BackgroundFew studies have investigated systemic inflammation levels in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). This study evaluated the concentration of inflammatory cytokines in DCM patients and assessed whether they can predict symptom severity.Material/MethodsA total of 40 consecutive DCM patients and 10 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α were compared between DCM patients and normal controls. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to examine relationships of cytokines with age, body mass index (BMI), symptom duration, and symptom severity. A DCM compression rat model was established to examine the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).ResultsSerum level of IL-6 is significantly higher in DCM patients compared with normal people (0.8±0.5 pg/ml vs. 0.5±0.3 pg/ml, P=0.036). Positive correlations were found between IL-6 levels with BMI (ρ=0.519; P=0.001) and symptom severity (ρ=−0.556, P<0.001). In DCM compression model rats, IL-6 was elevated in CSF (40.5±3.3 vs. 13.2±2.4 pg/ml, P<0.001) and serum (7.1±1.7 vs. 2.9±1.6 pg/ml, P<0.001) samples from rats in the compression operation group compared with the sham operation group. Infusion of IL-6 in rats receiving the sham operation also led to motor function damage and mechanical allodynia threshold decline.ConclusionsSerum IL-6 level was elevated in DCM patients and its concentration can predict symptom severity. Local infusion of IL-6 led to myelopathy symptoms in model rats, which suggests that anti-inflammation can effectively treat DCM.
IntroductionMany studies have suggested that the vitamin D receptor polymorphism BsmI might be associated with the risk of osteoporosis development in post-menopausal women. However, the results have been inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis was to derive a more precise evaluation of the relationship.Material and methodsPublished literature from PubMed, EMBASE and the CNKI database was searched. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of any association.ResultsTen case-control studies were included with a total of 1,403 osteoporosis cases and 2,144 healthy controls. In the overall analysis, no significant association was found between BsmI polymorphism and osteoporosis risk (BB vs. bb: OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.39–1.48; BB vs. Bb: OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.71–1.15; dominant model: OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.74–1.93; recessive model: OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.53–1.30). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the results showed similar result that BsmI polymorphism m had no association with osteoporosis.ConclusionsResults from the current meta-analysis suggest that vitamin D receptor BsmI polymorphism may not be a risk factor for osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.
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