Spine
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Intermittent Cyclic Mechanical Tension (ICMT) was applied to end plate chondrocytes by using an FX-4000T Flexercell Tension Plus unit (Flexcell International Corporation, Hillsborough, NC). Changes of end plate chondrocytes were observed after ICMT stimulation. ⋯ Our results directly showed that ICMT induced the calcification and downregulation of ankh gene expression of end plate chondrocytes, which may be caused by the endogenous TGF-β1.
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Case Reports
Spondylodiscitis as a spinal complication of transrectal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy of the prostate.
A case report. ⋯ Acute pyogenic spondylodiscitis should be considered among the major complications of TUGNBP and may occur despite prophylactic antibiotic use.
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Single-center retrospective study. ⋯ These results indicate that PLIF at L5/S, a wide disc space with instability, multilevel fusion surgery, and a pear-shaped disc space on lateral radiographs are risk factors for cage retropulsion. The identification of these risk factors should allow us to avoid this complication, and the use of expandable cages is an effective option for such cases.
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Multicenter Study
Prognostic factors for reduction of activities of daily living following osteoporotic vertebral fractures.
Prospective cohort study. ⋯ These results identified presence of middle column injury of the vertebral body and lack of regular exercise before fracture as prognostic factors for reduced ADL. With clarification and validation, these risk factors may provide crucial tools for determining subsequent OVF treatments. Patients showing these prognostic factors should be observed carefully and treated with more intensive treatment options.
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Multicenter Study
Expression of ezrin, MMP-9, and COX-2 in 50 chordoma specimens: a clinical and immunohistochemical analysis.
Retrospective study. ⋯ En bloc resection with tumor-free margins is seldom feasible, particularly in the sacrum. Intralesional excisions mostly end in early local recurrence; therefore, the demand for further treatment options is frequently posed. The marked trend of the investigated biomarkers of this study may build a starting point for further investigations as molecular targets for future adjuvant therapies in chordomas. Future multicenter studies on larger patients' series are necessary to elucidate these preliminary data and to test new treatment options for patients with chordomas.