Nuclear import of LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN1 is redundantly mediated by importins α-1, α-2 and α-3.

LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN1 (LHP1) encodes the only plant homologue of the metazoan HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN1 (HP1) protein family. The LHP1 protein is necessary for proper epigenetic regulation of a range of developmental processes in plants. LHP1 is a transcriptional repressor of flowering-related genes, such as FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), AGAMOUS (AG) and APETALA 3 (AP3).

The ligamentotactic effect on a herniated disc at the level adjacent to the anterior lumbar interbody fusion : report of two cases.

The authors report two cases of spontaneous regression of disc herniation at the level adjacent to the anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) level. This phenomenon may be due to the increased tension on the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) by appropriate restoration of the disc height and lumbar lordosis, which is a mechanism similar to ligamentotaxis applied to the thoracolumbar burst fracture.

Spinal cord herniation after multilevel anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine.

The authors report the case of a 52-year-old man who had undergone resection of an ossified posterior longitudinal ligament via the anterior approach. The patient experienced postoperative neurological deterioration that may have been caused by a massive cord herniation associated with a dural defect at the corpectomy site. Spinal cord herniation may develop as a complication of anterior cervical decompression.

Influence of lumbar lordosis restoration on thoracic curve and sagittal position in lumbar degenerative kyphosis patients.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objectives: To determine postsurgical correlations between thoracic and lumbar sagittal curves in lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK) and to determine predictability of spontaneous correction of thoracic curve and sacral angle after surgical restoration of lumbar lordosis and fusion.

Summary Of Background Data: To our knowledge, there are only a limited number of articles about the relationship between thoracic and lumbar curve in sagittal thoracic compensated LDK.

Can patients with sagittally well-compensated lumbar degenerative kyphosis benefit from surgical treatment for intractable back pain?

Objective: To analyze pre- and postoperative x-rays of sagittal spines and to review the surgical results of 21 patients with lumbar degenerative kyphosis whose spines were sagittally well compensated by compensatory mechanisms but who continued to suffer from intractable back pain

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 21 patients treated with combined anterior and posterior spinal arthrodesis. Inclusion criteria were: lumbar degenerative kyphosis patients with intractable back pain and whose spines were sagittally well compensated by a compensatory mechanism, defined as a C7 plumb line to the posterior aspect of the L5-S1 disc of less than 5 cm. Outcome variables included: radiographic measures of preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up films; clinical assessment using the mean Numeric Rating Scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Patient Satisfaction Index; and a review of postoperative complications.

The clinical characteristics and risk factors for the adjacent segment degeneration in instrumented lumbar fusion.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical significance of, characteristics of, and risk factors for adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) in patients who have undergone instrumented lumbar fusion.

Summary Of Background Data: ASD has been considered a potential long-term complication of spinal arthrodesis.

Clinical results of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the thoracic spine treated by anterior decompression.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate surgical outcomes and prognostic factors of thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) treated by anterior decompression.

Summary Of Background Data: The results of surgery for thoracic myelopathy caused by OPLL have been recognized as unfavorable.

Surgical treatment of failed back surgery syndrome due to sagittal imbalance.

Study Design: Retrospective study of consecutive patient series.

Objective: To review the etiology of failed back surgery syndrome due to sagittal imbalance and radiographic and clinical results of surgical treatment of these patients who were treated with combined anterior and posterior arthrodesis.

Summary Of Background Data: Sagittal imbalance after spinal fusion surgery may be a major source of pain and disability.

Lumbar degenerative kyphosis: radiologic analysis and classifications.

Study Design: Retrospective study of a consecutive patient series.

Objectives: To review the radiographic classification of patients with sagittal imbalance due to lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK) and to determine correlation between thoracic and lumbar curve.

Summary Of Background Data: Lumbar degenerative kyphosis is one of the common spinal deformities in Asian countries, especially Korea and Japan.

Changes in sagittal alignment after restoration of lower lumbar lordosis in patients with degenerative flat back syndrome.

Object: The authors investigate the correlation between thoracic and lumbar curves in patients with degenerative flat back syndrome, and demonstrate the predictability of spontaneous correction of the thoracic curve and sacral angle after surgical restoration of lower lumbar lordosis.

Methods: The cases of 28 patients treated with combined anterior and posterior spinal arthrodesis were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria included loss of lower lumbar lordosis resulting in sagittal imbalance.

Clinical significance of redundant nerve roots of the cauda equina in lumbar spinal stenosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of redundant nerve roots (RNR) in lumbar stenosis by comparative analysis of a group of patients with RNR with a group without RNR.

Patients And Methods: A total of 68 patients who underwent decompressive laminotomies for single-level lumbar stenosis were divided into two groups. Group I included patients with RNR, and group II included patients with no RNR (NRNR).

Comparison of anterior- and posterior-approach instrumented lumbar interbody fusion for spondylolisthesis.

Object: The purpose of this study was to compare the imaging and clinical outcomes obtained in patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis who have undergone either instrumented anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) or instrumented posterior LIF (PLIF), especially with regard to the development of adjacent-segment degeneration (ASD).

Methods: Forty-eight patients with preoperative spondylolisthesis and minimal ASD who underwent instrumented L4-5 fusion were divided into two groups according to the surgical approach. After ensuring the two groups' comparability, the following variables were evaluated: postoperative segmental and lumbar lordosis, postoperative percentage of vertebral slippage, reduction rate, incidence of ASD, and clinical outcomes.

Significance of the double- and single-layer signs in the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic spine.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the significance of the signs of dural ossification applied to the thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), as originally described for cervical OPLL by Hida et al.

Methods: Twenty patients with thoracic OPLL who underwent anterior decompression were retrospectively studied through examination of preoperative computed tomographic scans and medical records. The types of OPLL, single- and double-layer signs, as well as actual dural penetration were evaluated.

Significance of the double-layer and single-layer signs in the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine.

Object: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the significance of the signs of dural penetration, which were previously described by Hida et al. This goal was accomplished by an analysis of preoperative computed tomography scans and a review of the medical records of patients who underwent removal of the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) via the anterior approach.

Methods: Outcomes in 197 patients with cervical OPLL who underwent anterior decompression and fusion were studied retrospectively.

Hyperostotic meningioma with minimal tumor invasion into the skull.

A 56-year-old man presented with a meningioma associated with hyperostotic bone containing little tumor cell infiltration. The patient presented with a growing mass on his right forehead and exophthalmos. Computed tomography (CT) taken 4 years previously revealed only hyperostosis without intracranial lesion.

Anatomic analysis of the transforaminal ligament in the lumbar intervertebral foramen.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of the transforaminal ligaments (TFLs) in relation to the area of the lumbar intervertebral foramen (IVF) by analyzing cadaveric spines.

Methods: One hundred ninety-eight cadaveric lumbar IVFs were studied, and the existence and type of TFLs were identified. All IVFs were photographed, and the images were saved.

Morphometric analysis of the working zone for endoscopic lumbar discectomy.

Objective: Our study's purpose was to analyze the working zone for the current practice of endoscopic discectomy at the lateral exit zone of the intervertebral foramen (IVF) and to define a safe point for clinical practice.

Methods: One hundred eighty-six nerve roots of the lumbar IVFs of cadaveric spines were studied. Upon lateral inspection, we measured the distance from the nerve root to the most dorsolateral margin of the disc and to the lateral edge of the superior articular process of the vertebra below at the plane of the superior endplate of the vertebra below.