In summary, our results showed that one-stage HV resection and short segment fusion by a posterior approach can offer excellent scoliosis correction and trunk shift improvement without neurological complications, while saving motion segments as much as possible. This strategy is not only corrective of the deformity but also preventive of compensatory curve progression, thus avoiding long lumbar fusion.
Objective. Low back pain (LBP) is one of the top three causes of disability in developed countries, and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a major contributor to LBP. In the process of IDD, there is a gradual decrease in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM). Exosomes are important exocrine mediators of stem cells that can act directly on cells for tissue repair and regeneration. In this study, we determined the antisenescence, cell proliferation promotion, and ECM modulation effects of human urine-derived stem cell (USC) exosomes (USC-exos) on degenerated intervertebral discs and explored the underlying mechanism. Methods and Materials. USCs were identified by multipotent differentiation and flow cytometry for mesenchymal stem cell- (MSC-) specific surface protein markers. USC-exos were isolated from the conditioned medium of USCs by ultracentrifugation and then analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analysis, and western blotting (WB) for exosome marker proteins. The effects of USC-exos on NPC proliferation and ECM synthesis were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), WB, and immunofluorescence (IF) analyses. The protein differences between normal and degenerative intervertebral discs were mined, and the temporal and spatial variations in matrilin-3 (MATN3) content were determined by WB and IF in the intervertebral disc tissues. The candidate molecules that mediated the function of USC-exos were screened out and confirmed by multiple assays. Meanwhile, the mechanism underlying the candidate protein in USC-exos-induced cell proliferation and regulation of ECM synthesis promoting the activities of NPCs was explored. In addition, the effects of USC-exos on ameliorating intervertebral disc degeneration (IVD) in mice were examined by assessing computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and histological analyses. Results. The flow cytometry results showed that USCs were positive for CD29, CD44, and CD73, which are USC surface-specific markers, but negative for CD34 and CD45. In addition, USCs showed osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation potential. USC-exos exhibited a cup-shaped morphology, with a mean diameter of 49.7 ± 7.3 nm , and were positive for CD63 and TSG101 and negative for calnexin. USC-exos could promote NPC proliferation and ECM synthesis. The protein content of the matrilin family was significantly reduced in degenerative intervertebral discs, and the decrease in MATN3 was the most significant. USC-exos were found to be rich in MATN3 protein, and exosomal MATN3 was required for USC-exos-induced promotion of NPC proliferation and ECM synthesis, as well as alleviation of intervertebral disc degeneration in IVD rats. In addition, the effects of MATN3 in USC-exos were demonstrated to be achieved by activating TGF-β, which elevated the phosphorylation level of SMAD and AKT. Conclusions. Our study suggests that reduced MATN3 can be considered a characteristic of intervertebral disc degeneration. USC-exos may represent a potentially effective agent for alleviating intervertebral disc degeneration by promoting NPC proliferation and ECM synthesis by transferring the MATN3 protein.
BackgroundThere have been many reports on posterior hemivertebra resection. However, there were few articles in very young cases. This is a clinical retrospective study to evaluate the complications and efficacy of posterior hemivertebra resection in very young cases.MethodsFrom January 2003 to January 2012, 39 consecutive cases of congenital scoliosis with hemivertebra were retrospectively investigated in our hospital, including 18 females and 21 males, aged from 21 to 65 months old (average 42.4 months). All the cases underwent posterior hemivertebra resection with transpedicular instrumentation. Clinical charts and radiographs of spine were retrospectively reviewed to record complications and outcomes postoperatively and at the latest follow-up.ResultsMean operation time was 186.4 min (90–280 min) with average blood loss of 306.6 (100–700) ml. The total number of hemivertebrae resected was 43, including one hemivertebra in 35 cases and two hemivertebrae in 4 cases. The mean number of fused segments was 3.4, including 22 cases (56.4 %) with bisegmental fusion and 4 cases with mesh cage. Average follow-up period was 5.4 (3 to 11) years. There was a mean improvement rate of 83.6 % in the segmental scoliosis from 38.4° before surgery to 6.3° after operation and a mean improvement rate of 81.9 % in segmental kyphosis from 17.1° to 3.2° over the same time. The spontaneous correction rates of the compensatory cranial curve and compensatory caudal curve were 65.7 and 66.9 %, respectively. There were three complications (two cases),one pedicle fractures, one rod breakages, and one additional surgery for curve progression. Besides these, two additional surgeries (two cases) were performed to remove the instrumentation for pedicle elongation in the follow-up. There was no neurological complication.ConclusionsPosterior hemivertebra resection with transpedicular instrumentation is a safe and effective procedure in very young congenital scoliosis cases. Earlier surgeries can achieve short fusion and save more mobile segments. However, complications associated with implants and spinal growth still remain major concerns.
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