High-throughput extraction and automatic purification of alternariol from edible and medicinal herbs based on aptamer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles.

Mycotoxin contamination is widespread in plants and herbs, posing serious threats to the consumer and human health. Of them, alternariol (AOH) has attracted great attention as an "emerging" mycotoxin in medicinal herbs. However, a specific and high-throughput extraction method for AOH is currently lacking. Thus, developing an efficient pre-treatment technique for AOH detection is extremely vital. Here, a novel automated magnetic solid-phase extraction method was proposed for the highly efficient extraction of AOH. Combining the aptamer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (AMNPs) and the automatic purification instrument, AOH could be extracted in medicinal herbs in high throughput (20 samples) and a short time (30 min). The main parameters affecting extraction were optimized, and the method was finally carried out by incubation AMNPs with 3 mL of sample solution for 10 min, and then desorption in 75% methanol for liquid-phase detection. Under optimal conditions, good reproducibility, stability, and selectivity were realized with an adsorption capacity of 550.84 ng/mg. AOH extraction in three edible herbs showed good resistance to matrix interference with recovery rates from 86% to 111%. In combination with AMNPs and the automatic purification instrument, high-throughput and labor-free extraction of AOH in different complex matrices was achieved, which could be extended in other complex matrices.

Anterior Percutaneous Full-Endoscopic Transcorporeal with Single-Incision Treatment for Noncontiguous 2-Level Cervical Disc Herniation: Technical Report and Early Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: Noncontiguous 2-level cervical disc herniation (NCT-CDH) is a common condition that often requires surgical intervention. In this study, we developed a surgical approach for the treatment of NCT-CDH using anterior percutaneous full-endoscopic single incision through the vertebral body. We provide a brief overview of its safety, efficacy, and feasibility, along with a description of our relevant surgical experience. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted, involving 30 patients who were followed up for at least 12 months. Preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale, Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, Nurick scores, intervertebral disc height, and modified Macnab criteria were recorded. Patients underwent regular radiological evaluations throughout the follow-up period. RESULTS: Postoperative computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and X-ray examinations revealed bone tunnel healing, intact drilled vertebral bodies without collapse, adequate decompression of the spinal canal, and normal cervical mobility. There was a significant improvement in postoperative visual analog scale, Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, Nurick scores, and modified Macnab criteria compared to the preoperative values (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the anterior percutaneous full-endoscopic transcorporeal with single-incision treatment for NCT-CDH is a safe and feasible surgical method. Therefore, it can be considered as a viable treatment option for patients with NCT-CDH.

Anterior transcorporeal approach combined with posterior translaminar approach in percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy for two-segment cervical disc herniation treatment: a technical report and early follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Full endoscopic techniques are being gradually introduced from single-segment cervical disc herniation surgery to two-segment cervical disc herniation surgery. However, there is no suitable full endoscopic treatment for mixed-type two-segment cervical disc herniation (MTCDH) in which one segment herniates in front of the spinal cord and the other segment herniates behind the spinal cord. Therefore, we introduce a new full endoscopic technique by combining an anterior transcorporeal approach and a posterior translaminar approach. In addition, we provide a brief description of its safety, efficacy, feasibility, and surgical points. METHODS: Thirty patients with MTCDH were given full endoscopic surgical treatment by a combined transcorporeal and transforaminal approach and were followed up for at least 12 months. RESULTS: Clinical assessment scales showed that the patient's symptoms and pain were significantly reduced postoperatively. Imaging results showed bony repair of the surgically induced bone defect and the cervical Cobb angle was increased. No serious complications occurred. CONCLUSION: This technique enables minimally invasive surgery to relieve the compression of the spinal cord by MTCDH. It avoids the fusion of the vertebral body for internal fixation, preserves the vertebral motion segments, avoids medical destruction of the cervical disc to the greatest extent possible, and expands the scope of adaptation of full endoscopic technology in cervical surgery.

Anterior Full-endoscopic Single-port Double Transcorporeal Spinal Cord Decompression for Noncontinuous Two-segment Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Technical Note.

OBJECTIVE: In clinical practice, noncontinuous two-segment spinal cord cervical spondylosis is a particular form of cervical degenerative disease. Traditional anterior open surgery frequently comes with severe trauma, risks, and debatable treatment options. This study aimed to describe for the first time a novel minimally invasive technique, namely, anterior full-endoscopic single-port double transcorporeal spinal cord decompression for the treatment of patients with noncontinuous two-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy. METHOD: From February 2020 to May 2021, five patients with noncontinuous two-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy were treated with anterior full-endoscopic single-port double transcorporeal spinal cord decompression. Two bone channels were established by the trephine through the vertebral body oblique upward and downward to the herniated disc osteophyte complex, and the full-endoscopic system could decompress the spinal cord through the channels. All cases were followed up for over 2 years. The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score before and after operation and during follow-up were used to evaluate the clinical effectiveness. Radiological examinations, including CT and MRI, were utilized to evaluate the efficacy of spinal cord decompression and bone channel repair. RESULTS: All operations were successfully completed and the average operation time was 185 min, with no operation-related complications. Compared with the preoperative evaluation, the mJOA score and VAS score were improved at each time point after operation and follow-up. Postoperative CT and MRI scans showed that the intervertebral disc-osteophyte complex was removed through the vertebral bone passage, and the spinal cord was fully decompressed. After 24 months of follow-up, CT and MRI scans showed that the bone channel was almost repaired and healed. CONCLUSION: Anterior full-endoscopic single-port double transcorporeal spinal cord decompression is an effective minimally invasive technique for noncontinuous two-segment cervical spondylosis. It provides precise and satisfactory spinal cord decompression under endoscopic visualization with minimum trauma.

Anterior percutaneous full-endoscopic transcorporeal decompression of the spinal cord via one vertebra with two bony channels for adjacent two-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a technical note.

BACKGROUND: The current treatments for adjacent two-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) include two-segment anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and single-segment anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF). Long-term follow-up has demonstrated that both procedures have complications such as reduced cervical mobility, accelerated degeneration of adjacent segments and loosening of internal fixation screws. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of anterior percutaneous full-endoscopic transcorporeal decompression of the spinal cord (APFETDSC) via one vertebra with two bony channels for the treatment of adjacent two-segment CSM and to present our surgical experience. METHODS: Anterior percutaneous full-endoscopic transcorporeal decompression of the spinal cord (APFETDSC) via one vertebra with two bony channels was performed for 12 patients with adjacent two-segment CSM with follow-up care for at least 12 months. The Visual analog scale (VAS) and the Japanese Orthopedic Association Score (JOA) were recorded, and modified Macnab criteria were used to evaluate the treatment excellence rate. Radiological examinations, including X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were used to evaluate spinal cord decompression, intervertebral stability and healing of the bony channel. RESULTS: All 12 patients completed the operation successfully. No postoperative complications, such as dysphagia, Horner's syndrome, or laryngeal recurrent nerve palsy, were found. The postoperative VAS and JOA scores were significantly improved compared with those before surgery(P < 0.001). According to the modified Macnab criteria, the clinical outcome was excellent in 8 cases, good in 3 cases and fine in 1 case at the final follow-up and the excellent and good rate was 91.7%. Postoperative and follow-up imaging showed significant spinal cord decompression, well-healed bony channels and no cervical instability. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first report of anterior percutaneous full-endoscopic transcorporeal decompression of the spinal cord via one vertebra with two bony channels. This procedure has the advantages of less trauma, faster recovery, fewer complications and no need to implant internal fixators. This is a minimally invasive, feasible and safe surgical procedure for patients with adjacent two-segment CSM.

Iron-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of α-Allenyl Esters with Grignard Reagents for the Synthesis of 1,3-Dienes.

Structurally diverse 1,3-dienes are valuable building blocks in organic synthesis. Herein we report the iron-catalyzed coupling between α-allenyl esters and Grignard reagents, which provides a fast and practical approach to a variety of complex substituted 1,3-dienes. The reaction involves an inexpensive iron catalyst, mild reaction conditions, and provides easy scale up.

Iron-Catalyzed Borylation of Propargylic Acetates for the Synthesis of Multisubstituted Allenylboronates.

A novel iron-catalyzed borylation of propargylic acetates leading to allenylboronates has been developed. The method allows the preparation of a variety of di-, tri- and tetrasubstituted allenylboronates at room temperature with good functional group compatibility. Stereochemical studies show that an anti-SN 2' displacement of acetate by boron occurs; this also allows transfer of chirality to yield enantiomerically enriched allenylboronates. The synthetic utility of this protocol was further substantiated by transformations of the obtained allenylboronates including oxidation and propargylation.

Transcorporeal decompression using a fully-endoscopic anterior cervical approach to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy: surgical design and clinical application.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common procedure for treating cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), however, ACDF may cause pseudoarthrosis, accelerated degeneration of adjacent segments, loss of activity of fused segments and other complications. The full-endoscopic technique can treat CSM, without the aforementioned complications above. Therefore, it is of great clinical value to investigate the surgical scheme of anterior percutaneous full-endoscopic transcorporeal decompression of the spinal cord (APFETDSC). METHODS: A total of 28 cases with single-segment Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) from April 2017 to July 2019 were involved in this study. The size of the disc-osteophyte complex was measured using imaging data prior to the operation. The diameter and direction of the bony passage was determined according to the size and central position of the complex, respectively. Twenty-eight patients underwent the above scheme for CSM. The clinical outcome evaluations included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores. The imaging assessment included MRI, CT and X-rays. RESULTS: The diameter of the designed bony passage was about 6.9 mm, and directed toward the lower edge of the diseased lower vertebral body oblique to the center of the disc-osteophyte complex. All patients successfully completed the operation. The postoperative neck pain VAS and JOA were significantly improved compared to preoperative values (p < 0.01). Postoperative MRI indicated complete decompression of the spinal cord. CT scanning 1 year after the operation revealed an almost healed bony passage and X-ray imaging showed satisfactory physiological curvature of the cervical spine, without cervical instability. CONCLUSION: Based on the diameter and direction of the bony passage, as determined by the size and position of the disc-osteophyte complex, indicated by MRI and CT scanning, anterior percutaneous full-endoscopic transcorporeal decompression of the spinal cord offers good decompression of the spinal cord and ensures excellent therapeutic outcome.

Percutaneous fully endoscopic surgical management of the ruptured epidural catheter: Rescue of the novice anesthesiologist from his dilemma.

Background: Epidural nerve block and analgesia are basic anesthetic techniques for anesthesia. Epidural catheter rupture and partial retention are adverse events and rare complications of epidural catheterization technique. The probability of occurrence when applied by novice doctors is high. Removal of the residual catheter by conventional surgery causes more trauma and bleeding, slows recovery, and may causes medical disputes. We hypothesized that percutaneous spinal endoscopy a safe and effective remediation technique. This study was to analyze the efficacy and safety of removing the residual dural catheter by a percutaneous full-endoscopic technique(PFET) and discuss the clinical technique and precautions. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 7 patients with ruptured epidural catheters treated in our department from October 2015 to October 2019 using the PFET to remove the remaining epidural catheter. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, surgical complications, and neurological symptoms before and after surgery were recorded. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was used to assess the anxiety level of the anesthesiologist and the patient before and after the catheter removal operation, and the postoperative low back pain VAS score was recorded. Results: The remaining epidural catheter was successfully removed from all 7 patients. The operation time was 54.14 ± 14.45 (32-78) minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 9.134 ± 3.078 (5-15) ml. There were no cases of dural damage, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, sensorimotor dysfunction of the lower limbs, or bowel dysfunction. The anxiety symptoms of the patient and the anesthesiologist disappeared after removal of the residual epidural catheter. The patients' postoperative back pain VAS score was 0 to 2 points. Conclusion: PFET is a safe and effective minimally invasive technique for removing residual epidural catheters. It causes less trauma and less bleeding, allows a faster recovery. It does not affect the recovery of patients from other surgical operations and reduces both medical risks and medical costs. At the same time, it avoids or reduces the occurrence of medical disputes and eliminates the pressure on novice anesthesiologists regarding similar adverse events.

Transfer behavior of pesticides from honeysuckle into tea infusions: Establishment of an empirical model for transfer rate prediction.

Affected by some external conditions and internal factors, pesticides can be transferred from tea into its infusion, causing subsequent damage to humans as tea infusion is generally consumed. This study aimed to explore the inherent regularity in transfer behavior of 23 pesticides belonging to different classes from honeysuckle to its tea infusion, and to understand the effects of external brewing conditions and internal physicochemical parameters of the pesticides on their transfer rates. Results indicated that the transfer rates (Rt) of pesticides from honeysuckle into tea solutions increased with prolonged brewing time, or adding a cover on a container, but decreased with increasing the times of infusion. In addition, the transfer potential of these pesticides greatly depended on their physicochemical properties but not their type. The pesticides with high water solubility and low water partition coefficient (LogKow, e.g., omethoate) were more easily transferred into tea infusions than those with low water solubility and high LogKow (e.g., chlorpyrifos). Compared the tea brewing in a covered container, the empirical models obtained in an uncovered cup predicted the transfer behavior and drinking risk of pesticides potentially introduced into honeysuckle and its tea infusion. The linear equation was as follow: Rt = 10.756 LogWS + 7.517, R = 0.8771. In practice, honeysuckle should be brewed in an uncovered cup within a short brewing time, and the first tea infusion should be abandoned to reduce the transfer percentage of pesticides. This study provided beneficial references for pesticide application in honeysuckle plantation to establish realistic maximum residue limits of multi-pesticides in honeysuckle tea and related products.

Recent advances in synthesis and modification of carbon dots for optical sensing of pesticides.

Serious threat from pesticide residues to the ecosystem and human health has become a global concern. Developing reliable methods for monitoring pesticides is a world-wide research hotspot. Carbon dots (CDs) with excellent photostability, low toxicity, and good biocompatibility have been regarded as the potential substitutes in fabricating various optical sensors for pesticide detection. Based on the relevant high-quality publications, this paper first summarizes the current state-of-the-art of the synthetic and modification approaches of CDs. Then, a comprehensive overview is given on the recent advances of CDs-based optical sensors for pesticides over the past five years, with a particular focus on photoluminescent, electrochemiluminescent and colorimetric sensors regarding the sensing mechanisms and design principles by integrating with various recognition elements including antibodies, aptamers, enzymes, molecularly imprinted polymers, and some nanoparticles. Novel functions and extended applications of CDs as signal indicators, catalyst, co-reactants, and electrode surface modifiers, in constructing optical sensors are specially highlighted. Beyond an assessment of the performances of the real-world application of these proposed optical sensors, the existing inadequacies and current challenges, as well as future perspectives for pesticide monitoring are discussed in detail. It is hoped to provide powerful insights for the development of novel CDs-based sensing strategies with their wide application in different fields for pesticide supervision.

Percutaneous Full-Endoscopic Anterior Transcorporeal Cervical Discectomy for the Treatment of Cervical Disc Herniation: Surgical Design and Results.

BACKGROUND: Studies that focus on percutaneous full-endoscopic anterior transcorporeal cervical discectomy (PEATCD) have rarely been reported. Therefore, the available data on the surgical design of PEATCD and related clinical outcomes are very limited. OBJECTIVES: To design a surgical plan for PEATCD and to evaluate its clinical efficacy in clinical application. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A center for spine surgery, rehabilitation department and pain medicine. METHODS: Based on the size and precise location of the disc protrusions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the diameter and direction of the bone channel were designed to make a surgical plan for PEATCD. A total of 26 patients with central/paracentral cervical disc herniation (CDH) who underwent PEATCD through the designed surgical plan from October 2015 to September 2016 were enrolled in the retrospective study. Clinical outcome evaluations included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores, and the modified Macnab criteria. Radiologic follow-up included cervical computerized tomography (CT) and MRI evaluations. RESULTS: The diameter of the designed bone channel was about 7.5 mm, and the direction was from the upper edge of the lower endplate obliquely toward the disc protrusion. Through the designed surgical plan, 26 cases of discectomy were successfully completed. The average operation time was 91.50 ± 16.80 min, and the average hospital stay was 4.07 ± 0.84 days. All patients were followed for an average of 19.61 ± 4.04 months. The postoperative VAS and JOA scores were significantly improved compared with the preoperative scores (P < 0.0001). Clinical efficacy at the final follow-up was evaluated by the modified Macnab criteria, and the excellent and good rate was 92.31%. Postoperative MRI showed that the disc protrusion was completely removed, and CT showed no collapse of the vertebral body. LIMITATIONS: This study has several limitations, including the lack of a control group, the small sample size, and the unavoidable nature of the single-center study design. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the size and location of the disc protrusion on MRI, the diameter and direction of the bone channel are designed, which is conducive to have enough space under the full-endoscopic field of view to completely expose and remove the disc protrusion, to avoid residuals, and to ensure that PEATCD achieves good therapeutic results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900027820).

Iron(II)-Catalyzed Aerobic Biomimetic Oxidation of N-Heterocycles.

Herein, an iron(II)-catalyzed biomimetic oxidation of N-heterocycles under aerobic conditions is described. The dehydrogenation process, involving several electron-transfer steps, is inspired by oxidations occurring in the respiratory chain. An environmentally friendly and inexpensive iron catalyst together with a hydroquinone/cobalt Schiff base hybrid catalyst as electron-transfer mediator were used for the substrate-selective dehydrogenation reaction of various N-heterocycles. The method shows a broad substrate scope and delivers important heterocycles in good-to-excellent yields.

A Novel Technique of Endoscopic Anterior Transcorporeal Approach with Channel Repair for Adjacent Segment Disease After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

OBJECTIVE: To first report the application of percutaneous full-endoscopic anterior transcorporeal cervical discectomy (PEATCD) with channel repair for a patient with adjacent segment disease (ASD) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. METHODS: PEATCD with channel repair was performed for a patient with ASD at the cranial level adjacent to previous fusion at the C5-C6 level. The pre- and postoperative clinical symptoms were evaluated with Japanese Orthopedic Association and visual analog scale (VAS). The radiological examinations included magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and plain radiographs, which were used to evaluate the cervical alignment, stability, intraoperative decompression, and bony channel. RESULTS: The procedure was successfully completed within 70 minutes. The drainage tube was unnecessary. No surgery-related complications were recorded. The postoperative neck pain immediately improved to VAS 3 from preoperative VAS 6. The Japanese Orthopedic Association scores also took a turn for the better gradually from preoperative 10 to final 16 (improvement rate 85.7%). The muscle power recovered completely, and the Hoffman sign turned to negative during follow-up periods. Magnetic resonance imaging 1 week postoperatively showed a total removal of the herniation. The bony channel was almost disappeared on computed tomography images 3 months postoperatively. During postoperative periods, no relapse, channel collapse, bone plug migration, or instability was observed. CONCLUSION: As a novel and supplemental procedure for ASD after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, PEATCD combines the advantages of transcorporeal approach and endoscopy together, which decreases iatrogenic damage to disc, preserves the cervical motion segment, and reduces surgical trauma. As the limitations of 1 case show, the effectiveness and reliability of PEATCD for patients with ASD should be verified in further studies.

Bilateral translaminar osseous-channel assisted percutaneous full-endoscopic ligamentectomy decompression for thoracic myelopathy due to ossification of the ligamentum flavum: a technical note.

INTRODUCTION: A variety of surgical procedures have been introduced to treat patients with thoracic myelopathy (TM) caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF). However, they are accompanied by significant trauma and risk, and their surgical outcomes are not always satisfactory. AIM: To describe a bilateral translaminar osseous-channel assisted posterior percutaneous full-endoscopic ligamentectomy decompression (p-PELD) technique as a novel minimally invasive procedure for treating patients with TM due to OLF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 51-year-old female patient with persistent thoracolumbar back pain and progressive numbness in the bilateral lower extremities for 2 years underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for T11 osteoporotic compression fractures (OCF) in a regional hospital one week prior to hospitalization. TM caused by canal stenosis and dorsal spinal cord compression at T10/11 secondary to OLF and an OCF at T11 were diagnosed based on clinical presentations and radiologic examinations. After bilateral p-PELD for TM was performed at T10/11, the result was confirmed based on postoperative radiographic and clinical results. RESULTS: The bilateral OLF was completely removed by the p-PELD technique. No complications were encountered, and her symptoms were sufficiently improved after surgery. The VAS score was 6 points preoperatively and decreased to 0 points at the last follow-up (24 months). The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score improved from 2 points preoperatively to 10 points at the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: As a minimally invasive technique, the bilateral translaminar osseous-channel assisted p-PELD procedure provided precise and sufficient decompression for the treatment of OLF-related TM.

Clinical effect of a novel transpedicular reducer for reduction and bone grafting combined with pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures.

BACKGROUND: Short-segment transpedicular screw fixation is a common method for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures (TBFs),but this technique has many problems. Therefore,the purpose of this article is to observe and evaluate the clinical efficacy of a novel transpedicular reducer that we designed for fractured vertebral body reduction and bone grafting in the treatment of TBFs. METHODS: From July 2018 to November 2020, 70 cases of TBFs were included. Thirty-five patients were treated with the novel transpedicular reducer for reduction and bone grafting combined with pedicle screw fixation (observation group), and 35 patients were treated with short-segment transpedicular screw fixation (control group). Before the operation, after reduction, and 3 days, 3 months,and 12 months after the operation, the two groups were assessed, and compared with respect to the anterior and middle heights of the injured vertebrae, the ratios of the anterior and middle heights of the injured vertebral body to the respective heights of the adjacent uninjured vertebral bodies (AVBHr and MVBHr, respectively), and the Cobb angle of the patients. We compared the pain VAS score and quality of life GQOL-74 score at the last follow-up. Finally,we evaluated the distribution of bone grafts and bone healing 12 months after the operation. RESULTS: The anterior height, middle height, AVBHr, MVBHr, and Cobb angle of the injured vertebral body in the observation after reduction, and 3 days, 3 months and 12 months post-operatively were compared with those of the injured vertebral body before operation. All of these parameters were improved, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). These parameters in the observation group at the above time points were significantly better than thoes in the control group at the corresponding time points (p < 0.05). The VAS scores at the last follow-up were significantly better than those of the control group (p < 0.05), but the GQOL-74 score differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The observation group showed no obvious defects on CT at 12 months after the operation, and the bone healing was good. CONCLUSION: The novel transpedicular reducer for reduction and bone grafting combined with pedicle screw fixation for TBFs has good clinical efficacy.

Translaminar Osseous Channel-Assisted Full-Endoscopic Flavectomy Decompression of Thoracic Myelopathy Caused by Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum: Surgical Technique and Results.

BACKGROUND: Previous surgical procedures for the treatment of thoracic myelopathy (TM) due to ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) were accompanied by significant trauma and risk. OBJECTIVES: Report a novel minimally invasive technique, translaminar osseous channel-assisted posterior percutaneous full-endoscopic flavectomy (p-PEF), as an alternative surgical strategy for the treatment of OLF-related TM. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A center for spine surgery and pain medicine. METHODS: Thirteen patients with TM caused by isolated OLF who underwent translaminar osseous channel-assisted p-PEF were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative and postoperative radiographic findings and clinical results were compared to confirm the efficacy of the procedure and perioperative complications were investigated to evaluate the technical safety. RESULTS: All 13 patients with 23 isolated ossified sites were successfully treated with the translaminar osseous channel-assisted p-PEF technique and no additional internal fixation was needed. With an average follow-up of 29.2 months (range, 24-36 months), no local instability was detected. The preoperative and final follow-up cross-sectional area of the stenotic dural sac was 47.87 ± 8.98 mm2 and 130.47± 19.07 mm2, respectively (P < 0.0001). The mean modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was significantly improved from 3.54 ± 1.26 points preoperatively to 9.07 ± 1.48 points at final follow-up (P < 0.0001). The Visual Analog Scale scores of thoracolumbar backaches were 5.3 ± 1.2 before surgery and 0.69 ± 0.75 at final follow-up (P = 0.001). No serious complications ensued. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study with several limitations, including the lack of a control group, small number of included samples and unavoidable nature of the single-center study design. CONCLUSIONS: Translaminar osseous channel-assisted p-PEF technique, with less tissue trauma and impact on the stability of the spine, can provide adequate decompression and satisfying outcomes in the treatment of OLF-related TM and should be considered as an alternative procedure for isolated OLF.

Analysis of compliance and efficacy of integrated management of whole process in the choice of percutaneous full-endoscopic surgery for patients with cervical disc herniation.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous spinal endoscopy is a new type of surgery for the treatment of cervical disc herniation. It can avoid the complications of the classic anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) approach and the risk of adjacent spondylosis. How can we effectively improve patients' awareness of spinal endoscopy and their election of endoscopic techniques? OBJECTIVE: To analyze the compliance and clinical effect of the integrated management of the whole process in the choice of percutaneous full-endoscopic surgery for patients with cervical disc herniation. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 72 patients with cervical disc herniation undergoing surgery in our hospital from August 2015-August 2017 was performed. The whole-process integrated management model was used for all the patients. The 36 patients in the experimental group were treated by percutaneous full-endoscopic cervical discectomy, and the 36 patients in the control group were treated by ACDF. The postoperative feeding time, time to get out of bed, length of hospital stay, compliance, clinical efficacy, and recurrence rate of neck pain were observed. Changes between the preoperative and postoperative pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores and neurological function Japan Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were assessed. RESULTS: The postoperative feeding time in the experimental group was 8.319 ± 1.374 h, the postoperative time to get out of bed was 16.64 ± 3.728 h, and the hospitalization time was 6.403 ± 0.735 days. The excellent and good clinical efficacy rate was 91.67%, the compliance rate was 88.89%, and the neck pain recurrence rate was 5.56%. The postoperative feeding time in the control group was 26.56 ± 9.512 h, the postoperative time to get out of bed was 45.06 ± 9.027 h, and the length of hospital stay was 8.208 ± 0.865 days. The excellent and good clinical efficacy rate was 88.89%, the compliance rate was 69.4%, and the neck pain recurrence rate was 8.33%. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the excellent efficacy rate and the neck pain recurrence rate, p > 0.05. The compliance rate in the experimental group was better than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant, p < 0.05. The hospitalization time of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant, p < 0.05. The postoperative VAS scores and JOA scores of the two groups were significantly better than the preoperative scores, and the difference was statistically significant, p < 0.05; there was no significant difference between the two groups, p > 0.05. CONCLUSION: The integrated management of the whole course can effectively improve the compliance of patients with cervical disc herniation receiving endoscopic treatment, yield the same treatment effect as the classic operation, shorten the hospitalization time, speed up the turnover of hospital beds, and improve satisfaction with medical quality and is worthy of clinical application.

Recent progress in immunosensors for pesticides.

Immunosensors for rapid detection of pesticide residues has attracted considerable interest in the past few years for healthcare and environmental monitoring. And the publications have grown exponentially over the past decades, making it a trending hot-spot. Therefore, this review first examines the current situation regarding pesticide residue in various foods, feeds, traditional Chinese medicines and environmental samples. Then, the primary focus is on the recent development of the proposed immunosensors for pesticide detection in the past five years, with particular emphasis on the fluorescence, colorimetric, chemiluminescence, electrochemiluminescence, surface plasmon resonance, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical and piezoelectric sensors. Beyond a highlight of the real-world application and advantages of these emerging immunosensors for pesticide inspection, this paper also discusses their potential limits and current challenges, as well as future perspectives. This review will provide powerful insights to researchers for the future development of immunosensors, as well as their broader application in different fields, such as analytical chemistry, food safety control, clinical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring.

Illicium verum essential oil, a potential natural fumigant in preservation of lotus seeds from fungal contamination.

The antifungal properties of Illicium verum essential oil (IV-EO) against a toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) were analyzed in order to determine its use in the preservation of lotus seeds. GC/MS analysis of IV-EO revealed that its main components are trans-anethole (91.32%), D-Limonene (2.0%) and estragole (2.0%). The antifungal activity of IV-EO against A. flavus infection was analyzed in vitro upon A. flavus with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) determined to be 2.0 and 4.0 µL/mL, respectively. IV-EO exhibited strong inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth and spore production of A. flavus, and caused a significant reduction in dry mycelium weight and aflatoxin B1 and B2 (AFB1 and AFB2) biosynthesis. Complete inhibition was observed at an IV-EO concentration of 3.6 µL/mL. Analysis in an in vivo (food system) demonstrated that IV-EO inhibited AFB1 and AFB2 accumulation in lotus seeds to varying degrees depending on its concentration, and completely inhibited aflatoxin production at concentrations above 6.0 µL/g. Morphological studies carried out using SEM revealed that ultra-structural changes in the hyphae and conidiophore structures following IV-EO treatment. Therefore, IV-EO has demonstrated its practical efficacy as a new biological fumigant in the preservation of lotus seeds.