Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
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The variation in the dimensions of the lumbar spinal canal under both flexion-extension and axial compression-distraction was studied using computerized tomography (CT) scans in human cadaver lumbar spine specimens. In 3-mm-thick CT slices through the disk at L3-L4, the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal was reduced by around 40 mm2, corresponding to a 16% reduction of the initial area when the lumbar spines were moved both from flexion to extension and from distraction to compression. ⋯ During these motions, the ligamentum flavum did not appear to be a significant factor for the dynamic changes affecting the dimensions of the canal. This held true even after the disk had been excised in order to produce a total collapse of the disk space.
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Nonalcoholic carbonated beverage consumption and bone fractures among women former college athletes.
We report on data relating to nonalcoholic carbonated beverage consumption and bone fractures in 5,398 college alumnae, 2,622 former college athletes and 2,776 nonathletes, who responded to a detailed mailed questionnaire. A statistically significant association between nonalcoholic carbonated beverage consumption and bone fractures was found only in the former athletes, not the nonathletes. ⋯ Results of multiple logistic regression analysis, which included only alumnae greater than or equal to 50 years of age and which controlled for current exercise and other potential confounding factors, were as follows: (a) for athletes, the OR for the association of drinking nonalcoholic carbonated beverages and a first bone fracture at or after age 40 was 2.28, 95% CL (1.36, 3.84); (b) for all alumnae, a low milk diet was a risk factor for first bone fractures at or after age 40, OR = 1.92, 95% CL (1.15, 3.16); (c) former college athletes had a significantly lower risk of first fractures at or after age 40 than did nonathletes; OR = 0.63, 95% CL (0.40, 0.99). The deleterious effect of nonalcoholic carbonated beverage consumption on the risk of bone fractures has not been reported, as far as we know.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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For osteochondral allograft transplantation to be successful, chondrocytes must survive preservation and retain their capacity to produce normal matrix components: proteoglycans and Type II collagen. Clinical success with osteochondral allograft transplantation has created an increased demand for supplies of suitable cartilage-bearing grafts. This demand has stimulated attempts to find successful methods for low temperature storage of cartilage for "banking" and heightened interest in cartilage cryobiology. ⋯ In all groups, typical chondroid characteristics were maintained throughout 14 days of culture. Typical cartilage phenotypic characteristics included maintenance of polygonal and rhomboidal cells, cell aggregation, proteoglycan production, and Type II collagen synthesis. This investigation strongly indicates that articular chondrocyte cryopreservation yields viable, functional cells and although these results cannot be directly extrapolated to intact adult articular cartilage, they do give further support for low temperature banking of cartilage-bearing allografts for transplantation.