Lateral lumbar interbody fusion using a cellular allogeneic bone matrix in the treatment of symptomatic degenerative lumbar disc disease and lumbar spinal instability.

Background: Cellular allogeneic bone grafts are used as a biologic adjuvant in lumbar spinal fusions. The clinical use of a minimally invasive extreme lateral approach to the lumbar spine has been widely adopted; however, there are few clinical studies that have documented the clinical and radiographic outcomes associated with the use of cellular allografts as an adjunct to fusion in this advanced surgical approach.

Methods: A consecutive series of 67 patients (34 males and 33 females) with a mean age of 66.

The Effect of ACDF or Arthroplasty on Cervicogenic Headaches: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Prospective, Multicenter Study With 10-Year Follow-up.

Study Design: This was a post hoc analysis of a prospective FDA-IDE study.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a 2-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or cervical disk arthroplasty (CDA) at relieving headaches associated with cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy at 10 years postoperative.

Background: To our knowledge, there is no large, prospective study that has examined the efficacy of cervical spine surgery for relieving headaches associated with radiculopathy or myelopathy at 10 years postoperative.

Occurrence and clinical implications of heterotopic ossification after cervical disc arthroplasty with the Prestige LP Cervical Disc at 2 contiguous levels.

Objective: The authors sought to assess the impact of heterotopic ossification (HO) on clinical outcomes and angular range of motion (ROM) after cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) performed with the Prestige LP Cervical Disc (Prestige LP disc) at 2 levels.

Methods: HO was assessed and graded from 0 to IV for increasing severity on lateral neutral radiographs at each visit in 209 patients who underwent implantation of Prestige LP discs at 2 cervical levels in a clinical trial with extended 10-year follow-up. ROM was compared by using HO grade, and clinical outcomes were compared between HO subgroups (grade 0-II vs III/IV) based on HO severity at 2 and 10 years after surgery.

Adiponectin stimulates glucose uptake in mouse blastocysts and embryonic carcinoma cells.

Preimplantation embryos are sensitive to maternal hormones affecting embryonic signal transduction and metabolic functions. We examined whether adiponectin, the most abundantly secreted adipokine, can influence glucose transport in mouse embryonic cells. In mouse blastocysts full-length adiponectin stimulated glucose uptake, while no effect of globular adiponectin was found.

One-Level Versus 2-Level Treatment With Cervical Disc Arthroplasty or Fusion: Outcomes Up to 7 Years.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) have been used to treat degenerative disc disease at single as well as multiple cervical levels. This study compares the safety and efficacy of 1-level versus 2-level CDA and ACDF.

Methods: In total, 545 and 397 patients with degenerative disc disease were studied in 1-level and 2-level Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved clinical trials, respectively: CDA (n = 280 and 209), ACDF (n = 265 and 188).

Two-level cervical disc arthroplasty versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: 10-year outcomes of a prospective, randomized investigational device exemption clinical trial.

Objective: The authors assessed the 10-year clinical safety and effectiveness of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) to treat degenerative cervical spine disease at 2 adjacent levels compared to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter FDA-approved clinical trial was conducted comparing the low-profile titanium ceramic composite-based Prestige LP Cervical Disc (n = 209) at two levels with ACDF (n = 188). Ten-year follow-up data from a postapproval study were available on 148 CDA and 118 ACDF patients and are reported here.

Lumbar disc arthroplasty versus anterior lumbar interbody fusion: 5-year outcomes for patients in the Maverick disc investigational device exemption study.

Objective: Despite evidence of its safety and effectiveness, the use of lumbar disc arthroplasty has been slow to expand due in part to concerns about late complications and the risks of revision surgery associated with early devices. More recently, FDA approval of newer devices and improving reimbursements have reversed this trend in the United States. Additional long-term data on lumbar disc arthroplasty are still needed.

Cervical disc arthroplasty: 10-year outcomes of the Prestige LP cervical disc at a single level.

Objective: Food and Drug Administration-approved investigational device exemption (IDE) studies have provided level I evidence supporting cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) as a safe and effective alternative to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Long-term CDA outcomes continue to be evaluated. Here, the authors present outcomes at 10 years postoperatively for the single-level CDA arm of an IDE study (postapproval study).

Treatment of Cervical Myelopathy: Long-term Outcomes of Arthroplasty for Myelopathy Versus Radiculopathy, And Arthroplasty Versus Arthrodesis for Myelopathy.

Study Design: Analysis of 2- and 7-year outcomes from a clinical trial comparing 2-level cervical disk arthroplasty (CDA) to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in 287 patients with radiculopathy alone, and 110 patients with myelopathy alone or myelopathy with radiculopathy.

Objective: To compare the long-term safety and effectiveness of CDA for myelopathy versus radiculopathy.

Summary Of Background Data: CDA for myelopathy is safe and effective in short term.

Glucocorticoid receptor isoforms and effects of glucocorticoids in ovulated mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos†.

To investigate possible involvement of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in mediating effects of maternal stress or therapeutically administered glucocorticoids on early embryo, we analyzed the expression of GR subtypes in ovulated mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos. RT-PCR analysis results showed that GRα and GRγ transcripts are relatively highly expressed in mouse oocytes, and both transcripts are present at lower amounts in preimplantation embryos. We also detected low expression of two other splice variants, GRβ and a transcript orthologous to the human GR-P subtype, mainly at the blastocyst stage.

Fipronil causes toxicity in mouse preimplantation embryos.

In this study the possible toxicity of phenylpyrazole fipronil, the related commercial product FIPRON spot-on as well as FIPRON spot-on secondary ingredients on the developmental capacities and quality of mouse preimplantation embryos was evaluated. During in vitro tests, isolated two-cell stage embryos were cultured in media with addition of the listed chemicals until blastocyst formation. Stereomicroscopic evaluation of in vitro produced embryos showed that fipronil at 1 μM and higher concentration negatively affected embryonic development.

Effect of porous orthopaedic implant material and structure on load sharing with simulated bone ingrowth: A finite element analysis comparing titanium and PEEK.

Osseointegration of load-bearing orthopaedic implants, including interbody fusion devices, is critical to long-term biomechanical functionality. Mechanical loads are a key regulator of bone tissue remodeling and maintenance, and stress-shielding due to metal orthopaedic implants being much stiffer than bone has been implicated in clinical observations of long-term bone loss in tissue adjacent to implants. Porous features that accommodate bone ingrowth have improved implant fixation in the short term, but long-term retrieval studies have sometimes demonstrated limited, superficial ingrowth into the pore layer of metal implants and aseptic loosening remains a problem for a subset of patients.

Getting PEEK to Stick to Bone: The Development of Porous PEEK for Interbody Fusion Devices.

Interbody fusion cages are routinely implanted during spinal fusion procedures to facilitate arthrodesis of a degenerated or unstable vertebral segment. Current cages are most commonly made from polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) due to its favorable mechanical properties and imaging characteristics. However, the smooth surface of current PEEK cages may limit implant osseointegration and may inhibit successful fusion.

Long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of the Prestige LP artificial cervical disc replacement at 2 levels: results from a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess long-term clinical safety and effectiveness in patients undergoing anterior cervical surgery using the Prestige LP artificial disc replacement (ADR) prosthesis to treat degenerative cervical spine disease at 2 adjacent levels compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). METHODS A prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter FDA-approved clinical trial was conducted at 30 US centers, comparing the low-profile titanium ceramic composite-based Prestige LP ADR (n = 209) at 2 levels with ACDF (n = 188). Clinical and radiographic evaluations were completed preoperatively, intraoperatively, and at regular postoperative intervals to 84 months.

Cervical disc arthroplasty with the Prestige LP disc versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, at 2 levels: results of a prospective, multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial at 24 months.

OBJECTIVE The authors compared the efficacy and safety of arthroplasty using the Prestige LP cervical disc with those of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for the treatment of degenerative disc disease (DDD) at 2 adjacent levels. METHODS Patients from 30 investigational sites were randomized to 1 of 2 groups: investigational patients (209) underwent arthroplasty using a Prestige LP artificial disc, and control patients (188) underwent ACDF with a cortical ring allograft and anterior cervical plate. Patients were evaluated preoperatively, intraoperatively, and at 1.

The effect of maternal stress on blastocyst quality depends on maternal physiological status.

The effect of maternal stress on blastocyst quality, with respect to maternal metabolic status, was investigated in this study. We exposed female mice with different amounts of body fat to restraint stress and examined their blastocyst quality. Blood concentrations of corticosterone, leptin, adiponectin, insulin and glucose were measured in these females.

Cervical Disc Arthroplasty with Prestige LP Disc Versus Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: Seven-Year Outcomes.

Background: Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) has emerged as an alternative to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for the treatment of cervical pathologies. Studies are on-going to assess the long term outcomes of CDA. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of the Prestige(®) LP Disc at 84-months follow up.

Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Single-level Anterior Cervical Arthrodesis: A Prospective Trial Comparing Allograft to a Reduced Dose of rhBMP-2.

Study Design: A prospective study with historical controls.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the safety and effectiveness of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) with allograft for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in patients with symptomatic single-level cervical degenerative disk disease.

Summary Of Background Data: rhBMP-2 is an osteoinductive protein that has been shown to induce fusion when used as an implant with a suitable carrier in spine surgery.

Cervical disc arthroplasty with PRESTIGE LP disc versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a prospective, multicenter investigational device exemption study.

OBJECT This study compared the safety and efficacy of treatment with the PRESTIGE LP cervical disc versus a historical control anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). METHODS Prospectively collected PRESTIGE LP data from 20 investigational sites were compared with data from 265 historical control ACDF patients in the initial PRESTIGE Cervical Disc IDE study. The 280 investigational patients with single-level cervical disc disease with radiculopathy and/or myelopathy underwent arthroplasty with a low-profile artificial disc.

Aurora kinase A is essential for correct chromosome segregation in mouse zygote.

Aurora-A kinase (AURKA), a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family, is involved in multiple steps of mitotic progression. It regulates centrosome maturation, mitotic spindle formation, and cytokinesis. While studied extensively in somatic cells, little information is known about AURKA in the early cleavage mouse embryo with respect to acentrosomal spindle assembly.

Stress exposure during the preimplantation period affects blastocyst lineages and offspring development.

We found retardation of preimplantation embryo growth after exposure to maternal restraint stress during the preimplantation period in our previous study. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of preimplantation maternal restraint stress on the distribution of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells in mouse blastocysts, and its possible effect on physiological development of offspring. We exposed spontaneously ovulating female mice to restraint stress for 30 min three times a day during the preimplantation period, and this treatment caused a significant increase in blood serum corticosterone concentration.

The effect of maternal body condition on in vivo production of zygotes and behavior of delivered offspring in mice.

This study investigated the effects of maternal body condition on oocyte quality and zygote production. Additionally, we examined the possible consequences on somatic parameters and behavior of naturally delivered offspring. We used an experimental model based on overfeeding of outbred mice during intrauterine and early postnatal development to produce the following four types of females: physiological (7%-8%), slightly increased (8%-11%), highly increased (>11%), and low (<7%) body fat content (Echo Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

Clinical and radiographic analysis of an artificial cervical disc: 7-year follow-up from the Prestige prospective randomized controlled clinical trial: Clinical article.

Object: The authors assess the long-term safety and efficacy of cervical disc replacement with the Prestige Cervical Disc in a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial at 7 years of follow-up.

Methods: At 31 investigational sites, 541 patients with single-level cervical disc disease with radiculopathy were randomized to 1 of 2 treatment groups: 276 investigational group patients underwent anterior cervical discectomy and arthroplasty with the Prestige disc, and 265 control group patients underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Clinical outcomes included Neck Disability Index, the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and neck and arm pain scores.

Amount of maternal body fat significantly affected the quality of isolated mouse preimplantation embryos and slowed down their development.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of maternal obesity on the quality and developmental capabilities of in vivo-derived preimplantation embryos. A two-generation dietary model, based on mice overfeeding during intrauterine and early postnatal development, was used to produce four types of female animals: with physiological (7%-8%), slightly elevated (8%-11%), highly elevated (>11%), and low (<7%) amounts of body fat. Spontaneously ovulating females (5-6 weeks old) were mated with male animals and subjected to embryo isolation at Day 4.

Two-generation diet-induced obesity model producing mice with increased amount of body fat in early adulthood.

The aim of our study was to develop a model producing obese mice in early adulthood (4-6 weeks) based on their over-nutrition during fetal and early postnatal development. The fertilized dams of the parental generation were fed the standard diet supplemented with high-energy nutritional product Ensure Plus during gestation and lactation. Delivered weanlings were then fed with standard or supplemented diet and assessed for body fat deposits using EchoMRI at the time of early and late adulthood.