Recent Strategies to Combat Biofilms Using Antimicrobial Agents and Therapeutic Approaches.

Biofilms are intricate bacterial assemblages that attach to diverse surfaces using an extracellular polymeric substance that protects them from the host immune system and conventional antibiotics. Biofilms cause chronic infections that result in millions of deaths around the world every year. Since the antibiotic tolerance mechanism in biofilm is different than that of the planktonic cells due to its multicellular structure, the currently available antibiotics are inadequate to treat biofilm-associated infections which have led to an immense need to find newer treatment options.

Presynaptic NMDARs on spinal nociceptor terminals state-dependently modulate synaptic transmission and pain.

Postsynaptic NMDARs at spinal synapses are required for postsynaptic long-term potentiation and chronic pain. However, how presynaptic NMDARs (PreNMDARs) in spinal nociceptor terminals control presynaptic plasticity and pain hypersensitivity has remained unclear. Here we report that PreNMDARs in spinal nociceptor terminals modulate synaptic transmission in a nociceptive tone-dependent manner.

Reducing host aldose reductase activity promotes neuronal differentiation of transplanted neural stem cells at spinal cord injury sites and facilitates locomotion recovery.

Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation is a promising strategy for replacing lost neurons following spinal cord injury. However, the survival and differentiation of transplanted NSCs is limited, possibly owing to the neurotoxic inflammatory microenvironment. Because of the important role of glucose metabolism in M1/M2 polarization of microglia/macrophages, we hypothesized that altering the phenotype of microglia/macrophages by regulating the activity of aldose reductase (AR), a key enzyme in the polyol pathway of glucose metabolism, would provide a more beneficial microenvironment for NSC survival and differentiation.

The twisted structure of the rat Achilles tendon.

The rat is frequently used as a model to study the characteristics, aetiology and pathology of the Achilles tendon. However, though the structure of the human Achilles tendon has been extensively investigated, the anatomical structure of the rat Achilles tendon remains unclear, which impedes the ability to use rats to study Achilles tendinopathy. The purpose of this study was to reveal the structure of the rat Achilles tendon and to explore its similarities with the human Achilles tendon through an anatomical dissection of 80 rat Achilles tendons (40 female, 40 male).

An Optimized Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathway Improved Patient Care in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: An optimized Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program is lacking for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact and feasibility of an optimized ERAS pathway in patients with surgically treated AIS.

Methods: In total, 79 patients with AIS who underwent corrective surgery without 3-column osteotomy were recruited from Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University between 2012 and 2018.

Neurological complications of thoracic posterior vertebral column resection for severe congenital spinal deformities.

Purpose: The risk of neurological injury during vertebral column resection is high. In this study, we investigated the incidence and risk factors for neurological complications when treating spinal deformities by thoracic posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR).

Methods: Between 2008 and 2013, there were 62 consecutive patients (34 female patients and 28 male; the mean age: 16.

Safety and Efficacy of Single-Stage Surgical Treatment for Congenital Scoliosis Associated with Intraspinal Mass.

For congenital scoliosis associated with intraspinal anomaly, surgical treatment is often advocated. However, the safety and efficacy of single-stage intraspinal mass resection and scoliosis correction remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the feasibility and risk factors of single-stage surgical treatment for congenital scoliosis associated with intraspinal mass.

Safety and Efficacy of One-stage Spinal Osteotomy for Severe and Rigid Congenital Scoliosis Associated with Split Spinal Cord Malformation.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of one-stage spinal osteotomy in the treatment of severe and progressive congenital scoliosis (CS) associated with split spinal cord malformation (SSCM).

Summary Of Background Data: For severe and rigid spinal deformity, spinal osteotomies are often advocated for correcting the deformity.

Surgical Treatment of Congenital Scoliosis Associated With Tethered Cord by Thoracic Spine-shortening Osteotomy Without Cord Detethering.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of spine-shortening osteotomy for congenital scoliosis with tethered cord.

Summary Of Background Data: Conventional surgery for congenital scoliosis associated with tethered cord risks the complications of detethering.

Successful treatment of a patient with congenital kyphoscoliosis associated with tethered cord.

Tethered cord is a common finding in congenital scoliosis. The most frequently advocated approach for this condition is to perform prophylactic detethering of the cord before scoliosis corrective surgery. The authors report on a 14-year-old patient with congenital thoracic kyphoscoliosis associated with a tethered cord, who developed progressive paraparesis and was successfully treated by posterior spine shortening osteotomy alone without prophylactic untethering.

Non-fusion and growing instrumentation in the correction of congenital spinal deformity associated with split spinal cord malformation: an early follow-up outcome.

Study Design: A retrospective case review.

Introduction: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the non-fusion technique in achieving and maintaining the proper correction for congenital spinal deformity (CSD) and allowing normal spinal growth in patients with split spinal cord malformation (SSCM).

Materials And Methods: Seven patients who had CSD and SSCM were adopted, with a mean age of 8 years.

Staged corrective surgery for complex adolescent kyphoscoliosis caused by back scalding during the childhood period.

Introduction: Adolescent scar contracture kyphoscoliosis is a very rare disease.

Methods And Results: Here, we present the case of a 21-year-old man who was scalded due to ebullient water when he was 10 years old. Moreover, kyphoscoliosis was found when he was 12 years old and developed rapidly.

Safety and efficacy of 1-stage surgical treatment of congenital spinal deformity associated with split spinal cord malformation.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the safety and efficacy of 1-stage surgical treatment of 45 consecutive patients, who had progressive congenital spinal deformity associated with split spinal cord malformation (SSCM).

Summary Of Background Data: For correction of progressive congenital spinal deformity with SSCM, it has been reported that all SSCM should be operated on before any orthopedic intervention, and then surgery for correction and stabilization of the spinal deformity should be performed 3 to 6 months later.

Atorvastatin reduces calcification in rat arteries and vascular smooth muscle cells.

To examine the in vivo effects of atorvastatin (AT) on arterial calcification in rats, arterial calcification was established by subcutaneous injection of vitamin D3 and Warfarin. Intragastric administration of AT began 4 days before establishment of arterial calcification in the AT group (n=6). Blood samples were taken and abdominal aortas were collected and stained.

[The effect of alendronate on arterial calcification in rat model].

Objective: To study the effect of alendronate on artery calcification in rats.

Methods: (1) 4-week SD male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: alendronate group (AL, n = 6), calcification group (CA, n = 6) and normal group (N, n = 6). In AL and CA group, artery calcification of rat was established by subcutaneous injection of vitamin D3 (300,000 U x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 3 days) and Warfarin (15 mg x 100 g(-1) x 12 h(-1) for 4 days); In AL group, at 4 days before establishment of artery calcification, alendronate (1 mg x kg(-1) x 24 h(-1)) was administered with subcutaneous injection and continued to be given to the end of the study.