Search

Concanavalin A, a protein isolated from the jack bean (Canavalia ensijormis), has previously been shown to form a precipitate with glycogen and yeast mannan, and more recently with dextrans and amylopectin. Double-diffusion precipitation studies in agar gel have been found to afford a very sensitive and satisfactory method for investigating the interaction of concanavalin A with certain types of branched, glucose- and mannose- containing polysaccharides. In this manner concanavalin A can be used as a reagent for the detection and preliminary characterization of various types of polysaccharides. Bacterial levans as well as certain plant fructans also form precipitation bands with concanavalin A. This observation represents the first report of such an interaction. The method may also provide an indication as to the heterogeneity of polysaccharide preparations that react with concanavalin A as well as affording preliminary information on the relative molecular size of a series of reactive polysaccharides. Inhibition of the precipitation bands by low molecular weight carbohydrate molecules may be demonstrated. These inhibition studies reveal the highly specific nature of the combining sites of the concanavalin A molecule.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects of anterior decompression on spinal osteoporotic fracture and inflammatory cytokines. Methods: A total of 140 patients with spinal osteoporotic fracture were selected and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group (n=70). The control group was treated by central corpectomy, and the control group was treated by anterior decompression. Results: The rate of excellent and good outcomes in the treatment group was 94.3%, and that of the control group was 78.6%, which differed significantly (P < 0.05). Cobb angle and cord occupancy in the spinal canal of both groups significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while height ratio of the injured vertebral body significantly increased (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, there were statistically significant inter-group differences (P < 0.05). During the three-month follow-up period, the treatment group was significantly less prone to complications such as superficial infection, spinal instability and screw breakage compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The postoperative serum MMP-3 and IL-6 levels of both groups significantly decreased compared with those before surgeries (P < 0.05), with statistically significant inter-group differences (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Compared with central corpectomy, anterior decompression exerted better effects on spinal osteoporotic fracture by improving the prognosis and stabilizing the spine safely, which may be associated with the effectively reduced serum MMP-3 and IL-6 levels.