Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule (DJC), a traditional Chinese medicinal formula, has been used clinically in treating diabetes and diabetic nephropathy (DN). We previously demonstrated that DJC is capable of improving renal function in patients and rats with DN, but the mechanisms underlying these therapeutic benefits of DJC are not quite clear yet. In this study, STZ-induced diabetic rats were orally administered DJC for 8 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, renal function indicators in the serum, renal index, and the expression of proteins related to JAK-STAT signaling pathway were evaluated at the end of the experiment. The kidneys were sliced for pathological histology. Antioxidant status was assessed by measuring SOD, LPO and MDA in serum. The expression levels of COX2, iNOS, SOCS and the phosphorylation status of JAK2, STAT1, and STAT3 in renal tissues were evaluated by Western blot analyses. IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 expression levels in renal tissues were determined using double-antibody sandwich ELISA. Diabetic renal dysfunction and its associated pathologies were ameliorated by DJC treatment. DJC significantly reversed the high expression of COX2 and iNOS in renal tissues. Furthermore, DJC inhibited the JAK2-STAT1/STAT3-SOCS3 signaling pathway, resulting in decreased concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1. Moreover, the oxidant status in the kidney was substantially ameliorated by DJC treatment. In conclusion, the ability of DJC to ameliorate diabetic renal dysfunction and the associated pathologies of this disease might be due to its antioxidant capacity and suppression of the JAK2-STAT1/STAT3 cascade.

Traumatic spondyloptosis of the lumbar spine is an uncommon and severe clinical entity, which is defined as complete fracture dislocation and subluxation (>100%) of one vertebral body in the coronal or sagittal plane from its adjacent vertebra. In coronal spondyloptosis the subluxated vertebral bodies lie beside each other, and the condition is lateraloptosis. A male patient aged 56 years had multiple injures with complete neurological deficit. Computed tomography(CT) revealed as spondyloptosis, which L2 detached from the rest of the spine, spinal canal stenosis, sagittal imbalance, and angular kyphosis. We performed an en bloc corpectomy and iliac bone combined part of the vertebra body replanted in situ with posterior transpedicular fixation of T12-L4, with the sagittal balance recovered and motor function improved progressively. Traumatic spondyloptosis requires an early resolution by a trained surgical team to ensure sagittal re-alignment for a progressive neurological recovery.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychological distress pre-operatively, at 3, 6, and 12 months in patients who underwent lumbar spine fusion surgery. Methods: A total of 440 patients received instrumented lumbar spine fusion were enrolled. Psychological distress was evaluated using the Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ) and the Modified Zung Depressive Index (ZDI). The results of lumbar fusion surgery were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA-29), and the visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Psychological distress was reported among 23% of patients and 7, 5.5, and 4.0% of the patients preoperatively, at 3, 6, and 12 months after lumbar surgery, respectively. The mean MSPQ score decreased from 8.78 (before surgery) to 4.30, 3.52, and 3.43 at 3, 6 and 12 months in after surgery, respectively, in patients with psychological distress patients (p < 0.001). The mean ZDI score decreased from 17.78 to 12.48, 10.35, and 9.61 (p < 0.001). The mean ODI score decreased from 22.91 to 11.78, 10.13, and 9.96 (P < 0.001). The mean JOA score increased from 13.65 to 22.30, 23.43, and 23.61 (P < 0.001). The mean low back pain (LBP) VAS score decreased from 4.48 to 1.96, 1.52, and 1.51 (P < 0.001); moreover, the mean leg pain (LP) VAS score decreased from 5.30 to 1.30, 1.04, and 1.03 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients with psychological distress may experience surgical intervention benefits equal to those of ordinary patients. Moreover, reduced pain and disability after surgical intervention may also alleviate psychological distress. Hence, we highly recommend that patients with psychological distress undergo surgical intervention as normal patients do, but appropriate screening measures and interventions are necessary.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychological distress pre-operatively, at 3, 6, and 12 months in patients undergoing lumbar spine fusion surgery.Methods A total of 440 patients received instrumented lumbar spine fusion were enrolled. The psychological distress was evaluated using the Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ) and the Modified Zung Depressive Index (ZDI). The results of lumbar fusion surgery were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA-29), and the visual analog scale (VAS).Results Psychological distress was reported among 23% of patients and 7, 5.5, and 4.0% of the patients pre-operatively, at 3, 6, and 12 months after lumbar surgery, respectively. The mean MSPQ score decreased from 8.78 (before operation) to 4.30, 3.52, and 3.43 at postoperative 3, 6 and 12 months inpsychological distress patients (p < 0.001). The mean ZDI score decreased from 17.78 to 12.48, 10.35, and 9.61 (p < 0.001). The mean ODI score decreased from 22.91 to 11.78, 10.13, and 9.96 (P < 0.001). The mean JOA score increased from13.65 to 22.30, 23.43, and 23.61 (P < 0.001). The mean low back pain (LBP VAS) score decreased from 4.48 to 1.96, 1.52, and 1.51 (P < 0.001), moreover, the mean leg pain (LP VAS) score decreased from 5.30 to 1.30, 1.04, and 1.03 (P < 0.001).Conclusions Psychological distress patients with may experience surgical intervention benefits of equal with ordinary patients. Moreover, reduced pain and disability after the surgical intervention may also alleviate psychological distress. Hence, we highly recommend psychological distress patients undergo surgical intervention like normal patients, but the appropriate screening measures and interventions are necessary.