Calcific discitis with giant thoracic disc herniations in adults.

Purpose: Calcific discitis is a self-limiting process most commonly seen in the cervical spine of children. Rare literature exists regarding the natural history and management of this condition in adults, especially when it presents as a giant thoracic disc herniation into the spinal canal. Giant herniations in the thoracic spine are typically surgically removed to reduce the chance of permanent neurologic deficit from spinal cord compression.

Rebalancing Redox to Improve Biobutanol Production by .

Biobutanol is a sustainable green biofuel that can substitute for gasoline. Carbon flux has been redistributed in via metabolic cell engineering to produce biobutanol. However, the lack of reducing power hampered the further improvement of butanol production.

Cascade Mn-Mediated γ-Alkylation/oxa-Michael Addition of Enones with 1,3-Dicarbonyls.

A radical-based strategy for regioselective γ-C-C bond formation/oxa-conjugate addition, forming the tetrahydrobenzofuran core common to many bioactive natural products is described. The technique utilizes readily available enone derivatives and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds as coupling partners in an oxidative formal [3+2] cycloaddition mediated by Mn(III) . The transformation delivers polycyclic products in good yields and proceeds with complete regiocontrol and excellent stereoselectivity.

Recombinant expression, purification, and characterization of an acyl-CoA binding protein from Aspergillus oryzae.

Objectives: To characterize biochemically the lipid metabolism-regulating acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) from the industrially-important fungus Aspergillus oryzae.

Results: A full-length cDNA encoding a candidate ACBP from A. oryzae (AoACBP) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli as a maltose-binding protein (MBP) fusion protein.

RpoS differentially affects the general stress response and biofilm formation in the endophytic Serratia plymuthica G3.

The σ(S) subunit RpoS of RNA polymerase functions as a master regulator of the general stress response in Escherichia coli and related bacteria. RpoS has been reported to modulate biocontrol properties in the rhizobacterium Serratia plymuthica IC1270. However, the role of RpoS in the stress response and biofilm formation in S.

Carbamazepine Withdrawal-induced Hyperalgesia in Chronic Neuropathic Pain.

Combined pharmacological treatments are the most used approach for neuropathic pain. Carbamazepine, an antiepileptic agent, is generally used as a third-line treatment for neuropathic pain and can be considered an option only when patients have not responded to the first- and second-line medications. In the case presented herein, a patient with neuropathic pain was treated using a combined pharmacological regimen.

Lumbar Disk Herniation in Children and Adolescents: The Significance of Configurations of the Lumbar Spine.

Background: Lumbar disk herniation in adults is thought to be caused by repetitive overloading and age-rated degenerative changes. However, these causes are absent in children and adolescent patients. We assume that structural malformations in the lumbar spine could predispose intervertebral disks to early degeneration and hence need to be surgically fused.

Advanced Lung Cancer Is Associated with Decreased Expression of Perforin, CD95, CD38 by Circulating CD3+CD8+ T Lymphocytes.

It is known that dysregulation of the immune system is closely related to the development of lung cancer and that CD8+T lymphocytes play a critical role in antitumor immunity. We analyzed the percentage of CD3+CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood, and expressions of the activated molecules, perforin, CD95, CD28, HLA-DR and CD38 in circulating CD3+CD8+ T cells from 68 lung cancer cases with stage I∼II and 61 lung cancer cases with stage III∼IV by flow cytometry. 61 lung cancer cases with stage III∼IV were followed up for more than 6 months and survival time was recorded.

XRCC1 rs25487 genetic variant and TP53 mutation at codon 249 predict clinical outcomes of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy: A cohort study for 10 years' follow up.

Aim: To investigate the effects of rs25487 (the DNA repair gene: x-ray repair complementing defective repair in Chinese hamster cells 1 [XRCC1]) and codon 249 mutation (TP53 gene) on clinical outcomes of post-hepatectomy hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC.

Methods: The XRCC1 rs25487 polymorphism and TP53 mutation at codon 249 of 485 hepatitis B surface antigen positive patients subjected to hepatectomy were genotyped via direct sequencing. SPSS software version 16.

The Impaired Function of Macrophages Induced by Strenuous Exercise Could Not Be Ameliorated by BCAA Supplementation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of strenuous exercise on the functions of peritoneal macrophages in rats and to test the hypothesis that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation will be beneficial to the macrophages of rats from strenuous exercise. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: (C) Control, E) Exercise, (E1) Exercise with one week to recover, (ES) Exercise + Supplementation and (ES1) Exercise + Supplementation with 1 week to recover. All rats except those of the sedentary control were subjected to four weeks of strenuous exercise.

A bladder cancer microenvironment simulation system based on a microfluidic co-culture model.

A tumor microenvironment may promote tumor metastasis and progression through the dynamic interplay between neoplastic cells and stromal cells. In this work, the most representative and significant stromal cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and macrophages were used as vital component elements and combined with bladder cancer cells to construct a bladder cancer microenvironment simulation system. This is the first report to explore bladder cancer microenvironments based on 4 types of cells co-cultured simultaneously.

Different Approaches for Treating Multilevel Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Retrospective Study of 153 Cases from a Single Spinal Center.

Objective: The optimal surgical treatment for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM) remains controversial. This study compared the outcomes of three surgical approaches for MSCM treatment, focusing on the efficacy and safety of a combined approach.

Methods: This retrospective study included 153 consecutive MCSM patients (100 men, 53 women; mean age ± standard deviation, 55.

Inhibition of oleandrin on the proliferation show and invasion of osteosarcoma cells in vitro by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a high-grade bone sarcoma with early metastasis potential, and the clinical chemotherapy drugs that are currently used for its treatment have some limitations. Recently, several studies have reported the selective antitumor effect of oleandrin on various tumor cells. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects and underlying mechanisms of oleandrin on OS cells.

Association between COX-2 gene polymorphisms and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To investigate the association between cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) polymorphism and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of COX-2 polymorphism and risk of HCC development among people with or without HCC.

Data Sources: EMBASE, PubMed, Public Library of Science, SCOPUS, Web of Knowledge and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for all clinical and experimental case-control studies of COX-2 polymorphism and HCC risk.

Multicopper oxidase-1 is required for iron homeostasis in Malpighian tubules of Helicoverpa armigera.

Multicopper oxidases (MCOs) are enzymes that contain 10 conserved histidine residues and 1 cysteine residue. MCO1 has been extensively investigated in the midgut because this MCO is implicated in ascorbate oxidation, iron homeostasis and immune responses. However, information regarding the action of MCO1 in Malpighian tubules is limited.

Increased Tim-3 expression in peripheral NK cells predicts a poorer prognosis and Tim-3 blockade improves NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in human lung adenocarcinoma.

T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) has been shown to play an important role in mediating NK-cell function in human diseases. However, the relationship between Tim-3 expression in natural killer (NK) cells and human lung adenocarcinoma remains unclear. We therefore investigated the expression of Tim-3 in NK cells and explored the effect of Tim-3 blockade on NK cell-mediated activity in human lung adenocarcinoma.

Regulation of GacA in Pseudomonas chlororaphis Strains Shows a Niche Specificity.

The GacS/GacA two-component system plays a central role in the regulation of a broad range of biological functions in many bacteria. In the biocontrol organism Pseudomonas chlororaphis, the Gac system has been shown to positively control quorum sensing, biofilm formation, and phenazine production, but has an overall negative impact on motility. These studies have been performed with strains originated from the rhizosphere predominantly.

Synthesis and Photoluminescent Properties of Nanorod Bundle Ln4O(OH)9NO3:Eu(Ln = Y, Lu) Prepared by Hydrothermal Method.

Well-crystallized nanorod bundles Ln4O(OH)9NO3:1%Eu(Ln = Y, Lu) have been successfully prepared by hydrothermal method. The crystalline phase, size and optical properties were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), infrared (IR) spectrograph and photoluminescent (PL) spectra. Site occupations of Eu3+ in crystals Ln4O(OH)9NO3:Eu(Ln = Y, Lu) were discussed based on excitation spectra and the empirical relationship formula between the charge transfer (CT) energy and the environmental factor.

A circumferential decompression-based surgical strategy for multilevel ossification of thoracic posterior longitudinal ligament.

Background Context: Multilevel ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) at thoracic spine can be simultaneously symptomatic. Different approaches for thoracic decompression have been reported, among which circumferential decompression (CD) seems promising but is invasive, so methods to find approaches indicating levels for CD are also important.

Purpose: This study aimed to introduce a CD-based surgical strategy for multilevel thoracic OPLL and describe its clinical outcomes.

Reconstruction of the Upper Cervical Spine Using a Personalized 3D-Printed Vertebral Body in an Adolescent With Ewing Sarcoma.

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: To describe a three-dimensional (3D) printed axial vertebral body used in upper cervical spine reconstruction after a C2 Ewing sarcoma resection in an adolescent boy.

Summary Of Background Data: Ewing sarcoma is a malignant musculoskeletal neoplasm with a peak incidence in adolescents.

Limited Unilateral Decompression and Pedicle Screw Fixation with Fusion for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with Unilateral Radiculopathy: A Retrospective Analysis of 25 Cases.

Objective: Lumbar spinal stenosis is conventionally treated with surgical decompression. However, bilateral decompression and laminectomy is more invasive and may not be necessary for lumbar stenosis patients with unilateral radiculopathy. We aimed to report the outcomes of unilateral laminectomy and bilateral pedicle screw fixation with fusion for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and unilateral radiculopathy.

Development of a Universal Safety Behavior Management System for Coal Mine Workers.

Background: In China, over 80% of all work-related deaths in the mining industry occur in coal mines and human factors constitute 85% of the direct causes of coal mine accidents, which indicates that significant shortcomings currently exist in the safety behavior management of Chinese coal mine workers. We aimed to verify the impact of human psychological behavior in coal mine accidents systematically through experimental study, theoretical analysis and management application.

Methods: Four test instruments (Sensory and cognitive capacity test, Sixteen-Personal Factor Questionnaire, Symptom Checklist 90 Questionnaire and the supervisors' evaluation) were employed from November 2013 to June 2014 to identify unsafe behavior factors, the self-established Questionnaire of Safety Behavior Norms (QSBN) was also used to propose the safety behavior countermeasures of coal mine employees.

Molecular simulations study of novel 1,4-dihydropyridines derivatives with a high selectivity for Cav3.1 calcium channel.

1,4-Dihydropyridines (DHPs) have been developed to treat hypertension, angina, and nerve system disease. They are thought to mainly target the L-type calcium channels, but low selectivity prompts them to block Cav1.2 and Cav3.

A systematic review of complications in thoracic spine surgery for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Purpose: To answer two questions: (1) what are the common complications associated with surgery for thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, and (2) which surgical approach is safer with regard to the incidence of post-operative complications.

Methods: Relevant literature searches were performed using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, EMBASE, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, KoreaMed, and the Japan CentraRevuoMedicina.

Results: 15 studies met the inclusion criteria and were retrieved.