Spine
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MR imaging and multiplanar reconstruction were used to evaluate relative length of the spinal cord to the vertebral column in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). ⋯ There was significantly reduced spinal cord to vertebral column ratios in the AIS patients with severe curve, suggesting a disproportional growth between the skeletal and the neural systems. The relative shortening and functional tethering of spinal cord may play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of AIS.
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Experimental animal study. OBJECTIVE.: Evaluate osteopromotive properties of a beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) implant with different osteogenic substances in an animal study. ⋯ The combination of beta-TCP and bone marrow has superior osteopromotive properties to venous blood or concentrated mononuclear cells and can be used effectively as a substitute to iliac crest graft.
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Cyclic mechanical stress (CMS) was applied to cultured nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus cells, and the production of inflammatory agents by these cells was evaluated. ⋯ The results of this study suggested that CMS might be involved in the pathomechanism of pain induction of lumbar disc diseases.