A retrospective cohort analysis of alignment parameters for spinal tumor patients with instrumentation at the cervicothoracic junction.

Background: Previous research on spinal alignment and postoperative outcomes after cervical and upper thoracic fixation has suggested that clinical and patient-reported outcomes are improved when certain anatomical parameters are maintained. These parameters include the cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA), C2 and T1 slopes, and cervical lordosis (CL). For patients with primary and metastatic tumors involving the subaxial cervical and/or upper thoracic spine, there is minimal guidance on how to apply these parameters.

Comparison of Pain and Functional Outcomes Among Geriatric and Nongeriatric Adults Following Full Endoscopic Spine Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Pathology.

Background: Full endoscopic spine surgery (FESS) champions a rapid recovery and a low rate of overall complications. However, its efficacy in geriatric patients that might yield additional benefits from minimized invasiveness remains underexplored.

Methods: A multi-institutional prospective cohort study was conducted involving patients undergoing elective lumbar FESS.

Utility of Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Prognosis and Management of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A PRISMA Review.

Objective: As advances are made in quantitative magnetic resonance imaging, specifically diffusion tensor imaging, researchers have investigated its potential to serve as a biomarker of disease or prognosticator for postoperative recovery in the management of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Here, we narratively review the current state of the emerging literature, describing areas of consensus and disagreement.

Methods: In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, we queried 2 large databases for original manuscripts published in English and systematically produced a narrative review of the use of diffusion tensor imaging in the management of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Microbubble Contrast-Enhanced Transcutaneous Ultrasound Enables Real-Time Spinal Cord Perfusion Monitoring Following Posterior Cervical Decompression.

Background: Ultrasound imaging is inexpensive, portable, and widely available. The development of a real-time transcutaneous spinal cord perfusion monitoring system would allow more precise targeting of mean arterial pressure goals following acute spinal cord injury (SCI). There has been no prior demonstration of successful real-time cord perfusion monitoring in humans.

Red Blood Cell Storage with Xenon: Safe or Disruption?

Xenon, an inert gas commonly used in medicine, has been considered as a potential option for prolonged preservation of donor packed red blood cells (pRBCs) under hypoxic conditions. This study aimed to investigate how xenon affects erythrocyte parameters under prolonged storage. In vitro model experiments were performed using two methods to create hypoxic conditions.

Morphology of Neutrophils during Their Activation and NETosis: Atomic Force Microscopy Study.

Confocal microscopy and fluorescence staining of cellular structures are commonly used to study neutrophil activation and NETosis. However, they do not reveal the specific characteristics of the neutrophil membrane surface, its nanostructure, and morphology. The aim of this study was to reveal the topography and nanosurface characteristics of neutrophils during activation and NETosis using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Stages of NETosis Development upon Stimulation of Neutrophils with Activators of Different Types.

Before NETs are released, the neutrophil undergoes structural changes. First, it flattens, accompanied by a change in cell shape and rearrangement of the cytoskeleton. Then, nuclear swelling begins, which ends with the ejection of NETs into the extracellular space.

Atomic Force Microscopy and High-Resolution Spectrophotometry for Study of Anoxemia and Normoxemia in Model Experiment In Vitro.

The oxygen content in the blood may decrease under the influence of various physicochemical factors and different diseases. The state of hypoxemia is especially dangerous for critically ill patients. In this paper, we describe and analyze the changes in the characteristics of red blood cells (RBCs) with decreasing levels of oxygen in the RBC suspension from normoxemia to hypoxemia/anoxemia in an in vitro model experiment.

Mechanochemical Synergism of Reactive Oxygen Species Influences on RBC Membrane.

The influences of various factors on blood lead to the formation of extra reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the disruption of morphology and functions of red blood cells (RBCs). This study considers the mechanisms of the mechanochemical synergism of OH• free radicals, which are most active in the initiation of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in RBC membranes, and H2O2 molecules, the largest typical diffusion path. Using kinetic models of differential equations describing CH2O2t and COH•t, we discuss two levels of mechanochemical synergism that occur simultaneously: (1) synergism that ensures the delivery of highly active free radicals OH• to RBC membranes and (2) a positive feedback system between H2O2 and OH•, resulting in the partial restoration of spent molecules.

Structural Configuration of Blood Cell Membranes Determines Their Nonlinear Deformation Properties.

The ability of neutrophils and red blood cells (RBCs) to undergo significant deformations is a key to their normal functioning. Disruptions of these processes can lead to pathologies. This work studied the influence of structural configuration rearrangements of membranes after exposure to external factors on the ability of native membranes of neutrophils and RBCs to undergo deep deformation.

The Toxic Influence of Excess Free Iron on Red Blood Cells in the Biophysical Experiment: An In Vitro Study.

Iron is needed for life-essential processes, but free iron overload causes dangerous clinical consequences. The study of the role of red blood cells (RBCs) in the influence of excess free iron in the blood on the pathological consequences in an organism is relevant. Here, in a direct biophysical experiment , we studied the action of free iron overload on the packed red blood cell (pRBC) characteristics.

Topological Relationships Cytoskeleton-Membrane Nanosurface-Morphology as a Basic Mechanism of Total Disorders of RBC Structures.

The state of red blood cells (RBCs) and their functional possibilities depend on the structural organization of the membranes. Cell morphology and membrane nanostructure are compositionally and functionally related to the cytoskeleton network. In this work, the influence of agents (hemin, endogenous oxidation during storage of packed RBCs, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, temperature, and potential of hydrogen (pH) changes) on the relationships between cytoskeleton destruction, membrane nanostructure, and RBC morphology was observed by atomic force microscope.

Two-step process of cytoskeletal structural damage during long-term storage of packed red blood cells.

Background: Storage of packed red blood cells (PRBC) for 42 days causes morphological, structural, and functional changes in the red cells. To assess the quality of stored PRBC, it is important to evaluate the main components of the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the kinetics of the structural transformations in the cytoskeleton of red cells during long-term storage (up to 42 days).

The relationship of membrane stiffness, cytoskeleton structure and storage time of pRBCs.

Background And Objectives: In clinical practice, it has been shown that transfusion of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) with late shelf life increases the risk of post-transfusion complications.

Objective: To study relationship of membrane stiffness, cytoskeleton structure and storage time of pRBCs.

Materials And Methods: pRBCs were processed and stored according to blood bank procedure, for 42 days, at +4°C; pRBC samples were taken on days 3, 12, 19, 21, 24, 28, 35 and 42.

Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin content in the blood with high accuracy: wavelength range optimization for nonlinear curve fitting of optical spectra.

The impact of carbon monoxide (CO) gas on the human organism is very dangerous. The affinity of CO to hemoglobin is considerably higher than that of oxygen. Thus, the interaction of CO with the blood results in a higher content of carboxyhemoglobin () in red blood cells (RBCs) and correspondingly in tissue hypoxia.

Conformational Distortions of the Red Blood Cell Spectrin Matrix Nanostructure in Response to Temperature Changes .

The spectrin matrix is a structural element of red blood cells (RBCs). As such, it affects RBC morphology, membrane deformability, nanostructure, stiffness, and, ultimately, the rheological properties of blood. However, little is known about how temperature affects the spectrin matrix.

Nonlinear Biomechanical Characteristics of Deep Deformation of Native RBC Membranes in Normal State and under Modifier Action.

The ability of membranes of native human red blood cells (RBCs) to bend into the cell to a depth comparable in size with physiological deformations was evaluated. For this, the methods of atomic force microscopy and atomic force spectroscopy were used. Nonlinear patterns of deep deformation (up to 600 nm) of RBC membranes were studied in normal state and under the action of modifiers: fixator (glutaraldehyde), natural oxidant (hemin), and exogenous intoxicator (zinc ions), .

Morphology, membrane nanostructure and stiffness for quality assessment of packed red blood cells.

Transfusion of packed red blood cells (PRBC) to patients in critical states is often accompanied by post-transfusion complications. This may be related with disturbance of properties of PRBC and their membranes during long-term storage in the hemopreservative solution. The purpose of our work is the study of transformation of morphology, membranes stiffness and nanostructure for assessment of PRBC quality, in vitro.

Disorders in the Morphology and Nanostructure of Erythrocyte Membranes after Long-term Storage of Erythrocyte Suspension: Atomic Force Microscopy Study.

Disorders in the erythrocyte morphology and structure of their membranes during long-term storage of erythrocyte suspension (30 days at 4°C) were studied by atomic force microscopy. The morphology and nanostructure of erythrocyte membranes, biochemical parameters, ion exchange parameters, and hemoglobin spectra were recorded. The transformation of erythrocyte morphology and destruction of their membranes were observed throughout the storage period.

Transformation of membrane nanosurface of red blood cells under hemin action.

Hemin is the product of hemoglobin oxidation. Some diseases may lead to a formation of hemin. The accumulation of hemin causes destruction of red blood cells (RBC) membranes.

Reversible zinc-induced injuries to erythrocyte membrane nanostructure.

Zinc-induced injuries to red blood cell membrane nanostructures at different zinc concentrations were studied by atomic force microscopy. In order to distinguish the intrinsic characteristics of membrane nanostructures, the membrane surfaces were represented by three orders using 3D Fourier transform. Increasing the concentrations of zinc ions modified the pattern of induced injuries: their depths and diameters and their number on the membrane surface test area increased.

Analysis of nanostructure of red blood cells membranes by space Fourier transform of AFM images.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows a researcher to obtain images of red blood cells (RBC) and their membranes. Various effects on blood lead to surface alterations of cell membranes. Such alterations are estimated by a corrugation of membrane surface.