Molecular insights into receptor binding of recent emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) have been emerging and some have been linked to an increase in case numbers globally. However, there is yet a lack of understanding of the molecular basis for the interactions between the human ACE2 (hACE2) receptor and these VOCs. Here we examined several VOCs including Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, and demonstrate that five variants receptor-binding domain (RBD) increased binding affinity for hACE2, and four variants pseudoviruses increased entry into susceptible cells.

Manipulative rehabilitation applied soon after lumbar disc surgery improves late post-operative functional disability: A preliminary 2-year follow-up study.

Background: Studies have shown late post-operative physical disability and residual pain in patients following lumbar disc surgery despite growing evidence of its beneficial effects. Therefore, rehabilitation is required to minimise the late post-operative complications.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of manipulative rehabilitation to improve late post-operative outcomes.

Early individualised manipulative rehabilitation following lumbar open laser microdiscectomy improves early post-operative functional disability: A randomized, controlled pilot study.

Background: Lumbar open laser microdiscectomy has been shown to be an effective intervention and safe approach for lumbar disc prolapse. However early post-operative physical disability affecting daily activities have been sporadically reported.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of using early individualised manipulative rehabilitation to improve early post-operative functional disability following lumbar discectomy.

Intraosseous hemangioblastoma mimicking spinal metastasis in the patient with renal cell carcinoma.

Sporadic osseous hemangioblastomas in the vertebra are extremely rare and they can be misdiagnosed as a vertebral hemangioma or metastasis in imaging studies. We report an intraosseous hemangioblastoma that arose from the 11th thoracic vertebra and was diagnosed initially as a metastasis in a patient with renal cell carcinoma. Diagnosis, surgical treatment and adjuvant radiosurgery of such case in reference to the literature are discussed.