Based on current evidence, PVP takes less time in the operation, while it has greater risk of cement leakage, was inferior in reducing Cobb angle in the long term and results in lower anterior vertebral body height after the surgery. For pain relief, which is the main desire of the patients, both procedures provide significant improvement in VAS and ODI pain scores. PVP is still an effective procedure.

No abstract

Severe OVCFs should be candidates for VP. The unilateral VP can get the same clinical results with fewer complications compared with the bilateral VP.

N onalcoholic fatty liver disease has a global prevalence of 25% and is defined as the intracellular accumulation of fat in the liver parenchyma exceeding 5% in the absence of competing causes such as chronic viral hepatitis, druginduced steatosis, or other chronic liver diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, or alcohol abuse (1,2). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is considered an important cause of chronic liver disease, such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma (3). People with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease tend to also have obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, and are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (1). Accurate and reliable quantification of liver fat content is critical for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.Liver biopsy has long been the reference standard for assessment of liver fat content, although its application is restricted because of its invasive nature and high cost (4). Noninvasive techniques include US, CT, and MRI. US is an inexpensive and convenient diagnostic tool for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but it is semiquantitative and relatively insensitive to individuals with liver fat content less than 20% (5-7). Traditionally, CT was considered accurate for moderate-to-severe steatosis but insensitive to mild steatosis (8,9), and the results are susceptible to variable scanning conditions such as different tube voltages and CT scanners from different manufacturers (9,10). MRI methods, including proton MR spectroscopy and the emerging technique of chemical shift-encoded (CSE) MRI, are regarded as the most accurate noninvasive techniques for the evaluation of liver fat (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Proton MR spectroscopy and CSE MRI quantify liver fat directly in terms of the proton density fat fraction (PDFF), defined as the ratio of the signal strength from fat to the total signal from fat and water (11,16).

Both preoperative CT-based and intraoperative navigation systems provide sufficient accuracy and safety in pedicle screw insertion for AIS surgery. Intraoperative navigation systems facilitate pedicle screw insertion in the apical region and reduce registration time during AIS surgery which improves the efficacy and accuracy of pedicle screw insertion.

Objectives Insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) is a low‐affinity insulin growth factor (IGF) binder that may play an important role in bone metabolism. We previously reported that IGFBP7 enhanced osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) via the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway. In this study, we tried to reveal its function in osteoclast differentiation and osteoporosis. Methods We used both in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate the effects of IGFBP7 on RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoporosis, together with the underlying molecular mechanisms of these processes. Results We show that IGFBP7 inhibited receptor activation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) ligand (RANKL)‐induced osteoclastogenesis, F‐actin ring formation and bone resorption, which was confirmed by using recombinant IGFBP7 protein, lentivirus and siRNA. The NF‐κB signalling pathway was inhibited during this process. Moreover, in a mouse ovariectomy‐induced osteoporosis model, IGFBP7 treatment attenuated osteoporotic bone loss by inhibiting osteoclast activity. Conclusions Taken together, these findings show that IGFBP7 suppressed osteoclastogenesis in vitro and in vivo and suggest that IGFBP7 is a negative regulator of osteoclastogenesis and plays a protective role in osteoporosis. These novel insights into IGFBP7 may facilitate the development of potential treatment strategies for oestrogen deficiency‐induced osteoporosis and other osteoclast‐related disorders.

2.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of balloon dilation for 'X-ray'-free ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). From January 2012 to December 2012, patients underwent 'X-ray'-free ultrasound-guided PCNL with Amplatz dilator (Group A). From January 2013 to April 2014, patients underwent 'X-ray'-free ultrasound-guided PCNL with balloon dilator (Group B). For balloon dilation, a 10 F fascial dilator was used to dilate the tract. Subsequently, the 6 F nephrostomy balloon (8 mm in diameter) was indwelled along the guidewire with a marked length equal to the dilation depth. Under the monitoring of ultrasound, the location of balloon was secured and disappearance of balloon waist was confirmed when the balloon was inflated at a pressure of 20 atm. A total of 163 patients were involved in this study. Of 81 procedures in Group A, 45 procedures were performed by a senior urologist while 36 procedures by a resident. Of 82 patients in Group B, 47 procedures were performed by the same senior urologist while 35 procedures by another resident. For the senior urologist, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups in calyx of entry, stone-free rate, decline of hemoglobin and hematocrit, operation time and hospitalization. But for the residents, there was less decline of hemoglobin and hematocrit, tract development time and hospitalization in Group B compared to Group A (0.6 vs. 1.7 g/dl, p = 0.001; 2.3% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.003; 10.1 vs. 11.0 min, p = 0.027; 7.8 vs. 13.9 days, p < 0.001). Balloon dilation method introduced in this study is compensable for tract development when 'X-ray'-free ultrasound-guided PCNL is performed. Modified techniques make totally ultrasound guidance for PCNL feasible, easy and safe. In addition, such a procedure is preferable for initial operators because of less hemorrhage complication.