Spine
-
The authors investigated the association of L5 proximal nerve root injury with spinal cord neuronal apoptosis (histologic) and whether exogenous erythropoietin therapy might reduce apoptosis/or pain (behavioral). ⋯ Our findings indicated that L5 proximal nerve root crush increased neuronal apoptosis in the superficial dorsal and ventral horn that correlated with mechanical allodynia. Exogenous recombinant human erythropoietin facilitated receptor-mediated neuroprotection of spinal cord neurons and faster recovery from mechanical allodynia. Erythropoietin may be a potential therapeutic factor for patients with low back pain by providing pain relief and neuroprotection.
-
Disc degeneration and osteoarthritis are diseases of the matrix. Chondrocytes that have been removed from damaged cartilaginous tissues maintain a capacity to proliferate, produce, and secrete matrix components, and respond to physical stimuli such as dynamic loading. A dog model was used to investigate the hypothesis that autologous disc chondrocytes can be used to repair damaged intervertebral disc. ⋯ Autologous chondrocyte transplantation is technically feasible and biologically relevant to repairing disc damage and retarding disc degeneration.