SIAH1 promotes senescence and apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells to exacerbate disc degeneration through ubiquitinating XIAP.

Background: Using clinical samples and database analysis, this study aimed to investigate the signaling pathways that mediated degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) in patients with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).

Methods: NPCs were extracted from enucleated intervertebral discs of IDD patients, and the senescence, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis levels of cells were confirmed by β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal), Western blot, and measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH). The microarray expression profile of GSE56081 was downloaded to screen differentially expressed mRNAs.

Efficacy and safety of tolperisone versus baclofen among Chinese patients with spasticity associated with spinal cord injury: a non-randomized retrospective study.

There are many medications available to treat spasticity, but the tolerability of medications is the main issue for choosing the best treatment. The objectives of this study were to compare the efficacy and adverse effects of tolperisone compared to baclofen among patients with spasticity associated with spinal cord injury. Patients received baclofen plus physical therapy (BAF+PT, n=135) or tolperisone plus physical therapy (TOL+PT, n=116), or physical therapy alone (PT, n=180).

Treatment of cervical disc herniation through percutaneous minimally invasive techniques.

Purpose: The goal of this study is to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of percutaneous cervical discectomy, percutaneous cervical disc nucleoplasty, and a combination of the two for the treatment of cervical disc herniation and the effective stabilization of the cervical vertebral column.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed from February 2003 to April 2011. One hundred and seventy-one cervical disc herniation patients with a mean age of 47.

Digital three-dimensional model of lumbar region 4-5 and its adjacent structures based on a virtual Chinese human.

Objective: To study the methods for constructing a digitized three-dimensional (3D) model of a virtual lumbar region and its adjacent structures in order to assist anatomical study and virtual surgery.

Methods: Images of DSCF5375-p1 to DSCF5745-p1 were taken from the database of the digitized Virtual Chinese human of Southern Medical University in Guangzhou. This region encompasses the superior facet joint of L4 to the inferior edge of the intervertebral body of L5.