Spine
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We measured the expression and responses of Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) activation in the intervertebral disc (IVD) in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesize that stimulation of the IVD with the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS) results in upregulation of a coordinated set of proinflammatory mediators and inhibition of matrix expression, both consistent with a molecular profile of degeneration. ⋯ This study provides the first evidence that IVD cells express TLR4 and are responsive to TLR4 activation by upregulating a coordinated set of inflammatory cytokines. This study suggests that intradiscal injection of LPS offers a model for triggering inflammation of the IVD, demonstrating that inflammatory insults alone may potentially trigger degenerative changes of the IVD.
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Experimental study. ⋯ The high-dose parecoxib-soaked absorbable gelatin sponge can prevent peridural fibrosis without complications. The low-dose parecoxib and cellulose membrane provided no significant benefit vis-à-vis prevention of peridural fibrosis, as adduced from the lack of any statistically significant difference between the test and control rats.
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A single-center, retrospective study of 39 consecutive patients with Lenke 5 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), all operated by a single surgeon using identical surgical technique and type of instrumentation (pedicle screws). ⋯ Without curve flexibility taken into consideration, implant density is positively correlated with thoracolumbar or lumbar coronal Cobb curve correction. No significant correlation is found between screw density and correction index, if the effect of the flexibility was eliminated. There was no association between implant density and magnitude of sagittal curve correction before and after surgery.
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Analysis of the prospectively collected American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. ⋯ All levels of anemia were significantly associated with prolonged length of hospitalization and poorer operative or 30-day outcomes in patients undergoing elective spine surgery. Our findings, using a large multi-institutional sample of prospectively collected data, suggests that anemia should be regarded as an independent risk factor for perioperative and postoperative complications that deserves attention prior to elective spine surgery.