Nanoparticles for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injuries lead to significant loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions, presenting major challenges in neural regeneration. Achieving effective therapeutic concentrations at injury sites has been a slow process, partly due to the difficulty of delivering drugs effectively. Nanoparticles, with their targeted delivery capabilities, biocompatibility, and enhanced bioavailability over conventional drugs, are garnering attention for spinal cord injury treatment.

Biomedical applications of stimuli-responsive "smart" interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels.

In recent years, owing to the ongoing advancements in polymer materials, hydrogels have found increasing applications in the biomedical domain, notably in the realm of stimuli-responsive "smart" hydrogels. Nonetheless, conventional single-network stimuli-responsive "smart" hydrogels frequently exhibit deficiencies, including low mechanical strength, limited biocompatibility, and extended response times. In response, researchers have addressed these challenges by introducing a second network to create stimuli-responsive "smart" Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) hydrogels.

Recent advances in lipid nanovesicles for targeted treatment of spinal cord injury.

The effective regeneration and functional restoration of damaged spinal cord tissue have been a long-standing concern in regenerative medicine. Treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) is challenging due to the obstruction of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), the lack of targeting of drugs, and the complex pathophysiology of injury sites. Lipid nanovesicles, including cell-derived nanovesicles and synthetic lipid nanovesicles, are highly biocompatible and can penetrate BSCB, and are therefore effective delivery systems for targeted treatment of SCI.

A Retrospective Comparative Study of Modified Percutaneous Endoscopic Transforaminal Discectomy and Open Lumbar Discectomy for Gluteal Pain Caused by Lumbar Disc Herniation.

Introduction: This study aimed to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of modified percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (PETD) in the surgical management of single-segment lumbar disc herniation (LDH) gluteal pain and to determine whether it provides a better clinical outcome than open lumbar discectomy (OD).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients treated with modified PETD and OD for gluteal pain in LDH from January 2015 to December 2020 was conducted. Sample size was determined using a priori power analysis.

3D Bioprinting for Spinal Cord Injury Repair.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is considered to be one of the most challenging central nervous system injuries. The poor regeneration of nerve cells and the formation of scar tissue after injury make it difficult to recover the function of the nervous system. With the development of tissue engineering, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has attracted extensive attention because it can accurately print complex structures.

Corrigendum: Comparative Analysis of the Biomechanics Characteristics After Different Minimally Invasive Surgeries for Cervical Spondylopathy: A Finite Element Analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.

Comparative Analysis of the Biomechanical Characteristics After Different Minimally Invasive Surgeries for Cervical Spondylopathy: A Finite Element Analysis.

Minimally invasive surgeries, including posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy (PECF), microsurgical anterior cervical foraminotomy (MACF), anterior transdiscal approach of endoscopic cervical discectomy (ATd-ECD), and anterior transcorporeal approach of endoscopic cervical discectomy (ATc-ECD), have obtained positive results for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Nonetheless, there is a lack of comparison among them regarding their biomechanical performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the biomechanical changes of operated and adjacent segments after minimally invasive surgeries compared to a normal cervical spine.

Transforaminal endoscopic excision of bi-segmental non-communicating spinal extradural arachnoid cysts: A case report and literature review.

Background: Spinal extradural arachnoid cysts (SEACs) are a rare cause of spinal cord compression. Typically, these cysts communicate with the intradural subarachnoid space through a small defect in the dural sac. For symptomatic SEACs, the standard treatment is to remove the cyst in total with a (hemi)laminectomy or laminoplasty.

Platelet-rich plasma-derived extracellular vesicles: A superior alternative in regenerative medicine?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), due to its promising therapeutic properties, has been used in regenerative medicine for more than 30 years and numerous encouraging outcomes have been obtained. Currently, by benefiting from new insights into PRP mechanisms and the excellent performance of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the field of tissue repair and regeneration, studies have found that a large number of EVs released from activated platelets also participate in the regulation of tissue repair. A growing number of preclinical studies are exploring the functions of PRP-derived EVs (PRP-EVs), especially in tissue regeneration.

Neurological deterioration as a result of improper neck position detected by intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in a cervical stenosis patient: A case report.

Rationale: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is widely used in spinal surgeries to prevent iatrogenic spinal cord injury (SCI). Most surgeons focus on avoiding neurological compromise intraoperatively, while ignoring the possibility of nerve damage preoperatively, such as neck positioning. Thus, this study aims to report a case with transient neurological deterioration due to improper neck position detected by IONM during cervical surgery.

Zina percutaneous screw fixation combined with endoscopic lumbar intervertebral fusion under intraoperative neuromonitoring: A case report.

Introduction: Traditional open discectomy and intervertebral fusion surgery is the common strategy for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, it has the disadvantages of long recovery time and severe paravertebral soft tissue injury. Zina percutaneous screw fixation combined with endoscopic lumbar intervertebral fusion (ZELIF), as a novel minimally invasive surgical technique for LDH, has the advantages in quicker recovery, less soft tissue destruction, shorter hospital stays and less pain.

Comparative evaluation of posterior percutaneous endoscopy cervical discectomy using a 3.7 mm endoscope and a 6.9 mm endoscope for cervical disc herniation: a retrospective comparative cohort study.

Background: Posterior percutaneous endoscopy cervical discectomy (p-PECD) is an effective strategy for the treatment of cervical diseases, with a working cannula ranging from 3.7 mm to 6.9 mm in diameter.

Selective nerve root block combined with posterior percutaneous cervical endoscopic discectomy for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy with double nerve root variation: A case report.

Rationale: The aim of this report is to present the technique of selective nerve root blockage combined with posterior percutaneous cervical endoscopic discectomy (PPECD) for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR).

Patient Concerns: A 49-year-old female has pain in the skin area of the left scapular, pain in left elbow and limitation of left upper limb movement for 1.5 years.

Noncoding RNAs in Vascular Aging.

Increases in age are accompanied by vascular aging, which can lead to a variety of chronic diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have become a research hotspot in different fields of life sciences in recent years. For example, these molecules have been found to have regulatory roles in many physiological and pathological processes.

Exosomal long noncoding RNAs in aging and age-related diseases.

Molecules secreted by cells into the internal environment during aging, including those secreted in exosomes, have long been a matter of concern. Those cells that absorb exosomes, also known as recipient cells, exhibit certain phenotypic changes because of the regulatory role of functional molecules (including proteins and nucleic acids) released in exosomes. Involvement of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the regulation of aging has received increasing attention, and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) have become one of the research hotspots in recent years.

Cauda equina syndrome without motor dysfunction following lumbar spinal stenosis surgery: A case report.

Rationale: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) refers to a group of symptoms that occur when the nerves in the cauda equina become compressed or damaged. The most common etiology of CES is lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, but CES following lumbar spinal surgery is rare, especially without motor dysfunction. Herein, we illustrate a case of CES that developed as a complication of spinal surgery and to deduce its possible underlying cause.

Micro-porous polyetheretherketone implants decorated with BMP-2 via phosphorylated gelatin coating for enhancing cell adhesion and osteogenic differentiation.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high-performance semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer that is widely used in the orthopedics treatment. However, due to its biological inertness, the surface modification of PEEK using different methods to improve the biocompatibility remains a significant challenge. Herein, we attempted to use the covalently coating of phosphorylated gelatin loaded with bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) on hydroxylated micro-porous PEEK films for enhancing the biological activity.

Morphological and immunobiochemical analysis of the liver in L-arginine induced experimental chronic pancreatitis.

Background: Clinical evidence indicates that hepatic abnormalities in patients with chronic pancreatitis are not uncommon. Here we aimed to study the possible association between liver and pancreatic damage in a recently described experimental mouse model of CP.

Methods: The severity of the damage to pancreas, liver and other organs was assessed by biochemical markers and histopathology.

A Prospective Study Comparing Platelet-Rich Plasma and Local Anesthetic (LA)/Corticosteroid in Intra-Articular Injection for the Treatment of Lumbar Facet Joint Syndrome.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness and safety between autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and Local Anesthetic (LA)/corticosteroid in intra-articular injection for the treatment of lumbar facet joint syndrome.

Methods: Forty-six eligible patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome were randomized into group A (intra-articular injection with PRP) and group B (intra-articular injection with LA/corticosteroid). The following contents were evaluated: pain visual analog scale (VAS) at rest and during flexion, and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and modified MacNab criteria for pain relief and applications of post-treatment drugs.

The Effects of Irreversible Electroporation on the Colon in a Porcine Model.

Background And Aim: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a method of targeted cell ablation which has been suggested as a potential cancer therapy as it leaves structures such as blood vessels and the extracellular matrix intact, thereby allowing the rapid recovery of healthy tissue. Here, we investigated the effects of IRE on the colon in vivo in a porcine model.

Methods: IRE ablation was performed on the colon walls of 12 female Tibet mini-pigs, creating a total of 24 lesions.

A New Technique for the Treatment of Lumbar Facet Joint Syndrome Using Intra-articular Injection with Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma.

Background And Objectives: Lumbar facet joint syndrome is currently suggested to be a main source of axial low back pain, and a large portion of axial low back pain is caused by disorders in lumbar facet joints. Intra-articular injection is one of the most common treatment methods in the early clinical application. Therefore, we attempt to seek a new injectable material, autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP), to treat lumbar facet syndrome, as well as to assess its therapeutic effectiveness and safety.