Virulence Comparison of a Comprehensive Panel of Pierce's Disease Isolates from California.

, the causal agent of Pierce's disease of grapevine, has been found in all major grape-growing regions in California, U.S.A.

Sociodemographic Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Surgery for Metastatic Disease of the Spine.

Introduction: Some patients, particularly those who are socioeconomically deprived, are diagnosed with primary and/or metastatic cancer only after presenting to the emergency department. Our objective was to determine sociodemographic characteristics of patients undergoing surgery for metastatic spine disease at our institution.

Methods: This retrospective case series included patients 18 years and older who presented to the emergency department with metastatic spine disease requiring surgery.

High Growing Season Temperatures Limit Winter Recovery of Grapevines from Infection - Implications for Epidemiology in Hot Climates.

Management of widespread plant pathogens is challenging as climatic differences among crop-growing regions may alter key aspects of pathogen spread and disease severity. is a xylem-limited bacterial pathogen that is transmitted by xylem sap-feeding insects. Geographic distribution of is limited by winter climate, and vines infected with can recover from infection when held at cold temperatures.

A Comparison of Prognostic Models to Facilitate Surgical Decision-Making for Patients With Spinal Metastatic Disease.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Objective: Compare the performance of and provide cutoff values for commonly used prognostic models for spinal metastases, including Revised Tokuhashi, Tomita, Modified Bauer, New England Spinal Metastases Score (NESMS), and Skeletal Oncology Research Group model, at three- and six-month postoperative time points.

Summary Of Background Data: Surgery may be recommended for patients with spinal metastases causing fracture, instability, pain, and/or neurological compromise.

Is Less Really More? Economic Evaluation of Minimally Invasive Surgery.

Study Design: Review.

Objective: A comparative overview of cost-effectiveness between minimally invasive versus and equivalent open spinal surgeries.

Methods: A literature search using PubMed was performed to identify articles of interest.

Ceramic Biologics for Bony Fusion-a Journey from First to Third Generations.

Purpose Of Review: To provide information on characteristics and use of various ceramics in spine fusion and future directions.

Recent Findings: In most recent years, focus has been shifted to the use of ceramics in minimally invasive surgeries or implementation of nanostructured surface modification features to promote osteoinductive properties. In addition, effort has been placed on the development of bioactive synthetics.

Syndesmotic Screw Removal in a Clinic Setting Is Safe and Cost-effective.

There is no consensus in the literature regarding the necessity of syndesmotic screw removal, but the majority of surgeons prefer screw removal in the operating room. Purpose. The aim of this study is to analyze the safety and cost-effectiveness of syndesmotic screw removal in the clinic.

Novel amplification targets for rapid detection and differentiation of Xylella fastidiosa subspecies fastidiosa and multiplex in plant and insect tissues.

Xylella fastidiosa is an insect-transmitted bacterial plant pathogen which causes a variety of economically important diseases worldwide. Molecular identification of X. fastidiosa is used for quarantine screening, surveillance, and research applications; many of which require subspecies level differentiation of pathogen isolates.

Spine Degenerative Conditions and Their Treatments: National Trends in the United States of America.

Study Design: Retrospective database study.

Objective: Low back and neck pain are among the top leading causes of disability worldwide. The aim of our study was to report the current trends on spine degenerative disorders and their treatments.

Gene Therapy for Bone Repair Using Human Cells: Superior Osteogenic Potential of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2-Transduced Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Adipose Tissue Compared to Bone Marrow.

Ex vivo regional gene therapy strategies using animal mesenchymal stem cells genetically modified to overexpress osteoinductive growth factors have been successfully used in a variety of animal models to induce both heterotopic and orthotopic bone formation. However, in order to adapt regional gene therapy for clinical applications, it is essential to assess the osteogenic capacity of transduced human cells and choose the cell type that demonstrates the best clinical potential. Bone-marrow stem cells (BMSC) and adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) were selected in this study for in vitro evaluation, before and after transduction with a lentiviral two-step transcriptional amplification system (TSTA) overexpressing bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2; LV-TSTA-BMP-2) or green fluorescent protein (GFP; LV-TSTA-GFP).

Sox9 positive periosteal cells in fracture repair of the adult mammalian long bone.

Introduction: The phases of fracture healing have been well characterized. However, the exact source and genetic profile of the skeletal progenitors that participate in bone repair is somewhat unclear. Sox9 expression in skeletal elements precedes bone and cartilage formation and a Sox9 cell type is retained in the adult periosteum.