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 compare, in a case-control study, clinical characteristics of patients with low back pain (LBP) with and without Modic 1 signal changes on MRI. ⋯ Characteristics of patients with LBP and Modic 1 changes on MRI consist of an inflammatory pain pattern and pain with lumbar extension. Level of evidence 3b.
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Imaging study of thoracic spine. ⋯ Thoracic spine showed ROM in sagittal plane, despite being considered a stable region. These findings offer useful information in the diagnosis and selection of surgical intervention in thoracic spinal disease.
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Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have been proposed to complement the declining population of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) found in a degenerative intervertebral disc. Although able to stop degeneration, they could not produce enough matrix to restore a healthy state. Looking at development, when a large amount of matrix is produced, the disc also contains notochordal cells (NCs), potential progenitors or regulators of NPCs. The aim of the study was, therefore, to combine NCs to a BMSC/NPC mix and evaluate their effects on cell phenotype and matrix production, in long-term culture. ⋯ In contrast to previously reported short-term studies, long-term co-cultures with NCs had no substantial effects on BMSCs and NPCs, most likely due to the loss of the NC native phenotype during culture. It, therefore, appears critical to maintain this specific phenotype for a long-term effect of the NCs.
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Little is known about what triggers an episode of low back pain (LBP) in those presenting to primary care. Previous studies of risk factors have focused on specific occupational settings and work conditions. No study has asked primary care clinicians to consider what triggers an episode of sudden-onset LBP in patients presenting to them for care. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to describe the short- and long-term factors that primary care clinicians consider important in triggering a sudden episode of acute LBP. ⋯ This study shows that primary care clinicians believe that biomechanical risk factors are the most important short-term triggers, while biomechanical and individual risk factors are the most important long-term triggers for a sudden onset of LBP. However, other risk factors, such as psychological/psychosocial and genetic, were not commonly endorsed as risk factors for an episode of LBP by primary care clinicians. Results of this study are based on primary care clinicians' views and further investigation is needed to test the validity of these suggested risk factors.