Spine
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Controlled radiological study. ⋯ The caudal displacement of the medullar cone was significantly greater (almost double) with the bilateral SLR than the unilateral SLR. We hypothesize that this greater movement may be because more force was transmitted to the cord through a larger number nerve roots with the bilateral than unilateral SLR. The high correlation values in this study show that these movements are consistent and reproducible. This study offers baseline measurements on which further studies in diagnosis and treatment of lumbar disc protrusion and radiculopathy may be developed.
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The presence of fibronectin fragments (FN-fs) and the cleaving enzyme, A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein (ADAM)-8 were examined in human intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue in vitro. ⋯ This is the first report that N-terminal FN-fs are consistently present in IVD tissues from adult subjects. The pathophysiological concentration of these fragments is estimated to be at nanomolar range per gram of IVD tissue. Furthermore, ADAM-8, known to cleave FN, is present at the pericellular matrix of disc cells.
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Cross-sectional, community-based study. ⋯ Obesity was associated with reduced disc height in the lumbar spine, but not at the lumbosacral junction, suggesting these joints may have different risk factors. There was also evidence for an inter-relationship between obesity, lumbar disc height, and recent pain, suggesting that structural changes have a role in back pain and may in part explain the association between obesity and back pain.
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Prospective national population-based cohort study. ⋯ The incidence rate of primary intraspinal tumors in Norway changed dramatically during the study period, stabilizing around 1.5 per 100,000 per year since 2002. There was an increase in surgery for all major subgroups. This increase in surgical activity seems to correlate with the simultaneous large increase in the availability of diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging.
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Retrospective cohort study. ⋯ After ACDF, the main factors affecting subsidence are cervical alignment, age, and use of plates. Our data suggest that surgeons should consider the kyphotic curvature and/or age when deciding on the use of plates.