Bone Enzyme-Responsive Biodegradable Poly(propylene fumarate) and Polycaprolactone Polyphosphoester Dendrimer Cross-Linked via Click Chemistry for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Traditional polymer systems often rely on toxic initiators or catalysts for cross-linking, posing significant safety risks. For bone tissue engineering, another issue is that the scaffolds often take a longer time to degrade, inconsistent with bone formation pace. Here, we developed an enzyme-responsive biodegradable poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) and polycaprolactone (PCL) polyphosphoester (PPE) dendrimer cross-linked utilizing click chemistry (EnzDeg-click-PFCLPE scaffold) for enhanced biocompatibility and degradation.

Maintenance of intraoperative correction with multi-rod constructs in adult long construct spine fusion surgery.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for loss of intraoperative correction, as measured by lumbar lordosis (LL), with an emphasis on rod characteristics.

Methods: A retrospective study identified patients at least 50 years of age who underwent instrumented fusion with an upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV) in the upper thoracic spine (T1-T6) or thoracolumbar junction (T10-L2) to the pelvis. Inclusion criteria included intraoperative x-rays that allowed for LL measurement, postop standing x-rays, and a minimum follow up of 24 months with the original rods still in place.

Real-Time 2D Phase-Contrast MRI to Assess Cardiac- and Respiratory-Driven CSF Movement in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

Background And Purpose: In idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow is typically evaluated with a cardiac-gated two-dimensional (2D) phase-contrast (PC) MRI through the cerebral aqueduct. This approach is limited by the evaluation of a single location and does not account for respiration effects on flow. In this study, we quantified the cardiac and respiratory contributions to CSF movement at multiple intracranial locations using a real-time 2D PC-MRI and evaluated the diagnostic value of CSF dynamics biomarkers in classifying iNPH patients.

Quantifying CSF Dynamics disruption in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus using phase lag between transmantle pressure and volumetric flow rate.

Background And Purpose: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics disorder as evidenced by the delayed ascent of radiotracers over the cerebral convexity on radionuclide cisternography. However, the exact mechanism causing this disruption remains unclear. Elucidating the pathophysiology of iNPH is crucial, as it is a treatable cause of dementia.

Impact of contrast administration and CT reconstruction plane on Hounsfield units for assessing underlying bone quality in the lumbar spine.

Objective: Hounsfield units (HUs) may better predict biomechanical complications of instrumented fusion than conventional bone quality measures. Typically, noncontrast axial slices are used. This study aims to address the influence of reconstruction plane and contrast administration on measured HUs in patients undergoing lumbar spine imaging.