相关性(均P>0.05)。结论:DTI对腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压的诊断价值较高,且FA值与ODI、VAS均存在明显相关性。临床工作中可能将DTI的FA值作为量化神经根结构改变的重要参数,值得临床重点关注。     

Heritability of lumbar flexibility and the role of disc degeneration and body weight.

Spinal range of motion is evaluated in assessing patients with back problems and monitoring outcomes, as well as in general fitness assessments. Yet, determinants of the substantial interindividual variation in spinal range of motion are not well understood. Substantial genetic effects on global measures of range of motion and hypermobility have been suggested from earlier studies, but genetic influences specifically on spinal range of motion have not been previously studied. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the relative role of genetic and environmental influences on lumbar range of motion in adult men and the pathways through which genes may influence range of motion. Thus we conducted a classic twin study of 300 monozygotic and dizygotic male twin pairs with consideration of covariates, using standard statistical methods. All subjects underwent a clinical examination, including general anthropometrics, lumbar range of motion, and lumbar MRI to assess disc degeneration, as well as an extensive interview on environmental and behavioral exposures and back pain history. We found the proportion of variance in lumbar range of motion attributable to genetic influences (heritability estimate) to be 47%. The extent of lumbar range of motion in flexion was predominantly determined by genetic influences (64%), while extension was influenced to a somewhat greater degree by environmental and behavioral factors. Statistically significant age-adjusted genetic correlations were found between lumbar extension and disc degeneration variables (r(a) = -0.38 to -0.43) and between flexion and body weight (r(a) = -0.33), suggesting two pathways through which genes influence lumbar range of motion.     

A genetic variant in COL11A1 is functionally associated with lumbar disc herniation in Chinese population

This study aimed to explore whether the genetic variant of COL11A1 is functionally associated with the development of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in Chinese population. SNP rs1676486 of COL11A1 was genotyped in 647 patients and 532 healthy controls. The differences of genotype and allele distributions between LDH patients and healthy controls were evaluated using the \(\upchi ^{2}\) test. One-way ANOVA test was used to compare the relationship between genotypes and clinical features including tissue expression of COL11A1 and the degree of disc degeneration. Patients were found to have a significantly higher frequency of TT than the controls (10.2% versus 7.3%, \(P=0.004\)). Besides, the frequency of allele T was found to be remarkably higher in the patients than the controls (34.8% versus 28.1%, \(P < 0.001\)) with an odds ratio of 1.36 (95% confidential interval \(=\) 1.14–1.63). Patients with genotype TT were found to have remarkably more severe disc degeneration (\(P=0.02\)). Besides, the expression of COL11A1 in the lumbar disc was significantly lower in the patients with genotype TT than in those with genotype CT or CC (\(P < 0.001\)). Moreover, the expression level was inversely correlated with the severity of disc degeneration (\(P < 0.001\)). We confirmed that the rs1676486 of COL11A may be functionally associated with LDH in the Chinese population. Extracellular matrix related proteins may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LDH. Our findings shed light on a better understanding of the pathogenesis of LDH, which could be a promising target for a novel treatment modality of LDH.