Comparative Analysis of Outcomes and Kyphotic Risk Factors After Cervical Laminoplasty in 2 Different Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Groups and Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Background And Objectives: Cervical laminoplasty is commonly used to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Postoperative kyphotic changes can restrict spinal cord dorsal shift, leading to poor neurological outcomes. This study analyzes risk factors for loss of cervical lordosis (LCL) after laminoplasty in 3 groups: CSM, continuous OPLL, and other OPLL.

Enhanced Intervertebral Disc Repair via Genetically Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Tetracycline Regulatory System.

The therapeutic potential of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration can be enhanced by amplifying specific cytokines and proteins. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of tetracycline-off system-engineered tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ToMSC-Tetoff-TGFβ1-IGF1-BMP7) for treating intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. ToMSCs were isolated from a tonsillectomy patient and genetically modified with four distinct plasmids via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in gene editing.

Unsubtracted Roadmap Technique for Preventing Cement Leakage During Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the unsubtracted roadmap technique (USRT) for decreasing cement leakage (CL) during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients who underwent PVP between January and November 2018 were included. Patients were divided into the unsubtracted roadmap (UR) (n = 20) and conventional venography (CV) (n = 22) groups.

Laminectomy with instrumented fusion vs. laminoplasty in the surgical treatment of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: A multicenter retrospective study.

Laminectomy with instrumented fusion (LF) has demonstrated better prevention of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) growth compared to laminoplasty (LP). There remains uncertainty, however, as to which surgical approach is more beneficial with respect to clinical outcomes and complications. We retrospectively reviewed 273 cervical OPLL patients of more than 3 levels, from the two institutions' databases, who underwent LF or LP between January 1998 and January 2016.

Association of frailty with regional sagittal spinal alignment in the elderly.

The degenerative changes in the spine of the frail elderly gradually exacerbate the alignment of the spine as the degeneration progresses. This study was conducted to assess the relationship between frailty and spine sagittal alignment measured in terms of global, cervical, thoracic, and lumbo-pelvic parameters. In total, 101 patients aged 75 years and older hospitalized for spine surgery were prospectively enrolled.

Does Diabetes Affect the Surgical Outcomes in Cases With Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament? A Multicenter Study From Asia Pacific Spine Study Group.

Study Design: Retrospective multicenter study.

Objectives: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.

Methods: Approximately 253 cervical OPLL patients who underwent surgical decompression with or without fixation were registered at 4 institutions in 3 Asian countries.

Predictors of neurologic outcome after surgery for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament differ based on myelopathy severity: a multicenter study.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective multicenter study was to compare prognostic factors for neurological recovery in patients undergoing surgery for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) based on their presenting mild, moderate, or severe myelopathy.

Methods: The study included 372 consecutive patients with OPLL who underwent surgery for cervical myelopathy between 2006 and 2016 in East Asian countries with a high OPLL prevalence. Baseline and postoperative clinical outcomes were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) myelopathy score and recovery ratio.

Clinical and radiological outcomes of multilevel cervical laminoplasty versus three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Background: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is one of the most common causes of spinal cord impairment in elderly patients. However, a consensus has yet to be reached on the ideal method of surgical intervention. In this study, we investigated serial changes of radiological findings after three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and multilevel laminoplasty and attempted to identify the radiological parameters affecting long-term clinical outcomes in CSM.

Surgical Strategies for Cervical Deformities Associated With Neuromuscular Disorders.

Neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) are diseases involving the upper and lower motor neurons and muscles. In patients with NMDs, cervical spinal deformities are a very common issue; however, unlike thoracolumbar spinal deformities, few studies have investigated these disorders. The patients with NMDs have irregular spinal curvature caused by poor balance and poor coordination of their head, neck, and trunk.

Impact of Time Interval between Index Event and Stenting on Periprocedural Risk in Patients with Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of time interval between index event and stenting on the periprocedural risk of stenting for symptomatic carotid stenosis and to determine the optimal timing of stenting.

Methods: This retrospective study included 491 (322 symptomatic [65.6%] and 169 asymptomatic [34.

Feasibility of the Epiduroscopy Simulator as a Training Tool: A Pilot Study.

Epiduroscopy is a type of spinal intervention that visualizes the epidural space through the sacral hiatus using a fiberoptic scope. However, it is technically difficult to perform compared to conventional interventions and susceptible to complications. Surgery simulator has been shown to be a promising modality for medical education.

Upper Cervical Surgery, Increased Signal Intensity of the Spinal Cord, and Hypertension as Risk Factors for Dyspnea After Multilevel Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: To investigate the associated risk factors for acute respiratory distress after multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with a focus on the subjective symptom, dyspnea.

Summary Of Background Data: Acute respiratory distress after ACDF is a relatively common adverse event, the cause of which is usually soft tissue swelling or hematoma.

Extensor muscle-preserving laminectomy in treating multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy compared with laminoplasty.

Background: Laminectomy and laminoplasty are popularly used in posterior cervical spine surgery but still have involved complications. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of microscope-assisted extensor muscle-preserving laminectomy (MA-EMPL) and open-door laminoplasty (ODLP) in treating multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM).

Methods: A prospective study was designed to enroll twenty patients with MCSM underwent MA-EMPL, and recruit twenty-four patients with MCSM received ODLP (control).

An Epiduroscopy Simulator Based on a Serious Game for Spatial Cognitive Training (EpiduroSIM): User-Centered Design Approach.

Background: Performing high-level surgeries with endoscopy is challenging, and hence, an efficient surgical training method or system is required. Serious game-based simulators can provide a trainee-centered educational environment unlike traditional teacher-centered education environments since serious games provide a high level of interaction (feedback that induces learning).

Objective: This study aimed to propose an epiduroscopy simulator, EpiduroSIM, based on a serious game for spatial cognitive training.

Evaluating the differences between 1D, 2D, and 3D occupying ratios in reflecting the JOA score in cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Background: To compare the differences between the one-dimensional (1D) length, two-dimensional (2D) area, and three-dimensional (3D) volume occupying ratios, and to assess the difference between the central and peripheral types of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Methods: In total, 60 patients were included in this study, and 1D and 2D occupying ratios were obtained using Centricity PACS (GE Healthcare), while a 3D model was created using MIMICS (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). Clinical symptoms were measured preoperatively by the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, short-form health survey (SF-36), and neck disability index.

Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Hospital Readmission Within 360 Days After Degenerative Lumbar Spine Surgery in Elderly Patients.

Objective: There is a paucity of studies on readmission rates in elderly patients over a period of 360 days after spinal surgery.

Methods: We identified 1248 patients older than 70 years who underwent degenerative lumbar spinal surgery from November 2005 to April 2015. We reviewed the patients who were readmitted within 360 days and compared them by univariate and multivariate analysis with the nonreadmitted patients for each period of 0-30, 30-90, 90-180, and 180-360 days postoperatively to determine risk factors for hospital readmission.

CTCF Regulates Otic Neurogenesis via Histone Modification in the Locus.

The inner ear is a complex sensory organ responsible for hearing and balance. Formation of the inner ear is dependent on tight regulation of spatial and temporal expression of genes that direct a series of developmental processes. Recently, epigenetic regulation has emerged as a crucial regulator of the development of various organs.

Effect of posterior instrumented fusion on three-dimensional volumetric growth of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a multiple regression analysis.

Background Context: Despite the fact that ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a three-dimensional disease, conventional studies have focused mainly on a two-dimensional measurement, and it is difficult to accurately determine the volume of OPLL growth and analyze the factors affecting OPLL growth after posterior decompression (laminoplasty or laminectomy and fusion).

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the factors affecting OPLL volume growth using a three-dimensional measurement.

Study Design/setting: This was a retrospective case study.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-producing T-regulatory Cells Are Associated With Severe Liver Injury in Patients With Acute Hepatitis A.

Background And Aims: CD4CD25Foxp3 T-regulatory (Treg) cells control immune responses and maintain immune homeostasis. However, under inflammatory conditions, Treg cells produce cytokines that promote inflammation. We investigated production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by Treg cells in patients with acute hepatitis A (AHA), and examined the characteristics of these cells and association with clinical factors.

Learning Curve for Endoscopic Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy.

Purpose: To elucidate the learning curve for endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EE-DCR) based on the results of EE-DCR performed by three surgeons at three different tertiary hospitals.

Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of 386 eyes of 337 patients who had undergone EE-DCR by three surgeons at three tertiary hospitals and who were available for a >6-month postoperative observation period was conducted. The success of a given surgery was determined based on the results of a test performed during the patient's last outpatient visit to the hospital.

Steroid intracochlear distribution differs by administration method: Systemic versus intratympanic injection.

Objective: Steroids have been widely used to treat inner-ear diseases such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's disease. They can be given via either systemic or intratympanic (IT) injection. The purpose of the present study was to explore differences in intracochlear steroid distribution by the administration method employed (systemic vs.

Effect of Iris registration on visual outcome in wavefront-guided LASEK for myopic astigmatism.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of iris registration (IR) on visual outcomes in wavefront-guided LASEK for myopic astigmatism.

Methods: The retrospective chart review was performed for wavefront-guided LASEK using VISX Star S4 in patients with myopic astigmatism (cylinder ≥ 1.00 diopter[D]).

THICKNESS OF THE MACULA, RETINAL NERVE FIBER LAYER, AND GANGLION CELL-INNER PLEXIFORM LAYER IN THE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: The Repeatability Study of Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: To determine the repeatability of measuring the thickness of the central macula, retinal nerve fiber layer, and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Cirrus HD-OCT) in eyes with age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-four eyes were included. The measurement repeatability was assessed by an experienced examiner who performed two consecutive measurements using a 512 × 128 macular cube scan and a 200 × 200 optic disk cube scan.

Epigenetic regulation of long noncoding RNA UCA1 by SATB1 in breast cancer.

Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 (SATB1) is a nuclear matrix-associated DNA-binding protein that functions as a chromatin organizer. SATB1 is highly expressed in aggressive breast cancer cells and promotes growth and metastasis by reprograming gene expression. Through genomewide cross-examination of gene expression and histone methylation, we identified SATB1 target genes for which expression is associated with altered epigenetic marks.

Influence of Biometric Variables on Refractive Outcomes after Cataract Surgery in Angle-closure Glaucoma Patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of biometric variables on refractive outcomes after cataract surgery in angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) patients.

Methods: In this case-control study, 42 ACG patients, 40 open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients, and 35 controls without glaucoma who had undergone conventional cataract surgery were enrolled consecutively. Electronic medical records, including preoperative biometric variables (keratometric diopter, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness), the refractive change (RC), and the absolute value of refractive change (ARC) were reviewed.