Quantitative evaluation of the lumbar ligamentum flavum using MRI T2-mapping: Efficacy of its clinical application in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Obejective: To perform a magnetic resonance imaging T2-mapping of the ligamentum flavum in healthy individuals and patients with lumbar spinal stenosis scheduled for surgery and compare the T2 relaxation times.

Subjects And Methods: The T2 relaxation time of the ligamentum flavum was compared among 3 groups, healthy young individuals (H group (age< 50)), healthy middle-aged and older individuals (H group (age≥50)), and patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (L group). Additionally, the thickness of the ligament was measured in the axial image plane, and the occupied area ratio of each fiber was measured by staining the surgically obtained ligament, and each was correlated with the T2 relaxation time.

Risk Factors for Lateral Translation in Residual Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis with a Thoracolumbar/Lumbar Curve.

Introduction: Although lateral vertebral translation is associated with inducing curve progression and pain, no study has analyzed risk factors for lateral slip in patients with residual adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This study aimed to investigate risk factors for lateral slip in patients with residual AIS.

Methods: We included 42 preoperative patients with residual AIS with a thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) curve (3 male, 39 female; age 41.

Bone union-promoting effect of romosozumab in a rat posterolateral lumbar fusion model.

This study investigated the effect of romosozumab on bone union in a rat posterolateral lumbar fixation model. Posterolateral lumbar fixation was performed on 8-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 20). For bone grafting, autogenous bone (40 mg) was harvested from the spinous processes of the 10th thoracic vertebra until the 2nd lumbar vertebra and implanted between the intervertebral joints and transverse processes of the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae on both sides.

Early mobilization reduces the medical care cost and the risk of disuse syndrome in patients with acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Study Design: A retrospective observational study.

Purpose: To compare two conservative treatments for acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs).

Overview Of Literature: Several studies have reported conservative treatments for OVFs in terms of using a brace, rehabilitation, and bed rest.

Improvements in Intractable Lumbar and LowerExtremity Symptoms after Systemic Administration of Tocilizumab, an Anti-interleukin-6 Receptor Antibody.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study (open-label, single-arm, and non-blinded).

Purpose: This study aims to determine the effects of systemic administration of tocilizumab, an anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antibody on refractory low back pain and leg symptoms.

Overview Of Literature: IL-6 overexpression is associated with neuropathic pain pathogenesis, which is potentially followed by chronic low back pain, including leg pain and numbness.

Usefulness of Simultaneous Magnetic Resonance Neurography and Apparent T2 Mapping for the Diagnosis of Cervical Radiculopathy.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Purpose: We investigated the correlation between T2 relaxation times and clinical symptoms in patients with cervical radiculopathy caused by cervical disk herniation.

Overview Of Literature: There are currently no imaging modalities that can assess the affected cervical nerve roots quantitatively.

Effects of Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure Exergame on Pain and Psychological Factors in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.

In recent years, there has been an increase in research on the therapeutic effects of exergaming, but there have been few studies on these types of interventions for chronic low back pain. In this study, we hypothesized that the Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure (RFA) exergame would be effective for patients with chronic low back pain, and we conducted a randomized prospective longitudinal study. Patients with chronic low back pain were included in this study.

Background factors for chronic low back pain resistant to cognitive behavioral therapy.

This study examined the factors that inhibit the therapeutic effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and clarify the adaptation judgment criteria of CBT. We included patients with chronic low back pain and allocated them to the adaptation (with visual analog scale [VAS] improvement) or non-adaptation group (without VAS improvement). The patients were analyzed using various psychological tests.

Gene expression profiling of the spinal cord at the chronic pain phase identified CDKL5 as a candidate gene for neural remodeling.

Background: Chronic pain is a highly refractory and complicated condition that persists even without nociception. Several genome-wide gene expression analyses have shown that the immune response and inflammatory cytokines affect chronic pain establishment in the acute pain phase. However, compared with the acute phase, the chronic phase has a poorly elucidated gene expression profile.

Percutaneously-quantified advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) accumulation associates with low back pain and lower extremity symptoms in middle-aged low back pain patients.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) have been reported as a possible biomarker of ageing and metabolic diseases; however, its role in the clinical progression of these diseases remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate how AGEs are associated with clinical symptoms and comorbidities in lower back pain (LBP) patients. This prospective cohort study enrolled 636 LBP patients.

Frequency of Adverse Drug Reactions and Analgesic Effects of Mirogabalin during Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Clinical Investigation.

Introduction: Mirogabalin should be equivalent to pregabalin, but with fewer incidences of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). To verify these benefits in actual clinical trials, our study investigated the frequency of ADRs and mirogabalin's analgesic effects during treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain.

Methods: This study included 74 patients with lower limb pain.

Diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy using simultaneous MR neurography and apparent T2 mapping.

We sought to assess the utility of simultaneous apparent T2 mapping and neurography with the nerve-sheath signal increased by inked rest-tissue rapid acquisition of relaxation-enhancement imaging (SHINKEI-Quant) for the quantitative evaluation of compressed nerves in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Thirty-two patients with lumbar radiculopathy and 5 healthy subjects underwent simultaneous apparent T2 mapping and neurography with SHINKEI-Quant. Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed in the lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the spinal nerves distal to the lumbar nerves bilaterally at L4-S1.

Temporal expression profiling of DAMPs-related genes revealed the biphasic post-ischemic inflammation in the experimental stroke model.

The neuroinflammation in the ischemic brain could occur as sterile inflammation in response to damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). However, its long-term dynamic transcriptional changes remain poorly understood. It is also unknown whether this neuroinflammation contributes to the recovery or just deteriorates the outcome.

Successful salvage surgery for failed transforaminal lumbosacral interbody fusion using the anterior transperitoneal approach.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a popular posterior spinal fusion technique, but sometimes require salvage surgery when implant failure occurs, which involves possible neural damage due to postoperative adhesion. The current report deals with successful anterior transperitoneal salvage surgery for failed L5-S TLIF with less neural invasiveness.