About Book

Chordates are animals possessing a notochord, a hollow dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, an endostyle, and a post-anal tail for at least some period of their life cycles. Chordates are common in all major habitats. Chordates are also bilaterally symmetric, and have a coelom, metameric segmentation, and circulatory system. Chordates are divided into three subphyla: Vertebrata (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals); Tunicata or Urochordata (sea squirts, salps); and Cephalochordata (which includes lancelets). Phylum chordata is the largest of the deuterostome phyla, it is the highest and the most important phylum comprising a vast variety of living and extinct animals including man himself. The Phylum chordata comprises amphibia, pisces, reptiles, aves and mammals. Chordates generally have bilaterally symmetric bodies, though a few exceptions exist, and they share distinct characteristics. This book is compiled in such a manner, that it will provide in-depth knowledge about Chordates. It will discuss in detail about the different applications of this field. It deals with vertebral compression, lower vertebrates, intervertebral disc regeneration, vertebral deformities, craniovertebral and vertebrate cathelicidins. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this text an invaluable source of knowledge. The topics discussed are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to students. It has been comprehensively designed for advanced graduate students, researchers, as well as practitioners who can opt for any field related to the biological science.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Bioinformatics Discovery of Vertebrate Cathelicidins from the Mining of Available Genomes................................................................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Materials and methods........................................................................4

3. Results.....................................................................................................8

4. Discussion.............................................................................................16

5. Conclusions..........................................................................................18

Acknowledgements.............................................................................18

Conflict of interest..............................................................................18

Chapter 2 Expanding the Coding Potential of Vertebrate Mitochondrial Genomes: Lesson Learned from the Atlantic Cod............................21

Abstract ................................................................................................21

1. Introduction ........................................................................................21

2. Sequence variation among Atlantic cod mitochondrial

genomes................................................................................................24

3. Mitochondrial-derived peptides ......................................................25

4. Mitochondrial transcriptome ...........................................................27

5. Mitochondrial noncoding RNAs......................................................30

6. Concluding remarks ..........................................................................32

Acknowledgements.............................................................................32

Conflict of interest..............................................................................32

Chapter 3 Vertebral Osteonecrosis...........................................................................41

Abstract ................................................................................................41

1. Introduction ........................................................................................41

2. Historical background ......................................................................42

3. Clinical manifestations ......................................................................44

4. Risk factors in osteonecrosis ...........................................................45

5. Radiographic characteristics ............................................................49

6. Classification of Kümmel’s disease ................................................51

7. Histopathology ...................................................................................52

8. Differential diagnosis ........................................................................53

9. Treatment ............................................................................................53

Chapter 4 Craniovertebral Junction Chordomas..................................................70

1. Introduction..........................................................................................70

2. Epidemiology.......................................................................................71

3. Embryology & genetics......................................................................71

4. Pathology..............................................................................................72

5. Symptoms and signs..........................................................................75

6. Imaging.................................................................................................76

7. Treatment..............................................................................................79

8. Radiation therapy................................................................................83

9. Medical therapies................................................................................86

10. Prognosis...............................................................................................87

11. Expert suggestions..............................................................................87

12. Conclusion............................................................................................87

13. Acknowledgements.............................................................................87

Chapter 5 The Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Vertebra and Cellular Pathways

to Vertebral Deformities.........................................................................92

1. Introduction..........................................................................................92

2. Cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling bone

formation...............................................................................................95

3. Pipeline for studying vertebral development..............................101

4. The teleost vertebra..........................................................................102

5. Vertebral deformities........................................................................107

6. Conclusion..........................................................................................115

7. Acknowledgments.............................................................................116

Chapter 6 Stem Cell-Mediated Intervertebral Disc Regeneration.................131

1. Introduction........................................................................................131

2. Basic science laboratory studies.....................................................134

3. Animal studies...................................................................................137

4. Human studies..................................................................................142

5. Future potential of ESCs.................................................................143

6. Summary.............................................................................................148

7. Conclusions........................................................................................150

Chapter 7 Shared Triggering Mechanisms of Retinal Regeneration in Lower

Vertebrates and Retinal Rescue in Higher Ones............................157

1. Introduction........................................................................................157

2. Results and discussion.....................................................................159

3. Conclusion..........................................................................................171

4. Acknowledgment..............................................................................174

Chapter 8 The Research on Bolster for Self-Replacement Combined with

Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Treatment of Vertebral Compression

Fractures....................................................................................................183

1. Introduction ......................................................................................183

2. Materials and methods ...................................................................183

3. Results ................................................................................................187

4. Discussion...........................................................................................191

5. Comparative study between vertebroplasty using bolster

technique and balloon kyphoplasty .............................................193

6. Materials and methods....................................................................193

7. Results ................................................................................................194

8. Discussion...........................................................................................196

Citation......................................................................................................199

Index..........................................................................................................201

About Author

Andrew Wáng is a Research Associate at University College, Lausanne. He obtained his Ph.D. in Zoology from Public State University, Kemerovo. His researches are focused on phylum chordate, toothless mammals, and reptiles. Wáng has edited several articles and journal papers on structure, physiology, development and classification of chordates. He is also an active member of several scientific and technical societies, where he continues to share his expertise and knowledge in the field of zoology.