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J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2022 Jun 22. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the diagnoses and chiropractic services performed by doctors of chiropractic operating within 3 military treatment facilities for patients with low back pain (LBP).

Methods: This was a descriptive secondary analysis of a pragmatic clinical trial comparing usual medical care (UMC) plus chiropractic care to UMC alone for U.S. Read More

FASEB J 2022 Jul;36(7):e22369

Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, PR China.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) is closely linked to degenerative spinal disease, resulting in disability, poor quality of life, and financial burden. Apoptosis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells (NPCs) is a key pathological basis of IVDD. Periostin (POSTN), an extracellular matrix protein, is expressed in many tissues, whereas its abnormal expression is associated with IVDD. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2022 Jul 26;24(1):469. Epub 2022 May 26.

College of Acupuncture and Bone Injury, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430061, P.R. China.

Luteolin (3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxy flavone) is a flavonoid, which is widely distributed in various plants including flowers, vegetables, and medicinal herbs and spices. Luteolin can be applied in the treatment of various diseases due to its multiple biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidative activity. However, its role in intervertebral disc degeneration has not been previously reported. Read More

J Clin Med 2022 Jun 9;11(12). Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system has frequently observed degenerative changes in the cervical discs of healthy subjects. Although there are concerns regarding the link between an individual's occupation and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) in the cervical spine, whether the occupation affects IDD is still not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the occupation and IDD interplay using cervical spine MRI among a cohort of healthy individuals, and to evaluate any association between the type of labor and IDD. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jun 14;23(12). Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

A growing body of evidence in humans and animal models indicates an association between intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and increased fibrotic elements in the nucleus pulposus (NP). These include enhanced matrix turnover along with the abnormal deposition of collagens and other fibrous matrices, the emergence of fibrosis effector cells, such as macrophages and active fibroblasts, and the upregulation of the fibroinflammatory factors TGF-β1 and IL-1/-13. Studies have suggested a role for NP cells in fibroblastic differentiation through the TGF-βR1-Smad2/3 pathway, inflammatory activation and mechanosensing machineries. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jun 9;23(12). Epub 2022 Jun 9.

"Gr. T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania.

Low back pain (LBP) represents a frequent and debilitating condition affecting a large part of the global population and posing a worldwide health and economic burden. The major cause of LBP is intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), a complex disease that can further aggravate and give rise to severe spine problems. As most of the current treatments for IDD either only alleviate the associated symptoms or expose patients to the risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications, there is a pressing need to develop better therapeutic strategies. Read More

Eur Spine J 2022 Jun 23. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050051, China.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effect of needle puncture and chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) injection on inducing intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) in rabbits.

Methods: Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study. Briefly, the rabbits were divided into four groups. Read More

Connect Tissue Res 2022 Jun 23:1-18. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

The second clinical medical college, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, PR China.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common age-related disease with clinical manifestations of lumbar and leg pain and limited mobility. The pathogenesis of IDD is mainly mediated by the death of intervertebral disc (IVD) cells and the imbalance of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and degradation. Oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions are the important factors causing this pathological change. Read More

Cell Prolif 2022 Jun 23:e13294. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

College of Kinesiology, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) are a class of inflammatory and degener-ative diseases, but the precise molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification plays an essential role in the pathophysiological process of MSD. This review summarized the interaction be-tween m6A RNA methylation and ncRNAs in the molecular regulatory mechanism of MSD. Read More

Nat Commun 2022 Jun 22;13(1):3572. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430022, Wuhan, China.

Mol Med Rep 2022 Aug 22;26(2). Epub 2022 Jun 22.

College of Acupuncture and Bone Injury, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430061, P.R. China.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the main pathogenesis of numerous cases of chronic neck and back pain, and has become the leading cause of spinal‑related disability worldwide. Hyperoside is an active flavonoid glycoside that exhibits anti‑inflammation, anti‑oxidation and anti‑apoptosis effects. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of hyperoside on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α‑induced IDD progression in human nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and its potential mechanism. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2022 Jul 4;108:108914. Epub 2022 Jun 4.

School of Basic Medicine Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

The inflammatory radicular pain induced by lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a serious problem worldwide. Demethoxycurcumin (DMC) is a yellow pigment derived from turmeric. Although it is considered a safe natural compound for managing inflammation-associated diseases, but the molecular mechanisms of LDH remain to be elucidated. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2022 Jun 21;17(1):325. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12, Middle Wulumuqi Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai, 200040, China.

Objective: To investigate the biomechanical effects of interbody cage height on adjacent segments in patients with lumbar degeneration undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgery, so as to provide references for selection of interbody cage.

Methods: The finite element model of normal lower lumbar spine (L3-S1) was built and validated, then constructed three different degenerative segments in L3-L4, and the cages with different height (8, 10, 12, 14 mm) were implanted into L4-L5 disc. All the twelve models were loaded with pure moment of 7. Read More

Cell Cycle 2022 Jun 21. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2022 Jun 20;23(1):594. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei province, Shijiazhuang, China.

Background: Percutaneous cement discoplasty (PCD) is a minimally invasive treatment for degenerative lumbar spine disease, but the relationship between decompression effect on the nerve root and different doses of bone cement is uncertain.

Purpose: To investigate the indirect decompression effect of cement with different doses on nerve roots and the biomechanical changes on the spine during PCD using finite element analysis (FEA).

Methods: FEA was adapted to analyze the mechanical changes in the lumbar vertebrae before and after the application of PCD. Read More

World Neurosurg 2022 Jun 17. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's, Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Electronic address:

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether surgical resection of multifidus in rats could generate a reliable model of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD).

Methods: Instability of lumbar spine in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were induced by multifidus resection. Longissimus changes were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry. Read More

J Cell Sci 2022 Jun 20. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a complex process involving many factors, among which excessive senescence of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) is considered to be the main factor. Our previous study found that metformin may inhibit senescence in nucleus pulposus cells; however, its working mechanism is still largely unknown. In the current study, we found that metformin may inactivate cGAS-STING pathway during oxidative stress. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022 26;13:792819. Epub 2022 May 26.

Department of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.

There is an interaction between the lumbar spine and paraspinal muscles, which may play a role in the development of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and may affect CLBP. The study aims to assess the relationship between IVD degeneration and paraspinal muscle fat infiltration in CLBP patients by quantitative MR imaging, and to evaluate the influence of sex and age on CLBP muscle fat infiltration. Sixty CLBP patients (46. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 17. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.

Purpose: This study aims to elucidate the incidence of and independent risk factors for spinal cord stimulator implantations for patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery.

Methods: The PERFormance, Effectiveness, and Cost of Treatment (PERFECT) episodes database, which was established for selected diseases and procedures in Finland, includes all patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery for degenerative spine conditions or spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in Finland from 1986 to 2018. The data on age, sex, hospital diagnoses, surgical procedures, and causes of death were imported from the Finnish national registers into the PERFECT database. Read More

Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2022 Jun 17:1-15. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

School of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.

The biomechanical effects of intervertebral discs and facet joints degeneration on the cervical spine are essential to understanding the mechanisms of spinal disorders to improve pathological and clinical treatment. In this study, the biomechanical effects of a progressively degenerated C5-C6 segment on the human lower cervical spine are determined by a detailed simulation of intervertebral disc degeneration. A detailed asymmetric three-dimension intact finite element model was developed using computed tomography scan data of the human lower cervical spine (C3-C7). Read More

Front Genet 2022 30;13:864100. Epub 2022 May 30.

Department of Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), characterized by diverse pathological changes, causes low back pain (LBP). However, prophylactic and delaying treatments for IDD are limited. The aim of our study was to investigate the gene network and biomarkers of IDD and suggest potential therapeutic targets. Read More

Bioengineered 2022 05;13(5):13849-13859

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jiangyin Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi, China.

One of the main causes of low back pain (LBP) and degenerative musculoskeletal disorders is intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Inflammation-associated senescence of Human nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs) plays an essential function in the disease progression of IVDD. Omentin-1 is an adipokine that has been recently reported to have anti-inflammatory potential. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 Jun 15;12(1):9939. Epub 2022 Jun 15.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan.

A thorough understanding of lumbar segmental motion is valuable to treat patients with degenerative lumbar disease, but kinematics associated with indicators of lumbar intervertebral instability [traction spur, Modic changes (MCs) and vacuum phenomenon (VP)] in the lumbar spine have not been well understood. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationships between traction spur, MCs and VP to radiographic measurements in the lumbar spine. A total of 525 lumbar discs from L1-2 to L5-S1 of 105 patients were evaluated. Read More

Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2022 Jun 9;102:104748. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 230003, China; School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 230003, China. Electronic address:

Purpose: Intervertebral disc degeneration is an abnormal, cell-mediated process of tissue remodeling, recognized as the principal cause of low back pain affecting 80% of the population worldwide. Inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) is involved in the intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) process, and it is upregulated in degenerated discs. Omentin-1, also known as intelectin-1, is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, pro-proliferation, and proangiogenic properties in various types of cells. Read More

Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 2022 May;56(3):210-216

Department for Orthopedics, Trauma and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the expression of elastin, collagen type I, II,III and the degenera- tion of the facet joint capsule and the ligamentum flavum.

Methods: 10 patients (4 male, 6 female) (mean age 61 ± 14,9) undergoing surgery for degenerative lumbar spine syndrome and 5 cadav- ers (3 male, 2 female) (age of death 87 ± 8,6 years) were included in this study. One set of tissue samples was taken from each patient in the patient group intraoperatively and two sets of samples were taken from each cadaver in the cadaver group posthumosly from the ligamentum flavum (medial and lateral) and from the facet joint capsules (superior and inferior articular process) at the L4/5 segment. Read More

Eur Spine J 2022 Jun 14. Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.

Purpose: To determine whether the open or the minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (O-TLIF, MI-TLIF) is the favored treatment, we provide first meta-analyses using prospective studies with at least two years follow-up only and present the clinical relevance of statistical results for the first time.

Methods: After a systematic review of six databases, we conducted 10 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 10 meta-analyses of eligible prospective studies (EPSs) to compare fusion rate, patient-reported outcome measures (back pain (B-VAS), leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)), for the first time safety outcome measures as operative and postoperative complications per case, and the perioperative outcome measures estimated blood loss (EBL), operation time and length of hospital stay (LOS). The clinical relevance was assessed by overall effect sizes (OESs) of statistically significant meta-analytic results. Read More

J Clin Lab Anal 2022 Jun 11:e24508. Epub 2022 Jun 11.

Orthopedic Center Spine Surgery, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China.

Background: Arctigenin (ATG) is the active ingredient of the Chinese herbal medicine Arctium lappa, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Excessive inflammation and cell apoptosis are important causes of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Hence, this study probed into the possible role of ATG in IDD. Read More

Pain Res Manag 2022 31;2022:3330260. Epub 2022 May 31.

Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 139 Ziqiang Road, Shijiazhuang 050051, China.

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between tamoxifen (TAM) and lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD).

Methods: The patients who visited the department of spine surgery from January 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Those with a history of breast cancer surgery were identified and their data were collected. Read More

Orthop Surg 2022 Jun 8. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Department of Spine Centre, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is the most common contributor to low back pain (LBP). Recent studies have found that oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in IVDD. As a by-product of aerobic respiration, ROS is mainly produced in the mitochondria by the electron transport chain and other mitochondrial located proteins. Read More

Radiol Clin North Am 2022 Jul 21;60(4):629-640. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. Electronic address:

Degeneration of the spine is a normal aspect of aging. The associated changes of spine degeneration seen on imaging are typically asymptomatic. However, distinguishing normal age-related change from symptomatic pathologic change can be challenging owing to the overlap in imaging features. Read More