Assessment of quality of life, pain level and disability outcomes after lumbar discectomy.

This study aimed to assess the quality of life of 113 Caucasian patients with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration of the lumbosacral (L/S) spine who qualified for microdiscectomy during a 12-month period after surgery. Based on magnetic resonance imaging before the surgery, the degree of radiological advancement of the degenerative changes was determined according to the Pfirrmann grading scale from 1 to 5. To assess pain intensity, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used; the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was used to evaluate quality of life; and to assess the degree of ability, the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODI) was employed.

Two-step conversion of uridine and cytidine to variously C5-C functionalized analogs.

C5-substituted pyrimidine nucleosides are an important class of molecules that have practical use as biological probes and pharmaceuticals. Herein we report an operationally simple protocol for C5-functionalization of uridine and cytidine transformation of underexploited 5-trifluoromethyluridine or 5-trifluoromethylcytidine, respectively. The unique reactivity of the CF group in the aromatic ring allowed the direct incorporation of several distinct C5-C "carbon substituents": carboxyl, nitrile, ester, amide, and amidine.