Clinical efficacy and complications of MIS-TLIF and TLIF in the treatment of upper lumbar disc herniation: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment modality for upper lumbar disc herniation remains unclear. Herein, we compared the clinical efficacy and application value of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for upper lumbar disc herniation. We aimed to provide new evidence to guide surgical decisions for treating this condition. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 81 patients with upper lumbar disc herniation admitted between January 2017 and July 2018, including 41 and 40 patients who underwent MIS-TLIF and TLIF, respectively. Demographic characteristics, preoperative functional scores, perioperative indicators, and postoperative complications were compared. We performed consecutive comparisons of visual analog scale (VAS) scores of the lumbar and leg regions, Oswestry disability index (ODI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores (JOA), and MacNab scores at the final follow-up, to assess clinical outcomes 5 years postoperatively. RESULTS: VAS scores of the back and legs were significantly lower in the MIS-TLIF than the TLIF group at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively (P < 0.05). Intraoperative bleeding and postoperative hospitalization time were significantly lower, and the time to return to work/normal life was shorter in the MIS-TLIF than in the TLIF group (P < 0.05). The differences in JOA scores and ODI scores between the two groups at 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years postoperatively were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The early clinical efficacy of MIS-TLIF was superior to that of TLIF, but no differences were found in mid-term clinical efficacy. Further, MIS-TLIF has the advantages of fewer medical injuries, shorter hospitalization times, and faster postoperative functional recovery.

Three-Dimensional ERT Advanced Detection Method with Source-Position Electrode Excitation for Tunnel-Boring Machines.

Tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) are widely used in urban underground tunnel construction due to their fast and efficient features. However, shield-tunnel construction faces increasingly complex geological environments and may encounter geological hazards such as faults, fracture zones, water surges, and collapses, which can cause significant property damage and casualties. Existing geophysical methods are subject to many limitations in the shield-tunnel environment, where the detection space is extremely small, and a variety of advanced detection methods are unable to meet the required detection requirements. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately detect the geological conditions in front of the tunnel face in real time during the tunnel boring process of TBM tunnels. In this paper, a 3D-ERT advanced detection method using source-position electrode excitation is proposed. First, a source-position electrode array integrated into the TBM cutterhead is designed for the shield-tunnel construction environment, which provides data security for the inverse imaging of the anomalous bodies. Secondly, a 3D finite element tunnel model containing high- and low-resistance anomalous bodies is established, and the GREIT reconstruction algorithm is utilized to reconstruct 3D images of the anomalous body in front of the tunnel face. Finally, a physical simulation experiment platform is built, and the effectiveness of the method is verified by laboratory physical modeling experiments with two different anomalous bodies. The results show that the position and shape of the anomalous body in front of the tunnel face can be well reconstructed, and the method provides a new idea for the continuous detection of shield construction tunnels with boring.

Optimization of Graphical Parameter Extraction Algorithm for Chip-Level CMP Prediction Model Based on Effective Planarization Length.

As a planarization technique, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) continues to suffer from pattern effects that result in large variations in material thickness, which can influence circuit performance and yield. Therefore, tools for predicting post-CMP chip morphology based on the layout-dependent effect (LDE) have become increasingly critical and widely utilized for design verification and manufacturing development. In order to characterize the impact of patterns on polishing, such models often require the extraction of graphic parameters. However, existing extraction algorithms provide a limited description of the interaction effect between layout patterns. To address this problem, we calculate the average density as a density correction and innovatively use a one-dimensional line contact deformation profile as a weighting function. To verify our hypothesis, the density correction method is applied to a density step-height-based high-K metal gate-CMP prediction model. The surface prediction results before and after optimization are compared with the silicon data. The results show a reduction in mean squared error (MSE) of 40.1% and 35.2% in oxide and Al height predictions, respectively, compared with the preoptimization results, confirming that the optimization method can improve the prediction accuracy of the model.

The Sequence Characteristics and Binding Properties of the Odorant-Binding Protein SvelOBP1 from Sympiezomias velatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to Jujube Volatiles.

Sympiezomias velatus (Chevrolat) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has caused serious damage on jujube trees (Ziziphus jujuba Mill) in northern China. Semiochemicals emerging from the host are essential in the process of insects identifying and localizing the host. The highly expressed odorant-binding protein 1 of S. velatus (SvelOBP1) was assumed to play a possible role in the recognition of host volatiles. In this study, SvelOBP1 was cloned based on the antennal transcriptome of S. velatus. The recombinant SvelOBP1 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by Ni-NTA resin. The predicted protein SvelOBP1 belonged to a classic OBP subfamily. The expression patterns revealed that SvelOBP1 was mainly expressed in the antennae of both males and females, whereas the expression of SvelOBP1 in other body parts could be neglected. The fluorescence binding assay indicated that SvelOBP1 displayed very strong binding affinities to dibutyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate and (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol (Ki = 6.66 ± 0.03 and 7.98 ± 0.06 µM). The molecular docking results showed that residues Trp114, Phe115 and Asp110 may be involved in binding to both dibutyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate and (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol and may have a great impact on odorant recognition of S. velatus. Our results provide evidence that SvelOBP1 might participate in the olfactory molecular perception of S. velatus and would promote the development of pest attractants for S. velatus control.

Edge smoothing optimization method in DMD digital lithography system based on dynamic blur matching pixel overlap technique.

Due to digital micromirrors device (DMD) digital lithography limited by non-integer pixel errors, the edge smoothness of the exposed image is low and the sawtooth defects are obvious. To improve the image edge smoothness, an optimized pixel overlay method was proposed, which called the DMD digital lithography based on dynamic blur effect matching pixel overlay technology. The core of this method is that motion blur effect is cleverly introduced in the process of pixel overlap to carry out the lithography optimization experiment. The simulation and experimental results showed that the sawtooth edge was reduced from 1.666 µm to 0.27 µm by adopting the 1/2 dynamic blur effect to match pixel displacement superposition, which is far less than half of the sawtooth edge before optimization. The results indicated that the proposed method can efficiently improve the edge smoothness of lithographic patterns. We believe that the proposed optimization method can provide great help for high fidelity and efficient DMD digital lithography microfabrication.

Rapid and Practical Synthesis of gem-Dibromoalkanes from Aldehydes by Tribromide Reagent.

gem-Dibromoalkanes are important synthetic building block in organic chemistry, but their preparation is still troublesome. Herein, we have developed a simple and practical protocol for the synthesis of gem-dibromoalkanes from aldehydes using tetrabutylammonium tribromide and triphenyl phosphite. A variety of alkyl and aromatic aldehydes can be transformed into the corresponding products within 10 minutes. This protocol is also applicable to alcohols, and the configuration of chiral alcohol is inverted during the process with excellent enantiopurity.

Comparison between oblique lumbar interbody fusion and posterior lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) has produced good results for lumbar degenerative diseases (LDDs), its efficacy vis-a-vis posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of OLIF and PLIF for the treatment of LDDs. METHODS: A comprehensive assessment of the literature was conducted, and the quality of retrieved studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Clinical parameters included the visual analog scale (VAS), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for pain, disability, and functional levels. Statistical analysis related to operative time, intraoperative bleeding, length of hospital stay, lumbar lordosis angle, postoperative disc height, and complication rates was performed. The PROSPERO number for the present systematic review is CRD42023406695. RESULTS: In total, 574 patients (287 for OLIF, 287 for PLIF) from eight studies were included. The combined mean postoperative difference in ODI and lumbar VAS scores was - 1.22 and - 0.43, respectively. In postoperative disc, height between OLIF and PLIF was 2.05. The combined advantage ratio of the total surgical complication rate and the mean difference in lumbar lordosis angle between OLIF and PLIF were 0.46 and 1.72, respectively. The combined mean difference in intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay between OLIF and PLIF was - 128.67 and - 2.32, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both the OLIF and PLIF interventions showed good clinical efficacy for LDDs. However, OLIF demonstrated a superior advantage in terms of intraoperative bleeding, hospital stay, degree of postoperative disc height recovery, and postoperative complication rate.

DWL-4-140: A allene small molecule targeting STING that alleviates lupus-like phenotype in Trex1-/- mice.

The innate immune system plays a critical role in the host response against pathogenic microbial infection. However, aberrant activation of the innate immune pathways is a characteristic feature of various diseases. Thus, targeted drugs must be developed based on the understanding of the innate immune signaling pathways. This study demonstrated that an allene small molecule (DWL-4-140) can efficiently and selectively exert regulatory effects on the stimulator of interferon genes (STING), resulting in the downregulation of DNA-induced interferon responses. Mechanistically, DWL-4-140 targeted the cyclized nucleotide-binding domain (CBD) of STING, inhibiting the assembly of the STING multimeric complex and the recruitment of downstream signaling mediators. In addition to downregulating the 10-carboxymethyl-9-acridanone-induced production of inflammatory factors, DWL-4-140 alleviated the pathological features of Trex1 deletion-induced lupus in mice. Thus, this study demonstrated that DWL-4-140 pharmacologically inhibits STING with potential therapeutic applications in auto-inflammatory diseases.

Mechanism Study of Ultrasonic Vibration-Assisted Microgroove Forming of Precise Hot-Pressed Optical Glass.

Microgroove structures with helical pitches in a wavelength level are increasingly required in optical areas. However, conventional manufacturing techniques generate relatively high stresses during pressing, resulting in poor precision when forming microgrooves. This paper reports on the mechanism of the ultrasonic vibration-assisted microgroove forming of precise hot-pressed optical glass. A finite element (FE) thermocompression model of the viscoelastic material was developed and the entire forming process was numerically simulated using coupled thermal-structural analysis. The analysis of several process parameters was carried out using orthogonal experiments, from which the optimum combination of parameters was selected. The glass thermoforming process is also assisted by ultrasonic vibration. The thermal and mechanical effects of vibration improved material flow and optimized forming results. The average maximum stress in the glass during the forming process was only 3.04 × 10-3 Mpa, while the maximum stress in the hot-pressing stage without ultrasound was 1.648 Mpa. The stress results showed that the material-forming stress is significantly reduced.

Triflylpyridinium as Coupling Reagent for Rapid Amide and Ester Synthesis.

An effective method has been developed to facilitate the synthesis of amides and esters at ambient temperature within 5 min, in which a stable and easily accessible triflylpyridinium reagent is used. Remarkably, this method not only has a wide range of substrate compatibility but also could realize the scalable synthesis of peptide and ester via a continuous flow process. Moreover, excellent chirality retentions are presented during activation of carboxylic acid.

Case report: A late-onset cobalamin C defect first presenting as a depression in a teenager.

Background: The cobalamin C (cblC) defect, a common inborn disorder of cobalamin metabolism due to a genetic mutation in MMACHC, can cause combined methylmalonic acid and homocysteine accumulation in blood, urine, or both. In this article, a late-onset case was reported, and the patient first presented with depression identified with the MMACHC gene. We summarized the clinical features of the cblC defect, the relationship between genotype and phenotype, and the clinical experience concerning the diagnosis and treatment of the cblC defect. Case presentation: Initially presented with depression, the 16-year-old female patient showed progressive abnormal gait and bilateral lower limb weakness after 3 months. Blood routine examination suggested severe hyperhomocysteinemia, and screening for urine organic acids found elevated methylmalonic acid. Family gene sequencing showed mutations detected in MMACHC. She had a compound heterozygous mutation, while the c.271dupA (p.R91Kfs∗14) was only detected in her father and the c.482 G>A (p.R161Q) was only detected in her mother. Hence, she was diagnosed with a cblC defect and treated with B vitamin supplements. The muscle strength of both lower limbs improved notably. Conclusion: This case indicated that depression could be a presenting sign of cblC-type methylmalonic aciduria and homocysteinemia, and enhanced the genotype-phenotype relationship of the cblC defect, which will contribute to further understanding of this emerging disease.

Biomechanical studies of different numbers and positions of cage implantation on minimally invasive transforaminal interbody fusion: A finite element analysis.

Background: The position and number of cages in minimally invasive transforaminal interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) are mainly determined by surgeons based on their individual experience. Therefore, it is important to investigate the optimal number and position of cages in MIS-TLIF. Methods: The lumbar model was created based on a 24-year-old volunteer's computed tomography data and then tested using three different cage implantation methods: single transverse cage implantation (model A), single oblique 45° cage implantation (model B), and double vertical cage implantation (model C). A preload of 500 N and a moment of 10 Nm were applied to the models to simulate lumbar motion, and the models' range of motion (ROM), ROM ratio, peak stress of the internal fixation system, and cage were assessed. Results: The ROM ratios of models A, B, and C were significantly reduced by >71% compared with the intact model under all motions. Although there were subtle differences in the ROM ratio for models A, B, and C, the trends were similar. The peak stress of the internal fixation system appeared in model B of 136.05 MPa (right lateral bending), which was 2.07 times that of model A and 1.62 times that of model C under the same condition. Model C had the lowest cage stress, which was superior to that of the single-cage model. Conclusion: In MIS-TLIF, single long-cage transversal implantation is a promising standard implantation method, and double short-cage implantation is recommended for patients with severe osteoporosis.

Feasibility Study of a Novel Magnetic Bone Cement for the Treatment of Bone Metastases.

Bone cement is a crucial material to treat bone metastases defects, and can fill the bone defect and provide mechanical support simultaneously, but the antitumor effect is very limited. Magnetic bone cement not only supports bone metastasis defects but can also achieve magnetic hyperthermia to eliminate tumor cells around the bone defect. However, the physicochemical properties of the bone cement matrix will change if the weight ratio of the magnetic nanoparticles in the cement is too high. We mixed 1 weight percent Zn0.3Fe2.7O4 with good biocompatibility and high heating efficiency into a polymethyl methacrylate matrix to prepare magnetic bone cement, which minimized the affection for physicochemical properties and satisfied the hyperthermia requirement of the alternating magnetic field.

Regulatory T cells in skeletal muscle repair and regeneration: recent insights.

Skeletal muscle repair and regeneration after injury is a multi-stage process, involving a dynamic inflammatory microenvironment consisting of a complex network formed by the interaction of immune cells and their secreted cytokines. The homeostasis of the inflammatory microenvironment determines whether skeletal muscle repair tissues will ultimately form scar tissue or regenerative tissue. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) regulate homeostasis within the immune system and self-immune tolerance, and play a crucial role in skeletal muscle repair and regeneration. Dysregulated Tregs function leads to abnormal repair. In this review, we discuss the role and mechanisms of Tregs in skeletal muscle repair and regeneration after injury and provide new strategies for Treg immunotherapy in skeletal muscle diseases.

Characterization and Biomechanical Study of a Novel Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Cement.

Magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) has attracted considerable attention as a bone regeneration material. However, there are only a few reports on its biomechanical properties. To evaluate the biomechanical properties of MKPC, we compared the mechanical parameters of pedicle screws enhanced with either MKPC or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement. The results show that the maximum pull-out force of the pedicle screws was 417.86 ± 55.57 and 444.43 ± 19.89 N after MKPC cement setting for 30 min and 12 h, respectively, which was better than that of the PMMA cement. In fatigue tests, the maximum pull-out force of the MKPC cement group was 435.20 ± 7.96 N, whereas that of the PMMA cement in the control group was 346.80 ± 7.66 N. Furthermore, the structural characterization analysis of the MKPC cement revealed that its microstructure after solidification was an irregular tightly packed crystal, which improved the mechanical strength of the cement. The maximum exothermic temperature of the MKPC reaction was 45.55 ± 1.35 °C, the coagulation time was 7.89 ± 0.37 min, and the compressive strength was 48.29 ± 4.76 MPa, all of which meet the requirements of clinical application. In addition, the MKPC cement did not significantly inhibit cell proliferation or increase apoptosis, thus indicating good biocompatibility. In summary, MKPC exhibited good biomechanical properties, high initial strength, good biocompatibility, and low exothermic reaction temperature, demonstrating an excellent application potential in the field of orthopedics.

Functional Characterization of Odorant Binding Protein PyasOBP2 From the Jujube Bud Weevil, Pachyrhinus yasumatsui (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) play an important role in insect olfaction. The jujube bud weevil Pachyrhinus yasumatsui (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a major pest of Zizyphus jujuba in northern China. In the present study, based on the antennal transcriptome, an OBP gene of P. yasumatsui (PyasOBP2) was cloned by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Expression profile analyses by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that PyasOBP2 was highly expressed in the antennae of both male and female P. yasumatsui adults, while its expression was negligible in other tissues. PyasOBP2 was prokaryotically expressed, and purified by Ni-NTA resin. The fluorescence competitive binding assays with 38 plant volatiles from Z. jujuba showed that PyasOBP2 could bind with a broad range of plant volatiles, and had strongest binding capacities to host-plant volatiles like ethyl butyrate (Ki = 3.02 µM), 2-methyl-1-phenylpropene (Ki = 4.61 µM) and dipentene (Ki = 5.99 µM). The three dimensional structure of PyasOBP2 was predicted by homology modeling, and the crystal structure of AgamOBP1 (PDB ID: 2erb) was used as a template. The molecular docking results indicated that the amino acid residue Phe114 of PyasOBP2 could form hydrogen bonds or hydrophobic interactions with some specific ligands, so this residue might play a key role in perception of host plant volatiles. Our results provide a basis for further investigation of potential functions of PyasOBP2, and development of efficient monitoring and integrated pest management strategies of P. yasumatsui.

Finite Element Analysis of a Novel Fusion Strategy in Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Purpose: To evaluate the biomechanics of a novel fusion strategy (hybrid internal fixation+horizontal cage position) in minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). Methods: MIS-TLIF finite element models for three fusion strategies were created based on computed tomography images, namely, Model-A, hybrid internal fixation (ipsilateral pedicle screw and contralateral translaminar facet screw fixation)+horizontal cage position; Model-B, bilateral pedicle screw (BPS) fixation+horizontal cage position; and Model-C, BPS fixation+oblique 45° cage position. A preload of 500 N and a moment of 10 Nm were applied to the models to simulate lumbar motion, and the models' range of motion (ROM), peak stress of the internal fixation system, and cage were assessed. Results: The ROM for Models A, B, and C were not different (P > 0.05) but were significantly lower than the ROM of Model-INT (P < 0.0001). Although there were subtle differences in the ROM ratio for Models A, B, and C, the trend was similar. The peak stress of the internal fixation system was significantly higher in Model-A than that of Models B and C, but only the difference between Models A and B was significant (P < 0.05). The peak stress of the cage in Model-A was significantly lower than that of Models B and C (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Hybrid internal fixation with horizontal single cage implantation can provide the same biomechanical stability as traditional fixation while reducing peak stress on the cage and vertebral endplate.

Rapidly Progressive Paraplegia Resulting from Latent Cervical Dural Arteriovenous Fistula After Lumbar Surgery: A Case Report.

CASE: A 68-year-old woman developed symptoms of acute paraplegia due to an occult cervical dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) after a minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). She was subsequently diagnosed by angiography and treated with vascular embolization. A 2-year follow-up showed that the patient's upper limb muscle strength returned to normal, and the lower limb muscle strength partially improved with remnant motor dysfunction. CONCLUSION: For patients with symptoms of nerve injury inconsistent with the spinal surgery site, a possibility of DAVF should be considered, and related investigations should be performed. Once diagnosed, active treatment is required.

Energy Efficiency and Spectral Efficiency Tradeoff in Massive MIMO Multicast Transmission with Statistical CSI.

As the core technology of 5G mobile communication systems, massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) can dramatically enhance the energy efficiency (EE), as well as the spectral efficiency (SE), which meets the requirements of new applications. Meanwhile, physical layer multicast technology has gradually become the focus of next-generation communication technology research due to its capacity to efficiently provide wireless transmission from point to multipoint. The availability of channel state information (CSI), to a large extent, determines the performance of massive MIMO. However, because obtaining the perfect instantaneous CSI in massive MIMO is quite challenging, it is reasonable and practical to design a massive MIMO multicast transmission strategy using statistical CSI. In this paper, in order to optimize the system resource efficiency (RE) to achieve EE-SE balance, the EE-SE trade-offs in the massive MIMO multicast transmission are investigated with statistical CSI. Firstly, we formulate the eigenvectors of the RE optimization multicast covariance matrices of different user terminals in closed form, which illustrates that in the massive MIMO downlink, optimal RE multicast precoding is supposed to be done in the beam domain. On the basis of this viewpoint, the optimal RE precoding design is simplified into a resource efficient power allocation problem. Via invoking the quadratic transform, we propose an iterative power allocation algorithm, which obtains an adjustable and reasonable EE-SE tradeoff. Numerical simulation results reveal the near-optimal performance and the effectiveness of our proposed statistical CSI-assisted RE maximization in massive MIMO.

Constructing Pure Phase Tungsten-Based Bimetallic Carbide Nanosheet as an Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting.

Carbides are commonly regarded as efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts, but their poor oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic activities seriously limit their practical application in overall water splitting. Here, vertically aligned porous cobalt tungsten carbide nanosheet embedded in N-doped carbon matrix (Co6 W6 C@NC) is successfully constructed on flexible carbon cloth (CC) as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting via a facile metal-organic framework (MOF) derived method. The synergistic effect of Co and W atoms effectively tailors the electron state of carbide, optimizing the hydrogen-binding energy. Thus Co6 W6 C@NC shows an enhanced HER performance with an overpotential of 59 mV at a current density of -10 mA cm-2 . Besides, Co6 W6 C@NC easily in situ transforms into tungsten actived cobalt oxide/hydroxide during the OER process, serving as OER active species, which provides an excellent OER activity with an overpotential of 286 mV at a current density of -10 mA cm-2 . The water splitting device, by applying Co6 W6 C@NC as both the cathode and anode, requires a low cell voltage of 1.585 V at 10 mA cm-2 with the great stability in alkaline solution. This work provides a feasible strategy to fabricate bimetallic carbides and explores their possibility as bifunctional catalysts toward overall water splitting.