European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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To report a rare fourth atlanto-axial joint. ⋯ A unique case with an anatomically proven fourth atlantoaxial joint is reported. This anomaly can lead to misdiagnosis. CT scan coupled with MRI can facilitate accurate diagnosis.
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The thoracic spine is considered a rigid region because it is restricted by the rib cage. Previously, we reported functional alignments and range of motion (ROM) at all segmental levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate dynamic changes of the dural sac and spinal cord in the thoracic spine using a multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). ⋯ The thoracic spine showed some dynamic changes of the dural sac and spinal cord in the axial plane within functional motion. Segmental kyphotic angle, rather than segmental ROM, was the more important factor affecting dimensions of the dural sac and spinal cord.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Clinical and radiological outcomes of unilateral versus bilateral instrumentation in two-level degenerative lumbar diseases.
To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of unilateral versus bilateral instrumented in two-level degenerative lumbar diseases after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MITLIF). ⋯ Unilateral instrumentation after two-level MITLIF provided similar clinical and radiological outcomes to bilateral fixation in two-level degenerative lumbar diseases. Compared with bilateral fixation, unilateral fixation shortens operation time, reduces intra-operative blood loss and X-ray exposure time, and saves medical expenses with similar postoperative hospital stay and complication rate.
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To determine the role of Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling in human cartilage endplate (CEP) degeneration. ⋯ These findings demonstrated that Ihh promotes CEP degeneration. Blocking Ihh pathway has potential clinical usage for attenuating CEP degeneration.
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Intervertebral disc cell apoptosis has been suggested to play a key role in promoting disc degeneration, and many studies have shown that the mechanism may be related to oxidative stress. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a redox cofactor for bacterial dehydrogenases, possesses the potential to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibit cell apoptosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of PQQ on cultured rat nucleus pulposus (NP) cells under conditions of oxidative injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and to investigate the underlying mechanisms in vitro. ⋯ Our results suggest that PQQ can protect rat NP cells against oxidative stress via a mitochondria-mediated pathway. PQQ might be useful as a potential pharmaceutical agent in the prevention of intervertebral disc degeneration.