Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cystic Lesions of the Spinal Cord.

Background: Cystic lesions of the spinal cord such as spinal intradural arachnoid cysts (SIACs) and spinal extradural arachnoid cysts (SEACs) contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The pathology of these lesions is often difficult to understand because it is difficult to detect abnormal CSF flow by conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or myelography. We preliminarily evaluated the usefulness of time-spatial labeling inversion pulse magnetic resonance imaging (T-SLIP MRI) of cystic lesions of the spinal cord.

Detection of the communicating hole(s) of spinal extradural arachnoid cysts using time-spatial labeling inversion pulse magnetic resonance imaging.

Study Design: Report of 2 cases.

Objective: To report the usefulness of time-spatial labeling inversion pulse magnetic resonance imaging (T-SLIP MRI) for detection of the communicating hole(s) of spinal extradural arachnoid cysts (SEACs).

Summary Of Background Data: SEACs normally communicate with the subarachnoid space via small communicating hole(s) in the dura.

Age-related effects of cocultured rat nucleus pulposus cells and macrophages on nitric oxide production and cytokine imbalance.

Study Design: A study of age-related effects on nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine production in cocultured rat nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and macrophages.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of age on NO and cytokine production in an in vitro model of cocultured NP cells and macrophages.

Summary Of Background Data: It is well known that the clinical characteristics of lumbar disc herniation differ with age.

Hydroxyapatite-coating of pedicle screws improves resistance against pull-out force in the osteoporotic canine lumbar spine model: a pilot study.

Background Context: In patients with spinal osteoporosis, the early achievement and maintenance of a biological bond between the pedicle screw and bone is important to avoid screw loosening complications. There are few reports of in vivo investigations involving biomechanical and histological evaluations in the osteoporotic spine.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coating on the pedicle screw in the osteoporotic lumbar spine and to investigate the relationship between resistance against the screw pull-out force and bone mineral density (BMD) of the vertebral body.