Facile Preparation of a Transparent, Self-Healing, and Recyclable Polysiloxane Elastomer Based on a Dynamic Imine and Boroxine Bond.

Transparent polysiloxane elastomers with good self-healing and reprocessing abilities have attracted significant attention in the field of artificial skin and flexible displays. Herein, we propose a simple one-pot method to fabricate a room temperature self-healable polysiloxane elastomer (HPDMS) by introducing dynamic and reversible imine bonds and boroxine into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) networks. The presence of imine bonds and boroxine is proved by FT-IR and NMR spectra. The obtained HPDMS elastomer is highly transparent with a transmittance of up to 80%. The TGA results demonstrated that the HPDMS elastomer has good heat resistance and can be used in a wide temperature range. A lower glass transition temperature (Tg, -127.4 °C) was obtained and revealed that the elastomer is highly flexible at room temperature. Because of the reformation of dynamic reversible imine bonds and boroxine, the HPDMS elastomers exhibited excellent autonomous self-healing properties. After healing for 3 h, the self-healing efficiency of HPDMS reached 96.3% at room temperature. Moreover, the elastomers can be repeatedly reprocessed multiple times under milder conditions. This work provides a simple but effective method to prepare transparent self-healable and reprocessable polysiloxane elastomers.

The role of noncoding RNAs in beta cell biology and tissue engineering.

The loss or dysfunction of pancreatic ß-cells, which are responsible for insulin secretion, constitutes the foundation of all forms of diabetes, a widely prevalent disease worldwide. The replacement of damaged ß-cells with regenerated or transplanted cells derived from stem cells is a promising therapeutic strategy. However, inducing the differentiation of stem cells into fully functional glucose-responsive ß-cells in vitro has proven to be challenging. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulatory factors governing the differentiation, identity, and function of ß-cells. Furthermore, engineered hydrogel systems, biomaterials, and organ-like structures possess engineering characteristics that can provide a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment that supports stem cell differentiation. This review summarizes the roles and contributions of ncRNAs in maintaining the differentiation, identity, and function of ß-cells. And it focuses on regulating the levels of ncRNAs in stem cells to activate ß-cell genetic programs for generating alternative ß-cells and discusses how to manipulate ncRNA expression by combining hydrogel systems and other tissue engineering materials. Elucidating the patterns of ncRNA-mediated regulation in ß-cell biology and utilizing this knowledge to control stem cell differentiation may offer promising therapeutic strategies for generating functional insulin-producing cells in diabetes cell replacement therapy and tissue engineering.

How much improvement in Oswestry Disability Index is Necessary to make your Patient Satisfied after Lumbar Surgery?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of cohort studies. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the necessary ODI improvement for patient satisfaction two years after lumbar surgery. BACKGROUND: Evaluating elective lumbar surgery care often involves patient-reported outcomes (PRO). While postoperative functional improvement measured by ODI is theoretically linked to satisfaction, conflicting evidence exists regarding this association. METHODS: Baseline ODI and 2-year postoperative ODI were assessed. Patient satisfaction, measured on a scale from 1 to 5, with scores ≥4 considered satisfactory, was evaluated. Patients with incomplete follow-up were excluded. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney-U and multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, and BMI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis determined threshold values for ODI improvement and postoperative target ODI indicative of patient satisfaction. RESULTS: 383 patients were included (mean age 65±10 y, 57% female). ODI improvement was observed in 91% of patients, with 77% reporting satisfaction scores ≥4. Baseline ODI (median 62, IQR 46-74) improved to a median of 10 (IQR 1-10) 2 years postoperatively. Baseline (OR 0.98, P=0.015) and postoperative ODI scores (OR 0.93, P<0.001), as well as the difference between them (OR 1.04, P< 0.001), were significantly associated with patient satisfaction. Improvement of ≥38 ODI points or a relative change of ≥66% was indicative for patient satisfaction, with higher sensitivity (80%) and specificity (82%) for the relative change versus the absolute change (69%, 68%). With a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 77%, a postoperative target ODI of ≤24 indicated patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Lower baseline ODI and greater improvements in postoperative ODI are associated with an increased likelihood of patient satisfaction. A relative improvement of ≥66% or achieving a postoperative ODI score of ≤24 were the most indicative thresholds for predicting patient satisfaction, proving more sensitivity and specificity than an absolute change of ≥38 points.

Importance of the cervical paraspinal muscles in postoperative patient-reported outcomes and maintenance of sagittal alignment after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of preoperatively assessed paraspinal muscle parameters on postoperative patient-reported outcomes and maintenance of cervical sagittal alignment after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). METHODS: Patients with preoperative and postoperative standing cervical spine lateral radiographs and preoperative cervical MRI who underwent an ACDF between 2015 and 2018 were reviewed. Muscles from C3 to C7 were segmented into 4 functional groups: anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral, and sternocleidomastoid. The functional cross-sectional area and also the percent fat infiltration (FI) were calculated for all groups. Radiographic alignment parameters collected preoperatively and postoperatively included C2-7 lordosis and C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA). Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores were recorded preoperatively and at 2 and 4-6 months postoperatively. To investigate the relationship between muscle parameters and postoperative changes in sagittal alignment, multivariable linear mixed models were used. Multivariable linear regression models were used to analyze the correlations between the changes in NDI scores and the muscles' FI. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients with NDI and 157 patients with sagittal alignment measurements with a median follow-up of 364 days were reviewed. The mixed models showed that a greater functional cross-sectional area of the posterolateral muscle group at each subaxial level and less FI at C4-6 were significantly associated with less progression of C2-7 SVA over time. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between greater FI of the posteromedial muscle group measured at the C7 level and less NDI improvement at 4-6 months after ACDF. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of preoperative assessment of the cervical paraspinal muscle morphology as a predictor for patient-reported outcomes and maintenance of C2-7 SVA after ACDF.

Abdominal Aortic Calcification is Associated with Degeneration of The Paraspinal Muscles - A Retrospective cross-sectional Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and a reduction in the cross-sectional area (CSA) and the fatty infiltration (FI) of the paravertebral muscles in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery. BACKGROUND: Both AAC and paraspinal muscle degeneration have been shown to be associated with poorer outcomes after surgical treatment of degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine. However, there is a lack of data on the association between AAC and paraspinal muscle changes in patients undergoing spine surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing lumbar fusion for degenerative spinal pathologies. Muscular and spinal degeneration were measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). AAC was classified on lateral lumbar radiographs. The association of AAC and paraspinal muscle composition was assessed by a multivariate regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, and lumbar degeneration. RESULTS: A total of 301 patients was included. Patients with AAC showed significantly higher degrees of intervertebral disc and facet joint degeneration as well as higher total endplate scores at the L3/4 level. The univariable regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the degree of AAC and the FI of the erector spinae (b=0.530, P<0.001) and multifidus (b=0.730, P<0.001). The multivariable regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the degree of AAC and the FI of the erector spinae (b=0.270, P=0.006) and a significant negative correlation between the degree of AAC and the CSA of the psoas muscle (b=-0.260, P=0.003). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a significant and independent association between AAC and degeneration of the erector spinae and the psoas muscles in patients undergoing lumbar fusion. As both AAC and degeneration of paraspinal muscles impact postoperative outcomes negatively, preoperative assessment of AAC may aid in identifying patients at higher risk after lumbar surgery.

Ultrafast-Loaded Nickel Sulfide on Vertical Graphene Enabled by Joule Heating for Enhanced Lithium Metal Batteries.

The design and fabrication of a lithiophilic skeleton are highly important for constructing advanced Li metal anodes. In this work, a new lithiophilic skeleton is reported by planting metal sulfides (e.g., Ni3S2) on vertical graphene (VG) via a facile ultrafast Joule heating (UJH) method, which facilitates the homogeneous distribution of lithiophilic sites on carbon cloth (CC) supported VG substrate with firm bonding. Ni3S2 nanoparticles are homogeneously anchored on the optimized skeleton as CC/VG@Ni3S2, which ensures high conductivity and uniform deposition of Li metal with non-dendrites. By means of systematic electrochemical characterizations, the symmetric cells coupled with CC/VG@Ni3S2 deliver a steady long-term cycle within 14 mV overpotential for 1800 h (900 cycles) at 1 mA cm-2 and 1 mAh cm-2. Meanwhile, the designed CC/VG@Ni3S2-Li||LFP full cell shows notable electrochemical performance with a capacity retention of 92.44% at 0.5 C after 500 cycles and exceptional rate performance. This novel synthesis strategy for metal sulfides on hierarchical carbon-based materials sheds new light on the development of high-performance lithium metal batteries (LMBs).

Discrepancies in recommendations for return to regular activities after cervical spine surgery: A survey study.

Background: The recommended timing for returning to common activities after cervical spine surgery varies widely among physicians based on training background and personal opinion, without clear guidelines or consensus. The purpose of this study was to analyze spine surgeons' responses about the recommended timing for returning to common activities after different cervical spine procedures. Methods: This was a survey study including 91 spine surgeons. The participants were asked to complete an anonymous online survey. Questions regarding their recommended time for returning to regular activities (showering, driving, biking, running, swimming, sedentary work, and nonsedentary work) after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF), cervical disc replacement (CDR), posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF), and laminoplasty were included. Comparisons of recommended times for return to activities after each surgical procedure were made based on surgeons' years in practice. Results: For ACDF and PCDF, there were no statistically significant differences in recommended times for return to any activity when stratified by years in practice. When considering CDR, return to non-sedentary work differed between surgeons in practice for 10 to 15 years, who recommended return at 3 months, and all other groups of surgeons, who recommended 6 weeks. Laminoplasty surgery yielded the most variability in activity recommendations, with earlier recommended return (6 weeks) to biking, non-sedentary work, and sedentary work in the most experienced surgeon group (>15 years in practice) than in all other surgeon experience groups (3 months). Conclusions: We observed significant variability in surgeon recommendations for return to regular activities after cervical spine surgery.

Association Between Severity of Cervical Central Spinal Stenosis and Paraspinal Muscle Parameters in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between severity and level of cervical central stenosis (CCS) and the fat infiltration (FI) of the cervical multifidus/rotatores (MR) at each subaxial levels. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The relationship between cervical musculature morphology and the severity of CCS is poorly understood. METHODS: Patients with preoperative cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) were reviewed. The cervical MR were segmented from C3 to C7 and the percent FI was measured using a custom-written Matlab software. The severity of the CCS at each subaxial level was assessed using a previously published classification. Grade 3, representing a loss of cerebrospinal fluid space and deformation of the spinal cord > 25%, was set as the reference and compared to the other gradings. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted and adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index. RESULTS: 156 consecutive patients were recruited. A spinal cord compression at a certain level was significantly associated with a greater FI of the MR below that level. After adjustment for the above-mentioned confounders, our results showed that spinal cord compression at C3/4 and C4/5 was significantly associated with greater FI of the MR from C3 to C6 and C5 to C7, respectively. A spinal cord compression at C5/6 or C6/7 was significantly associated with greater FI of the MR at C7. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated significant correlations between the severity of CCS and a greater FI of the MR. Moreover, significant level-specific correlations were found. A significant increase in FI of the MR at the levels below the stenosis was observed in patients presenting with spinal cord compression. Given the segmental innervation of the MR, the increased FI might be attributed to neurogenic atrophy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Assessing paraspinal muscle atrophy with electrical impedance myography: Limitations and insights.

Paraspinal muscle atrophy is gaining attention in spine surgery due to its link to back pain, spinal degeneration and worse postoperative outcomes. Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a noninvasive diagnostic tool for muscle quality assessment, primarily utilized for patients with neuromuscular diseases. However, EIM's accuracy for paraspinal muscle assessment remains understudied. In this study, we investigated the correlation between EIM readings and MRI-derived muscle parameters, as well as the influence of dermal and subcutaneous parameters on these readings. We retrospectively analyzed patients with lumbar spinal degeneration who underwent paraspinal EIM assessment between May 2023 to July 2023. Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltration (FI) and functional cross-sectional area (fCSA), as well as the subcutaneous thickness were assessed on MRI scans. Skin ultrasound imaging was assessed for dermal thickness and the echogenicities of the dermal and subcutaneous layers. All measurements were performed on the bilaterally. The correlation between EIM readings were compared with ultrasound and MRI parameters using Spearman's correlation analyses. A total of 20 patients (65.0% female) with a median age of 69.5 years (IQR, 61.3-73.8) were analyzed. The fCSA and FI did not significantly correlate with the EIM readings, regardless of frequency. All EIM readings across frequencies correlated with subcutaneous thickness, echogenicity, or dermal thickness. With the current methodology, paraspinal EIM is not a valid alternative to MRI assessment of muscle quality, as it is strongly influenced by the dermal and subcutaneous layers. Further studies are required for refining the methodology and confirming our results.

Origami metamaterials for ultra-wideband and large-depth reflection modulation.

The dynamic control of electromagnetic waves is a persistent pursuit in modern industrial development. The state-of-the-art dynamic devices suffer from limitations such as narrow bandwidth, limited modulation range, and expensive features. To address these issues, we fuse origami techniques with metamaterial design to achieve ultra-wideband and large-depth reflection modulation. Through a folding process, our proposed metamaterial achieves over 10-dB modulation depth over 4.96 - 38.8 GHz, with a fractional bandwidth of 155% and tolerance to incident angles and polarizations. Its ultra-wideband and large-depth reflection modulation performance is verified through experiments and analyzed through multipole decomposition theory. To enhance its practical applicability, transparent conductive films are introduced to the metamaterial, achieving high optical transparency (>87%) from visible to near-infrared light while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Benefiting from lightweight, foldability, and low-cost properties, our design shows promise for extensive satellite communication and optical window mobile communication management.

The relationship between paraspinal muscle atrophy and degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis at the L4/5 level.

BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) is a prevalent spinal condition that can result in significant disability. DLS is thought to result from a combination of disc and facet joint degeneration, as well as various biological, biomechanical, and behavioral factors. One hypothesis is the progressive degeneration of segmental stabilizers, notably the paraspinal muscles, contributes to a vicious cycle of increasing slippage. PURPOSE: To examine the correlation between paraspinal muscle status on MRI and severity of slippage in patients with symptomatic DLS. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective cross-sectional study at an academic tertiary care center. PATIENT SAMPLE: Patients who underwent surgery for DLS at the L4/5 level between 2016-2018 were included. Those with multilevel DLS or insufficient imaging were excluded. OUTCOME MEASURES: The percentage of relative slippage (RS) at the L4/5 level evaluated on standing lateral radiographs. Muscle morphology measurements including functional cross-sectional area (fCSA), body height normalized functional cross-sectional area (HI) of Psoas, erector spinae (ES) and multifidus muscle (MF) and fatty infiltration (FI) of ES and MF were measured on axial MR. Disc degeneration and facet joint arthritis were classified according to Pfirrmann and Weishaupt, respectively. METHODS: Descriptive and comparative statistics, univariable and multivariable linear regression models were utilized to examine the associations between RS and muscle parameters, adjusting for confounders sex, age, BMI, segmental degeneration, and back pain severity and symptom duration. RESULTS: The study analyzed 138 out of 183 patients screened for eligibility. The median age of all patients was 69.5 years (IQR 62 to 73), average BMI was 29.1 (SD±5.1) and average preoperative ODI was 46.4 (SD±16.3). Patients with Meyerding-Grade 2 (M2, N=25) exhibited higher Pfirrmann scores, lower MFfCSA and MFHI, and lower BMI, but significantly more fatty infiltration in the MF and ES muscles compared to those with Meyerding Grade 1 (M1). Univariable linear regression showed that each cm2 decrease in MFfCSA was associated with a 0.9%-point increase in RS (95% CI -1.4 to - 0.4, p<.001), and each cm2/m2 decrease in MFHI was associated with an increase in slippage by 2.2%-points (95% CI -3.7 to -0.7, p=.004). Each 1%-point rise in ESFI and MFFI corresponded to 0.17%- (95% CI 0.05-0.3, p=.01) and 0.20%-point (95% CI 0.1-0.3 p<.001) increases in relative slippage, respectively. Notably, after adjusting for confounders, each cm2 increase in PsoasfCSA and cm2/m2 in PsoasHI was associated with an increase in relative slippage by 0.3% (95% CI 0.1-0.6, p=.004) and 1.1%-points (95% CI 0.4-1.7, p=.001). While MFfCSA tended to be negatively associated with slippage, this did not reach statistical significance (p=.105). However, each 1%-point increase in MFFI and ESFI corresponded to increases of 0.15% points (95% CI 0.05-0.24, p=.002) and 0.14% points (95% CI 0.01-0.27, p=.03) in relative slippage, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study found a significant association between paraspinal muscle status and severity of slippage in DLS. Whereas higher degeneration of the ES and MF correlate with a higher degree of slippage, the opposite was found for the psoas. These findings suggest that progressive muscular imbalance between posterior and anterior paraspinal muscles could contribute to the progression of slippage in DLS.

Strong, Tough, and Biocompatible Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) Multiscale Network Hydrogels Reinforced by Aramid Nanofibers.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels are water-rich, three-dimensional (3D) network materials that are similar to the tissue structure of living organisms. This feature gives hydrogels a wide range of potential applications, including drug delivery systems, articular cartilage regeneration, and tissue engineering. Due to the large amount of water contained in hydrogels, achieving hydrogels with comprehensive properties remains a major challenge, especially for isotropic hydrogels. This study innovatively prepares a multiscale-reinforced PVA hydrogel from molecular-level coupling to nanoscale enhancement by chemically cross-linking poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and in situ assembled aromatic polyamide nanofibers (ANFs). The optimized ANFs-PVA-PVP (APP) hydrogels have a tensile strength of ≈9.7 MPa, an elongation at break of ≈585%, a toughness of ≈31.84 MJ/m3, a compressive strength of ≈10.6 MPa, and a high-water content of ≈80%. It is excellent among all reported PVA hydrogels and even comparable to some anisotropic hydrogels. System characterizations show that those performances are attributed to the particular multiscale load-bearing structure and multiple interactions between ANFs and PVA. Moreover, APP hydrogels exhibit excellent biocompatibility and a low friction coefficient (≈0.4). These valuable performances pave the way for broad potential in many advanced applications such as biological tissue replacement, flexible wearable devices, electronic skin, and in vivo sensors.

Ultrafast piezocapacitive soft pressure sensors with over 10 kHz bandwidth via bonded microstructured interfaces.

Flexible pressure sensors can convert mechanical stimuli to electrical signals to interact with the surroundings, mimicking the functionality of the human skins. Piezocapacitive pressure sensors, a class of most widely used devices for artificial skins, however, often suffer from slow response-relaxation speed (tens of milliseconds) and thus fail to detect dynamic stimuli or high-frequency vibrations. Here, we show that the contact-separation behavior of the electrode-dielectric interface is an energy dissipation process that substantially determines the response-relaxation time of the sensors. We thus reduce the response and relaxation time to ~0.04 ms using a bonded microstructured interface that effectively diminishes interfacial friction and energy dissipation. The high response-relaxation speed allows the sensor to detect vibrations over 10 kHz, which enables not only dynamic force detection, but also acoustic applications. This sensor also shows negligible hysteresis to precisely track dynamic stimuli. Our work opens a path that can substantially promote the response-relaxation speed of piezocapacitive pressure sensors into submillisecond range and extend their applications in acoustic range.

Heterojunctions of Mercury Selenide Quantum Dots and Halide Perovskites with High Lattice Matching and Their Photodetection Properties.

Heterojunction semiconductors have been extensively applied in various optoelectronic devices due to their unique carrier transport characteristics. However, it is still a challenge to construct heterojunctions based on colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) due to stress and lattice mismatch. Herein, HgSe/CsPbBrxI3-x heterojunctions with type I band alignment are acquired that are derived from minor lattice mismatch (~1.5%) via tuning the ratio of Br and I in halide perovskite. Meanwhile, HgSe CQDs with oleylamine ligands can been exchanged with a halide perovskite precursor, acquiring a smooth and compact quantum dot film. The photoconductive detector based on HgSe/CsPbBrxI3-x heterojunction presents a distinct photoelectric response under an incident light of 630 nm. The work provides a promising strategy to construct CQD-based heterojunctions, simultaneously achieving inorganic ligand exchange, which paves the way to obtain high-performance photodetectors based on CQD heterojunction films.

Asymmetrical atrophy of the paraspinal muscles in patients undergoing unilateral lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy.

ABSTRACT: Lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN), a common treatment for chronic low back pain due to facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA), may amplify paraspinal muscle atrophy due to denervation. This study aimed to investigate the asymmetry of paraspinal muscle morphology change in patients undergoing unilateral lumbar medial branch RFN. Data from patients who underwent RFN between March 2016 and October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Lumbar foramina stenosis (LFS), FJOA, and fatty infiltration (FI) functional cross-sectional area (fCSA) of the paraspinal muscles were assessed on preinterventional and minimum 2-year postinterventional MRI. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests compared measurements between sides. A total of 51 levels of 24 patients were included in the analysis, with 102 sides compared. Baseline MRI measurements did not differ significantly between the RFN side and the contralateral side. The RFN side had a higher increase in multifidus FI (+4.2% [0.3-7.8] vs +2.0% [-2.2 to 6.2], P = 0.005) and a higher decrease in multifidus fCSA (-60.9 mm2 [-116.0 to 10.8] vs -19.6 mm2 [-80.3 to 44.8], P = 0.003) compared with the contralateral side. The change in erector spinae FI and fCSA did not differ between sides. The RFN side had a higher increase in multifidus muscle atrophy compared with the contralateral side. The absence of significant preinterventional degenerative asymmetry and the specificity of the effect to the multifidus muscle suggest a link to RFN. These findings highlight the importance of considering the long-term effects of lumbar medial branch RFN on paraspinal muscle health.

Penicilloneines A and B, Quinolone-Citrinin Hybrids from a Starfish-Derived Penicillium sp.

Penicilloneines A (1) and B (2) are the first reported quinolone-citrinin hybrids. They were isolated from the starfish-derived fungus Penicillium sp. GGF16-1-2, and their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic, chemical, computational, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Penicilloneines A (1) and B (2) share a common 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone unit; however, they differ in terms of citrinin moieties, and these two units are linked via a methylene bridge. Penicilloneines A (1) and B (2) exhibited antifungal activities against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, with lethal concentration 50 values of 0.02 and 1.51 µg/mL, respectively. A mechanistic study revealed that 1 could inhibit cell growth and promote cell vacuolization and consequent disruption of the fungal cell walls via upregulating nutrient-related hydrolase genes, including putative hydrolase, acetylcholinesterase, glycosyl hydrolase, leucine aminopeptidase, lipase, and beta-galactosidase, and downregulating their synthase genes 3-carboxymuconate cyclase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphoketolase, and oxalate decarboxylase.

Spine-specific sarcopenia: distinguishing paraspinal muscle atrophy from generalized sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Atrophy of the paraspinal musculature (PM) as well as generalized sarcopenia are increasingly reported as important parameters for clinical outcomes in the field of spine surgery. Despite growing awareness and potential similarities between both conditions, the relationship between "generalized" and "spine-specific" sarcopenia is unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate the association between generalized and spine-specific sarcopenia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. PATIENT SAMPLE: Patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery for degenerative spinal pathologies. OUTCOME MEASURES: Generalized sarcopenia was evaluated with the short physical performance battery (SPPB), grip strength, and the psoas index, while spine-specific sarcopenia was evaluated by measuring fatty infiltration (FI) of the PM. METHODS: We used custom software written in MATLAB® to calculate the FI of the PM. The correlation between FI of the PM and assessments of generalized sarcopenia was calculated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rho). The strength of the correlation was evaluated according to established cut-offs: negligible: 0-0.3, low: 0.3-0.5, moderate: 0.5-0.7, high: 0.7-0.9, and very high≥0.9. In a Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis, the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of sarcopenia assessments to predict severe multifidus atrophy (FI≥50%) was calculated. In a secondary analysis, factors associated with severe multifidus atrophy in non-sarcopenic patients were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 125 (43% female) patients, with a median age of 63 (IQR 55-73) were included. The most common surgical indication was lumbar spinal stenosis (79.5%). The median FI of the multifidus was 45.5% (IQR 35.6-55.2). Grip strength demonstrated the highest correlation with FI of the multifidus and erector spinae (rho=-0.43 and -0.32, p<.001); the other correlations were significant (p<.05) but lower in strength. In the AUC analysis, the AUC was 0.61 for the SPPB, 0.71 for grip strength, and 0.72 for the psoas index. The latter two were worse in female patients, with an AUC of 0.48 and 0.49. Facet joint arthropathy (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.11-1.47, p=.001) and foraminal stenosis (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.10-2.23, p=.015) were independently associated with severe multifidus atrophy in our secondary analysis. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates a low correlation between generalized and spine-specific sarcopenia. These findings highlight the risk of misdiagnosis when relying on screening tools for general sarcopenia and suggest that general and spine-specific sarcopenia may have distinct etiologies.

Costunolide mitigates inflammation and promotes extracellualr matrix integrity of thoracic aortic dissection by inhibiting NF-κB signaling.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is one of the most fatal cardiovascular diseases. One of its important pathological characteristics is the local inflammatory response. Many studies have found that Macrophage polarization plays an extremely critical role in the inflammatory progression and tissue remodeling of TAD. Costunolide (CTD) has an improving effect on oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. However, whether it can promote the integrity of extracellular matrix in Aortic dissection and its mechanism are still unclear. METHODS: The male C57BL/6J mice were used to construct an animal model of TAD with ß-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) (100 mg/kg/day, lasting for 28 days), and then CTD (10 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for 28 days to check the survival rate, TAD incidence, aortic morphology and other indicators of the mice. Using hematoxylin-eosin (HE), Masson, Elastin van Gieson (EVG) staining, immunofluorescence (IF), and immunohistochemical staining, the study aimed to determine the therapeutic effects of CTD on an animal model with BAPN-induced TAD. To enhance the examination of the regulatory mechanism of CTD, we conducted transcriptome sequencing on arterial tissues of mice in both the BAPN group and the BAPN + CTD100 group. Next, ANG II were used to construct TAD model in vascular smooth muscle cells (VMSCs). The effects of CTD on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of ANG II-induced cells are to be detected. The expression of MMP2, MMP9, P65, and p-P65 in each group will be examined using Western blot. Finally, the overexpression of IκB kinaseß (IKKß) will be established in VMSCs cells to further explore the protective function of CTD. RESULTS: The result showed that CTD significantly inhibited BAPN induced mortality and TAD incidence in the animal model, improved aortic vascular morphology, promoted the integrity of extracellular matrix in TAD, reduced tissue inflammation, reduced the accumulation of M1 macrophage, promoted M2 macrophage polarization, and reduced the expression of NF-κB pathway related proteins. Mechanistically, CTD significantly weakened the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. p-P65 protein expression of TAD cells were induced by ANG II and IKK-ß. CONCLUSION: CTD has the potential to alleviate inflammation, VSMC apoptosis, MMP2/9 levels, and enhance extracellular matrix integrity in TAD by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Association patterns between lumbar paraspinal muscles and sagittal malalignment in preoperative patients undergoing lumbar three-column osteotomy.

PURPOSE: We aim to investigate the associations between lumbar paraspinal muscles and sagittal malalignment in patients undergoing lumbar three-column osteotomy. METHODS: Patients undergoing three-column osteotomy between 2016 and 2021 with preoperative lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whole spine radiographs in the standing position were included. Muscle measurements were obtained using a validated custom software for segmentation and muscle evaluation to calculate the functional cross-sectional area (fCSA) and percent fat infiltration (FI) of the m. psoas major (PM) as well as the m. erector spinae (ES) and m. multifidus (MM). Spinopelvic measurements included pelvic incidence (PI), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), L1-S1 lordosis (LL), T4-12 thoracic kyphosis (TK), spino-sacral angle (SSA), C7-S1 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1 pelvic angle (TPA) and PI-LL mismatch (PI - LL). Statistics were performed using multivariable linear regressions adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: A total of 77 patients (n = 40 female, median age 64 years, median BMI 27.9 kg/m2) were analyzed. After adjusting for age, sex and BMI, regression analyses demonstrated that a greater fCSA of the ES was significantly associated with greater SS and SSA. Moreover, our results showed a significant correlation between a greater FI of the ES and a greater kyphosis of TK. CONCLUSION: This study included a large patient cohort with sagittal alignment undergoing three-column osteotomy and is the first to demonstrate significant associations between the lumbar paraspinal muscle parameters and global sagittal alignment. Our findings emphasize the importance of the lumbar paraspinal muscles in sagittal malalignment.

The impact of thickness-related grain boundary migration on hole concentration and mobility of p-type transparent conducting CuI films.

CuI films present promising optoelectronic properties for transparent conductors. However, the high hole concentration in CuI films hinders the controllable modulation of hole mobility, limiting their application in low-dimensional thin-film transistors. In this study, CuI films were prepared through a Cu film iodination method at room temperature, and a systematic investigation was conducted on the modulation of hole concentration and mobility with varying film thickness. The films exhibited a zinc blende structure (γ-phase) with increasing grain size as the thickness increased. The transmittance and optical bandgap of the films decreased with increasing thickness. The correlation of vacancy concentration with changing film thickness was analyzed through photoluminescence spectroscopy, revealing the influence of grain boundary migration on vacancy formation. The reduction in film thickness diminishes the migration of CuI grain boundaries, consequently reducing the probability of Cu vacancy and I vacancy formation, resulting in diminished hole concentration and enhanced hole mobility and film conductivity. The film with a thickness of 20 nm demonstrated optimal performance, with a transmittance of 90%, hole concentration of 4.09 × 1017 cm-3, hole mobility of 506.50 cm2 V-1 s-1, and conductivity of 33.19 S cm-1. This work deepens the understanding of hole transport such as hole concentration and mobility modulation in CuI films, highlighting the importance of controlling grain boundary migration during the film growth process.