Classification of three-level hybrid surgery for the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease: a retrospective study of 108 patients.

Introduction: According to the different numbers and locations of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), three-level hybrid surgery (HS) has many constructs. The purpose of the present study was to introduce a classification system for three-level HS and compare the two types with each other and with ACDF.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving patients with three-level cervical degenerative disc disease (CDDD) who underwent ACDF or HS in our hospital between June 2012 and May 2019.

Macular Morphologic and Microvascular Analysis in Pseudophakic Children with Previous Pediatric Cataract Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Introduction: The macular morphologic and microvascular changes in children with pseudophakia after pediatric cataract surgery remain unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze macular morphologic and microvascular remodeling in children with pseudophakia after pediatric cataract surgery using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: Consecutive cases between December 1, 2018, and November 31, 2020 were recruited.

A proteogenomic analysis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma in a Chinese population.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common and aggressive subtype of renal cancer. Here we conduct a comprehensive proteogenomic analysis of 232 tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissue pairs from Chinese ccRCC patients. By comparing with tumor adjacent tissues, we find that ccRCC shows extensive metabolic dysregulation and an enhanced immune response.

Removal of tetracycline hydrochloride from wastewater by Zr/Fe-MOFs/GO composites.

Zirconium-iron metal-organic frameworks (Zr/Fe-MOFs) and Zr/Fe-MOF/graphene oxide (GO) composites were prepared solvothermal synthesis using ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, zirconium acetate, and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid. The MOFs and composites were measured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectrometry (IR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In this study, we explored the ability of Zr/Fe-MOFs and Zr/Fe-MOF/GO composites to adsorb tetracycline hydrochloride from an aqueous solution.

The Effect of Preoperative Cervical Spondylosis on Heterotopic Ossification After Cervical Disc Replacement.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effect of preoperative cervical spondylosis on the heterotopic ossification (HO) formation in different locations after cervical disc replacement (CDR).

Methods: The degree of preoperative cervical spondylosis was evaluated radiologically, including the intervertebral disc, uncovertebral joints, facet joints and ligaments.

Behavioral Response, Fumigation Activity, and Contact Activity of Plant Essential Oils Against Tobacco Beetle ( (F.)) Adults.

Tobacco beetle ( (F.)) is one of the main storage pests that harm tobacco leaves. The current control methods mainly include physical control, chemical control, and biological control, but they all have their own disadvantages.

Integrative proteomic characterization of trace FFPE samples in early-stage gastrointestinal cancer.

Background: The surveillance and therapy of early-stage cancer would be better for patients' prognosis. However, the extreme trace amount of tissue samples in different stages have limited in portraying the characterization of early-stage cancer. Therefore, we focused on and presented comprehensive proteomic and phosphoproproteomic profiling of the trace FFPE samples from early-stage gastrointestinal cancer, and then explored the potential biomarkers of early-stage gastrointestinal cancer.

Composite SOSM controller for path tracking control of agricultural tractors subject to wheel slip.

In the work, the path tracking control methods are developed for autonomous agricultural tractors subject to wheel slip constraints by using second-order sliding mode (SOSM) and finite-time disturbance observer (FDOB) techniques. First of all, the path tracking error dynamics derived from the kinematic model is given and applied to controller design. In order to deal with the inevitable chattering problem existing in the conventional first-order sliding mode (FOSM) controller, a SOSM controller is constructed by regarding the controller derivative as the new control law, which means that the practical control law can be seen as an integration of the SOSM controller.

Metformin Ameliorates Hepatic Steatosis induced by olanzapine through inhibiting LXRα/PCSK9 pathway.

Studies have confirmed that olanzapine, the mainstay treatment for schizophrenia, triggers metabolic diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the etiology of olanzapine-induced NAFLD is poorly understood. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is involved in NAFLD pathogenesis, and metformin can significantly decrease circulating PCSK9.

Reprogramming of fibroblasts into expandable cardiovascular progenitor cells via small molecules in xeno-free conditions.

A major hurdle in cardiac cell therapy is the lack of a bona fide autologous stem-cell type that can be expanded long-term and has authentic cardiovascular differentiation potential. Here we report that a proliferative cell population with robust cardiovascular differentiation potential can be generated from mouse or human fibroblasts via a combination of six small molecules. These chemically induced cardiovascular progenitor cells (ciCPCs) self-renew long-term in fully chemically defined and xeno-free conditions, with faithful preservation of the CPC phenotype and of cardiovascular differentiation capacity in vitro and in vivo.

Activation of the CaMKII-Sarm1-ASK1-p38 MAP kinase pathway protects against axon degeneration caused by loss of mitochondria.

Mitochondrial defects are tightly linked to axon degeneration, yet the underlying cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In PVQ axons that lack mitochondria degenerate spontaneously with age. Using an unbiased genetic screen, we found that cell-specific activation of CaMKII/UNC-43 suppresses axon degeneration due to loss of mitochondria.

Comparison of femoral nerve block and acupuncture analgesia for acute preoperative pain in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture: a retrospective study.

Objective: This study was to compare the efficacy of femoral nerve block (FNB) and acupuncture for acute preoperative pain in patients with femoral neck fracture (FNF).

Methods: From June 2017 to June 2019, 130 patients with FNF were included in this study. Sixty-six patients received FNB treatment (FNB group) and sixty-four patients received acupuncture treatment (Acupuncture group).

Pre-Service Teachers Learning to Teach English to Very Young Learners in Macau: Do Beliefs Trump Practice?

The global importance of English and therefore the teaching of the English language has made the English language curriculum an integral part of all levels of teacher education, including early childhood education. The purpose of this study was to first explore the beliefs about the teaching of English to very young learners held by pre-service pre-primary teachers in Macau and then to see whether these beliefs were reflected in their microteaching. Qualitative content analysis performed on the written reflections and transcriptions of the microteaching videos of 75 pre-service pre-primary teachers found that their beliefs about classroom practices, lesson planning, and English as a foreign language (EFL) learners and learning were the most predominant beliefs exhibited in their reflections and were evidenced in their microteaching.

N-Doped Graphenelike Nanostructures from -Nitro Aniline-Based Foam: Formation, Structure, and Applications as a Nanofiller.

Production of snake foam based on -nitro aniline (PNA) was considered fun in old-school chemistry laboratories. Herein, we report the fabrication of a new carbon nanomaterial from PNA-based foam. The resulting material, resembling graphene and consisting of nitrogen heteroatoms, is N-doped graphenelike nanostructures, and their morphology, structure, and stability are comprehensively examined using combined techniques including C-13 NMR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Fake news detection based on news content and social contexts: a transformer-based approach.

Fake news is a real problem in today's world, and it has become more extensive and harder to identify. A major challenge in fake news detection is to detect it in the early phase. Another challenge in fake news detection is the unavailability or the shortage of labelled data for training the detection models.

Computer-Aided Targeted Mutagenesis of d-Allulose 3-Epimerase for Improved Thermostability.

d-Allulose 3-epimerase (DAEase) is a key enzyme in d-allulose bioproduction. DAEase from suffers from poor thermostability, hampering its large-scale applications in industry. In this study, mutants A70P, G107P, F155Y, and D162T with increased melting point temperature () were obtained by targeted mutagenesis based on the calculation of the free energy of folding.

Gut microbiome alterations and gut barrier dysfunction are associated with host immune homeostasis in COVID-19 patients.

Background: COVID-19 is an infectious disease characterized by multiple respiratory and extrapulmonary manifestations, including gastrointestinal symptoms. Although recent studies have linked gut microbiota to infectious diseases such as influenza, little is known about the role of the gut microbiota in COVID-19 pathophysiology.

Methods: To better understand the host-gut microbiota interactions in COVID-19, we characterized the gut microbial community and gut barrier function using metagenomic and metaproteomic approaches in 63 COVID-19 patients and 8 non-infected controls.

Simultaneously Detecting Monoamine Oxidase A and B in Disease Cell/Tissue Samples Using Paper-Based Devices.

As enzymes in the outer membrane of the mitochondrion, monoamine oxidases (MAOs) can catalyze the oxidative deamination of monoamines in the human body. According to different substrates, MAOs can be divided into MAO-A and MAO-B. The imbalance of the MAO-A is associated with neurological degeneration, while excess MAO-B activity is closely connected with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD); therefore, detection of MAOs is of great significance for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter protein-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists versus thiazolidinediones for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A network meta-analysis.

Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of chronic liver disorders worldwide. Some hypoglycemic drugs can improve NAFLD. However, it is unclear which of these types of hypoglycemic drugs are more effective for NAFLD.

D-allulose, a versatile rare sugar: recent biotechnological advances and challenges.

D-Allulose is the C-3 epimer of D-fructose, and widely regarded as a promising substitute for sucrose. It's an excellent low-calorie sweetener, with 70% sweetness of sucrose, 0.4 kcal/g dietary energy, and special physiological functions.

Is there any correlation between the recovery rate of JOA and the increasing of cervical spinal cord area after single-door cervical laminoplasty?

Objectives: The aim of the study is to investigate the clinical and radiologic factors represented by the increasing of spinal cord area associated with the prognosis of the patients at long-term follow-up by multivariate analysis after single-door cervical laminoplasty (SDCL).

Methods: A total of 115 patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty with miniplate fixation were included from November 2008 to June 2018. The average postoperative follow-up period was 17.

Protumorigenic Role of Elevated Levels of DNA Polymerase Epsilon Predicts an Immune-Suppressive Microenvironment in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Increasing evidence indicates that DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE), which mediates DNA damage repair, is significantly associated with tumor prognosis. This study aimed to analyze POLE expression in tumor samples and its prognostic value for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). We found significantly elevated POLE expression in ccRCC tissues compared with normal tissues of multiple independent cohorts.

Pathogen-Host Interaction Repertoire at Proteome and Posttranslational Modification Levels During Fungal Infections.

Prevalence of fungal diseases has increased globally in recent years, which often associated with increased immunocompromised patients, aging populations, and the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, due to the limitation of available antifungal agents mortality and morbidity rates of invasion fungal disease remain stubbornly high, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant fungi exacerbates the problem. Fungal pathogenicity and interactions between fungi and host have been the focus of many studies, as a result, lots of pathogenic mechanisms and fungal virulence factors have been identified.

Long-term Follow-Up Results of Dynamic Cervical Implant in Patients with Cervical Disk Diseases: Compared with Arthroplasty.

Background:  Arthroplasty has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment for patients with cervical degenerative disk disease (DDD). Dynamic Cervical Implant (DCI) has emerged as a novel implantation device for cervical DDD. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of these procedures after 5 years of follow-up in the DCI and arthroplasty groups.

Effects of endplate coverage and intervertebral height change on heterotopic ossification following cervical disc replacement.

Background: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a common complication after cervical disc replacement (CDR). Biomechanical factors including endplate coverage and intervertebral disc height change may be related to HO formation. However, there is a dearth of quantitative analysis for endplate coverage, intervertebral height change and their combined effects on HO.