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Phys Med Biol 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, UNITED STATES.

Low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) may have utility for noninvasive treatment of discogenic lower back pain through stimulating, remodeling and accelerating healing of injured or degenerated intervertebral disc (IVD) tissues. This study investigates the feasibility of delivering LIPUS to lumbar IVDs between L2 and S1 spine vertebra using a planar extracorporeal phased array (8 x 8 cm, 1024 elements, 500 kHz). Three 3D anatomical models with heterogenous tissues were generated from patient CT image sets and used in the simulation-based analysis. Read More

Phys Ther Sport 2020 Jun 25;45:30-37. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Avans+ Improving Professionals, Heerbaan 14/40, 4817 NL, Breda, the Netherlands; Mijn Fysio en Adviespunt, Rhijnvis Feithlaan 12, 2533 GE, Den Haag, the Netherlands.

Objective: Study whether male adult judokas with and without low back pain (LBP) have different hip-spine flexibility.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Judo training centres. Read More

Pain 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Insurance Work and Health Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of work disability. While absent from work, workers with LBP may receive income support from a system such as workers' compensation or social security. This study examines how and in what contexts income support systems impact the healthcare quality for people with work disability and LBP and their functional capacity. Read More

Lancet Rheumatol 2020 Jul 25;2(7):e401-e411. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Primary Care Centre Versus Arthritis, School of Primary, Community and Social Care, Keele University, Keele, UK.

Background: Sciatica has a substantial impact on individuals and society. Stratified care has been shown to lead to better outcomes among patients with non-specific low back pain, but it has not been tested for sciatica. We aimed to investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of stratified care versus non-stratified usual care for patients presenting with sciatica in primary care. Read More

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2020 16;2020:2981273. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.

Objective: The objective of this study is to find and compare the effects of isokinetic training and virtual reality training on sports performances in university football players with chronic low back pain.

Design: This is a randomized, double-blinded controlled study.

Methods: The study was conducted on 45LBP participants at university hospital. Read More

J Man Manip Ther 2020 Jul 2:1-8. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Southern Musculoskeletal Seminars (NZ), Auckland University of Technology , Auckland, New Zealand.

Background: A lumbar lateral shift (LLS) is a common clinical observation in patients with low back pain (LBP), and a shift contralateral to the side of pain is the most common presentation. An LLS that can rapidly alternate sides presents several treatment difficulties and has rarely been described. The purpose of the current case report was to describe the presentation and management of a patient with an alternating LLS. Read More

Sleep Med 2020 Apr 6;72:122-125. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Department of Psychiatry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. Electronic address:

Introduction: Patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) frequently experience sleep disruption. Prior work shows associations between objective (actigraphic) sleep and cognition in these patients, but whether pain affects associations between measures of sleep fragmentation (eg, sleep efficiency, SE) and cognition is unknown. The present study examined independent and interactive associations between objective SE and pain on cognitive performance in patients with ICDs. Read More

Spine J 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Washington State University Spokane Health Sciences, 412 E Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99202.

Background Context: LBP is a common and significant cause of disability worldwide, however; questions about cause still remain.

Purpose: To investigate the association between low back pain (LBP), body mass index (BMI), and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a twin sample.

Study Design: Cross sectional study of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins from the Washington State Twin Registry. Read More

World Neurosurg X 2020 Jul 23;7:100079. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Neurosurgery Department, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.

Background: Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a progressive disease with potentially dangerous consequences that affect quality of life. Despite the detailed literature, natural history is unpredictable. This uncertainty presents a challenge making the correct management decisions, especially in patients with mild to moderate symptoms, regarding conservative or surgical treatment. Read More

JOR Spine 2020 Jun 22;3(2):e1092. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Orthopaedic Stem Cell Research Laboratory Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles California USA.

Introduction: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is often associated with low back pain and radiating leg pain. The purpose of this study is to develop a reproducible and standardized preclinical model of painful lumbar IVD degeneration by evaluation of structural and behavioral changes in response to IVD injury with increasing needle sizes. This model can be used to develop new therapies for IVD degeneration. Read More

JOR Spine 2020 Jun 4;3(2):e1090. Epub 2020 May 4.

AO Research Institute Davos Davos Switzerland.

It has been shown that painful intervertebral discs (IVDs) were associated with a deeper innervation. However, the effect of the disc's degenerative microenvironment on neuronal outgrowth remains largely unknown. The focus of this study was to determine the influence of hypoxia on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurite outgrowth. Read More

JOR Spine 2020 Jun 8;3(2):e1087. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery University of California San Diego San Diego California USA.

Many chronic musculoskeletal conditions are associated with loss of muscle volume and quality, resulting in functional decline. While atrophy has long been implicated as the mechanism of muscle loss in these conditions, recent evidence has emerged demonstrating a degenerative phenotype of muscle loss consisting of disrupted muscle fiber membranes, infiltration of cells into muscle fibers, and as previously describer, possible replacement of muscle fibers by adipose tissue. Here, we use human lumbar spine pathology as a model system to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the morphological features of this mode of muscle loss between early and late stages of disease, including an analysis of the cell populations found in paraspinal muscle biopsies from humans with acute vs chronic lumbar spine pathology. Read More

JOR Spine 2020 Jun 3;3(2):e1079. Epub 2020 Feb 3.

Department of Bioengineering University of California San Diego California.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic tool that can be used to noninvasively assess lumbar muscle size and fatty infiltration, important biomarkers of muscle health. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an MRI technique that is sensitive to muscle microstructural features such as fiber size (an important biomarker of muscle health), which is typically only assessed using invasive biopsy techniques. The goal of this study was to establish normative values of level-dependent lumbar muscle size, fat signal fraction, and restricted diffusion assessed by MRI in a highly active population. Read More

J Epidemiol Community Health 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Background: Declines in employment protection may have disproportionate effects on employment opportunities of workers with low education and poorer health. This study investigates the impact of changes in employment protection levels on employment rates according to education and health in 23 European countries.

Methods: Data were taken from the 4-year rotating panel European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions study. Read More

Chiropr Man Therap 2020 Jul 2;28(1):39. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Psychology, Exercise Science, Counselling and Chiropractic, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia.

Background: There is some evidence and anecdotal reports that high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) for non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) may immediately reduce pain in some patients. The mechanism for such a change remains unclear and the evidence is conflicting. The aim of this study was to seek consensus among a sample of expert manual therapists as to the possible clinical predictors that could help identify patients who are most likely to receive instant relief from NSLBP with SMT intervention. Read More

Int J Health Policy Manag 2020 Apr 8. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

CERDI, Université Clermont Auvergne, ClermontFerrand, France.

Background: The knowledge of patients' preferences in the medical decision-making process is gaining in importance. In this article we aimed to provide an overview on the importance of attributes underlying the choice of non-surgical treatments in people with low back pain (LBP).

Methods: A systematic mixed studies review was conducted. Read More

Curr Med Res Opin 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton, UK.

Descriptors provided by patients with neuropathic low back pain (NLBP) with or without spinally referred leg pain are frequently used by clinicians to help to identify the predominant pain mechanisms. Indeed, many neuropathic screening tools are primarily based on subjective descriptors to determine the presence of neuropathic pain. There is a need to systematically review and analyse the existing evidence to determine the validity of such descriptors in this cohort. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2020 Jul;45(14):E878-E884

Texas Back Institute, Plano, TX.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objective: To quantify the effect of lumbar decompression and fusion surgery on balance and stability in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and compare them to controls.

Summary Of Background Data: DLS is a condition in which one vertebra subluxates relative to an adjacent vertebra in the absence of a disruption in the neural arch. Read More

J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

ULR 7369 - URePSSS, Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Sport Santé Société, Université Lille, Université Artois, Université Littoral Côte d'Opale, Lille, France.

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a major health concern characterized by paraspinal muscle fatigability. This can be improved following a functional restoration program. Muscle fatigability can be related to impairment in aerobic metabolism responses. Read More

Skeletal Radiol 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA.

Objective: Lumbar spine MRI interpretations have high variability reducing utility for surgical planning. This study evaluated a convolutional neural network (CNN) framework that generates automated MRI grading for its ability to predict the level that was surgically decompressed.

Materials And Methods: Patients who had single-level decompression were retrospectively evaluated. Read More

PeerJ 2020 15;8:e9199. Epub 2020 May 15.

Department of Special Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is considered the most common work-related musculoskeletal disorder among female healthcare workers. The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence of LBP and non-ergonomic risk factors between female nurses, office workers, and patient transporters, and the effect of pain on job performance.

Methods: Based on semi-structured interviews, we conducted a cross-sectional study on Jordanian female hospital workers between January and July, 2017. Read More

Med Devices (Auckl) 2020 16;13:173-182. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Washington University St. Louis, St. Louis, MO.

Background: Prior trials provide strong evidence supporting minimally invasive sacroiliac joint (SIJ) fusion using triangular titanium implants (TTI) for chronic SIJ dysfunction.

Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of SIJF using a 3D-printed TTI.

Methods: Fifty-one subjects with carefully diagnosed SIJ dysfunction underwent SIJF with 3D TTI. Read More

J Pain Res 2020 12;13:1411-1419. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Hygiene, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Shinagawa-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Purpose: Although many studies have indicated the association between low back pain (LBP) and lifestyle factors, the combined effect of lifestyle factors on LBP has not been adequately investigated. We aimed to investigate the association between a cluster of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and LBP using a large cohort of Japanese adults.

Methods: We included 419,003 adults aged over 20 years who underwent an annual health checkup between April 2013 and March 2014 in Japan. Read More

J Pain Res 2020 8;13:1349-1357. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of low back pain and factors associated with it among nurses working at public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia.

Materials And Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to March 20, 2018 among randomly selected 404 nurses working in public hospitals of Harari region and Dire Dawa city administration. Six trained nurses collected the data through a self-administered data collection technique. Read More

Korean J Pain 2020 Jul;33(3):226-233

Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: We aimed to compare interlaminar epidural steroid injections (ILESI) and bilateral transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESI) on pain intensity, functional status, depression, walking distance, and the neuropathic component in patients with lumbar central spinal stenosis (LCSS).

Methods: The patients were divided into either the ILESI or the bilateral TFESI groups. Prime outcome measures include the numerical rating scale (NRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and pain-free walking distance. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Jun 27;17(13). Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Physical Therapy, Gimcheon University, Gimcheon 39528, Korea.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cross-legged sitting on the trunk flexion angle, pelvic obliquity, and gluteal pressure of subjects with and without low back pain (LBP). The study subjects were 30 LBP patients and 30 healthy individuals. They were instructed to sit on a chair, the height of which was adjustable, so that their knee and hip joints were bent at 90°. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2020 Jun 26;20(12). Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA.

Nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) constitutes a critical health challenge that impacts millions of people worldwide with devastating health and socioeconomic consequences. In today's clinical settings, practitioners continue to follow conventional guidelines to categorize NSLBP patients based on subjective approaches, such as the STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST). This study aimed to develop a sensor-based machine learning model to classify NSLBP patients into different subgroups according to quantitative kinematic data, i. Read More

J Clin Epidemiol 2020 Jun 27. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Objective: To review and assess the methodological quality of randomised controlled trials that test physical therapy interventions for low back pain.

Study Design And Setting: Systematic review of trials of physical therapy interventions to prevent or treat low back pain (of any duration or type) in participants of any age indexed on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Existing PEDro scale ratings were used to evaluate methodology quality. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2020 Jul;102(1):19-28

Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care, Blaine, MN, USA.

Back pain is a relatively common presenting symptom in children and adolescents. Typical causes include muscle strain or spasm, spinal deformities (e.g. Read More

Clin Rehabil 2020 Jun 30:269215520937757. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Rehabilitation Science, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed evidence-based low back pain (LBP) management smartphone application.

Design: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial where participants randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG) or a control group (CG).

Setting: Governmental and private institutions. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Wenhua West Road 107#, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, PR China. Electronic address:

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the morphological changes in the intervertebral foramen after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF), and analyze the necessity of routinely performing contralateral intervertebral foraminal decompression in cases of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with bilateral symptoms.

Methods: 72 single-level degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis patients (17 males and 55 females) with bilateral lower extremity symptoms were included in this study, all of whom underwent unilateral approach MIS-TLIF from December 2012 to December 2017. The average age was 52±11 years. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Neurosurgery, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.

Background: Intradural disc herniation in the upper lumbar spine is rare. Pre-operative radiological diagnosis can be difficult, making operative planning challenging. We report a 74-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with an L1-2 IDH intra-operatively. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Duke Clinical Research Institute and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Duke University.

Objective: To investigate the Optimal Screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcome Yellow Flag (OSPRO-YF) tool for longitudinal monitoring of pain associated distress with the goal of improving prediction of 50% reduction in pain intensity and disability outcomes.

Design: Cohort study with 12-month follow-up after initial care episode SETTING: Ambulatory care, participants seeking care from out-patient physical therapy clinics PARTICIPANTS: Participants were seeking care for primary complaint of neck, low back, knee or shoulder pain. This secondary analysis included 440 subjects (62. Read More

Ter Arkh 2019 Aug 15;91(8):155-159. Epub 2019 Aug 15.

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Neurology and Neurosurgery Department.

Low back pain (LBP) is frequent cause for visit to the doctor and common cause of disability. Modern experts' recommendations for diagnostics and treatment of acute LBP are presented. Common mistakes, difficulties in diagnostics and treatment of acute LBP are discussed. Read More

Ugeskr Laeger 2020 Jun;182(27)

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is an inflammatory arthritis mainly affecting the axial skeleton and large peripheral joints. Age of onset is typically 20-35 years. However, symptoms of SpA is often overlooked or interpreted as common low back pain, postponing an effective treatment. Read More

Eur J Pain 2020 Jun 28. Epub 2020 Jun 28.

School of Allied Health, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) is a physiotherapist-led individualised intervention for people with people with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP), involving biopsychosocial pain education, graded movement exposure and lifestyle coaching. A multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT), including 206 participants with CLBP in Ireland, supported CFT's effectiveness for reducing disability, but not pain, compared to a group exercise and education intervention. In this study, causal mediation analysis was used to determine whether the effect of CFT on disability and the lack of effect on pain (relative to a group exercise and education intervention) is mediated by certain psychological and lifestyle factors. Read More

Contemp Clin Trials 2020 Jun 25;95:106077. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America; University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, United States of America.

The purpose of the ongoing trial is to improve care of older Veterans with chronic low back pain (CLBP, i.e., low back pain for ≥6 months on ≥ half the days). Read More

J Orthop Sci 2020 Jun 24. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, 108-0075, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: Studies on the clinical and radiographic risk factors for the residual low back pain beyond 6 months after osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) are lacking. Hence, this study aimed to characterize a patient population with residual low back pain 48 weeks after acute OVFs and to identify the risk factors associated with residual low back pain.

Methods: This prospective multicenter study included 166 female patients aged 65-85 years with acute one-level OVFs. Read More

Brain Behav Immun 2020 Jun 24. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany; Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.

Despite broad clinical implications, the mechanisms linking inflammation and pain remain incompletely understood. Using human experimental endotoxemia as a translational model of systemic inflammation, we aimed to elucidate putative vulnerability factors of inflammation-induced musculoskeletal hyperalgesia. We pooled data from three published randomized controlled trials, resulting in a sample of N = 98 healthy volunteers who received either low-dose endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) or vehicle (saline) intravenously. Read More

J Orthop Res 2020 Jun 27. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco.

Cartilage endplate (CEP) biochemical composition may influence disc degeneration and regeneration. However, evaluating CEP composition in patients remains a challenge. We used T2* mapping from ultrashort echo-time (UTE) MRI, which is sensitive to CEP hydration, to investigate spatial variations in CEP T2* values and to determine how CEP T2* values correlate with adjacent disc degeneration. Read More

Eur J Radiol 2020 May 25;129:109046. Epub 2020 May 25.

Division of Experimental Imaging, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany. Electronic address:

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of color-coded dual-energy CT virtual noncalcium (VNCa) reconstructions for the assessment of traumatic bone marrow edema in sacral insufficiency fracture (SIF).

Method: Data from 52 consecutive patients (28 women, 24 men; mean age, 61 ± 13 years; range, 49-94 years) who had undergone third-generation dual-source CT and 3-Tesla (T) MRI due to low back pain without adequate trauma were retrospectively evaluated. Five radiologists, blinded to MRI and clinical information, independently analyzed conventional grayscale dual-energy CT series for sacral fractures according to the Denis classification. Read More

Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020 10;8:583. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Discogenic low back pain (LBP) is a main cause of disability and inflammation is presumed to be a major driver of symptomatic intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Anti-inflammatory agents are currently under investigation as they demonstrated to alleviate symptoms in patients having IDD. However, their underlying anti-inflammatory and regenerative activity is poorly explored. Read More

SAGE Open Med Case Rep 2020 13;8:2050313X20931680. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Intensive Care Unit, Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nanjing, P.R. China.

Iliopsoas hematoma is an uncommon clinical entity that may develop in association with anticoagulation states, coagulopathies and hemodialysis, or anticoagulant therapy. Here, we report a case of unilateral iliopsoas hematoma in a 60-year-old man who received low-molecular-weight heparin for anticoagulation due to continuous veno-venous hemofiltration. The patient presented with fever and productive cough for 2 days. Read More

Stem Cells Int 2019 10;2019:2376172. Epub 2019 Sep 10.

Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy.

Low back pain (LBP) in one of the most disabling symptoms affecting nearly 80% of the population worldwide. Its primary cause seems to be intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD): a chronic and progressive process characterized by loss of viable cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown within the intervertebral disc (IVD) especially in its inner region, the nucleus pulposus (NP). Over the last decades, innovative biological treatments have been investigated in order to restore the original healthy IVD environment and achieve disc regeneration. Read More

Radiol Bras 2020 May-Jun;53(3):155-160

Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.

Objective: To analyze the results obtained with a modified antegrade double J catheter insertion (JJ stenting) technique in patients with urinary tract obstruction due to malignancy.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of data collected from patients undergoing antegrade JJ stenting for malignant ureteral obstruction in the interventional radiology department of our institution between March 1, 2017 and May 31, 2019.

Results: Antegrade JJ stenting was performed in 32 patients (20 women and 12 men). Read More

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2020 May 25. Epub 2020 May 25.

Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200 - 00128, Rome, (Italy).

Background: The latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is reliable and versatile with many indications and low donor site morbidity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term effects of LD flap on the shoulder function in patients undergoing delayed breast reconstruction.

Methods: This case-control study enrolled women who underwent implant-based (IB) breast reconstruction, radical lymphadenectomy, and radiotherapy between 2006 and 2016. Read More

J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2020 Apr- Jun;32(2):244-249

Department of Community Medicine, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Background: Major depressive disorder is the most common psychiatric disease affecting women. Pregnancy significantly increases its prevalence, especially in developing countries. Antenatal major depression is an alarming condition for the mother and the growing foetus. Read More

J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2020 Apr- Jun;32(2):234-237

Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Background: Lumbosacral transitional vertebra is a common anatomical variant of the spine that possibly is related to low back pain. The objective is to determine the frequency of Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae on lumbosacral radiographs in patients with low back pain visiting Neurosurgery OPD of Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on radiographs of lumbosacral spine in patients visiting for low back pain to the Neurosurgery OPD of Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar. Read More

Clin Anat 2020 Jun 25. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Research and Development, Dr. N. G. P. Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, India.

Aim & Background: Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is thought to be multifactorial in origin. Very recently the focus has shifted to the involvement of a family of candidate genes in the pathogenesis of LDD. There is particular emphasis on the Vitamin D Receptor Gene (VDR gene). Read More

Orthop Surg 2020 Jun 24. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Department of Radiology, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Objective: The T2 value of lumbar cartilage endplates was measured using the T2 mapping imaging technique, aiming to explore the correlation between the T2 value and Pfirrmann grading of intervertebral discs.

Methods: A total of 130 patients with lumbar spine MR examination due to persistent low back pain were enrolled, including 71 men and 59 women (age: 21-63 years). Lumbar Modic changes and Schmorl nodules were recognized by conventional T1WI and T2WI images in 49 patients, and these patients were excluded from the study. Read More