BackgroundThe dramatic increase of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is considered to be a major cause of discogenic low back pain. The current study focused on the regulatory function of microRNA-194 (miR-194) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells.Material/MethodsLPS was used to treat NP cells to induce inflammatory responses. MiRNA and gene expression were detected by quantitative PCR. Proteins and protein expression levels were detected by Western blot and ELISA kit. Dual luciferase reporter assay was applied to identify the correlation between an miR-194- and TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and to test NF-κB activity.ResultsMiR-194 expression was reduced in LPS-induced NP cells. Both miR-194 overexpression and miR-194 inhibitor could regulate extracellular matrix (ECM) genes expression (Aggrecan and collagen II), MMP3, MMP13, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5, as well as inflammatory cytokines-associated genes (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, PGE2). Through a further study of the molecular mechanism, miR-194 was proved to be involved in the regulation of TRAF6 and its downstream signal molecule, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB).ConclusionsFinding of our study suggest that miR-194 can inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory response in NP cells of the intervertebral disc (IVD) by targeting TRAF6, which may contribute development of IDD biological therapy.

BackgroundWe aimed to compare microscope-assisted anterior cervical surgery with traditional open-base surgery for treating cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).Material/MethodsPatients were grouped into microscope-assisted anterior cervical surgery group (case group, n=30) and conventional anterior cervical surgery group (control group, n=30). Baseline characteristics, intraoperative and post-operative indexes including operation time, blood loss amount, duration of hospitalization, visual analogue scale (VAS), and complication rate were recorded. The neurological functions of patients were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. Furthermore, the corresponding rate of improved JOA score (RIS) in each group was also calculated to evaluate surgery outcomes.ResultsThe average blood loss amount and hospital stay duration in the case group were lower than in the control group (p<0.05). The post-operative VAS scores of both groups were decreased significantly. Particularly the post-operative VAS score in the case group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.05). While the improvement rate of JOA scores in the case group was significantly higher than that in control group after cervical spine surgery. A significantly higher RIS rate was observed in the case group (p<0.05). Furthermore, post-operative complications of patients in the case group were lower than those in the control group (p<0.05).ConclusionsCompared to conventional anterior cervical surgery, surgeries operated with microscope exhibit higher efficacy and safety including less bleeding amount, shorter operation time, released pain degree, improved neurological functions, and fewer incidences of complications.