Two-step evolution of HIV-1 budding system leading to pandemic in the human population.

The pandemic HIV-1, HIV-1 group M, emerged from a single spillover event of its ancestral lentivirus from a chimpanzee. During human-to-human spread worldwide, HIV-1 diversified into multiple subtypes. Here, our interdisciplinary investigation mainly sheds light on the evolutionary scenario of the viral budding system of HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C), a most successfully spread subtype.

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) optimally regulates the HIV-1 uncoating process.

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) attaches to target cells and releases the capsid, an essential component of the viral core that contains viral RNA, into the cytoplasm. After invading target cells, the core structure gradually collapses. The timing of the disassembly of the HIV-1 capsid is essential for efficient viral cDNA synthesis and transport into the nucleus.

Surgical outcomes and risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with cervical spine metastasis: a prospective study.

Background: Few studies have addressed the impact of palliative surgery for cervical spine metastasis on patients' performance status (PS) and quality of life (QOL). We investigated the surgical outcomes of patients with cervical spine metastasis and the risk factors for a poor outcome with a focus on the PS and QOL.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed patients with cervical spine metastasis who underwent palliative surgery from 2013 to 2018.

Inhibition of Autophagy at Different Stages by ATG5 Knockdown and Chloroquine Supplementation Enhances Consistent Human Disc Cellular Apoptosis and Senescence Induction rather than Extracellular Matrix Catabolism.

The intervertebral disc is the largest avascular organ. Autophagy is an important cell survival mechanism by self-digestion and recycling damaged components under stress, primarily nutrient deprivation. Resident cells would utilize autophagy to cope with the harsh disc environment.

Prospective cohort study of surgical outcome for spinal metastases in patients aged 70 years or older.

Aims: With recent progress in cancer treatment, the number of advanced-age patients with spinal metastases has been increasing. It is important to clarify the influence of advanced age on outcomes following surgery for spinal metastases, especially with a focus on subjective health state values.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed 101 patients with spinal metastases who underwent palliative surgery from 2013 to 2016.

Delayed notochordal cell disappearance through integrin α5β1 mechanotransduction during ex-vivo dynamic loading-induced intervertebral disc degeneration.

The loss of nucleus pulposus (NP) notochordal cells is one of the key initial hallmarks of age-related intervertebral disc degeneration. Although the transmembrane mechanoreceptor integrin α5β1 is important in the process of disc degeneration, the relationship between integrin α5β1 and notochordal cell disappearance remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of integrin α5β1 in the homeostasis of notochordal cells using an ex-vivo dynamic loading culture system that we developed.

A novel topical treatment for bone metastases using a gelatin hydrogel incorporating cisplatin as a sustained release system.

Management of bone metastasis is becoming increasingly important. Thus, local and systemic treatment options have been developed for control. Although systemic administration of anticancer agents is effective for bone metastasis, it is often stopped because of poor general conditions or side effects.

Improved bone bonding of hydroxyapatite spacers with a high porosity in a quantitative computed tomography-image pixel analysis: A prospective 1-year comparative study of the consecutive cohort undergoing double-door cervical laminoplasty.

Laminoplasty using hydroxyapatite (HA) spacers is widely performed in patients with cervical myelopathy. However, spacer dislocation is a critical complication caused by bone absorption and inadequate bone conductivity, and can result in dural damage and restenosis. We thus designed a prospective cohort study to clarify the feasibility of increased porosity HA spacers for double-door laminoplasty by analyzing computed tomography (CT) images.

Reduced nucleotomy-induced intervertebral disc disruption through spontaneous spheroid formation by the Low Adhesive Scaffold Collagen (LASCol).

Back pain is a global health problem with a high morbidity and socioeconomic burden. Intervertebral disc herniation and degeneration are its primary cause, further associated with neurological radiculopathy, myelopathy, and paralysis. The current surgical treatment is principally discectomy, resulting in the loss of spinal movement and shock absorption.

Quality of life and cost-utility of surgical treatment for patients with spinal metastases: prospective cohort study.

Purpose: Palliative surgery for patients with spinal metastasis provides good clinical outcomes. However, there have been few studies on quality of life (QOL) and cost-utility of this surgery. We aimed to elucidate QOL and cost-utility of surgical treatment for spinal metastasis.

Expression of adiponectin receptors in human and rat intervertebral disc cells and changes in receptor expression during disc degeneration using a rat tail temporary static compression model.

Background: Adipose tissue is a large endocrine organ known to secret adiponectin, which has anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Adiponectin is widely involved in systemic disease, diabetes mellitus, and cardiac infraction. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of adiponectin in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration.

Prospective Cohort Study of Performance Status and Activities of Daily Living After Surgery for Spinal Metastasis.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study of performance status (PS) and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with spinal metastasis.

Objective: To identify the effect of spinal surgery on PS and ADL in patients with spinal metastasis.

Summary Of Background Data: Spinal metastasis causes severe neurological deficits, resulting in drastic loss of patients' PS and ADL.

Surgical debridement with retention of spinal instrumentation and long-term antimicrobial therapy for multidrug-resistant surgical site infections after spinal surgery: a case series.

Purpose: Post-operative surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most significant complications after instrumented spinal surgery. However, implant retention feasibility for early-onset multidrug-resistant SSI is still controversial. We aimed to verify our therapeutic strategy, surgical debridement with implant retention and long-term antimicrobial therapy for post-operative early-onset multidrug-resistant SSI.

Recombinant human SIRT1 protects against nutrient deprivation-induced mitochondrial apoptosis through autophagy induction in human intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells.

Introduction: Nutrient deprivation is a likely contributor to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Silent mating type information regulator 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) protects cells against limited nutrition by modulation of apoptosis and autophagy. However, little evidence exists regarding the extent to which SIRT1 affects IVD cells.

Functional impact of integrin α5β1 on the homeostasis of intervertebral discs: a study of mechanotransduction pathways using a novel dynamic loading organ culture system.

Background Context: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, a major cause of low back pain, is considered to be induced by daily mechanical loading. Mechanical stress is widely known to affect cell survival and extracellular matrix metabolism in many cell types. Although the involvement of integrin α5β1 transmembrane mechanoreceptor in IVD degeneration has been reported, the precise function of integrin α5β1 remains obscure.

Notochordal cell disappearance and modes of apoptotic cell death in a rat tail static compression-induced disc degeneration model.

Introduction: The intervertebral disc has a complex structure originating developmentally from both the mesenchyme and notochord. Notochordal cells disappear during adolescence, which is also when human discs begin to show degenerative signs. During degeneration later in life, disc cells decline because of apoptosis.

A rat tail temporary static compression model reproduces different stages of intervertebral disc degeneration with decreased notochordal cell phenotype.

The intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus (NP) has two phenotypically distinct cell types-notochordal cells (NCs) and non-notochordal chondrocyte-like cells. In human discs, NCs are lost during adolescence, which is also when discs begin to show degenerative signs. However, little evidence exists regarding the link between NC disappearance and the pathogenesis of disc degeneration.

Efficacy of hemostasis for epidural venous plexus and safety for neural structure using soft coagulation system in spinal surgery: a laboratory investigation using a porcine model.

Study Design: A laboratory investigation using porcine model.

Objective: To clarify the effectiveness of the soft coagulation system for stopping bleeding from the epidural vein using different outputs and the safety in terms of tissue damage including spinal cord injury.

Summary Of Background Data: Problems associated with coagulation using an electrosurgical device, such as carbonization of tissue or adhesion to the electrode, have been highlighted.

Fas ligand plays an important role for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells.

It is suggested that pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are produced by interaction of the intervertebral nucleus pulposus cells and macrophages, may be linked to the cause of pain of the intervertebral disc herniation. This study carries out the in vitro experiments to examine the mechanism, with the use of the co-culture of an immortalized cell line of nucleus pulposus of the human intervertebral disc and the macrophage cell line. As a result, it is found that the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is significantly larger at the co-culture group than at the independent culture group.

Rat tail static compression model mimics extracellular matrix metabolic imbalances of matrix metalloproteinases, aggrecanases, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Introduction: The longitudinal degradation mechanism of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the interbertebral disc remains unclear. Our objective was to elucidate catabolic and anabolic gene expression profiles and their balances in intervertebral disc degeneration using a static compression model.

Methods: Forty-eight 12-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rat tails were instrumented with an Ilizarov-type device with springs and loaded statically at 1.

Intervertebral disc and macrophage interaction induces mechanical hyperalgesia and cytokine production in a herniated disc model in rats.

Objective: The expression of proinflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2) ) is significantly correlated with the symptoms of herniated disc disease. Among the different types of immune cells, macrophages are frequently noted in the herniated disc tissue. We undertook this study to clarify the interaction of the intervertebral disc (IVD) and macrophages with regard to the production of TNFα, IL-6, IL-8, and PGE(2) .

Expression of silent mating type information regulator 2 homolog 1 and its role in human intervertebral disc cell homeostasis.

Introduction: Intervertebral disc tissue homeostasis is modulated by a variety of molecules. Silent mating type information regulator 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) plays a key role in various physiological processes. The aim of the present study was to verify the expression of SIRT1 and determine SIRT1 function in human intervertebral disc cell homeostasis.

Capability of nondegenerated and degenerated discs in producing inflammatory agents with or without macrophage interaction.

Study Design: Molecular biological and immunohistological examinations.

Objective: To clarify whether nondegenerated and degenerated discs produce inflammatory agents such as prostaglandin (PG)E2, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, which have been reported to play pivotal roles in lumbar disc diseases, in the presence or absence of macrophages.

Summary Of Background Data: A recent study reported discogenic low back pain might be caused by annular disruption followed by vascularized granulation formation extending from the outer layer of the annulus fibrosus into the nucleus pulposus along the torn fissure.

Modified house-keeping gene expression in a rat tail compression loading-induced disc degeneration model.

House-keeping genes (HKGs) are generally used as endogenous controls for molecular normalization in quantitative PCR analysis. However, whether all the so-called HKGs are useful for intervertebral disc research is controversial. Our objective was, using a prevalidated rat tail static compression loading-induced disc degeneration model, to clarify the feasibility of common HKGs for gene-quantification in the nucleus pulposus cells.