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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We present the case of a patient with a solitary neoplasm of the intramedullary spinal cord. ⋯ Despite being uncommon, spinal cord metastases should be considered in some patients before surgery because it may expedite diagnosis, mitigate the need for surgery, and improve the quality of life for these patients. Clinical factors suggesting metastasis include a personal or family history of malignancy or conditions predisposing to it, the presence of multiple tumors in the spinal cord or elsewhere, nonspecific constitutional symptoms, such as weight loss or decreased appetite, and, specifically for RCC, an abnormally increased hematocrit.
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Retrospective study. ⋯ Cobb's angle measurements on DEXA scans are reliable and comparable to conventional radiographs. Spinal BMD values are less valuable for monitoring osteoporosis than hip values in scoliotic patients; an increasing discrepancy with age was noted. Scoliotic patients exhibited discordantly high spinal BMD values, despite significant hip osteoporosis. The discrepancy correlated with aging and curve magnitude. Scoliosis was common among the osteoporotic population (9.47%). Lumbar scoliosis is a useful clinical marker for osteoporosis, irrespective of scoliosis history and magnitude. Viable alternatives for osteoporosis evaluation of adult patients with lumbar scoliosis are hip DEXA values, in conjunction with other BMD measurements.
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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.