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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Coupling motions (CMs) are the motions occurring in different directions around the primary motion. As low back pain (LBP) is known to be associated with lumbar CMs, some studies measured lumbar CMs using the microelectromechanical system inertial measurement unit (MEMS-IMU) because of its low cost and small size. This study aimed to examine the reliability of lumbar CM measurements using the MEMS-IMU and to classify the individual characteristics of lumbar CMs. ⋯ Lumbar CM measurements obtained using the MEMS-IMU are reliable, and identifying the individual variations of lumbar CMs may be helpful for alleviating chronic or recurrent LBP.
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Quantitative MRI techniques were utilized to study intervertebral disc degeneration. Main focus was to develop a novel approach to quantify disc height loss associated with disc degeneration. Currently there is no universally accepted metric of degeneration based on measurement of disc height. Such quantitative imaging methods would complement qualitative visual assessment methods currently used and offer a valuable diagnostic tool. ⋯ This study provides new, unbiased quantitative imaging tools to assess disc degeneration. We observed that these quantitative MRI measures indicate a threshold beyond which major pathological changes take place concurrently. Combined information from DHI, ADC and T2 images construct a set of novel biomarkers that could be used to identify degenerating discs that are approaching the threshold and possibly intervene before major pathologic changes occur.
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To analyze the effects of mobility of degenerated disc in the lower lumbar discs (L4-5 and L5-S1) on both whole lumbar motion and adjacent segment ROM. ⋯ Degenerated lumbar discs did not show hypermobility within functional ROM. Loss of segmental ROM from advanced disc degeneration did not cause an increase in the ROM of the superior adjacent segment in vivo. When the LLS had motion-lost, advanced disc degeneration, whole lumbar motion was significantly decreased and compensatory increase in ROM was accomplished by the ULS.
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The ratio of notochordal (NC) cells to mature nucleus pulposus (MNP) cells in the nucleus pulposus varies with species, age and health. Studies suggest that loss of NC cells is a key component of intervertebral disc degeneration. However, few studies have examined the phenotypes of these two cell populations. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate NC and MNP cells from the same intervertebral disc and study phenotypic differences in extracellular matrix production and cell morphology in 3D culture over 7 days. ⋯ NC and MNP cells can be isolated from the same bovine disc and maintain their distinct phenotypes in 3D culture.
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To investigate whether exogenous tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) will initiate a degenerative process in intervertebral disc in vivo. ⋯ Intradiscal injection of exogenous TNF-α caused early stage disc degeneration in a porcine model. It may thus support the hypothesis of exogenic TNF-α being an important early pathogenetic factor in disc degeneration.