Non-native earthworms increase the abundance and diet quality of a common woodland salamander in its northern range.

Unlabelled: Non-native earthworms found in Eastern Canada substantially affect soil properties and plant diversity, but less is known about their impacts on higher faunal species. We investigated the effects of non-native earthworms on populations of , a common woodland salamander. We hypothesized that earthworms could adversely affect by consuming the forest floor, thereby decreasing soil moisture and the abundance of native preys.

Regional anesthesia for breast cancer surgery: which block is best? A review of the current literature.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide. Fortunately, continual advances in diagnosis and treatment are resulting in increased survival rates. Earlier detection and treatment, to include surgical resection, can greatly improve patients outcomes.

Patterns of Lumbar Disc Degeneration: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis in Symptomatic Subjects.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Purpose: To evaluate lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in symptomatic subjects to accumulate baseline data on the pattern of degeneration.

Overview Of Literature: LDD plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of low-back pain in patients.

Rapid identification of a novel phosphodiesterase 7B tracer for receptor occupancy studies using LC─MS/MS.

Phosphodiesterase 7B (PDE7B) inhibition has been considered as a therapeutic target for the treatment of several neurological disorders. Currently, there are no radio-labeled tracers available to determine receptor occupancy (RO) of this target. Developing such a tracer could greatly facilitate the identification of viable PDE7B inhibitors.

Target Engagement of a Phosphodiesterase 2A Inhibitor Affecting Long-Term Memory in the Rat.

Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 2A (PDE2A) has been proposed as a potential approach to enhance cognitive functioning and memory through boosting intracellular cGMP/cAMP and enhancing neuroplasticity in memory-related neural circuitry. Previous preclinical studies demonstrated that PDE2A inhibitors could reverse -methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist (5S,10R)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5-dibenzo[,]cyclohepten-5,10-imine or ketamine-induced memory deficit. Here, we report that the potent and selective PDE2A inhibitor 4-(1-azetidinyl)-7-methyl-5-[1-methyl-5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]-1-pyrazol-4-yl]-imidazo[5,1-][1,2,4]triazine (PF-05180999) enhances long-term memory in a contextual fear conditioning model in the rat at the oral dose of 0.

Patterns of Cervical Disc Degeneration: Analysis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Over 1000 Symptomatic Subjects.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate cervical disc degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a large population of symptomatic patients and to provide baseline data on the pattern of degeneration in order to understand how the cervical spine ages.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 1059 patients who underwent upright cervical MRI for neck pain with and without neurological symptoms.

Improving maraviroc oral bioavailability by formation of solid drug nanoparticles.

Oral drug administration remains the preferred approach for treatment of HIV in most patients. Maraviroc (MVC) is the first in class co-receptor antagonist, which blocks HIV entry into host cells. MVC has an oral bioavailability of approximately 33%, which is limited by poor permeability as well as affinity for CYP3A and several drug transporters.

Towards a Maraviroc long-acting injectable nanoformulation.

Suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy can lead to insufficient drug exposure leading to viral rebound and increased likelihood of resistance. This has driven the development of long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations which may mitigate some of these problems. Maraviroc (MVC) is an orally dosed CCR5 antagonist approved for use in patients infected with CCR5-trophic HIV-1.

A Retrieval Analysis of Impingement in Dual-Mobility Liners.

Background: Implant-related impingement is likely a major causative factor of total hip arthroplasty (THA) instability. Dual-mobility (DM) cups can theoretically improve stability in THA, but impingement rates with DM cups are not well studied. We examined retrieved DM THA liners to determine if less evidence existed for prosthetic impingement between the neck and the polyethylene liner than historical studies from our institution on fixed-bearing THAs.

Polished, Collarless, Tapered, Cemented Stems for Primary Hip Arthroplasty May Exhibit High Rate of Periprosthetic Fracture at Short-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Cemented stems are designed to follow 1 of 2 principles of fixation: composite beams or slide taper. Stems in the latter category have a collarless, polished, tapered (CPT) design and subside into the cement mantle, creating hoop stresses. We compared the rate of periprosthetic fracture (PPF) of stem designed with these 2 principles of fixation.

Magnetic Resonance Classification System of Cervical Intervertebral Disk Degeneration: Its Validity and Meaning.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of kinetic magnetic resonance images (kMRIs).

Objective: (1) To analyze the changes seen on MRI related to disk degeneration and to develop a new grading system for cervical disk degeneration. (2) To evaluate the reliability and validity of the grading system.

Dynamic Evaluation of the Cervical Spine and the Spinal Cord of Symptomatic Patients Using a Kinetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technique.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the movement of the spinal cord and its relationship to the spinal canal in patients with mild spondylosis using kinetic magnetic resonance imaging (kMRI).

Methods: Weight-bearing, multiposition kMRI was performed on symptomatic patients through a full range of flexion-extension. A total of 52 study patients were selected based on the C2-C7 Cobb angle of sagittal alignment: lordotic (from 30 to 45 degrees).

Growth-Factor Nanocapsules That Enable Tunable Controlled Release for Bone Regeneration.

Growth factors are of great potential in regenerative medicine. However, their clinical applications are largely limited by the short in vivo half-lives and the narrow therapeutic window. Thus, a robust controlled release system remains an unmet medical need for growth-factor-based therapies.

A comparison of commercially available demineralized bone matrices with and without human mesenchymal stem cells in a rodent spinal fusion model.

OBJECTIVE The efficacy of some demineralized bone matrix (DBM) substances has been demonstrated in the spinal fusion of rats; however, no previous comparative study has reported the efficacy of DBM with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). There is an added cost to the products with stem cells, which should be justified by improved osteogenic potential. The purpose of this study is to prospectively compare the fusion rates of 3 different commercially available DBM substances, both with and without hMSCs.

When Is It Safe to Return to Driving After Spinal Surgery?

Study Design Prospective study. Objective Surgeons' recommendations for a safe return to driving following cervical and lumbar surgery vary and are based on empirical data. Driver reaction time (DRT) is an objective measure of the ability to drive safely.

The evaluation of cervical spine mobility without significant spondylosis by kMRI.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of kinetic magnetic resonance images (kMRI).

Objective: To analyse the kinematics of cervical spine inpatients without significant spondylosis and to understand the normal movement of the cervical spine as reference for future comparison.

Summary Of Background Data: Although some studies have been conducted to describe the normal mobility of the cervical spine, prior studies did not establish a relationship between the kinematics of cervical spine and disc degeneration.

Motion characteristics and related factors of Modic changes in the lumbar spine.

OBJECT Most studies of Modic changes (MCs) have focused on investigating the relationship between MCs and lowback pain, whereas the kinematic characteristics and degenerative disc disease associated with MCs are not well understood. To the authors' knowledge, no previous study has reported on the kinematics of MCs. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship of MCs to segmental motion and degenerative disc disease.

Trends and Demographics in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the United States.

The purpose of this study was to identify the trends and demographics of patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the United States. Patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction between 2004 and 2009 were identified by searching Current Procedural Terminology codes in the PearlDiver Patient Record Database (PearlDiver Technologies, Fort Wayne, IN). The year of procedure, age, gender, and region of the United States were recorded for each patient.

Effect of disc degeneration on lumbar segmental mobility analyzed by kinetic magnetic resonance imaging.

Study Design: Retrospective radiographical study.

Objective: To define the relationship between the grade of disc degeneration and the motion of the lumbar spine by using kinetic magnetic resonance imaging.

Summary Of Background Data: Disc degeneration is common after middle age.

Comparison of a novel oxysterol molecule and rhBMP2 fusion rates in a rabbit posterolateral lumbar spine model.

Background Context: The nonunion rate after lumbar spinal fusion is as high as 25%. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP2) has been used as a biological adjunct to promote bony fusion. However, recently there have been concerns about BMP2.

Secreted phosphoprotein 24 kD inhibits nerve root inflammation induced by bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Background Context: Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) has been used to successfully promote spine fusion, but side-effects including nerve inflammation have been observed.

Purpose: To investigate the direct neurotoxic effects of BMP-2 and test the hypotheses that the use of BMP binding proteins, such as secreted phosphoprotein 24 kD (Spp24), can reduce or eliminate these effects.

Study Design: In vitro experiments and in vivo analysis in a rodent model.

Kinematic analysis of diseased and adjacent segments in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Background Context: Degenerative spondylolisthesis is a common pathologic condition that leads to lumbar instability and significant clinical symptoms. The effect of this pathology on adjacent lumbar motion segments, however, has not yet been studied.

Purpose: To characterize the motion characteristics of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis at both the diseased and adjacent levels in patients with low-grade, single-level lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis using kinetic magnetic resonance imaging (kMRI).

Missed cervical disc bulges diagnosed with kinematic magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To determine if adding flexion and extension MRI studies to the traditional neutral views would be beneficial in the diagnosis of cervical disc bulges.

Methods: Five hundred patients underwent MRI in neutral, flexion and extension positions. The images were analyzed using computer software to objectively quantify the amount of disc bulge.

Effect of cervical kyphotic deformity type on the motion characteristics and dynamic spinal cord compression.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of kinematic magnetic resonance images.

Objective: To provide baseline data on the segmental angular and translational motion of the degenerated cervical spine by subtype of kyphotic cervical deformity and to elucidate the relationship between motion and degree of spinal cord compression.

Summary Of Background Data: Kyphotic deformities of the cervical spine are relatively common and are classified as either global or focal.

Risk factors for missed dynamic canal stenosis in the cervical spine.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of kinematic magnetic resonance (MR) images.

Objective: To elucidate the distribution and risk factors associated with missed dynamic stenosis in cervical spine.

Summary Of Background Data: Motion of the cervical spine is widely accepted to be associated with cervical spondylotic myelopathy; however, the distribution and the risk factors for dynamic spinal stenosis are not well understood.