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Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) emerged as an essential signaling molecule exerting beneficial effects in various cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, or musculoskeletal diseases with an inflammatory component, such as osteoarthritis. These protective effects were initially attributed to protein S-sulfhydration, a posttranslational modification of reactive cysteine residues. However, recent studies suggest that polysulfides and not H 2 S are responsible for S-sulfhydration. To distinguish between H 2 S and polysulfide-mediated effects in this study, we used the slow-releasing H 2 S and persulfide donor P*, which can be decomposed into polysulfides. The effects of P* on IL-1β-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), a pro-inflammatory mediator in osteoarthritis, were determined by nitrite measurement, qPCR, and Western blotting in the murine chondrocyte-like cell line ATDC5. Decomposed P* significantly reduced IL-1β-induced iNOS signaling via polysulfides, independently of H 2 S. In line with this, the fast-releasing H 2 S donor NaHS was ineffective. In RAW 264.7 macrophages, similar results were obtained. P*-derived polysulfides further diminished IL-1β-induced CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) β and δ expression in ATDC5 cells, which might play a critical role in P*-mediated iNOS decline. In conclusion, our data support the view that polysulfides are essential signaling molecules as well as potential mediators of H 2 S signaling. Moreover, we propose that C/EBPβ/δ might be a novel target involved in H 2 S and polysulfide-mediated anti-inflammatory signaling., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: The number of patients who need cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy has increased. In most cases, autologous bone flaps are used for cranioplasty, and there have been reports of the complication of bone flap resorption. Based on these facts, we analysed patients who underwent cranioplasty in our institution to learn about potential risk factors of cranioplasty., Methods and Results: We performed a retrospective study and analysed 58 patients who underwent cranioplasty between 2006 and 2013. We found that patients with a defect size >120cm(2) whose reimplantation was delayed tended to have a risk of bone flap resorption., Conclusion: Patients with delayed reimplantation and a defect size >120cm(2) show a tendency of aseptic bone flap resorption. In these cases, a patient-specific implant (PSI) could be the first choice material for this procedure to reduce the rate of this complication., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Lumbar discectomy is an effective treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Although the majority of patients experience successful outcomes, a significant fraction will experience a recurrence of their back pain due to facet joint degeneration. Facet joint degeneration after discectomy may be the result of excessive nuclear removal, disc space narrowing, and annular injury. This study investigated whether implantation with the Barricaid annular closure device (ACD) during discectomy reduced the rate of facet degeneration. Inclusion criteria were primary lumbar disc herniation failing conservative treatment, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Leg≥40/100, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)≥40/100 and defects that were ≤60 mm2 (Barricaid arm only), and patient age 18-75. CT interpretations were collected preoperatively and 12 months post-discectomy. Patients implanted with Barricaid had significantly reduced rates and grades of facet degeneration than patients without Barricaid. Reinforcing the annulus fibrosus with Barricaid during lumbar discectomy may slow the progression of facet joint degeneration., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)