NDR2 is critical for osteoclastogenesis by regulating ULK1-mediated mitophagy.

Bone homeostasis primarily stems from the balance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, wherein an augmented number or heightened activity of osteoclasts is a prevalent etiological factor in the development of bone loss. Nuclear Dbf2-related kinase (NDR2), also known as STK38L, is a member of the Hippo family with serine/threonine kinase activity. We unveiled an upregulation of NDR2 expression during osteoclast differentiation.

S1P regulates intervertebral disc aging by mediating endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial calcium ion homeostasis.

As the aging process progresses, age-related intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is becoming an emerging public health issue. Site-1 protease (S1P) has recently been found to be associated with abnormal spinal development in patients with mutations and has multiple biological functions. Here, we discovered a reduction of S1P in degenerated and aging intervertebral discs, primarily regulated by DNA methylation.

Improving C1 Pedicle Screw Placement for Atlantoaxial Instability with Ultrasonic Bone Burr Assistance.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the ultrasonic bone burr (UBB) in facilitating C1 pedicle screw placement for atlantoaxial instability treatment, compared to the conventional high-speed drill (HSD) technique.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients undergoing posterior screw-rod fixation for atlantoaxial instability between December 2017 and July 2023. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the tools used for screw placement: UBB and HSD.

Injectable hydrogel encapsulating siMMP13 with anti-ROS and anti-apoptotic functions for osteoarthritis treatment.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of articular cartilage, leading to pain, stiffness, and loss of joint function. The pathogenesis of OA involves multiple factors, including increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhanced chondrocyte apoptosis, and disturbances in cartilage matrix metabolism. These processes contribute to the breakdown of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the loss of cartilage integrity, ultimately resulting in joint damage and dysfunction.

FATP2 regulates osteoclastogenesis by increasing lipid metabolism and ROS production.

Lipid metabolism plays a crucial role in maintaining bone homeostasis, particularly in osteoclasts (OCs) formation. Here, we found that the expression level of FATP2, a transporter for long-chain and very-long-chain fatty acids, was significantly upregulated during OC differentiation and in the bone marrow of mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Notably, the use of FATP2 siRNA or a specific inhibitor (Lipofermata) resulted in significant inhibition of OC differentiation, while only slightly affecting osteoblasts.

Induction of cervical disc degeneration and discogenic pain by low concentration Propionibacterium acnes infection: an in vivo animal study.

Background: Although cervical intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is closely associated with neck pain, its cause remains unclear. In this study, an animal model of cervical disc degeneration and discogenic neck pain induced by a low concentration of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes-L) is investigated to explore the possible mechanisms of cervical discogenic pain.

Evaluating Tartary Buckwheat Genotypes with High Callus Induction Rates and the Transcriptomic Profiling during Callus Formation.

Due to their complex genotypes, low in vitro regeneration rates, and difficulty in obtaining transgenic plants, studies concerning basic biological research and molecular breeding in Tartary buckwheat (TB) are greatly limited. In this study, the hypocotyls of 60 genotypes of TB (TBC1~60) were used as explants. Of these, TBC14 was selected due to a high callus induction rate of 97.

Disc degeneration is easily occurred at the same and adjacent cephalad level in cervical spine when Modic changes are present.

Objective: This research aimed to evaluate the influence of Modic changes (MCs) on disc degeneration at the same and adjacent cephalad levels in the cervical spine.

Methods: This research retrospectively reviewed 1036 patients with neck pain, upper limb pain, or numbness who were treated at our out-patient clinic and underwent cervical MRI and cervical anteroposterior/lateral radiography from Jan, 2016 to Jan, 2021. MCs and disc degeneration parameters at same and nearby cephalad levels of MCs were evaluated.

Laminectomy for the Removal of Thoracic Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum (TOLF) Using Ultrasonic and Conventional Osteotomes.

Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF) is a common cause of progressive thoracic myelopathy. TOLF is typically treated with surgical decompression. A variety of surgical techniques, including laminoplasty, laminectomy, and lamina fenestration, are used for the effective treatment of TOLF.

Red Light-Mediated Photoredox Catalysis Triggers Nitric Oxide Release for Treatment of Induced Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) has been known as a highly prevalent and disabling disease, which is one of the main causes of low back pain and disability. Unfortunately, there is no effective cure to treat this formidable disease, and surgical interventions are typically applied. Herein, we report that the local administration of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing micellar nanoparticles can efficiently treat IVDD associated with Modic changes in a rat model established by infection with ().

Small Preoperative Dural Sac Cross-Sectional Area and Anteriorly Placed Fusion Cages Are Risk Factors for Indirect Decompression Failure after Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion.

Objective: 1) To investigate if implant-related factors such as cage size and cage position are associated with radiologic improvement after indirect decompression with oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF). 2) To investigate the risk factors associated with indirect decompression failure (IDF) at the surgical levels after OLIF.

Methods: From February 2015 to December 2019, 92 consecutive patients (188 levels) with lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent indirect decompression via OLIF with or without posterior instrumentation were studied retrospectively.

Sigma-1 receptor attenuates osteoclastogenesis by promoting ER-associated degradation of SERCA2.

Sigma-1 receptor (Sigmar1) is a specific chaperone located in the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane (MAM) and plays a role in several physiological processes. However, the role of Sigmar1 in bone homeostasis remains unknown. Here, we show that mice lacking Sigmar1 exhibited severe osteoporosis in an ovariectomized model.

Different responses of cervical intervertebral disc caused by low and high virulence bacterial infection: a comparative study in rats.

The aims of this study were to investigate the outcomes of low- and high-virulence bacterial cervical intervertebral discs (IVDs) infection and its association with cervical IVDs degeneration in rats. A total of 75 clean grade male rats were used to establish the corresponding animal models of low and high virulent bacterial cervical disc infection via an anterior cervical approach, with injection of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S.

The Effect of Infection on Nerve Penetration in the Annulus Fibrosus of Lumbar Intervertebral Discs via Suppressing Oxidative Stress.

Modic changes (MCs) and low back pain are highly correlated and an economic burden to the society. Previous studies have shown that () infection can lead to MCs. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether and how contributes to oxidative stress and nerve growth that potentially leads to low back pain.

Destabilization of macrophage migration inhibitory factor by 4-IPP reduces NF-κB/P-TEFb complex-mediated c-Myb transcription to suppress osteosarcoma tumourigenesis.

Background: As an inflammatory factor and oncogenic driver protein, the pleiotropic cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) plays a crucial role in the osteosarcoma microenvironment. Although 4-iodo-6-phenylpyrimidine (4-IPP) can inactivate MIF biological functions, its anti-osteosarcoma effect and molecular mechanisms have not been investigated. In this study, we identified the MIF inhibitor 4-IPP as a specific double-effector drug for osteosarcoma with both anti-tumour and anti-osteoclastogenic functions.

The Role of Hounsfield Unit in Intraoperative Endplate Violation and Delayed Cage Subsidence with Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical case series.

Objectives: To investigate the risk factors for intraoperative endplate violations and delayed cage subsidence after oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) surgery. Secondly, to examine whether low Hounsfield unit (HU) values at different regions of the endplate are associated with intraoperative endplate violation or delayed cage subsidence.

EIF4A3-induced circular RNA PRKAR1B promotes osteosarcoma progression by miR-361-3p-mediated induction of FZD4 expression.

Emerging evidence indicates that circRNAs are broadly expressed in osteosarcoma (OS) cells and play a crucial role in OS progression. Recently, cancer-specific circRNA circPRKAR1B has been identified by high-throughput sequencing and is recorded in publicly available databases. Nevertheless, the detailed functions and underlying mechanisms of circPRKAR1B in OS remains poorly understood.

Hemin-induced increase in saponin content contributes to the alleviation of osmotic and cold stress damage to in a heme oxygenase 1-dependent manner.

Hemin can improve the stress resistance of plants through the heme oxygenase system. Additionally, substances contained in plants, such as secondary metabolites, can improve stress resistance. However, few studies have explored the effects of hemin on secondary metabolite content.

Poor Bone Quality, Multilevel Surgery, and Narrow and Tall Cages Are Associated with Intraoperative Endplate Injuries and Late-onset Cage Subsidence in Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Systematic Review.

Background: A major complication of lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is cage subsidence, which may lead to clinical problems, including loss of disc height correction, altered spinal alignment, recurrent pain, and vertebral body fracture. A thorough review of the current knowledge about the risk factors for the two types of cage subsidence after LLIF-intraoperative endplate injury and late-onset cage subsidence-could bring attention to well-established risk factors for clinical consideration while identifying any incompletely characterized factors that require further research to clarify.

Questions/purposes: We performed a systematic review to answer the following questions: (1) Are bone quality and surrogates for bone quality, such as patient age and sex, associated with an increased likelihood of cage subsidence? (2) Are implant-related factors associated with an increased likelihood of cage subsidence?

Methods: Two independent reviewers comprehensively searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science from 1997 to 2020 to identify all potential risk factors for cage subsidence after LLIF.

The correlation between the change of Hounsfield units value and Modic changes in the lumbar vertebral endplate.

Objectives: To evaluate the changes of Hounsfield units (HU) value in different types of Modic changes (MCs) and to analyze the correlation between the change of HU value and area ratio of MCs region, bone mineral density (BMD), and degree of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Methods: One hundred fifty-eight endplates with MCs were included and analyzed. HU values of MCs regions and adjacent vertebral corresponding regions without MCs were measured.

Ligand based 3D-QSAR model, pharmacophore, molecular docking and ADME to identify potential fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 inhibitors.

The FGF/FGFR system may affect tumor cells and stromal microenvironment through autocrine and paracrine stimulation, thereby significantly promoting oncogene transformation and tumor growth. Abnormal expression of FGFR1 in cells is considered to be the main cause of tumorigenesis and a potential target for the treatment of cancer. In this study, a combination of structure-based drug carriers and molecular docking-based virtual screening was used to screen new potential FGFR1 inhibitors.

Site-1 protease controls osteoclastogenesis by mediating LC3 transcription.

Site-1 protease (S1P) is a Golgi-located protein that activates unique membrane-bound latent transcription factors, and it plays an indispensable role in endoplasmic reticulum stress, lipid metabolism, inflammatory response and lysosome function. A patient with S1P mutation exhibits severe skeletal dysplasia with kyphoscoliosis, dysmorphic facial features and pectus carinatum. However, whether S1P regulates bone remodeling by affecting osteoclastogenesis remains elusive.

Enhanced antioxidant capacity and upregulated transporter genes contribute to the UV-B-induced increase in blinin in Conyza blinii.

Conyza blinii (C. blinii) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant mainly grown in Sichuan, China. C.

Green and high-yield synthesis of carbon dots for ratiometric fluorescent determination of pH and enzyme reactions.

In this work, the carbon dots (CDs) were prepared by one-pot hydrothermal method with chitosan as a carbon source and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant, this route is a novel, simple and green. The prepared CDs has a relatively high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) (18.9%) and good water solubility.