Curve Progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis With a Minimum of 2 Years' Follow-up After Completed Brace Weaning With Reference to the SRS Standardized Criteria.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objectives: To investigate curve evolution after brace weaning in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with reference to the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) criteria.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies mainly focused on curve evolution during bracing in AIS.

A validation study on the traditional Chinese version of Spinal Appearance Questionnaire for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: "Simplified Chinese" version of Spinal Appearance Questionnaire (SC-SAQ) for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) was available but did not fit for communities using "Traditional Chinese" as their primary language. We developed a traditional Chinese version of SAQ (TC-SAQ) and evaluated its reliability and validity.

Methods: TC-SAQ was administered to 112 AIS patients, of which 101 bilingual (English and Chinese) patients completed E-SAQ and the traditional Chinese version of Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire (TC-SRS-22).

Initial Cobb angle reduction velocity following bracing as a new predictor for curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: The initial correction rate (ICR) has been widely used as a predictor for curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) undergoing bracing treatment. We proposed a new parameter, the initial Cobb angle reduction velocity (ARV), for prediction of curve progression. The purpose of this study was to identify whether the initial ARV was a more effective predictor than ICR for curve progression in AIS patients undergoing brace treatment, and to evaluate the ideal cut-off point of initial ARV for prediction of curve progression.

Bone structural and mechanical indices in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis evaluated by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT).

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is associated with systemic low bone mass. It could persist into adulthood and was shown to be an important prognostic factor for curve progression in AIS. Previous studies were confined to areal bone mineral density (aBMD) measured by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) which was a two-dimensional measurement for a three-dimensional structure.

A prospective randomized controlled study on the treatment outcome of SpineCor brace versus rigid brace for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with follow-up according to the SRS standardized criteria.

Purpose: SpineCor is a relatively innovative brace for non-operative treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, the effectiveness of SpineCor still remains controversial. The objective of the current study was to compare the treatment outcomes of SpineCor brace with that of rigid brace following the standardized Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) criteria on AIS brace study.

Quantitative ultrasound for predicting curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a prospective cohort study of 294 cases followed-up beyond skeletal maturity.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is prevalent among adolescents and can carry significant morbidities. We evaluated the use of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for predicting curve progression in patients with AIS. We recruited 294 girls with AIS at a mean age of 13.

Top theories for the etiopathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Despite considerable advances in the past few decades, there is no generally accepted "top theory or theories" of the etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This article aims to provide an overview of the current main hypothetical "concepts" on the etiopathogenesis of AIS.

Methods: An extensive literature review on hypothetical concepts on the etiology and etiopathogenesis of AIS.

The effect of glucocorticoids on tendon cell viability in human tendon explants.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies on the culture of human tenocytes have shown that dexamethasone and triamcinolone reduce cell viability, suppress cell proliferation, and reduce collagen synthesis. However, such cell cultures lack the extracellular matrix and three-dimensional structure of normal tendons, which affects their response to stimuli. We established a human tendon explant culture system and tested the effects of dexamethasone and triamcinolone on cell viability.

PICK1 deficiency causes male infertility in mice by disrupting acrosome formation.

Protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1) is a peripheral membrane protein involved in protein trafficking, a function that has been well characterized in neurons. Here, we report that male mice deficient in PICK1 are infertile and have a phenotype resembling the human disease globozoospermia. The primary defect in the testes of Pick1-knockout mice was fragmentation of acrosomes in the early stages of spermiogenesis.

Trabecular bone micro-architecture and bone mineral density in adolescent idiopathic and congenital scoliosis.

Objective: To investigate the microstructure of trabecular bone in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and age-matched congenital scoliosis (CS), and to evaluate the bone mineral status of CS patients compared with normal controls and AIS patients.

Methods: This study included 15 AIS and 16 CS female patients and 35 healthy female adolescents. Corrective surgery was indicated for the AIS and CS patients, from whom iliac crest biopsies were collected during autograft harvesting, and scanned by micro-computer tomography.

Articular cartilage increases transition zone regeneration in bone-tendon junction healing.

The fibrocartilage transition zone in the direct bone-tendon junction reduces stress concentration and protects the junction from failure. Unfortunately, bone-tendon junctions often heal without fibrocartilage transition zone regeneration. We hypothesized articular cartilage grafts could increase fibrocartilage transition zone regeneration.

Elevated adipogenesis of marrow mesenchymal stem cells during early steroid-associated osteonecrosis development.

Background: Increased bone marrow lipid deposition in steroid-associated osteonecrosis (ON) implies that abnormalities in fat metabolism play an important role in ON development. The increase in lipid deposition might be explained by elevated adipogenesis of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, it remains unclear whether there is a close association between elevated adipogenesis and steroid-associated ON development.

Histomorphometric study of the spinal growth plates in idiopathic scoliosis and congenital scoliosis.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that the relative anterior spinal overgrowth may play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of spinal deformity in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Little is known about the histomorphometry of the anterior and posterior spinal growth plates.

Methods: In the present study, the growth plates from the anterior and posterior column of the spine of the AIS (n = 9) and the congenital scoliosis (CS; n = 9) were harvested intraoperatively.

Dose-dependent effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on callus formation during rapid distraction osteogenesis.

Distraction osteogenesis of bone or callotasis causes poor bone formation when the distraction rate is beyond the optimal rate. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound was reported to enhance fracture healing, treatment of nonunion, and accelerate bone maturation and remodeling during consolidation stage of distraction osteogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of different durations of LIPUS treatments during rapid bone lengthening.

Generalized osteopenia in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis--association with abnormal pubertal growth, bone turnover, and calcium intake?

Study Design: A cross-sectional study in girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and healthy counterparts of similar age.

Objectives: To study the association of bone mass with anthropometric parameters, bone turnover, and calcium intake in 621 girls with AIS, aged 11-6-years, and compare the results with 300 healthy girls of similar age.

Summary Of Background Data: Generalized low bone mass has been documented in AIS, yet the cause of low bone mineral density in AIS is unknown.

Low intensity pulsed ultrasound accelerated bone remodeling during consolidation stage of distraction osteogenesis.

Bone regeneration in distraction osteogenesis occurs under tensile stress with axial rhythmic distraction after osteotomy. In this study, we evaluated if the low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) was also effective on enhancement of bone remodeling during consolidation stage of distraction osteogenesis. Open osteotomy of seventeen 18-week-old female New Zealand rabbit tibiae were performed.

Bone morphogenetic protein 13 stimulates cell proliferation and production of collagen in human patellar tendon fibroblasts.

Background: Recombinant human (rh) bone morphogenetic protein 13 (BMP13) has been shown to induce the formation of tendon and ligament tissues in animal experiments. The role of BMP13 in tissue regeneration in human tendons remains unexplored, however.

Material And Methods: We collected healthy human patellar tendon samples for histological examination and tendon fibroblast culture.

[Trabecular bone micro-architecture in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis compared between concave and convex site of the facet joints].

Objective: To evaluate the trabecular bone micro-structure from different sites of spine in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. The target site consisted of the bilateral facet joints from apical vertebrae and from end vertebrae.

Methods: Nine AIS patients with mean age 14.

Oxidative stress after muscle damage from immobilization and remobilization occurs locally and systemically.

Higher oxidative stress reportedly plays a key role in muscle damage caused by immobilization and subsequent remobilization. However, we have no clear understanding regarding oxidative stress during immobilization and remobilization. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of oxidative stress by measuring oxidative stress locally and systemically.

Characteristics of long bone DXA reference data in Hong Kong Chinese.

With the increasing number of geriatric long bone fractures, the establishment of long bone reference BMD data is desirable for the accurate diagnosis of osteoporosis, study of fracture mechanics, implant design, and indications for augmentation of fracture fixation with biomaterials. We report the normal reference bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) at three femoral sites (proximal, diaphyseal, and distal) in 106 male and 93 female Hong Kong Chinese aged 12 to 80, measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The length and width of the femur were also measured.

Triamcinolone suppresses human tenocyte cellular activity and collagen synthesis.

Glucocorticoid injection is widely used in tendon disorders. Despite previous studies on the histologic and biomechanical changes in tendons after glucocorticoid injections, the role of glucocorticoid in tendon rupture still is controversial. It was hypothesized that glucocorticoid has a direct deleterious effect on human tenocytes, suppressing its cellular activity and collagen production.

Cytochemical and ultrastructural changes in the osteoclast-like giant cells of giant cell tumor of bone following bisphosphonate administration.

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) is a local aggressive neoplasm of bone characterized by expansive osteolytic lesions at the epiphysis of long bones. Bisphosphonates have been used to prevent bone resorption in secondary osteolytic tumors because of their strong anti-osteoclastic action. The authors studied the apoptosis and ultrastructural changes induced in osteoclast-like giant cells of GCT, following treatment with the aminobisphosphonate pamidronate in 16 patients with GCT of bone.

Bioengineering and characterization of physeal transplant with physeal reconstruction potential.

Damage to physes is of serious consequences in children. Currently available treatments are limited and results are unpredictable. In this study, we attempted to treat proximal tibial physeal damage in rabbits with transplanted bioengineered physeal tissue.