Background: Transitioning from rigid to flexible hardware at the distal rostral or caudal lumbar or lumbosacral level hypothetically maintains motion at the transition level and protects the transition level and intact adjacent levels from stresses caused by fusion.
Objective: To biomechanically compare transitional and rigid constructs with uninstrumented specimens in vitro.
Methods: Human cadaveric L2-S1 segments were tested (1) intact, (2) after L5-S1 rigid pedicle screw-rod fixation, (3) after L4-S1 rigid pedicle screw-rod fixation, and (4) after hybrid fixation rigidly spanning L5-S1 and dynamically spanning L4-L5. Pure moments (maximum 7.5 Nm) induced flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation while motion was recorded optoelectronically. Additionally, specimens were studied in flexion/extension with a 400-N compressive follower load. Strain gauges on laminae were used to extract facet loads.
Results: The range of motion at the transition segment (L4-L5) for the hybrid construct was significantly less than for the intact condition and significantly greater than for the rigid 2-level construct during lateral bending and axial rotation but not during flexion or extension. Sagittal axis of rotation at L4-L5 shifted significantly after rigid 2-level or hybrid fixation (P < .003) but shifted significantly farther posterior and rostral with rigid fixation (P < .02). Instrumentation altered L4-L5 facet load at more than the L3-L4 facet load.
Conclusion: The effect of the dynamic rod segment on the kinematics of the transition level was less pronounced than that of a fully rigid construct in vitro with this particular rod system. This experimental model detected no biomechanical alterations at adjacent intact levels with hybrid or rigid systems.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1227/NEU.0000000000000009 | DOI Listing |
J Am Chem Soc
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China.
Recent progress in superconductor-insulator transition has shed light on the intermediate metallic state with unique electronic inhomogeneity. The microscopic model, suggesting that carrier spatial distribution plays a decisive role in the intermediate state, has been instrumental in understanding the quantum transition. However, the narrow carrier density window in which the intermediate state exists necessitates precise control of the gate dielectric layer, presenting a challenge to in situ map the carrier spatial distribution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHum Reprod Update
January 2025
Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Centre of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Background: Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people seek gender-affirming care at any age to manage gender identities or expressions that differ from their birth gender. Gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT) and gender-affirming surgery may alter reproductive function and/or anatomy, limiting future reproductive options to varying degrees, if individuals desire to either give birth or become a biological parent.
Objective And Rationale: TGD people increasingly pursue help for their reproductive questions, including fertility, fertility preservation, active desire for children, and future options.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
January 2025
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Context: Trabecular bone score (TBS), a gray-level texture index derived from lumbar spine (LS) dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans, is decreased in patients with diabetes and is associated with increased fracture risk, independent of areal bone mineral density (aBMD), but potentially influenced by abdominal fat tissue.
Objective: Evaluate effect of romosozumab (210 mg monthly) for 12 months followed by alendronate (70 mg weekly) for 24 months vs alendronate alone (70 mg weekly) for 36 months on LS aBMD and TBS in women with type 2 diabetes (T2D) enrolled in the ARCH study.
Methods: This post hoc analysis included women from ARCH who had T2D at baseline and LS DXA scans at baseline and ≥1 postbaseline visit (romosozumab-to-alendronate, n = 165; alendronate-to-alendronate, n = 195).
Inorg Chem
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110819, China.
Copper-based halides have attracted significant attention due to their unique photophysical properties and diverse coordination configurations. However, enhancing water stability and modulating structural transitions in cuprous halide materials remain challenging. In this work, we successfully synthesized three copper(I) halides, (CHP)CuBr (L1, [CHP] = hexyltriphenylphosphonium), (CHP)CuBr (L2), and (CHP)CuI (L3), via solvent volatilization, demonstrating exceptional water stability even after 27 days of submersion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY 10003.
Frameshifting is an essential mechanism employed by many viruses including coronaviruses to produce viral proteins from a compact RNA genome. It is facilitated by specific RNA folds in the frameshift element (FSE), which has emerged as an important therapeutic target. For SARS-CoV-2, a specific 3-stem pseudoknot has been identified to stimulate frameshifting.
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