Abstract
Objectives
To compare the short-term outcomes of unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (BLIF) and uniportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF).
Methods
Sixty patients ...diagnosed with L4/5 spinal stenosis who underwent BLIF and ULIF were included (30 in each group). Clinical evaluation was performed preoperatively and postoperatively in the 1st week, 1st month, and 1st year. Factors such as the visual analogue score (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), operative time, surgical complications, and radiological outcomes (fusion rate, screw loosening, and cage subsidence) were compared between the two groups.
Results
All patients showed improved mean VAS and ODI at all three postoperative follow-ups, and no statistically significant differences were detected between the BLIF and ULIF groups. The mean operative time in the BLIF group was shorter than that in the ULIF group. Nerve root injury occurred in two patients in the BLIF group, while leakage of cerebrospinal fluid occurred in one patient in the ULIF group. All adverse events were treated adequately prior to discharge. The fusion rates with definite and probable grades were significantly higher in the BLIF group than that in the ULIF group. One case of cage subsidence with no screw loosening occurred in each group.
Conclusion
Both BLIF and ULIF are safe and effective surgical techniques. Compared with ULIF, BLIF has the advantages of shorter operative time and a higher fusion rate. Other merits of BLIF include a wider surgical field, greater maneuverability of instruments, visibility during cage implantation, and transverse orientation of the cage.
The diversities in crystal structures and ways of doping result in extremely diversified phase diagrams for iron-based superconductors. With angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we have ...systematically studied the effects of chemical substitution on the electronic structure of various series of iron-based superconductors. Beyond the Fermi-surface alteration that has been reported most often in the past, we found two more extraordinary effects of doping: (1) the site and band dependencies of quasiparticle scattering and, more importantly, (2) the ubiquitous and significant change of electronic correlation by both isovalent and heterovalent dopants in the iron-anion layer. Moreover, we found that the electronic correlation could be suppressed by applying either the chemical pressure or doping electrons but not by doping holes. Together with other findings provided here, these results complete the microscopic picture of the electronic effects of dopants, which facilitates a unified understanding of the diversified phase diagrams and resolutions to many open issues of various iron-based superconductors.
Abstract One of the most important symptoms in chronic pancreatitis (CP) is constant and recurrent abdominal pain. However, there is still no ideal explanation and treatment on it. Previous studies ...indicated that pain in CP shared many characteristics of neuropathic pain. As an important mechanism underlying neuropathic pain, astrocytic activation is probably involved in pain of CP. Based on the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induce rat CP model, we performed pancreatic histology to assess the severity of CP with semiquantitative scores and tested the nociceptive behaviors following induction of CP. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expressions in the thoracic spinal cord were observed by immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Meanwhile, we injected intrathecally astrocytic specific inhibitor l -α-aminoadipate (LAA) and observed its effect on nociception induced by CP. Compared to the naive and sham group, TNBS produced long lasting pancreatitis, and persistent mechanical hypersensitivity in the abdomen that was evident 1 week after TNBS infusion and persisted up to 5 weeks. Compared with naive or sham operated rats, GFAP staining was significantly increased 5 weeks after CP induction. Real-time RT-PCR indicated that GFAP expression was significantly increased in TNBS treated rats compared to the sham group. TNBS-induced astrocytic activation was significantly attenuated by LAA, compared with the saline control. Treatment with LAA significantly, even though not completely, attenuated the allodynia. Our results provide for the first time that astrocytes may play a critical role in pain of CP. Some actions could be taken to prevent astrocytic activation to treat pain in CP patients.
The occurrence of structural superlubricity (SSL) requires that two sliding surfaces be in incommensurate contact. However, the incommensurate contact between two sliding surfaces is fundamentally an ...instable state whose maintenance over time is extremely laborious. To circumvent this difficulty, it is proposed in the present work to change the paradigm of making appear superlubricity and keeping it over time. Two graphene layers in sliding commensurate contact, which are subjected to an isotropic in‐plane synchronous strain, are considered and studied. First, by DFT calculations, it is demonstrated that the synchronous strain‐driven superlubricity (SSDSL) takes place for some particular sliding paths or for all sliding paths, once the compressive strain prescribed reaches 15% or 35%. Next, the Prandtl‐Tomlinson (P‐T) model is used to explain how to modulate stick‐slip, continuous and frictionless slides by the strain. Finally, the SSDSL of two graphene layers in commensurate contact is justified in detail by the interfacial charge density transfer due to the strain. The results obtained by the present work open a new perspective of realizing superlubricity in a robust way.
Based on the analyses of interlayer charge redistribution and kinetics feasibility, the authors, using DFT calculations, predict that the incommensurability‐independent superlubricity is enabled via synchronous strain‐driven friction modulation of interlayer sliding between graphene/graphene sheets. This work opens a new perspective of realizing superlubricity in a robust way.
In this paper, we develop a time‐dependent MHD model driven by the daily‐updated synoptic magnetograms (MHD‐DUSM) to study the dynamic evolution of the global corona with the help of the 3D ...Solar‐Interplanetary (SIP) adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) space‐time conservation element and solution element (CESE) MHD model (SIP‐AMR‐CESE MHD Model). To accommodate the observations, the tangential component of the electric field at the lower boundary is specified to allow the flux evolution to match the observed changes of magnetic field. Meanwhile, the time‐dependent solar surface boundary conditions derived from the method of characteristics and the mass flux limit are incorporated to couple the observation and the 3D MHD model. The simulated evolution of the global coronal structure during 2007 is compared with solar observations and solar wind measurements from both Ulysses and spacecrafts near the Earth. The MHD‐DUSM model is also validated by comparisons with the standard potential field source surface (PFSS) model, the newly improved Wang‐Sheeley‐Arge (WSA) empirical formula, and the MHD simulation with a monthly synoptic magnetogram (MHD‐MSM). Comparisons show that the MHD‐DUSM results have good overall agreement with coronal and interplanetary structures, including the sizes and distributions of coronal holes, the positions and shapes of the streamer belts, and the transitions of the solar wind speeds and magnetic field polarities. The MHD‐DUSM results also display many features different from those of the PFSS, the WSA, and the MHD‐MSM models.
Key Points
A time‐dependent model is developed for the dynamic evolution of global corona
The model is driven by the daily‐updated magnetic field synoptic data
MHD results have good agreement with coronal and interplanetary observations
Recently, A2 B3 type strong spin orbital coupling compounds such as Bi2 Te3 , Bi2 Se3 and Sb2 Te3 were theoretically predicated to be topological insulators and demonstrated through experimental ...efforts. The counterpart compound Sb2 Se3 on the other hand was found to be topological trivial, but further theoretical studies indicated that the pressure might induce Sb2 Se3 into a topological nontrivial state. Here, we report on the discovery of superconductivity in Sb2 Se3 single crystal induced via pressure. Our experiments indicated that Sb2 Se3 became superconductive at high pressures above 10 GPa proceeded by a pressure induced insulator to metal like transition at ~3 GPa which should be related to the topological quantum transition. The superconducting transition temperature (TC ) increased to around 8.0 K with pressure up to 40 GPa while it keeps ambient structure. High pressure Raman revealed that new modes appeared around 10 GPa and 20 GPa, respectively, which correspond to occurrence of superconductivity and to the change of TC slop as the function of high pressure in conjunction with the evolutions of structural parameters at high pressures.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a platelet concentrate made of autogenous blood, has been used to improve bone and soft tissue defect healing in recent years. The aim of this study was to assess the ...effect of PRP on articular cartilage defects in a rabbit model. Forty-eight osteochondral defects created in the femoropatellar groove were (a) left untreated, (b) treated with autogenous PRP in a poly-lactic-glycolic acid (PLGA), or (c) with PLGA alone. Platelets were enriched 5.12-fold compared to normal blood in the PRP. After four and 12 weeks, the explanted tissue specimens were assessed by macroscopic examination, micro-computed tomography, and histological evaluation. Macroscopic examination, micro-computed tomography and histology of the newly formed cartilage and bone in the defect differ significantly between the PRP-treated and the untreated groups, and stimulatory effect of PRP on osteochondral formation was observed. In conclusion, PRP in PLGA improves osteochondral healing in a rabbit model.
Abstract
Recently, theoretical studies show that layered HfTe
5
is at the boundary of weak & strong topological insulator (TI) and might crossover to a Dirac semimetal state by changing lattice ...parameters. The topological properties of 3D stacked HfTe
5
are expected hence to be sensitive to pressures tuning. Here, we report pressure induced phase evolution in both electronic & crystal structures for HfTe
5
with a culmination of pressure induced superconductivity. Our experiments indicated that the temperature for anomaly resistance peak (Tp) due to Lifshitz transition decreases first before climbs up to a maximum with pressure while the Tp minimum corresponds to the transition from a weak TI to strong TI. The HfTe
5
crystal becomes superconductive above ~5.5 GPa where the Tp reaches maximum. The highest superconducting transition temperature (Tc) around 5 K was achieved at 20 GPa. Crystal structure studies indicate that HfTe
5
transforms from a Cmcm phase across a monoclinic C2/m phase then to a P-1 phase with increasing pressure. Based on transport, structure studies a comprehensive phase diagram of HfTe
5
is constructed as function of pressure. The work provides valuable experimental insights into the evolution on how to proceed from a weak TI precursor across a strong TI to superconductors.
Periodontitis is a complex disease characterized by distinct inflammatory stages, with a peak of inflammation in the early phase and less prominent inflammation in the advanced phase. The ...insulin-like growth factor 2-binding proteins 2 (IGF2BP2) has recently been identified as a new m6A reader that protects m6A-modified messenger RNAs (mRNAs) from decay, thus participating in multiple biological processes. However, its role in periodontitis remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the role of IGF2BP2 in inflammation and osteoclast differentiation using a ligature-induced periodontitis model. Our findings revealed that IGF2BP2 responded to bacterial-induced inflammatory stimuli and exhibited differential expression patterns in early and advanced periodontitis stages, suggesting its dual role in regulating this disease. Depletion of Igf2bp2 contributed to increased release of inflammatory cytokines, thereby exacerbating periodontitis after 3 d of ligature while suppressing osteoclast differentiation and ameliorating periodontitis after 14 d of ligature. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that IGF2BP2 directly interacted with Cd5l and Cd36 mRNA via RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Overexpression of CD36 or recombinant CD5L rescued the osteoclast differentiation ability of Igf2bp2-null cells upon lipopolysaccharide stimulus, and thus the downregulation of Cd36 and Cd5l effectively reversed periodontitis in the advanced stage. Altogether, this study deepens our understanding of the potential mechanistic link among the dysregulated m6A reader IGF2BP2, immunomodulation, and osteoclastogenesis during different stages of periodontitis.
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