Piezo1 exacerbates inflammation-induced cartilaginous endplate degeneration by activating mitochondrial fission via the Ca/CaMKII/Drp1 axis.

Mitochondrial homeostasis plays a crucial role in degenerative joint diseases, including cartilaginous endplate (CEP) degeneration. To date, research into mitochondrial dynamics in IVDD is at an early stage. Since Piezo1 is a novel Ca-permeable channel, we asked whether Piezo1 could modulate mitochondrial fission through Ca signalling during CEP degeneration.

Postoperative early initiation of sequential exercise program in preventing persistent spinal pain syndrome type-2 after modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: This prospective randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the impact of early postoperative sequential motor control (starting first day post-operatively) and core stabilization training (starting fifth week post-operatively) compared to conventional exercise (starting fifth weeks post-operatively) on the risk of developing persistent spinal pain syndrome type-2 (PSPS-T2).

Methods: 395 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases (LDDs) undergoing modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and a 12-week postoperative exercise program (sequential vs. conventional exercise: 214 vs.

ROS-Responsive Injectable Hydrogel Loaded with SLC7A11-modRNA Inhibits Ferroptosis and Mitigates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Rats.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is the primary cause of low back pain, with oxidative stress being a recognized factor that causes its development. Presently, low back pain imposes a significant global economic burden. However, the effectiveness of treatments for IVDD remains extremely limited.

Transglutaminase-Cross-Linked Tofu Suppressed Soybean-Induced Allergic Reactions by Enhancing Intestinal Mucosa Immune Tolerance.

Currently, food allergies are closely related to intestinal health, and ensuring the integrity and health of intestinal mucosa could reduce the incidence of food allergies. In this study, a soybean-allergic mouse model was used to explore the mechanism of intestinal mucosa immune response induced by enzyme-cross-linked tofu. The effects of enzyme-cross-linked tofu on intestinal mucosal immunity in mice were determined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and flow cytometry.

A Novel Cervical Sagittal Classification for Asymptomatic Population Based on Cluster Analysis.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objective: To propose a novel cervical sagittal classification for asymptomatic people so as to deepen the understanding of cervical sagittal alignment.

Summary Of Background Data: Cervical spine sagittal morphology varies in people.

C4 constant vertebra: a novel benchmark of physiological cervical sagittal alignment.

Background: Cervical sagittal alignment is essential, and there is considerable debate as to what constitutes physiological sagittal alignment. The purpose of this study was to identify constant parameters for characterizing cervical sagittal alignment under physiological conditions.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which asymptomatic subjects were recruited to undergo lateral cervical spine radiographs.

The role of leisure-time physical activity in maintaining cervical lordosis after anterior cervical fusion and its impact on the motor function in patients with hirayama disease: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Surgical treatment has been increasingly performed in Hirayama disease (HD) patients to limit excessive neck flexion and restore cervical lordosis. However, postoperative recurrence of cervical lordosis loss may restart the progress of HD. Many studies have demonstrated a relationship between neck muscle strength and cervical lordosis, and it is widely accepted that leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) can increase muscle strength.

Association of joint hypermobility with range of cervical motion and its impact on the motor unit loss in patients with Hirayama disease.

Introduction/aims: Some patients with Hirayama disease (HD) may have generalized joint hypermobility (GJH), which may excessively increase cervical range of motion (ROM) and then worsen the HD. The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency of GJH in HD patients and to analyze the effect of GJH on cervical ROM and the severity of HD.

Methods: The Beighton scoring system (≥4) was used to diagnose GJH in 84 HD patients.

Changes in Self-Esteem in Patients with Hirayama Disease and its Association with Prognosis After Anterior Cervical Fusion Procedures.

Objective: To quantify self-esteem in patients with Hirayama disease (HD) and investigate the impact of this psychosocial factor on surgical outcomes in HD.

Methods: The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) was measured in 58 patients with HD before anterior cervical fusion. These patients further underwent motor unit number estimation, handgrip strength, disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Index (BDI) before and 18 months after operation.

MSC-Derived Exosomes Ameliorate Intervertebral Disc Degeneration By Regulating the Keap1/Nrf2 Axis.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell derived exosomes (BMSC-exos) are a crucial means of intercellular communication and can regulate a range of biological processes by reducing inflammation, decreasing apoptosis and promoting tissue repair. The process of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) because of a decrease in the expression of Nrf2, a critical transcription factor that resists excessive ROS. Our study demonstrated that BMSC-exos decreased ROS production by inhibiting Keap1 and promoting Nrf2 expression, attenuating the apoptosis, inflammation, and degeneration of nucelus pulposus (NP) cells.

N6-methyladenosine hypomethylation of circGPATCH2L regulates DNA damage and apoptosis through TRIM28 in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs that have been found to be involved in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) progression, and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) broadly exists in circRNAs. Here, we identified circGPATCH2L with a low m6A methylation level to be upregulated in degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues. Mechanistically, as a protein decoy for tripartite motif containing 28 (TRIM28) within aa 402-452 region, circGPATCH2L abrogates the phosphorylation of TRIM28 and inhibits P53 degradation, which contributes to DNA damage accumulation and cellular apoptosis and leads to IVDD progression.

Use of MRI-based vertebral bone quality score (VBQ) of S1 body in bone mineral density assessment for patients with lumbar degenerative diseases.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of the modified and simplified vertebral bone quality (VBQ) method based on T1-weighted MRI images of S1 vertebrae in assessing bone mineral density (BMD) for patients with lumbar degenerative diseases.

Methods: We reviewed the preoperative data of patients with lumbar degenerative diseases undergoing lumbar spine surgery between January 2019 and June 2022 with available non-contrast T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) images and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). S1 vertebral bone quality scores (S1 VBQ) and S1 CT Hounsfield units were measured with picture archiving and communication system (PACS).

Sulforaphane Delays Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Alleviating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Nucleus Pulposus Cells via Activating Nrf-2/HO-1.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is one of the main causes of low back pain, which brings heavy burdens to individuals and society. The mechanism of IVDD is complex and diverse. One of the important reasons is that the abnormal accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) leads to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), which causes increased apoptosis of NPCs.

A case report of an endometriosis cyst at cesarean scar defect and review of literature.

Background: Cesarean scar defect (CSD) presents as a cystic defect that connects the uterine cavity at the site of the previous cesarean section (CS). Endometriosis refers to the discovery of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Cases of endometriosis cysts at CSD have not been reported.

Efficacy of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Female Patients with Hirayama Disease.

Objective: To compare the preoperative and postoperative hand function and radiographic parameters in female patients with Hirayama disease (HD).

Methods: Consecutive female patients with HD undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion were followed up. The postoperative hand functional data were obtained from the last follow-up, whereas the postoperative radiographic data were obtained from the examinations in 3- or 6-month follow-up after surgical treatments.

Altered central pain processing assessed by quantitative sensory testing in patients with failed back surgery syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the presence of altered central pain processing in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) using quantitative sensory testing (QST).

Methods: This study included 34 patients with FBSS, 102 patients post-lumbar surgery without low back pain (LBP), and 102 healthy subjects. All subjects underwent both pressure pain threshold (PPT) and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in both local and remote pain-free areas, as well as temporal summation (TS) in a remote pain-free area.

Can preoperative cervical spinal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) indices predict surgical outcomes in patients with Hirayama disease? A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery can effectively prevent disease progression in patients with Hirayama disease (HD) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can quantitatively assess spinal cord function. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between preoperative spinal DTI indices and the clinical outcomes of patients with HD when treated by ACDF.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 35 HD patients treated by ACDF.

Gut microbiota: A target for prebiotics and probiotics in the intervention and therapy of food allergy.

Food allergy has become a major public health problem all over the world. Evidence showed that allergic reactions induced by food proteins often lead to disturbances in the gut microbiota (symbiotic bacteria). Gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining the balance between intestinal immune tolerance and allergic reactions.

Comparison of time-dependent resistance isometric exercise and active range of motion exercise in alleviating the sensitization of postoperative axial pain after cervical laminoplasty.

Background: Postoperative axial pain (PAP) is a significant complication after cervical laminoplasty.

Objective: To investigate pain sensitization in PAP patients and effects of time-dependent resistance isometric exercise compared to active range-of-motion exercise on PAP.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

The radiological and electrophysiological characteristics of Hirayama disease with proximal involvement: A retrospective study.

Purpose: Hirayama disease (HD) has been largely believed to affect only distal muscles. However, the proximal upper extremities have been affected in some cases, which can be confused with motor neuron diseases.

Methods: Baseline data, deep tendon reflex, Hoffmann sign, cervical curvature, sagittal Cobb angle, atrophied spinal cord, high signal intensity, loss of attachment, and affected muscles and segments on electromyography (EMG) were retrospectively obtained and compared between patients with HD with proximal involvement and patients with simple distal HD in one center from September 2007 to April 2022.