Synovial cysts of the lumbar spine: diagnosis, surgical management, and pathogenesis. Report of eight cases.

Background: Synovial cysts are uncommon extradural degenerative lesions associated with symptoms of lower back pain and radiculopathy. Most of these lesions occur in the lumbar spine at the L4-5 level and to a lesser extent at the L5-S1 and L3-4 levels.

Methods: A retrospective study involving eight patients seen by the neurosurgery service from January 1, 1989, to May 30, 1994, was analyzed.

Interactions of pyrethroids with gramicidin-containing liposomal membranes.

Fluorescence steady-state anisotropy and phase-modulation lifetime techniques have been utilized to study the interactions of pyrethroid compounds with fluid-phase phosphatidylcholine membranes containing the polypeptide gramicidin. This polypeptide is considered to be a model of hydrophobic regions of cellular integral membrane proteins. The pyrethroids disorder lipid packing in cellular membranes and gel-phase liposomes but do not disorder lipid packing in fluid-phase lipid (Stelzer, K.