F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography may help determine better treatment for thigh pain after hip arthroplasty-A case report.

Thigh pain after hip arthroplasty is multifactorial; uncovering its etiology is paramount for optimal treatment. This is the first case where F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography substantially helped in diagnosing the post-hip arthroplasty persistent thigh pain and appropriate treatment selection. This imaging modality warrants further study and more widespread application.

NaF PET assessment of bone metabolic changes around the femoral canal by intramedullary femoral alignment technique in total knee arthroplasty.

We used the NaF PET scan to assess osteometabolic changes around the distal half of the femoral canal by intramedullary (IM) drill for femoral IM guiding rod insertion in total knee arthroplasty. Gentle IM rod insertion and focused attention can minimize surgical stress-induced biological reaction of the femoral IM canal.

The efficacy of prostaglandin E1 derivative in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To examine the effect of limaprost, an oral prostaglandin (PG) E1 derivative, on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), compared to etodolac, a NSAID.

Summary Of Background Data: Limaprost, an oral PGE1 derivative, was developed in Japan to treat numerous ischemic symptoms of thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) and LSS.

Novel method to evaluate femoral head penetration in the polyethylene liner after total hip arthroplasty: three-dimensional evaluation on standing radiographs.

Background: After total hip arthroplasty, the femoral head penetrates the liner because of polyethylene wear and the so-called bedding-in phenomenon. The head moves three-dimensionally, but few reports have evaluated such movement radiographically. Moreover, even fewer reports have evaluated it in a standing position, although the load stress influences the movement.

Age-related changes in histogram pattern of anterior horn cells in human cervical spinal cord.

The purpose of the present study was to clarify age-related changes in histograms of spinal anterior horn cells. The study examined Rexed lamina IX of the C7 spinal cord segment in 22 men who had died of non-spinal disease (age range, 0-85 years). First, we confirmed that the size of nucleoli exhibited a linear relationship to the diameter of spinal anterior horn cells by preparing histograms of nucleoli.

Ossification of the posterior atlantoaxial membrane and the transverse atlantal ligament.

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: To report a case of ossification of the posterior atlantoaxial membrane (PAAM) and ossification of the transverse ligament of the atlas (TAL).

Summary Of Background Data: Ossification of the PAAM and TAL are both very rare clinical entities.

Klotho insufficiency causes decrease of ribosomal RNA gene transcription activity, cytoplasmic RNA and rough ER in the spinal anterior horn cells.

The klotho gene was identified in 1997 as the gene whose severe insufficiency (kl/kl) causes a syndrome resembling human aging, such as osteoporosis, arteriosclerosis, gonadal atrophy, emphysema, and short life span in a mouse strain. Regarding the gait disturbance reported in kl/kl mice, the present study examined the spinal cord of kl/kl mice, and revealed decreases in the number of large anterior horn cells (AHCs), the amount of cytoplasmic RNA, the number of ribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER), and the activity of ribosomal (r) RNA gene transcription without significant loss of the total number of neurons in the ventral gray matter. Increased immunostaining of phosphorylated neurofilament in the AHCs and of glial fibrillary acidic protein in reactive astrocytes in the anterior horn of kl/kl mice were also observed.

Measurement of occipitocervical angle.

Study Design: This study compared the reliability of 3 techniques used to measure alignment between the occiput and cervical spine.

Objectives: Intraobserver and interobserver intraclass correlation coefficient were computed to determine the most reliable method to measure occipitocervical angle.

Summary Of Background Data: No studies have been performed comparing occipitocervical angle measurement techniques.

Case of idiopathic thoracic spinal cord herniation with a chronic history: a case report and review of the literature.

Idiopathic spinal cord herniation is a rare disease that presents with slowly progressive myelopathy. This article describes the clinical findings of a patient with a chronic history. A 68-year-old woman initially presented at the age of 32 years with left leg weakness.