Does recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 use in adult spinal deformity increase complications and are complications associated with location of rhBMP-2 use? A prospective, multicenter study of 279 consecutive patients.

Study Design: Multicenter, prospective analysis of consecutive patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD).

Objective: Evaluate complications associated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) use in ASD.

Summary Of Background Data: Off-label rhBMP-2 use is common; however, underreporting of rhBMP-2 associated complications has been recently scrutinized.

Does vertebral level of pedicle subtraction osteotomy correlate with degree of spinopelvic parameter correction?

Object: Pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) is a spinal realignment technique that may be used to correct sagittal spinal imbalance. Theoretically, the level and degree of resection via a PSO should impact the degree of sagittal plane correction in the setting of deformity. However, the quantitative effect of PSO level and focal angular change on postoperative spinopelvic parameters has not been well described.

Spine care: evaluation of the efficacy and cost of emerging technology.

Over the last decade a number of new technologies have been introduced to the area of spine care. Although this recent explosion of innovation has brought advances to patient care, it has also brought concerns regarding overuse, increasing costs, and safety. A value-based approach to assessing and purchasing new technology depends on a shift toward comparative effectiveness analysis, transparency in pricing and potential conflicts of interest, and an alignment of incentives and goals among purchasers, consumers, and payers.

Pain and disability determine treatment modality for older patients with adult scoliosis, while deformity guides treatment for younger patients.

Study Design: Multi-center, retrospective review.

Objective: Identify age associated clinical and radiographic features correlating with AS treatment.

Summary Of Background Data: Little information exists about factors determining treatment for adult scoliosis (AS).

Complications of cervical discography: findings in a large series.

The use of cervical discography remains controversial. Recently in a small patient group, a high complication rate was reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of complications associated with cervical discography.

Biomechanical comparison of anterior instrumentation for the cervical spine.

Metal fixation has been advocated to achieve immediate local stabilization during anterior cervical fusion surgery. Screw loosening, screw backout, and breakage of screws or plates remain clinical complications that warrant concern. This study examined the biomechanical characteristics of a prototype anterior cervical plating system with unique screw and plate geometries in comparison to a fixation system currently used clinically.

The Sverdlovsk anthrax outbreak of 1979.

In April and May 1979, an unusual anthrax epidemic occurred in Sverdlovsk, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Soviet officials attributed it to consumption of contaminated meat. U.

A multicenter retrospective study of the clinical results of the LINK SB Charité intervertebral prosthesis. The initial European experience.

Objective: This study is a multicenter, retrospective review of the initial clinical results of an artificial disc replacement, the LINK SB Charité intervertebral prosthesis.

Methods: Independent analysis by chart review included patient demographics, surgical data, and a comparison of presurgical to follow-up data. Data were analyzed from 93 patients (average age = 43.

Residual gait abnormalities in surgically treated spondylolisthesis.

The authors retrospectively studied seven patients who had in situ fusion as adolescents for high-grade (IV, V) spondylolisthesis unresponsive to more conservative means. All patients achieved solid bony union; their pain was relieved; and hamstring spasm had resolved. The authors sought to determine whether crouch gait or any other abnormalities could be demonstrated in patients exhibiting clinical parameters of success.

Adherence of influenza A viruses to group B Streptococci.

Previous studies have revealed a similarity between hemadsorption and bacterial adherence to virus-infected cells. This observation led to the question of whether mature virions can interact directly with bacteria in a manner similar to hemagglutination. Thus, hemagglutination inhibition, direct immunofluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy were used to detect adherence of five prototype strains of influenza A virus to 34 strains (five serologic prototypes and 29 isolates from ill infants) of group B Streptococcus.

Immune response in urinary tract infection determined by radioimmunoassay and immunofluorescence: serum antibody levels against infecting bacterium and Enterobacteriaceae common antigen.

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedure was compared with the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test in a serological study of 76 female adults with urinary tract infections. Relative serum antibody activity was determined against patients' homologous infecting enterobacteria by RIA and IFA and against heterologous enterobacterial common antigen (Escherichia coli O14) by RIA. There was marked correlation between results of the IFA and RIA methods using the homologous system; 22 of 51 patients (43%) with pyelonephritis had significantly elevated serum antibody activity by both IFA (titers greater than or equal to 512) and RIA (binding ratio greater than or equal to 2.

Bacterial adherence to virus-infected cells: a cell culture model of bacterial superinfection.

MDCK cells (a line of stable canine kidney cells) infected with influenza A/NWS/33 virus (a neurotropic variant of the Wilson Smith strain) were tested with 18 selected bacterial species to determine whether mammalian cells become susceptible to bacterial adherence as a result of virus infection. Cell monolayers were washed and examined microscopically for adherence. Bacteria of only two of 18 species were seen to adhere to the infected cells: a group B Streptococcus and Streptococcus sanguis.

Urinary tract infections in patients with diabetes mellitus. Studies on antibody coating of bacteria.

The prevalence of urinary tract infection was determined in 333 patients attending a diabetes mellitus outpatient clinic during a one-year period. A total of 19% of the women and 2% of the men were found to have urinary tract infections. Antibody-coated bacteria, indicating parenchymal infection, were initially present in 43% of patients and rose to 79% within a mean pretreatment period of seven weeks.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy: antibody-coated bacteria, renal function, and intrauterine growth retardation.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (greater than 100,000 microorganisms per milliliter) was found in 70 of 1,400 pregnant women without symptoms referable to the urinary tract (five per cent). With the fluorescent antibody (FA) tests, antibody-coated bacteria were demonstrated in specimens from 35 patients (50 per cent), indicating silent renal bacteriuria. Although confirmation by direct localization methods was not feasible in this group of patients, indirect evidence of renal function impairment associated with the presence of antibody-coated bacteria was suggested by results of the serum creatinine and creatinine clearance tests.

Simian hemorrhagic fever virus: a new togavirus.

Using the prototype strain of SHF virus, we have confirmed the nature of the genome (RNA), the presence of an envelope (derived from an internal membrane), the virion size (45-50 nm), and probable cubic symmetry. We have also described four viral structural proteins and determined the phospholipid content of the virions. The known properties of SHF virus suggest that it should be classified in the Togavirus family, and possibly in the Flavivirus group.

Antibody-coated bacteria in the urine of obstetrical patients with acute pyelonephritis.

The direct immunofluorescence method for the detection of antibody-coated bacteria in urine sediments was used to test urine samples from obstetrical patients with the clinical diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis or cystitis. Antibody-coated bacteria were present in the urine from 12 of 15 patients with acute pyelonephritis, but they were not observed in the urine from 13 patients with cystitis. The clases of antibody coating the bacteria were IgG, IgA, and, in some cases, IgM.

Bacteriophages and endotoxin in licensed live-virus vaccines.

In confirmation of recent reports, coliphages were found in seven of 19 unselected samples of the currently licensed live-virus vaccines. Coliphages and pseudomonas phage were found in 11 and 14, respectively, of the 20 bovine sera commonly used in the cell culture phase of virus vaccine production. The same lots of vaccine and serum were examined by the limulus assay for endotoxin, another product of bacterial contamination.

Immunoglobulin levels and antibody-coated bacteria in urines from patients with urinary tract infections.

The presence of antibody-coated bacteria in urines from patients with urinary tract infections has previously been reported to correlate with renal infection as opposed to bladder infection. Urine specimens from 12 patients with pyelonephritis and 12 patients with cystitis were studied to determine whether the antibody coating the bacteria is associated with elevated urine levels of total protein or of particular classes of immunoglobulins. The classes of antibody bound to the infecting bacteria in urines from the patients with pyelonephritis were compared to the levels of unbound antibody in the urine.