Progress in the study of molecular mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Degenerative intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is one of the main spinal surgery, conditions, which markedly increases the incidence of low back pain and deteriorates the patient's quality of life, and it imposes significant social and economic burdens. The molecular pathology of IVDD is highly complex and multilateral however still not ompletely understood. New findings indicate that IVDD is closely associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, cell injury and extracellular matrix metabolismdysregulation. Symptomatic management is the main therapeutic approach adopted for IVDD, but it fails to address the basic pathological changes and the causes of the disease. However, research is still focusing on molecular aspects in terms of gene expression, growth factors and cell signaling pathways in an attempt to identify specific molecular targets for IVDD treatment. The paper summarizes the most recent achievements in molecularunderstanding of the pathogenesis of IVDD and gives evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice.

A new strategy for intervertebral disc regeneration: The synergistic potential of mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles with hydrogel scaffolds.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a disease that severely affects spinal health and is prevalent worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have regenerative potential and have emerged as promising therapeutic tools for treating degenerative discs. However, challenges such as the harsh microenvironment of degenerated intervertebral discs and EVs' limited stability and efficacy have hindered their clinical application. In recent years, hydrogels have attracted much attention in the field of IDD therapy because they can mimic the physiologic microenvironment of the disc and provide a potential solution by providing a suitable growth environment for MSCs and EVs. This review introduced the biological properties of MSCs and their derived EVs, summarized the research on the application of MSCs and EVs in IDD, summarized the current clinical trial studies of MSCs and EVs, and also explored the mechanism of action of MSCs and EVs in intervertebral discs. In addition, plenty of research elaborated on the mechanism of action of different classified hydrogels in tissue engineering, the synergistic effect of MSCs and EVs in promoting intervertebral disc regeneration, and their wide application in treating IDD. Finally, the challenges and problems still faced by hydrogel-loaded MSCs and EVs in the treatment of IDD are summarized, and potential solutions are proposed. This paper outlines the synergistic effects of MSCs and EVs in treating IDD in combination with hydrogels and aims to provide theoretical references for future related studies.

Bibliometric and visual analysis of spinal cord injury-associated macrophages from 2002 to 2023.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers motor, sensory, and autonomic impairments that adversely damage patients' quality of life. Its pathophysiological processes include inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, although existing treatment options have little success. Macrophages have a vital function in controlling inflammation in SCI, with their M1-type and M2-type macrophages dominating early inflammatory effects and late brain tissue repair and regeneration, respectively. However, there is a dearth of rigorous bibliometric study in this sector to explore its dynamics and trends. This study intends to examine the current status and trends of macrophage usage in SCI using bibliometric methodologies, which may drive novel therapeutic options. Methods: In this study, the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) was utilized to collect publications and reviews on macrophages in SCI from 2002 to 2023. Bibliometrics and visualization analyses were performed by VOSviewer, CiteSpace, the R package "bibliometrix", and online analytic platforms. These analyses covered a variety of aspects, including countries and institutions, authors and co-cited authors, journals and co-cited journals, subject categories, co-cited references, and keyword co-occurrences, in order to provide insights into the research trends and hotspots in this field. Results: 1,775 papers were included in the study, comprising 1,528 articles and 247 reviews. Our research analysis demonstrates that the number of relevant studies in this sector is expanding, specifically the number of publications in the United States and China has risen dramatically. However, there are fewer collaborations between institutions in different nations, and international cooperation needs to be reinforced. Among them, Popovich PG became the leader in the field, and significant journals include Experimental Neurology, Journal of Neurotrauma, and Journal of Neuroscience. Research hotspots involve macrophage polarization, microglia, astrocytes, signaling, cytokines, inflammation, and neuroprotection. Conclusions: This analysis gives, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of bibliometric studies on macrophages in SCI over the past 20 years. This study not only gives an extensive picture of the knowledge structure but also indicates trends in the subject. The systematic summarization gives a complete and intuitive understanding of the link between spinal cord damage and macrophages and provides a great reference for future related studies.

Application and progress of three-dimensional bioprinting in spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a central nervous system disorder that can lead to sensory and motor dysfunction, which can seriously increase pressure and economic burden on families and societies. The current SCI treatment is mainly to stabilize the spine, prevent secondary damage, and control inflammation. Drug treatment is limited to early, large-scale use of steroids to reduce the effects of edema after SCI. In short, there is no direct treatment for SCI. Recent 3D bioprinting development provides a new solution for SCI treatment: a series of spinal cord bionic scaffolds are being developed to improve spinal cord function after injury. This paper reviews the pathophysiological characteristics of SCI, current treatment methods, and the progress of 3D bioprinting in SCI. Finally, its challenges and prospects in SCI treatment are summarized.