Spine
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Comparative Study
Actual and predicted survival time of patients with spinal metastases of lung cancer: evaluation of the robustness of the Tokuhashi score.
In a retrospective analysis we evaluated the achieved and the predicted survival times according to the Tokuhashi score for patients with spinal metastases of lung cancer (lc). ⋯ Although the survival time of patients with vertebral metastases from lc has increased over the last 10 years, the overall outcome is still poor. For the prediction of an individual prognosis in the group of lc patients the score of Tokuhashi seems to be a suboptimal tool. We conclude that therapeutic decisions for such patients should be made based on interdisciplinary platforms, especially in the light of improved systemic treatment options.
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Comparative Study
The volumetric analysis of cement in vertebroplasty: relationship with clinical outcome and complications.
Prospective study. ⋯ It is suggested that fraction is superior to volume for predicting outcome on the T11-L1 level and an amount of cement should be determined in terms of FBV and fraction according to the treated level. A lower fraction than required for the restoration of mechanical property was enough to obtain pain relief. Intradiscal leakage on the L2-L4 level may be inevitable to obtain appropriate mechanical properties in the case of severe endplate breakdown connected with the disc space. Smaller volume is needed to avoid an adjacent fracture on the L2-L4 level. Although we did not know the reason why there was a difference among the treated level groups, one thing that is certain is the fact that level-specific approaches may be necessary for good outcome in terms of volume, fraction and FBV.
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Comparative Study
Changes in spinal cord expression of fractalkine and its receptor in a rat model of disc herniation by autologous nucleus pulposus.
Behavior, mRNA and immunohistochemical assessment of the expression of fractalkine (CX3CL1) and its receptor (CX3CR1) in a rat model of disc herniation by autologous nucleus pulposus (NP) implantation. ⋯ Our results indicate that autologous implantation of NP induces thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, and leads to an upregulation of fractalkine and its receptor in spinal neurons and glia, implicating fractalkine in association with radicular pain.
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Intervertebral disc calcification of T6-T7, T7-T8 discs associated with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in a child is reported. ⋯ The natural history of intervertebral disc calcification is usually benign. In this case, the improvement of OPLL is associated with the stabilization of the maturely fused calcified disc. Spontaneous resolution of the OPLL and recovery of normal neurologic function can be expected with conservative treatment.
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The mechanisms of apoptosis behind the formation of tissue reactions at the surface of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) exposed to the nucleus pulposus were studied with special reference to the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6), using electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry in rats. ⋯ IL-6 seemed to induce TNF-α at the surface of DRG exposed to IL-6 and to induce a characteristic reaction at the surface of the DRG. IL-6 may thus play an important role in nucleus pulposus-induced apoptosis of the DRG neurons as well as TNF-α.