Exosomes Derived from Rejuvenated Stem Cells Inactivate NLRP3 Inflammasome and Pyroptosis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells via the Transfer of Antioxidants.

Background: Accumulating evidence supports the potential of exosomes as a promising therapeutic approach for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Nevertheless, enhancing the efficiency of exosome treatment remains an urgent concern. This study investigated the impact of quercetin on the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their released exosomes.

Deep learning-based automated scan plane positioning for brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Manual planning of scans in clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exhibits poor accuracy, lacks consistency, and is time-consuming. Meanwhile, classical automated scan plane positioning methods that rely on certain assumptions are not accurate or stable enough, and are computationally inefficient for practical application scenarios. This study aims to develop and evaluate an effective, reliable, and accurate deep learning-based framework that incorporates prior physical knowledge for automatic head scan plane positioning in MRI.

Separation Operation Followed by Stereotactic Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Spinal Metastasis From Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Spinal metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma is rapidly progressive and predisposes to spinal disability, cord compression and further neural injury, leading to poor prognosis. Currently, it is still challenging to look for a treatment strategy that can improve the quality of life of patients and even directly prolong the survival time.

Circular RNA profiles of osteoarthritic synovium.

Purposes: To identify the circular RNA (circRNA) expression profile in the synovium of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and explore their potential regulatory mechanism.

Methods: Transcriptome high-throughput sequencing was used to detect the expression profiles of circRNA and mRNA. We performed real-time PCR for the validation of circRNAs and used bioinformatics analysis to predict their possible biological functions.

DCAF1-targeting microRNA-3175 activates Nrf2 signaling and inhibits dexamethasone-induced oxidative injury in human osteoblasts.

Activation of nuclear-factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling can protect human osteoblasts from dexamethasone-induced oxidative injury. DDB1 and CUL4 associated factor 1 (DCAF1) is a novel ubiquitin E3 ligase for Nrf2 protein degradation. We identified a novel DCAF1-targeting miRNA, miR-3175.

Attenuation of Activated eIF2α Signaling by ISRIB Treatment After Spinal Cord Injury Improves Locomotor Function.

Following spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple signaling cascades are activated instantaneously in the injured segments of the spinal cord to create a complex and pathogenic microenvironment, making it difficult to treat SCI. Nevertheless, the significance of the integrated stress response (ISR) to the series of physiological and pathological changes that occur after SCI remains unclear. Through western blotting (WB), we determined that the autophosphorylation of stress receptors (GCN2, PERK, PKR, and HRI) was enhanced after SCI, leading to increased phosphorylation of eIF2α at Ser51.

The "slide technique"-a novel free-hand method of subaxial cervical pedicle screw placement.

Background: Cervical Pedicle Screw (CPS) placement is a challenging work due to the high risk of neurovascular complications. Although there have been several different free-hand or navigation assisted techniques for CPS placement, perforations may occur during screw insertion, especially lateral perforation. The objective of this manuscript is to describe a novel free-hand technique for subaxial CPS placement (C3-C7) and to evaluate if it decreases the chances of perforation.

Gene Expression Profiles of Peripheral Blood Monocytes in Osteoarthritis and Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes.

Background: There is little understanding of the molecular processes involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, limiting early diagnosis and effective treatment of OA. Use of genechips can provide insights into the molecular pathogenesis of diseases. In this study, determination of gene expression profiles of osteoarthritis peripheral blood mononuclear cells will allow exploration of the molecular pathogenesis of OA and find out more candidate biomarkers and potential drug targets of OA.

Correlation Analysis of C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type II and Interleukin-1β for Early Diagnosis of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective: To analyze the correlation between the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) score of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients with different degrees and their urine concentration of C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type II (CTX-II) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and to further evaluate the diagnostic value of CTX-II and IL-1β during the pathological process by producing an experimental osteoarthritis (OA) model in rabbits.

Methods: From 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018, a total of 34 subjects (7 mild, 9 moderate, 9 severe arthritis patients, and 9 healthy individuals) comprising 16 men and 18 women were included in this study. Patients were diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria.

Clinical effect observation of intravenous application of zoledronic acid in patients with cervical spondylosis and osteoporosis after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: A randomized controlled study.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of zoledronic acid (ZA) in patients with cervical spondylosis and osteoporosis after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery.

Methods: All selected patients were divided into the study group and the control group according to the sequence of surgery time. In the study group, 5 mg (100 ml) of ZA was applied intravenously as intervention on the 5 day after ACDF surgery.

Protective effect of estrogen against intervertebral disc degeneration is attenuated by miR-221 through targeting estrogen receptor α.

Dysfunction of cartilaginous endplates (CEP) is an important etiologic aspect of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) because the endplate has nutritional and biomechanical functions in maintaining proper disc health. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effects of estrogen on degenerated human CEP cells and the involvement of miR-221 in these effects. Normal and degenerated human CEP tissues were collected from patients with idiopathic scoliosis and IDD, respectively.

Osteopontin, Bone Morphogenetic Protein-4, and Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in the Susceptibility and Clinical Severity of Spinal Tuberculosis.

Background/aims: Spinal tuberculosis (TB) is a common and dangerous form of extrapulmonary TB with unclear mechanisms in its occurrence and progression. This study investigated the clinical significances of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4), osteopontin (OPN), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism, mRNA and protein expression in spinal TB patients.

Methods: BMP-4 and OPN gene polymorphisms were detected by direct DNA sequencing, while VDR-FokI polymorphisms were analyzed using PCR-RFLP.

360-degree cervical spinal arthrodesis for treatment of pediatric cervical spinal tuberculosis with kyphosis.

Background: There is limited evidence to guide treatment for pediatric cervical spinal tuberculosis with kyphosis (PCSTK). This study retrospectively evaluates the safety, feasibility and efficacy of 360-degree arthrodesis combined with anterior debridement and decompression for treating PCSTK, while simultaneously emphasizing the role of posterior fixation for the correction and maintenance of the kyphosis angle.

Methods: From May 2006 to December 2012, a total of 12 children with PCSTK underwent 360-degree cervical spinal arthrodesis followed by debridement of focus and decompression of the spinal cord.

Surgical treatment of selected patients with multilevel contiguous thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis by only posterior instrumentation without any bone fusion.

The retrospective clinical study is to determine the feasibility and efficacy of surgical management of multilevel contiguous thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis (MCTLST) by only posterior instrumentation without posterior or anterior bone fusion and without anterior fixation in the study of eleven selected cases. Eleven selected cases with MCTLST were treated with combined posterior instrumentation and debridement and/or decompression without any bone fusion. The mean follow-up was 33.

Staged treatment of thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis with flow injection abscess.

The study was to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of posterior-only approach combining with puncture drainage under CT-guide in staged treatment of thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis with flow injection abscess. We retrospectively analyzed 15 patients (came from 72 cases with thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis) with flow injection abscesses underwent surgery from January 2007 to February 2009, and evaluated the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scoring system of nerve function, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), abscess absorption time and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), preoperatively and postoperatively. 15 patients were followed up for 13-37 months, no recurrence of tuberculosis, no fixation loosening and neurologic symptoms aggravated.

Single-stage posterior-only approach treating single-segment thoracic tubercular spondylitis.

There are quite a few controversies on surgical management of single-segment thoracic spinal tuberculosis (STB) with neurological deficits. The present study was to compare single-stage posterior-only transpedicular debridement, interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation (posterior-only surgery) with a combined posterior-anterior surgical approach for treatment of single-segment thoracic STB with neurological deficits and to determine the clinical feasibility and effectiveness of posterior-only surgical treatment. Sixty patients with single-segment thoracic STB with neurological deficits were treated with one of two surgical procedures in our center from January 2003 to January 2013.

Halo traction, single-segment circumferential fixation treating cervical tubercular spondylitis with kyphosis.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and feasibility of twenty patients with cervical tubercular spondylitis with kyphosis (CTSK) treated by halo traction, single-segment circumferential instrumented fusion combined anterior debridement, decompression and bone grafting.

Methods: Retrospective review of data on twenty patients who suffered from CTSK admitted to our hospital between January 2007 and December 2012. All of them were performed by halo traction, single-segment circumferential instrumented fusion (anterior titanium plate and posterior pedicle or lateral mass fixation) combined anterior debridement, decompression and titanium mesh cage (TMC) filled with allograft bone particles.

One-stage posterior-only approach in surgical treatment of single-segment thoracic spinal tuberculosis with neurological deficits in adults: a retrospective study of 34 cases.

Background: There are quite a few controversies on the surgical management of single-segment thoracic spinal tuberculosis with neurological deficits (STSTND). In this study, the clinical efficacy and feasibility of one-stage posterior-only transpedicular debridement, interbody fusion, and posterior instrumentation for treating STSTND in adults were retrospectively evaluated.

Methods: Thirty-four cases with STSTND underwent one-stage posterior-only transpedicular debridement, interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation at the same institution from January 2003 to January 2013.

The role of single-stage posterior debridement, interbody fusion with titanium mesh cages and short-segment instrumentation in thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis.

Background: The aim of this paper was to retrospectively analyze the clinical efficacy and feasibility of thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis treated by single-stage posterior debridement, interbody fusion with titanium mesh cages (TMC), and combined short-segment instrumentation.

Methods: Fifteen patients with no more than two vertebral bodies involving thoracic and lumbar tuberculosis were collected from January 2006 to January 2010, performed by single-stage posterior debridement, interbody fusion with TMC and posterior short-segment fixation. The clinical efficacy was evaluated based on the data of the 10-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), neurological status, kyphosis angle, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein, which were collected at a certain time.

Two one-stage posterior approaches for treating thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis: A retrospective case-control study.

The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the results of two surgical treatments for thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis. A total of 73 patients with monosegmental thoracic or lumbar spinal tuberculosis were enrolled from January 2006 to April 2011. The patients were divided into two groups.

Comparison of three surgical approaches for cervicothoracic spinal tuberculosis: a retrospective case-control study.

Study Design: This is a retrospective case-control study.

Objectives: The surgical approaches to cervicothoracic spinal tuberculosis (CTSTB) were controversial. The aim of this research is to retrospectively compare the efficacy and feasibility of anterior-only (AO) approach, combined anterior and posterior (AP) surgeries, and posterior-only (PO) approach for the treatment of CTSTB.

One-stage lumbopelvic fixation in the treatment of lumbosacral junction tuberculosis.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical efficacy and feasibility of surgical treatment for lumbosacral junction tuberculosis by one-stage posterior debridement, interbody fusion, lumbopelvic fixation, and postural drainage.

Methods: A total of 15 cases with lumbosacral junction tuberculosis treated by one-stage posterior debridement, interbody fusion, lumbopelvic fixation, and postural drainage in our center from January 2005 to October 2011 were studied. Lumbosacral angle, visual analog scale (VAS), and neurological performance were assessed before and after surgery.

miR-21 promotes human nucleus pulposus cell proliferation through PTEN/AKT signaling.

The precise role of nucleus pulposus cell proliferation in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration remains to be elucidated. Recent findings have revealed that microRNAs, a class of small noncoding RNAs, may regulate cell proliferation in many pathological conditions. Here, we showed that miR-21 was significantly upregulated in degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues when compared with nucleus pulposus tissues that were isolated from patients with idiopathic scoliosis and that miR-10b levels were associated with disc degeneration grade.

Thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis in children with severe post-tubercular kyphotic deformities treated by single-stage closing-opening wedge osteotomy: preliminary report a 4-year follow-up of 12 patients.

Purpose: The correction of severe post-tubercular kyphosis (PTK) is complex and has the disadvantage of being multistaged with a high morbidity. In this study, we evaluated the outcomes of children who underwent single-stage closing-opening wedge osteotomy as a surgical treatment of PTK of the thoracolumbar spine.

Method: Our study group included 12 children with thoracolumbar PTK (seven boys and five girls) with an average age of 9.