Spine
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We conducted a retrospective study to identify prognostic factors of patients with spinal metastases from lung cancer. ⋯ PS, Ca, and Alb in NSCLC and Ca, Alb, and a history of chemotherapy in SCLC are useful for determining an indication of operation for spinal metastases from lung cancer.
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Case Reports
"The disappearing evoked potentials": a special problem of positioning patients with skeletal dysplasia: case report.
A retrospective study of 3 patients with skeletal dysplasia, who had a loss of the evoked potentials during prone positioning before spine surgical intervention. ⋯ Patients with skeletal dysplasia are susceptible to serious neurologic misadventure when turned to a prone position. Neurophysiologic and/or clinical monitoring of patient positioning should be undertaken, and a plan of intervention, should loss of signal or function occur, must be implemented.
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Localization and distribution of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in the rat intervertebral disc.
Whole rat intervertebral disc (IVD), as well as the anulus fibrosus (AF) and the nucleus pulposus (NP) were studied using immunoblot, immunohistochemistry, and reverse-transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods to investigate the expression and distribution of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). ⋯ Our results demonstrate the expression of COMP in both the AF and NP of the IVD. COMP is a component of the extracellular matrix of AF and NP, with a lamellar distribution pattern in the AF. Our data suggest that COMP may play a role in the normal structure of IVD.
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A prospective in vivo animal study. ⋯ HSV-mediated gene transfer provides a novel method for treating chronic neuropathic pain related to lumbar root injury in rodents.