Translational Studies on Biologic Fusion of a Vertebral Segment as a Novel Treatment Modality for Low Back Pain.

Study Design: Preclinical studies: Efficacy and toxicological studies on lactic acid (LA)-induced sclerozation in pig lumbar discs. Clinical study: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose study investigating the safety and local tolerability of LA.

Objective: To determine if LA produces sclerozation of the porcine nucleus pulposus (NP) followed by a phase Ib study to evaluate preliminary safety, tolerability, and efficacy of LA in patients with chronic discogenic low back pain.

Hemiplegic (unilateral) cerebral palsy in northern Stockholm: clinical assessment, brain imaging, EEG, epilepsy and aetiologic background factors.

Background: The purpose of this study was to describe clinical presentation, epilepsy, EEG, extent and site of the underlying cerebral lesion with special reference towards aetiologic background factors in a population-based group of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Methods: Forty-seven children of school- age, fulfilling the SPCE (Surveillance of Cerebral palsy in Europe)-criteria of hemiplegic cerebral palsy, identified via the Swedish cerebral palsy register, were invited and asked to participate in the study.

Results: Fifteen boys and six girls participated.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Vocal Folds in Women With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and Virilized Voices.

Purpose: Women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) may develop a virilized voice due to late diagnosis or suboptimal suppression of adrenal androgens. Changes in the vocal folds due to virilization have not been studied in vivo. The purpose was to investigate if the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle is affected by virilization and correlate findings to fundamental frequency (F0).

The impact of discography on the surgical decision in patients with chronic low back pain.

Background Context: A reduced frequency of discographies might be the result of increasing concern with long-term effects of discography such as disc degeneration. More knowledge is needed in what patient discography is most likely to influence the surgical decision.

Purpose: This study was aimed at highlighting how discography affects surgical decisions when performed on one of four different indications in a complicated subgroup of patients with chronic low back pain assumed to be associated with degenerative disc disease (DDD).

Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound measurements of extraocular muscles in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy at different stages of the disease.

Purpose: To assess extraocular muscle (EOM) involvement in thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) of different stages with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound techniques.

Methods: A total of 32 patients with TAO were divided into three groups according to whether they had mild active, pronounced active or longstanding inactive disease. Six patients with Graves' disease but no clinical signs of TAO and 10 healthy control subjects were also studied.

Significance of orbital fatty tissue for exophthalmos in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Purpose: To correlate exophthalmos with the volume of extraocular muscle and orbital fatty tissue in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), using MRI that enables the orbital soft tissues to be well defined.

Methods: Thirty-three orbits, 20 from 10 patients with TAO and 13 from 13 controls, were employed. T1-weighted orbital MR slices 2 or 3 mm thick were obtained in axial, coronal and sagittal planes.