Purpose
To analyse the incidence and risk factors associated with proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) following spinal fusion, we collect relative statistics from the articles on PJK and perform a ...meta-analysis.
Methods
An extensive search of literature was performed in PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library (up to April 2015). The following risk factors were extracted: age at surgery, gender, combined anterior-posterior surgery, use of pedicle screw at top of construct, hybrid instrumentation, thoracoplasty, fusion to sacrum (S1), preoperative thoracic kyphosis angle (T5–T12) >40°, bone mineral density (BMD) and preoperative to postoperative sagittal vertical axis (SVA difference) >5 cm. Data analysis was conducted with RevMan 5.3 and STATA 12.0.
Results
A total of 14 unique studies including 2215 patients were included in the final analyses. The pooled analysis showed that there were significant difference in age at surgery >55 years old (OR 2.19, 95 % CI 1.36–3.53,
p
= 0.001), fusion to S1 (OR 2.12, 95 % CI 1.57–2.87,
p
< 0.001), T5–T12 >40° (OR 2.68, 95 % CI 1.73–4.13,
p
< 0.001), low BMD (OR 2.37, 95 % CI 1.45–3.87,
p
< 0.001) and SVA difference >5 cm (OR 2.53, 95 % CI 1.24–5.18,
p
= 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in gender (OR 0.98, 95 % CI 0.74–1.30,
p
= 0.87), combined anterior-posterior surgery (OR 1.55, 95 % CI 0.98–2.46,
p
= 0.06), use of pedicle screw at top of construct (OR 1.55, 95 % CI 0.67–3.59,
p
= 0.30), hybrid instrumentation (OR 1.31, 95 % CI 0.92–1.87,
p
= 0.13) and thoracoplasty (OR 1.55, 95 % CI 0.89–2.72,
p
= 0.13). The incidence of PJK following spinal fusion was 30 % (ranged from 17 to 62 %) based on the 14 studies.
Conclusions
The results of our meta-analysis suggest that age at surgery >55 years, fusion to S1, T5–T12 >40°, low BMD and SVA difference >5 cm are risk factors for PJK. However, gender, combined anterior–posterior surgery, use of pedicle screw at top of construct, hybrid instrumentation and thoracoplasty are not associated with PJK.
An I2/K2S2O8 mediated multiple β‐C(sp3)−H functionalization reaction for the construction of polysubstituted furans has been established from readily available ethyl ketones and dimethyl sulfoxide. ...This transformation features dimethyl sulfoxide as a multipurpose precursor, acting as the precursor of the oxygen, methyl, and sulfur methyl units. Six new chemical bonds, involving two C−C, two C−O, and one C−S bonds were formed sequentially during the intermolecular oxidative annulation process.
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in childhood. It contains at least four distinct molecular subgroups. The aim of this study is to explore novel diagnostic and potential ...therapeutic markers within each subgroup of MB, in particular within Group 4, the largest subgroup, to facilitate diagnosis together with gene therapy. One hundred and six MB samples were examined. Tumor subtype was evaluated with the NanoString assay. Several novel tumor related genes were shown to have high subgroup sensitivity and specificity, including PDGFRA, FGFR1, and ALK in the WNT group, CCND1 in the SHH group, and α‐synuclein (SNCA) in Group 4. Knockdown and overexpression assays of SNCA revealed the ability of this gene to inhibit tumor invasion and induce apoptosis. Methylation‐specific PCR and pyrosequencing analysis showed that epigenetic mechanisms, rather than DNA hypermethylation, might play the key role in the regulation of SNCA expression in MB tumors. In conclusion, we identify SNCA as a novel diagnostic biomarker for Group 4 MB. Some other subgroup signature genes have also been found as candidate therapeutic targets for this tumor.
Here, we identify for the first time that α‐synuclein (SNCA), the biomarker for Parkinson's disease, as a novel sensitive and specific marker for Group 4 medulloblastoma (MB). In addition, some other subtype‐specific signature genes evaluated here also shed light on clinical usage of molecular subtyping as well as potential gene therapy of MB patients.
A thorough assessment of thermal properties in heterogeneous subsurface is necessary in design of low-temperature borehole heat exchangers (BHEs). A distributed thermal response test (DTRT), which ...combines distributed temperature sensing (DTS) with a conventional thermal response test (TRT), was conducted in a U-bend geothermal loop installed in an open borehole at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to estimate thermal properties by analyzing the thermal response of different geologic materials while applying a constant heat input rate. Fiber-optic cables in the DTRT were deployed both inside the U-bend geothermal loop and in the center of the borehole to improve the accuracy of calculated heat-loss rates and borehole temperature profile measurements. To assess the subsurface thermal conductivity during the heating phase of the DTRT, a single-source model and a multi-source model, both based on the infinite line source method, were developed using the borehole temperature data and temperatures inside and along the outside of the loop, separately. The two models returned similar thermal conductivity values. The multi-source modeling has the advantage of predicting the thermal conductivity of heterogeneous geologic materials from borehole temperature profiles during the DTRT heating phase. In addition, based on the distributed thermal conductivity measured in the borehole, estimates were made for both radial thermal impacts and the rate of heat loss in the BHE.
Lanthanide‐Coordinated Black Phosphorus Wu, Lie; Wang, Jiahong; Lu, Jiang ...
Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany),
July 19, 2018, Volume:
14, Issue:
29
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Black phosphorus (BP) possesses unique physical properties and, owing to its intrinsic instability, the proper surface and chemical coordination is the key point in many applications. Herein, a ...facile and efficient surface lanthanide‐coordination strategy based on lanthanide (Ln) sulfonate complexes is designed to passivate and functionalize different BP‐based nanostructures including quantum dots, nanosheets, and microflakes. By means of Ln–P coordination, the lone‐pair electrons of phosphorus are occupied, thus preventing oxidation of BP, and the LnL3@BP exhibits excellent stability in both air and water. Furthermore, accompanied by the original photothermal performance of BP nanostructures, the Gd‐coordinated BP has high R1 relativities in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and other Ln (Tb, Eu, and Nd) coordinated BP structures exhibit fluorescence spanning the visible to near‐infrared regions. Not only is LnL3 surface passivation an efficient method to enhance the stability of BP, but also the MR or fluorescence derived from lanthanide ions extends the application of BP to optoelectronics and biomedical engineering.
A facile lanthanide‐coordination strategy based on lanthanide sulfonate complexes is established for surface modification of black phosphorus (BP)‐based nanostructures, including quantum dots, nanosheets, and microflakes. It presents an efficient method to protect BP, and the magnetic resonance or fluorescence derived from the lanthanide enables the functionalization of BP for extending its application range.
The human genome contains thousands of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which are thought to lack open reading frames (ORFs) and cannot be translated. Some ncRNAs reportedly have important functions, ...including epigenetic regulation, chromatin remolding, protein modification, and RNA degradation, but the functions of most ncRNAs remain elusive. Through the application and development of ribosome profiling and sequencing technologies, an increasing number of studies have discovered the translation of ncRNAs. Although ncRNAs were initially defined as noncoding RNAs, a number of ncRNAs actually contain ORFs that are translated into peptides. Here, we summarize the available methods, tools, and databases for identifying and validating ncRNA-encoded peptides/proteins, and the recent findings regarding ncRNA-encoded small peptides/proteins in cancer are compiled and synthesized. Importantly, the role of ncRNA-encoding peptides/proteins has application prospects in cancer research, but some potential challenges remain unresolved. The aim of this review is to provide a theoretical basis that might promote the discovery of more peptides/proteins encoded by ncRNAs and aid the further development of novel diagnostic and prognostic cancer markers and therapeutic targets.
•Some ncRNAs are translated into stable peptides or proteins, expanding the landscape of the proteome.•Some tools, methods and databases are designed for identifying and validating ncRNA-encoded peptides related with cancer.•The translation of lncRNAs provides a novel molecular mechanism to participate in complex regulatory networks of cells.•CircRNA-encoded peptides in cancer may become drug targets and biomarkers for diagnosing or predicting the prognosis.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an extremely common head and neck cancer with a poor 5‐year survival rate, especially in cases of metastatic disease. Interleukin (IL)‐11 reportedly promotes ...cell growth and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process in metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms of IL‐11 in OSCC metastasis are unclear. This study found that IL‐11 upregulates matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP‐13) expression in OSCC via the IL‐11 receptor alpha subunit/glycoprotein 130 receptors that activate phosphatidyl‐inositol 3‐kinase, Ak strain transforming, and activator protein 1 signaling, which subsequently enhance MMP‐13‐induced tumor metastasis. TIMER2.0 analysis revealed a positive correlation between MMP‐13 and IL‐11 levels (r = 0.454). Moreover, a strong positive association was observed between higher levels of IL‐11 expression in OSCC tissue (p < 0.01), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0154), and clinical disease stage (p = 0.0337). IL‐11 knockdown suppressed the migration of OSCC cells (p < 0.05). The evidence indicates that IL‐11 can serve as a new molecular therapeutic target in OSCC metastasis.
Magnesium‐ion batteries are widely studied for its environmentally friendly, low‐cost, and high volumetric energy density. In this work, the solvothermal method is used to prepare titanium dioxide ...bronze (TiO2‐B) nanoflowers with different nickel (Ni) doping concentrations for use in magnesium ion batteries as cathode materials. As Ni doping enhances the electrical conductivity of TiO2‐B and promotes magnesium ion diffusion, the band gap of TiO2‐B host material can be significantly reduced, and as Ni content increases, diffusion contributes more to capacity. According to the electrochemical test, TiO2‐B exhibits excellent electrochemical performance when the Ni element doping content is 2 at% and it is coated with reduced graphene oxide@carbon nanotube (RGO@CNT). At a current density of 100 mA g−1, NT‐2/RGO@CNT discharge specific capacity is as high as 167.5 mAh g−1, which is 2.36 times of the specific discharge capacity of pure TiO2‐B. It is a very valuable research material for magnesium ion battery cathode materials.
The solvothermal method is used to prepare titanium dioxide bronze (TiO2‐B) nanoflowers with different nickel (Ni) doping concentrations. Ni doping enhances the electrical conductivity of TiO2‐B and promotes magnesium ion diffusion. At a current density of 100 mA g−1, NT‐2/RGO@CNT discharge specific capacity is as high as 167.5 mAh g−1, which is 2.36 times of the specific discharge capacity of pure TiO2‐B.
Previous studies have shown that primordial germ cell‐like cells (PGCLCs) can be obtained from human, porcine and mouse skin‐derived stem cells (SDSCs). In this paper, we found retinoic acid (RA), ...the active derivative of vitamin A, accelerated the growth of porcine primordial germ cells (pPGCs) and porcine PGCLCs (pPGCLCs) which were derived from porcine SDSCs (pSDSCs). Moreover, flow cytometry results revealed that the proliferation promoting effect of RA was attenuated by U0126, a specific inhibitor of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK). Western blot analysis showed the protein level of ERK, phosphorylated ERK, cyclin D1 (CCND1), and cyclin‐dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) increased after stimulation with RA, and this effect could also be abolished by U0126. Our data revealed that ablation of ERK expression by U0126 should significantly decrease proliferation of pPGCLCS. This reduction was because CCND1 and CDK2 proteins level decrease and subsequently the pPGCLCs were arrested in the G0/G1 phase. In addition, we also confirmed RA indeed promoted the proliferation of pPGCs isolated from porcine fetal genital ridges in vitro. Furthermore, our data indicated that DNA methylation pattern were changed in pPGCLCs and this pattern were more similar to pPGCs.
Retinoic acid (RA) plays an essential role in the regulation of porcine primordial germ cell‐like cells (pPGCLC) proliferation by mediating the ERK signaling pathway.
Summary
Abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinin are key hormones controlling plant development. How ABA and cytokinin interplay to control the transition from a dry seed into a young seedling remains ...elusive. Here we undertook a gain‐of‐function genetic screen to identify ABA‐insensitive mutants during seed germination in Arabidopsis using an estradiol‐inducible approach. In the presence of estradiol, one of these mutants gim1 (germination insensitive to ABA mutant 1) exhibited an elevated level of cytokinin that was attributed to the estradiol‐induced expression of AtIPT8 that encodes an isopentenyltransferase for the biosynthesis of cytokinins. Our data on OE‐2 and Com‐1 transgenic plants carrying the ectopically expressing AtIPT8 gene indicated that the elevation of cytokinin level was responsible for the ABA‐insensitivity of gim1 seed germination. Further analyses on alterations of gene transcriptomes in the gim1 mutant demonstrated that the expression of some ABA‐inducible genes, including ABI5, was reduced, and could not be restored by exogenous ABA treatment. Moreover, we also failed to observe the ABA‐mediated repression of a family of cytokinin signal transducers and transcription repressors called type‐A ARR4, ARR5 and ARR6 in the gim1 seedlings. Further analysis demonstrated that type‐A ARR4, ARR5 and ARR6 could negatively regulate ABI5 expression, and the physical interaction of ABI5 and type‐A ARR4, ARR5 and ARR6 proteins was detected. In summary, our study suggests that the interaction of ABA and cytokinin during seed germination and seedling growth can be mediated by the interplay of transcriptional regulators in Arabidopsis.
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