Droplet-based 3D bioprinting for drug delivery and screening.

Recently, the conventional criterion of "one-size-fits-all" is not qualified for each individual patient, requiring precision medicine for enhanced therapeutic effects. Besides, drug screening is a high-cost and time-consuming process which requires innovative approaches to facilitate drug development rate. Benefiting from consistent technical advances in 3D bioprinting techniques, droplet-based 3D bioprinting techniques have been broadly utilized in pharmaceutics due to the noncontact printing mechanism and precise control on the deposition position of droplets.

Palmitic acid induces β-cell ferroptosis by activating ceramide signaling pathway.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus frequently display heightened levels of palmitic acid (PA) in their serum, which may lead to β-cell damage. The involvement of ferroptosis, a form of oxidative cell death in lipotoxic β-cell injury remains uncertain. Here, we have shown that PA induces intracellular lipid peroxidation, increases intracellular Fe content and decreases intracellular glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression.

Unraveling the mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration: an exploration of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is a worldwide spinal degenerative disease. Low back pain (LBP) is frequently caused by a variety of conditions brought on by IDD, including IVD herniation and spinal stenosis, These conditions bring substantial physical and psychological pressure and economic burden to patients. IDD is closely tied with the structural or functional changes of the IVD tissue and can be caused by various complex factors like senescence, genetics, and trauma.

Surgical Treatment of Brucellar Cervical Epidural Abscess.

Objectives: Brucellar cervical epidural abscess (CEA) is a rare condition with potentially permanent neurological damage if left untreated. This study aims to define the clinical presentation of brucellar CEA and evaluate the outcome of surgical treatment, specifically decompression and fusion surgery. The findings will contribute to understanding whether all patients with brucellar CEA could benefit from this surgical intervention.

Dual-response of multi-functional microsphere system to ultrasound and microenvironment for enhanced bone defect treatment.

Using bone tissue engineering strategies to achieve bone defect repair is a promising modality. However, the repair process outcomes are often unsatisfactory. Here we properly designed a multi-functional microsphere system, which could deliver bioactive proteins under the dual response of ultrasound and microenvironment, release microenvironment-responsive products on demand, reverse bone injury microenvironment, regulate the immune microenvironment, and achieve excellent bone defect treatment outcomes.

Latest advances: Improving the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of PEEK materials.

Excellent biocompatibility, mechanical properties, chemical stability, and elastic modulus close to bone tissue make polyetheretherketone (PEEK) a promising orthopedic implant material. However, biological inertness has hindered the clinical applications of PEEK. The immune responses and inflammatory reactions after implantation would interfere with the osteogenic process.

Pathogenesis and therapeutic implications of matrix metalloproteinases in intervertebral disc degeneration: A comprehensive review.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is a common disorder that affects the spine and is a major cause of lower back pain (LBP). The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the structural foundation of the biomechanical properties of IVD, and its degradation is the main pathological characteristic of IDD. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of endopeptidases that play an important role in the degradation and remodeling of the ECM.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Skipped Multifocal Spinal Tuberculosis Lesions.

Spinal tuberculosis, also known as Pott's disease or tuberculous spondylitis, is usually secondary to primary infection in the lungs or other systems, and in most instances, is thought to be transmitted via blood. Typical manifestations of infection include narrowing of the intervertebral disc by erosion and bone destruction of adjacent vertebrae. Atypical spinal tuberculosis is a specific type of spinal tuberculosis.

Status and Risk Factors in Patients Requiring Unplanned Intensive Care Unit Readmission Within 48 Hours: A Retrospective Propensity-Matched Study in China.

Aim: This study investigated the current status and related risk factors of 48-hour unplanned return to the intensive care unit (ICU) to reduce the return rate and improve the quality of critical care management.

Methods: Data were collected from 2365 patients discharged from the comprehensive ICU. Multivariate and 1:1 propensity score matching analyses were performed.

ROS-responsive magnesium-containing microspheres for antioxidative treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a degenerative disease characterized by lower-back pain, causing disability globally. Antioxidant therapy is currently considered one of the most promising strategies for IVDD treatment, given the crucial role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in IVDD pathogenesis. Herein, a ROS-responsive magnesium-containing microsphere (Mg@PLPE MS) was constructed for the antioxidative treatment of IVDD.

Recent advances in nanomaterials for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are devastating. In SCIs, a powerful traumatic force impacting the spinal cord results in the permanent loss of nerve function below the injury level, leaving the patient paralyzed and wheelchair-bound for the remainder of his/her life. Unfortunately, clinical treatment that depends on surgical decompression appears to be unable to handle damaged nerves, and high-dose methylprednisolone-based therapy is also associated with problems, such as infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, femoral head necrosis, obesity, and hyperglycemia.

Strategies to improve bioactive and antibacterial properties of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) for use as orthopedic implants.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has gradually become the mainstream material for preparing orthopedic implants due to its similar elastic modulus to human bone, high strength, excellent wear resistance, radiolucency, and biocompatibility. Since the 1990s, PEEK has increasingly been used in orthopedics. Yet, the widespread application of PEEK is limited by its bio-inertness, hydrophobicity, and susceptibility to microbial infections.

Optimization of Tennis Teaching Resources and Data Visualization Based on Support Vector Machine.

In recent years, with the continuous development of machine learning technology, this technology has achieved success in many fields and activities. Therefore, using machine learning technology for fuzzy research has a good research prospect. In the development of related research, the author of this study noticed that some researchers began to use tennis machine learning technology and achieved good results.

Hydrogels in Spinal Cord Injury Repair: A Review.

Traffic accidents and falling objects are responsible for most spinal cord injuries (SCIs). SCI is characterized by high disability and tends to occur among the young, seriously affecting patients' lives and quality of life. The key aims of repairing SCI include preventing secondary nerve injury, inhibiting glial scarring and inflammatory response, and promoting nerve regeneration.

Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) causes a variety of signs and symptoms, such as low back pain (LBP), intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal stenosis, which contribute to high social and economic costs. IDD results from many factors, including genetic factors, aging, mechanical injury, malnutrition, and so on. The pathological changes of IDD are mainly composed of the senescence and apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), the progressive degeneration of extracellular matrix (ECM), the fibrosis of annulus fibrosus (AF), and the inflammatory response.

Management of granulomatous lobular mastitis: an international multidisciplinary consensus (2021 edition).

Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is a rare and chronic benign inflammatory disease of the breast. Difficulties exist in the management of GLM for many front-line surgeons and medical specialists who care for patients with inflammatory disorders of the breast. This consensus is summarized to establish evidence-based recommendations for the management of GLM.

Animal Models for Postoperative Implant-Related Spinal Infection.

Postoperative infections following implant-related spinal surgery are severe and disastrous complications for both orthopaedic surgeons and patients worldwide. They can cause neurological damage, disability, and death. To better understand the mechanism of these destructive complications and intervene in the process, further research is needed.

Finite Element Analysis of a New Type of Spinal Protection Device for the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.

Objective: To study the effectiveness of a new spinal protection device for preventing and treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) by finite element analysis (FEA).

Methods: One healthy volunteer and one patient with 1-segment lumbar vertebral compression fractures were included in this experimental study. The DICOM files of two different lumbar spiral computed tomography (CT) scans were converted into STL files, and 3D finite element models of the lumbar spine were generated for normal and L1 vertebral fracture spines.

Low-Molecular-Weight Polylysines with Excellent Antibacterial Properties and Low Hemolysis.

The steady development of bacterial resistance has become a global public health issue, and new antibacterial agents that are active against drug-resistant bacteria and less susceptible to bacterial resistance are urgently needed. Here, a series of low-molecular-weight cationic polylysines (C-PLL) with different hydrophobic end groups (C) and degrees of polymerization (PLL) was synthesized and used in antibacterial applications. All the obtained C-PLL have antibacterial activity.

Cationic amphiphilic dendrons with effective antibacterial performance.

Bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance have become a global healthcare crisis. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of cationic amphiphilic dendrons with cationic dendrons and hydrophobic alkyl chains for potential antibacterial applications. Our results showed that the antimicrobial activities of the cationic amphiphilic dendrons were highly dependent upon the length of the hydrophobic alkyl chain, whereas the number of cationic charges was less important.

Low-grade elevation of palmitate and lipopolysaccharide synergistically induced β-cell damage via inhibition of neutral ceramidase.

High concentrations of free fatty acids (FFAs) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) could lead to β-cell apoptosis and dysfunction, while low-grade elevation of FFAs or LPS, which are more common in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or obesity, have no obvious toxic effect on β-cells. Palmitate is a component closely related to metabolic disorders in FFAs. Recent studies have found that low-grade elevation of palmitate and LPS synergistically affects the sphingolipid signaling pathway by activating Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and further enhances the expression of inflammatory cytokines in immune cells.

Simulation research on the protection performance of fall protection net at the end of truck escape ramp.

Introduction: Although the fall protection net installed at the end of the truck escape ramp has a protective effect on trucks and drivers, but lacks sufficient theoretical basis and verification method.

Objectives: The primary objective of this paper was to design a fall protection net that meets the regulations and research its protection performance.

Methods: The finite-element method was used to design the overall size, material, mesh length, mesh type, shape, and supporting structure of the fall protection net installed at the end of truck escape ramp, then dummy and truck models were used to impact the fall protection net to verify the rationality of the design.

MicroRNA-140-3p alleviates intervertebral disc degeneration KLF5/N-cadherin/MDM2/Slug axis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with healing or deteriorating degenerated intervertebral disc (IVD) tissues in spinal cord diseases, including intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). IDD represents a chronic process of extracellular matrix destruction, but the relevant molecular mechanisms implicated in the regenerative effects of miRNAs are unclear. Here, we investigated the regenerative effects of microRNA-140 (miR-140-3p) in an IDD model induced by annulus needle puncture.