Morphological analysis of the cervical pedicles, lateral masses, and laminae in developmental canal stenosis.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between developmental spinal canal stenosis (DCS) and morphologic features in the cervical spine by comparing the features between DCS and nondevelopmental spinal canal stenosis (NDCS).

Summary Of Background Data: DCS is an important predisposing factor for cervical myelopathy.

Analysis of measured D-dimer levels for detection of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after spinal surgery.

Study Design: A retrospective clinical study.

Objectives: To show the prevalence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after spinal surgery using a D-dimer assay followed by screening with computed tomographic (CT) pulmonary angiography and CT venography.

Summary Of Background Data: A few studies on DVT development after spinal surgery have been reported.

Analysis of the relationship between facet joint angle orientation and lumbar spine canal diameter with respect to the kinematics of the lumbar spinal unit.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the relationship among facet orientation, kinematics of a spinal unit, and change in lumbar spine canal diameter by using kinetic magnetic resonance imaging.

Summary Of Background Data: Some studies have suggested an association between increased sagittally oriented facet angles and degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

The effect of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor on human osteoclast precursors to influence osteoclastogenesis in vitro.

The inducible prostaglandin synthesis enzyme, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), is involved in bone resorption and osteoclastogenesis, and acts indirectly through prostaglandin E2 (PG E2) produced by osteoblastic cells. This study was undertaken to investigate whether celecoxib (a selective COX-2 inhibitor) has a direct effect on human osteoclast precursors to influence osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured on glass coverslips and dentine slices with soluble receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (sRANKL) and macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF).

Infliximab acts directly on human osteoclast precursors and enhances osteoclast formation induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand in vitro.

Infliximab is known to protect against the development of joint destruction. In the present study, we sought to determine whether Infliximab acts directly on human osteoclast precursors and influences monocyte-osteoclast differentiation induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and normal controls were cultured in the presence of RANKL and macrophage colony stimulating factor.

Tacrolimus and cyclosporine A inhibit human osteoclast formation via targeting the calcineurin-dependent NFAT pathway and an activation pathway for c-Jun or MITF in rheumatoid arthritis.

In the present study, we aimed to determine whether tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporine A act directly on human osteoclast precursors obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and influence monocyte-osteoclast differentiation induced by receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) in vitro, the stage at which differentiation was affected and the manner in which tacrolimus or cyclosporine A affected the osteoclast signaling pathway. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from RA patients and cultured in the presence of RANKL and macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). Tacrolimus or cyclosporine A was added to these cultures to determine the effect on the osteoclast differentiation.