Age-related prevalence of radiographic lumbar spondylolisthesis and its associations with low back pain, walking speed, and muscle index: findings from the second survey of the ROAD study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of lumbar spondylolisthesis (LS) and its association with low back pain, walking speed, grip strength, and muscle mass in the general population.

Methods: Participants included 1551 members of the general population from the 2nd ROAD (Research on Osteoarthritis/osteoporosis Against Disability) study conducted in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, between 2008 and 2010. Lumbar radiography diagnosed LS when the slip was ≥ 3 mm in the lateral views.

An Automatic Method for Locating Positions and their Colors Important for Classifying Genders in Retinal Fundus Images by Deep Learning Models.

This paper proposes an automatic method to identify important positions and their color features in retinal fundus images for gender classification using deep learning. The proposed method consists of MALCC (Model Analysis by Local Color Characteristics) and U-test. By partitioning each YCbCr image in the dataset into blocks and randomly masking them, the deep learning model predicts gender probabilities.

Association between central sensitization and multisite pain in the general population: A cross-sectional analysis of The Wakayama Health Promotion Study.

Background: Central sensitization (CS), which is characterized by amplified nociceptive processing within the central nervous system, is a key mechanism underlying chronic pain disorders. Chronic pain is a significant global health issue; however, the relationship between CS and pain distribution in the general population remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between CS and the number of locations of body pain in a representative sample of the general population.

Efficacy and safety of microendoscopic anterior cervical decompression and fusion. Compared with conventional open surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study of consecutive patients.

Objective: This study aimed to (1) develop a new surgical procedure using microendoscopy in anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF), (2) compare the complications and postoperative courses in patients with the new microendoscopic and conventional ACDFs, and (3) confirm the efficacy and safety of the microendoscopic ACDF.

Summary Of Background Data: ACDF is an excellent procedure that is minimally invasive to the muscle tissue and can improve alignment.

Risk factors for residual neuropathic pain using specific screening tools in postoperative patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine.

Purpose: Ageing, long illness duration, and poor preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were reported to be risk factors for residual pain after cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (cOPLL). In this study, we focused on residual neuropathic pain (NeP) and aimed to elucidate risk factors for residual NeP after cOPLL.

Methods: Total of 234 patients who underwent cOPLL surgery were included.