Evaluation of accuracy of computed topographic- based navigation assisted pedicle screw placement in thoracolumbar spine fracture

Background: Although pedicle screw fixation is a well-established technique for the thoracolumbar spine fracture, but the screw placement in the thoracolumbar spine is more challenging because more complex 3D anatomy. Incorrect placement of pedicle screws may lead to neurovascular injury, so the accuracy of pedicular screw placement is very crucial task. CT based navigation devices may allow surgeons a safe and more accurate method for placing pedicle screws with no radiation exposure intraoperative.Method: A Computed topographic (CT) based image guided navigation system was used for pedicle screw insertion. The accuracy of the pedicle screw placement was analyzed According to ‘Learch and Wiesners classification’ and ‘Heary classification’ for pedicle screw malplacement with a review of postoperative radiograph and CT scan image.Result: Under the guidance of CT based navigation 52 pedicle screws were inserted, out of which 02 pedicular screw shows lateral pedicle cortex breach. Conclusion: The accuracy of pedicle screw placement is crucial for thoracolumbar spine fracture fixation. The placement of pedicle screws can be done more accurately and safely with the aid of a CT-based navigation system. Furthermore, this opens the possibility for surgeons to reduce radiationexposure by eliminating the need for intra - operative fluoroscopy

Jasmonic Acid Seed Treatment Stimulates Insecticide Detoxification in Brassica juncea L.

The present study focused on assessing the effects of jasmonic acid (JA) seed treatment on the physiology of Brassica juncea seedlings grown under imidacloprid (IMI) toxicity. It has been observed that IMI application declined the chlorophyll content and growth of seedlings. However, JA seed treatment resulted in the significant recovery of chlorophyll content and seedling growth. Contents of oxidative stress markers like superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde were enhanced with IMI application, but JA seed treatment significantly reduced their contents. Antioxidative defense system was activated with IMI application which was further triggered after JA seed treatment. Activities of antioxidative enzymes and contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants were enhanced with the application of IMI as well as JA seed treatment. JA seed treatment also regulated the gene expression of various enzymes under IMI stress. These enzymes included respiratory burst oxidase (RBO), Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RUBISCO), NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (NADH), carboxylesterase (CXE), chlorophyllase (CHLASE), cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450). JA seed treatment up-regulated the expressions of RUBISCO, NADH, CXE, and P450 under IMI toxicity. However, expressions of RBO and CHLASE were down-regulated in seedlings germinated from JA seed treatment and grown in presence of IMI. Seed soaking with JA also resulted in a significant reduction of IMI residues in B. juncea seedlings. The present study concluded that seed soaking with JA could efficiently reduce the IMI toxicity by triggering the IMI detoxification system in intact plants

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions

Evaluation of accuracy of computed topographic- based navigation assisted pedicle screw placement in thoracolumbar spine fracture

Background: Although pedicle screw fixation is a well-established technique for the thoracolumbar spine fracture, but the screw placement in the thoracolumbar spine is more challenging because more complex 3D anatomy. Incorrect placement of pedicle screws may lead to neurovascular injury, so the accuracy of pedicular screw placement is very crucial task. CT based navigation devices may allow surgeons a safe and more accurate method for placing pedicle screws with no radiation exposure intraoperative.Method: A Computed topographic (CT) based image guided navigation system was used for pedicle screw insertion. The accuracy of the pedicle screw placement was analyzed According to ‘Learch and Wiesners classification’ and ‘Heary classification’ for pedicle screw malplacement with a review of postoperative radiograph and CT scan image.Result: Under the guidance of CT based navigation 52 pedicle screws were inserted, out of which 02 pedicular screw shows lateral pedicle cortex breach. Conclusion: The accuracy of pedicle screw placement is crucial for thoracolumbar spine fracture fixation. The placement of pedicle screws can be done more accurately and safely with the aid of a CT-based navigation system. Furthermore, this opens the possibility for surgeons to reduce radiationexposure by eliminating the need for intra - operative fluoroscopy

Functions of Redox Signaling in Pollen Development and Stress Response

Cellular redox homeostasis is crucial for normal plant growth and development. Each developmental stage of plants has a specific redox mode and is maintained by various environmental cues, oxidants, and antioxidants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species are the chief oxidants in plant cells and participate in cell signal transduction and redox balance. The production and removal of oxidants are in a dynamic balance, which is necessary for plant growth. Especially during reproductive development, pollen development depends on ROS-mediated tapetal programmed cell death to provide nutrients and other essential substances. The deviation of the redox state in any period will lead to microspore abortion and pollen sterility. Meanwhile, pollens are highly sensitive to environmental stress, in particular to cell oxidative burst due to its peculiar structure and function. In this regard, plants have evolved a series of complex mechanisms to deal with redox imbalance and oxidative stress damage. This review summarizes the functions of the main redox components in different stages of pollen development, and highlights various redox protection mechanisms of pollen in response to environmental stimuli. In continuation, we also discuss the potential applications of plant growth regulators and antioxidants for improving pollen vigor and fertility in sustaining better agriculture practices

Pre-sowing Seed Treatment with 24-Epibrassinolide Ameliorates Pesticide Stress in Brassica juncea L. through the Modulation of Stress Markers

The present experiment was designed to assess the effects of seed soaking with 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) on the physiology of Brassica juncea L. seedlings grown under imidacloprid (IMI) toxicity. Application of EBR increased the length of seedlings, dry weight, and pigment contents, polyphenols, total phenols and organic acids under IMI toxicity. The expression of genes coding key enzymes of pigment, phenols, polyphenols and organic acid biosynthetic pathways was also studied including CHLASE (chlorophyllase), PSY (phytoene synthase), CHS (chalcone synthase) and PAL (phenylalanine ammonialyase), CS (citrate synthase), SUCLG1 (succinyl Co-A ligase,), SDH (succinate dehydrogenase), FH (fumarate hydratase), MS (malate synthase). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that IMI application regressed negatively on seedling length, dry weight and total chlorophyll content. However, EBR seed treatment regressed positively on all of the parameters studied. Moreover, interaction between IMI and EBR showed positive regression for growth parameters, content of pigments, total polyphenol, total phenol and malate, and expression of PSY and PAL. Negative interactions were noticed for the contents of fumarate, succinate and citrate, and expression of CHS and all genes studied related to organic acid metabolism. In conclusion, EBR enhanced the growth and contents of all studied metabolites by regulating the gene expression of B. juncea seedlings under IMI stress

BAG9 Confers Thermotolerance by Regulating Cellular Redox Homeostasis and the Stability of Heat Shock Proteins in <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>

The Bcl-2-associated athanogene (BAG) family, a group of co-chaperones that share conservative domains in flora and fauna, is involved in plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. However, the function of tomato BAG genes on thermotolerance remains largely unknown. Herein, we found that the expression of BAG9 was induced during heat stress in tomato plants. Knockout of the BAG9 gene by CRISPR/Cas9 reduced, while its overexpression increased thermotolerance in tomato plants as reflected by the phenotype, photosynthesis rate, and membrane peroxidation. Heat-induced reactive oxygen species and oxidative/oxidized proteins were further increased in bag9 mutants and were normalized in BAG9 overexpressing plants. Furthermore, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, ascorbic acid (AsA)/dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), and reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were reduced in bag9 mutants and were increased in BAG9 overexpressing plants under heat stress. Additionally, BAG9 interacted with Hsp20 proteins in vitro and in vivo. Accumulation of Hsp proteins induced by heat showed a reduction in bag9 mutants; meanwhile, it was increased in BAG9 overexpressing plants. Thus, BAG9 played a crucial role in response to heat stress by regulating cellular redox homeostasis and the stability of heat shock proteins

Insights on the responses of Brassica napus cultivars against the cobalt-stress as revealed by carbon assimilation, anatomical changes and secondary metabolites

Cobalt (Co) is a toxin environmental pollutant, and its elevated concentrations in agricultural soils can negatively impact the crop productivity. In the current study, we evaluated the toxic effects of Co levels (0, 100, 400 μM) on the hydroponically grown seedlings of four different cultivars of Brassica napus L. cvs. ZS 758, ZY 50, Zheda 619 and Zheda 622. Results showed that lower Co dose (100 μM) executed significant but less toxic effects as compared to 400 μM Co among all studied cultivars. Excessive Co (400 μM) level had significantly declined the plant growth, biomass, chlorophyll contents, nutrients uptake, activities and transcript levels of antioxidant enzymes in leaf and root tissues of all tested cultivars.The decline in physiochemical traits was more prominent in Zheda 622, and ZS 758 performed better under Co toxicity as compared with other cultivars. Co-induced root impairment led to greater ROS and MDA accumulation and inhibit nutrients uptake. Ultimately, the lower translocation to leaves causes damages in carbon assimilation process.These results were confirmed by root staining with nitro-blue tetrazolium (NBT) and 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and damages in leaf mesophyll and root tip cells by electron microscopic analysis. More anatomical damages were noted in Zheda 622 and least in ZS 758. A significant induction of stress-related proteins (HSP90-1 and MT-1) and secondary metabolites (PAL, PPO, and CAD) under higher Co level (400 μM) indicated the greater plant-defense system against Co-induced oxidative stress and Co-homeostasis that helps in toleraance to Co-phytotoxicity. The comparison of sensitive (Zheda 622) and tolerant (ZS 758) genotypes showed that root tissues were the major target of Co toxicity. Overall, higher Co-accumulation in leaf and root tissues cause cellular toxicity and overall carbon assimilation process. This phytotoxicity was more pronounced in Zheda 622 and least in ZS 758 as compared with other cultivars