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The potential benefits of biochar, a carbon-rich substance derived from biomass, for enhancing agricultural yield and soil health have drawn increasing interest. Nevertheless, owing to the lack of specialized studies, the role of its poly-spatial structure in the success of fostering plant growth remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the effects of various biochar pore shapes on tobacco growth and the underlying microbiological processes. Three pyrolysis temperatures (250 °C, 400 °C, and 550 °C) were used to produce biochar from tobacco stems, resulting in different pore structures (T3 > T2 > T1). We then used BET-specific surface area (BET), t.Plot micropore specific surface area (t.Plot), mesopore specific surface area (MSSA), specific pore volume (SPV), average pore size (AP), and mesopore pore volume (MPV) measurements to evaluate the effects of these biochars on tobacco growth and biomass accumulation, and microbial analyses were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. When applied to plants, biochar increased their growth compared to untreated controls. The most notable improvement in tobacco growth was observed in the biochar produced at 400 °C (T3), which possessed the largest and most advantageous pore structure among all treatments. Further studies demonstrated that biochars with greater specific surface areas (BET, t.Plot, and MSSA) positively altered the abundance of key microbial taxa (e.g., Stenotrophobacter, Ensifer, Claroideoglomus) and community composition, thereby encouraging plant development and biomass accumulation. Conversely, greater pore volumes (SPV, AP, and MPV) inhibited microbial activity and significantly affected growth and biomass accumulation. Structural equation modeling further demonstrated that the pore structure of biochar greatly affected plant growth by changing the relative abundance and community composition of soil microbes. Maximizing the benefits of biochar in stimulating plant growth and improving soil microbial communities depends on optimizing the material's pore structure, particularly by increasing the specific surface area. These findings will help expand the use of biochar in sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Retrospective. Objectives: To present rarely reported complex fractures of the upper cervical spine (C1-C2) and discuss the clinical results of the posterior temporary C1-2 pedicle screws fixation for C1-C2 stabilization. Methods: A total of 19 patients were included in the study (18 males and 1 female). Their age ranged from 23 to 66 years (mean age of 39.6 years). The patients were diagnosed with complex fractures of the atlas and the axis of the upper cervical spine and underwent posterior temporary C1-2 pedicle screws fixation. The patients underwent a serial postoperative clinical examination at approximately 3, 6, 9 months, and annually thereafter. The neck disability index (NDI) and the range of neck rotary motion were used to evaluate the postoperative clinical efficacy of the patients. Results: The average operation time and blood loss were 110 ± 25 min and 50 ± 12 ml, respectively. The mean follow-up was 38 ± 11 months (range 22 to 60 months). The neck rotary motion before removal, immediately after removal, and the last follow-up were 68.7 ± 7.1°, 115.1 ± 11.7°, and 149.3 ± 8.9° (P < 0.01). The NDI scores before and after the operation were 42.7 ± 4.3, 11.1 ± 4.0 (P < 0.01), and the NDI score 2 days after the internal fixation was removed was 7.3 ± 2.9, which was better than immediately after the operation (P < 0.01), and 2 years after the internal fixation was removed. The NDI score was 2.0 ± 0.8, which was significantly better than 2 days after the internal fixation was taken out (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Posterior temporary screw fixation is a good alternative surgical treatment for unstable C1-C2 complex fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Retrospective. Objectives: To study the violation rate of 3 different types of facet joint violation (FJV) grading systems (Babu, Shah, and Park), and to evaluate the accuracy, reliability, and association with clinical outcomes of the above 3 grading systems. Methods: 152 patients of lumbar spinal stenosis treated with percutaneous pedicle screw placement were enrolled in our study. FJV was evaluated on 3-dimensional lumbar CT reconstruction. Three types of grading systems were used to evaluate FJV: Babu's system (grading by the severity of violation), Shah's system (grading by side of violation), and modified Park's system (grading by different components to cause violation). The violation rate and observer consistency of the 3 grading systems were analyzed. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by visual analog score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) score. Results: Kappa coefficients of interobserver consistency on Babu, Shah, and Park grading systems were 0.726,0.849,0.692, respectively. The violation rate of Babu, Shah, and Park grading systems were comparable, which were 34.54%, 32.57%, 33.55%, respectively. In all 3 grading systems, the postoperative VAS low-back pain and ODI scores in non-FJV groups were lower than those in FJV groups (P <.05), and there were no significant differences between 2 groups in VAS leg pain(P >.05). Conclusions: Babu, Shah and modified Park grading system are reliable grading systems, and it reported comparable violation rate. The self-reported clinical outcomes of patients with FJV were worse at 2-year follow-up. For clinical application, it is recommended to use 2 or even 3 different grading systems together to evaluate the FJV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severely disabling disease. Hyperactivation of neuroinflammation is one of the main pathophysiological features of secondary SCI, with phospholipid metabolism playing an important role in regulating inflammation. Phospholipase D (PLD), a critical lipid-signaling molecule, is known to be involved in various physiological processes, including the regulation of inflammation. Despite this knowledge, the specific role of PLD in SCI remains unclear., Methods: In this study, we constructed mouse models of SCI and administered PLD inhibitor (FIPI) treatment to investigate the efficacy of PLD. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing and protein microarray analysis of spinal cord tissues were conducted to further elucidate its mechanism of action., Results: The results showed that PLD expression increased after SCI, and inhibition of PLD significantly improved the locomotor ability, reduced glial scarring, and decreased the damage of spinal cord tissues in mice with SCI. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that inhibition of PLD altered gene expression in inflammation regulation. Subsequently, the protein microarray analysis of spinal cord tissues revealed variations in numerous inflammatory factors. Biosignature analysis pointed to an association with immunity, thus confirming the results obtained from transcriptome sequencing., Discussion: Collectively, these observations furnish compelling evidence supporting the anti-inflammatory effect of FIPI in the context of SCI, while also offering important insights into the PLD function which may be a potential therapeutic target for SCI., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer FY declared a shared parent affiliation with the author(s) FB, ZL, YZ, CZ, YL, ZT, YP, WL, XX, FG, DY, LD, YY, JL to the handling editor at the time of review., (Copyright © 2024 Ke, Bai, Li, Zhu, Zhang, Li, Talifu, Pan, Liu, Xu, Gao, Yang, Du, Yu and Li.)

Spinal cord injury is a severe neurological trauma that can frequently lead to neuropathic pain. During the initial stages following spinal cord injury, inflammation plays a critical role; however, excessive inflammation can exacerbate pain. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have a crucial function in regulating inflammation and alleviating neuropathic pain. Treg cells release suppressor cytokines and modulate the function of other immune cells to suppress the inflammatory response. Simultaneously, inflammation impedes Treg cell activity, further intensifying neuropathic pain. Therefore, suppressing the inflammatory response while enhancing Treg cell regulatory function may provide novel therapeutic avenues for treating neuropathic pain resulting from spinal cord injury. This review comprehensively describes the mechanisms underlying the inflammatory response and Treg cell regulation subsequent to spinal cord injury, with a specific focus on exploring the potential mechanisms through which Treg cells regulate neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury. The insights gained from this review aim to provide new concepts and a rationale for the therapeutic prospects and direction of cell therapy in spinal cord injury-related conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Li, Yu, Li, Xu, Talifu, Liu, Yang, Gao, Wei, Zhang, Gong, Peng, Du and Li.)

Objectives: We investigated the effects of autologous vein transplant on bile duct injury repair, through observation of the hepatic and biliary system tissue morphology changes and animal survival after bile duct injury repair., Materials and Methods: Rabbits were equally divided into groups. Group A had cholecystectomy and common bile duct resection (length of 0.5 cm), transplant of an autologous vein (length of 0.5 cm), and stent implant. Group B had cholecystectomy and common bile duct resection (length of 1.0 cm), transplant of an autologous vein (length of 1.0 cm), and stent implant. The third group (group C) had cholecystectomy only., Results: Two rabbits died in group A and group B; all experimental animals from group C survived. Regarding liver biochemical indexes at preoperative week 1, at postoperative month 1, and at postoperative month 3, we found no significant differences (paired t test, P > .05). Liver biochemical indexes between groups were also not significantly different (P > .05). At month 3, postoperative liver pathology of experimental animals showed no significant changes and no cholestasis; biliary epithelial cells were seen in the transplant vascular., Conclusions: We conclude that autologous vein graft can effectively repair bile duct injury for a short coloboma.