Video-assisted lateral intertransverse process arthrodesis. Validation of a new minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion technique in the rabbit and nonhuman primate (rhesus) models

STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric anatomic and in vivo survival animal studies were performed to develop a new arthrodesis technique for the lumbar spine. OBJECTIVES: To examine the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of a minimally invasive lumbar intertransverse process arthrodesis technique using an osteoinductive growth factor (rhBMP-2) delivered in a collagen sponge carrier. The technique was first developed using a rabbit model and modified for the nonhuman primate (rhesus monkey), a larger animal with the most similar bone biology to humans. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The morbidity of conventional posterolateral lumbar intertransverse process arthrodesis includes graft donor site morbidity; paraspinal muscle devascularization, denervation, and scarring and nonunion in up to 36% of patients. Minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody arthrodesis techniques have been developed, but these often require a metal implant and carry risks to major vessels and development of retrograde ejaculation. A minimally invasive technique for posterolateral intertransverse process arthrodesis has not been described previously. METHODS: In Part 1, we examined seven New Zealand white rabbits and five rhesus monkeys at necropsy and during nonsurvival surgeries to determine the best access routes and to develop special instruments for video-assisted lateral intertransverse process arthrodesis. In Part 2, 38 New Zealand white rabbits underwent L4-L5 intertransverse process arthrodesis: the "OPEN" group (n = 16) underwent a standard open muscle-splitting approach using rhBMP-2 (bone morphogenetic protein) and collagen as a bone graft substitute; the "video-assisted control" group (n = 6) underwent video-assisted lateral intertransverse process arthrodesis with the collagen implant only (no growth factor); and the "video-assisted-BMP" group (n = 16) underwent video-assisted lateral intertransverse process arthrodesis with rhBMP-2 and collagen as the graft material. In Part 3, rhesus monkeys (n = 4) underwent video-assisted lateral intertransverse process arthrodesis using rhBMP-2 and collagen after laminectomy of L4-L5. RESULTS: In Part 1, we identified expedient, minimally invasive routes to the intertransverse process interval appropriate for each species: an intermuscular approach for the rabbit and a lateral, extramuscular approach for the rhesus monkey. In Part 2, all rabbits in the OPEN and video-assisted-BMP groups achieved solid intertransverse process lumbar fusions when assessed at 10 weeks. There were no neurologic impairments nor any difference between the two groups in the frequency of postoperative infection or other complications. None of the animals in the video-assisted control group showed evidence of fusion. In Part 3, exposure, decortication and grafting with rh-BMP-2 and collagen was accomplished successfully in all four monkeys through the video-assisted minimally invasive approach without complications. CONCLUSION: Video-assisted lateral intertransverse process arthrodesis is a feasible, effective, and safe method of lumbar spinal fusion in the rabbit and rhesus monkey. Use of this arthrodesis procedure will minimize the morbidity of paraspinal muscle denervation and devascularization seen with open intertransverse process fusion techniques, and the use of an osteoinductive growth factor will eliminate the problem of graft donor site morbidity and possibly increase the chances for successful fusion.     

Growth and dielectric properties of Ta_2O_5 single crystals grown by laser heated pedestal growth technique

Ta2O5 single crystals have been grown by the laser heated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique up to several centimeters length with diameter of 1.1 mm. The crystal, characterized by X-ray diffraction, dielectric measurement, and thermal expansion analysis, has Htri-Ta2O5 symmetry. Dielectric permittivity, loss tangent along [001] and [110] direction were investigated over the temperature range from -80 ℃ to 100 ℃. Large dielectric anisotropy in Ta2O5 single crystal was observed. At room temperature, the dielectric permittivities (1 MHz) along [001] and [110] are 33.2 and 231.9, respectively. The reason of dielectric enhancement in Ta2O5 crystal grown by LHPG was also discussed.     

基于流形正则化非负矩阵分解的高光谱数据降维

采用基于流形正则化非负矩阵分解(MR-NMF)的高 光谱数据降维方法。新方 法通过构建样本的近邻图描述数据几何结构,然后将其作为正则项加入NMF的目标函 数中进行组合优化。在真实的高光谱数据集HYDICE上进行的实验结果表明,新方法能 够提高高光谱图像分类的精度。     

Renal responses of Australian lungfish to vasotocin, angiotensin II, and NaCl infusion

The Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) responds to intravenous injections of 0.63 ng/kg or more of arginine vasotocin with increased dorsal aortic blood pressure, inulin clearance, urine flow, and tubular rejection of Na+. Single injections of 1 ng/kg or more of angiotensin II or norepinephrine also increase dorsal aortic pressure but do not cause consistent diuresis and natriuresis, Continuous infusions of angiotensin II or repeated injections of norepinephrine produce sustained hypertension and more modest diuresis and natriuresis than are seen after injections of arginine vasotocin that cause less hypertension. Infusions of isosmolar or hyposmolar NaCl solutions increase blood pressure, inulin clearance, urine flow, and tubular Na+ rejection in a manner resembling the response to argininge vasotocoin injections. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that arginine vasotocin is released in response to volume expansion in lungfishes and that it may act on the kidney as a diuretic and natriuretic hormone. They do not rule out a more direct action of expansion on renal functions.     

Frequency of the carrier state for X-linked chronic granulomatous disease among females with lupus erythematosus

Carriers for chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) share several characteristics: They are mostly females, they reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) poorly in their neutrophils, and, in some cases, they have similar skin lesions. We thus investigated 19 female LE patients for the presence of laboratory findings characteristic of the carrier state for CGD. None of these patients turned out to have the combined abnormality of neutrophil bactericidal activity and neutrophil NBT-reduction that is diagnostic of CGD carrier state in the X-linked form. An increased frequency of CGD carriers among female LE patients thus appear to be unlikely. Why some CGD carriers develop skin lesions typical of LE remains unexplained.     

A study of animal pathogenicity of staphylococci isolated from pathological material and its correlation with biochemical properties

A simple and rapid procedure to make yeast cells permeable by agitating with toluene-ethanol, (TE) 1:4, v/v was developed. The permeated cells retained their ability to catalyze certain enzyme reactions. Temperature and duration of agitation during TE treatment played an important role in retention of the catalytic potential of permeated cells. The in situ assay using permeated cell preparations was more sensitive even in the absence of added cofactors than in the vitro assay in detecting assimilatory nitrate reductase (NAD(P)H:nitrate oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.6.2) (NAR) activity in Candida utilis. Using in situ assay technique, different mechanisms regulating the biosynthesis of NAR in C. utilis were investigated. Nitrogen starvation did not lead to derepression of NAR. NO3-ions were absolutely essential for induction and maintenance of high levels of NAR activity. Cells grown on ammonium nitrate possessed relatively lower levels of NAR. Kinetics of NAR induction were followed as a function of time and inducer concentration. The influence of various cations on the induction of NAR by nitrate was investigated. A wide range of D-amino acids induced NAR synthesis. Of 22 L-amino acids tested only phenylalanine induced significant levels of NAR. Various intermediates of the pathway of nitrate reduction influenced the rate of NAR induction. There was a rapid disappearance of in vivo activity of the enzyme of induced yeast cells on nitrogen starvation, and the rate of loss was accelerated by the presence of NH4+.