Obesity and clinical, radiographic, and surgical outcomes after minimally invasive single-level transforaminal versus lateral lumbar interbody fusion.

Objective: To determine the effect of obesity on clinical, radiographic, and surgical outcomes after lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and compare the effectiveness of LLIF versus MIS TLIF in treating obese patients.

Methods: A retrospective comparative analysis of patients who underwent single-level L4-5 LLIF or MIS TLIF over a 7-year period was performed. Spinopelvic parameters were compared based on pre- and postoperative radiographs.

Prone Lateral Transpsoas Approach to the Spine: A Technical Guide for Mastery.

Background: The single-position prone transpsoas (PTP) lateral interbody fusion represents an alternative approach to the traditional lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) typically performed with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. Advantages of PTP surgery include improved segmental lordosis, single-position surgery, and ease of performing posterior techniques as needed. However, the learning curve of PTP is distinct from that of traditional LLIF surgery performed with the patient in the lateral decubitus position.

HEBE: A novel chimeric chronokine for ameliorating memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β and Tau protein depositions, with treatments focusing on single proteins have shown limited success due to the complexity of pathways involved. This study explored the potential of chronokines -proteins that modulate aging-related processes- as an alternative therapeutic approach. Specifically, we focused on a novel pleiotropic chimeric protein named HEBE, combining s-KL, sTREM2 and TIMP2, guided by bioinformatic analyses to ensure the preservation of each protein's conformation, crucial for their functions.

High Aspect Ratio Polymer Nanocarriers for Gene Delivery and Expression in Plants.

Plant genetic engineering methods are critical for food security and biofuel production and to enable molecular farming. Here, we elucidated how polymeric high aspect ratio nanocarriers can enable DNA delivery to plants and transient expression. We demonstrated that a nanocarrier with 20 nm width, 80 nm length, and a polymer-to-DNA ratio of N/P = 3.

Controlled Nitrogen Release by Hydroxyapatite Nanomaterials in Leaves Enhances Plant Growth and Nitrogen Uptake.

Nitrogen fertilizer delivery inefficiencies limit crop productivity and contribute to environmental pollution. Herein, we developed Zn- and Fe-doped hydroxyapatite nanomaterials (ZnHAU, FeHAU) loaded with urea (∼26% N) through hydrogen bonding and metal-ligand interactions. The nanomaterials attach to the leaf epidermal cuticle and localize in the apoplast of leaf epidermal cells, triggering a slow N release at acidic conditions (pH 5.

Advances in neurosurgical education: literature review of mixed-reality simulation models and novel mixed-reality spine prototype.

Objective: Mixed-reality (MR) applications provide opportunities for technical rehearsal, education, and estimation of surgical performance without the risk of patient harm. In this study, the authors provide a structured literature review on the current state of MR applications and their effects on neurosurgery training. They also introduce an MR prototype for neurosurgical spine training.

Application of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for protozoan analysis: A systematic review.

Protozoa present in water for human consumption represent a significant public health risk to a greater extent in the most vulnerable populations. Identifying protozoa in a traditional way through microscopy or with more advanced technologies such as molecular biology may present limitations in sensitivity, specificity, time, and costs. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy have potential as an alternative for the detection of protozoa in water used for human consumption.

Is There an Association Between Spine Surgeon Academic Productivity and Patient Satisfaction Ratings?

Background And Objectives: Physician rating websites (PRWs) are increasingly used by patients to find health care providers. This study explores spine neurosurgeon PRW ratings and their relationship with academic productivity.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from November 2022 to May 2023 that included 1990 neurological surgeons listed in the American Association of Neurological Surgeons database with a subspecialty in spine.

Enhancing the Technical Pearls for L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Patients with Body Mass Index More Than 30: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes at 1-Year Follow-Up.

Background: Performing anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) in patients with a body mass index (BMI) >30 presents surgical challenges. To overcome those challenges, a modified procedure is described.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed patients with a BMI >30 who underwent the modified L5-S1 ALIF procedure from August 2017 to September 2023.

Outpatient lateral lumbar interbody fusion: single-institution consecutive case series.

Objective: Outpatient spine surgery could reduce hospital costs and improve patient outcomes. Outpatient lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) can be performed for select patients. This study identified and compared the demographic, clinical, and surgical characteristics of patients who underwent outpatient versus inpatient single-level LLIF.

Nanocarrier mediated delivery of insecticides into tarsi enhances stink bug mortality.

Current delivery practices for insecticide active ingredients are inefficient with only a fraction reaching their intended target. Herein, we developed carbon dot based nanocarriers with molecular baskets (γ-cyclodextrin) that enhance the delivery of active ingredients into insects (southern green stink bugs, Nezara viridula L.) via their tarsal pores.

Preoperative Multifidus and Psoas Major Muscle Quality and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Anterolateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Predictors for Preoperative Disability and Back Pain Improvement.

Objective: To investigate associations between preoperative lumbar multifidus muscle (LMM) and psoas major muscle qualities and preoperative and postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after anterolateral lumbar interbody fusion (A-LLIF).

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients with A-LLIF between L1 and S1 during 2017-2022 at a single institution who had at least approximately 1 year of follow-up and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging available. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging was analyzed using 2 image analysis platforms (AMBRA and ImageJ).

Nanocarrier foliar uptake pathways affect delivery of active agents and plant physiological response.

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles enable foliar delivery of genetic material, herbicides, and nutrients to promote plant growth and yield. Understanding the foliar uptake route of nanoparticles is needed to maximize their effectiveness and avoid unwanted negative effects. In this study, we investigated how delivering layered double hydroxide ( = 37 ± 1.

Harnessing cellular therapeutics for type 1 diabetes mellitus: progress, challenges, and the road ahead.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a growing global health concern that affects approximately 8.5 million individuals worldwide. T1DM is characterized by an autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β cells, leading to a disruption in glucose homeostasis.

Intraoperative Intercostal Nerve Block for Pain Management After Retropleural Thoracic Discectomy: Anatomy and Technique.

Background: Thoracic discectomy procedures require early and adequate pain control to alleviate patient discomfort after surgery. The intraoperative placement of a nerve block after intercostal nerve violation can offer early pain management after thoracic discectomy.

Methods: The anatomy and technique of placing an intercostal nerve block after retropleural thoracic discectomy are described.

Polymeric Nanocarriers Autonomously Cross the Plant Cell Wall and Enable Protein Delivery for Stress Sensing.

Delivery of proteins in plant cells can facilitate the design of desired functions by modulation of biological processes and plant traits but is currently limited by narrow host range, tissue damage, and poor scalability. Physical barriers in plants, including cell walls and membranes, limit protein delivery to desired plant tissues. Herein, a cationic high aspect ratio polymeric nanocarriers (PNCs) platform is developed to enable efficient protein delivery to plants.

AAPM Task Group Report 299: Quality control in multi-energy computed tomography.

Multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) offers the opportunity for advanced visualization, detection, and quantification of select elements (e.g., iodine) or materials (e.

DNA Delivery by Virus-Like Nanocarriers in Plant Cells.

Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV)-like nanocarriers were designed for gene delivery to plant cells. High aspect ratio TMGMVs were coated with a polycationic biopolymer, poly(allylamine) hydrochloride (PAH), to generate highly charged nanomaterials (TMGMV-PAH; 56.20 ± 4.

Reversible Modulation of Plasmonic Coupling of Gold Nanoparticles Confined within Swellable Polymer Colloidal Spheres.

Dynamic optical modulation in response to stimuli provides exciting opportunities for designing novel sensing, actuating, and authentication devices. Here, we demonstrate that the reversible swelling and deswelling of crosslinked polymer colloidal spheres in response to pH and temperature changes can be utilized to drive the assembly and disassembly of the embedded gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), inducing their plasmonic coupling and decoupling and, correspondingly, color changes. The multi-responsive colloids are created by depositing a monolayer of AuNPs on the surface of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) nanospheres, then overcoating them with an additional RF layer, followed by a seeded growth process to enlarge the AuNPs and reduce their interparticle separation to induce significant plasmonic coupling.

Towards realizing nano-enabled precision delivery in plants.

Nanocarriers (NCs) that can precisely deliver active agents, nutrients and genetic materials into plants will make crop agriculture more resilient to climate change and sustainable. As a research field, nano-agriculture is still developing, with significant scientific and societal barriers to overcome. In this Review, we argue that lessons can be learned from mammalian nanomedicine.

ERNEST COST action overview on the (patho)physiology of GPCRs and orphan GPCRs in the nervous system.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large family of cell surface receptors that play a critical role in nervous system function by transmitting signals between cells and their environment. They are involved in many, if not all, nervous system processes, and their dysfunction has been linked to various neurological disorders representing important drug targets. This overview emphasises the GPCRs of the nervous system, which are the research focus of the members of ERNEST COST action (CA18133) working group 'Biological roles of signal transduction'.

Diagnostic performance of a point-of-care molecular system for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Peru.

The present study assessed the diagnostic performance of the Xpert®Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test in comparison with the Charité protocol real-time RT PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Peruvian patients. This was a diagnostic test study that included 100 nasal and pharyngeal swab samples. We obtained an overall concordance of 98.

Time-dependent ligand-receptor binding kinetics and functionality in a heterodimeric receptor model.

GPCRs heteromerize both in CNS and non-CNS regions. The cell uses receptor heteromerization to modulate receptor functionality and to provide fine tuning of receptor signaling. In order for pharmacologists to explore these mechanisms for therapeutic purposes, quantitative receptor models are needed.