Comparison of cerebral activation involved in oral and manual stereognosis.

Brain activity associated with manual stereognosis has been the focus of increasing recent research effort. However, although oral stereognosis, defined as the ability to recognize and discriminate the food bolus in the mouth, is important for mastication and swallowing, there is little information available about the neural network relating to this function. In the present study, cerebral activation associated with oral stereognosis was evaluated as compared with manual stereognosis.

Repeated vertebrobasilar thromboembolism in a patient with severe upper cervical instability because of rheumatoid arthritis.

Background Context: Although many reports have examined upper cervical rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spinal cord disorders resulting from RA lesions, few cases of thromboembolic events in the vertebrobasilar system associated with RA lesions of the upper cervical spine have been reported.

Purpose: We encountered a rare case of repeated vertebrobasilar thromboembolism with severe upper cervical instability resulting from RA. Furthermore, we obtained clinical images of the vertebrobasilar system just before and after the first thromboembolic event.

Sagittal alignment of the subaxial cervical spine after C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Several articles reported the association between the development of subaxial kyphosis and the hyperlordotic fixation of C1-C2. However, their patients were heterogeneous in both primary disease and operative procedure. Transarticular screw fixation has become a popular procedure for C1-C2 arthrodesis instead of wiring techniques in which C1-C2 is difficult to fix in the intended alignment.

Kinematics of the lumbar spine in trunk rotation: in vivo three-dimensional analysis using magnetic resonance imaging.

In vivo three-dimensional (3D) kinematics of the lumbar spine has not been well evaluated by the conventional methods because of their methodological limitations, while 3D intervertebral motions have been quantitatively determined by cadaver studies. We thus developed a novel 3D analyzing system for the relative motions of individual vertebrae using 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and analyzed in vivo 3D intervertebral motions of the lumbar spine during trunk rotation. Ten healthy volunteers underwent 3D MRI of the lumbar spine in nine positions with 15 degrees increments during trunk rotation (0 degrees , 15 degrees , 30 degrees , 45 degrees , and maximum).

Persistent local pain after posterior spine surgery for thoracic lesions.

Many surgeons have investigated local pain associated with posterior spine surgery for cervical or lumbar lesions. However, little information is available concerning local pain after posterior thoracic spine surgery. This prospective study was, thus, performed to investigate the frequency and clinical features of local pain after posterior spine surgery for thoracic lesions.

Segmental motor paralysis after cervical laminoplasty: a prospective study.

Study Design: A prospective study.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and clinical manifestations of segmental motor paralysis after cervical laminoplasty and to investigate the presence of intramedullary high-signal intensity area (HIA) on postoperative T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Summary Of Background Data: Almost all previous studies had been retrospectively conducted, and MRIs of all subjects, including a control population, have never been investigated.

Paraparesis due to exacerbation of preexisting spinal pseudoarthrosis following infliximab therapy for advanced ankylosing spondylitis.

Background Context: Recent reports have described the long-term efficacy and safety of infliximab as a treatment for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The most important adverse effects of infliximab are infections, malignancies, autoimmunities, and hypersensitivity reactions. There has never been a reported case of paraparesis after infliximab therapy for AS.

Kinematics of the cervical spine in lateral bending: in vivo three-dimensional analysis.

Study Design: Kinematics of the cervical spine during lateral bending were investigated using a novel system of three-dimensional motion analysis.

Objectives: To demonstrate in vivo intervertebral coupled motions of the cervical spine during lateral bending of the neck.

Summary Of Background Data: No previous studies have successfully documented in vivo three-dimensional intervertebral motions of the cervical spine during lateral bending.

Kinematics of the subaxial cervical spine in rotation in vivo three-dimensional analysis.

Study Design: Three-dimensional intervertebral motions of the subaxial cervical spine during head rotation were investigated in healthy volunteers using three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Objectives: To document intervertebral coupled motions of the subaxial cervical spine during rotation.

Summary Of Background Data: In vivo three-dimensional kinematics of the subaxial cervical spine in rotation have not previously been well described, since they are too complicated to follow using conventional radiography or computed tomography techniques.