Three-Dimensional-Printed Titanium Versus Polyetheretherketone Cages for Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Systematic Review of Comparative In Vitro, Animal, and Human Studies

Neal A. Patel,Sinead O’Bryant,Christopher D. Rogers,Sachiv Chakravarti,Julian Gendreau,Nolan J. Brown,Zach A. Pennington,Neill B. Hatcher,Luis Daniel Diaz-Aguilar,Martin H. Pham 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.2

Interbody fusion is a workhorse technique in lumbar spine surgery that facilities indirect decompression, sagittal plane realignment, and successful bony fusion. The 2 most commonly employed cage materials are titanium (Ti) alloy and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). While Ti alloy implants have superior osteoinductive properties they more poorly match the biomechanical properties of cancellous bones. Newly developed 3-dimensional (3D)-printed porous titanium (3D-pTi) address this disadvantage and are proposed as a new standard for lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) devices. In the present study, the literature directly comparing 3D-pTi and PEEK interbody devices is systematically reviewed with a focus on fusion outcomes and subsidence rates reported in the in vitro, animal, and human literature. A systematic review directly comparing outcomes of PEEK and 3D-pTi interbody spinal cages was performed. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. Mean Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score for cohort studies was 6.4. A total of 7 eligible studies were included, comprising a combination of clinical series, ovine animal data, and in vitro biomechanical studies. There was a total population of 299 human and 59 ovine subjects, with 134 human (44.8%) and 38 (64.4%) ovine models implanted with 3D-pTi cages. Of the 7 studies, 6 reported overall outcomes in favor of 3D-pTi compared to PEEK, including subsidence and osseointegration, while 1 study reported neutral outcomes for device related revision and reoperation rate. Though limited data are available, the current literature supports 3D-pTi interbodies as offering superior fusion outcomes relative to PEEK interbodies for LIF without increasing subsidence or reoperation risk. Histologic evidence suggests 3DTi to have superior osteoinductive properties that may underlie these superior outcomes, but additional clinical investigation is merited.

Molecular cloning, characterization and mRNA expression of duck interleukin-17F

Kim, W.H.,Fernandez, C.P.,Diaz, J.A.R.,Jeong, J.,Kim, S.,Lillehoj, H.S.,Chang, H.H.,Min, W. Elsevier 2015 Veterinary immunology and immunopathology Vol. No.

Interleukin-17F (IL-17F) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in gut homeostasis. A full-length duck IL-17F (duIL-17F) cDNA with a 510-bp coding region was identified in ConA-activated splenic lymphocytes. duIL-17F is predicted to encode 166 amino acids, including a 26-amino acid signal peptide, a single N-linked glycosylation site, and six cysteine residues that are conserved in mammalian IL-17. duIL-17F shares 77.5% amino acid sequence identity with chicken IL-17F (chIL-17F), 37-46% with corresponding mammalian homologues, and 53.5% with the previously described duck IL-17A (duIL-17A). The duIL-17F transcripts were expressed in a wide range of untreated tissues; levels were highest in the liver and moderate in the thymus, bursa, kidney, and intestinal tissues. Expression levels of duIL-17F transcript were slightly up-regulated in ConA- and LPS-activated splenic lymphocytes but not in poly I:C stimulated cells. duIL-17F forms heterodimers with duIL-17A. Recombinant duIL-17F, like duIL-17A, induced IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 expression in duck embryonic fibroblasts (DEFs). duIL-17A, but not duIL-17F expression, was significantly up-regulated in the liver and spleen of Salmonella Typhimurium-infected ducks. Further analysis of the contributions of IL-17F to different Salmonella spp. or other disease models will be required to expand our understanding of its biological functions.

A plasma circulating miRNAs profile predicts type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes: from the CORDIOPREV study

Rosa Jiménez-Lucena,Antonio Camargo,Juan Francisco Alcalá-Diaz,Cristina Romero-Baldonado,Raúl Miguel Luque,Ben van Ommen,Javier Delgado-Lista,Jose María Ordovás,Pablo Pérez-Martínez,Oriol Alberto Rang 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

We aimed to explore whether changes in circulating levels of miRNAs according to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or prediabetes status could be used as biomarkers to evaluate the risk of developing the disease. The study included 462 patients without T2DM at baseline from the CORDIOPREV trial. After a median follow-up of 60 months, 107 of the subjects developed T2DM, 30 developed prediabetes, 223 maintained prediabetes and 78 remained disease-free. Plasma levels of four miRNAs related to insulin signaling and beta-cell function were measured by RT-PCR. We analyzed the relationship between miRNAs levels and insulin signaling and release indexes at baseline and after the follow-up period. The risk of developing disease based on tertiles (T1-T2-T3) of baseline miRNAs levels was evaluated by COX analysis. Thus, we observed higher miR-150 and miR-30a-5p and lower miR-15a and miR-375 baseline levels in subjects with T2DM than in disease-free subjects. Patients with high miR-150 and miR-30a-5p baseline levels had lower disposition index (p = 0.047 and p = 0.007, respectively). The higher risk of disease was associated with high levels (T3) of miR-150 and miR-30a-5p (HRT3-T1 = 4.218 and HRT3-T1 = 2.527, respectively) and low levels (T1) of miR-15a and miR- 375 (HRT1-T3 = 3.269 and HRT1-T3 = 1.604, respectively). In conclusion, our study showed that deregulated plasma levels of miR-150, miR-30a-5p, miR-15a, and miR-375 were observed years before the onset of T2DM and pre-DM and could be used to evaluate the risk of developing the disease, which may improve prediction and prevention among individuals at high risk for T2DM.

Giant Cell Tumor Pulmonary Metastases Mimic Primary Malignant Pulmonary Nodules on $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT

Makis, William,Alabed, Yazan Z.,Nahal, Ayoub,Novales-Diaz, Javier A.,Hickeson, Marc The Korea Society of Nuclear Medicine 2012 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.46 No.2

A 59-year-old man with a 30-year history of multiple recurrences of a giant cell tumor (GCT) of the left knee was referred for an $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT to evaluate a solitary pulmonary nodule. The nodule was mildly FDG-avid, raising suspicion of malignancy. It was excised and histologically proven to be a GCT pulmonary metastasis. A follow-up PET/CT done 2 years later revealed a new, larger lung mass that was more intensely FDG-avid, but of the same histology. This rare report highlights a pitfall in the evaluation of solitary pulmonary lesions by $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT in patients with GCT of the bone.

A Series of Novel Esters of Capsaicin Analogues Catalyzed by Candida antarctica Lipases

Tania Diaz-Vidal,Luis Carlos Rosales-Rivera,Juan C. Mateos-Díaz,Jorge A. Rodríguez 한국생물공학회 2020 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.25 No.1

Capsaicin analogues are typically synthetized by condensation of the amide group of vanillylamine with a fatty acid derivative. The enzyme of choice to perform this reaction is Candida antarctica lipase B; however, this enzyme is unable to react with the phenolic substituents of the vanillyl ring. So far, this can only be achieved chemically, resulting in capsaicin esters with higher lipophilicity and less irritation than the parent compound. In need of searching for new capsaicin derivatives, we investigated the transesterification of the phenolic OH group of capsaicin and several capsaicin analogues by Candida antarctica lipase A (CALA) with vinyl esters. Capsaicin esters were successfully synthetized with a reaction yield of 80.6% and 57.5% with vinyl butyrate and vinyl laurate, respectively. When the reactions were performed with capsaicin analogues of different acyl chain lengths, CALA exhibited a noticeable transesterification preference for medium-length capsaicin analogues. In an attempt to explore the catalytic limits of CALA, we performed the transesterification of capsaicin from Capsicum oleoresin. The results showed similar transesterification yields to those obtained with semi-pure capsaicin. Within our knowledge, this is the first report to achieve the synthesis of phenolic OH esters of capsaicin and capsaicin analogues by enzymatic means.

Identification and expression analysis of duck interleukin-17D in Riemerella anatipestifer infection

Diaz, J.A.R.,Kim, W.H.,Fernandez, C.P.,Jeong, J.,Afrin, F.,Lillehoj, H.S.,Kim, S.,Kim, S.,Dalloul, R.A.,Min, W. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science 2016 DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY Vol.61 No.-

<P>Interleukin (IL)-17D is a proinfiammatory cytokine with currently largely unknown biological functions. Here we provide the description of the sequence, bioactivity, and mRNA expression profile of duck IL-17D homologue. A full-length duck IL-17D (duIL-17D) cDNA with a 624-bp coding region was identified from the large intestine. dull-17D shares approximately 94.7% identity with its chicken counterpart, which is also identified in this work. duIL-17D exhibits 62.6-68.4% and 52.1-53.1% identity with mammalian and piscine homologues. Recombinant duIL-17D promoted the expression of proinfiammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1 beta in duck embryo fibroblast cells. Very low levels of dull-17D transcript were observed in healthy lymphoid tissues, including bursa, thymus, and spleen, while duIL-17D expression was relatively high in the heart. The dull-17D expression profiles were examined in mitogen-stimulated splenic lymphocytes, as well as tissues affected by Riemerella anatipestifer infection. The levels of duIL-17D were mostly upregulated in mitogen-activated splenic lymphocytes but downregulated in the liver and spleen of R. anatipestifer-infected ducks. These results provide new insights into the roles of IL-17D in host protective immune responses to Riemerella infection, which can therefore lead to further studies of its biological functions in different disease models of ducks and other avian species. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</P>

Upregulation of duck interleukin-17A during Riemerella anatipestifer infection

Fernandez, C.P.,Kim, W.H.,Diaz, J.A.R.,Jeong, J.,Afrin, F.,Kim, S.,Jang, H.K.,Lee, B.H.,Yim, D.,Lillehoj, H.S.,Min, W. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science 2016 DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY Vol.63 No.-

<P>Although IL-17 cytokines play critical roles in host defense immunity, dysregulated expression of these cytokines is associated with inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Riemerella anatipestifer is the most important infectious bacterium in the duck industry. Interestingly, not all avian species are equally susceptible to R. anatipestifer infection. This paper reports the first description of mortality rate, bacterial burden, and expression profiles of immune-related genes between ducks and chickens infected with R. anatipestifer. Ducks exhibited increased susceptibility to R. anatipestifer infection compared to chickens, as determined by mortality rate and bacterial burden. Comparative expression analyses of immune-related genes in R. anatipestifer-infected tissues obtained from both species revealed that TLR3, TLR7, IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma transcript levels were higher in chickens, whereas TLR4 and IL-17A transcript levels were higher in ducks. Marked increases in expression of IL-17A and IL-6, but not TGF-beta, were associated with Th17 cell differentiation in duck splenic lymphocytes, but not in chicken splenic lymphocytes, stimulated with R. anatipestifer. Moreover, upregulation of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-17A mRNA expressions, but not TGF-beta, was confirmed in the liver and spleen of ducks infected with R. anatipestifer, indicating that IL-17A is strongly associated with Riemerella infection in ducks. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</P>

Competition/antagonism associations of biofilm formation among Staphylococcus epidermidis Agr groups I, II, and III

Sergio Martínez-García,César I. Ortiz-García,Marisa Cruz-Aguilar,Juan Carlos Zenteno,José Martin Murrieta-Coxca,Sonia Mayra Pérez-Tapia,Sandra Rodríguez-Martínez,Mario E. Cancino-Diaz,Juan C. Cancino- 한국미생물학회 2019 The journal of microbiology Vol.57 No.2

Staphylococci have quorum-sensing (QS) systems that enable cell-to-cell communication, as well as the regulation of numerous colonization and virulence factors. The accessory gene regulator (Agr) operon is one of the Staphylococcus genus QS systems. Three groups (I, II, and III) are present in Staphylococcus epidermidis Agr operon. To date, it is unknown whether Agr groups can interact symbiotically during biofilm development. This study analyzed a symbiotic association among Agr groups during biofilm formation in clinical and commensal isolates. Different combinations among Agr group isolates was used to study biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo (using a mouse catheter-infection model). The analysis of Agr groups were also performed from samples of human skin (head, armpits, and nostrils). Different predominant coexistence was found within biofilms, suggesting symbiosis type. In vitro, Agr I had a competition with Agr II and Agr III. Agr II had a competition with Agr III, and Agr II was an antagonist to Agr I and III when the three strains were combined. In vivo, Agr II had a competition to Agr I, but Agr I and II were antagonists to Agr III. The associations found in vitro and in vivo were also found in different sites of the skin. Besides, other associations were observed: Agr III antagonized Agr I and II, and Agr III competed with Agr I and Agr II. These results suggest that, in S. epidermidis, a symbiotic association of competition and antagonism occurs among different Agr groups during biofilm formation.

Design, setup and routine operation of a water treatment system for the monitoring of low activities of tritium in water

C.D.R. Azevedo,A. Baeza,E. Chauveau,J.A. Corbacho,J. Diaz,J. Domange,C. Marquet,M. Martinez-Roig,F. Piquemal,C. Roldan,J. Vasco,J.F.C.A. Veloso,N. Yahlali Korean Nuclear Society 2023 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.55 No.7

In the TRITIUM project, an on-site monitoring system is being developed to measure tritium (³H) levels in water near nuclear power plants. The quite low-energy betas emitted by ³H have a very short average path in water (5 ㎛ as shown by simulations for 18 keV electrons). This path would be further reduced by impurities present in the water, resulting in a significant reduction of the detection efficiency. Therefore, one of the essential requirements of the project is the elimination of these impurities through a filtration process and the removal of salts in solution. This paper describes a water treatment system developed for the project that meets the following requirements: the water produced should be of near-pure water quality according to ISO 3696 grade 3 standard (conductivity < 10 µS/cm); the system should operate autonomously and be remotely monitored.

Incidental Bilateral Renal Oncocytoma in a Patient with Metastatic Carcinoma of Unknown Primary: a Pitfall on $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT

Makis, William,Ciarallo, Anthony,Novales-Diaz, Javier-A.,Lisbona, Robert The Korea Society of Nuclear Medicine 2011 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.45 No.4

Bilateral renal masses are uncommon but can raise a strong suspicion of primary or secondary malignancy, especially during the initial work-up of an oncology patient. Renal oncocytomas are benign renal tumors that are commonly discovered incidentally on diagnostic imaging with a small percentage occurring bilaterally. Although $^{18}F$-FDG uptake in renal oncocytomas has been described, a case of a bilateral $^{18}F$-FDG-avid renal oncocytoma has not been previously reported in the literature. A variety of malignant causes of bilateral $^{18}F$-FDG positive renal masses are known, however it is important to include this benign etiology in the differential diagnosis. We report an unusual case of an incidental bilateral renal oncocytoma evaluated with contrast enhanced CT and $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT.