Modern development of flexible electronics has made use of bioelectronic materials as artificial tissue in vivo. As hydrogels are more similar to nerve tissue, functional hydrogels have become a promising candidate for bioelectronics. Meanwhile, interfacing functional hydrogels and living tissues is at the forefront of bioelectronics. The peripheral nerve injury often leads to paralysis, chronic pain, neurologic disorders, and even disability, because it has affected the bioelectrical signal transmission between the brain and the rest of body. Here, a kind of light-stimuli-responsive and stretchable conducting polymer hydrogel (CPH) is developed to explore artificial nerve. The conductivity of CPH can be enhanced when illuminated by near-infrared light, which can promote the conduction of the bioelectrical signal. When CPH is mechanically elongated, it still has high durability of conductivity and, thus, can accommodate unexpected strain of nerve tissues in motion. Thereby, CPH can better serve as an implant of the serious peripheral nerve injury in vivo, especially in the case that the length of the missing nerve exceeds 10 mm.

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Although stem cell‐based therapy is recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI), its efficacy is greatly limited by local reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐abundant and hyper‐inflammatory microenvironments. It is still a challenge to develop bioactive scaffolds with outstanding antioxidant capacity for neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation. In this study, albumin biomimetic cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2@BSA nanoparticles, CeNPs) are prepared in a simple and efficient manner and dispersed in gelatin methacryloyl to obtain the ROS‐scavenging hydrogel (CeNP‐Gel). CeNP‐Gel synergistically promotes neurogenesis via alleviating oxidative stress microenvironments and improving the viability of encapsulated NSCs. More interestingly, in the presence of CeNP‐Gel, microglial polarization to anti‐inflammatory M2 subtype are obviously facilitated, which is further verified to be associated with phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase B pathway activation. Additionally, the injectable ROS‐scavenging hydrogel is confirmed to induce the integration and neural differentiation of transplanted NSCs. Compared with the blank‐gel group, the survival rate of NSCs in CeNP‐Gel group is about 3.5 times higher, and the neural differentiation efficiency is about 2.1 times higher. Therefore, the NSCs‐laden ROS‐scavenging hydrogel represents a comprehensive strategy with great application prospect for the treatment of SCI through comprehensively modulating the adverse microenvironment.

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Background: This retrospective clinical study aimed to compare the efficacy of preoperative halo-gravity traction with postoperative halo-femoral traction after posterior spinal release in corrective surgery for patients with severe kyphoscoliosis. Material/Methods: A retrospective clinical study included patients who underwent elective corrective surgery for severe kyphoscoliosis (N=60) between 2013 and 2015. Two patient groups were compared, the postoperative halo-femoral traction after posterior spinal release (R-HF) group (N=30) and the preoperative halo-gravity traction (HGT) group (N=30). Demographic and clinicopathological data included age, gender, Cobb angle, degree of spinal curvature, history of osteotomy, and etiological factors. Patients in the two study groups were matched. Postoperative surgical outcome was evaluated by the radiographic coronal Cobb angle, global kyphosis, coronal balance, and the sagittal vertical axis (SVA). Clinical outcome was assessed using the Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes Questionnaire (SRS-22). Results: The preoperative Cobb angle was similar between the R+HF group and the HGT group (123.5±12.7° vs. 123.1±14.1°; P=0.909). Following postoperative traction, a significantly higher correction rate was found in the R+HF group than the HGT group (31.8±7.8% vs. 19.3±12.9%; P=0.001). The postoperative correction rate in the R+HF group was significantly higher than the HGT group (44.7±7.8% vs. 39.0±12.8%; P=0.042). In both study groups, the postoperative SRS-22 scores were significantly improved with no statistical difference between the two groups, and no neurological complications occurred. Conclusions: Patients with severe kyphoscoliosis who underwent postoperative halo-femoral traction after posterior spinal release achieved satisfactory radiographic correction.

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BACKGROUND For some patients with severe congenital angular kyphoscoliosis (SCAK), 1-level vertebral column resection is insufficient and the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-Schwab Grade 6 osteotomy may be necessary. However, the indications and clinical outcomes of SRS-Schwab Grade 6 osteotomy in patients with SCAK have not been investigated in depth. OBJECTIVE To investigate the middle-term radiographic and clinical outcomes, and to evaluate the safety of this high technique-demanding procedure. METHODS Patients with SCAK undergoing SRS-Schwab Grade 6 osteotomy from 2005 to 2016 followed up at least 2 yr were retrospectively reviewed. The potential indications of SRS-Schwab Grade 6 osteotomy were analyzed. The coronal Cobb angle, segmental kyphosis (SK), deformity angular ratio (DAR), coronal balance, and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured in the preoperative, postoperative, and final follow-up. The intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS A total of 17 patients with SCAK (10 M and 7F) were included, and the mean follow-up was 30.8 ± 16.4 mo. The indications of SRS-Schwab Grade 6 osteotomy were as follows: multiple “pushed-out” hemivertebrae (13, 76.5%) and multilevel anterior block (4, 23.5%). Compared with preoperation, the coronal Cobb angle, SK and SVA at postoperation were significantly improved (P < .05 for all). The mean total DAR was 33.4 ± 9.9 at preoperation. Three patients were found to have postoperative neurological deficit. Rod breakage occurred in 3 patients at 15- to 48-mo follow-up, and revision surgeries were performed. At the last follow-up, firm bony fusion was observed in all patients. CONCLUSION The technique-demanding SRS-Schwab Grade 6 osteotomy, if well indicated, could provide satisfying correction of the SCAK deformity.