Spine
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Cross-sectional study. ⋯ This study revealed that patients with lumbar disc herniation had the asymmetry and sagittalization of facet joints, and these alterations were more evident in the taller patients.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Prospective controlled study of the development of lower back pain in previously asymptomatic subjects undergoing experimental discography.
A prospective controlled longitudinal study. ⋯ Painful disc injections are poor independent predictors of subsequent LBP episodes in subjects initially without active lower back complaints. Anular disruption is a weak predictor of future LBP problems. Psychological distress and preexisting chronic pain processes are stronger predictors of LBP outcomes.
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We used anatomic tracers and immunoreactivity in rats to define dorsal root ganglion neuron populations innervating the lumbar discs in physiologic and inflammatory states. ⋯ We found that most small neurons innervating the disc were CGRP-ir. Furthermore, disc inflammation caused an increase in CGRP-ir neurons but not IB4-binding neurons, suggesting that CGRP-ir, nerve growth factor-dependent neurons are more responsible for discogenic pain.
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An analysis of pathologic changes after different degrees of cauda equina compression. ⋯ Mild cauda equina compression induces TNF-alpha expression and demyelination. Moderate and strong cauda equina compression induces TNF-alpha expression and degeneration associated with macrophage invasion. Neither demyelination nor degeneration in the cauda equina induced mechanical allodynia. Nerve lesions proximal to the dorsal root ganglion do not produce significant mechanical allodynia. Dorsal root ganglion apoptosis may be important for pain.