Unveiling the natural history of paralysis in metastatic cervical spinal tumor: An experimental study.

Introduction: Despite the relatively low prevalence of metastatic cervical spinal tumor, these entities give rise to more profound complications than thoracic and lumbar spinal tumor. However, it is regrettable that experimental investigation has thus far shown a dearth of attention to metastatic cervical spinal tumor.

Research Question: What is the conceptualization and realization of quadriparesis resulting from metastatic cervical spinal tumor?

Material And Methods: Using Fischer 344 rats as the experimental cohort, this study orchestrated the engraftment of tumor cells procured from the 13762 MAT B III cell line (RRID: CVCL_3475), which represents mammary adenocarcinoma.

Results of Using a Novel Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Technique for Patients with Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis-The Single or Double Endplates Penetrating Screw (SEPS/DEPS) Technique.

Introduction: We have developed the single or double endplates penetrating screw (SEPS/DEPS) technique, which is a novel percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) insertion technique suitable for osteoporotic vertebral body fracture (OVF) patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). This study aims to compare the effectiveness of this SEPS/DEPS technique with the conventional pedicle screw technique.

Methods: The screw is inserted upward from the outer caudal side of the pedicle toward the inner cranial side.

Mechanism of forelimb motor function restoration in rats with cervical spinal cord hemisection-neuroanatomical validation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is neuroanatomical validation of forelimb motor function restoration in rats with cervical spinal cord injury.

Materials And Methods: We used eight cervical hemisected rats and eight normal rats. We cut in half the C3/4 cervical spinal cord of 18-weeks-old normal rats.

Corrigendum to "Mechanism of Restoration of Forelimb Motor Function after Cervical Spinal Cord Hemisection in Rats: Electrophysiological Verification".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/7514681.].

Potential asbestos exposure among patients with primary lung cancer in Japan.

Objective: To investigate the extent of asbestos exposure among patients with primary lung cancer in Japan.

Methods: A retrospective estimation of potential asbestos-exposed individuals, as determined by the presence of pleural plaques identified on chest computed tomography (CT), was conducted on 885 pathologically confirmed primary lung cancer patients (mean age 71.3 years, 641 males).

Mechanism of Restoration of Forelimb Motor Function after Cervical Spinal Cord Hemisection in Rats: Electrophysiological Verification.

The objective of this study was to electrophysiologically assess the corticospinal tracts of adult rats and the recovery of motor function of their forelimbs after cervical cord hemisection. Of 39 adult rats used, compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) of the forelimbs of 15 rats were evaluated, before they received left C5 segmental hemisection of the spinal cord, by stimulating the pyramid of the medulla oblongata on one side using an exciting microelectrode. All 15 rats exhibited contralateral electrical activity, but their CMAPs disappeared after hemisection.

What Is the Best Multimodality Combination for Intraoperative Spinal Cord Monitoring of Motor Function? A Multicenter Study by the Monitoring Committee of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research.

Study Design Surgeon survey. Objective To analyze multimodal intraoperative monitoring (MIOM) for different combinations of methods based on the collected data and determine the best combination. Methods A questionnaire was sent to 72 training institutions to analyze and compile data about monitoring that had been conducted during the preceding 5 years to obtain data on the following: (1) types of monitoring; (2) names and number of diseases; (3) conditions of anesthesia; (4) condition of stimulation, the monitored muscle and its number; (5) complications; and (6) preoperative and postoperative manual muscle testing, presence of dysesthesia, and the duration of postoperative motor deficit.

Mechanism of Forelimb Motor Function Restoration after Cervical Spinal Cord Hemisection in Rats: A Comparison of Juveniles and Adults.

The aim of this study was to investigate forelimb motor function after cervical spinal cord injury in juvenile and adult rats. Both rats received a left segmental hemisection of the spinal cord after C3-C4 laminectomy. Behavioral evaluation of motor function was monitored and assessed using the New Rating Scale (NRS) and Forelimb Locomotor Scale (FLS) and by measuring the range of motion (ROM) of both the elbow and wrist.

Postoperative Paralysis From Thoracic Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Surgery Risk Factor of Neurologic Injury: Nationwide Multiinstitution Survey.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the factors of postoperative paralysis in patients who have undergone thoracic ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: A higher percentage of thoracic OPLL patients experience postoperative aggravation of paralysis than cervical OPLL patients, including patients that presented great difficulties in treatment.

Development of Stemness in Cancer Cell Lines Resistant to the Anticancer Effects of Zoledronic Acid.

Background: Drug resistance is closely related to cancer cell stemness, that is acquired along with resistance to various anticancer agents. However, this has not been investigated as a potential mechanism underlying cancer cell resistance to zoledronate, that is used to suppress bone metastasis.

Materials And Methods: Zoledronate-resistant A549 lung cancer and MG63 osteosarcoma cell lines were established by repeated treatment with sub-lethal concentrations of zoledronate.

Physical Function Traits of Long-term Officially Acknowledged Victims of Pollution-related Illnesses Compared with Elderly Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

[Purpose] To examine the long-term effects of air pollution on the physical functioning of a group of officially acknowledged victims of pollution-related illnesses (Victims group) who were exposed to air pollution more than 50 years ago, we compared them with age-matched patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD group). [Subjects and Methods] The Victims group comprised 34 subjects and the COPD group 24, all of whom were aged over 65 years. Respiratory function, muscle strength, exercise capacity and physical activity were measured and compared between the groups.

D-dimer levels in the differential diagnosis between lipoma and well-differentiated liposarcoma.

Background: Lipoma and well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLS) are two representative lipogenic soft tissue tumors that have similar clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics. Accordingly, it is difficult to distinguish these tumors preoperatively. Plasma D-dimer levels are associated with the status of tumor progression, and we hypothesized that D-dimer levels could contribute to differential diagnosis.

Lung cancer cell line sensitivity to Zoledronic acid is BAX-dependent.

Background: Zoledronate (Zol), an anti-osteoclastic and anticancer drug, is used to control bone metastasis in several cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the mechanisms behind Zol resistance in NSCLC are unclear.

Materials And Methods: Zol-resistant cell lines were developed by repeated treatment of A549 and H1650 NSCLC cell lines with Zol.

A new alarm point of transcranial electrical stimulation motor evoked potentials for intraoperative spinal cord monitoring: a prospective multicenter study from the Spinal Cord Monitoring Working Group of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research.

Object: Although multimodal intraoperative spinal cord monitoring provides greater accuracy, transcranial electrical stimulation motor evoked potential (TcMEP) monitoring became the gold standard for intraoperative spinal cord monitoring. However, there is no definite alarm point for TcMEPs because a multicenter study is lacking. Thus, based on their experience with 48 true-positive cases (that is, a decrease in potentials followed by a new neurological motor deficit postoperatively) encountered between 2007 and 2009, the authors set a 70% decrease in amplitude as the alarm point for TcMEPs.

Usefulness of multi-channels in intraoperative spinal cord monitoring: multi-center study by the Monitoring Committee of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research.

Object: The purpose of this study is to analyze the data in terms of the number of channels employed to examine the usefulness of multi-channels in intraoperative spinal cord monitoring.

Methods: The prerequisites for inclusion in the baseline data were as follows: (1) cases in which only CMAP monitoring was conducted; (2) cases in which monitoring was conducted under the same stimulation condition and the recording condition. Cases where inhalation anesthesia was used or muscle relaxants were used as maintenance anesthesia was excluded from the baseline data.

Surgical site infection in malignant soft tissue tumors.

Background: Postoperative wound complications, including surgical site infections, which frequently occur in the course of management of musculoskeletal sarcomas, sometimes necessitate repeat surgeries, including amputation, and may result in a prolonged healing time, prolonged hospital stay, or fatal outcome. A comprehensive understanding of surgical site infections associated with specific diseases is needed to reduce the risk.

Methods: This series comprised 84 patients with malignant soft tissue tumors treated at our institute.

D-dimer levels as a prognostic factor for determining oncological outcomes in musculoskeletal sarcoma.

Background: Plasma d-dimer levels have been associated with the status of tumor progression or oncological outcomes in cancer. Although there are many evidences suggesting the involvement of procoagulant trend in musculoskeletal sarcoma, no clinical data on d-dimer levels and oncological outcome of musculoskeletal sarcoma has been reported.

Methods: In this study, we included a total of 85 patients who were diagnosed with musculoskeletal sarcoma and treated at our institute.

Functional assessment of proximal arm muscles by target-reaching movements in patients with cervical myelopathy.

Background Context: In animal studies, distal and proximal arm movements are differently affected by spinal pyramidotomy because of the contributions of spinal interneuronal systems. In animals, interneuronal systems are also suggested to contribute to the recovery of dexterous hand movements. However, no clinical tests to evaluate proximal arm movements and functions of interneuronal systems have been described.

Malignant pigmented villonodular synovitis in the knee - report of a case with rapid clinical progression.

Malignant pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) (or malignant giant cell tumor of tendon sheath (GCTTS) is an extremely rare condition defined as a malignant lesion occurring with concomitant or previously documented PVNS at the same site. To date, only less than 20 cases have been reported in English literatures. We report a case of malignant PVNS in the knee in a 56-year-old woman with unpredictable rapid progression.

Venous thromboembolism in the management of patients with musculoskeletal tumor.

Background: Although patients with musculoskeletal tumors are at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), few detailed studies on the incidence, clinical course, and risk factors of this condition have been reported.

Methods: A total of 299 patients with musculoskeletal tumors during the preceding 3 years were enrolled. D-dimer (DD) levels on admission and on postoperative days 1, 7, and 14 were routinely assessed.

Inhibition of heat-shock protein 27 expression eliminates drug resistance of osteosarcoma to zoledronic acid.

Background: Although zoledronic acid (ZOL) has been reported to show anti-tumour effects on various malignant tumours, few studies have reported the molecular mechanisms of resistance to ZOL.

Materials And Methods: A drug-resistant cell line was developed by repeatedly treating human osteosarcoma cell line HOS with ZOL. Expression status of drug resistance-related molecules including ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and heat-shock protein 27 (HSP27) was confirmed in order to analyse molecular mechanisms of the drug resistance.

Short-term postoperative mortality events in patients over 80 years of age with hip fracture: analysis at a single institution with limited medical resources.

Background: Lethal events represent the most important complication in the treatment of hip fracture in elderly patients. Despite the increasing chance for treatment of such conditions, few data regarding risk factors associated with lethal events have been determined for ordinary hospitals with limited medical and human resources, particularly in Japan.

Methods: The incidence of postoperative lethal events and related preoperative risk factors in extremely elderly patients (>80 years) with hip fracture were retrospectively analyzed in our hospital for the past 2 years.

Postoperative deep infection in tumor endoprosthesis reconstruction around the knee.

Background: Although deep infection remains one of the most difficult complications to manage in the treatment of musculoskeletal tumor reconstructed with an endoprosthesis, limited information with respect to its incidence and risk factors has been reported.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective, uncontrolled study reviewed the medical records of 82 patients who underwent reconstruction with an endoprosthesis or temporary spacer for bone-immature patients after resection of malignant bone tumor around the knee. Risk factors for deep infection and the impact of deep infection on prosthesis survival and oncological outcomes were analyzed.