Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Increases Survival of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a growth factor with pleiotropic biological functions. It has been reported that LIF acts at different stages during mesoderm development. Also, it has been shown that LIF has a cytoprotective effect on neonatal murine cardiomyocytes (CMs) in culture, but little is known about the role of LIF during human cardiogenesis.

Effect of Oxy133, an osteogenic oxysterol, on new bone formation in rat two-level posterolateral fusion model.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to determine the effect of Oxy133 and rhBMP2 on fusion rates and new bone formation in a rat posterolateral fusion (PLF) model. Furthermore, we examined whether Oxy133 could inhibit the adipogenesis that is often present in rhBMP2-induced fusions.

Methods: Sixty-four male Lewis rats underwent two levels PLF (L3-L5).

Trends analysis of surgical procedures for cervical degenerative disc disease and myelopathy in patients with tobacco use disorder.

Purpose: This study defined the incidence and trends of surgeries performed for patients with cervical disc degeneration with and without tobacco use disorder (TUD).

Methods: This study utilized the Humana Inc. database between 2007 and 2013 to identify patients with cervical disc degeneration with or without myelopathy.

Evaluation of changes in lumbar neuroforaminal dimensions in symptomatic young adults using positional MRI.

Purpose: To investigate the changes of lumbar neural foramina size during dynamic motion using positional MRI.

Methods: Two hundred and fifty neural foramina from 50 patients were analyzed. Lumbar foraminal height, width, and area parameters from L1 to S1 were evaluated for changes in extension, neutral, and flexion positions on T2 parasagittal positional MRI images, and were correlated to lumbar angular motion.

Level of conus medullaris termination in adult population analyzed by kinetic magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To investigate the change of conus medullaris termination (CMT) level in neutral, flexion and extension positions and to analyze the effects of age and gender on the CMT level.

Methods: The midline sagittal T2-weighted kinetic magnetic resonance imaging (kMRI) study of 585 patients was retrospectively reviewed to identify the level of CMT. All patients were in an upright position.

Complications Related to the Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Use in Posterior Cervical Fusion.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare the complications between posterior cervical fusions with and without recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP2).

Summary Of Background Data: Use of rhBMP2 in anterior cervical spinal fusion procedures can lead to potential complications such as neck edema, resulting in airway complications or neurological compression.

Atypical central neurocytoma with metastatic craniospinal dissemination: a case report.

Central neurocytomas comprise nearly half of adult intraventricular neoplasms. The median age of onset is 34 years. It is typically a low-grade neoplasm (World Health Organization grade II), although some cases of malignant neurocytomas have been described.

Postoperative complications in patients undergoing minimally invasive sacroiliac fusion.

Background Context: Minimally invasive sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion has become increasingly relevant in recent years as a treatment for SI joint pathology. Previous studies have found minimally invasive SI fusion to be an effective and safe treatment option for chronic SI joint pain. However, these studies have been primarily single-center, case-based, or manufacturer-sponsored investigations, and as such their findings are limited to their sample populations.

Can oncology recapitulate paleontology? Lessons from species extinctions.

Although we can treat cancers with cytotoxic chemotherapies, target them with molecules that inhibit oncogenic drivers, and induce substantial cell death with radiation, local and metastatic tumours recur, resulting in extensive morbidity and mortality. Indeed, driving a tumour to extinction is difficult. Geographically dispersed species of organisms are perhaps equally resistant to extinction, but >99.

Priapism after tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor use.

We present a possible important association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibition (TNFa-i) and erectile function in a male patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Long-standing, untreated RA may result in significant physical limitation and disability, however often overlooked is the association between RA and erectile and sexual dysfunction. Ischemic priapism is currently unrecognized as an adverse reaction associated with TNFa-i use and there have been no reported cases with adalimumab.