Analgesics and ASH medications in workers increase the risk of disability pension and mortality: prospective cohort.

Background: Relying on medication for musculoskeletal and mental disorders are common, but may have long-term consequences. This study investigates whether use of analgesics and anxiolytic/sedative/hypnotic (ASH) medication increases the risk of disability pension and mortality.

Methods: After completing a survey in 2005, 7773 female eldercare workers were followed for 11 years in a national register.

Prognostic value of the clinical and imaging arm of the ASAS criteria for progression of structural sacroiliac joint lesions.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of the two arms of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria regarding the progression of structural lesions in the sacroiliac joints (SIJs).

Methods: Information on baseline fulfilment of the ASAS criteria and baseline and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging of the SIJ in 603 patients aged 18-40 years referred with low back pain to an outpatient spine were collected. Magnetic resonance imaging positivity was defined as bone marrow oedema (BMO) in two or more consecutive slices or two or more lesions in one slice, as described in the ASAS definition of sacroiliitis.

Trajectories of disability in low back pain.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading course of years lived with disability. Unfortunately, not much knowledge exists about distinct trajectories of recovery from disability after LBP and their potential psychological predictors.

Objectives: Hence, the aim of the present study was to identify trajectories of functional disability in LBP and their potential baseline psychological predictors.

Chronic low back pain, Modic changes and low-grade virulent infection: efficacy of antibiotic treatment.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) has consistently been associated with the longest number of years lived with a disability in global studies, while commonly used treatments for CLBP are largely ineffective. In 2013 a randomized, double-blind, controlled study demonstrated significant improvements in CLBP patients demonstrating Modic changes type 1 on their MRI scans and undergoing long-term oral antibiotic treatment (100 days). Much of the ensuing debate has focused on whether this was a true infection or contamination.

Prevalence of long-term opioid therapy in spine center outpatients the spinal pain opioid cohort (SPOC).

Purpose: No reference material exists on the scope of long-term problems in novel spinal pain opioid users. In this study, we evaluate the prevalence and long-term use of prescribed opioids in patients of the Spinal Pain Opioid Cohort.

Methods: The setting was an outpatient healthcare entity (Spine Center).

Somatic Experiencing® for patients with low back pain and comorbid posttraumatic stress symptoms - a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) and comorbid post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are common after traumatic injuries, and a high level of PTSS is associated with more severe pain and pain-related disability. Few randomised controlled trials (RCT) exist targeting comorbid PTSS and chronic pain, and only one has assessed the effect of Somatic Experiencing®.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Somatic Experiencing® (up to 12 sessions) + physiotherapeutic intervention (4-8 sessions) (SE+PT) compared with the physiotherapeutic intervention alone (4-8 sessions) (PT) for pain-related disability in LBP with comorbid PTSS.

Long-Term Opioid Therapy in Spine Center Outpatients: Protocol for the Spinal Pain Opioid Cohort (SPOC) Study.

Background: Spinal pain is the leading cause of patient-years lived with chronic pain and disability worldwide. Although opioids are well documented as an effective short-term pain-relieving medication, more than a few weeks of treatment may result in a diminishing clinical effect as well as the development of addictive behavior. Despite recognition of opioid addiction in pain patients as a major problem commonly experienced in the clinic, no reference material exists on the scope of long-term problems in novel opioid users and the link to clinical outcomes.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers to Differentiate Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus from Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Disease.

Background: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) remains a challenge to differentiate from subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD). Despite major research efforts, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker profiles of the two diseases are still not known in detail.

Objective: To determine if novel CSF biomarkers, neurofilament light (NFL) reflecting axonal damage, the synaptic protein neurogranin (NG), and the astroglial marker chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), and the core Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42), total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), can differentiate iNPH from SIVD.

Catastrophization, fear of movement, anxiety, and depression are associated with persistent, severe low back pain and disability.

Background Context: Psychological characteristics are important in the development and progression of low back pain (LBP); however, their role in persistent, severe LBP is unclear.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between catastrophization, depression, fear of movement, and anxiety and persistent, severe LBP, and disability.

Study Design/ Setting: One-year prospective cohort study.

What Level of Inflammation Leads to Structural Damage in the Sacroiliac Joints? A Four-Year Magnetic Resonance Imaging Follow-Up Study of Low Back Pain Patients.

Objective: Sacroiliac (SI) joint bone marrow edema (BME) is considered to be pivotal in the detection of early spondyloarthritis. However, the link between BME and development of spondyloarthritis-related bone remodeling remains unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the evolution of BME and structural lesions in the SI joints over time.

New insights link low-virulent disc infections to the etiology of severe disc degeneration and Modic changes.

Within the last 5 years, international research collaborations including those of several research groups skilled in microbiology, immunology and pathophysiology, have identified a low-virulent intradiscal infection with the ability to provoke gradual and progressive disc degeneration, end-plate disruption, Modic changes and persistent clinical lower-back pain. Certain strains of the bacterium seem able to invade, colonize and develop a protective biofilm inside the disc. The interaction of , disc tissues and mononuclear cells of the bone marrow are shown to trigger a relevant immunological response and an ensuing destructive inflammation of the disc and adjacent vertebrae.

Is pseudarthrosis after spinal instrumentation caused by a chronic infection?

Hypothesis: To assess whether a chronic bacterial infection is present in a subset of patients with pseudarthrosis after instrumented spinal fusion.

Methods: This was a prospective diagnostic study including adult patients with previous instrumented spinal fusion. Patients underwent revision surgery for either pseudarthrosis or other causes (e.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus versus Alzheimer's Disease and Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background: The diagnostic workup of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) can be challenging due to an overlap in symptoms and neuroimaging features with other disorders. Despite a growing interest, a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker profile in iNPH has not yet been identified.

Objective: To determine the CSF biomarkers with the greatest evidence for differentiating iNPH from the most common differential diagnoses, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD).

Somatic experiencing® for patients with low back pain and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder - protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Research has almost exclusively focused on the neck in order to explain the mechanisms of persistent pain after motor vehicle collisions (MVC). However, studies have shown that low back pain after MVC is as common as neck pain. Also, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common after MVCs, and evidence indicate that PTSD may be linked to the development of pain and disability.

The impact of attachment insecurity on pain and pain behaviors in experimental pain.

Objectives: Pain perception and pain behaviors are distinct phenomena with different functions. Pain behaviors are protective in their functions, which include eliciting empathy or caring behaviors from others. Moreover, pain behaviors are intertwined with interpersonal relationships with significant others, which is why attachment orientations have been suggested as interpersonal schemas moderating the association between pain and pain behaviors.

Bacterial biofilms: a possible mechanism for chronic infection in patients with lumbar disc herniation - a prospective proof-of-concept study using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

A relationship has been suggested between lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and chronic bacterial infection frequently involving Propionibacterium acnes, which is known to cause chronic infection through the formation of biofilm aggregates. The objective of the study was to assess whether a disc infection involving biofilm formation is present in patients with LDH. A total of 51 LDH patients and 14 controls were included.

Chronic neck pain patients with traumatic or non-traumatic onset: Differences in characteristics. A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Patients with chronic neck pain can present with disability, low quality of life, psychological factors and clinical symptoms. It is unclear whether patients with a traumatic onset differ from those with a non-traumatic onset, by having more complex and severe symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical presentation of chronic neck pain patients with and without traumatic onset by examining cervical mobility, sensorimotor function, cervical muscle performance and pressure pain threshold in addition to the following self-reported characteristics: quality of life, neck pain and function, kinesiophobia, depression, and pain bothersomeness.

A randomized controlled trial of brief Somatic Experiencing for chronic low back pain and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

It is well documented that comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in chronic pain is associated with a more severe symptom profile with respect to pain, disability and psychological distress. However, very few intervention studies exist targeting both PTSD and pain. The current study is the first randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of the body-oriented trauma approach of Somatic Experiencing (SE) for comorbid PTSD and low back pain.

Association Between Inflammatory Back Pain Characteristics and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in the Spine and Sacroiliac Joints.

Objective: To investigate the association between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings at the sacroiliac (SI) joints and vertebral endplates and pain characteristics assumed to be indicative of axial inflammation.

Methods: Patients ages 18-40 years with persistent low back pain referred to an outpatient spine clinic participated, including an unknown proportion of axial spondyloarthritis patients. Data included MRI of the spine and SI joints and self-reported responses to questions covering the Calin, Berlin, Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society, and Bailly inflammatory back pain (IBP) definitions.

Limited Reliability of Radiographic Assessment of Sacroiliac Joints in Patients with Suspected Early Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: To determine the reproducibility of evaluation of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) radiographs among readers with varying levels of experience, and to identify potential drivers of disagreement in classification among 5 predefined radiographic lesion types.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 104 consecutive patients aged 18-40 with low back pain ≥ 3 months of duration who met the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) definition for a positive SIJ magnetic resonance image, or were HLA-B27-positive and had ≥ 1 spondyloarthritis (SpA)-related clinical/laboratory feature according to the ASAS classification criteria for axial SpA. Seven blinded readers (2 musculoskeletal radiologists, 5 rheumatologists) classified pelvic radiographs according to the modified New York criteria (mNY) and recorded presence/absence of 5 lesion types in both SIJ: erosion, sclerosis, ankylosis, joint space widening, and joint space narrowing.

Identification of subgroups of inflammatory and degenerative MRI findings in the spine and sacroiliac joints: a latent class analysis of 1037 patients with persistent low back pain.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate subgroups of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings for the spine and sacroiliac joints (SIJs) using latent class analysis (LCA), and to investigate whether these subgroups differ in their demographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods: The sample included 1037 patients aged 18-40 years with persistent low back pain (LBP). LCA was applied to MRI findings of the spine and SIJs.

No diagnostic utility of antibody patterns against Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular serotypes in patients with axial spondyloarthritis vs. patients with non-specific low back pain: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate whether antibody response patterns against Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular serotypes can discriminate patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) from patients with non-specific low back pain (LBP).

Method: Immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA antibodies against K. pneumoniae capsular serotypes K2, K26, K36, and K50 were measured, and antibody seropositivity compared between groups and analysed for patient correlation in five different groups: (a) 96 patients fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) classification criteria for axSpA; (b) 38 patients with either a positive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan as defined by ASAS or a positive human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 status plus one clinical SpA feature, characterized as 'non-axSpA'; (c) 82 non-specific LBP patients; (d) 40 healthy blood donors and (e) 43 patients with diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis (AS) served as the negative and positive control groups.