A quantitative analysis of heterogeneities and hallmarks in acute myelogenous leukaemia

Acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) is associated with risk factors that are largely unknown and with a heterogeneous response to treatment. Here, we provide a comprehensive quantitative understanding of AML proteomic heterogeneities and hallmarks by using the AML proteome atlas, a proteomics database that we have newly derived from MetaGalaxy analyses, for the proteomic profiling of 205 AML patients and 111 leukaemia cell lines. The analysis of the dataset revealed 154 functional patterns based on common molecular pathways, 11 constellations of correlated functional patterns, and 13 signatures that stratify the patients’ outcomes. We find limited overlap between proteomics data and both cytogenetics and genetic mutations, and also that leukaemia cell lines show limited proteomic similarities with cells from AML patients, suggesting that a deeper focus on patient-derived samples is needed to gain disease-relevant insights. The AML proteome atlas provides a knowledge base for proteomic patterns in AML, a guide to leukaemia cell-line selection, and a broadly applicable computational approach for quantifying the heterogeneities of protein expression and proteomic hallmarks in AML.

Preventative effects of selenium-enriched Bifidobacterium longum on irinotecan-induced small intestinal mucositis in mice

Intestinal mucositis is a frequent side effect in cancer patients who are treated with chemotherapy. There are no effective treatment strategies to date. To find a novel way to alleviate mucositis, the effects of selenium-enriched Bifidobacterium longum (Se-B. longum) in preventing irinotecan (CPT-11)-induced intestinal mucositis in a mouse model were investigated. We tested the ability of Se-B. longum (Se 0.6 mg/kg, 5×10⁸ cfu/mice) to reduce small intestinal mucositis induced by CPT-11 (75 mg/kg, daily) injected intraperitoneally for four consecutive days in mice. Se-B. longum significantly decreased mortality induced by CPT-11 from 71.4% to 16.7%. CPT-11 induced body weight loss, which was alleviated by preventative and simultaneous administration of Se-B. longum. Se-B. longum significantly decreased the severity of diarrhoea from 11 to 4% compared to the CPT-11 group. Inflammation, including intestinal shortening and upregulation of tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β induced by CPT- 11, were prevented by Se-B. longum. Se-B. longum is effective in preventing small intestinal mucositis induced by CPT-11 and therefore has potential to be used clinically by cancer patients.

The applied anatomy and clinical significance of the proximal, V1 segment of vertebral artery

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to probe the morphological features of the proximal segment (V1) of vertebral artery (VA) in a sample of Chinese cadavers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The origin, course and outer diameter at origin of the pre-vertebral part of the VAs were evaluated in 119 adult cadavers.

RESULTS

It was found that 94.12% of the VAs originated from the subclavian arteries, bilaterally. The variant origins were present in 5.88% of the cadavers and all originated directly from the arch of the aorta. All the variations were observed on the left side of male cadavers. The average outer diameters at origin of the normal and variation groups were 4.35 ± 1.00 mm and 4.82 ± ± 1.42 mm, respectively, p = 0.035. In the normal group, but not in the variation group, the average diameter in the males was significantly larger than that in the females (4.50 ± 0.99 mm, 3.92 ± 0.92 mm, respectively, p = 0.000). In addition, only 5 cadavers in the normal group had hypoplastic VAs (4.20%, 4 males, 3 right-sided). Vertebral artery dominance (VAD) was present in 91 (69 males) out of 112 cadavers and more common on the left (n = 48). In addition, 3 cadavers satisfied conditions for coexistence of VAD and vertebral artery hypoplasia. All 7 cadavers in the variation group exhibited VAD, which was more common on the right side (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONS

The morphologic variations and frequencies described above have implications for the early prevention, abnormal anatomy detection, accurate diagnosis, safe surgery and endovascular treatment of cardiovascular and neurological disease.

The predictive role of toll-like receptor-4 genetic polymorphisms in susceptibility to and prognosis of prostatic hyperplasia

Objective(s):

This study was aimed to evaluate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TLR4 and common living habits of prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients would affect the subjects’ risk and prognosis.

Materials and Methods:

We totally recruited 501 BPH patients and 964 healthy controls. The patients’ international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and quality of life assessment (QoL) were designated as the prognostic indexes for BPH patients. Altogether 7 SNPs within TLR4 were selected, and the interactions among SNPs and living habits were explained with multi-factor dimensionality reduction (MDR) modeling.

Results:

The mutant alleles of rs10983755 (G>A) and rs1927907 (G>A) tended to put on risk of BPH, yet the wide alleles of rs4986791 (C>T) and rs115336889 (G>C) were associated with incremental susceptibility to BPH (P<0.05). The rs10983755 (GA) and rs1927907 (GA) were suggested as the marker of non-aggressive BPH, whereas rs4986791 (TT) could symbolize aggressive BPH (P<0.05). The homozygotes of rs4986791 (TT) and rs115336889 (CC) could improve the IPSS change, and rs115336889 (CC) was also correlated with more obviously ameliorated Qol change (P<0.05). Finally, MDR modeling suggested that rs4986791 (TT) and rs115336889 (GG) shaped the genotyping combination featured by the lowest risk of BPH when smoking or drinking history was also evaluated.

Conclusion:

The SNPs situated within TLR4 were potent candidates for predicting risk and prognosis of BPH patients, and their interactions within environmental parameters also helped to develop effective strategies for preventing and treating BPH.

[Efficiency of preoperative Halo-gravity traction in severe kyphoscoliosis secondary to neurofibromatosis type Ⅰ]

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of preoperative Halo-gravity traction (HGT) in the treatment of severe kyphoscoliosis secondary to neurofibromatosis type Ⅰ (NF1). Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients with severe kyphoscoliosis secondary to NF1 at Department of Spinal Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University between July 2007 and May 2016. A total of 29 patients including 17 males and 12 females were finally enrolled and the age was (13.7±2.9) years. The Cobb angle of major coronal curve and global kyphosis were measured before and after HGT. The forced vital capacity (FVC)and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) before and after traction were also recorded. The paired t test was used for comparison analysis. Results: The average maximum traction weight of HGT was (12.2±2.8) kg and the traction duration was (10.2±6.6) weeks. The coronal Cobb angle before HGT was (87.5±36.5)°, which improved to (68.4±25.9)° after HGT with a correction rate of (21.9±12.1)% (t=9.14, P<0.001); the average global kyphosis before HGT was (79.1±27.1)°, which improved to (59.9±19.4)° after HGT and the correction rate was (20.2±14.1)% (t=8.55, P<0.001). One patient had transient brachial plexus palsy which resolved completely after reducing the traction weight. After HGT treatment, FVC increased from (0.83±0.16) L to (0.89±0.19) L (t=1.48, P=0.12) and FEV(1) increased from (0.72±0.16) L to (0.78±0.20) L (t=0.49,P=0.63). FVC predicted and FEV(1) predicted improved from (42.9±20.1)% and (40.6±19.6)% to (46.9±20.5)% (t=0.98,P=0.33) and (43.6±25.8)% (t=1.24,P=0.22), respectively. Conclusion: Preoperative HGT in the treatment of severe kyphoscoliosis secondary to NF1 can improve spinal deformity and pulmonary function to some extent, which can further benefit the patients by improving their surgical tolerance.

[Correlation between syrinx resolution after posterior fossa decompression and cervical sagittal profile change in adolescents with Chiari malformation and syringomyelia]

Objective: To evaluate the long term change of the cervical sagittal profile in adolescent Chiari malformation type Ⅰ (CMI)/syringomyelia undergoing posterior fossa decompression (PFD) and to further evaluate the correlation between the syrinx resolution and cervical sagittal profile. Methods: A retrospective radiographic study was performed in 32 adolescents undergoing PFD for CMI/syringomyelia from October 2011 to August 2015 with a minimum 2-year follow-up. There were 23 males and 9 females, with a mean age of (13.7±2.8) years (range, 10-16 years). The following parameters including upper cervical angle (C(0)-C(2)), lower cervical angle (C(2)-C(7)), sagittal balance (C(2)-C(7)SVA), cervical curvature index (CCI), syrinx size and length were compared preoperatively and at the last follow-up. The correlation of syrinx resolution and cervical sagittal parameters were further analyzed with Pearson correlation analysis. Results: All patients received a followed-up for 2.0-6.5 years [mean (3.9±1.1) years]. The lower cervical angle and CCI were-29.8°±11.4° and 29.1%±7.1% at the last follow-up, respectively, which were significantly higher than those before surgery (-15.2°±8.8°, 13.4%±4.2%)(t=2.917, 2.902, both P<0.05). The syrinx size and length were also obviously decreased at the last follow-up. No significant difference was found in the upper cervical angle and C(2)-C(7)SVA before operation and at the last follow-up (t=0.302, 0.871, both P>0.05). There were significantly positive correlations between the differences of syrinx width and the lower cervical angle, and the CCI before and after surgery (r=0.611, 0.652, both P<0.05). Significantly positive correlations were also observed between the differences of syrinx length and the lower cervical angle, and the CCI before and after surgery (r=0.504, 0.514, both P<0.05). Conclusions: The cervical lordosis can be restored after PFD in adolescents with CMI/syringomyelia. The resolution of syrinx may play an important role in restoring the cervical sagittal alignment.

Conductance Spectroscopy of Exfoliated Thin Flakes of Nb xBi2Se3

We study unconventional superconductivity in exfoliated single crystals of a promising three-dimensional (3D) topological superconductor candidate, Nb-doped Bi₂Se₃ through differential conductance spectroscopy and magneto-transport. The strong anisotropy of the critical field along the out-of-plane direction suggests that the thin exfoliated flakes are in the quasi-2D limit. Normal metal-superconductor (NS) contacts with either high or low transparencies made by depositing gold leads onto Nb-doped Bi₂Se₃ flakes both show significant enhancement in zero bias conductance and coherence dips at the superconducting energy gap. Such behavior is inconsistent with conventional Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk theory. Instead, we discuss how our results are consistent with p-wave pairing symmetry, supporting the possibility of topological superconductivity in Nb-doped Bi₂Se₃. Finally, we observe signatures of multiple superconducting energy gaps, which could originate from multiple Fermi surfaces reported earlier in bulk crystals.

Modification of spin-ice physics in Ho2Ti2O7 thin films

We present an extensive study on the effect of substrate orientation, strain, stoichiometry, and defects on spin-ice physics in Ho 2 Ti 2 O 7 thin films grown onto yttria-stabilized-zirconia substrates. We find that growth in different orientations produces different strain states in the films. All films exhibit similar c -axis lattice parameters for their relaxed portions, which are consistently larger than the bulk value of 10.1 Å. Transmission electron microscopy reveals antisite disorder and growth defects to be present in the films, but evidence of stuffing is not observed. The amount of disorder depends on the growth orientation, with the (110) film showing the least. Magnetization measurements at 1.8 K show the expected magnetic anisotropy and saturation magnetization values associated with a spin ice for all orientations; shape anisotropy is apparent when comparing in- and out-of-plane directions. Significantly, only the (110)-oriented films display the hallmark spin-ice plateau state in magnetization, albeit less well defined compared to the plateau observed in a single crystal. Neutron-scattering maps on the more disordered (111)-oriented films show the Q = 0 phase previously observed in bulk materials, but the Q = X phase giving the plateau state remains elusive. We conclude that the spin-ice physics in thin films is modified by defects and strain, leading to a reduction in the temperature at which correlations drive the system into the spin-ice state.

Frustrated magnetic interactions in an S = 3/2 bilayer honeycomb lattice compound Bi3Mn4O12(NO3)

An inelastic neutron scattering study has been performed in an S = 3/2 bilayer honeycomb lattice compound Bi₃Mn₄O₁₂(NO₃) at ambient and high magnetic fields. Relatively broad and monotonically dispersive magnetic excitations were observed at ambient field, where no long-range magnetic order exists. In the magnetic-field-induced long-range ordered state at 10 T, the magnetic dispersions become slightly more intense, albeit still broad as in the disordered state, and two excitation gaps, probably originating from an easy-plane magnetic anisotropy and intrabilayer interactions, develop. Analyzing the magnetic dispersions using the linear spin-wave theory, we estimated the intraplane and intrabilayer magnetic interactions, which are almost consistent with those determined by ab initio density functional theory calculations [M. Alaei et al., Phys. Rev. B 96, 140404(R) (2017)], except the third and fourth neighbor intrabilayer interactions. Most importantly, as predicted by the theory, there is no significant frustration in the honeycomb plane but frustrating intrabilayer interactions probably give rise to the disordered ground state.

Magnetic structure and spin waves in the frustrated ferro-antiferromagnet Pb2VO(PO4)2

Single crystal neutron diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering, and electron spin resonance experiments are used to study the magnetic structure and spin waves in Pb2VO(PO4)2, a prototypical layered S = 1/2 ferromagnet with frustrating next-nearest neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions. The observed excitation spectrum is found to be inconsistent with a simple square lattice model previously proposed for this material. At least four distinct exchange coupling constants are required to reproduce the measured spin wave dispersion. The degree of magnetic frustration is correspondingly revised and found to be substantially smaller than in all previous estimates.

Predicted final spinal height in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can be achieved by surgery regardless of maturity status

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of maturity status at the time of surgery on final spinal height in patients with an adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using the spine-pelvic index (SPI). The SPI is a self-control ratio that is independent of age and maturity status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study recruited 152 female patients with a Lenke 1 AIS. The additional inclusion criteria were a thoracic Cobb angle between 45° and 70°, Risser 0 to 1 or 3 to 4 at the time of surgery, and follow-up until 18 years of age or Risser stage 5. The patients were stratified into four groups: Risser 0 to 1 and selective fusion surgery (Group 1), Risser 0 to 1 and non-selective fusion (Group 2), Risser 3 to 4 and selective fusion surgery (Group 3), and Risser 3 to 4 and non-selective fusion (Group 4). The height of spine at follow-up (HOS_f) and height of pelvis at follow-up (HOP_f) were measured and the predicted HOS (pHOS) was calculated as 2.22 (SPI) × HOP_f. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 152 patients, there were 32 patients in Group 1, 27 patients in Group 2, 48 patients in Group 3, and 45 patients in Group 4. Significantly greater HOS_f was observed in Group 3 compared with Group 1 (p = 0.03) and in Group 4 compared with Group 2 (p = 0.02), with similar HOP_f (p = 0.75 and p = 0.83, respectively), suggesting that patients who undergo surgery at Risser grade of 0 to 1 have a shorter spinal height at follow-up than those who have surgery at Risser 4 to 5. HOS_f was similar to pHOS in both Group 1 and Group 2 (p = 0.62 and p = 0.45, respectively), indicating that undergoing surgery at Risser 0 to 1 does not necessarily affect final spinal height.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that fusion surgery at Risser 0 may result in growth restriction unlike fusion surgery at Risser 3 to 4. Despite such growth restriction, AIS patients could reach their predicted or 'normal' spinal height after surgery regardless of baseline maturity status due to the longer baseline spinal length in AIS patients and the remaining growth potential at the non-fusion levels. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1372-6.

Retrospective Clinical Research Comparing the Value of the Superficial Mark Guided Localization Technique With the Hook Wire Guided Localization Technique for Nonpalpable Breast Microcalcifications

Background: Early diagnosis and treatment is essential for curing breast tumors. In recent years, the number of diagnosed nonpalpable breast lesions has risen rapidly following increased breast cancer awareness and the broad promotion of mammography (MMG) screening. Aim: A comparison of the effect and accuracy between the superficial mark guided localization technique (SGL) and the hook wire guided localization technique (WGL) for nonpalpable breast microcalcifications. Methods: Retrospective research was conducted to compare SGL and WGL techniques. These techniques were performed on 51 patients with nonpalpable breast microcalcifications from the months of Jan 2015 to May 2016. Results: A total of 51 patients with ages ranging from 32 to 72 years were included in the study; 25 (49.01%) patients were randomly selected for the WGL group, while the other 26 (50.99%) patients were randomly selected for the SGL group. One case in the WGL group was treated with the SGL technology due to technical difficulties with the localization procedure. No statistically significant association was found between the 2 groups within the specified diameter of excised tissue. For the WGL group and SGL group, the average diameter of excised tissue was 78.4 mm and 78.9 mm, respectively. No complications were observed for patients in the SGL group, whereas 4 patients in the WGL group experienced complications. Two patients had a vasovagal reaction and another 2 experienced ecchymoma or shifting of the hook wire. According to the paraffin result, we found 3 (12%) malignant cases in the WGL group and 6 (23%) malignant cases in the SGL group. Conclusion: The superficial mark localization technique is as accurate as the hook wire guided localization technique. The procedure has the advantages of being less expensive and causes less complications.

[Comparison of spontaneous correction in thoracic curves after anterior versus posterior selective fusion in Lenke type 5C adolescent idiopathic scoliosis]

Objective: To analyze the long-term results and the influence factors of spontaneous correction of unfused thoracic curves in anterior and posterior selective fusions in Lenke type 5C adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods: From January 2005 to December 2011, 89 Lenke type 5C AIS patients with a minimum of 5-year follow-up who underwent thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) selective fusion in Spine Surgery of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were reviewed.Forty-six patients underwent anterior fusion (anterior group), while 46 underwent posterior fusion (posterior group). The following radiological parameters were measured and analyzed at pre-operation, post-operation, and latest follow-up: curve magnitude of primary thoracolumbar/lumbar and secondary thoracic curve, trunk shift, thoracic apical vertebral translation, upper instrumented vertebra tilt, thoracic kyphosis, proximal junctional angle, sagittal vertical axis. Independent sample t test was used to compare the above parameters between the two groups. Results: Compared with those in posterior group, anterior group were found with less fusion levels (5.4±0.6 vs 5.9±0.8, t=3.318, P=0.001) and longer operation time[(276±28)min vs (186±36)min, t=13.101, P<0.001]. Immediately after surgery, the spinal deformity was significantly corrected in the two groups. The mean spontaneous correction rates of the minor curve were 50%±21% and 56%±20% in anterior and posterior groups, respectively (t=1.489, P=0.140). After a mean follow-up of (6.8±1.7) years in anterior group and (6.3±1.3) years in posterior group, the spontaneous correction rate of minor curve was maintained at 46%±22% and 49%±19%, respectively (t=0.703, P=0.484), with no significant correction loss. Other radiographic parameters were also stably maintained. According to the correlation analysis, the spontaneous correction rate was significantly correlated with upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) tilt in both groups (anterior: r=-0.526, posterior: r=-0.399, both P<0.05). Conclusions: Both anterior and posterior selective fusion can achieve satisfactory spontaneous correction of unfused thoracic curves in Lenke type 5C AIS, with no significant difference between the two surgical approaches. UIV tilt is a key influence factor of spontaneous correction of thoracic curves.

[The current review and prospects of the genetic study and clinical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis]

This review mainly focused on the etiology and the surgical strategy for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) treatment. Genome-wide association study on the etiology of AIS using samples from more than 5 000 patients and 6 000 normal controls showed two genes: LBX1-AS1 on 10q24.32 and TNIK on 3q26.2 highly related to AIS initiation and progression. Regarding the conservative treatment of AIS, bracing is the only well-documented effective non-operative management in the early stage of AIS. For the patients with Cobb angle smaller than 80°, balancing spine, saving fusion level and restoring thoracic kyphosis are the basic objectives in surgical management. For the severe cases, various osteotomy techniques are often needed. Adequate peri-operative management is important for severe cases, especially for the patients with respiratory failure and neurological deficits.

The nature of spin excitations in the one-third magnetization plateau phase of Ba3CoSb2O9

Magnetization plateaus in quantum magnets—where bosonic quasiparticles crystallize into emergent spin superlattices—are spectacular yet simple examples of collective quantum phenomena escaping classical description. While magnetization plateaus have been observed in a number of spin-1/2 antiferromagnets, the description of their magnetic excitations remains an open theoretical and experimental challenge. Here, we investigate the dynamical properties of the triangular-lattice spin-1/2 antiferromagnet Ba₃CoSb₂O₉ in its one-third magnetization plateau phase using a combination of nonlinear spin-wave theory and neutron scattering measurements. The agreement between our theoretical treatment and the experimental data demonstrates that magnons behave semiclassically in the plateau in spite of the purely quantum origin of the underlying magnetic structure. This allows for a quantitative determination of Ba₃CoSb₂O₉ exchange parameters. We discuss the implication of our results to the deviations from semiclassical behavior observed in zero-field spin dynamics of the same material and conclude they must have an intrinsic origin.

Frustrated magnetic materials attract significant interest because their properties can become dominated by quantum fluctuations. Here the authors show that excitations in the plateau phase of a quantum magnet can be understood semiclassically even though the ground state involves strong quantum effects.

[Genetic analysis of posterior cranial fossa morphology in families of Chiari malformation type Ⅰ]

Objective: To explore genetic characteristic of posterior cranial fossa morphology in families of Chiari malformation type Ⅰ (CMI). Methods: From April 2010 to May 2016, a total of 47 cases of CMI families (CMI group) and their 94 parents (CMI-P group)collected were retrospectively reviewed in Department of Spinal Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University.Another cohort of 50 asymptomatic adults was enrolled to serve as the control group.Patients with skull fracture or other diseases which can lead to secondary CMI were excluded.On mid-sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, four measurements were evaluated and compared between these three groups, including the length of cerebellar tonsillar descent, the area of posterior cranial fossa(PCF area), the area of the brain tissue in posterior cranial fossa (PCF tissue area), and the PCF crowdedness indexes (PCF tissue area/ PCF area×100%). Results: Totally 47 CMI patients (21 males and 26 females; mean age, 16.4 years), 94 parents (47 males and 47 females; mean age, 39.2 years) and 50 controls (23 males and 27 females; mean age, 22.3 years) were recruited in this study.Significant differences in all four indexes were found between CMI group and the control group.The length of cerebellar tonsillar descent were much bigger in CMI-P group than in the control group (1.5±2.2 mm vs -0.9±1.1 mm), with 7 cases reach the diagnostic criteria of Chiari malformation(≥5 mm) and one with syingomyelia.Compared to the control group, CMI-P group had smaller PCF area, and its PCF crowdedness indexes averaged 90.0% as between the control group (85.3%) and the CMI group (93.6%). Conclusions: In CMI families, parents have similar posterior cranial fossa abnormalities with their CMI children, presenting obviously narrow and crowded.Their PCF crowdedness indexes are between normal subjects and CMI patients, and their cerebellar tonsils are lower, even some parents are also CMI patients, suggesting genetic mechanisms involved in the development of CMI.

[Similar coronal curvature may not represent the same 3-dimensional deformity in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a matched-pair study using EOS imaging system]

Objective: To analyze the preoperative axial plane and the surgical outcomes of the Lenke type 1A patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) whose coronal curve type was matched but thoracic kyphosis (TK) was different. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed a series of Lenke type 1A female AIS patients who underwent corrective surgery in the Department of Spine Surgery of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from May to August 2017. After matched with the Cobb angle of the main thoracic curve, the apical vertebral, the vertebra number included in the curve, the lumber modifier in the Lenke classification and Risser sign, 12 pairs of AIS patients, whose coronal curve was matched but thoracic kyphosis was different, were included in this study. The patients were divided into normal TK group and thoracic hypokyphosis group. EOS whole-body images were taken preoperatively and reconstructed by three-dimensional reconstruction. The whole spine anteroposterior X-ray was taken at 3 weeks after surgery. The radiographic parameters were measured on the preoperative and postoperative two-dimensional X-ray images: coronal Cobb angle, TK, lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI) and pelvic tilt (PT). The vertebra rotation was obtained on the EOS three-dimensional reconstructed image, and the average vertebral rotation of the major thoracic curve (MTR), the average vertebral rotation of the proximal thoracic curve (PTR) and the average vertebral rotation of the lumbar curve (LR) were calculated. The paired sample t test was used to compare the difference of preoperative and postoperative radiographic parameters between the groups. Results: A total of 24 patients (12 pairs) were included in this study with an average age of (13.7±2.9) years. The preoperative Cobb angle was similar in the two groups (53.8°±10.2° vs 51.0°±11.1°, t=0.27, P=0.81). The average preoperative TK of the normal TK groups was 28.2°±6.1°, while that of the thoracic hypokyphosis group was 11.2°±5.6°(t=7.68, P<0.01). The MTR in the normal TK group was significantly smaller than that in the thoracic hypokyphosis group (10.2° vs 12.7°, t=-3.74, P<0.01), and there was a significant correlation between TK and MTR (r=0.30, P=0.03). As for the lumbar curve rotation, the LR of the normal TK group was significantly smaller than that in the thoracic hypokyphosis group (t=-2.65, P=0.002), but the absolute value of the two groups was similar (t=-0.33, P=0.31). The lumbar Cobb angle correction rate was significantly greater in patients with thoracic and lumbar curve rotating in the same direction than that in the opposite direction (81.1% vs 61.9%, t=4.24, P=0.005). Conclusions: It indicated that when the coronal deformity is matched, the MTR of the patients with thoracic hypokyphosis is significantly larger than that in the patients with normal thoracic kyphosis. The direction of the thoracic and lumbar curve rotation is required to be well concerned in the preoperative surgical planning.

[Effects of Scoliosis Research Society-Schwab grade Ⅳ osteotomy for post-traumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-Schwab grade Ⅳ osteotomy in the treatment of post-traumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis (PTK). Methods: From October 2012 to January 2015, a total of 31 patients [12 males, 19 females, mean age (43±10) years] with symptomatic PTK undergoing SRS-Schwab grade Ⅳ osteotomy in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.Radiographic changes were evaluated with preoperative, postoperative and follow-up X-ray.The measurements included thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), focal kyphosis (FK), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS) and sagittal vertical axis (SVA). Clinical outcome was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Frankel neurological grade before surgery and during follow-up.The preoperative, postoperative and follow-up data were compared with paired t test. Results: All patients were followed-up for 28±5 months (24-38 months). The TK and LL improved significantly postoperatively from 15.6°±7.8° and 67.3°±12.2° to 28.1°±6.2° and 48.1°±9.3°(t=-6.985, 6.968, both P<0.05), and maintained at 27.3°±6.9° and 49.4°±7.9° at last follow-up, respectively.The TLK and FK improved significantly postoperatively from 29.4°±12.2° and 36.4°±9.5° to 7.7°±5.3° and 5.6°±4.2°(t=9.083, 16.510, both P<0.05), with a correction loss of 2.4°±2.0° and 2.3°±2.2° at final follow-up, respectively.No significant difference was observed in the PI, PT, SS and SVA among preoperative, post-operative and the last follow-up data.In addition, the VAS and ODI improved significantly at the final follow-up.Four cases with Frankel D experienced complete neurological recovery at the final follow-up.Radiographic evaluation showed solid bony fusion.No instrument-related complication was observed during the follow up. Conclusions: The SRS-Schwab grade Ⅳ osteotomy brings satisfactory sagittal alignment and good clinical outcomes in patients with PTK.

First isolation of West Nile virus in Zambia from mosquitoes

Mosquito surveillance studies to identify mosquito-borne flaviviruses have identified West Nile Virus (WNV) for the first time in Zambia. The Zambian WNV isolate from Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes collected in the Western Province was closely related genetically to WNV lineage 2 South African strains which have been previously shown to be highly neuroinvasive. These data provide the first evidence of the circulation of WNV in Zambia and suggest there should be an increased awareness of possible associated human and animal diseases in that country.