Characterizing a new rat model of chronic pain after spine surgery.

Chronic pain after spine surgery (CPSS) is a complex disorder characterized by multifactorial pathogenesis that occurs in 8%-40% of patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. We aimed to develop a rat model that mimics clinical CPSS conditions by taking two sequential surgical procedures. Step 1: A plastic rod was inserted into the left L5 intervertebral foramen to produce a steady compression on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the spinal nerve, a common cause of low back pain (LBP).

Bone marrow fluid enhances the osteogenic activity of induced membrane leading to spontaneous osteogenesis: experimental validation and application in tibiofibular fusion for support reconstruction of segmental tibial defects.

Background: Managing large bone defects remains a significant clinical problem. We enhanced the osteogenic activity of the induced membrane (IM) by incorporating bone marrow fluid, leading to spontaneous osteogenesis (SO). We aimed to explore the application of this method in tibiofibular fusion (TFF) for reconstructing segmental tibial defects.

Comparative enrichment of complete ammonium oxidation bacteria in floccular sludge reactors: Sequencing batch reactor vs. continuous stirred tank reactor.

This study attempted to compare the enrichment of complete ammonium oxidation (comammox) bacteria, which are affiliated with and not able to generate nitrous oxide (NO, a potent greenhouse gas) through biological pathways, in two commonly-utilized configurations of floccular sludge reactors, i.e., sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), under the ammonium condition of mainstream wastewater (i.

Preparation, Optical, and Heat Resistance Properties of Phenyl-Modified Silicone Gel.

A series of Si-H- or Si-Vi-terminated, branched and linear oligomers containing MeSiO segments were prepared by equilibrium polymerization or non-equilibrium polymerization initiated by living anions, respectively. These oligomers were used to improve the defects of concentrated crosslinking points and the high hardness of crosslinked products when using phenyltris(dimethylsiloxy)silane or 1,1,5,5-tetramethyl-3,3-diphenyl trisiloxane as crosslinking agents in the preparation of silicone gel. NMR, FT-IR, and GPC characterized the structure and molecular weight information of the prepared oligomers.

Unlocking Drivers of Country-Specific Sensitivities of Atmospheric Greenhouse Gas Accumulation: Preparing for Future Pandemic Management.

The global atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) accumulation trajectory has been subjected to fluctuations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Country-level virus prevalence and geography conditions added complexity to understanding atmospheric GHG accumulation sensitivities in terms of the growth rate. Here, extensive data sets were comprehensively analyzed to capture historical and projected fate of atmospheric GHG concentrations.

Degradation of polyamide nanofiltration membranes by free chlorine and halide ions: Kinetics, mechanisms, and implications.

The kinetics of polyamide membrane degradation by free chlorine and halide ions (Br and Cl) were innovatively evaluated based on physicochemical properties and filtration performance, using water/solute permeability coefficient in addition to bromide incorporation as important indicators. The reaction rate constants for the reduced water and HBO permeability coefficient were 1-2 orders of magnitude higher at 0-1 h than 1-10 h. N-bromination and bromination-promoted hydrolysis are dominant degradation mechanisms at 0-1 h (reflected by the breakage of hydrogen bond, the increased Ca binding content, and the increased charge density), and ring-bromination further occurs at 1-10 h (reflected by the disappearance or weakening of aromatic amide band and the nearly constant hydrogen bond).

Mo-Pb redox triggers self-enhanced removal and recovery of Pb with superselectivity.

Membrane-based electrodeposition (MED) has emerged as a promising approach for reversible removal-recovery of toxic but valuable Pb. However, limited by the low specificity of membrane deposition toward various heavy metal ions in MED, the selective removal of Pb remains an obstacle. Inspired by the soft-hard acid-base theory, here we developed a Pb-affinity electroactive membrane by incorporating MoS with the cation exchange membrane (CEM) to achieve a tandem Pb selective adsorption-deposition process.

Unraveling temperature effects on caproate and caprylate production from waste activated sludge.

This study explored the impact of different temperatures on the continuous production of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) from waste activated sludge (WAS). Experimental results showed that there was almost no MCFAs accumulation at 55 °C. Both 25 °C and 37 °C were suitable for MCFAs production, with 25 °C favoring high-value caprylate production.

Tactfully introducing amphoteric group into electroactive membrane motivates highly efficient HO splitting for reversible removal and recovery of nickel(II).

Membrane-based electro-deposition (MED) is an original process promising for reversible removal and recovery of toxic heavy metal ions from wastewater. The removal efficiency of heavy metal ions, however, was limited by the poor membrane surface HO splitting in the conventional ion exchange membrane (IEM). Inspired by the amphoteric interface-triggered ion exchange resin regeneration phenomenon in electro-deionization, herein we subtly introduced the amphoteric group into IEM as a proof of concept to solve the above bottleneck.

Revisit the role of hydroxylamine in sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrification.

Through dedicated batch tests using the enriched sludge dominated by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB), the potential transformation of hydroxylamine (NHOH) by SOB and the effects of NHOH on the rate-limiting sequential reduction processes of sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrification (SDAD) were systematically explored in this study. The results indicated that NHOH might be first converted to NO by SOB and then participate in the SDAD process, thus accelerating the utilization of S and contributing to the formation of NO. Up to 3.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with peripheral arterial disease in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

This study aims to understand the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitalized patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in China, who did not contract SARS-CoV-2. We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional analysis comparing the characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized PAD patients across two distinct periods: Pre-pandemic (P1, from January 2018 to December 2019) and during the pandemic (P2, from January 2020 to December 2021). During P1, 762 hospitalized patients were treated, with an average age of 72.

Evaluation and analysis of risk factors for adverse events of the fractured vertebra post-percutaneous kyphoplasty: a retrospective cohort study using multiple machine learning models.

Background: Adverse events of the fractured vertebra (AEFV) post-percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) can lead to recurrent pain and neurological damage, which considerably affect the prognosis of patients and the quality of life. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors of AEFV and develop and select the optimal risk prediction model for AEFV to provide guidance for the prevention of this condition and enhancement of clinical outcomes.

Methods: This work included 383 patients with primary osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) who underwent PKP.

Efficient degradation and mineralization of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics by the synergy of sulfate and hydroxyl radicals in a heterogeneous electro-Fenton-activated persulfate oxidation system.

The presence of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics (MPs) in waters has posed considerable threats to the environment and humans. In this work, a heterogeneous electro-Fenton-activated persulfate oxidation system with the FeS-modified carbon felt as the cathode (abbreviated as EF-SR) was proposed for the efficient degradation of PET MPs. The results showed that i) the EF-SR system removed 91.

Lactobacillus inoculation mediated carboxylates and alcohols production from waste activated sludge fermentation system: Insight into process outcomes and metabolic network.

Producing medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) from waste activated sludge (WAS) is crucial for sustainable chemical industries. This study addressed the electron donor requirement for MCFAs production by inoculating Lactobacillus at varying concentrations (7.94 × 10, 3.

Epidermal Neural Crest Stem Cell Conditioned Medium Enhances Spinal Cord Injury Recovery via PI3K/AKT-Mediated Neuronal Apoptosis Suppression.

This study aimed to assess the impact of conditioned medium from epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSCs-CM) on functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI), while also exploring the involvement of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway in regulating neuronal apoptosis. EPI-NCSCs were isolated from 10-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured for 48 h to obtain EPI-NCSC-CM. SHSY-5Y cells were subjected with HO treatment to induce apoptosis.

Role of comammox bacteria in granular bioreactor for nitrogen removal via partial nitritation/anammox.

In this study, two bioprocess models were first constructed with the newly-discovered comammox process described as one-step and two-step nitrification and evaluated against relevant experimental data. The validated models were then applied to reveal the potential effect of comammox bacteria on the granular bioreactor particularly suitable for undertaking partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) under different operating conditions of bulk dissolved oxygen (DO) and influent NH. The results showed although comammox bacteria-based PN/A could achieve > 80.

Impact of hydrogen sulfide on anammox and nitrate/nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation coupled technologies.

The coupling between anammox and nitrate/nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO) has been considered a sustainable technology for nitrogen removal from sidestream wastewater and can be implemented in both membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) and granular bioreactor. However, the potential influence of the accompanying hydrogen sulfide (HS) in the anaerobic digestion (AD)-related methane-containing mixture on anammox/n-DAMO remains unknown. To fill this gap, this work first constructed a model incorporating the C/N/S-related bioprocesses and evaluated/calibrated/validated the model using experimental data.

The Closer Vicinity to Treated Vertebrae in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty, the Higher Rate of New Vertebral Compression Fractures at Follow-up.

Objective: To investigate whether risk of new vertebral compression fractures (NVCFs) was associated with vicinity to treated vertebrae in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).

Methods: All OVCF (T6-L5) patients treated with PVP between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Vicinity to treated vertebrae was defined as the number of vertebrae between an untreated and its closest treated level.

Oroxyloside protects against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by inhibiting ER stress via PPARγ activation.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a prevalent form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may result from immune system dysfunction, leading to the sustained overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent cellular oxidative stress damage. Recent studies have identified both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as critical targets for the treatment of IBD. Oroxyloside (CHO), derived from the root of Scutellariabaicalensis Georgi, has traditionally been used in treating inflammatory diseases.

The Below-the-Knee Approach to Percutaneous Mechanical Thrombectomy for Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis: A Retrospective Single-Centre, Single-Arm Study.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) through a below-the-knee (BTK) approach for acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Methods: A retrospective review of DVT patients treated with PMT by the BTK approach at our center from April 2022 to August 2023 was performed. Their preoperative demographics, intraoperative data, and postoperative outpatient outcomes were analyzed.

Degradation of Chloroquine by Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria: Performance, Mechanisms, and Associated Impact on NO Production.

Since the mass production and extensive use of chloroquine (CLQ) would lead to its inevitable discharge, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) might play a key role in the management of CLQ. Despite the reported functional versatility of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) that mediate the first step for biological nitrogen removal at WWTP (i.e.

Electro-oxidation of Ibuprofen using carbon-supported SnO-CeO flow-anodes: The key role of high-valent metal.

Exploiting electrochemically active materials as flow-anodes can effectively alleviate mass transfer restriction in an electro-oxidation system. However, the electrocatalytic activity and persistence of the conventional flow-anode materials are insufficient, resulting in limited improvement in the electro-oxidation rate and efficiency. Herein, we reported a rational strategy to substantially enhance the electrocatalytic performance of flow-anodes in electro-oxidation by introducing the redox cycle of high-valent metal in a suitable carbon substrate.

Analysis of adjacent vertebral fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty: do radiological or surgical features matter?

Purpose: To report the incidence and risk factors of adjacent vertebral fracture (AVF) after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). We focused to investigate effect of radiological or surgical features on AVF.

Methods: All patients with OVCFs who were treated with PVP between January 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.

Refining microbial potentiometric sensor performance with unique cathodic catalytic properties for targeted application scenarios.

Traditional microbial electrochemical sensors encounter challenges due to their inherent complexity. In response to these challenges, the microbial potentiometric sensor (MPS) technology was introduced, featuring a straightforward high-impedance measurement circuit tailored for environmental monitoring. Nonetheless, the practical implementation of conventional MPS is constrained by issues such as the exposure of the reference electrode to the monitored water and the absence of methodologies to stimulate microbial metabolism.