Engineering Injectable and Highly Interconnected Porous Silk Fibroin Microspheres for Tissue Regeneration.

Injectable porous microspheres represent a promising therapeutic platform for cell delivery, drug delivery, and tissue regeneration. Yet, the engineering of silk fibroin microspheres with a highly interconnected porous structure remains an unsolved challenge. In this study, a simple and efficient method is developed that does not require the use of organic solvents to prepare silk fibroin microspheres with a predictable structure.

Inhibiting the NF-κB/DRP1 Axis Affords Neuroprotection after Spinal Cord Injury via Inhibiting Polarization of Pro-Inflammatory Microglia.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is considered a central nervous system (CNS) disorder. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) regulates inflammatory responses in the CNS and is implicated in SCI pathogenesis. The mechanism(s) through which NF-κB contributes to the neuroinflammation observed during SCI however remains unclear.

Causal effects of skin microbiota on intervertebral disk degeneration, low back pain and sciatica: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to use two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal relationship between skin microbiota, especially Propionibacterium acnes, and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), low back pain (LBP) and sciatica.

Methods: We conducted a two-sample MR using the aggregated data from the whole genome-wide association studies (GWAS). 150 skin microbiota were derived from the GWAS catalog and IVDD, LBP and sciatica were obtained from the IEU Open GWAS project.

Causal relationship between bone mineral density and intervertebral disc degeneration: a univariate and multivariable mendelian randomization study.

Background: Although previous studies have suggested a possible association between bone mineral density (BMD) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), the causal relationship between them remains unclear. Evidence from accumulating studies indicates that they might mutually influence one another. However, observational studies may be affected by potential confounders.

M2 Macrophage-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Ameliorate Pyroptosis and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral discs (IVDs) have a limited self-regenerative capacity and current strategies for IVD regeneration are unsatisfactory. Recent studies showed that small extracellular vesicles derived from M2 macrophage cells (M2-sEVs) inhibited inflammation by delivery of various bioactive molecules to recipient cells, which indicated that M2-sEVs may offer a therapeutic strategy for the repair of IVDs. Herein, we investigated the roles and mechanisms of M2-sEVs on IVD regeneration.

MGST1 May Regulate the Ferroptosis of the Annulus Fibrosus of Intervertebral Disc: Bioinformatic Integrated Analysis and Validation.

Background: The objective of this research was to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to ferroptosis in the annulus fibrosus (AF) during intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).

Methods: We analyzed gene data from degenerated and normal AF obtained from the GSE70362 and GSE147383 datasets. An analysis to determine the functional significance of the DEGs was conducted, followed by the creation of a network illustrating the interactions between proteins.

Nervous system exposure of different classes of nanoparticles: A review on potential toxicity and mechanistic studies.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are generally defined as very small particles in the size range of 1-100 nm. Due to the rapid development of modern society, many new materials have been developed. The widespread use of NPs in medical applications, the food industry and the textile industry has led to an increase in NPs in the environment and the possibility of human contact, which poses a serious threat to human health.

Senolytics ameliorate the failure of bone regeneration through the cell senescence-related inflammatory signalling pathway.

Stress-induced premature senescent (SIPS) cells induced by various stresses deteriorate cell functions. Dasatinib and quercetin senolytics (DQ) can alleviate several diseases by eliminating senescent cells. α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) is a widely used therapeutic approach for bone restoration but induces bone formation for a comparatively long time.

Causal Association of Telomere Length and Loss of Bone: a Directional Mendelian Randomization Study of Multi-Outcomes.

This study employed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate the relationship between telomere length and marginal bone loss (MBL), a marker of bone health and aging. Telomere length, a biological indicator of aging, was analyzed alongside several serum markers of bone loss. Following a screen for appropriate instrumental variables, telomere length was designated as the exposure variable.

A comparative study on the clinical efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy and conventional open surgery in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of single-channel percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and conventional open surgery in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods: This is a retrospective study. A total of 66 patients with LDH admitted to Tianjin Medical University from June 2017 to June 2018 were divided into two groups: the observation group (single-channel PELD) and the control group (posterior lumbar interbody fusion), with 33 cases in each group.

Predictive Factors Associated with Chronic Neck Pain in Patients with Cervical Degenerative Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To explore the predictive factors of neck pain (NP) in patients with cervical degenerative disease by retrospectively analyzing their occupational and demographic characteristics and to provide a valuable reference for preventing and treating chronic NP.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the occupational and demographic data of patients with cervical degenerative disease who had undergone anterior cervical surgery between June 2021 and December 2022 at our center. The patients were divided into NP and no-NP groups based on whether they had chronic NP before surgery.

Radiographic characteristics-based classification system for percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy surgical approach selection in patients with L5-S1 disc herniation: a hierarchical clustering analysis.

Background: No classification system exists for aiding the selection of surgical approaches in L5-S1 disc herniation when undergoing percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD). We aimed to identify radiographic subtypes to aid the selection of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (PETD) and percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID) in patients with L5-S1 disc herniation via unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis.

Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, we gathered 296 anteroposterior and lateral lumbar spine radiographs (dataset 1) from Tianjin Hospital between January 2016 and October 2021 for clustering analyses.

Application of self-anchored lateral lumbar interbody fusion in lumbar degenerative diseases.

Study Design: This is a retrospective study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of self-anchored lateral lumbar interbody fusion (SA-LLIF) in lumbar degenerative diseases.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with lumbar degenerative disease between January 2019 and June 2020 were enrolled in this study.

Cortical Endplate Bone Density Measured by Novel Phantomless Quantitative Computed Tomography May Predict Cage Subsidence more Conveniently and Accurately.

Objective: Previous studies have shown that bone mineral density (BMD) is a predictor of cage subsidence. Phantom-less quantitative computed tomography (PL-QCT) can measure volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) of lumbar trabecular and cortical bone. The study of endplate vBMD (EP-vBMD) is important in predicting cage settlement after extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF).

Bioinformatics Research and qRT-PCR Verify Hub Genes and a Transcription Factor-MicroRNA Feedback Network in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

The present study explores the potentials of bioinformatics analysis to identify hub genes linked to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and explored the potential molecular mechanism of transcription factor-microRNA regulatory network. Furthermore, the hub genes were identified through quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). GEO database expression profile datasets for candidate genes (GSE124272) were downloaded.

Screening of miR-15a-5p as a potential biomarker for intervertebral disc degeneration through RNA-sequencing.

Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent clinical condition that imposes substantial economic burdens on society. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is recognized as a major contributing factor to LBP. Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating the onset and progression of IVDD.

The and corrosion behavior of MgO/Mg-Zn-Ca composite with different Zn/Ca ratio.

The effect of Zn/Ca ratio on the corrosion behavior of Mg-3Zn-0.2Ca-1.0MgO (3ZX) and Mg-1Zn-0.

Repurposing Dihydroartemisinin to Combat Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Associated with Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), with aggressive locoregional invasion, has a high rate of early recurrences and poor prognosis. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), as a derivative of artemisinin, has been found to exert potent antitumor activity. Recent studies reported that DHA suppresses OSCC cell growth and viability through the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial calcium uniporter.

Exploration of the Extraperitoneal Approach for Single-Level Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Imaging, Anatomical and Clinical Research.

Background: To explore extraperitoneal approach as an optimal option for reducing peritoneal disruption at a single-level disc in anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF).

Methods: First, abdominal axial CT images obtained from 111 patients were observed to evaluate the distribution of extraperitoneal fat at L2-S1 and measure the lateral distances between the midline and the lateral borders of the rectus and the extraperitoneal fat for each disc level. Second, eight embalmed corpses were dissected along the lateral border of the rectus to expose the peritoneum, which was then separated laterally and medially to evaluate the distribution of fat and peritoneum adhesion.

Risk Factors for Hidden Blood Loss Associated with Vertebroplasty or Kyphoplasty for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Hidden blood loss (HBL), as a perioperative complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP), affects the quality of life of older adults with poor health status, but it is often ignored by clinical surgeons. The purpose of this study was to discuss the risk factors for perioperative HBL through meta-analysis.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wan Fang from establishment of the database to September 2022.

Dynamic changes of enhancer and super enhancer landscape in degenerated nucleus pulposus cells.

Inflammatory cascade and extracellular matrix remodeling have been identified as pivotal pathological factors in the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), but the mechanisms underlying the aberrant activation of transcription during nucleus pulposus (NP) cell degeneration remain elusive. Super-enhancers (SEs) are large clusters of adjacent lone enhancers, which control expression modes of cellular fate and pathogenic genes. Here, we showed that SEs underwent tremendous remodeling during NP cell degeneration and that SE-related transcripts were most abundant in inflammatory cascade and extracellular matrix remodeling processes.

Efficacy of intradiscal injection of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of discogenic low back pain: A single-arm meta-analysis.

Background: Discogenic low back pain (DLBP) has been influencing people's quality of life. Research on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for DLBP has increased in recent years, but systematic summaries are lacking. This study analyzes all published studies related to the use of intradiscal injection of PRP for the treatment of DLBP and summarizes evidence-based medicine for the efficacy of this biologic treatment for DLBP.

Research progress in decellularized extracellular matrix hydrogels for intervertebral disc degeneration.

As one of the most common clinical disorders, low back pain (LBP) influences patient quality of life and causes substantial social and economic burdens. Many factors can result in LBP, the most common of which is intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). The progression of IDD cannot be alleviated by conservative or surgical treatments, and gene therapy, growth factor therapy, and cell therapy have their own limitations.