Induced Neural Stem Cell Transplantation in Spinal Cord Injury: Present Status and Next Steps.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a significant clinical challenge, with no fully effective treatment available despite advancements in various therapeutic approaches. This review examines the emerging role of induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) as promising candidates for SCI treatment, highlighting their potential for direct neural regeneration and integration with host tissue. We explore the biology of iNSCs, their mechanisms of action, and their interactions with host tissue, including modulating inflammatory responses, promoting axonal growth, and reconstructing neural circuits.

Safety considerations for spinal surgery in patients with deep brain stimulation devices.

Purpose: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been performed for various brain disorders. However, spinal surgery in patients with DBS was been approached with cautious trepidation due to risk of thermal brain injury and device damage from coagulation devices during surgery. This study presents the cases of successful spinal surgery performed after DBS implantation.

Identification of Novel Genetic Loci Affecting Age at Onset of Parkinson's Disease: A Genome-wide Association Study.

Background: The age at onset (AAO) of Parkinson's disease (PD) varies widely among individuals and significantly influences disease progression and prognosis. However, few genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have investigated genetic variants determining AAO, particularly in East Asian populations.

Objectives: To identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting AAO of PD in Korean patients.

Frailty is not an independent risk factor for worse clinical outcomes in lumbar spinal surgery: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: Recently, many studies revealed that frailty affects unfavorably on postoperative outcomes in lumbar spinal diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between frailty and clinical outcomes while identifying risk factors associated with worse clinical outcomes following lumbar spinal surgery.

Methods: From March 2019 to February 2021, we prospectively enrolled eligible patients with degenerative lumbar spinal diseases requiring surgery.

Quantitative Analysis of the Effect of Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Postoperative Residual Cervical Dumbbell Tumors: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been performed for spinal tumors. However, the quantitative effect of SRS on postoperative residual cervical dumbbell tumors remains unknown. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the efficacy of SRS for treating postoperative residual cervical dumbbell tumors.

Are There Advantages in Cervical Intrafacetal Fusion With Minimal Posterolateral Fusion (PLF) Compared to Conventional PLF in Posterior Cervical Fusion?

Objective: We propose that cervical intrafacetal fusion (cIFF) using bone chip insertion into the facetal joint space additional to minimal PLF is a supplementary fusion method to conventional posterolateral fusion (PLF).

Methods: Patients who underwent posterior cervical fixation accompanied by cIFF with minimal PLF or conventional PLF for cervical myelopathy from 2012 to 2023 were investigated retrospectively. Radiological parameters including Cobb angle and C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were compared between the 2 groups.

Sacropelvic Fixation for Adult Deformity Surgery Comparing Iliac Screw and Sacral 2 Alar-Iliac Screw Fixation: Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Two commonly used techniques for spinopelvic fixation in adult deformity surgery are iliac screw (IS) and sacral 2 alar-iliac screw (S2AI) fixations. In this article, we systematically meta-analyzed the complications of sacropelvic fixation for adult deformity surgery comparing IS and S2AI.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane clinical trial databases were systematically searched until March 29, 2023.

Management of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage by Pump-Regulated Volumetric Continuous Lumbar Drainage Following Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion for Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.

Objective: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a major concern related to anterior cervical decompression and fusion for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). We propose a management algorithm for CSF leakage following anterior cervical decompression and fusion for OPLL involving the use of pump-regulated volumetric continuous lumbar drainage.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent anterior cervical decompression and fusion for OPLL and were managed with the proposed algorithm between March 2018 and July 2022.

Compromised Accuracy of Stereotactic Target Delineation Associated with Computed Tomography-Based Frame Registration: A Comparative Analysis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Computed Tomography Fusion.

Introduction: Recent advancements in stereotactic neurosurgical techniques have become increasingly reliant on image-based target planning. We devised a case-phantom comparative analysis to evaluate the target registration errors arising during the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-computed tomography (CT) image fusion process.

Methods: For subjects whose preoperative MRI and CT images both contained fiducial frame localizers, we investigated discrepancies in target coordinates derived from frame registration based on either MRI or CT.

Unilateral Pediculectomy and Reduction with Short-Segment Pedicle Screw Fixation for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture: A Case Series.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of unilateral pediculectomy and reduction with short-segment pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar burst fracture.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent a unilateral pediculectomy and reduction with short-segment fixation and interbody fusion for thoracolumbar burst fracture. The unilateral pediculectomy created sufficient space to approach the ventral side of the spinal cord for removing bone fragments and insertion of an interbody cage to correct kyphosis.

Effectiveness of intraoperative table modification for achieving lumbar lordosis in multilevel lumbar fusion surgery: a propensity score-matched study.

Background: In multilevel posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with posterior screw fixation, obtaining sufficient lumbar lordosis (LL) is difficult, especially in patients with osteoporosis. We performed intraoperative table modification (TM) using gravitational dropping of the patient's lumbar spine, to improve restoration of LL.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent three- or four-level PLIF between 2005 and 2019.

Revisiting En Bloc Resection Versus Piecemeal Resection for the Treatment of Giant Cell Tumor of the Spine.

Objective: Surgery for spinal giant cell tumors (GCTs) is challenging because these tumors often exhibit a poor clinical course owing to their locally aggressive features. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of GCT recurrence in the spine by focusing on surgical factors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent surgery for spinal GCTs between January 2005 and December 2016.

GSK-3β and β-Catenin Signaling Pathway is Involved in Myofibroblast Transition of Ligamentum Flavum in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Patients.

Study Design: Histologic analysis of the ligamentum flavum (LF) in the lumbar spine.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the levels of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and β-catenin in the LF tissue of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Summary Of Background Data: The hypertrophy of the LF is the primary cause of the progression of LSS.

Long-term motor outcomes of deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus interna in Parkinson's disease patients: Five-year follow-up.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of globus pallidus interna (GPi) is an established treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). However, in contrast to subthalamic nucleus (STN)-DBS, long-term outcomes of GPi-DBS have rarely been studied.

Objective: We investigated the long-term motor outcomes in PD patients at 5 years after GPi-DBS.

Preventive effects of nano-graphene oxide against Parkinson's disease via reactive oxygen species scavenging and anti-inflammation.

We investigated the neuroprotective effects of deca nano-graphene oxide (daNGO) against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y and in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced Parkinsonian rat model. An MTT assay was performed to measure cell viability in vitro in the presence of 6-OHDA and/or daNGO. The intracellular ROS level was quantified using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate.

Clinical factors and dopamine transporter availability for the prediction of outcomes after globus pallidus deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease.

We aimed to investigate the predictive value of preoperative clinical factors and dopamine transporter imaging for outcomes after globus pallidus interna (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Thirty-one patients with PD who received bilateral GPi DBS were included. The patients underwent preoperative [F] FP-CIT positron emission tomography before DBS surgery.

Meta-Analysis on the Effect of Hypothermia in Acute Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in debilitating motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction. As a treatment option, therapeutic hypothermia has been researched to inadequate pharmaceutical treatment, except for methylprednisolone. In this article, we systematically meta-analyzed to clarify the effect of hypothermia in acute SCI on neurological outcomes.

Surgical strategy for metastatic spinal tumor patients with surgically challenging situation.

The incidence of spinal metastasis is increasing as cancer patients live longer owing to the improvement of cancer treatments. However, traditional surgery (TS) which fixates at least 2 levels above and 2 levels below the affected vertebrae is sometimes difficult to perform as it is burdensome to the patients. In this article, we introduce our experience and strategy in treating spinal metastasis, focusing particularly on challenging cases.

A retrospective controlled study of postoperative fever after posterior lumbar interbody fusion due to degenerative lumbar disease.

Background: Postoperative fever is a common feature of spinal surgery. When fever occurs postoperatively in patients, surgeons are eager to rule out an infection. There are many reports about postoperative fever and infection; however, only a few have described the relationship between degenerative spinal disease and postoperative fever.

The Results of Interfacetal Fusion Using Local Bone Combined With an Atlantoaxial Instrumentation.

Background: Many studies have described different C1-2 fusion techniques that have evolved over time. We introduced an easy and effective C1-2 fusion technique using local bone chips combined with atlantoaxial instrumentation.

Objective: To identify the efficacy of interfacetal fusion using local bone combined with atlantoaxial instrumentation by assessment of clinical outcomes and fusion rate.