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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Jul 3

Single-cell analysis integrated with machine learning elucidates the mechanisms of nucleus pulposus cells apoptosis in intervertebral disc degeneration and therapeutic interventions. Read more by Chao Song & coauthors: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Intersecting genes screening: (A). Intersecting Veen plot of Genecard data of IVDD with differential genes, (B). PPI network plot of intersecting genes, (C). Network plot of pivotal genes, and (D). Co-expression analysis of pivotal genes.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Jul 2

Daqian Zhou & coauthors performed an analysis of key sifferential metabolites in intervertebral disc degeneration based on untargeted metabolomics. Learn more in JOR Spine: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Differential metabolite analysis in different ways. (A) The matchstick plot of differential metabolites. (B)The radargram analysis of differential metabolites. (C) Correlation analysis of differential metabolites. (D) Chordal analysis of differential metabolites.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Jul 1

There is currently no consensus on the classification of lumbar facet joints based on X-ray imaging. Xiaowen Liu &coauthors developed and evaluated the reliability of a grading system: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Example diagram based on the X-ray grading system.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Jun 30

What is the significance of the MAPK signaling pathway in the diagnosis and subtype classification of intervertebral disc degeneration? Yong Liu & coauthors investigated this question: onlinelibrary.wiley....

The bioinformatics analysis workflow of this study is shown in Figure 1. We obtained 20 differentially expressed MAPK-related genes, of which RASGRP4, DUSP3, HSPA1A, HSPA6, IL1R1, KRAS, MAP3K5, RPS6KA1, BRAF, TNF, CACNA1I, and RPS6KA5 were overexpressed in IDD samples, whereas RASGRP1, DUSP14, DUSP2, RRAS2, JUN, PRKACB, RAP1A, and RAP1B were downregulated (Figure 2A,B). We researched the functions and molecular pathways of 20 differentially expressed MAPK-related genes in IDD. Biological process (BP) terms are related to Ras protein signal transduction, positive regulation of MAPK cascades, and regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascades; cellular component (CC) terms are related to ficolin-1-rich granule lumen, focal adhesion, and external side of plasma membrane; and molecular function (MF) terms are related to MAP kinase phosphatase activity, GDP binding, and G protein activity (Figure 2C Supplementary Table S2). KEGG terms are enriched mainly in MAPK signaling pathway, neurotrophin signal

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Jun 8

This recent review by Matthew A. R. Trone & coauthors highlights hyperacidity's effects on the intervertebral disc, such as catabolism of disk cells, neoinnervation, altered mechanical signaling, and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and ion channels. Learn more: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Healthy versus degenerative intervertebral disk (IVD) and nerve ending. (A) Schematic showing a side-by-side comparison of a healthy versus degenerative IVD. (B) Schematic showing a side-by-side of a nerve ending innervating a healthy IVD versus a degenerative IVD, including mechanisms of low pH nociception. (C) Concentrations across the healthy IVD. Schematic showing pH and concentrations of oxygen and glucose across the disk from endplate to endplate in a healthy IVD. AF, annulus fibrosus; EPs, endplates; NP, nucleus pulposus.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Jun 6

Failure of spine implants is particularly serious due to the implant location near the spinal cord and nerves. Annette Kienle & coauthors suggest an improved approach to mechanical testing of new devices: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Step 1 of the literature-based approach to proof the mechanical safety of a spinal implant: Summary of the in vivo loading of the relevant spinal region and the implant under consideration of the intended use of the implant and human factors.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Jun 4

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion is used to treat various spine disorders, but can sometimes result in biomechanical deterioration in adjacent spine segments. Lipeng He & Tingchen Zhu and coauthors used finite element modeling to better understand this problem: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Nephograms of the stress distribution in the annulus under flexion loading conditions: Comparable stress values can be recorded in both Models 1 and Model 2, and a lower stress value can be observed in Model 3 and Model 4. Therefore, biomechanical significance of articular processes excision and preservation was limited. In contrast, obvious difference in stress values on the cranial motion segment can be observed between models with PLC excision and preservation.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Jun 2

A better understanding of different cell sub-populations present in the adult nucleus pulposus of spinal discs can provide insight into aging and degeneration. Andra-Maria Ionescu & coauthors present their findings in JOR Spine: onlinelibrary.wiley....

CD24, GD2 and TIE2 immunostaining in a cohort of pediatric and adult NP samples of a range of ages and degeneration grades. Representative images showing immunostaining for CD24 (A), GD2 (C) and TIE2 (E). Scale bars = 100 μm. For each marker, images represent (i) non-degenerate (grade 0), pediatric NP tissue (10 years old), (ii) mild degeneration (grade 4), adult NP tissue (28 years old); (iii) moderate degeneration (grade 7), elderly NP tissue (73 years old); (iv) severe degeneration (grade 12), elderly NP tissue (65 years old), (v) positive control (CD24: Colon; GD2: Breast carcinoma; TIE2: Testis) and (vi) IgG control (CD24: Colon; GD2: Breast carcinoma; TIE2: Testis). Quantification of marker positivity: (B) CD24, (D) GD2 and (F) TIE2, based on degeneration grade (B, D, F): Pediatric (degeneration grade = 0; n = 6), mild degeneration (2–5; n = 10), moderate degeneration (6–8; n = 10), severe degenerate (9–12; n = 10) and age (A, C, E): Pediatric (10–17, n = 6), young (20–35; n = 10

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · May 23

Chronic low back pain, a significant global health concern, is often linked to vertebral bone marrow lesions, such as fatty replacement. Wentian Li & coauthors explored relationships between the gut microbiome, serum metabolome, & fatty replacement in chronic low back pain: onlinelibrary.wiley....

A co-occurrence network constructed from the relative abundances of differential bacteria, and serum metabolites in LBP + FR/LBP subjects versus HCs.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · May 21

Work by Ting-Yuan Tu & coauthors reveals how differences in extracellular matrix, stiffness, and myofibroblast distribution between ventral and dorsal layers unlock new insights into ligamentum flavum hypertrophy pathogenesis: onlinelibrary.wiley....

The experimental design of the study. (A) T2-weighted MRI image of hypertrophied LF at the L4/5 level, delineated by the red dotted line. Intraoperative photographs of hypertrophied ligamentum flavum specimens are categorized into ventral and dorsal segments based on their anatomical location. The upper image shows the dorsal LF specimen, the middle image displays the junction between the dorsal and ventral LF (yellow dashed line), and the lower image presents the ventral LF specimen (scale bar: 1 cm). (B) Experimental design of the study. Evaluation of ECM patterns using EVG staining through SEM to assess ECM composition and alignment, and AFM to measure mechanical stiffness. IHC staining was used to determine cell density and evaluate myofibroblasts, while protein expression of α-SMA was quantified using Western blot analysis. The LDH group served as the control, and comparisons were made between the LDH and LSS group, and within the LSS group between ventral and dorsal regions to as

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · May 20

Yangyang Xu & coauthors present a novel growth rod featuring unidirectional sliding and external regulation capabilities, providing dynamic correction and reducing the risk of infection through a non-invasive lengthening mechanism: onlinelibrary.wiley....

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · May 18

Scoliosis instrumentation diminishes the natural coupling behavior of the spine. Could this explain correction loss and junctional deformity in the long-term? Read more from Christian Liebsch & coauthors: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Overview of the experimental setup including the spine tester (middle), the optical motion tracking system consisting of 12 infra-red cameras (right), and one of n = 6 thoracic and lumbar spine specimens (C7-sacrum) with rib cage equipped with three retroreflective markers at each vertebral level (left).

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · May 15

Aimin Gong, Daniel Yang, and Mengjie Zeng found genetic evidence supporting the causal relationship between arthritis and low back pain, especially highlighting the significant impact of hip osteoarthritis: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Flowchart of a Mendelian randomization study.

Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · May 13

Work by Xiang-Yu Li & coauthors, employing multiomics approaches, revealed that the genes associated with lumbar disc degeneration are regulated by DNA methylation and identified genetic variances between gene expression and the gut microbiota: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Workflow of this study. A series of analyses were performed to identify candidate bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) genes associated with the pathogenesis of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD). BMP-related genes were extracted from the GeneCards database. Five transcriptome datasets, including LDD patients and healthy controls (HCs), were obtained from the GEO database, and a meta-analysis was conducted to ascertain the differential expression of LDD-associated BMP genes, followed by cell type-specific expression analysis (CSEA). A three-step summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) method was used to integrate the genome-wide association study (GWAS) summaries and cis-eQTL (expression quantitative trait locus)/cis-mQTL (methylation quantitative trait locus) data from blood, and the putative blood BMP genes and their regulatory elements associated with LDD risk were prioritized (p-SMR-multi <0.01; HEIDI p > 0.05). Sensitivity analysis was performed after the initial SMR to test for

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · May 11

Can puerarin treat intervertebral disc degeneration by regulating nucleus pulposus cell death? Xiaoqiang Wang & coauthors present their findings in JOR Spine: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Molecular docking diagrams of puerarin with IL-1β, TNF-α, BCL2, Caspase3, and Caspase8. (A). Puerarin-IL-1β; (B). Puerarin-IL-1β; (C). Puerarin-BCL2; (D). Puerarin-Caspase3; D. Puerarin-Caspase8.

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Reposted by Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine®

Orthopaedic Research Society @orssociety.bsky.social · May 8

The @jorspine.bsky.social welcomes three new Associate Editors: Cheryle Seguin, PhD; Fabio Galbusera, PhD; and Ashish Diwan, MD, PhD. Their #spine expertise supports our aspiration to broaden #preclinical research in the journal.

Learn more: bit.ly/4m5yCyT

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · May 9

Explore how inflammatory cytokine Resistin (RETN) influences scoliosis progression - Muradil Mardan & coauthors found significant genetic links using bidirectional Mendelian randomization: onlinelibrary.wiley.... #ScoliosisResearch #Inflammation #Genetics #SpineHealth

The basic principle of bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · May 7

Hanlong Xin & coauthors found that asymmetrical ESR1 expression of bilateral paraspinal muscle progenitor cells was correlated with asymmetrical paraspinal muscle size, asymmetrical fatty infiltration, and more severe scoliotic deformity: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Representative standard preoperative standing posteroanterior/lateral radiographs and MR imaging showing apical vertebra in major curve in ESR1 symmetry group (A) or ESR1 asymmetry group (B).

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · May 5

Recent work by Jie Yang & coauthors may help with understanding of the issues with unilateral lumbo-pelvic fixation and strategies for postoperative rehabilitation exercises in patients who has unilateral sacrum fracture: onlinelibrary.wiley....

A-P radiographs of pelvises with (A) bilateral lumbo‐pelvic fixation (BLF); (B) triangular osteosynthesis (TO); (C) unilateral lumbo‐pelvic fixation (ULF)

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Apr 27

Stone Sima and Ashish Diwan discuss the contemporary clinical perspectives on chronic low back pain in their recent JOR Spine article. Read it here: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Contrasts a detached nucleus pulposus or contained disk herniation in a degenerated IVD compared to a healthy IVD. In the degenerated disk, there are many possible mechanisms of pain generation. (1) Damaged AF results in proliferation and activation of mechanoreceptors and nociceptors of the sinuvertebral nerve in the AF and nucleus pulposus. (2) Large, herniated disks can lead to mechanical compression and ischemia of surrounding neuronal structures. (3) Proinflammatory biomarkers like macrophages, TNF-a, C-reactive protein, and IL-1 are released as a response to the degenerative IVD and nerve damage.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Apr 25

Ruxolitinib delays nucleus pulposus cell senescence in rat intervertebral discs. Learn more in this recent JOR Spine article by Honggang Hao et al.: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Detection of NPC senescence rates by β-galactosidase staining. (A) Representative images of β-galactosidase staining; senescent NPCs are stained dark blue as SA-β-gal accumulates in lysosomes (scale bar: 50 μm). (B) Calculation of NPC senescence ratio = (number of senescent cells per unit field of view/total number of cells) × 100%. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation from three independent experiments; *p < 0.05 versus control group, #p < 0.05 between two groups.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Apr 23

Shixiao Zhong & coauthors present their results on the clinical efficacy and biomechanical analysis of a novel hollow pedicle screw combined with kyphoplasty for the treatment of Kümmell disease: onlinelibrary.wiley....

$(A) and (B) Axial and sagittal views of the T11-L2 3D model and T12 fracture model, respectively. (C) A compression fracture with intravertebral vacuum cleft model (M1). (D) A simple unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) model (M2). (E) A unilateral PKP combined with pediculoplasty model (M3). (F) A bilateral PKP combined with pediculoplasty model (M4). (G) A unilateral hollow pedicle screw combined with the kyphoplasty model (M5). (H) A bilateral hollow pedicle screw combined with the kyphoplasty model (M6). (I) Physical drawing of the novel hollow pedicle screw.$

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Reposted by Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine®

Terence McSweeney @termcs.bsky.social · Apr 10

A comprehensive review of cell transplantation and platelet-rich plasma therapy for the treatment of disc degeneration-related back and neck pain. A really nice review @jordyschol.bsky.social 👏🏻

Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Mar 31

Check out this recent review by Jordy Schol & coauthors, which highlights the clinical significant differences obtainable through cell and PRP injections against #backpain: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Illustration presenting the general structure of the intervertebral disc (IVD) and the impact of disc degeneration and cell therapy-derived regeneration. (A) A healthy IVD as an entire unit, including the nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosis (AF), and vertebra with facet-joints. (B) Progression of disc degeneration illustrated by loss of matrix quality, AF-organization, loss of endplate permeability, and NP cell viability and activity, which in turn may promote nerve ingrowth. (C) Transplantation of de novo cells or PRP products into the disc, vertebrae, or epidural space, may support (D) regeneration of the IVD as hallmarked by improvement in cell quantity and quality, tissue organization, nerve ingrowth and sensitization, biomechanical features, and disc features such as height and hydration. AF, anulus fibrosus; IVD, intervertebral disc; NP, nucleus pulposus; PRP, platelet-rich plasma.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Apr 21

Check out Li Li & coauthor's recent paper to learn about the proteomic landscape of extracellular vesicles derived from human intervertebral disc cells: onlinelibrary.wiley....

Extracellular vesicle protein distribution in the Non-deg, Mildly-deg, and Deg samples. Venn diagram representing overlapping and unique proteins in EVs from IVD tissue, green, non-deg, orange, mildly-deg, and blue, Deg.

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Journal of Orthopaedic Research - Spine® @jorspine.bsky.social · Apr 19

What are the effects of extracellular matrix‐degrading enzymes polymorphisms on intervertebral disc degeneration? Find out in this systematic review by Di Zhao & coauthors: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...

Forest plot of rs243865 in MMP2 gene and the risk of IDD (CC/CT vs. TT). CI, confidence interval; IDD, intervertebral disc degeneration; M–H, Mantel–Haenszel.

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