Single intradiscal injection of the interleukin-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab provides short-term relief of discogenic low back pain; prospective comparative cohort study.

Background: Inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, are gaining attention as important etiologic factors associated with discogenic low back pain. We conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradiscal injection of the interleukin-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab in patients with discogenic low back pain.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients were intradiscally injected with 2 mL of 0.

Single Intradiscal Administration of the Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Inhibitor, Etanercept, for Patients with Discogenic Low Back Pain.

Objective: To examine the analgesic effect of intradiscal administration of a tumor necrosis factor-αα (TNF-α) inhibitor in patients with discogenic low back pain (LBP).

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba (Japan) University Hospital.

Bioelectricity from kitchen and bamboo waste in a microbial fuel cell.

This study evaluated bioelectricity generation by using kitchen garbage (KG) and bamboo waste (BW) as a solid waste management option by a microbial fuel cell (MFC) method. The nutrient content [nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK)] of the by-products of bioelectricity were also analyzed and assessed for their potential use as a soil amendment. A one-chamber MFC was used for bioelectricity generation in laboratory experiments using both KG and BW.

Anterolateral Corrective Lumbar Corpectomy and Interbody Fusion by Using Extended Screw Fixation without Posterior Instrumentation for Posttraumatic Kyphosis.

A 26-year-old paraplegic schizophrenic Japanese woman suffered from severe kyphosis and back pain derived from lumbar burst fractures caused by jumping. She had already undergone resection of the L1 and L2 spinous processes for sharp angular kyphosis, but she still had severe kyphosis and back pain at the L1 and L2. Radiographical examination revealed fused anterior columns at L1 and L2 with severe local kyphosis and a significantly decreased percutaneous distance in the back.

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) for bioelectricity generation from organic wastes.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have gained a lot of attention recently as a mode of converting organic matter into electricity. In this study, a compost-based microbial fuel cell that generates bioelectricity by biodegradation of organic matter is developed. Grass cuttings, along with leaf mold, rice bran, oil cake (from mustard plants) and chicken droppings (waste from chickens) were used as organic waste.