Spine
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Retrospective analysis using kinetic magnetic resonance images (MRIs). ⋯ The present study demonstrated that the changes in sagittal alignment of the cervical spine affect the kinematics. Consequently, it may cause changes in the segment subjected to maximum load for overall motion and accelerate its degeneration.
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Investigations of the effects of high bone turnover on the L3 vertebra were carried out, using an ovariectomized (OVX) ovine model of early stage osteoporosis. ⋯ These findings show that OVX resulted in changes in bone turnover, which reduced biomechanical properties in a model of early stage osteoporosis. These differences were present despite microarchitecture or BMD remaining unchanged. In the future, the ability to assess site-specific bone turnover would greatly enhance the accuracy with which fracture risk could be predicted.
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Technical note. ⋯ A surgical technique for the replacement of vertebral body by posterior approach is presented. This technique could be used in surgery of vertebral body tumors of the lumbar spine, in a single surgical approach.
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Molecular biologic and immuno-histologic analyses using in vitro murine intervertebral disc tissue culture. ⋯ TWEAK plays an important role in MMP-3 induction in murine disc cells via JNK that results in degradation of disc matrix. TWEAK also induces MCP-1, which belongs to the chemokine family that recruits inflammatory cells via the NF-kappaB pathway.
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We developed a real-time, in vivo monitoring system for the evaluation of spinal cord viability in rats during spinal cord ischemia. ⋯ The monitoring of the mitochondrial function together with SCBF by the TVMS reflects the viability of the spinal cord tissue and, together with the conventional monitoring techniques, may help to evaluate the spine conditions, especially under surgical procedures involving the deterioration of the spinal cord blood supply.