Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe clinical problem worldwide. The pathogenesis of SCI is complicated and much is unknown. The current study was designed to investigate the possible role of regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) in SCI and to explore the possible molecular mechanisms. Rats were injected with LVshRNAi-RCAN1 and then contusion-induced SCI was established. We found that RCAN1 was significantly increased in spinal cord of rats with SCI. Knockdown of RCAN1 markedly facilitated the structural and functional recovery in the spinal cord, as illustrated by decrease of lesion volume and increase of Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) and combined behavioral score (CBS) scores. Downregulation of RCAN1 suppressed the increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and TNF-α, and inhibited the increase of TUNEL-positive cell numbers and caspases 3 and 9 activities. The decrease of oxygen consumption rate and increase of expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and phosphorylation of protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum (ER) kinase (PERK) in rats with SCI were inhibited by LVshRNAi-RCAN1. Moreover, knockdown of RCAN1 ameliorated oxidative stress in rats with SCI, as evidenced by decrease of TBA reactive substances (TBARS) and GSSG content and increase of glutathione (GSH) level. These results suggested that RCAN1 played an important role in SCI through regulation of various pathological processes. Overall, the data provide novel insights into the role of RCAN1 in SCI and novel therapeutic targets of the treatment of injury in the spinal cord.

Purpose Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is a routine operation for the treatment of osteoporotic lumbar compression fractures (OLCFs). As is well known, unilateral puncture is a common method. However, with the conventional transpedicular approach (CTPA), the cement may be asymmetrically dispersed, so some surgeons use the transverse process root-pedicle approach (TPRPA). The objective of this study was to compare the clinical results and bone cement distribution of PVP for OLCF with unilateral TPRPA and CTPA to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the two surgical options. Patients and methods From January 2016 to June 2019, seventy-two elderly patients who underwent unilateral PVP for single-level OLCF were retrospectively reviewed. Operation time, injection amount and type of bone cement distribution, and bone cement leakage and surgical complications were recorded. The visual analog scale (VAS) scores and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores were used to evaluate the clinical results. All patients were followed up for more than 12 months, and the assessment was based primarily on clinical and radiological outcomes. Results There were significant differences in the surgical time and the volume and the type of bone cement distribution and the lost of operative vertebra height between the two groups. However, there was no significant difference in bone cement leakage. Moreover, there were no significant differences in VAS and ODI between the two groups at 2 days and 12 months after the operation. Conclusions Unilateral TPRPA and CTPA are practical and feasible methods in PVP for the treatment of OLCF, and they have similar clinical effects. However, TPRPA has the advantages of a better distribution of bone cement and a shorter operation time and a better maintenance effect of injured vertebra height, without increasing the rate of bone cement leakage.

In this paper, a modified microstrip slot aperture feed is introduced which generates TE σ13 modes in a cubic dielectric resonator antenna resulting in a high gain (simulated = 10.5 dB and measured = 9 dB). The proposed feed can be realized by replacing the rectangular stub of microstrip slot aperture feed with a circular metallic stub of radius 3 mm. The proposed feed excites the dielectric resonator antenna around a resonant frequency of 5.78 GHz covering 5.725-5.850 GHz WIFI band. The antenna exhibits an impedance bandwidth of 130.2 MHz, and 135 MHz in simulations and measurements respectively, and a stable gain throughout the 5.78 GHz WIFI band with a maximum of 9 dB in measurements.

Purpose: Percutaneous Vertebroplasty (PVP) is a routine operation for the treatment of osteoporotic lumbar compression fracture (OLCF). Because of bilateral puncture takes a long operation time and patients receive more X-ray irradiation, more and more scholars deem that the unilateral approach should be adopted. But, with conventional transpedicular approach (CTPA), the cement may asymmetrically dispersed, so some surgeons use the transverse process root-pedicle approach (TPRPA). The objective of this study is to compare the clinical results and bone cement distribution of PVP for OLCF with unilateral TPRPA and CTPA, determine the advantages and disadvantages of the two surgical options.Patients and methods: From January 2016 to June 2019, seventy-two elderly patients who underwent unilateral PVP for single-level OLCF were retrospectively reviewed. Operation time, injection amount and distribution type of bone cement, and bone cement leakage and surgical complication were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores were used to evaluate the clinical results. All patients were followed up for at more than 12 months and the assessment was based primarily on clinical and radiological outcomes.Results: There were significant difference in the surgical time, the volume and distribution type of bone cement between the two groups. But, there was no statistical difference in bone cement leakage. Moreover, there were no significant differences in VAS and ODI between the two groups at 2 days and 12 months after operation.Conclusion: Unilateral TPRPA and CTPA are practical and feasible methods in PVP for treatment of OLCF, with similar clinical effects. However, TPRPA has the advantages of fair distribution of bone cement and short operation time, without increasing the rate of bone cement leakage.

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