Central sensitization as a predictive factor for the surgical outcome in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a multicenter prospective study.

Purpose: The impact of central sensitization (CS) on neurological symptoms and surgical outcomes in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the influence of preoperative CS on the surgical outcomes of patients with LSS.

Methods: A total of 197 consecutive patients with LSS (mean age 69.

Influence of Central Sensitization on Surgical Outcomes of Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy After Posterior Decompression Surgery: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Study Design: Multicenter prospective study.

Objective: The influence of central sensitization (CS) on neurological symptoms and surgical outcomes in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of preoperative CS on surgical outcomes of patients with DCM following posterior decompression surgery.

Incidence and Characteristics of Clinical L5-S1 Adjacent Segment Degeneration after L5 Floating Lumbar Fusion: A Multicenter Study.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors for clinical L5-S1 adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after L5 floating lumbar fusion.

Overview Of Literature: ASD is known to occur after lumbar spine fusion at a certain frequency.

Evaluation of Central Sensitization Inventory in Patients Undergoing Elective Spine Surgery in a Multicenter Study.

Study Design: This study is a retrospective review.

Objective: Central sensitization (CS) is a neurological phenomenon that involves hypersensitivity of the central nervous system. The central sensitization inventory (CSI) was developed as a screening tool to assess CS-related symptoms.

Intraosseous lipoma of the third lumbar spine: a case report.

Introduction: Intraosseous lipoma is a benign bone tumor, and the tumor occurs more frequently in the lower extremities. We present a very rare case of intraosseous lipoma occurring in the lumbar vertebral arch and spinous process.

Case Presentation: A 54-year-old Japanese man presented with a three-month history of lumbar pain.

A novel hyperthermia treatment for bone metastases using magnetic materials.

Patients with bone metastases in the extremities sometimes require surgical intervention to prevent deterioration of quality of life due to a pathological fracture. The use of localized radiotherapy combined with surgical reinforcement has been a gold standard for the treatment of bone metastases. However, radiotherapy sometimes induces soft tissue damage, including muscle induration and joint contracture.

Spinal neurocutaneous melanosis without cutaneous nevi.

Study Design: A case report of spinal neurocutaneous melanosis without cutaneous nevi.

Objective: To show a case and review the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of neurocutaneous melanosis without cutaneous nevi.

Summary Of Background Data: Neurocutaneous melanosis is a rare congenital syndrome consisting of benign or malignant melanocytic tumors of the central nervous system and cutaneous nevi.

Novel hyperthermia for metastatic bone tumors with magnetic materials by generating an alternating electromagnetic field.

We have developed a novel hyperthermic treatment modality using magnetic materials for metastatic bone tumors. The purpose of this study is to show the results of novel hyperthermia for metastatic bone tumors. This novel hyperthermic treatment modality was used for 15 patients with 16 metastatic bone lesions.

Effects of down-regulating the Id genes in human colorectal cancer cells on early steps of haematogenous metastasis.

Id genes (inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation) play important roles in tumour growth. We have previously described crucial roles of Id gene over-expression in endothelial cells for tumour angiogenesis. Here, we have evaluated direct effects of Id gene down-regulation on tumour cells, namely on cell proliferation, motility, and adhesion to lung microvasculature during haematogenous metastasis.

Heating and coagulation volume obtained with high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy: comparison of perflutren protein-type A microspheres and MRX-133 in rabbits.

Purpose: To compare the efficiency of different microbubble contrast agents in the heating and coagulation of rabbit liver tissue by using high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy.

Materials And Methods: The use of and protocols for Japan white rabbits were approved by the University of Tokyo Committee on Animal Resources. In vitro experiments were conducted in a 1-mL cylindric space of polyacrylamide gel, which contained different microbubble contrast agents (MRX-133 or perflutren protein-type A microspheres).

Osteogenic protein-1 is most effective in stimulating nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells to repair their matrix after chondroitinase ABC-induced in vitro chemonucleolysis.

Background Context: Chondroitinase ABC (C-ABC) is used in chemonucleolysis to degrade, with great specificity, the chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate chains of proteoglycans (PGs). A recent study showed that osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) is very effective in stimulating the production and formation of the extracellular matrix by rabbit intervertebral disc cells.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that the repair of the extracellular matrix of the intervertebral disc after chemonucleolysis by C-ABC can be stimulated by exposure to a low dose of a growth factor, OP-1.

Erythrocytes, as well as microbubble contrast agents, are important factors in improving thermal and therapeutic effects of high-intensity focused ultrasound.

Erythrocytes, as well as microbubble contrast agents, are important factors in improving thermal effect of high-intensity focused ultrasound (US), or HIFU, and increasing the coagulation volume produced by HIFU irradiation. In vitro experiments used human plasma with various concentrations of human erythrocytes in combination with or without Levovist. In vivo experiments used eight Japan white rabbits with three degrees of anemia.

Use of a microbubble agent to increase the effects of high intensity focused ultrasound on liver tissue.

In order to find out whether high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) might be useful against hepatocellular carcinoma, we analyzed the effect of a microbubble agent (Levovist) on the temperature rise and tissue necrosis induced by HIFU. Rabbits were given 7 ml Levovist (300 mg/ml) or saline intravenously. Up to six areas per rabbit liver were exposed to HIFU for 60 s (2.

Phosphoglyceride crystal deposition disease in the spine: a case report.

The authors report phosphoglyceride crystal deposition disease in the spine after a lumbar anesthetic given at the time of appendectomy. A 76-year-old Japanese woman with increasing lumbar pain was transported to our hospital in an ambulance. She had tumor-like lesions that had repeatedly appeared in injured soft tissues for >20 years.

A case of idiopathic spinal cord herniation with duplicated dura mater.

The patient was a 48-year-old man in whom a slow progression in walking difficulty occurred over a year. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography myelography (CTM) revealed duplicated dura mater from T1 to T12 and spinal cord herniation in the inner layer of the dura at the T4-T5 level. Idiopathic spinal cord herniation with duplicated dura mater was diagnosed, and surgery was performed.

Intradiscal administration of osteogenic protein-1 increases intervertebral disc height and proteoglycan content in the nucleus pulposus in normal adolescent rabbits.

Study Design: A study of the disc height and biochemical changes in the rabbit intervertebral disc after injection of osteogenic protein-1 into the nucleus pulposus.

Objectives: To evaluate the in vivo effects of osteogenic protein-1 administered intradiscally to the intervertebral disc of rabbits.

Summary Of Background Data: Growth factors, such as osteogenic protein-1 and transforming growth factor-beta, have the ability to stimulate synthesis of proteoglycan and collagen in vitro.

Polyacrylamide gel containing egg white as new model for irradiation experiments using focused ultrasound.

A polyacrylamide (PAA) gel containing egg white as a new model for irradiation experiments in high-intensity focused ultrasound HIFU is introduced. The gel is transparent except in thermally necrosed regions which are white. The model is similar to, and has the same benefits as, gels containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein, but egg is less expensive than BSA.

Irreducible volar subluxation of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb.

An unusual case of irreducible volar metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint subluxation of the thumb is described. The tendon of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) was trapped palmar to the metacarpal head and open reduction was necessary.

Preoperative grading system for predicting operative conditions in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Purpose: In a previous retrospective study, we predicted the operative conditions for abdominal wall-lifting laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ALLC), using a new preoperative grading system. We conducted the present study to evaluate the validity of our grading system prospectively, and to improve the operative outcome.

Methods: Ninety-seven patients underwent cholecystectomy between January 2000 and March 2002, and were prospectively examined according to our preoperative grading system.

Colon cancer complicated by vascular and intestinal anomaly.

We present a case of colon cancer in a patient with an anomalous mesenteric artery, a middle mesenteric artery, associated with intestinal nonrotation. At surgery for such a rare case, an exact grasp of the feeding artery, the draining vein, and the lymphatic flow of the tumor is necessary to perform appropriate bowel resection and oncological nodal dissection. Selective angiography and preoperative endoscopic submucosal injection of India ink near the tumor were thought to be essential for surgical decision-making.

A study of patients with spinal disease using Maudsley Personality Inventory.

We administered the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) preoperatively to 303 patients with spinal diseases about to undergo surgery. Patients younger than 20 years, patients previously treated in the Department of Psychiatry, and patients with poor postoperative results were excluded. Patients with N-scores (neuroticism scale) of 39 points or greater or L-scores (lie scale) of 26 points or greater were regarded as "abnormal.

Minilaparotomy approach to colon cancer.

Purpose: Many studies have proved the feasibility and safety of a laparoscopic colectomy in comparison to a conventional laparotomy. However, a laparoscopic colectomy requires a minilaparotomy incision to perform the operative procedure. We have introduced a minilaparotomy technique which can perform all the operative procedures through incisions measuring from 3 to 7 cm in length.

Impact of a clinical pathway and standardization of treatment for acute appendicitis.

Purpose: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical diseases. Simple and precise guidelines for treating acute appendicitis are necessary for improving the treatment outcome of this disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a clinical pathway and standardization of treatment for acute appendicitis at our hospital.