The Temporal and Spatial Distribution Patterns of Necrotic and Apoptotic Cells in and Around the Spinal Cord Injury Site.

: Acute spinal cord trauma management necessitates understanding the primary and secondary injury mechanisms at different timepoints. : To characterize the cell death process by examining the temporal and spatial distributions of necrosis and apoptosis in an experimental spinal cord injury model. : Wistar male rats were divided into trauma (n = 30) and sham (n = 6) groups, and a 50 g/cm weight drop contusion design was used.

Postoperative Recovery of Balance Function in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A 12-Month Longitudinal Study Using the Brief BESTest and Its Association with Patient-Reported Outcomes.

Prospective observational study. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) impairs balance and gait function, increasing fall risk and limiting quality of life. Although postoperative recovery of balance is clinically important, longitudinal data using multidimensional balance assessments are limited.

An Innovative Technique of Revision Surgery for Distal Junctional Failure.

Distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) or the adding-on phenomenon is one of the most challenging complications following long fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) or adult spinal deformity (ASD). Among these complications, distal junctional failure (DJF) is defined as a condition requiring revision surgery due to severe symptoms such as intense low back pain, myelopathy, and difficulty in standing and walking. Three patients developed severe lower back pain due to DJF, and two patients underwent revision surgery with a new technique.

Speciation of cesium in a radiocesium-bearing microparticle emitted from Unit 1 during the Fukushima nuclear accident by XANES spectroscopy using transition edge sensor.

The chemical state of radiocesium (RCs) was determined using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) in fluorescence mode and microbeam X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) mapping for the cesium (Cs) incorporated in a radiocesium-bearing silica microparticle (CsMP) that was released during the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011. The sample investigated here was classified as a CsMP emitted from Unit 1 (diameter: approximately 500 µm; Cs weight concentration: approximately 50 µg/g). The Cs Lα emission from this Type-B CsMP with a much lower Cs concentration than those of calcium and titanium was difficult to detect using a silicon drift detector, severely decreasing the signal-to-background ratio of the Cs Lα emission.

Risk Factors of Correction Loss After Percutaneous Reduction and Fixation for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture: A One-Year Follow-Up Study.

Unlabelled: Study design and purpose: This is a single-center retrospective observational study. The study aimed to find out the risk factors for correction loss after percutaneous reduction and fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Materials And Methods: This study included 25 patients who underwent percutaneous reduction and pedicle fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures from 2017 to 2024.

Preoperative Leg Muscle Quality Association Functional Recovery After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: A Propensity-Score-Matched Study.

We conducted a retrospective observational study. While traditional rehabilitation approaches emphasize trunk muscle conditioning, emerging evidence suggests that leg muscle strength plays a critical role in postoperative functional mobility. Previous studies have focused on trunk muscle rehabilitation in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD).

Minimal Clinically Important Difference in the Six-Minute Walking Distance 12 Months After Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Surgery.

Study Design: This was a prospective single-center study.

Purpose: This study aimed to calculate the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the six-minute walk distance (6MWD) postoperatively. Overview of the literature: The 6MWD and Zurich Claudication Questionnaire (ZCQ) have recently been used to evaluate the intermittent claudication of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Transdiscal Fixation for Dropped Head Syndrome: A Case Report.

Dropped head syndrome (DHS) is a rare condition mainly due to neck extensor muscle weakness. The main symptoms of DHS are chin-on-chest deformity, difficulty raising the head against gravity, neck pain, difficulty eating, and difficulty maintaining horizontal gaze. The DHS patients with severe daily life disturbances need surgical intervention, which is usually a long spinal fusion.

Review Article: Diagnostic Paradigm Shift in Spine Surgery.

Meticulous clinical examination is essential for spinal disorders to utilize the diagnostic methods and technologies that strongly support physicians and enhance clinical practice. A significant change in the approach to diagnosing spinal disorders has occurred in the last three decades, which has enhanced a more nuanced understanding of spine pathology. Traditional radiographic methods such as conventional and functional X-rays and CT scans are still the first line in the diagnosis of spinal disorders due to their low cost and accessibility.

A Rare Course of Chiari Malformation With Large Syringomyelia Presenting at 54 Years Old.

Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) is considered a congenital condition. The symptoms include severe headache, hypalgesia, and loss of temperature sensation. It constitutes a significant burden among children and young adults.

More postoperative complications and revision surgery after occipitocervical fusion than after atlantoaxial fusion: a retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Study Design: A retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Purpose: We sought to determine whether occipitocervical (OC) fusion is followed by more postoperative complications and revision surgery than is atlantoaxial (AA) fusion. We aim to compare postoperative complications and revision surgery associated with OC fusion and AA fusion.

An Innovative Minimally Invasive Delta Fixation for Thoracolumbar Fracture With Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a relatively common disease for elderly people, characterized by a tendency of ossification of ligaments and tendons. Spinal fracture in patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a very unstable fracture and usually needs posterior long spinal fixation. Conventional pedicle screw fixation is the standard method for these ankylosed spines.

Circumferential Fiber Augmentation Technique Combined With Transtibial Pullout Repair.

This Technical Note describes a surgical approach that combines circumferential fiber augmentation with transtibial pullout repair for the treatment of medial meniscal posterior root tears. To address the challenge of meniscal extrusion and subsequent joint space narrowing that predisposes to osteoarthritis, this technique uses an artificial ligament to add circumferential collagen fiber reinforcement to improve meniscal extrusion. This integrated approach is designed to address the limitations of conventional tibial pullout repairs by potentially providing better results in preventing meniscal extrusion.

C-arm Free Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Discectomy: A Technical Note.

This report presents a new unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) technique for lumbar disc herniation without C-arm guidance. Lumbar disc herniation requires surgical intervention when conservative methods fail. Shifts towards minimally invasive percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, including uniportal and biportal approaches, have been hindered by challenges such as steep learning curves and reliance on radiation-intensive C-arm guidance.

Predicting Surgical Site Infections in Spine Surgery: Association of Postoperative Lymphocyte Reduction.

Objective: Postoperative lymphopenia is reported as an excellent indicator to predict surgical-site infection (SSI) after spine surgery. However, there is still controversy concerning which serological markers can predict spinal SSI. This study aims to evaluate excellent and early indicators for detecting SSI, focusing on spine instrumented surgery.

Does Post-Tetanic Transcranial Stimulation Augment the Wave Amplitudes of Spinal Cord Evoked Potential (Tc-SCEP)?

Study Design: Prospective within-subjects study.

Objectives: Although motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude can reportedly be increased by tetanic stimulation of the peripheral nerves before transcranial electrical stimulation (TES), no reports have described on whether tetanic transcranial stimulation augments the wave amplitudes of spinal cord-evoked potentials (Tc-SCEP). The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether tetanic stimulation induces waveform amplification of Tc-SCEP.

Preterm Infant with Generalized Arterial Calcification of Infancy Who Survived Due to Early Diagnosis and Appropriate Treatment with Bisphosphonates: A Case Report.

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI) is a rare disease characterized by arterial calcification. GACI is caused by a mutation in the ENPP1 or ABCC6 genes. GACI causes severe hypertension and heart failure, and approximately 50% of patients die within the first 6 months.

Rehabilitation to Improve Outcomes after Cervical Spine Surgery: Narrative Review.

Purpose: The increasing elderly patient population is contributing to the rising worldwide load of cervical spinal disorders, which is expected to result in a global increase in the number of surgical procedures in the foreseeable future. Cervical rehabilitation plays a crucial role in optimal recovery after cervical spine surgeries. Nevertheless, there is no agreement in the existing research regarding the most suitable postsurgical rehabilitation program.

A New Minimally Invasive Technique for Thoracolumbar/Lumbar Focal Kyphosis Due to Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture: A Case Report.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are common fractures in the elderly population and are often associated with low back pain and disruption in daily living activities. Reconstruction surgeries, such as corpectomy, are among the treatment options for these conditions. However, a corpectomy requires a longer surgical procedure and involves a significant amount of blood loss.

Navigation-Guided C-arm-Free Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Comparative Study of Cage Orientation and Screw Insertion Accuracy Against the Conventional C-arm-Assisted Technique.

Background: Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) is a widely utilized technique in spine surgery. This study compares the efficacy and safety of MIS-TLIF performed with traditional C-arm fluoroscopy and C-arm-free O-arm navigation. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to compare cage positioning between C-arm-free and C-arm techniques for MIS- TLIF.

The Impact of Navigation in Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Study of Historical Aspects, Current Techniques and Future Directions.

: We sought to improve accuracy while minimizing radiation hazards, improving surgical outcomes, and preventing potential complications. Despite the increasing popularity of these systems, a limited number of papers have been published addressing the historical evolution, detailing the areas of use, and discussing the advantages and disadvantages, of this increasingly popular system in lumbar spine surgery. Our objective was to offer readers a concise overview of navigation system history in lumbar spine surgeries, the techniques involved, the advantages and disadvantages, and suggestions for future enhancements to the system.

Fabric soft pneumatic actuators with programmable turing pattern textures.

This paper presents a novel computational design and fabrication method for fabric-based soft pneumatic actuators (FSPAs) that use Turing patterns, inspired by Alan Turing's morphogenesis theory. These inflatable structures can adapt their shapes with simple pressure changes and are applicable in areas like soft robotics, airbags, and temporary shelters. Traditionally, the design of such structures relies on isotropic materials and the designer's expertise, often requiring a trial-and-error approach.

Iodine identification in major edible seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii and establishment of an iodine reduction method for its protein extract for utilization as a protein source.

Kappaphycus alvarezii is the most widely cultivated seaweed globally. The use of the protein contained in K. alvarezii as an alternative protein source seems to be an effective countermeasure against the protein crisis.

Computational synthesis of locomotive soft robots by topology optimization.

Locomotive soft robots (SoRos) have gained prominence due to their adaptability. Traditional locomotive SoRo design is based on limb structures inspired by biological organisms and requires human intervention. Evolutionary robotics, designed using evolutionary algorithms (EAs), have shown potential for automatic design.