Journal of orthopaedic science : official journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association
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The project to develop a new Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score rating system for low back disorders, the JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ), is currently in progress. Part 1 of the study selected 25 "candidate" items for use on the JOABPEQ. The purpose of this current Part 2 of the study was to verify the reliability of the questionnaire. ⋯ The tentative questionnaire of the JOABPEQ with 25 items was confirmed to be reliable enough to describe the quality of life of patients who suffer low back disorders.
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We have previously offered data suggesting a positive linkage of postoperative up-regulation of systemic angiogenic activity and postoperative progression of pulmonary metastasis in osteosarcoma. The finding that the significant down-regulation of endostatin was critical in angiogenic elevation after primary tumor removal suggests that endostatin is a candidate for antiangiogenic therapy for osteosarcoma. ⋯ Our results indicate that antiangiogenic therapy using endostatin has the potential to prevent postoperative progression of pulmonary metastasis from osteosarcoma. Although this therapeutic strategy cannot provide a cure for osteosarcoma, it should enable osteosarcoma patients to coexist with dormant pulmonary metastasis and lead to improvement of their prognosis.