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Insects have evolved numerous adaptations and colonized diverse terrestrial environments. Several polyneopterans, including dictyopterans (cockroaches and mantids) and locusts, have developed oothecae, but little is known about the molecular mechanism, physiological function, and evolutionary significance of ootheca formation. Here, we demonstrate that the cockroach asymmetric colleterial glands produce vitellogenins, proline-rich protein, and glycine-rich protein as major ootheca structural proteins (OSPs) that undergo sclerotization and melanization for ootheca formation through the cooperative protocatechuic acid pathway and dopachrome and dopaminechrome subpathway. Functionally, OSP sclerotization and melanization prevent eggs from losing water at warm and dry conditions, and thus effectively maintain embryo viability. Dictyopterans and locusts convergently evolved vitellogenins, apolipoprotein D, and laminins as OSPs, whereas within Dictyoptera, cockroaches and mantids independently developed glycine-rich protein and fibroins as OSPs. Highlighting the ecological-evolutionary importance, convergent ootheca formation represents a successful reproductive strategy in Polyneoptera that promoted the radiation and establishment of cockroaches, mantids, and locusts.

STUDY DESIGN A prospective study. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between microstructural nerve roots changes on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and clinical symptoms and their duration in patients with lumbar disc herniation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The ability to identify microstructural properties of the nervous system with DTI has been demonstrated in many studies. However, there are no data regarding the association between microstructural changes evaluated using DTI and symptoms assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and their duration. METHODS Forty consecutive patients with foraminal disc herniation affecting unilateral sacral 1 (S1) nerve roots were enrolled in this study. DTI with tractography was performed on the S1 nerve roots. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using an ODI questionnaire for each patient, and the duration of clinical symptoms was noted based on the earliest instance of leg pain and numbness. Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated from tractography images. RESULTS The mean FA value of the compressed lumbar nerve roots was significantly lower than the FA of the contralateral nerve roots (P

The object of the present meta-analysis is to compare the effectiveness of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) and interlaminar epidural steroid injection (ILESI) for treating patients with low back pain (LBP) secondary to lumbosacral radicular pain. A systematic search was performed in the PubMed and Embase databases and the Cochrane Library for relevant literature published through January 2016. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled observational studies were selected, which did not only compare TFESI with ILESI but also reported the available data. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Handbook and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) were used for the methodological quality assessments of the RCTs and observational studies respectively. The meta-analysis was performed using the Revman 5.2 software. A total of 931 patients from nine RCTs and four observational studies were subjected to meta-analysis. In primary outcomes, the TFESI patients experienced superior pain relief compared with the TFESI patients in RCTs (P = 0.01), but not in observational studies (p = 0.63). The pooled data of RCTs showed that the TFESI group presented superior clinical results in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS) than the ILESI group (p = 0.0005). Moreover, the numeric rating scale (NRS) specifically favored TFESI in the RCTs (p

To investigate clinical significance and surgical protocols about the balance of the lower limb lengths in the total hip arthroplasty.Forty-eight patients undergoing the unilateral primary total hip arthroplasty from March 2000 to October 2004 were retrospectively studied. In 12 hips, the prostheses were of the cement type; in 36 hips, of the mixture type. Thirty patients with an equal limb length had a fractured femoral neck, 10 patients had a shortened (1.0-2.0 cm) limb, 6 patients had a shortened (2.0-4.0 cm) limb, and 2 patients had a shortened (4.0-6.0 cm) limb. Based on the clinical measurement and radiographic examination, the surgical protocols were designed, the hip prosthesis type was chosen, and the neck length of the femoral prosthesis and the position of osteotomy were estimated. By the wearing of the acetabula properly, the best rotation point was found out during the operation. The cut plane of the femoral neck was adjusted according to the results of the radiographic and other examinations. The neck length was readjusted after the insertion of the prosthesis so as to achieve an intended limb-length equalization.All the patients were followed up for 3-42 months. According to the Harris scoring system, clinical results were excellent in 30 patients, good in 12, fair in 4, and poor in 2. Of the 30 patients with an equal limb before operation, 5 were lengthened 1.0-2.0 cm in their lower limbs, and 1 lengthened 2. 5 cm postoperatively. Of the 18 patients with shortened limbs before operation, 10 returned to the same lengths in their lower limbs, 6 were lengthened 1.0-2.0 cm in their lower limbs, but 2 with seriously-shortened lower limbs for congenital dysplasia of the hip joint were still shortened 2.0-3.0 cm in the limb length after operation. The Harris hip scores revealed an average of 92.3 points in the patients with an equal limb length, and 88.6 points in the patients with shortened limbs.Many factors, such as surgical protocols, prosthesis type designs, and the management techniques during the operation, can affect the limb length after operation. As the limb length discrepancy will make the patients feel disappointed, the clinical measurements are very important before operation. Application of the comprehensive appraisal methods during the operation, use of the soft tissue balance method, and skills for obtaining an equal limb length during the total hip arthroplasty are also important for improving the surgical result further.