Co-culturing nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells with notochordal cell-rich nucleus pulposus explants attenuates tumor necrosis factor-α-induced senescence.

Background: Cell therapy for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) faces serious barriers since tissue-specific adult cells such as nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) have limited proliferative ability and poor regenerative potential; in addition, it is difficult for exogenous adult stem cells to survive the harsh environment of the degenerated intervertebral disc. Endogenous repair by nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSCs) has recently shown promising regenerative potential for the treatment of IDD. Notochordal cells (NCs) and NC-conditioned medium (NCCM) have been proven to possess regenerative ability for the treatment of IDD, but this approach is limited by the isolation and passaging of NCs.

[Analysis of clinical outcomes of simplified treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis with adjacent segment degeneration by MAST Quadrant].

Objective: To explore the method and clinical effect of MAST Quadrant for lumbar spondylolisthesis with adjacent segment degeneration.

Methods: From April 2014 to January 2016, 36 cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis with adjacent segment degeneration were treated by MAST Quadrant(target nerve decompression and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion or articulationes zygapophysiales fusion by unilateral fixation with MAST Quadrant). Twenty-three cases were degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis and 13 cases were isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Selective Lumbar Decompression in Diagnostic Doubt Patients: A Retrospective Control Study.

Background: Our previous study demonstrated that selective nerve root block (SNRB) can influence decision-making in lumbar surgery by guiding the selection of nerve roots targeted for decompression in diagnostic doubt patients (DDPs). However, further studies were needed to determine whether this selective decompression (SD) procedure would result in similar clinical outcomes and reduce the perioperative parameters and postoperative complications as compared to the non-selective decompression (NSD) procedure.

Objective: The specific goal of this study is to compare clinical outcomes, perioperative parameters, and complications between SD and NSD procedures in DDPs.

Minimally invasive procedure reduces adjacent segment degeneration and disease: New benefit-based global meta-analysis.

Objective: Adjacent segment pathology (ASP) is a common complication presenting in patients with axial pain and dysfunction, requiring treatment or follow-up surgery. However, whether minimally invasive surgery (MIS), including MIS transforaminal / posterior lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF/PLIF) decreases the incidence rate of ASP remains unknown. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the incidence rate of ASP in patients undergoing MIS versus open procedures.

Intrathecal morphine verse femoral nerve block for pain control in total knee arthroplasty: A meta-analysis from randomized control trials.

Objective: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is usually associated with postoperative pain. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of femoral nerve block compared with intrathecal morphine for pain management after TKA.

Methods: Potentially relevant literature was identified from electronic databases including Medline, PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect and the Cochrane Library.

Full-Endoscopic Procedures Versus Traditional Discectomy Surgery for Discectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Current Global Clinical Trials.

Background: Traditional discectomy surgery (TDS) provides good or excellent results in clinical surgical discectomy but may induce neural adhesion, spinal structural damage, instability, and other complications. The potential advantages of full-endoscopic (FE) procedures over standard TDS include less blood loss, less postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization, and an earlier return to work. However, more evidence is needed to support this new technology in clinical applications.

Efficacy and safety of bone marrow-derived cell transplantation for spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Purpose: Bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) for clinical transplantation were carried out many years in treating spinal cord injury (SCI) without a clear conclusion. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BMDC transplantation in treatment of SCI patients.

Method: Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane library, were searched to identify clinical therapeutic trials studying the application of BMDC transplantation in SCI.