Construction of a circular RNA-based competing endogenous RNA network to screen biomarkers related to intervertebral disc degeneration.

Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a leading cause of disability with limited treatment strategies. A better understanding of the mechanism of IDD might enable less invasive and more targeted treatments. This study aimed to identify the circular RNA (circRNA)-microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory mechanisms in IDD.

Precision Measurements and Parametric Models of Vertebral Endplates.

Detailed and comprehensive geometric data of vertebrae endplates is important and necessary to improve the fidelity of finite element models of the spine, design and ameliorate spinal implants, and understand degenerative changes and biomechanics. In this protocol, a high-speed and highly accurate scanner is employed to convert morphology data of endplate surfaces into a digital point cloud. In the software system, the point cloud is further processed and reconstructed into three dimensions.

Manual preoperative tracheal retraction exercise decreases the occurrence of postoperative oropharyngeal dysphagia after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Objective: Preoperative tracheal retraction exercise (TRE) to minimize the occurrence of postoperative oropharyngeal dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery.

Methods: A total of 220 patients admitted for elective anterior cervical spine surgery from January 2013 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were allocated into two groups: TRE group and control group (without TRE).