Objective To observe the biocompatibil ity of self-assembled FGL peptide nano-fibers scaffold with neural stem cells (NSCs). Methods FGL peptide-amphiphile (FGL-PA) was synthesized by sol id-phase peptide synthesistechnique and thereafter It was analyzed and determined by high-performance l iquid chromatography (HPLC) and massspectrometry (MS). The diluted hydrochloric acid was added into FGL-PA solution to reduce the pH value and accordinglyinduce self-assembly. The morphological features of the assembled material were studied by transmission electron microscope (TEM). NSCs were cultured and different concentrations of FGL-PA assembled material were added with the terminal concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 200, 400 mg/L, respectively. CCK-8 kit was used to test the effect of FGL assembled material on prol iferation of NSCs. NSCs were added into differentiation mediums (control group: DMEM/F12 medium containing 2% B27 supplement and 10% FBS; experimental group: DMEM/F12 medium containing 2% B27 supplement, 10% FBS and 100 mg/L FGL-PA, respectively). Immunofluorescence was appl ied to test the effect of FGL-PA assembled material on differentiation of NSCs. Results FGL-PA could be self-assembled to form a gel. TEM showed the self-assembled gel was nano-fibers with diameter of 10-20 nm and length of hundreds nanometers. After NSCs were incubated for 48 hours with different concentrations of FGL-PA assembled material, the result of CCK-8 assay showed that FGL-PA with concentrations of 50, 100 or 200 mg/L could promote the prol iferation of NSCs and absorbance of them was increased (P lt; 0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis notified that the differentiation ratio of neurons from NSCs in control group and experimental group were 46.35% ± 1.27% and 72.85% ± 1.35%, respectively, when NSCs were induced to differentiation for 14 days, showing significant difference between 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion FGL-PA can self-assemble to nano-fiber gel, which has good biocompatibil ity and neural bioactivity.
Objective To evalute the cl inical outcomes of two different surgical treatments for arachnoid cysts in sacral canal. Methods From January 2004 to March 2009, 55 cases of arachnoid cysts in the sacral canal were treated by traditonal simple sacral laminectomies with resection of the cysts (group A, 25 cases) and novel CT-guided percutaneous fibrin glue therapy of arachnoid cysts (group B, 30 cases). Of them, there were 23 males and 32 females, aging 15-66 years with an average of 42.6 years; the duration of symptoms was 6 months to 15 years with an average of 3.5 years. L5-S1 was involved in 22 cases, S1,2 in 25 cases, S2,3 in 12 cases, S2 in 8 cases, and presacral in 2 cases. The size of cysts was 1.5 cm × 1.0 cm to 6.0 cm × 2.8 cm. The MRI examination showed that all patients had cysts in the sacral canal. There were no significant difference (P gt; 0.05) in sex, ages, disease duration and cysts size between two groups. Preoperative data and postoperative lumbosacral pain and function improvement were analyzed and compared between two groups. Results All operations were performed successfully. The operative time, blood loss and hospital ization days of group B were significantly less than those of group A (P lt; 0.01). All 55 cases were followed up from 9 to 61 months (mean 23 months). In group A, postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage (25 cases), intracranial infection (2 cases), nerve injury (3 cases), and nerve root irritation (8 cases) occurred; in group B, mild meningitis (3 cases) and low grade fever (5 cases) occurred. Except for nerve injury, other compl ications were cured after symptomatic management. During the follow-up, 2 recurrent cases were found in group A and 1 case in group B. Of them, 2 recurrent cases were treated with CT-guided percutaneous fibrin glue therapy of arachnoid cysts, and cysts disappeared. For two groups, there were significant differences in Oswestry functional disabil ity index and visual analogue scale score between preoperation and postoperation (P lt; 0.01), and in the rate of score improvement between two groups (P lt; 0.01). According to the rating scale, the excellent and good rates of pain improvement were 64% in group A and 100% in group B; the excellent and good rates of function improvement were 24% in group A and 97% in group B. Conclusion CT-guided percutaneous fibrin glue therapy for arachnoid cysts in the sacral canal is a mini-invasive, safe, effective, and economical method, it may be better choices for the treatment of arachnoid cysts in the sacral canal.