facet block

Oligomeric species populated during α-synuclein aggregation are considered key drivers of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. However, the development of oligomer-targeting therapeutics is constrained by our limited knowledge of their structure and the molecular determinants driving their conversion to fibrils. Phenol-soluble modulin α3 (PSMα3) is a nanomolar peptide binder of α-synuclein oligomers that inhibits aggregation by blocking oligomer-to-fibril conversion. Here, we investigate the binding of PSMα3 to α-synuclein oligomers to discover the mechanistic basis of this protective activity...

Transition metal oxides (TMOs) are widely studied for loading of various catalysts due to their low cost and high structure flexibility. However, the prevailing close-packed nature of most TMOs crystals has restricted the available loading sites to surface only, while their internal bulk lattice remains unactuated due to the inaccessible narrow space that blocks out most key reactants and/or particulate catalysts. Herein, using tunnel-structured MnO2 , we demonstrate how TMO's internal lattice space can be activated as extra loading sites for atomic Ag in addition to the conventional surface-only loading, via which a dual-form Ag catalyst within MnO2 skeleton is established...

Background: Research utilizing experimental tasks usually does not report estimates of internal reliability of measurement. However, modern measurement theories conceptualize reliability as sample, dependent indicating that reliability should be empirically demonstrated in the samples used to make inferences. Objectives: Test whether confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) estimates of reliability can be applied to a commonly used task measuring response inhibition (the Stop Signal Task) to predict substance use (alcohol and cannabis) and mental health symptoms...

Pain management constitutes a pivotal aspect of palliative care. Certain instances of distressing pain are significantly relieved through interventional pain methodologies, demanding the expertise of pain specialists. Our perspective revolves around the integration of these 2 facets, envisaging a symbiotic relationship that could enhance patient outcomes. A prospective assessment was carried out within a collaborative clinic, uniting the realms of pain management and palliative medicine. Anonymized patient information was scrutinized to grasp the advantages of this amalgamation and identify strategies to address any inherent deficiencies...

Anisotropy often yields unexpected structures and properties in the solid state. In van der Waals (vdW) solids comprised of 1D or quasi-1D (q-1D) building blocks, anisotropy in both intra- and inter-chain directions results in an abundance of crystalline packing motifs and drastically altered physical states. Among these, structurally and chemically complex 1D/q-1D vdW solids that display topologically protected states, unique optical properties, and enhanced electrical transport properties in 1D are sought after owing to their potential as building blocks for next-generation quantum devices that approach the sub-nanometer regime...

OBJECTIVE: Lower back pain is a significant cause of morbidity, and despite a range of interventions available, there is a lack of consensus on the most efficacious treatments. The aim of this systematic review is to formulate a list of recommendations for the role of spinal injections and surgery in the treatment of acute back pain. METHODS: A systematic literature search from 2012 to 2022 was conducted on Pubmed, Medline, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for papers focusing on the role of injections and surgery for the management of acute lower back pain...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure for facet joint pain. The targets for the procedure are the medial branches of the dorsal spinal nerves which innervate the facet joints. Before RFA, patients undergo diagnostic meal branch blocks to ensure appropriate pain relief and confirm the utility of proceeding to RFA. The success of RFA relies heavily on procedural technique and accurate placement near the medial branch. RECENT FINDINGS: Motor testing is utilized in the lumbar region to assess the response of the multifidus and ensure proper placement of the RFA probe to prevent inadvertent damage to surrounding spinal anatomy...

A reliable, efficient and electrically-pumped Si-based laser is considered as the main challenge to achieve the integration of all key building blocks with silicon photonics. Despite the impressive advances that have been made in developing 1.3-μm Si-based quantum dot (QD) lasers, extending the wavelength window to the widely used 1.55-μm telecommunication region remains difficult. In this study, we develop a novel photonic integration method of epitaxial growth of III-V on a wafer-scale InP-on-Si (100) (InPOS) heterogeneous substrate fabricated by the ion-cutting technique to realize integrated lasers on Si substrate...

PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block and compare with the conventional physical therapy in chronic low back pain (LBP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective case-controlled study included patients with chronic LBP. Their clinical and demographic data were obtained, and they were divided into two groups for conventional physical therapy and ESP blocks. Prior to treatment, on the first day, the second week, and the third month, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score were evaluated...

Synthetic biology aims to engineer biological systems for customized tasks through the bottom-up assembly of fundamental building blocks, which requires high-quality libraries of reliable, modular, and standardized genetic parts. To establish sets of parts that work well together, synthetic biologists created standardized part libraries in which every component is analyzed in the same metrics and context. Here we present a state-of-the-art review of the currently available part libraries for designing biocircuits and their gene expression regulation paradigms at transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels in Escherichia coli ...

BACKGROUND: This article summarizes the results of the German guideline on radiofrequency denervation of the facet joints and the sacroiliac joint. Evidence on the indications, test blocks and technical parameters are presented. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to avoid overtreatment and undertreatment, which is also of socioeconomic importance. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A systematic evaluation of the literature was carried out according to the grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) approach...

BACKGROUND: Multi-faceted evidence from a range of cancers suggests strongly that de novo expression of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) plays a significant role in driving cancer cell invasiveness. Under hypoxic conditions, common to growing tumours, VGSCs develop a persistent current (INaP ) which can be blocked selectively by ranolazine. METHODS: Several different carcinomas were examined. We used data from a range of experimental approaches relating to cellular invasiveness and metastasis...

In this research, we designed a stepwise synthetic method for Au@Pt hexapods where six elongated Au pods are arranged in a pairwise perpendicular fashion, sharing a common point (the central origin in a Cartesian-coordinate-like hexapod shape), featured with tip-selectively decorated Pt square nanoplates. Au@Pt hexapods were successfully synthesized by applying three distinctive chemical reactions in a stepwise manner. The Pt adatoms formed discontinuous thin nanoplates that selectively covered six concave facets of a Au truncated octahedron and served as etching masks in the succeeding etching process, which prevented underlying Au atoms from being oxidized...

forming a bony opening through which the vertebral artery (VA) enters the vertebral canal. Block vertebra is a synostosis of at least two vertebral bodies that did not separate during the embryological development. It is worth distinguishing it from the Klippel-Feil syndrome, as the latter oftentimes involves other abnormalities (namely skeletal) and is typically diagnosed in childhood. Both variants could potentially lead to an impairment of the blood flow through the VA. Case report: The following case report presents a finding of two anomalies of the cervical spine, found in a 38 y...

OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of a technology-integrated intervention on sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and energy-dense snack intake with third graders experiencing low income. DESIGN: A 2 × 2 quasi-randomized cluster-block, parallel-group experimental research design. SETTING: Low-income schools in Rhode Island. PARTICIPANTS: Two-hundred seventeen intervention and 242 control third-grade students in low-income (89...

UNLABELLED: Poxviruses have life cycles exclusively in the cytoplasm. However, these viruses can have profound impact to host transcription. One possible mechanism is through viral manipulation of host protein synthesis and such ability is critical for viral immune evasion. Many mammalian poxviruses encode more than one viral protein to interact with the host SAMD9 protein. In myxoma virus (MYXV), a rabbit specific poxvirus and non-pathogenic for other species, viral M062 protein is the lone inhibitor to SAMD9 with broad species specificity and loss of M062R in viral genome (Δ M062R mutant) leads to profound infection defect...

BACKGROUND: Chronic axial spinal pain is one of the major causes of disability. Literature shows that spending on low back and neck pain and musculoskeletal disorders continues to escalate, not only with disability, but also with increasing costs, accounting for the highest amount of various disease categories. Based on the current literature utilizing controlled diagnostic blocks, facet joints, nerve root dura, and sacroiliac joints have been shown as potential sources of spinal pain...

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of the literature and subsequent meta-analysis for the development of a new guideline. OBJECTIVES: This manuscript summarizes the recommendations from a new clinical guideline published by the German Spine Society. It covers the current evidence on recommendations regarding the indication, test blocks and use of radiofrequency denervation. The guidelines aim is to improve patient care and efficiency of the procedure. METHODS: A multidisciplinary working group formulated recommendations based on the Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument...

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound (US) guidance is widely used for needle positioning for cervical medial branch blocks (CMBB) and radiofrequency ablation, however, limited research is available comparing different approaches. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the accuracy and safety of 3 different US-guided approaches for CMBB. STUDY DESIGN: A cadaveric study divided into ultrasound-guided needle placement and fluoroscopy evaluation stages. SETTING: Department of Pathology, Forensic, and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University...

BACKGROUND: A cervical radiofrequency ablation is a procedure that can be performed to treat arthritis-related pain in the neck and upper back. There have been no large studies reporting complications after this procedure. We report a case of a 55-year-old woman with iatrogenic vertebral artery dissection of C3-C4 with segmental occlusion leading to a posterior fossa stroke and lateral medullary stroke after a high-grade cervical nerve ablation. CASE REPORT: A 55-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department with vomiting, neck pain, temperature changes, dizziness, and dysarthria after undergoing C2-C3, C4-C5 nerve ablation 30 min prior to arrival...