Epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China:a hospital-based retrospective study

Traumatic spinal cord injury is potentially catastrophic and can lead to permanent disability or even death.China has the largest population of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Previous studies of traumatic spinal cord injury in China have mostly been regional in scope;national-level studies have been rare.To the best of our knowledge,no national-level study of treatment status and economic burden has been performed.This retrospective study aimed to examine the epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China at the national level.We included 13,465 traumatic spinal cord injury patients who were injured between January 2013 and December 2018 and treated in 30 hospitals in 11 provinces/municipalities representing all geographical divisions of China.Patient epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and total and daily costs were recorded.Trends in the percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department and cost of care were assessed by annual percentage change using the Joinpoint Regression Program.The percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department did not significantly change overall(annual percentage change,-0.5%and 2.1%,respectively).A total of 10,053(74.7%)patients underwent surgery.Only 2.8%of patients who underwent surgery did so within 24 hours of injury.A total of 2005(14.9%)patients were treated with high-dose(≥500 mg)methylprednisolone sodium succinate/methylprednisolone(MPSS/MP);615(4.6%)received it within 8 hours.The total cost for acute traumatic spinal cord injury decreased over the study period(-4.7%),while daily cost did not significantly change(1.0%increase).Our findings indicate that public health initiatives should aim at improving hospitals’ability to complete early surgery within 24 hours,which is associated with improved sensorimotor recovery,increasing the awareness rate of clinical guidelines related to high-dose MPSS/MP to reduce the use of the treatment with insufficient evidence.

Cell metabolism pathways involved in the pathophysiological changes of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus.Elucidating the pathophysiological metabolic mechanism impels the generation of ideal therapies.However,existing limited treatments for diabetic peripheral neuropathy expose the urgent need for cell metabolism research.Given the lack of comprehensive understanding of energy metabolism changes and related signaling pathways in diabetic peripheral neuropathy,it is essential to explore energy changes and metabolic changes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy to develop suitable treatment methods.This review summarizes the pathophysiological mechanism of diabetic peripheral neuropathy from the perspective of cellular metabolism and the specific interventions for different metabolic pathways to develop effective treatment methods.Various metabolic mechanisms(e.g.,polyol,hexosamine,protein kinase C pathway)are associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy,and researchers are looking for more effective treatments through these pathways.

Influence of heat treatment on microstructure,mechanical and corrosion behavior of WE43 alloy fabricated by laser-beam powder bed fusion

Magnesium(Mg)alloys are considered to be a new generation of revolutionary medical metals.Laser-beam powder bed fusion(PBF-LB)is suitable for fabricating metal implants withpersonalized and complicated structures.However,the as-built part usually exhibits undesirable microstructure and unsatisfactory performance.In this work,WE43 parts were firstly fabricated by PBF-LB and then subjected to heat treatment.Although a high densification rate of 99.91%was achieved using suitable processes,the as-built parts exhibited anisotropic and layeredmicrostructure with heterogeneously precipitated Nd-rich intermetallic.After heat treatment,fine and nano-scaled Mg24Y5particles were precipitated.Meanwhile,theα-Mg grainsunderwent recrystallization and turned coarsened slightly,which effectively weakened thetexture intensity and reduced the anisotropy.As a consequence,the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were significantly improved to(250.2±3.5)MPa and(312±3.7)MPa,respectively,while the elongation was still maintained at a high level of 15.2%.Furthermore,the homogenized microstructure reduced the tendency of localized corrosion and favoredthe development of uniform passivation film.Thus,the degradation rate of WE43 parts was decreased by an order of magnitude.Besides,in-vitro cell experiments proved their favorable biocompatibility.

Neutrophil peptide 1 accelerates the clearance of degenerative axons during Wallerian degeneration by activating macrophages after peripheral nerve crush injury

Macrophages play an important role in peripheral nerve regeneration,but the specific mechanism of regeneration is still unclear.Our preliminary findings indicated that neutrophil peptide 1 is an innate immune peptide closely involved in peripheral nerve regeneration.However,the mechanism by which neutrophil peptide 1 enhances nerve regeneration remains unclear.This study was designed to investigate the relationship between neutrophil peptide 1 and macrophages in vivo and in vitro in peripheral nerve crush injury.The functions of RAW 264.7 cells we re elucidated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay,flow cytometry,migration assays,phagocytosis assays,immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Axonal debris phagocytosis was observed using the CUBIC(Clear,Unobstructed Brain/Body Imaging Cocktails and Computational analysis)optical clearing technique during Wallerian degeneration.Macrophage inflammatory factor expression in different polarization states was detected using a protein chip.The results showed that neutrophil peptide 1 promoted the prolife ration,migration and phagocytosis of macrophages,and CD206 expression on the surfa ce of macrophages,indicating M2 polarization.The axonal debris clearance rate during Wallerian degeneration was enhanced after neutrophil peptide 1 intervention.Neutrophil peptide 1 also downregulated inflammatory factors interleukin-1α,-6,-12,and tumor necrosis factor-αin invo and in vitro.Thus,the results suggest that neutrophil peptide 1 activates macrophages and accelerates Wallerian degeneration,which may be one mechanism by which neutrophil peptide 1 enhances peripheral nerve regeneration.

Neurophysiological, histological, and behavioral characterization of animal models of distraction spinal cord injury: a systematic review

Distraction spinal cord injury is caused by some degree of distraction or longitudinal tension on the spinal cord and commonly occurs in patients who undergo corrective operation for severe spinal deformity.With the increased degree and duration of distraction,spinal cord injuries become more serious in terms of their neurophysiology,histology,and behavior.Very few studies have been published on the specific characteristics of distraction spinal cord injury.In this study,we systematically review 22 related studies involving animal models of distraction spinal cord injury,focusing particularly on the neurophysiological,histological,and behavioral characteristics of this disease.In addition,we summarize the mechanisms underlying primary and secondary injuries caused by distraction spinal cord injury and clarify the effects of different degrees and durations of distraction on the primary injuries associated with spinal cord injury.We provide new concepts for the establishment of a model of distraction spinal cord injury and related basic research,and provide reference guidelines for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Photobiomodulation inhibits the expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans after spinal cord injury via the Sox9 pathway

Both glial cells and glia scar greatly affect the development of spinal cord injury and have become hot spots in research on spinal cord injury treatment.The cellular deposition of dense extracellular matrix proteins such as chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans inside and around the glial scar is known to affect axonal growth and be a major obstacle to autogenous repair.These proteins are thus candidate targets for spinal cord injury therapy.Our previous studies demonstrated that 810 nm photo biomodulation inhibited the formation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans after spinal cord injury and greatly improved motor function in model animals.However,the specific mechanism and potential targets involved remain to be clarified.In this study,to investigate the therapeutic effect of photo biomodulation,we established a mouse model of spinal cord injury by T9 clamping and irradiated the injury site at a power density of 50 mW/cm~2 for 50 minutes once a day for 7 consecutive days.We found that photobiomodulation greatly restored motor function in mice and down regulated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan expression in the injured spinal cord.Bioinformatics analysis revealed that photobiomodulation inhibited the expression of proteoglycan-related genes induced by spinal cord injury,and versican,a type of proteoglycan,was one of the most markedly changed molecules.Immunofluorescence staining showed that after spinal cord injury,versican was present in astrocytes in spinal cord tissue.The expression of versican in primary astrocytes cultured in vitro increased after inflammation induction,whereas photobiomodulation inhibited the expression of ve rsican.Furthermore,we found that the increased levels of p-Smad3,p-P38 and p-Erk in inflammatory astrocytes were reduced after photobiomodulation treatment and after delivery of inhibitors including FR 180204,(E)-SIS3,and SB 202190.This suggests that Sma d 3/Sox9 and MAP K/Sox9 pathways may be involved in the effects of photobiomodulation.In summary,our findings show that photobiomodulation modulates the expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans,and versican is one of the key target molecules of photo biomodulation.MAPK/Sox9 and Smad3/Sox9 pathways may play a role in the effects of photo biomodulation on chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan accumulation after spinal cord injury.

Dual-directional regulation of spinal cord injury and the gut microbiota

There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiota affects the incidence and progression of central nervous system diseases via the brain-gut axis.The spinal cord is a vital important part of the central nervous system;however,the underlying association between spinal cord injury and gut interactions remains unknown.Recent studies suggest that patients with spinal cord injury frequently experience intestinal dysfunction and gut dysbiosis.Alterations in the gut microbiota can cause disruption in the intestinal barrier and trigger neurogenic inflammatory responses which may impede recovery after spinal cord injury.This review summarizes existing clinical and basic research on the relationship between the gut microbiota and spinal cord injury.Our research identified three key points.First,the gut microbiota in patients with spinal cord injury presents a key characteristic and gut dysbiosis may profoundly influence multiple organs and systems in patients with spinal cord injury.Second,following spinal cord injury,weakened intestinal peristalsis,prolonged intestinal transport time,and immune dysfunction of the intestine caused by abnormal autonomic nerve function,as well as frequent antibiotic treatment,may induce gut dysbiosis.Third,the gut microbiota and associated metabolites may act on central neurons and affect recovery after spinal cord injury;cytokines and the Toll-like receptor ligand pathways have been identified as crucial mechanisms in the communication between the gut microbiota and central nervous system.Fecal microbiota transplantation,probiotics,dietary interventions,and other therapies have been shown to serve a neuroprotective role in spinal cord injury by modulating the gut microbiota.Therapies targeting the gut microbiota or associated metabolites are a promising approach to promote functional recovery and improve the complications of spinal cord injury.

The secondary injury cascade after spinal cord injury:an analysis of local cytokine/chemokine regulation

After spinal cord injury,there is an extensive infiltration of immune cells,which exacerbates the injury and leads to further neural degeneration.Therefore,a major aim of current research involves targeting the immune response as a treatment for spinal cord injury.Although much research has been performed analyzing the complex inflammatory process following spinal cord injury,there remain major discrepancies within previous literature regarding the timeline of local cytokine regulation.The objectives of this study were to establish an overview of the timeline of cytokine regulation for 2 weeks after spinal cord injury,identify sexual dimorphisms in terms of cytokine levels,and determine local cytokines that significantly change based on the severity of spinal cord injury.Rats were inflicted with either a mild contusion,moderate contusion,severe contusion,or complete transection,7 mm of spinal cord centered on the injury was harvested at varying times post-injury,and tissue homogenates were analyzed with a Cytokine/Chemokine 27-Plex assay.Results demonstrated pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factorα,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6 were all upregulated after spinal cord injury,but returned to uninjured levels within approximately 24 hours post-injury,while chemokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 remained upregulated for days post-injury.In contrast,several anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors including interleukin-10 and vascular endothelial growth factor were downregulated by 7 days post-injury.After spinal cord injury,tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1,which specifically affects astrocytes involved in glial scar development,increased more than all other cytokines tested,reaching 26.9-fold higher than uninjured rats.After a mild injury,11 cytokines demonstrated sexual dimorphisms;however,after a severe contusion only leptin levels were different between female and male rats.In conclusion,pro-inflammatory cytokines initiate the inflammatory process and return to baseline within hours post-injury,chemokines continue to recruit immune cells for days post-injury,while anti-inflammatory cytokines are downregulated by a week post-injury,and sexual dimorphisms observed after mild injury subsided with more severe injuries.Results from this work define critical chemokines that influence immune cell infiltration and important cytokines involved in glial scar development after spinal cord injury,which are essential for researchers developing treatments targeting secondary damage after spinal cord injury.

Extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells mediate extracellular matrix remodeling in osteoarthritis through the transport of microRNA-29a

BACKGROUND Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)is a common orthopedic condition with an uncertain etiology,possibly involving genetics and biomechanics.Factors like changes in chondrocyte microenvironment,oxidative stress,inflammation,and immune responses affect KOA development.Early-stage treatment options primarily target symptom relief.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)show promise for treatment,despite challenges.Recent research highlights microRNAs(miRNAs)within MSC-released extracellular vesicles that can potentially promote cartilage regeneration and hinder KOA progression.This suggests exosomes(Exos)as a promising avenue for future treatment.While these findings emphasize the need for effective KOA progression management,further safety and efficacy validation for Exos is essential.AIM To explore miR-29a’s role in KOA,we’ll create miR-29a-loaded vesicles,testing for early treatment in rat models.METHODS Extraction of bone marrow MSC-derived extracellular vesicles,preparation of engineered vesicles loaded with miR-29a using ultrasonication,and identification using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction;after establi-shing a rat model of KOA,rats were randomly divided into three groups:Blank control group injected with saline,normal extracellular vesicle group injected with normal extracellular vesicle suspension,and engineered extrace-llular vesicle group injected with engineered extracellular vesicle suspension.The three groups evaluation,histological detection,and immunohistochemical detection to compare and evaluate the progress of various forms of arthritis.RESULTS General behavioral observation results showed that the extracellular vesicle group and engineered extracellular vesicle group had better performance in all four indicators of pain,gait,joint mobility,and swelling compared to the blank control group.Additionally,the engineered extracellular vesicle group had better pain relief at 4 wk and better knee joint mobility at 8 wk compared to the normal extracellular vesicle group.Imaging examination results showed that the blank control group had the fastest progression of arthritis,the normal extracellular vesicle group had a relatively slower progression,and the engineered extracellular vesicle group had the slowest progression.Gross histological observation results showed that the blank control group had the most obvious signs of arthritis,the normal extracellular vesicle group showed signs of arthritis,and the engineered extracellular vesicle group showed no significant signs of arthritis.Using the Pelletier gross score evaluation,the engineered extracellular vesicle group had the slowest progression of arthritis.Results from two types of staining showed that the articular cartilage of rats in the normal extracellular vesicle and engineered extracellular vesicle groups was significantly better than that of the blank control group,and the engineered extracellular vesicle group had the best cartilage cell and joint surface condition.Immunohistochemical detection of type II collagen and proteoglycan showed that the extracellular matrix of cartilage cells in the normal extracellular vesicle and engineered extracellular vesicle groups was better than that of the blank control group.Compared to the normal extracellular vesicle group,the engineered extracellular vesicle group had a better regulatory effect on the extracellular matrix of cartilage cells.CONCLUSION Engineered Exos loaded with miR-29a can exert anti-inflammatory effects and maintain extracellular matrix stability,thereby protecting articular cartilage,and slowing the progression of KOA.

β-Receptor blocker enhances the anabolic effect of PTH after osteoporotic fracture

The autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating bone metabolism,with sympathetic activation stimulating bone resorption and inhibiting bone formation.We found that fractures lead to increased sympathetic tone,enhanced osteoclast resorption,decreased osteoblast formation,and thus hastened systemic bone loss in ovariectomized(OVX)mice.However,the combined administration of parathyroid hormone(PTH)and theβ-receptor blocker propranolol dramatically promoted systemic bone formation and osteoporotic fracture healing in OVX mice.The effect of this treatment is superior to that of treatment with PTH or propranolol alone.In vitro,the sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine(NE)suppressed PTH-induced osteoblast differentiation and mineralization,which was rescued by propranolol.Moreover,NE decreased the PTH-induced expression of Runx2 but enhanced the expression of Rankl and the effect of PTH-stimulated osteoblasts on osteoclastic differentiation,whereas these effects were reversed by propranolol.Furthermore,PTH increased the expression of the circadian clock gene Bmal1,which was inhibited by NE-βAR signaling.Bmal1 knockdown blocked the rescue effect of propranolol on the NE-induced decrease in PTHstimulated osteoblast differentiation.Taken together,these results suggest that propranolol enhances the anabolic effect of PTH in preventing systemic bone loss following osteoporotic fracture by blocking the negative effects of sympathetic signaling on PTH anabolism.

Surgical Treatment of Recent Traumatic Epiphyseal Detachments of the Distal Femur in the Orthopedic and Traumatological Surgery Department of the CHU Bocar Sidy Sall de Kati: About 20 Cases

Introduction: To our knowledge, no scientific study has been conducted at the university hospital of Kati on recent traumatic epiphyseal detachment fractures of the distal femur. However, every day, children present in consultation for knee trauma. Conjugal plate fractures are by definition single to children. Any break in any solution of continuity of this plate is called an epiphyseal fracture or detachment. Objectives: To evaluate the results of surgical treatment of traumatic epiphyseal in detachments of the distal femur recent in children and adolescents. Patients and Method: This was a 13-month prospectively collected longitudinal descriptive study from September 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017. We identified and reviewed 20 medical records of recent traumatic epiphyseal detachments of the distal femur. The parameters studied were sociodemographic, lesion, surgical technique and evolutionary. Results: During the study period, the most affected group age was 12 to 17 years (85%) with an average of 14.65 ± 1.61 years (6 and 20 years). The victims were male (95%). The most frequent etiology was road traffic accident (95%), with a mean time to care of 26.42 ± 10.21 hours and Type II was frequently encountered (85%) with 35% of immediate complications. Cross-bracketing was the most commonly used surgical technique (85%). The result was good (65%). Conclusion: This study allowed us to observe a significant hospital incidence of epiphyseal detachment fractures of the distal femur. Cross pinning was the most commonly used surgical technique with fewer complications (35%) and a satisfactory result in 90% of cases.

Are EPB41 and alpha-synuclein diagnostic biomarkers of sport-related concussion?Findings from the NCAA and Department of Defense CARE Consortium

Background:Current protein biomarkers are only moderately predictive at identifying individuals with mild traumatic brain injury or concussion.Therefore,more accurate diagnostic markers are needed for sport-related concussion.Methods:This was a multicenter,prospective,case-control study of athletes who provided blood samples and were diagnosed with a concussion or were a matched non-concussed control within the National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense Concussion Assessment,Research,and Education Consortium conducted between 2015 and 2019.The blood was collected within 48 h of injury to identify protein abnormalities at the acute and subacute timepoints.Athletes with concussion were divided into 6 h post-injury(0-6 h post-injury)and after 6 h postinjury(7-48 h post-injury)groups.We applied a highly multiplexed proteomic technique that used a DNA aptamers assay to target 1305proteins in plasma samples from athletes with and without sport-related concussion.Results:A total of 140 athletes with concussion(79.3%males;aged 18.71±1.10 years,mean±SD)and 21 non-concussed athletes(76.2%males;19.14±1.10 years)were included in this study.We identified 338 plasma proteins that significantly differed in abundance(319 upregulated and 19 downregulated)in concussed athletes compared to non-concussed athletes.The top 20 most differentially abundant proteins discriminated concussed athletes from non-concussed athletes with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.954(95%confidence interval:0.922-0.986).Specifically,after 6 h of injury,the individual AUC of plasma erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1(EPB41)and alpha-synuclein(SNCA)were 0.956 and 0.875,respectively.The combination of EPB41 and SNCA provided the best AUC(1.000),which suggests this combination of candidate plasma biomarkers is the best for diagnosing concussion in athletes after 6 h of injury.Conclusion:Our data suggest that proteomic profiling may provide novel diagnostic protein markers and that a combination of EPB41 and SNCA is the most predictive biomarker of concussion after 6 h of injury.

Argatroban promotes recovery of spinal cord injury by inhibiting the PAR1/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Argatroban is a synthetic thrombin inhibitor approved by U.S.Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of thrombosis.However,whether it plays a role in the repair of spinal cord injury is unknown.In this study,we established a rat model of T10 moderate spinal cord injury using an NYU Impactor ModerⅢand performed intraperitoneal injection of argatroban for 3 consecutive days.Our results showed that argatroban effectively promoted neurological function recovery after spinal cord injury and decreased thrombin expression and activity in the local injured spinal cord.RNA sequencing transcriptomic analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes in the argatroban-treated group were enriched in the JAK2/STAT3 pathway,which is involved in astrogliosis and glial scar formation.Western blotting and immunofluorescence results showed that argatroban downregulated the expression of the thrombin receptor PAR1 in the injured spinal cord and the JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway.Argatroban also inhibited the activation and proliferation of astrocytes and reduced glial scar formation in the spinal cord.Taken together,these findings suggest that argatroban may inhibit astrogliosis by inhibiting the thrombin-mediated PAR1/JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway,thereby promoting the recovery of neurological function after spinal cord injury.

In vivo imaging of the neuronal response to spinal cord injury:a narrative review

Deciphering the neuronal response to injury in the spinal cord is essential for exploring treatment strategies for spinal cord injury(SCI).However,this subject has been neglected in part because appropriate tools are lacking.Emerging in vivo imaging and labeling methods offer great potential for observing dynamic neural processes in the central nervous system in conditions of health and disease.This review first discusses in vivo imaging of the mouse spinal cord with a focus on the latest imaging techniques,and then analyzes the dynamic biological response of spinal cord sensory and motor neurons to SCI.We then summarize and compare the techniques behind these studies and clarify the advantages of in vivo imaging compared with traditional neuroscience examinations.Finally,we identify the challenges and possible solutions for spinal cord neuron imaging.

A"messenger zone hypothesis"based on the visual three-dimensional spatial distribution of motoneurons innervating deep limb muscles

Coordinated contraction of skeletal muscles relies on selective connections between the muscles and multiple classes of the spinal motoneuro ns.Howeve r,current research on the spatial location of the spinal motoneurons innervating differe nt muscles is limited.In this study,we investigated the spatial distribution and relative position of different motoneurons that control the deep muscles of the mouse hindlimbs,which were innervated by the obturator nerve,femoral nerve,inferior gluteal nerve,deep pe roneal nerve,and tibial nerve.Locations were visualized by combining a multiplex retrograde tracking technique compatible with three-dimensional imaging of solvent-cleared o rgans(3DISCO)and 3-D imaging technology based on lightsheet fluorescence microscopy(LSFM).Additionally,we propose the hypothesis that"messenger zones"exist as interlaced areas between the motoneuron pools that dominate the synergistic or antagonist muscle groups.We hypothesize that these interlaced neurons may participate in muscle coordination as messenger neurons.Analysis revealed the precise mutual positional relationships among the many motoneurons that innervate different deep muscles of the mouse.Not only do these findings update and supplement our knowledge regarding the overall spatial layout of spinal motoneurons that control mouse limb muscles,but they also provide insights into the mechanisms through which muscle activity is coordinated and the architecture of motor circuits.

Metabolic reprogramming: a new option for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injuries impose a notably economic burden on society,mainly because of the severe after-effects they cause.Despite the ongoing development of various therapies for spinal cord injuries,their effectiveness remains unsatisfactory.However,a deeper understanding of metabolism has opened up a new therapeutic opportunity in the form of metabolic reprogramming.In this review,we explore the metabolic changes that occur during spinal cord injuries,their consequences,and the therapeutic tools available for metabolic reprogramming.Normal spinal cord metabolism is characterized by independent cellular metabolism and intercellular metabolic coupling.However,spinal cord injury results in metabolic disorders that include disturbances in glucose metabolism,lipid metabolism,and mitochondrial dysfunction.These metabolic disturbances lead to corresponding pathological changes,including the failure of axonal regeneration,the accumulation of scarring,and the activation of microglia.To rescue spinal cord injury at the metabolic level,potential metabolic reprogramming approaches have emerged,including replenishing metabolic substrates,reconstituting metabolic couplings,and targeting mitochondrial therapies to alter cell fate.The available evidence suggests that metabolic reprogramming holds great promise as a next-generation approach for the treatment of spinal cord injury.To further advance the metabolic treatment of the spinal cord injury,future efforts should focus on a deeper understanding of neurometabolism,the development of more advanced metabolomics technologies,and the design of highly effective metabolic interventions.

AAV-mediated expression of p65shRNA and bone morphogenetic protein 4 synergistically enhances chondrocyte regeneration

BACKGROUND:Adeno-associated virus(AAV)gene therapy has been proven to be reliable and safe for the treatment of osteoarthritis in recent years.However,given the complexity of osteoarthritis pathogenesis,single gene manipulation for the treatment of osteoarthritis may not produce satisfactory results.Previous studies have shown that nuclear factorκB could promote the inflammatory pathway in osteoarthritic chondrocytes,and bone morphogenetic protein 4(BMP4)could promote cartilage regeneration.OBJECTIVE:To test whether combined application of AAV-p65shRNA and AAV-BMP4 will yield the synergistic effect on chondrocytes regeneration and osteoarthritis treatment.METHODS:Viral particles containing AAV-p65-shRNA and AAV-BMP4 were prepared.Their efficacy in inhibiting inflammation in chondrocytes and promoting chondrogenesis was assessed in vitro and in vivo by transfecting AAV-p65-shRNA or AAV-BMP4 into cells.The experiments were divided into five groups:PBS group;osteoarthritis group;AAV-BMP4 group;AAV-p65shRNA group;and BMP4-p65shRNA 1:1 group.Samples were collected at 4,12,and 24 weeks postoperatively.Tissue staining,including safranin O and Alcian blue,was applied after collecting articular tissue.Then,the optimal ratio between the two types of transfected viral particles was further investigated to improve the chondrogenic potential of mixed cells in vivo.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The combined application of AAV-p65shRNA and AAV-BMP4 together showed a synergistic effect on cartilage regeneration and osteoarthritis treatment.Mixed cells transfected with AAV-p65shRNA and AAV-BMP4 at a 1:1 ratio produced the most extracellular matrix synthesis(P<0.05).In vivo results also revealed that the combination of the two viruses had the highest regenerative potential for osteoarthritic cartilage(P<0.05).In the present study,we also discovered that the combined therapy had the maximum effect when the two viruses were administered in equal proportions.Decreasing either p65shRNA or BMP4 transfected cells resulted in less collagen II synthesis.This implies that inhibiting inflammation by p65shRNA and promoting regeneration by BMP4 are equally important for osteoarthritis treatment.These findings provide a new strategy for the treatment of early osteoarthritis by simultaneously inhibiting cartilage inflammation and promoting cartilage repair.

Upregulation of circ0000381 atienuates microglial/macrophage pyroptosis after spinal cord injury

Neuroinflammation exacerbates secondary damage after spinal cord injury,while microglia/macrophage pyroptosis is important to neuroinflammation.Circular RNAs(circRNAs)play a role in the central nervous system.However,the functional role and mechanism of circRNAs in regulating microglia/macrophage pyroptosis after spinal cord injury are still poorly studied.In the present study,we detected microglia/macrophage pyroptosis in a female rat model of spinal cord injury,along with upregulated levels of circ0000381 in the spinal cord.Our further experimental results suggest that circ0000381 may function as a sponge to sequester endogenous microRNA423-3p(miR-423-3p),which can increase the expression of NOD-like receptor 3(NLRP3),a pyroptosis marker.Therefore,upregulation of circ0000381 may be a compensatory change after spinal cord injury to attenuate microglia/macrophage pyroptosis.Indeed,knockdown of circ0000381 expression exacerbated microglia/macrophage pyroptosis.Collectively,our findings provide novel evidence for the upregulation of circ0000381,which may serve as a neuroprotective mechanism to attenuate microglia/macrophage pyroptosis after spinal cord injury.Accordingly,circ0000381 may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Integrative analysis of bone-formation associated genes and immune cell infiltration in osteoporosis, and the prediction of active ingredients in targeted traditional Chinese medicine

Objective To explore the differential expression and mechanisms of bone formation-related genes in osteoporosis(OP)leveraging bioinformatics and machine learning methodologies;and to predict the active ingredients of targeted traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)herbs.Methods The Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)and GeneCards databases were employed to conduct a comprehensive screening of genes and disease-associated loci pertinent to the pathogenesis of OP.The R package was utilized as the analytical tool for the identification of differentially expressed genes.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)logis-tic regression analysis and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination(SVM-RFE)algorithm were employed in defining the genetic signature specific to OP.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses for the selected pivotal genes were conducted.The cell-type identification by estimating rela-tive subsets of RNA transcripts(CIBERSORT)algorithm was leveraged to examine the infiltra-tion patterns of immune cells;with Spearman’s rank correlation analysis utilized to assess the relationship between the expression levels of the genes and the presence of immune cells.Coremine Medical Database was used to screen out potential TCM herbs for the treatment of OP.Comparative Toxicogenomics Database(CTD)was employed for forecasting the TCM ac-tive ingredients targeting the key genes.AutoDock Vina 1.2.2 and GROMACS 2020 softwares were employed to conclude analysis results;facilitating the exploration of binding affinity and conformational dynamics between the TCM active ingredients and their biological targets.Results Ten genes were identified by intersecting the results from the GEO and GeneCards databases.Through the application of LASSO regression and SVM-RFE algorithm;four piv-otal genes were selected:coat protein(CP);kallikrein 3(KLK3);polymeraseγ(POLG);and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4(TRPV4).GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analy-ses revealed that these trait genes were predominantly engaged in the regulation of defense response activation;maintenance of cellular metal ion balance;and the production of chemokine ligand 5.These genes were notably associated with signaling pathways such as ferroptosis;porphyrin metabolism;and base excision repair.Immune infiltration analysis showed that key genes were highly correlated with immune cells.Macrophage M0;M1;M2;and resting dendritic cell were significantly different between groups;and there were signifi-cant differences between different groups(P<0.05).The interaction counts of resveratrol;curcumin;and quercetin with KLK3 were 7;3;and 2;respectively.It shows that the interac-tions of resveratrol;curcumin;and quercetin with KLK3 were substantial.Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the robust binding affinity of these bioactive compounds to the target genes.Conclusion Pivotal genes including CP;KLK3;POLG;and TRPV4;exhibited commendable significant prognostic value;and played a crucial role in the diagnostic assessment of OP.Resveratrol;curcumin;and quercetin;natural compounds found in TCM;showed promise in their potential to effectively modulate the bone-forming gene KLK3.This study provides a sci-entific basis for the interpretation of the pathogenesis of OP and the development of clinical drugs.

Delayed neurological dysfunction following posterior laminectomy with lateral mass screw fixation:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND While most complications of cervical surgery are reversible,some,such as symptomatic postoperative spinal epidural hematoma(SEH),which generally occurs within 24 h,are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.Delayed neurological dysfunction is diagnosed in cases when symptoms present>3 d postoperatively.Owing to its rarity,the risk factors for delayed neurological dysfunction are unclear.Consequently,this condition can result in irreversible neurological deficits and serious consequences.In this paper,we present a case of postoperative SEH that developed three days after hematoma evacuation.CASE SUMMARY A 68-year-old man with an American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA)grade C injury was admitted to our hospital with neck pain and tetraplegia following a fall.The C3-C7 posterior laminectomy and the lateral mass screw fixation surgery were performed on the tenth day.Postoperatively,the patient showed no changes in muscle strength or ASIA grade.The patient experienced neck pain and subcutaneous swelling on the third day postoperatively,his muscle strength decreased,and his ASIA score was grade A.Magnetic resonance imaging showed hypointense signals on T1 weighted image(T1WI)and T2WI located behind the epidural space,with spinal cord compression.Emergency surgical intervention for the hematoma was performed 12 h after onset.Although hypoproteinemia and pleural effusion did not improve in the perioperative period,the patient recovered to ASIA grade C on day 30 after surgery,and was transferred to a functional rehabilitation exercise unit.CONCLUSION This case shows that amelioration of low blood albumin and pleural effusion is an important aspect of the perioperative management of cervical surgery.Surgery to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord should be performed as soon as possible to decrease neurological disabilities.