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Objective: The chronic pain syndromes (CPS) include syndromes such as chronic widespread pain (CWP), dry eye disease (DED) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Highly prevalent and lacking pathognomonic biomarkers, the CPS are known to cluster in individuals in part due to their genetic overlap, but patient diagnosis can be difficult. The success of quantitative sensory testing (QST) and inflammatory biomarkers as phenotyping tools in conditions such as painful neuropathies warrant their investigation in CPS. We aimed to examine whether individual QST modalities and candidate inflammatory markers were associated with CWP, DED or IBS in a large, highly phenotyped population sample., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Community-dwelling cohort., Participants: Twins from the TwinsUK cohort PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We compared 10 QST modalities, measured in participants with and without a CWP diagnosis between 2007 and 2012. We investigated whether inflammatory markers measured by Olink were associated with CWP, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumour necrosis factor. All analyses were repeated in DED and IBS with correction for multiple testing., Results: In N=3022 twins (95.8% women), no association was identified between individual QST modalities and CPS diagnoses (CWP, DED and IBS). Analyses of candidate inflammatory marker levels and CPS diagnoses in n=1368 twins also failed to meet statistical significance., Conclusion: Our findings in a large population cohort suggest a lack of true association between singular QST modalities or candidate inflammatory markers and CPS., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Meiotic recombination is a fundamental process that generates genetic diversity by creating new combinations of existing alleles. Although human crossovers have been studied at the pedigree, population and single-cell level, the more frequent non-crossover events that lead to gene conversion are harder to study, particularly at the individual level. Here we show that single high-fidelity long sequencing reads from sperm can capture both crossovers and non-crossovers, allowing effectively arbitrary sample sizes for analysis from one male. Using fifteen sperm samples from thirteen donors we demonstrate variation between and within donors for the rates of different types of recombination. Intriguingly, we observe a tendency for non-crossover gene conversions to occur upstream of nearby PRDM9 binding sites, whereas crossover locations have a slight downstream bias. We further provide evidence for two distinct non-crossover processes. One gives rise to the vast majority of non-crossovers with mean conversion tract length under 50bp, which we suggest is an outcome of standard PRDM9-induced meiotic recombination. In contrast ~2% of non-crossovers have much longer mean tract length, and potentially originate from the same process as complex events with more than two haplotype switches, which is not associated with PRDM9 binding sites and is also seen in somatic cells., Competing Interests: Competing interests S.Lee is a shareholder and an employee at Pacific Biosciences. P.J.C. is a co-founder, shareholder, and consultant for Quotient Therapeutics. R.S is a consultant to MyHeritage Ltd.

Studies suggest that inducing gut microbiota changes may alter both muscle physiology and cognitive behaviour. Gut microbiota may play a role in both anabolic resistance of older muscle, and cognition. In this placebo controlled double blinded randomised controlled trial of 36 twin pairs (72 individuals), aged ≥60, each twin pair are block randomised to receive either placebo or prebiotic daily for 12 weeks. Resistance exercise and branched chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation is prescribed to all participants. Outcomes are physical function and cognition. The trial is carried out remotely using video visits, online questionnaires and cognitive testing, and posting of equipment and biological samples. The prebiotic supplement is well tolerated and results in a changed gut microbiome [e.g., increased relative Bifidobacterium abundance]. There is no significant difference between prebiotic and placebo for the primary outcome of chair rise time (β = 0.579; 95% CI -1.080-2.239 p = 0.494). The prebiotic improves cognition (factor score versus placebo (β = -0.482; 95% CI,-0.813, -0.141; p = 0.014)). Our results demonstrate that cheap and readily available gut microbiome interventions may improve cognition in our ageing population. We illustrate the feasibility of remotely delivered trials for older people, which could reduce under-representation of older people in clinical trials. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04309292., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Across the globe, student champions are building the social prescribing student movement. Given the numerous linkages between social prescribing and students, there is a need to understand the extent and type of evidence on social prescribing and students. Doing so will address an important gap in the literature, as there are no evidence reviews on this topic. Thus, this scoping review aims to understand the extent and type of evidence on social prescribing and students. This review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and will be reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The search strategy will aim to locate both published and unpublished literature. No language or date restrictions will be placed on the search. The databases to be searched include MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), AMED (Ovid), ASSIA (ProQuest), Sociological Abstracts (ProQuest), Global Health (Ovid), Web of Science (Clarivate), Epistemonikos, JBI EBP Database (Ovid), and Cochrane Library. Sources of gray literature to be searched include Google, Google Scholar, Social Care Online (Social Care Institute for Excellence), SIREN Evidence and Resource Library (Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network), and websites of social prescribing organizations and networks. Additionally, a request for evidence sources will be sent out to members of the Global Social Prescribing Student Council. Two independent reviewers will perform title and abstract screening, retrieval and assessment of full-text evidence sources, and data extraction. Data analysis will consist of basic descriptive analysis. Results will be presented in tabular and/or diagrammatic format alongside a narrative summary., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Muhl et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: COVID-19 severity varies widely. Although some demographic and cardio-metabolic factors, including age and obesity, are associated with increasing risk of severe illness, the underlying mechanism(s) are uncertain., Subjects/methods: In a meta-analysis of three independent studies of 1471 participants in total, we investigated phenotypic and genetic factors associated with subcutaneous adipose tissue expression of Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), measured by RNA-Seq, which acts as a receptor for SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry., Results: Lower adipose tissue ACE2 expression was associated with multiple adverse cardio-metabolic health indices, including type 2 diabetes (T2D) (P = 9.14 × 10 -6 ), obesity status (P = 4.81 × 10 -5 ), higher serum fasting insulin (P = 5.32 × 10 -4 ), BMI (P = 3.94 × 10 -4 ), and lower serum HDL levels (P = 1.92 × 10 -7 ). ACE2 expression was also associated with estimated proportions of cell types in adipose tissue: lower expression was associated with a lower proportion of microvascular endothelial cells (P = 4.25 × 10 -4 ) and higher proportion of macrophages (P = 2.74 × 10 -5 ). Despite an estimated heritability of 32%, we did not identify any proximal or distal expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with adipose tissue ACE2 expression., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that individuals with cardio-metabolic features known to increase risk of severe COVID-19 have lower background ACE2 levels in this highly relevant tissue. Reduced adipose tissue ACE2 expression may contribute to the pathophysiology of cardio-metabolic diseases, as well as the associated increased risk of severe COVID-19., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength occurs with increasing age and is associated with loss of function, disability, and the development of sarcopenia and frailty. Dietary protein is essential for skeletal muscle function, but older adults do not anabolise muscle in response to protein supplementation as well as younger people, so called 'anabolic resistance'. The aetiology and molecular mechanisms for this are not understood, however the gut microbiome is known to play a key role in several of the proposed mechanisms. Thus, we hypothesise that the gut microbiome may mediate anabolic resistance and therefore represent an exciting new target for ameliorating muscle loss in older adults. This study aims to test whether modulation of the gut microbiome using a prebiotic, in addition to protein supplementation, can improve muscle strength (as measured by chair-rise time) versus protein supplementation alone., Methods: The study is a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, with two parallel arms; one will receive prebiotic and protein supplementation, and the other will receive placebo (maltodextrin) and protein supplementation. Participants will be randomised as twin pairs, with one twin from each pair in each arm. Participants will be asked to take supplementation once daily for 12 weeks in addition to resistance exercises. Every participant will receive a postal box, containing their supplements, and the necessary equipment to return faecal, urine, saliva and capillary blood samples, via post. A virtual visit will be performed using online platform at the beginning and end of the study, with measures taken over video. Questionnaires, food diary and cognitive testing will be sent out via email at the beginning and end of the study., Discussion: This study aims to provide evidence for the role of the gut microbiome in anabolic resistance to dietary protein. If those who take the prebiotic and protein supplementation have a greater improvement in muscle strength compared with those who take protein supplementation alone, this would suggest that strategies to modify the gut microbiome may reduce anabolic resistance, and therefore potentially mitigate sarcopenia and frailty in older adults., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04309292 . Registered on the 2nd May 2020.

Study Design: Longitudinal cohort study of twins representative of the general population., Objective: To assess the relationship between Modic change (MC) and severe, disabling low back pain (LBP), features of intervertebral disc degeneration (DD) and incident MC during 10-year follow-up., Summary of Background Data: MC describes vertebral endplate and bone marrow lesions visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MC has been associated with DD. It remains unclear whether MC causes LBP independently or through association with DD. Moreover, association of MC with severe, disabling LBP is uncertain., Methods: Volunteers were recruited from the TwinsUK register to MRI and interview between 1996 and 2000 with a subset attending for follow-up a decade later. MC, DD (evaluated by loss of disc height and signal intensity, presence of disc bulge and anterior osteophytes) and Schmorl's nodes (SN) were determined on T2-weighted lumbar MR scans., Results: Complete data were available for 823 subjects at baseline and 429 at follow-up. Mean age at baseline was 54.0 years (range 32-70) with 96% females. The prevalence of MC was 32.2% at baseline and 48.7% at follow-up. Subjects with MC were older (P < 0.001) and more overweight (BMI: P = 0.026, weight: P < 0.001). At both baseline and follow-up, more subjects reporting severe LBP demonstrated MC (subjects with MC vs. without MC: 35.0% vs. 16.4% respectively, P < 0.001 at baseline; and 35.1% vs. 20.0% respectively, P < 0.001 at follow-up). In multivariable analyses, MC remained significantly associated with episodes of severe, disabling LBP (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.04-2.41) after adjustment for age, BMI, DD, and SN at baseline. Loss of disc height and disc signal intensity were independently associated with prevalent MC at baseline, and disc height and disc bulge with incident MC during follow-up., Conclusion: MC is an independent risk factor for episodes of severe and disabling LBP in middle-aged women. These observations support further work aimed at identifying the precise histology underlying MC., Level of Evidence: 2.

Background: Recent studies have indicated the role of the gut microbiota in the progression of osteoarticular diseases, however, the causal relationship between the gut microbiota and pyogenic arthritis remains unclear. There is also a lack of theoretical basis for the application of the gut microbiota in the treatment of pyogenic arthritis. Methods: In our study, we utilized the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from the MiBioGen Consortium involving 13,400 participants and extracted summary statistical data of the microbiota metabolic pathways of 7,738 participants of European descent from the Dutch Microbiome Project (DMP) The data of pyogenic arthritis were derived from the FinnGen R10 database, including 1,086 patients and 147,221 controls. We employed the two-sample Mendelian randomization approach to investigate the causal association between the gut microbiota and pyogenic arthritis. Our methods comprised inverse variance weighting, Mendelian Randomization Egger regression, weighted median, and weighted modal methods. Subsequently, polygenic and heterogeneity analyses were conducted. Results: At the class level, β-proteobacteria is positively correlated with the risk of pyogenic arthritis. At the order level, Burkholderia is positively associated with the disease. At the genus level, the unclassified genus of Sutterellaceae is positively correlated with the disease, while the unnamed genus of Lachnospiraceae, Rothia, and the unnamed genus of Erysipelotrichaceae are negatively correlated with the disease. In addition, Faecalibacterium and Finegoldia are also negatively correlated with the disease. Sensitivity analysis did not show any abnormal evidence. Conclusion: This study indicates that β-proteobacteria, Burkholderiales, and the unclassified genus of Sutterellaceae are associated with an increased risk of the disease, while the unnamed genus of Lachnospiraceae, Rothia, the unnamed genus of Erysipelotrichaceae, Faecalibacterium, and Finegoldia are related to a reduced risk. Future studies are needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which these specific bacterial groups affect pyogenic arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a simple strategy to fabricate a composite material consisting of amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) grafted with a covalently bonded Ni(II)-based covalent organic framework (COF) for electrocatalytic water splitting. The resulting electrocatalyst demonstrates remarkable catalytic efficiency in both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under alkaline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A growing body of research supports the role of the microbial communities residing in the digestive system in the host’s cognitive functioning. Most of these studies have been focused on the gut microbiome and its association with clinical phenotypes in middle-aged and older adults. There is an insufficiency of population-based research exploring the association of normative cognitive functioning with the microbiome particularly with the oral microbiota. Methods: In this study, using metagenomics and metabolomics, we characterized the salivary microbiome diversity in a sample of 51 males of Hispanic and African American origin aged 12–18 years and explored the associations between the microbiome and the youths’ cognitive performance captured with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children II (KABC-II). Results: Several bacterial species of the oral microbiota and related metabolic pathways were associated with cognitive function. In particular, we found negative associations between indicators of general intelligence and the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Lachnospiraceae and positive associations with Bifidobacteriaceae and Prevotella histicola sp. Among metabolic pathways, the super pathways related to bacterial cell division and GABA metabolism were linked to cognitive function. Conclusions: The results of our work are consistent with the literature reporting on the association between microbiota and cognitive function and support further population work to elucidate the potential for a healthy oral microbiome to improve cognitive health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive decline in cognitive function, which significantly increases pain and social burden. However, few therapeutic interventions are effective in preventing or mitigating the progression of AD. An increasing number of recent studies support the hypothesis that the gut microbiome and its metabolites may be associated with upstream regulators of AD pathology. Methods: In this review, we comprehensively explore the potential mechanisms and currently available interventions targeting the microbiome for the improvement of AD. Our discussion is structured around modern research advancements in AD, the bidirectional communication between the gut and brain, the multi-target regulatory effects of microbial metabolites on AD, and therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating gut microbiota to manage AD. Results: The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD through continuous bidirectional communication via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Among these, microbial metabolites such as lipids, amino acids, bile acids and neurotransmitters, especially sphingolipids and phospholipids, may serve as central components of the gut-brain axis, regulating AD-related pathogenic mechanisms including ß-amyloid metabolism, Tau protein phosphorylation, and neuroinflammation. Additionally, interventions such as probiotic administration, fecal microbiota transplantation, and antibiotic use have also provided evidence supporting the association between gut microbiota and AD. At the same time, we propose an innovative strategy for treating AD: a healthy lifestyle combined with targeted probiotics and other potential therapeutic interventions, aiming to restore intestinal ecology and microbiota balance. Conclusion: Despite previous efforts, the molecular mechanisms by which gut microbes act on AD have yet to be fully described. However, intestinal microorganisms may become an essential target for connecting the gut-brain axis and improving the symptoms of AD. At the same time, it requires joint exploration by multiple centers and multiple disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the prevalence of vertebral endplate or Modic change (MC), the progression of MC over a 10-year follow-up and the heritability of MC prevalence in a classical twin study., Methods: The study population was recruited from TwinsUK register between 1996 and 2000. MC was evaluated from T2-weighted lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and follow-up. Heritability was estimated using variance components analysis. Baseline MRI with appropriate data was available for 831 twins and follow-up for 436 twins. In total, both baseline and follow-up imaging were available for 347 twins., Results: Mean age of the study population was 54.1 years (range 45.7-62.5) and females comprised 96%. The prevalence of MC at baseline was 32.1% and at follow-up 48.4%. The incidence of MC during the 10-year follow-up was 21.6% and was highest at L4-5 and L5-S1. MC regressed totally in 3.5% of twins. Twins with prevalent MC at baseline demonstrated a higher incidence of MC at upper lumbar levels during follow-up compared to twins without baseline MC (p = 0.009). Probandwise concordance rates were higher in monozygotic (0.56) than dizygotic twin pairs (0.39) suggestive of familial influence. Heritability of MC prevalence was estimated at 30 (16-43) %., Conclusions: The results suggest that MC is generally progressive in middle age and furthermore is heritable. Since MC is associated with disc degeneration, which is also heritable, further work on potential shared mechanisms is needed.

Purpose: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the largest causes of morbidity worldwide. The aetiology of LBP is complex, and many factors contribute to the onset. Bone marrow lesions within the vertebra adjacent to an intervertebral degenerate disc named Modic change (MC) have been suggested as a diagnostic subgroup of LBP. Autoimmune response has been proposed to be one of the causes that promote the development of MC. The aim of the current investigation is to assess prevalence and severity of MC and LBP in participants with an autoimmune disease diagnosis in a well-documented cohort of adult twin volunteers., Methods: Multivariate generalized mixed linear models (GLMM) were implemented in order to calculate the association between having an autoimmune disorder and MC prevalence, width and severe and disabling LBP. The model was corrected for family structure as well as for covariates such as age, BMI and smoking., Results: No association was found between diagnosis of autoimmune disorder and MC. Interestingly, BMI was independently associated with MC width but not to MC prevalence. These results help to shed light on the relationship between MC and autoimmunity as well as the role of BMI in the development of the lesions., Conclusion: This study is the first to examine autoimmune disorders and MC prevalence in a large, population-based female cohort. The study was well powered to detect a small effect. No association was found between having a diagnosis of one or more autoimmune conditions and MC prevalence, width or LBP., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: Cognitive decline is often considered an inevitable aspect of aging; however, recent research has identified a subset of older adults known as "superagers" who maintain cognitive abilities comparable to those of younger individuals. Investigating the neurobiological characteristics associated with superior cognitive function in superagers is essential for understanding "successful aging." Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome plays a key role in brain function, forming a bidirectional communication network known as the microbiome-gut-brain axis. Alterations in the gut microbiome have been linked to cognitive aging markers such as oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aims to investigate the unique patterns of the gut microbiome in superagers and to develop machine learning-based predictive models to differentiate superagers from typical agers. Methods: We recruited 161 cognitively unimpaired, community-dwelling volunteers aged 60 years or from dementia prevention centers in Seoul, South Korea. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 115 participants were included in the study. Following the removal of microbiome data outliers, 102 participants, comprising 57 superagers and 45 typical agers, were finally analyzed. Superagers were defined based on memory performance at or above average normative values of middle-aged adults. Gut microbiome data were collected from stool samples, and microbial DNA was extracted and sequenced. Relative abundances of bacterial genera were used as features for model development. We employed the LightGBM algorithm to build predictive models and utilized SHAP analysis for feature importance and interpretability. Results: The predictive model achieved an AUC of 0.832 and accuracy of 0.764 in the training dataset, and an AUC of 0.861 and accuracy of 0.762 in the test dataset. Significant microbiome features for distinguishing superagers included Alistipes, PAC001137_g, PAC001138_g, Leuconostoc, and PAC001115_g. SHAP analysis revealed that higher abundances of certain genera, such as PAC001138_g and PAC001115_g, positively influenced the likelihood of being classified as superagers. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the machine learning-based predictive models using gut-microbiome features can differentiate superagers from typical agers with a reasonable performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the structural and phase transition characteristics of supramolecular complexes composed of 18-crown-6 ether and hydrogen selenate (HSeO4−) anions with various cations (K+, Rb+, Cs+). Single crystals of [18-crown-6·K]HSeO4·2H2O, [18-crown-6·Rb]HSeO4·H2O, [18-crown-6·Cs]HSeO4·H2O, [18-crown-6·K]HSeO4, and [18-crown-6·K](HSeO4)0.5(HSO4)0.5 were grown and their structures determined via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Differential scanning calorimetry and variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction were employed to analyse dehydration and phase transition behaviors. The inclusion of 18-crown-6 ether significantly lowered the superprotonic phase transition temperatures by approximately 40 °C compared to pure solid acids. Additionally, substituting HSO4− with HSeO4− decreased phase transition temperatures for K and Cs-complexes and modified the phase transition behavior of the Rb-complex from two-step to single-step isostructural phase transition. Attempts to form solid solutions between the HSeO4− and HSO4− complexes yielded mixed results, with notable success in modulating phase transition temperatures in K-complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as promising materials for ion conduction due to their highly tunable structures and excellent electrochemical stability. This review paper explores the mechanisms of ion conduction in COFs, focusing on how these materials facilitate ion transport across their ordered structures, which is crucial for applications such as solid electrolytes in batteries and fuel cells. We discuss the design strategies employed to enhance ion conductivity, including pore size optimization, functionalization with ionic groups, and the incorporation of solvent molecules and salts. Additionally, we examine the various applications of ion-conductive COFs, particularly in energy storage and conversion technologies, highlighting recent advancements and future directions in this field. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on ion-conductive COFs, offering insights into their potential to design highly ion-conductive COFs considering not only fundamental studies but also practical perspectives for advanced electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both experimental and clinical liver fibrosis leave a metabolic footprint that can be uncovered and defined using metabolomic approaches. Metabolomics combines pattern recognition algorithms with analytical chemistry, in particular, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and various liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) platforms. The analysis of liver fibrosis by each of these methodologies is reviewed separately. Surprisingly, there was little general agreement between studies within each of these three groups and also between groups. The metabolomic footprint determined by NMR (two or more hits between studies) comprised elevated lactate, acetate, choline, 3-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, histidine, methionine, glutamine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and citrate. For GC–MS, succinate, fumarate, malate, ascorbate, glutamate, glycine, serine and, in agreement with NMR, glutamine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and citrate were delineated. For LC–MS, only β-muricholic acid, tryptophan, acylcarnitine, p-cresol, valine and, in agreement with NMR, phosphocholine were identified. The metabolomic footprint of liver fibrosis was upregulated as regards glutamine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, citrate and phosphocholine. Several investigators employed traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments to reverse experimental liver fibrosis, and a commentary is given on the chemical constituents that may possess fibrolytic activity. It is proposed that molecular docking procedures using these TCM constituents may lead to novel therapies for liver fibrosis affecting at least one-in-twenty persons globally, for which there is currently no pharmaceutical cure. This in-depth review summarizes the relevant literature on metabolomics and its implications in addressing the clinical problem of liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and its sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low back pain is one of the most common symptoms of osteoporosis. The pain can seriously affect patients' mood and quality of life; it can also further aggravate bone loss, causing a serious social burden. Minodronate is an oral bisphosphonate that needs to be administered daily. It significantly reduces levels of bone turnover markers (BTMs) and rapidly improves symptoms of low back pain in patients with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis requires long-term treatment, and daily dosing reduces patient compliance. Minodronate has a better safety profile than other bisphosphonates. The objective of the trial is to explore the efficacy and safety of minodronate in the treatment of low back pain in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. Methods: This is a single-centre, randomized, open-label controlled trial with a 24-week duration. Seventy-two eligible patients will be randomly divided into 4 groups. Subjects will be randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive either minodronate (1 mg/day) or alendronate (10 mg/day) every day; senior women (≥ 75 years old) and older women (< 75 years old) will be at a ratio of 1:2. The primary outcome is the time required for the visual analogue scale (VAS) score to decline by ≥ 10 from baseline. The secondary outcome is the changes in VAS scores from baseline, the frequency and dosage of rescue medication, BTMs, bone mineral density (BMD), and variations in upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptom scores from baseline (including heartburn, pain, and bloating). Discussion: This study will provide objective evidence for the efficiency and safety of minodronate. Furthermore, it will be helpful to evaluate the quantitative relationship between BTMs and BMD in patients with osteoporosis under different ages. Trial registration: This study protocol has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05645289 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?term=NCT05645289) on December 8, 2022. The registry name is Peking University Third Hospital. This study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Peking University Third Hospital Medical Science Research Ethics Committee (M2022465, 2022.08.09, V2.0). The results will be published in scientific peer-reviewed journals. Trial status: The protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT05645289). Recruitment has started in January 2023 and is still ongoing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modic changes (MCs) are identified as an independent risk factor for low back pain. Different subtypes of MCs vary in their impact on postoperative pain relief. However, consensus on the transformation of postoperative MC fractions in patients with distinct MC subtypes is lacking. Methods: This comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis searched English-language articles in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases until January 2024. Studies included focused on patients transitioning between various microcrack subtypes post-discectomy. The primary outcome measure was the transformation between different postoperative microcrack fractions. Results: Eight studies with 689 participants were analyzed. Overall, there is moderate to high-quality evidence indicating differences in the incidence of MC conversion across MC subtypes. The overall incidence of MC conversion was 27.7%, with rates of 37.0%, 20.5%, and 19.1% for MC0, MC1, and MC2 subtypes, respectively. Thus, postoperative MC type transformation, particularly from preoperative MC0 to MC1 (17.7%) or MC2 (13.1%), was more common, with MC1 transformation being predominant. Patients with preoperative comorbid MC1 types (19.0%) exhibited more postoperative transitions than those with MC2 types (12.4%). Conclusion: This study underscores the significance of analyzing post-discectomy MCs in patients with lumbar disc herniation, revealing a higher incidence of MCs post-lumbar discectomy, particularly from preoperative absence of MC to MC1 or MC2. Preoperative MC0 types were more likely to undergo postoperative MC transformation than combined MC1 or MC2 types. These findings are crucial for enhancing surgical outcomes and postoperative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have recently seen significant advancements. Large quantities of structurally & functionally oriented COFs with a wide range of applications, such as gas adsorption, catalysis, separation, and drug delivery, have been explored. Recent achievements in this field are primarily focused on advancing synthetic methodologies, with catalysts playing a crucial role in achieving highly crystalline COF materials, particularly those featuring novel linkages and chemistry. A series of reviews have already been published over the last decade, covering the fundamentals, synthesis, and applications of COFs. However, despite the pivotal role that catalysts and auxiliaries play in forming COF materials and adjusting their properties (e.g., crystallinity, porosity, stability, and morphology), limited attention has been devoted to these essential components. In this Critical Review, we mainly focus on the state-of-the-art progress of catalysts and auxiliaries applied to the synthesis of COFs. The catalysts include four categories: acid catalysts, base catalysts, transition-metal catalysts, and other catalysts. The auxiliaries, such as modulators, oxygen, and surfactants, are discussed as well. This is then followed by the description of several specific applications derived from the utilization of catalysts and auxiliaries. Lastly, a perspective on the major challenges and opportunities associated with catalysts and auxiliaries is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tirzepatide is a new drug targeting glucagon-like peptide 1(GLP1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptors. This drug has demonstrated great potential in improving the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes. It can lead to weight loss, better glycemic control, and reduced cardiometabolic risk factors. GLP1 receptor agonists have been proven effective antidiabetic medications with possible cardiovascular benefits. Even though they have been proven to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, their effectiveness in treating heart failure is unknown. Unlike traditional GLP1 receptor agonists, tirzepatide is more selective for the GIP receptor, resulting in a more balanced activation of these receptors. This review article discusses the possible mechanisms tirzepatide may use to improve cardiovascular health. That includes the anti-inflammatory effect, the ability to reduce cell death and promote autophagy, and also its indirect effects through blood pressure, obesity, and glucose/lipid metabolism. Additionally, tirzepatide may benefit atherosclerosis and lower the risk of major adverse cardiac events. Currently, clinical trials are underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tirzepatide in patients with heart failure. Overall, tirzepatide's dual agonism of GLP1 and GIP receptors appears to provide encouraging cardiovascular benefits beyond glycemic control, offering a potential new therapeutic option for treating cardiovascular diseases and heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanochemistry has been recognized as an efficient and sustainable methodology to provide a unique driven force and reaction environments under ambient and neat conditions for the construction of functionalized materials possessing promising properties. Among them, highly porous conjugated scaffolds with attractive electronic conductivities and high surface areas are one of the representative categories exhibiting diverse taskspecific applications, especially in electrochemical energy storage. In recent years, the mechanochemistry-driven procedures have been deployed to construct conjugated scaffolds with engineered structures and properties leveraging the tunability in chemical structures of building blocks and polymerization capability of diverse catalysts. Therefore, a thorough review of related works is required to gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanochemical synthesis procedure and property-performance relationship of the as-produced conjugated scaffolds. Herein, the mechanochemistry-driven construction of conjugated porous networks (CPNs), the carbon-based materials (e.g., graphite and graphyne), and carbon supported single atom catalysts (CS-SACs) are discussed and summarized. The electrochemical performance of the afforded conductive scaffolds as electrode materials in supercapacitors and alkali-ion batteries is elucidated. Finally, the challenges and potential opportunities related to the construction of conjugated scaffolds driven by mechanochemistry are also discussed and concluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the emergence of the social prescribing student movement in Canada, focusing on the establishment of the Canadian Social Prescribing Student Collective in 2022 and the progress made in its development. It emphasizes the significance of student participation in the movement and the potential impact on both the movement itself and the students involved. The article highlights various student-led initiatives and contributions to social prescribing in Canada. The Canadian Social Prescribing Student Collective aims to collaborate, educate, advocate, and innovate to expand the social prescribing student movement nationwide. The article calls for action from stakeholders to support the advancement of the movement, urging students to join the collective and contribute to research, policy, and practice. It also encourages healthcare and community organizations, as well as postsecondary institutions, to increase student involvement in social prescribing efforts and integrate it into health professional programs. These actions aim to foster the growth of the social prescribing student movement and shape the future of the healthcare system. [Extracted from the article]

Covalent organic framework (COF) materials with redox activity have emerged as promising electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Among them, two-dimensional COF (2D-COF) materials have attracted great attention due to their high surface area, layered structure, size-adjustable pores, and abundant redox sites. In this work, a novel 2D-COF containing pyridine units (denoted as TpBpy) has been successfully synthesized, and its application as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries has been investigated. TpBpy exhibits excellent performance as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries; an activation effect can be observed and a high specific capacity value (365 mA h g−1) is recorded at a current density of 1 A g−1. The materials have been characterized by XRD, SEM/TEM, XPS, etc. In addition, to gain further insight into the mechanism of the materials, a calculation/simulation has been conducted, and the computational results show that the oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the TpBpy framework provide abundant sites for lithium adsorption. At the same time, the interlayer structure of TpBpy also provides space for the intercalation of lithium ions. Each unit cell of TpBpy can hold 20 lithium atoms. The good performance of the TpBpy electrode in battery and the interpretation of its lithium storage mechanism may provide a valuable reference for the development of COF electrode materials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hectic pace of modern life often leads to quick solutions, both in lifestyle and the choice of food we consume. The importance of the gut microbiome and its balance is being increasingly researched, with the prebiotic concept itself becoming a topic of scientific investigation. The aim of this paper is to analyze scientific studies on the understanding of prebiotics conducted between 2019 and 2024 in order to see what new knowledge, new sources, new ways of use, and newly established effects on certain disease states have been discovered during this period. The question that the authors are trying to answer is how specific prebiotics affect the growth and activity of selected probiotic strains in the human gut (have impact on gut microbiome) and what the implications of these interactions are. Four databases were searched: Pubmed/MEDLINE, Springerlink, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The keywords used were prebiotics, functional food, probiotics, gut microbiome, and trends. A systematic review of 30 scientific studies on the topic of prebiotics revealed significant advances in understanding and application. Research particularly indicates how prebiotics stimulate the growth of beneficial probiotic strains, such as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Bifidobacterium. In addition, innovative approaches in food production, including pasta rich in prebiotic fibers, chocolate with inulin and stevia, and the use of fruit by-products, show promising results in creating "healthier" food options. Although the papers had differing objectives and research methodologies, certain similarities were found. All papers emphasized the importance of using prebiotics, although it depended on the type they come from and their impact on the gut microbiome, i.e., the stimulation of probiotic action within the gut microbiome, which consequently has benefits on health. This review serves as a springboard for further research in this exciting field, with the ultimate goal of harnessing the power of prebiotics to improve health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few non-surgical, longitudinal studies have evaluated the relations between spinal degeneration, lumbar multifidus muscle (LMM) quality, and clinical outcomes. None have assessed the potential mediating role of the LMM between degenerative pathology and 12-month clinical outcomes. This prospective cohort study used baseline and 12-month follow-up data from 569 patients conservatively managed for low back or back-related leg pain to estimate the effects of aggregate degenerative lumbar MRI findings and LMM quality on 12-month low back and leg pain intensity (0–10) and disability (0–23) outcomes, and explored the mediating role of LMM quality between degenerative findings and 12-month clinical outcomes. Adjusted mixed effects generalized linear models separately estimated the effect of aggregate spinal pathology and LMM quality. Mediation models estimated the direct and indirect effects of pathology on leg pain, and pathology and LMM quality on leg pain, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified a leg pain rating change of 0.99 [0.14; 1.84] (unstandardized beta coefficients [95% CI]) in the presence of ≥ 4 pathologies, and a disability rating change of − 0.65 [− 0.14; − 1.16] for each 10% increase in muscle quality, but no effect on back pain intensity. Muscle quality had a non-significant mediating role (13.4%) between pathology and leg pain intensity. The number of different pathologies present demonstrated a small effect on 12-month leg pain intensity outcomes, while higher LMM quality had a direct effect on 12-month disability ratings but no mediating effect between pathology and leg pain. The relations between degenerative pathology, LMM quality, and pain-related outcomes appear complex and may include independent pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a rapid, room-temperature mechanochemical synthesis of 2- and 3-dimensional boroxine covalent organic frameworks (COFs), enabled by using trimethylboroxine as a dehydrating additive to overcome the hydrolytic sensitivity of boroxine-based COFs. The resulting COFs display high porosity and crystallinity, with COF-102 being the first example of a mechanochemically prepared 3D COF, exhibiting a surface area of ca. 2,500 m 2  g -1 . Mechanochemistry enabled a>20-fold reduction in solvent use and ~100-fold reduction in reaction time compared with solvothermal methods, providing target COFs quantitatively with no additional work-up besides vacuum drying. Real-time Raman spectroscopy permitted the first quantitative kinetic analysis of COF mechanosynthesis, while transferring the reaction design to Resonant Acoustic Mixing (RAM) enabled synthesis of multi-gram amounts of the target COFs (tested up to 10 g)., (© 2024 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure : No external funding was received for this work. The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest form is provided with the online version of the article ( http://links.lww.com/JBJS/I251 ).

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have demonstrated significant potential as photocatalysts for efficiently generating hydrogen through photocatalytic water splitting. However, the design of COFs with distinct organic unit blocks at a molecular level profoundly influences their photocatalytic performance. In this study, we synthesized a series of β-ketoamine COFs through molecular engineering of nitrogen sites, including phenyl-structured TpBD, phenylpyridine-structured TpPpy, phenylpyrimidine-structured TpPpm, and bipyridine-structured TpBpy. Advanced characterization techniques reveal that TpPpm and TpBpy with more nitrogen sites exhibit superior efficiencies in electron transfer and charge separation compared to TpBD and TpPpy, thereby endowing them with enhanced photocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution from water. As a result, the photocatalytic hydrogen production rates of TpPpm (33.80 mmol g -1  h -1 ) and TpBpy (29.18 mmol g -1  h -1 ) surpass those of TpBD (20.82 mmol g -1  h -1 ) and TpPpy (27.49 mmol g -1  h -1 ). Additionally, due to the different plane symmetries between Ppm and Bpy resulting from the various positions of nitrogen sites, TpPpm displays superior photochemical properties and better photocatalytic performance compared to TpBpy. Moreover, theoretical calculation results further confirm the exceptional intramolecular charge transfer ability of TpPpm among all COFs. This work underscores the significance of precisely controlling N sites in COFs for designing high-performance photocatalysts., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Introduction: Intervertebral disc degeneration and Modic change are the main spinal structural changes associated with chronic low back pain (LBP). Both conditions are thought to manifest local inflammation and if inflammatory proteins translocate to the blood circulation could be detected systemically. The work here assesses whether the presence of disc degeneration is associated with detectable blood level changes of five inflammatory markers and whether chronic LBP is associated with these changes. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and forty TwinsUK cohort participants with both MRI disc degeneration grade and Modic change extent, and IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐8 TNF, and CX3CL1 protein blood concentration measurements were included in this work. Linear mixed effects models were used to test the association of blood cytokine concentration with disc degeneration score and Modic change volumetric score. Association of chronic LBP status from questionnaires with disc degeneration, Modic change, and cytokine blood concentration was also tested. Results: No statistically significant association between disc degeneration or Modic change with cytokine blood concentration was found. Instead, regression analysis pointed strong association between cytokine blood concentration with body mass index for IL‐6 and with age for IL‐6 and TNF. Mild association was found between IL‐8 blood concentration and body mass index. Additionally, LBP status was associated with Modic change volumetric score but not associated with any cytokine concentration. Conclusions: We found no evidence that Modic change and disc degeneration are able to produce changes in tested blood cytokine concentration. However, age and body mass index have strong influence on cytokine concentration and both are associated with the conditions studied which may confound associations found in the literature. It is then unlikely that cytokines produced in the disc or vertebral bone marrow induce chronic LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to summarize evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of oral antibiotic intervention for chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients with/without type‐1 Modic changes (MC1). Methods: AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Medline were searched from inception to March 3, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or non‐RCTs that investigated the effectiveness or safety of oral antibiotics in treating CLBP patients were eligible for inclusion. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts, full‐text articles, and extracted data. The methodological quality of each included article were evaluated by RoB2 and NIH quality assessment tools. The quality of evidence was appraised by GRADE. Meta‐analyses were performed, where applicable. A subgroup analysis was conducted to evaluate the RCTs and case series separately, and to evaluate the effect of removing a low‐quality RCT. Results: Three RCTs and four case series were included. All Amoxicillin‐clavulanate/Amoxicillin treatments lasted for approximately 3 months. Moderate‐ and low‐quality evidence suggested that antibiotic was significantly better than placebo in improving disability and quality of life in CLBP patients with MC1 at 12‐month follow‐up, respectively. Low‐quality evidence from meta‐analyses of RCTs showed that oral antibiotic was significantly better than placebo in improving pain and disability in CLBP patients with MC1 immediately post‐treatment. Very low‐quality evidence from the case series suggested that oral Amoxicillin‐clavulanate significantly improved LBP/leg pain, and LBP‐related disability. Conversely, low‐quality evidence found that oral Amoxicillin alone was not significantly better than placebo in improving global perceived health in patients with CLBP at the 12‐month follow‐up. Additionally, oral antibiotic users had significantly more adverse effects than placebo users. Conclusions: Although oral antibiotics were statistically superior to placebo in reducing LBP‐related disability in patients with CLBP and concomitant MC1, its clinical significance remains uncertain. Future large‐scale high‐quality RCTs are warranted to validate the effectiveness of antibiotics in individuals with CLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional imine covalent organic frameworks (2D imine-COFs) are crystalline porous materials with broad application prospects. Despite the efforts into their design and synthesis, the mechanisms of their formation are still not fully understood. Herein, a one-pot two-step mechanochemical cocrystal precursor synthetic strategy is developed for efficient construction of 2D imine-COFs. The mechanistic investigation demonstrated that the cocrystal precursors of 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)trianiline (TAPT) and p-toluenesulphonic acid (PTSA) sufficiently regulate the crystalline structure of COF. Evidenced by characterizations and theoretical studies, a helical hydrogen-bond network was constructed by the N-H⋅⋅⋅O supramolecular synthons between amino and sulfonic groups in TAPT-PTSA, demonstrating the role of cocrystals in promoting the organized stacking of interlayer π-π interactions, layer arrangement, and interlayer spacing, thus facilitating the orderly assembly of COFs. Moreover, the protonation degree of TAPT amines, which tuned nucleophilic directionality, enabled the sequential progression of intra- and interlayer imine condensation reactions, inhibiting the formation of amorphous polymers. The transformation from cocrystal precursors to COFs was achieved through comprehensive control of hydrogen bond and covalent bond sites. This work significantly advances the concept of hydrogen-bond-regulated COF assembly and its mechanochemical method in the design and synthesis of 2D imine-COFs, further elucidating the mechanistic aspects of their mechanochemical synthesis., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

We conducted high-throughput calculations on the structure library of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs), with the aim of finding new candidate materials as electron transport layers (ETLs) for the high-performance perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). Starting with nearly 400 unique 2D COFs with hexagonal (hcb) topology, 23 candidates for β-ketoenamine linked 2D COFs composed of 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) and linear diamines are identified by band structures. Interestingly, 2 β-ketoenamine linked 2D Tp-DAAQ and 2D Tp-DABDA with electron-accepting substituents, are the most promising candidates due to the optimal band edge and effective mass. Further, the nonpolarity of the Tp-DAAQ molecule makes it a more favorable choice for the ETL, as confirmed by nonadiabatic molecular dynamics that 2D Tp-DAAQ with anthraquinone diamine linker has a longer e–h nonradiative recombination time. This work provides a paradigm for the design of high-performance ETLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Modic changes (MCs) are the most prevalent classification system for describing intravertebral MRI signal intensity changes. However, interpreting these intricate MRI images is a complex and time‐consuming process. This study investigates the performance of single shot multibox detector (SSD) and ResNet18 network‐based automatic detection and classification of MCs. Additionally, it compares the inter‐observer agreement and observer‐classifier agreement in MCs diagnosis to validate the feasibility of deep learning network‐assisted detection of classified MCs. Method: A retrospective analysis of 140 patients with MCs who underwent MRI diagnosis and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in Tianjin Hospital from June 2020 to June 2021 was used as the internal dataset. This group consisted of 55 males and 85 females, aged 25 to 89 years, with a mean age of (59.0 ± 13.7) years. An external test dataset of 28 patients, who met the same criteria and were assessed using different MRI equipment at Tianjin Hospital, was also gathered, including 11 males and 17 females, aged 31 to 84 years, with a mean age of 62.7 ± 10.9 years. After Physician 1 (with 15 years of experience) annotated all MRI images, the internal dataset was imported into the deep learning model for training. The model comprises an SSD network for lesion localization and a ResNet18 network for lesion classification. Performance metrics, including accuracy, recall, precision, F1 score, confusion matrix, and inter‐observer agreement parameter Kappa value, were used to evaluate the model's performance on the internal and external datasets. Physician 2 (with 1 year of experience) re‐labeled the internal and external test datasets to compare the inter‐observer agreement and observer‐classifier agreement. Results: In the internal dataset, when models were utilized for the detection and classification of MCs, the accuracy, recall, precision and F1 score reached 86.25%, 87.77%, 84.92% and 85.60%, respectively. The Kappa value of the inter‐observer agreement was 0.768 (95% CI: 0.656, 0.847),while observer‐classifier agreement was 0.717 (95% CI: 0.589, 0.809).In the external test dataset, the model's the accuracy, recall, precision and F1 scores for diagnosing MCs reached 75%, 77.08%, 77.80% and 74.97%, respectively. The inter‐observer agreement was 0.681 (95% CI: 0.512, 0.677), and observer‐classifier agreement was 0.519 (95% CI: 0.290, 0.690). Conclusion: The model demonstrated strong performance in detecting and classifying MCs, achieving high agreement with physicians in MCs diagnosis. These results suggest that deep learning models have the potential to facilitate the application of intelligent assisted diagnosis techniques in the field of spine research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To propose a novel Modic grading scoring system and explore the relationship between the Modic grading score and disc degeneration, disc herniation, disc height, and clinical symptom scores. Method: In total, 194 patients were included in the study. The new Modic grading scoring system included four indicators: invaded vertebral height, invaded endplate length, endplate morphology, and grade of endplate defects. The severity of Modic changes was visually quantified by numerical scores, and the kappa value was used to verify the interobserver and intraobserver reliability. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between the Modic grading score and intervertebral disc degeneration, disc herniation, disc height, and clinical symptom scores. Results: The interobserver and intraobserver reliability showed substantial to almost perfect agreement in the new Modic grading scoring system. The Modic grading score was positively correlated with intervertebral disc degeneration (r = 0.757, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with the intervertebral disc height index (r = − 0.231, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the Modic grading scoring system and disc herniation (r = 0.369, p = 0.249). Additionally, there was no significant correlation between the Modic grading score and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (r = − 0.349, p = 0.25), Oswestry Disability Index score (r = 0.246, p = 0.11), or visual analogue scale score (r = 0.315, p = 0.35). Conclusion: The new Modic grading scoring system had good interobserver and intraobserver reliability. The Modic grading score was positively correlated with intervertebral disc degeneration and negatively correlated with the intervertebral disc height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Back pain is a major problem worldwide and is linked to intervertebral disc degeneration and Modic change. Several studies report growth of bacteria following extraction of degenerate discs at spine surgery. A pathophysiological role for infection in back pain has been proposed., Method: We conducted a PRISMA systematic review. MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched with the terms Modic change, intervertebral dis*, bacteria, microb*, and infect*. Date limits of 2001-2021 were set. Human studies investigating the role of bacteria in disc degeneration or Modic change in vertebrae were included., Results: Thirty-six articles from 34 research investigations relating to bacteria in human degenerate discs were found. Cutibacterium acnes was identified in pathological disc material. A 'candidate bacterium' approach has been repeatedly adopted which may have biased results to find species a priori, with disc microbial evidence heavily weighted to find C. acnes., Conclusion: Evidence to date implicates C. acnes identified through culture, microscopy and sequencing, with some suggestion of diverse bacterial colonisation in the disc. This review found studies which used culture methods and conventional PCR for bacterial detection. Further agnostic investigation using newer methods should be undertaken., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The cartilaginous endplates (CEP) are key components of the intervertebral disc (IVD) necessary for sustaining the nutrition of the disc while distributing mechanical loads and preventing the disc from bulging into the adjacent vertebral body. The size, shape, and composition of the CEP are essential in maintaining its function, and degeneration of the CEP is considered a contributor to early IVD degeneration. In addition, the CEP is implicated in Modic changes, which are often associated with low back pain. This review aims to tackle the current knowledge of the CEP regarding its structure, composition, permeability, and mechanical role in a healthy disc, how they change with degeneration, and how they connect to IVD degeneration and low back pain. Additionally, the authors suggest a standardized naming convention regarding the CEP and bony endplate and suggest avoiding the term vertebral endplate. Currently, there is limited data on the CEP itself as reported data is often a combination of CEP and bony endplate, or the CEP is considered as articular cartilage. However, it is clear the CEP is a unique tissue type that differs from articular cartilage, bony endplate, and other IVD tissues. Thus, future research should investigate the CEP separately to fully understand its role in healthy and degenerated IVDs. Further, most IVD regeneration therapies in development failed to address, or even considered the CEP, despite its key role in nutrition and mechanical stability within the IVD. Thus, the CEP should be considered and potentially targeted for future sustainable treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The given document is a collection of abstracts from the International Sarcopenia Translational Research Conference 2023, held in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. The abstracts cover various topics related to sarcopenia, including its association with different factors, interventions to improve outcomes, and prevalence in different populations. The studies provide valuable insights into the assessment, prevalence, and potential mechanisms of sarcopenia, highlighting the need for interventions and public health strategies to address this condition in older adults. The document also includes studies on muscle loss and inflammation, genetic variations, medication use, diet, exercise, and the impact of cancer treatment on muscle health. These studies contribute to our understanding of muscle health and the importance of maintaining muscle strength and function for overall well-being. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Low back pain is the leading contributor to disability burden globally. It is commonly due to degeneration of the lumbar intervertebral discs (LDD). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the current best tool to visualize and diagnose LDD, but places high time demands on clinical radiologists. Automated reading of spine MRIs could improve speed, accuracy, reliability and cost effectiveness in radiology departments. The aim of this review and meta-analysis was to determine if current machine learning algorithms perform well identifying disc degeneration, herniation, bulge and Modic change compared to radiologists. Methods: A PRISMA systematic review protocol was developed and four electronic databases and reference lists were searched. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined. A PROBAST risk of bias and applicability analysis was performed. Results: 1350 articles were extracted. Duplicates were removed and title and abstract searching identified original research articles that used machine learning (ML) algorithms to identify disc degeneration, herniation, bulge and Modic change from MRIs. 27 studies were included in the review; 25 and 14 studies were included multi-variate and bivariate meta-analysis, respectively. Studies used machine learning algorithms to assess LDD, disc herniation, bulge and Modic change. Models using deep learning, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, random forest and naïve Bayes algorithms were included. Meta-analyses found no differences in algorithm or classification performance. When algorithms were tested in replication or external validation studies, they did not perform as well as when assessed in developmental studies. Data augmentation improved algorithm performance when compared to models used with smaller datasets, there were no performance differences between augmented data and large datasets. Discussion: This review highlights several shortcomings of current approaches, including few validation attempts or use of large sample sizes. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first systematic review to explore this topic. We suggest the utilization of deep learning coupled with semi- or unsupervised learning approaches. Use of all information contained in MRI data will improve accuracy. Clear and complete reporting of study design, statistics and results will improve the reliability and quality of published literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perpetual exigency for environment friendly clean energy and powerful soft electronics has elevated the research on hydrogels in past two decades. Hydrogels are the amplifiers of material properties using manipulation in structure–property relationship via simple, economic yet effective routes. Herein, a set of composite and hybrid hydrogels are developed by hierarchical assembling of clay nanosheets and surfactant micelles those divulge the first example of memcapacitor gels and offer exceptional proton conductivity (1.66–4.34 × 10–2 S cm−1) as a gel material. Further, Congo red, Eosin Y, and Orange G are used to hybridize one of the composites to achieve three hybrid hydrogels. Such hybridization is found to regulate the memristive function selectively from the coupled effect of memcapacitance from the composite. The composite hydrogel highlights its volatile memory with encouraging robustness under environmental conditions, established through various current–voltage (I–V) experiments. The electrochemical behaviors including the high proton conductivity are realized from impedance measurements. Material characterizations, experimental results, and in silico optimized structures rationalize composite/hybrid network formation, capacitive/memristive responses, and enhanced proton conduction in the fabricated composite superstructures. Proposed structural models demonstrate two orthogonally oriented structural encryptions to be accountable for the expressed bifunctionality in the hierarchically designed superstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) are characterized as injuries and illnesses that affect the musculoskeletal system. MSDs affect every population worldwide and are associated with substantial global burden. Variations in the makeup of the gut microbiota may be related to chronic MSDs. There is growing interest in exploring potential connections between chronic MSDs and variations in the composition of gut microbiota. The human microbiota is a complex community consisting of viruses, archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes, both inside and outside of the human body. These microorganisms play crucial roles in influencing human physiology, impacting metabolic and immunological systems in health and disease. Different body areas host specific types of microorganisms, with facultative anaerobes dominating the gastrointestinal tract (able to thrive with or without oxygen), while strict aerobes prevail in the nasal cavity, respiratory tract, and skin surfaces (requiring oxygen for development). Together with the immune system, these bacteria have coevolved throughout time, forming complex biological relationships. Changes in the microbial ecology of the gut may have a big impact on health and can help illnesses develop. These changes are frequently impacted by lifestyle choices and underlying medical disorders. The potential for safety, expenses, and efficacy of microbiota-based medicines, even with occasional delivery, has attracted interest. They are, therefore, a desirable candidate for treating MSDs that are chronic and that may have variable progression patterns. As such, the following is a narrative review to address the role of the human microbiome as it relates to MSDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synbiotics are complex preparations of prebiotics that can be selectively utilized by live microorganisms to improve host health. Synbiotics are divided into complementary synbiotics, which consist of probiotics and prebiotics with independent functions, and synergistic synbiotics, which consist of prebiotics that are selectively used by gut microorganisms. Complementary synbiotics used in human clinical trials include Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. as probiotics, and fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, and inulin as prebiotics. Over the past five years, synbiotics have been most commonly used in patients with metabolic disorders, including obesity, and immune and gastrointestinal disorders. Several studies have observed alterations in the microbial community; however, these changes did not lead to significant improvements in disease outcomes or biochemical and hematological markers. The same synbiotics have been applied to individuals with different gut environments. As a result, even with the same synbiotics, there are non-responders who do not respond to the applied synbiotics due to the different intestinal environment for each individual. Therefore, to obtain meaningful results, applying different synbiotics depending on the individual is necessary. Synergistic synbiotics are one solution to circumvent this problem, as they combine elements that can effectively improve health, even in non-responders. This review aims to explain the concept of synbiotics, highlight recent human clinical trials, and explore the current state of research on synergistic synbiotics., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

As a practical chemical energy conversion technology, electrocatalysis could be used in fields of energy conversion and environmental protection. In recent years, significant research efforts have been devoted to the design and development of high-performance electrocatalysts because the rational design of catalysts is crucial for enhancing electrocatalytic performance. Creating electrocatalysts by forming interactions between different components at the interface is an important means of controlling and improving performance. Therefore, several common interfacial binding forces used for synthesizing electrocatalysts was systematically summarized in this review for the first time. The discussion revolves around the crucial roles these binding forces play in various electrocatalytic reaction processes. Various characterization techniques capable of proving the existence of these interfacial binding forces was also involved in the review. Finally, some prospects and challenges for designing and researching materials through the utilization of interfacial binding forces were presented., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)