Predictive biomarkers of ossification progression and bone metabolism dynamics in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Purpose: This study aimed to establish biomarkers to predict the progression of ossification by examining ossification volume and bone metabolism dynamics in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Methods: We assessed OPLL progression using computed tomography-based three-dimensional (3D) image analysis and examined bone metabolism dynamics in 107 patients with OPLL (men, 72; women, 35; mean age, 63.6 years).

Cytoskeletal Protein 4.1G Is Essential for the Primary Ciliogenesis and Osteoblast Differentiation in Bone Formation.

The primary cilium is a hair-like immotile organelle with specific membrane receptors, including the receptor of Hedgehog signaling, smoothened. The cilium organized in preosteoblasts promotes differentiation of the cells into osteoblasts (osteoblast differentiation) by mediating Hedgehog signaling to achieve bone formation. Notably, 4.

Detailed features and prognostic factors of twenty-three patients with drop finger caused by cervical radiculopathy: a retrospective multicentre study.

Purpose: It has been reported that C7 and C8 nerve root impairment can cause drop finger; however, the clinical characteristics of each injured nerve root and post-operative outcomes remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the detailed features and surgery-related prognostic factors of drop finger caused by cervical radiculopathy.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated the clinical characteristics, paralysis patterns and surgery-related prognostic factors of 23 patients with drop finger caused by cervical radiculopathy who underwent posterior cervical foraminotomy.

Short- versus long-segment posterior spinal fusion with vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral collapse with neurological impairment in thoracolumbar spine: a multicenter study.

Background: Vertebroplasty with posterior spinal fusion (VP + PSF) is one of the most widely accepted surgical techniques for treating osteoporotic vertebral collapse (OVC). Nevertheless, the effect of the extent of fusion on surgical outcomes remains to be established. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of short- versus long-segment VP + PSF for OVC with neurological impairment in thoracolumbar spine.

Impact of L4/5 Posterior Interbody Fusion With or Without Decompression on Spinopelvic Alignment and Health-related Quality-of-Life Outcomes.

Study Design: This was a retrospective case control study.

Objective: The objective was to determine the impact of single-level interbody fusion at L4/5 with or without concomitant decompression on various spinopelvic parameters and health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes.

Summary Of Background Data: Recently, focus has swayed from a regional concern to a global sagittal alignment, more comprehensive approach in multilevel, corrective fusion for adult spinal deformity.

Three-dimensional morphological analysis of cervical foraminal stenosis using dynamic flexion-extension computed tomography images.

Background: Morphological features of foraminal stenosis in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and the adequate extent of facet resection in posterior cervical foraminotomy remain uncertain. Herein, we evaluated quantitatively foraminal widths in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy on dynamic flexion-extension computed tomography using a novel three-dimensional analysis method and determined the extent of facet resection in posterior cervical foraminotomy.

Methods: Seventeen patients undergoing posterior cervical foraminotomy for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were evaluated.

Risk Factors for Proximal Junctional Fracture Following Fusion Surgery for Osteoporotic Vertebral Collapse with Delayed Neurological Deficits: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 403 Patients.

Introduction: Approximately 3% of osteoporotic vertebral fractures develop osteoporotic vertebral collapse (OVC) with neurological deficits, and such patients are recommended to be treated surgically. However, a proximal junctional fracture (PJFr) following surgery for OVC can be a serious concern. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the incidence and risk factors of PJFr following fusion surgery for OVC.

Quantitative radiographic analysis of foraminal re-stenosis after posterior cervical foraminotomy with laminoplasty.

Few studies have performed detailed radiographic evaluation of the cause of recurrent cervical radiculopathy. In this study, we aimed to perform quantitative analyses of foraminal re-stenosis after posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) concomitant with laminoplasty. Seventy-eight consecutive patients (50 males and 28 females, mean age of 62 years at surgery) with cervical spondylotic radiculomyelopathy who underwent PCF concomitant with open-door laminoplasty were included.

Surgical outcomes of spinal fusion for osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures in patients with Parkinson's disease: what is the impact of Parkinson's disease on surgical outcome?

Background: To date, there have been little published data on surgical outcomes for patients with PD with thoracolumbar OVF. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study of registry data to investigate the outcomes of fusion surgery for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) in the thoracolumbar junction.

Methods: Retrospectively registered data were collected from 27 universities and their affiliated hospitals in Japan.

Perioperative factors associated with favorable outcomes of posterior decompression and instrumented fusion for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: A retrospective multicenter study.

Purpose: Posterior decompression with instrumented fusion (PDF) is a suitable surgical treatment for K-line (-)-type cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). However, the adequate indications of PDF have not been clarified yet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the surgical results of PDF and perioperative factors that influence the surgical outcome, and to clarify the adequate indications of PDF.

Natural history of the ossification of cervical posterior longitudinal ligament: a three dimensional analysis.

Purpose: Three-dimensional (3D) imaging using computed tomography (CT) has made it possible to accurately evaluate ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Recently, we developed a novel technique to measure ossification volume using the 3D analysis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the natural course of OPLL and the risk factors for volume progression.

Surgical Outcomes of Posterior Spinal Fusion Alone Using Cervical Pedicle Screw Constructs for Cervical Disorders Associated With Athetoid Cerebral Palsy.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate clinical outcomes after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) using cervical pedicle screw (CPS) constructs for cervical disorders associated with athetoid cerebral palsy (CP).

Summary Of Background Data: Traditionally, most patients with cervical myelopathy associated with CP have required combined anterior and posterior fusion to achieve solid stability against severe involuntary movement.

Posterior instrumented fusion suppresses the progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a comparison of laminoplasty with and without instrumented fusion by three-dimensional analysis.

Purpose: There is no definitive evidence that additional instrumented fusion following laminoplasty suppresses the progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Recently, we reported a novel method involving the creation of three-dimensional (3D) model from computed tomography images to measure the volume of OPLL accurately. The study aim was to evaluate whether laminoplasty with instrumented fusion suppresses the progression of OPLL in comparison with stand-alone laminoplasty by our novel 3D analysis.

New classification system for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament using CT images.

Background: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is most frequently seen in the cervical spine. The types of cervical OPLL are classified into continuous, mixed, segmental, and other based on plain lateral X-ray. Computed tomography (CT) imaging is often used in clinical practice for evaluating ossified lesions as it can detect their precise location, size, and shape.

Three-dimensional evaluation of volume change in ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine using computed tomography.

Background: Two-dimensional imaging is not adequate for evaluating ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). This study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of a novel computed tomography (CT)-based three-dimensional (3D) analysis method that we had devised to measure volume changes in OPLL.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty OPLL patients (12 male and 8 female; mean age 63.

Preoperative evaluation of the vertebral arteries and posterior portion of the circle of Willis for cervical spine surgery using 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis using prospectively collected data from 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA).

Objective: To investigate the frequency of anomalous vertebral arteries (VA) and variations of the posterior portion of the circle of Willis (PPCW) using 3D-CTA for preventing perioperative iatrogenic vascular complications.

Summary Of Background Data: Some studies have reported that preoperative 3D-CTA is useful for determining the VA blood flow in the cervical spine.

Descending aortic injury by a thoracic pedicle screw during posterior reconstructive surgery: a case report.

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: To describe an iatrogenic aortic injury by pedicle screw instrumentation during posterior reconstructive surgery of spinal deformity.

Summary Of Background Data: Iatrogenic major vascular injuries during anterior instrumentation procedures have been reported by several authors, but there have been few reports regarding iatrogenic major vascular injuries during posterior instrumentation procedures.

Molecular analyses of cell origin and detection of circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood in alveolar soft part sarcoma.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a distinct, rare soft tissue tumor with an unknown histogenesis and a tendency for late widespread metastases to lung, bone, and brain. It is now clear that they are caused by a specific unbalanced translocation, der(17)t(X;17)(p11;q25), which results in the formation of an ASPSCR1-TFE3 (alias ASPL-TFE3) fusion gene. The rearrangement results in the expression of chimeric transcripts, which can be identified by means of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

The role of glucan-binding proteins in the cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans.

Streptococcus mutans produces glucan-binding proteins (Gbps), which appear to contribute to the virulence of S. mutans. GbpA and GbpC genes were inactivated by the insertion of antibiotic-resistant genes into each gbp gene of S.