Effect of Lateral Surgery Compared with Posterior Surgery on Lumbar Degenerative Disease: A Meta-Analysis of 41 Cohort Studies.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of the lateral approach and posterior approach in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. METHODS: Through a systematic search of relevant articles published on or before July 20, 2023, in the Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane libraries, the 2 authors independently extracted data and used the Newcastle‒Ottawa scale to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Using Stata16 software, the continuous variables were presented as the standard mean deviation, and the bipartite variables were analyzed using the pooled odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: A total of 13,892 articles were screened and 10,908 studies were identified after deleting duplicates, of which 41 met the criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that the lateral approach was superior to the posterior approach in reducing blood loss, operation time, and hospital stay. At the same time, compared with the posterior approach, the lateral approach has more advantages in the long-term Japanese Orthopaedic Association score and Oswestry Disability Index score, adjusting mid- and long-term LL and short- and long-term disc height. CONCLUSIONS: Lateral and posterior surgery have similar clinical effects in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases and can significantly reduce pain and improve postoperative SL. At the same time, the lateral approach has more advantages in improving long-term quality of life, reducing the long-term disability index, adjusting mid- and long-term LL and short- and long-term disc height.

Emergent trends in organ-on-a-chip applications for investigating metastasis within tumor microenvironment: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis.

Background: With the burgeoning advancements in disease modeling, drug development, and precision medicine, organ-on-a-chip has risen to the forefront of biomedical research. Specifically in tumor research, this technology has exhibited exceptional potential in elucidating the dynamics of metastasis within the tumor microenvironment. Recognizing the significance of this field, our study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global scientific contributions related to organ-on-a-chip. Methods: Publications pertaining to organ-on-a-chip from 2014 to 2023 were retrieved at the Web of Science Core Collection database. Rigorous analyses of 2305 articles were conducted using tools including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R-bibliometrix. Results: Over the 10-year span, global publications exhibited a consistent uptrend, anticipating continued growth. The United States and China were identified as dominant contributors, characterized by strong collaborative networks and substantial research investments. Predominant institutions encompass Harvard University, MIT, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Leading figures in the domain, such as Dr. Donald Ingber and Dr. Yu Shrike Zhang, emerge as pivotal collaboration prospects. Lab on a Chip, Micromachines, and Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology were the principal publishing journals. Pertinent keywords encompassed Microfluidic, Microphysiological System, Tissue Engineering, Organoid, In Vitro, Drug Screening, Hydrogel, Tumor Microenvironment, and Bioprinting. Emerging research avenues were identified as "Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis," "Application of organ-on-a-chip in drug discovery and testing" and "Advancements in personalized medicine applications". Conclusion: The organ-on-a-chip domain has demonstrated a transformative impact on understanding disease mechanisms and drug interactions, particularly within the tumor microenvironment. This bibliometric analysis underscores the ever-increasing importance of this field, guiding researchers and clinicians towards potential collaborative avenues and research directions.