Progress and challenges in human developmental cell atlas.

Illustrating molecular mechanisms of human embryonic development has always been one of the most significant challenges in biology. The scarcity of human embryo samples, the difficulty in dissecting embryo samples, and the complex structures of human organs are the major obstacles in studying human embryogenesis. In recent years, with the rapid advancement of single-cell technology, humans can systematically analyze the dynamic changes in differentiation at various stages of the central dogma and achieve observation and research with spatial information.

IL-32 aggravates metabolic disturbance in human nucleus pulposus cells by activating FAT4-mediated Hippo/YAP signaling.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism disorders in the inflammatory microenvironment play a key role in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Interleukin-32 (IL-32) has been reported to be involved in the progression of various inflammatory diseases; however, it remains unclear whether it participates in the matrix metabolism of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mechanism of IL-32 on regulating the ECM metabolism in the inflammatory microenvironment.

Maslinic acid alleviates intervertebral disc degeneration by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the cause of low back pain (LBP), and recent research has suggested that inflammatory cytokines play a significant role in this process. Maslinic acid (MA), a natural compound found in olive plants ( ), has anti-inflammatory properties, but its potential for treating IDD is unclear. The current study aims to investigate the effects of MA on TNFα-induced IDD and in other models.

Irisin enhances chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells via Rap1/PI3K/AKT axis.

Background: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been proven to have inherent chondrogenic differentiation potential, which appears to be used in cartilage regeneration. Increasing evidence suggests that irisin enhances osteoblast differentiation of MSCs, but little is known about its potential on chondrogenic differentiation.

Methods: In the study, we investigated the effects of irisin on chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs using a high-density pellet culture system.

Irisin Ameliorates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Activating LATS/YAP/CTGF Signaling.

Unbalanced metabolism of an extracellular matrix (ECM) in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) is widely acknowledged as the primary cause of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Irisin, a novel myokine, is cleaved from fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) and has recently been proven to regulate the metabolism of ECM. However, little is known about its potential on NPCs and the development of IDD.

[New external spinal skeletal fixation combined with percutaneous injury vertebra bone grafting for the treatment of two-segment thoracolumbar fractures].

Objective: To investigate the clinical results of new external spinal skeletal fixation combined with percutaneous injury vertebra bone grafting in the treatment of two-segment thoracolumbar fractures without neural dysfunction.

Methods: The clinical data of 28 patients with two-segment thoracolumbar fractures without neural dysfunction treated from January 2013 to August 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 17 males and 11 females, with a mean age of(37.