Programmable DNA hydrogel provides suitable microenvironment for enhancing autophagy-based therapies in intervertebral disc degeneration treatment.

The pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is attributed to metabolic dysregulation within the extracellular matrix and heightened apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPC). Therefore, a potential therapeutic strategy for managing IVDD involves the reestablishment of metabolic equilibrium within the extracellular matrix and the suppression of excessive myeloid cell apoptosis. The microRNA, miR-5590, displays marked differential expression in degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues and exerts a direct influence on the regulation of DDX5 expression. This, in turn, modulates mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation, thereby impacting autophagy and apoptosis. However, ensuring the smooth delivery of miRNA to a specific injury site poses a significant challenge. To address this issue, a multifunctional DNA hydrogel was developed and subsequently loaded with miR-5590 via spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) for the treatment of IVDD. The hydrogel, which exhibits versatility, has the potential to be administered through injection at the site of injury, resulting in a consistent and prolonged release of miR-5590. This leads to the creation of a genetic microenvironment within the NP, which triggers the onset of autophagy in NPCs and subsequently suppresses apoptosis. As a result, this process regulates the metabolic equilibrium within the extracellular matrix, thereby impeding the in vitro and in vivo progression of IVDD. The amalgamation of miRNAs and biomaterials offers a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of IVDD in clinical settings.

Cervical Angina: A Literature Review on Its Diagnosis, Mechanism, and Management

Cervical angina has been defined as chest pain that resembles true cardiac angina but originates from the disorders of the cervical spine. Thus, physicians and spine surgeons alike should raise awareness of this unusual condition for diagnosis and treatment. Particularly when neurologic signs and symptoms are present, there should be a strong suspicion for cervical angina in any patient with inadequately explained noncardiac chest pain. Cervical angina can be diagnosed according to negative cardiac workups, positive neurologic examination, and cervical radiographic findings (herniated disk, spinal cord compression, or foraminal encroachment). However, the mechanisms of pain production in cervical angina remain unclear. Previous studies attributed the pain to cervical nerve root compression, cervical sympathetic afferent fibers, referred pain, or lesions of the posterior horn of the spinal cord. Conservative treatments, which include neck collar fixation, head traction, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have been determined to be successful in most patients with cervical angina. But when conservative treatment fails, anterior cervical surgery with complete decompression of the spinal cord and/or nerve root has been identified to effectively relieve cervical angina symptoms.

Cervical Angina: A Literature Review on Its Diagnosis, Mechanism, and Management

Cervical angina has been defined as chest pain that resembles true cardiac angina but originates from the disorders of the cervical spine. Thus, physicians and spine surgeons alike should raise awareness of this unusual condition for diagnosis and treatment. Particularly when neurologic signs and symptoms are present, there should be a strong suspicion for cervical angina in any patient with inadequately explained noncardiac chest pain. Cervical angina can be diagnosed according to negative cardiac workups, positive neurologic examination, and cervical radiographic findings (herniated disk, spinal cord compression, or foraminal encroachment). However, the mechanisms of pain production in cervical angina remain unclear. Previous studies attributed the pain to cervical nerve root compression, cervical sympathetic afferent fibers, referred pain, or lesions of the posterior horn of the spinal cord. Conservative treatments, which include neck collar fixation, head traction, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have been determined to be successful in most patients with cervical angina. But when conservative treatment fails, anterior cervical surgery with complete decompression of the spinal cord and/or nerve root has been identified to effectively relieve cervical angina symptoms.

Retrospective analysis of induction concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly docetaxel and cisplatin followed by surgery for stage ⅢA-N2 non-small-cell lung cancer / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of induction concurrent chemoradiation therapy with weekly docetaxel and cisplatin(DP) for stage Ⅲ A-N2 lung cancer.Methods Eighteen patients diagnosed of stage Ⅲ A-N2 NSCLC in our center were enrolled from March,2011 to November,2013.The induction regimen consisted of 5 cycles of docetaxel(20 mg/m2) and cisplatin(20 mg/m2) administered intravenously on days 1,8,15,22 and 29 with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy in fractions of 1.8Gy,to a total dose of 45Gy.Patients proceeded to surgery,if no progressive disease occurred,followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with DP strategy.Results Eighteen patients were enrolled and 12 underwent surgery.The tumor response for the induction therapy was 1 CR,10 PRs,6 SDs and 1 PD.Five of 18 patients presented with level 3 or above adverse effects,among which were 2 neutropenia,1 liver toxicity,1 anemia and 1 lymph node infection.The median operation time was 290 min,intraoperative blood loss was 350 ml,length for postoperative drainage was 5 d,and time to discharge was 7 d.The mediastinal lymphnodedownstaging rate was 50％ (3 pN0 cases and 3 pN1 ones),92％ of the operated patients reached complete resection.One-year survival was 75.9％ and 1-year progression free survival was 49.2％.Conclusion Weekly docetaxel and cisplatin strategy in induction concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage Ⅲ A-N2 NSCLC patients has been validated to be safe and effective.