Comparisons between needle puncture and chondroitinase ABC to induce intervertebral disc degeneration in rabbits.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effect of needle puncture and chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) injection on inducing intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) in rabbits. METHODS: Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study. Briefly, the rabbits were divided into four groups. In the annulus fibrosis (AF) needle puncture group, a 16-G needle was used to puncture the L5-6 and L6-7 IVDs, while in the sham group, these IVDs were not punctured. In the ChABC group, 30 µL 0.5 Unit/mL ChABC was injected into L5-6 and L6-7 IVDs using a 26-G needle, while in the vehicle group, these IVDs were injected with 30 µL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). X-ray and MRI scans were performed at the 4th, 12th and 16th weeks postoperatively. Histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses were performed at the 16th week postoperatively. RESULTS: Both needle puncture and ChABC successfully established IVDD in rabbits at 4th, 12th and 16th weeks, confirmed by X-ray and MRI scan. The progression of IVDD went in a time-dependent manner. The IVDD in the ChABC group was less severe than in the needle puncture group throughout the study. Aggrecan and type II collagen significantly decreased, while tumor necrosis factor-α and superoxide dismutase 2 increased in the needle puncture and ChABC groups, compared with the sham and PBS groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both AF needle puncture and ChABC injection can successfully induce IVDD in rabbits. Compared with ChABC injection, AF needle puncture can induce more severe IVDD.

Aberrantly expressed long non-coding RNAs in air pollution-induced congenital defects.

Air pollution has been a serious public health issue over the past few decades particularly in developing countries. Air pollution exposure during pregnancy poses potential threat to offspring as the deleterious substances might pass through placenta to alter foetal development. A growing number of studies have demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the development of many diseases, including congenital defects. Here, we used RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs in air pollution-exposed rat embryos compared with control group. Our data suggested that 554 lncRNAs (216 up-regulated and 338 down-regulated) were significantly differentially expressed in the air pollution-exposed embryos. Moreover, potential cellular functions of these deregulated lncRNAs were predicted via KEGG signal pathway/GO enrichment analyses, which suggested the possible involvements of neurological process, sensory perception of smell and the G-protein signalling pathway. Furthermore, potential functional network of deregulated lncRNAs and their correlated mRNAs in the development of congenital spinal abnormality was established. Our data suggested that lncRNAs may play a vital role in the pathophysiology of air pollution-exposed congenital spinal malformation.

MicroRNA signature of air pollution exposure-induced congenital defects.

Air pollution exposure has been increasing extensively and there are evidence suggesting that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can lead to congenital defects in the offspring. Recent findings suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) might play important roles in the pathogenesis of developmental defects. However, the miRNAs profile pattern in the air pollution-exposed embryos remains unknown. RNA sequencing was performed to determine the differentially expressed miRNAs in the rat embryos (gestation day 9) with or without air pollution exposure. The potential functions and the associated mechanisms of these differentially expressed miRNAs were determined using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. The regulatory networks of mRNA-miRNA interactions were also reconstructed. As compared with the control group, a total of 291 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the rat embryos from the air pollution-exposed group, in which 204 and 87 miRNAs were significantly downregulated and upregulated, respectively. These miRNAs were predicted to deregulate mitotic spindle organization, cellular respiration, glycolate metabolism, and proteasome. Extensive regulation of target genes by miR-346, miR-504, miR-214-3p and miR-1224 was also predicted. Our results suggested that miRNAs may play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of air pollution-induced congenital spinal defects through deregulating multiple biological processes.

Fe-N-Graphene Wrapped Al2O3/Pentlandite from Microalgae: High Fenton Catalytic Efficiency from Enhanced Fe3+ Reduction.

Efficient cycling of Fe3+/Fe2+ is a key step for the Fenton reaction. In this exploration, from microalgae, we have prepared a novel Fe-N-graphene wrapped Al2O3/pentlandite composite which showed high Fenton catalytic ability through accelerating of Fe3+ reduction. The catalyst exhibits high activity, good reusability along with stability, and wide adaptation for the organics degradation under neutral pH. High TON and H2O2 utilization efficiency have also reached by this catalyst. Characterization results disclose a unique structure that the layered Fe-N-graphene structure tightly covers on Al2O3/pentlandite particles. Mechanistic evidence suggests that the accelerated Fe3+/Fe2+ redox cycle originates from the enhanced electron transfer by the synergistic effect of Fe, Ni and Al in the catalyst, and it causes the low H2O2 consumption and high •OH generation rate. Moreover, organic radicals formed in the Fenton process also participate in the Fe3+ reduction, and this process may be accelerated by the N doped graphene through a quick electron transfer. These findings stimulate an approach with great potential to further extend the synthetic power and versatility of Fenton catalysis through N doped graphene in catalysts.

Association of Genes implicated in primary angle-closure Glaucoma and the ocular biometric parameters of anterior chamber depth and axial length in a northern Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: The membrane frizzled-related protein (MFRP) gene is involved in axial length (AL) regulation and MFRP mutations cause nanophthalmos; also, the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene is reported to result in morphologic changes of the anterior segment and abnormal aqueous regulation that increases the risk of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), while the zinc ring finger 3 (ZNRF3) gene is associated with AL. The present study investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ZNRF3, HGF and MFRP with PACG in a northern Chinese population, as well as the association of these SNPs with the ocular biometric parameters of anterior chamber depth (ACD) and AL. METHODS: A total of 500 PACG patients and 720 controls were recruited. All individuals were genotyped for 12 SNPs in three genes (rs7290117, rs2179129, rs4823006 and rs3178915 in ZNRF3; rs5745718, rs12536657, rs12540393, rs17427817 and rs3735520 in HGF, rs2510143, rs36015759 and rs3814762 in MFRP) using an improved multiplex ligation detection reaction (iMLDR) technique. Genotypic distribution was analyzed for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Differences in the allelic and genotypic frequencies were evaluated and adjusted by age and sex. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns were tested and haplotype analysis was conducted by a logistic regression model. Generalized estimation equation (GEE) analysis was conducted using SPSS for primary association testing between genotypes and ocular biometric parameters. Bonferroni corrections for multiple comparisons were performed, and the statistical power was calculated by power and sample size calculations. RESULTS: The rs7290117 SNP in ZNRF3 was significantly associated with the AL, with a p-value of 0.002. We did not observe any significant associations between the SNPs and PACG or ACD. In a stratification analysis by ethnicity, rs12540393 and rs17427817 in HGF showed a nominal association with PACG in the Hui cohort, although significance was lost after correction. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests rs7290117 in ZNRF3 may be involved in the regulation of AL, though our results do not support a contribution of the SNPs we tested in ZNRF3, HGF and MFRP to PACG in northern Chinese people. Further studies in a larger population are warranted to confirm this conclusion.

Carbon supported "core-shell structure" of Fe nanoparticles for enhanced Fenton reaction activity and magnetic separation.

Effectively facilitating Fe3+/Fe2+ cycles and expanding its operating pH range are keys to optimizing the traditional Fenton reaction. In this exploration, we used chitosan and ferrous sulfate as precursors to prepare a multicomponent magnetic Fe/C Fenton-like catalyst, which exhibited extraordinary catalytic properties and excellent stability performance in a pH range of 4~8. Besides, it could be easily separated from the solution by a magnet. The characterization showed that the supported Fe species include troilite-2H (FeS), lepidocrocite (FeOOH), and pyrrhotite-6T (Fe1 - xS) with a unique "core-shell structure." The presence of reductive iron sulfide core in the system can accelerate the reduction of Fe(III). Meanwhile, the graphite-like structure formed after calcination can adsorb and enrich priority pollutants near the active site through π-π coupling and strengthen electron transfer, which endows its high catalytic performance and enables it invulnerable to dissolved organic compounds.

Metabolomics Reveals Molecular Signatures for Psoriasis Biomarkers and Drug Targets Discovery.

Purpose: Psoriasis is a chronic, multi-system skin disease that can be influenced by immunological, environmental, and genetic factors. Plasma metabolomic analysis can provide a great deal of information on potential diagnostic biomarkers, pathogenesis and personalized treatment. However, the role of metabolites in psoriasis is unknown. Patients and Methods: We performed an untargeted metabolomic analysis of plasma based on high-resolution liquid chromatography mass spectrometry from 10 plaque psoriasis patients and 10 healthy controls. Results: A total of 301 differential metabolites were detected, of which 10 metabolites were possible potential biomarkers, including vitamins, amino acids, and lipids. At the same time, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed for all detected differential metabolites, and it was found that protein digestion and absorption, amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism may be jointly involved in regulating the pathogenesis of psoriasis. In addition, the proteins ESR1, OPRM1 and HSD11B1 were identified as possible potential topical therapeutic targets for psoriasis through analysis of the metabolite-protein interaction network. Conclusion: In this study, we identified 10 differential metabolites as possible potential combinatorial biomarkers for the diagnosis of psoriasis. 12 metabolic pathways were significantly enriched that may be closely related to the occurrence and development of psoriasis. Three proteins, ESR1, OPRM1, and HSD11B1, were identified as possible potential therapeutic targets for psoriasis.

The strong promoting effects of thin layer Al2O3 on FeCu Fenton-like components: Enhanced electron transfer.

The Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycle is the main factor limiting the effectiveness of Fe-mediated advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the degradation of organic pollutants. In this study, the promoting effects of thin-layer Al2O3 (t-Al2O3) between the frequently used FeCu components and the mesoporous silica support were studied to reduce Fe(III) to promote the activity of the Fenton-like catalyst. After modification by t-Al2O3, the mesoporous silicon-loaded FeCu catalyst removed 97% of Rhodamine B at pH 7, which was superior to the unmodified sample with a removal rate of 62.4% under the same conditions. Morphological characterization and X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the Fe-Cu/t-Al2O3 active components were highly dispersed. Pyridine infrared spectra suggested that all of the acid sites were Lewis acids, and the t-Al2O3-loaded samples provided moderate/strong Lewis acids. The loading of t-Al2O3 between the FeCu complex and mesoporous silica support facilitated electron transfer during the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycle by enhancing the dispersion of Fe-Cu/t-Al2O3 and the Lewis acidity. The results of this study provide insight into how t-Al2O3 promoted the interactions between the active components and silica support and how it can be used to aid in the selection of suitable wastewater treatment technologies.

Study on the Control of Dichloroacetonitrile Generation by Two-Point Influent Activated Carbon-Quartz Sand Biofilter.

Aiming at the problem of highly toxic Nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBPs) produced by disinfection in the process of drinking water, two-point influent activated carbon-quartz sand biofilter, activated carbon-quartz sand biofilter, and quartz sand biofilter are selected. This study takes typical N-DBPs Dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) as the research object and aromatic amino acid Tyrosine (Tyr), an important precursor of DCAN, as the model precursor. By measuring the changes of conventional pollutants in different biofilters, and the changes of Tyr, the output DCAN formation potential of the biofilters, this article investigates the control of DCAN generation of the two-point influent activated carbon-quartz sand biofilter. The results show that the average Tyr removal rate of the three biofilters during steady operation is 73%, 50%, and 20%, respectively, while the average effluent DCAN generation potential removal rate is 78%, 52%, and 23%, respectively. The two-point influent activated carbon-sand biofilter features the highest removal rate. The two-point water intake improves the hypoxia problem of the lower filter material of the activated carbon-quartz sand biofilter, and at the same time, the soluble microbial products produced by microbial metabolism can be reduced by an appropriate carbon sand ratio, which is better than traditional quartz sand filters and activated carbon-quartz sand biofilters in the performance of controlling the precursors of N-DBPs.

Analysis of lumbar vertebrae fractures among inpatients in a primary hospital: A 10-year epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and changing trends of lumbar fractures in Xingtai Orthopedic Hospital in the past 10 years, and to improve the prevention and treatment of lumbar fractures. METHODS: Using the hospital information system, data on patients with lumbar fractures in our hospital from 2009 to 2018 were collected regarding their age, gender, fracture time, injury mechanism, and the type of fracture. The epidemiological characteristics and trends of lumbar fractures for the period were summarized and analyzed. RESULTS: The age of male patients with a high incidence of lumbar fractures was 61 to 70 years, followed by 51 to 60 years. The age of female patients with the highest incidence rate was 61 to 70 years, followed by 51 to 60 years (19.22%). Lumbar fractures in group A were predominantly of men. The majority of lumbar fractures in group B were of women. In group A, the incidence rate was higher in young men (21-50 years) than in women and higher in women >51 years. Most of the affected individuals were women. In group B, there were more middle-aged and young men (21-50 years) than women; however, there were more women than men aged ≥51 years. Car accident injury was the main cause of fractures, but in group B women, low-energy injuries were the main cause of fractures. The periods of high incidence in groups A and B were 4 to 6 years and 7 to 9 years, respectively. The number of injuries in group A was the highest and burst fracture was the main fracture type. In group B, the number of fall injuries was the highest, followed by car accident injuries, and compression fracture was the main fracture type. CONCLUSION: The number of lumbar fractures in women caused by low-energy injuries showed an increasing trend. The type of compression fracture increased, which might be related to osteoporosis caused by the decrease in the estrogen level after menopause.

Comparing the influence of humic/fulvic acid and tannic acid on Cr(VI) adsorption onto polystyrene microplastics: Evidence for the formation of Cr(OH)3 colloids.

Microplastics (MPs) can act as vectors for various contaminants in the aquatic environment. Although some research has investigated the adsorption characteristics and influencing factors of metals/organic molecules on MPs, the effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM) (which are ubiquitous active species in ecosystems) on metal oxyanions such as Cr(VI) capture by MPs are largely unknown. This study explored the adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of Cr(VI) oxyanions onto polystyrene (PS) MPs using batch adsorption experiments and multiple spectroscopic methods. The effects of representative DOM components (i.e., humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA) and tannic acid (TA)) on Cr(VI) capture by PS were particularly studied. Results revealed a significantly enhanced adsorption of Cr(VI) on PS in the presence of TA. The Cr(VI) adsorption capacity was increased from 2876 µg g-1 to 4259 µg g-1 and 5135 µg g-1 when the TA concentrations raised from 0 to 10 and 20 mg L-1, respectively. Combined microscopic and spectroscopic investigations revealed that Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) by TA and formed stable Cr(OH)3 colloids on PS surfaces. Contrarily, HA and FA inhibited Cr(VI) adsorption onto PS, especially at pH > 2.0 and higher DOM concentrations, due to site competition and electrostatic repulsion. Increase in pH was found to reduce zeta potentials of MPs, resulting in inhibited Cr(VI) adsorption. The adsorbed Cr(VI) declined with increasing ionic strength, implying that outer-sphere surface complexation affected the adsorption process in the presence of DOM. These new findings improved our fundamental understanding of the fate of Cr(VI) and MPs in DOM-rich environmental matrices.

Effect of the rapid increase of salinity on anoxic-oxic biofilm reactor for treatment of high-salt and high-ammonia-nitrogen wastewater.

The washing wastewater from the desulfuration and denitration of power plants has high salt (chloride and sulfate) and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations and is difficult to treat using microbiological methods. A novel anoxic/oxic biofilm process was developed to remove ammonia from wastewater. Three rapid strategies (sulfate concentration was increased from 0 to 60 g/L in 6, 13, and 22 days (R1, R2, and R3, respectively)) were applied and produced biofilm with the same nitrification capacity as slow strategies (100-203 days). Excessive organics inhibited the nitrification capacity of the biofilm. R1 excelled at ammonia removal (from 30% to 95%, 70 mg/(L·d), with an effluent ammonia concentration of 4 mg/L) at 60 g/L salinity after the organic load was reduced. The content of extracellular polymeric substances in biofilm depended on its capacity to remove organics. Pseudomonas and Thauera were enriched in the three reactors. Controlling the organic load might prevent the sulfur cycle.

One Approach Anterior Decompression and Fixation with Posterior Unilateral Pedicle Screw Fixation for Thoracolumbar Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present paper was to explore the clinical effect of one approach anterior decompression and fixation with posterior unilateral pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures (OVCF). METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective analysis. A total of six thoracolumbar OVCF patients (four women and two men) with an average age of 65.2 years (58-72 years) who were treated between June 2016 and May 2018 were enrolled in the present study. The lesion segments included: 1 case at T11, 1 case at T12, 3 cases at L1, and 1 case at L2. The six thoracolumbar OVCF patients were treated with one approach anterior decompression and fixation with posterior unilateral pedicle screw fixation. After general anesthesia, patients were placed in the right lateral decubitus position, an approximately 10-15-cm oblique incision was made along corresponding ribs, and the conventional left retroperitoneal and/or the extrapleural approach was performed for anterior lateral exposure. First, anterior decompression and fixation were performed, and then through the unilateral paraspinal muscle approach, posterior pedicle screw fixation was performed under the same incision. The back pain visual analogue scale (VAS), the Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the MacNab criteria were used to evaluate the clinical outcome. The radiographic analysis included the regional kyphosis angle and the fusion rate. Neurological status, operation time, intraoperative bleeding, the time of ambulation, hospital stay, and surgical complications were also assessed. RESULTS: Surgery was successful in all six patients, who were followed up for 31.6 months (range, 23-46 months). The operation time was 125-163 min, with a median of 135 min. The preoperative blood loss was 580-1230 mL, with a median of 760 mL. The time of ambulation was 3-5 days, with a median of 4.2 days. The hospital stay was 8-15 days, with the median of 10.5 days. According to the Frankel classification of neurological deficits, of two patients with grade C preoperatively, one had improved to grade D and one had improved to grade E at final follow up; among four patients with grade D preoperatively, at the final follow up one remained the same and three had improved to grade E. The postoperative back pain VAS score decreased significantly, from 6.17 ± 0.75 preoperatively to 0.83 ± 0.41 postoperatively (P < 0.05). The mean ODI score was 73.7 ± 5.86 preoperatively and reduced to 21.85 ± 3.27 postoperatively (P < 0.05). According to the MacNab criteria, at the final follow up, two patients rated their satisfaction as excellent, three patients as good, and one patient as fair. The mean regional kyphosis angle was 22.17° ± 6.01°before surgery, which improved to 9.33° ± 3.88° at the final follow up (P < 0.05). At the final follow up, there were two patients who had achieved a grade 2 bony fusion (33.3%), three patients grade 3 (50.0%), and one patient grade 4 (16.7%). No incision infections, internal fixation failures or other complications were found during the perioperative and the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: One approach anterior decompression and fixation with posterior unilateral pedicle screw fixation provides a novel method for thoracolumbar OVCF disease, with a satisfactory clinical outcome.

Fluoroscopy-Guided Blockade of the Greater Occipital Nerve in Cadavers: A Comparison of Spread and Nerve Involvement for Different Injectate Volumes.

Background: Fluoroscopy-guided blockade of the greater occipital nerve (GON) is an accepted method for treating the symptoms of cervicogenic headaches (CGHs). However, the spread patterns among different injectate volumes of fluoroscopy-guided GON blocks are not well defined. Objective: A cadaveric study was established to determine the spread patterns of different volumes of dye injectate within a fluoroscopic GON block. Study Design. Cadaveric study. Setting. Xingtai Institute of Orthopaedics; Orthopaedic Hospital of Xingtai. Methods: 15 formalin-fixed cadavers with intact cervical spines were randomized in a 1 : 1 : 1 ratio to receive a fluoroscopy-guided GON injection of a 2, 3.5, or 5 ml volume of methylene blue. The suboccipital regions were dissected to investigate nerve involvement. Results: The suboccipital triangle regions, including the suboccipital nerves and GONs, were deeply stained in all cadavers. The third occipital nerve (TON) was stained in 7 of 10 administered 2 ml injections and in all the 3.5 ml and 5 ml injections. Compared to the 3 ml injectate group, the 5 mL cohort consistently saw injectate spreading to both superficial and distant muscles. Limitations. Given that cadavers were used in this study, cadaveric soft tissue composition and architecture can potentially become distorted and consequently affect injectate diffusion. Conclusions: A 3.5 or 5 mL fluoroscopy-guided GON injection of methylene blue successfully stains the GON, TON, and suboccipital nerves. This suggests that such an injection would generate blockade of all three nerve groups, which may contribute to the efficacy of the block for CGH. A volume of 3.5 ml may be enough for the performance of a fluoroscopy-guided GON block for therapeutic purposes.

Performance and microbial communities of different biofilm membrane bioreactors with pre-anoxic tanks treating mariculture wastewater.

The performance of pollutant removals, activated sludge characteristics, and microbial communities of two biofilm membrane bioreactors coupled with pre-anoxic tanks (BF-AO-MBRs) (one using fiber bundle bio-carriers (FB-MBR) and the other using suspended bio-carriers (MB-MBR)) were compared at the salinity between zero and 60 g/L. At all salinities, three bioreactors showed good COD average removal efficiencies (>94.1%), and FB-MBR showed the best TN removal efficiency (90.4% at 30 g/L salinity). Moreover, FB-MBR had the faster process start-up time and better salt shock resistance. At high salinities (30-60 g/L), more extracellular polymeric substances were produced by the BF-AO-MBRs to avoid the penetration of salt and protect the bacterial community. Because of the different attachment patterns of biofilms, the microbial community structure in the FB-MBR exposed to 30 g/L salinity had higher nitrite-oxidizing/ammonia-oxidizing bacteria ratio (6.44) with more abundance of denitrifiers, which contribute to higher TN removal efficiency and lower nitrite accumulation.

Embryonic gene expression altered by maternal exposure to air pollution in rats.

Exposure to air pollution is known to increase the risks for cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic diseases. Growing evidences also indicated that air pollution exposure during pregnancy could negatively impact on early embryonic development and children's health. We performed RNA sequencing to identify deregulated mRNAs in air pollution-exposed rat embryos. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were used to analyse the potential cellular functions of deregulated mRNAs. Our analysis indicated that a total of 1678 mRNAs were differentially expressed on gestation day 9 upon in utero exposure to fine particulate matter of > 200 µg/m3, among which 1098 mRNAs were downregulated and 580 mRNAs were upregulated. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed gap junction, cell adhesion, axon guidance and the neurotrophin signalling pathway as key biological processes perturbed by air pollution exposure. Furthermore, reconstruction of the mRNA regulatory network highlighted the central roles of Tbx4, Bmp4, Sox10, Wnt9b, Bmp7 and Foxc2. These data suggested that embryonic mRNA deregulation may underlie the formation of air pollution-associated congenital defects.

Minimally invasive injectable lumbar interbody fusion with mineralized collagen-modified PMMA bone cement: A new animal model.

This study was to develop a feasible and safe animal model for minimally invasive injectable lumbar interbody fusion using a novel biomaterial, mineralized collagen-polymethylmethacrylate bone cement (MC-PMMA), with unilateral pedicle screw fixation in an in vivo goat model. Eight goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) were divided into three groups: MC-PMMA, unmodified commercial-polymethylmethacrylate bone cement (UC-PMMA), and a control group (titanium cage filled with autogenous bone, TC-AB). Each group of goats was treated with minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion at the L3/L4 and L5/L6 disc spaces (injected for MC-PMMA and UC-PMMA, implanted for TC-AB). The pedicle screws were inserted at the L3, L4, L5, and L6 vertebrae, respectively, and fixed on the left side. The characteristics of osteogenesis and bone growth were assessed at the third and the sixth month, respectively. The methods of evaluation included the survival of each animal, X-ray imaging, and 256-layer spiral computed tomography (256-CT) scanning, imaged with three-dimensional microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT), and histological analysis. The results showed that PMMA bone cement can be extruded smoothly after doping MC, the MC-PMMA integrates better with bone than the UC-PMMA, and all goats recovered after surgery without nerve damage. After 3 and 6 months, the implants were stable. New trabecular bone was observed in the TC-AB group. In the UC-PMMA group a thick fibrous capsule had formed around the implants. The MC-PMMA was observed to have perfect osteogenesis and bone ingrowth to adjacent bone surface. Minimally invasive injectable lumbar interbody fusion using MC-PMMA bone cement was shown to have profound clinical value, and the MC-PMMA showed potential application prospects.

Stable cuprous active sites in Cu+-graphitic carbon nitride: Structure analysis and performance in Fenton-like reactions.

Cu+-based catalysts have great potential in Fenton reactions under neutral pH conditions. However, cuprous (Cu+) materials are instable in the aqueous environment. Herein, using the cheap precursors, a Cu+-graphitic carbon nitride complex with an efficient Fenton-like activity as well as relative stability was prepared. 99.2% removal of Rhodamine B with an initial concentration of 50 mg/L could be attained in 1 h. Several experimental techniques are employed to study the structure of this catalyst. Results show that after the addition of Cu, the graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) network is partially destroyed and the reduced Cu is therefore firmly embedded in the fragmentary g-C3N4 sheet. The X-ray adsorption fine spectra illustrates the chemical state and the local structure of the bonded Cu. Due to the strong orbital hybridization, Cu+ could be stabilized through the coordination with pyridinic N. A two-coordinate structure with a bond length of 1.90 Šis confirmed and this structure is not changed even after the Fenton-like reaction. Singlet oxygen (1O2) and hydroxyl radicals (HO•) are produced by the rapid interaction of bonded Cu+ with H2O2 and the resulting Cu2+ can be easily reduced to its cuprous state due to its structure stability, leading to its high activity in the Fenton-like reaction.

Differentially expressed circular RNAs in air pollution-exposed rat embryos.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are an important class of non-coding RNAs partly by acting as microRNA sponges. Growing evidence indicates that air pollution exposure during pregnancy could lead to congenital defects in the offspring. In this study, using circRNAs sequencing, we profiled differentially expressed circRNAs in rat embryos exposed to a high concentration (> 200 µg/m3) of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in utero. Compared with the control embryos whose mothers were reared in clean air, 25 and 55 circRNAs were found to be downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in the air pollution-exposed group. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of circRNA-coexpressed genes indicated that segmentation, brain development, and system development together with lysine degradation, Rap1 signaling pathway, and adrenergic signaling were deregulated by in utero air pollution exposure. We also identified the central role of three circRNAs, namely circ_015003, circ_030724, and circ_127215 in the circRNA-microRNA interaction network. These data suggested that circRNA deregulation might play a crucial role in the development of air pollution-associated congenital malformations.

Evaluating correlation between the ocular biometry and genetic variants of MYOC and ABCA1 with primary angle-closure glaucoma in a cohort from northern China.

AIM: To investigate whether the gene variants in MYOC and ABCA1 are associated with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) and axial length (AL) in samples from northern China. METHODS: The present case-control association study consisted of 500 PACG patients and 720 unrelated controls. Each participant was genotyped for eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MYOC and ABCA1 genes (rs12076134, rs183532, rs235875 and rs235913 in MYOC, rs2422493, rs2487042, rs2472496, rs2472493, rs2487032, rs2472459 and rs2472519 near ABCA1) using an improved multiplex ligation detection reaction (iMLDR) technique. The genetic association analyses were performed by PLINK using a logistic regression model. The association between genotypes and ocular biometric parameters was performed by SPSS using generalized estimation equation. Bonferroni corrections were implemented and the statistical power was calculated by the Power and Sample Size Calculation. RESULTS: Two SNPs rs183532 and rs235875 as well as a haplotype TTC in MYOC were nominally associated with PACG despite the significance was lost after Bonferroni correction. No association was observed between ABCA1 and PACG, neither did the association between these variants and ACD as well as AL. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests MYOC and ABCA1 do not play a part in the pathogenesis of PACG as well as the regulation of ocular biometric parameters in a northern Chinese population. Further investigations with large sample size are needed to verify this consequence.