Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Craniovertebr Junction Spine 2019 Jan-Mar;10(1):10-13

Department of Orthopaedics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Introduction: Multiple investigation modalities have been invented for diagnosis and for planning management of degenerative cervical myelopathy, which include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography scan, and plain X-rays. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the spinal cord is a special variety of MRI where diffusion of water molecules across and along the tracts is mapped. The changes in anisotropy at the stenotic level can be a postoperative prognostic factor. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2019 Apr 11;52:e20180243. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Brucellosis, a zoonosis with worldwide distribution, is a systemic infection caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. Meanwhile, brucellosis often causes complications, such as osteoarticular involvement, and spondylitis is the most prevalent and important clinical form. Here, is a case of cervical brucellar spondylitis causing incomplete limb paralysis in a middle-aged male. Read More

Trials 2019 Apr 16;20(1):223. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Aylesbury, HP21 8AL, UK.

Background: Patients with lower neurogenic bladder dysfunction are at an increased risk of suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections. Recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infection is occasionally treated with antibiotics as a prophylactic prevention strategy. This risks increasing the frequency of antibiotic resistance. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Neurosurgery, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295; Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226.

Introduction: Implant-related infections carry a high morbidity. Infectious rates for neuromodulation implants range from 1-9% for DBS, 0-10% for SCS systems, and 3-15% for IT pump systems. Meanwhile, studies on care bundles report infection rate reduction to 1. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Neurosurgery, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA 95128; Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305. Electronic address:

Background: Neurological complications are common in HIV/AIDS patients. While both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) can be affected, up to 80% of HIV/AIDS patients have CNS involvement during the course of their illness. The brain is the primary site of HIV/AIDS associated CNS complications. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Apr 12:1-7. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

OBJECTIVEIntrathecal drug delivery devices (IDDDs) are a mainstay in the treatment of spasticity and refractory pain. While these devices have been shown to greatly improve the quality of life for patients, they also have a high perioperative complication and failure rate. A major complication of IDDD implantation is infection. Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019 Apr;23(2 Suppl):117-128

Department Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.

Objective: This systematic review focuses on 5 key elements that may improve the decision-making process in spondylodiscitis: the infective agent, segmental instability, abscess development, neurological compromise and focus of infection.

Materials And Methods: We included 64 studies published between May 2012 and May 2017, that reported both a description of the discitis and comparative data regarding the disease and its complications.

Results: The majority of cases were caused by Staphylococcus spp (40. Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019 Apr;23(2 Suppl):1-5

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy.

Introduction: The leading cause of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis is Staphylococcus aureus, and its incidence is rising, particularly in the elderly. We report an unusual case of cervical spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess mimicking Pott's disease.

Case Report: A 67-year-old man was admitted to our institution with a 15-day history of neck pain radiating to the head, shoulders and left arm that was associated with weakness and paresthesia. Read More

Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Rehabilitation Research Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA.

Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MIE), or "cough-assist" is a commonly used method of clearing tracheal and pulmonary secretions in patients with respiratory insufficiency secondary to spinal cord injury (SCI). This report presents a novel technique termed the Pharyngeal Clearance Maneuver (PCM) which utilizes a modified application of the MIE device to mobilize "secretion burden" at the portion of the trachea above the tracheostomy cuff during cuff deflation. Utilization of this strategy may reduce the risk of aspiration, infection, and respiratory compromise for patients with high cervical SCI in the acute rehabilitation setting. Read More

Spinal Cord 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Introduction: Neurogenic bladder following acute spinal cord injury (SCI) increases urinary tract infection (UTI) risk and affects quality of life and health system costs.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify, describe and evaluate quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for managing neurogenic bladder following SCI.

Methods: A comprehensive search covered six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Health Systems Evidence, Cochrane, CINAHL, Epistomonikos) and 12 CPG portals. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2019 Apr 11;14(1):100. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Clinic of Trauma Hand- und Reconstructive Surgery, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany.

Background: Spondylodiscitis is a chameleon among infectious diseases due to the lack of specific symptoms with which it is associated. It is nevertheless a serious infection, with 7% mortality of hospitalized patients, in large part because of delayed diagnosis. The aim of this study was to develop a diagnosis and course-of-disease index to optimize its treatment. Read More

Indian J Orthop 2019 Mar-Apr;53(2):324-332

Department of Orthopaedics, B J Medical College, Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Background: Fluorosis is an endemic disease of India which causes compressive cervical and/or dorsal myelopathy. This study aims to evaluate the role of surgical management in the crippling fluorosis along with evaluation of radiological imaging as screening/diagnosing tool for the disease.

Materials And Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 33 patients operated at tertiary care center having nontraumatic involvement of spinal cord affecting neurology with history, clinical and radiological features (Ossified Posterior Longitudinal Ligament-, Ossified Ligamentum flavum) suggesting fluorosis as the cause of compression. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Apr 5;20(7). Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover; Center for Systems Neuroscience 30559 Hannover, Germany.

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis (TME) represents a versatile animal model for studying the pathogenesis of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Hallmarks of TME are demyelination, astrogliosis, as well as inflammation. Previous studies showed that matrix metalloproteinase 12 knockout () mice display an ameliorated clinical course associated with reduced demyelination. Read More

Med Mycol Case Rep 2019 Jun 16;24:37-40. Epub 2019 Mar 16.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.

species are fungal opportunistic pathogens frequently seen in chronic lung diseases such as in cystic fibrosis (CF). They can cause a wide spectrum of diseases mainly in immunodeficient patients. Invasive, disseminated infections with poor prognosis have been described after lung transplantation. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2019 Apr;99(13):983-987

Division of Spine Surgery and Electrophysiological Center, Department of Orthopedics, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China.

To report the methods and clinical outcomes of microscopic minimally invasive keyhole technique for surgical resection of thoracic spinal meningiomas. Thirty-nine patients with thoracic spinal meningiomas received keyhole surgery from May 2013 to June 2017 in the Department of Spine Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital. A working channel with a diameter of 1. Read More

Cell Death Differ 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Brain and Spinal Cord Innovative Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, China.

It remains largely unknown how Zika virus (ZIKV) infection causes severe microcephaly in human newborns. We examined an Asian lineage ZIKV, SZ01, which similarly infected and demonstrated comparable growth arrest and apoptotic pathological changes in human neuroprogenitors (NPCs) from forebrain dorsal, forebrain ventral as well as hindbrain and spinal cord brain organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells. Transcriptome profiling showed common overactivated antiviral response in all regional NPCs upon ZIKV infection. Read More

World J Urol 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.

Introduction: To investigate the risk factors for febrile genito-urinary tract infection (GUTI) in spinal cord injury-associated neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) patients who perform routine clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) evaluated by urodynamic study (UDS) and cystography.

Patients And Methods: Over a 3-year period, we retrospectively assessed risk factors for febrile UTI in 141 spinal cord injury patients diagnosed as NLUTD and performing routine CIC, regarding gender, UDS findings such as bladder compliance, maximum cystometric capacity, and cystography.

Results: A total of 41 patients had febrile GUTI in the follow-up period as along with 32 cases of pyelonephritis, 10 cases of epididymitis, and 1 case of prostatitis, including patients with multiple infectious diseases. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019 19;9:52. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Public Health, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Extrahepatic injury, particularly neurologic dysfunctions such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, neurologic amyotrophy, and encephalitis/meningoencephalitis/myositis were associated with HEV infection, which was supported by both clinical and laboratory studies. Thus, it is crucial to figure out how the virus invades into the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, CNS lesions were determined in rabbits and Mongolian gerbils inoculated with genotype 4 HEV. Read More

EMBO J 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany

Astrocytes are critical regulators of neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Growing evidence indicates that ubiquitination of signaling molecules is an important cell-intrinsic mechanism governing astrocyte function during MS and EAE Here, we identified an upregulation of the deubiquitinase OTU domain, ubiquitin aldehyde binding 1 (OTUB1) in astrocytes during MS and EAE Mice with astrocyte-specific OTUB1 ablation developed more severe EAE due to increased leukocyte accumulation, proinflammatory gene transcription, and demyelination in the spinal cord as compared to control mice. OTUB1-deficient astrocytes were hyperactivated in response to IFN-γ, a fingerprint cytokine of encephalitogenic T cells, and produced more proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines than control astrocytes. Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2019 Apr 3:1-7. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

c Department of Neurology , Haukeland University Hospital , Bergen , Norway.

Objective: To compare outcome for patients with traumatic (TSCI) and non-traumatic spinal cord injuries (NTSCI) after primary rehabilitation regarding neurological improvement measured by the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS), length of stay and complications.

Design: Retrospective comparative cohort study on patients with TSCI and NTSCI, hospitalized during a ten-year period at Haukeland University Hospital, Norway. Impairment, length of stay and complications during first in-patient rehabilitation period were analyzed. Read More

J Clin Med Res 2019 Apr 18;11(4):256-260. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Urology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Tottori 683-8504, Japan.

Background: Children with spinal cord disorders can present with neurogenic bladder, a condition in which the bladder partly or completely loses its ability to store urine and void at low pressure. A bladder with low compliance may cause urinary incontinence, which negatively impacts quality of life and renal function. Long-term high pressure neurogenic bladder can increase the risk of deterioration in renal function. Read More

Asian J Neurosurg 2019 Jan-Mar;14(1):286-288

Neuroscience Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Poursina Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.

Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma (SCEH), which is a rare disease, is manifested as by a sudden quadriplegia or paraplegia and other neurological deficits. SCEH can compress the spinal cord resulting in its clinical manifestations. The reported etiological risk factors are anticoagulants, coagulopathies, vascular malformations, infections, and herniated discs. Read More

Asian J Neurosurg 2019 Jan-Mar;14(1):211-218

Department of Neurosurgery, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

Dengue is one of the most common flavivirus infections which can manifest from common flu-like fever to fatal hemorrhagic complication. Epidemics of dengue return every year with peaks during the rainfall claiming substantial number of lives in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. We present manifestations of dengue in patients who underwent neurosurgery in a tertiary referral center during such an epidemic. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Baylor College of Medicine Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training and Research, Houston, TX.

Objectives: To determine the rates of emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations for genitourinary (GU) complications after SCI using a national sample; examine which patient and facility factors are associated with in-hospital mortality; and estimate direct medical costs of GU complications after SCI.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional and cost analysis of the 2006-15 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP).

Participants: SCI-related encounters using various International Classification of Disease, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis codes. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 15;10:466. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Institute of Infection Immunology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an insect-transmitted rhabdovirus that is neurovirulent in mice. Upon peripheral VSV infection, CD169 subcapsular sinus (SCS) macrophages capture VSV in the lymph, support viral replication, and prevent CNS neuroinvasion. To date, the precise mechanisms controlling VSV infection in SCS macrophages remain incompletely understood. Read More

World J Mens Health 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Penile prosthesis infection is the most significant complication following prosthesis implant surgery leading to postoperative morbidity, increased health care costs, and psychological stress for the patient. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with increased postoperative penile prosthesis infection. A review of the literature was performed via PubMed using search terms including inflatable penile prosthesis, penile implant, and infection. Read More

Anesth Analg 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: Closed malpractice claim studies allow a review of rare but often severe complications, yielding useful insight into improving patient safety and decreasing practitioner liability.

Methods: This retrospective observational study of pain medicine malpractice claims utilizes the Controlled Risk Insurance Company Comparative Benchmarking System database, which contains nearly 400,000 malpractice claims drawn from >400 academic and community medical centers. The Controlled Risk Insurance Company Comparative Benchmarking System database was queried for January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2016, for cases with pain medicine as the primary service. Read More

Neurourol Urodyn 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Objective: Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is a preferred method of bladder management for many patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), but long-term adherence is low. The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with low urinary quality of life (QoL) in SCI adults performing CIC.

Methods: Over 1. Read More

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi 2019 Mar;21(3):223-228

Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders/China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders/Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, China.

Objective: To study the clinical features of children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and related recurrence factors.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data and prognosis of 73 children with ADEM who were hospitalized from November 2011 to January 2017.

Results: Among the 73 children, 41 (56%) had a history of infection before onset and 7 (10%) had a history of vaccination. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Mar 23;12(3). Epub 2019 Mar 23.

Department of Medicine, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Acute transverse myelopathy in a young person may be due to infection, postinfective or inflammatory demyelination, or vascular causes. Rarely, a completely reversible cause of acute transverse myelopathy may be seen, as described here in our case of transverse myelopathy due to extramedullary haematopoiesis (EMH). An 18-year-old man who had a history of a lone blood transfusion at age of 7 years presented with paraplegia. Read More

Exp Neurol 2019 Mar 20;317:298-307. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Biology Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States of America. Electronic address:

Antiviral immunity is severely compromised following trauma to the central nervous system. In mice with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), primary infection with influenza virus leads to high mortality rates due to impaired expansion of virus-specific CD8 T cells. One strategy to increase resistance to viral infections is to generate memory immune cells that protect from recurrent infections. Read More

Transl Res 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia Chile; Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIB), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address:

Radial glial cells (RGCs) are the neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) that give rise to most of neurons and glial cells that constitute the adult central nervous system. A hallmark of RGCs is their polarization along the apical-basal axis. They extend a long basal process that contacts the pial surface and a short apical process to the ventricular surface. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Mar 20;12(3). Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

First reported in 1988, is a virulent coagulase-negative species often associated with endocarditis. This is the first case report describing this infection in the cervical spine. A 58-year-old, left-handed Caucasian woman with no significant medical history presented with neck and left arm pain. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is a common finding in many populations, including healthy women and persons with underlying urologic abnormalities. The 2005 guideline from the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommended that ASB should be screened for and treated only in pregnant women or in an individual prior to undergoing invasive urologic procedures. Treatment was not recommended for healthy women; older women or men; or persons with diabetes, indwelling catheters, or spinal cord injury. Read More

PLoS One 2019 20;14(3):e0213363. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is a major natural cause of morbidity and mortality in cetaceans worldwide and results in epidemic and endemic fatalities. The pathogenesis of CeMV has not been fully elucidated, and questions remain regarding tissue tropism and the mechanisms of immunosuppression. We compared the histopathologic and viral immunohistochemical features in molecularly confirmed CeMV-infected Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from the Southwestern Atlantic (Brazil) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Northeast-Central Atlantic (Canary Islands, Spain) and the Western Mediterranean Sea (Italy). Read More

Front Vet Sci 2019 4;6:59. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.

Histopathological differences in horses infected with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) of differing neuropathogenic potential [wild-type (Ab4), polymerase mutant (Ab4 N752), EHV-1/4 gD mutant (Ab4 gD4)] were evaluated to examine the impact of viral factors on clinical disease, tissue tropism and pathology. Three of 8 Ab4 infected horses developed Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) requiring euthanasia of 2 horses on day 9 post-infection. None of the other horses showed neurologic signs and all remaining animals were sacrificed 10 weeks post-infection. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Mar 18;9(1):4805. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia.

Besides causing mild hand, foot and mouth infections, Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is associated with neurological complications and fatality. With concerns about rising EV-A71 virulence, there is an urgency for more effective vaccines. The live attenuated vaccine (LAV) is a more valuable vaccine as it can elicit both humoral and cellular immune responses. Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2019 Mar 18:1-10. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

a Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine , Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand.

Objective: To examine how secondary health conditions (SHCs) that develop early after a spinal cord injury (SCI) are related to disability over time.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Two spinal units in New Zealand (Burwood Spinal Unit and Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit). Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2019 03;33(3):259-264

Department of Spinal Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Jiangsu, 210008,

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of SRS-Schwab grade Ⅳ osteotomy combined with satellite rod for thoracolumbar old osteoporotic fracture with severe kyphosis.

Methods: Between April 2013 and August 2016, 20 cases of thoracolumbar old osteoporotic fracture with severe kyphosis were treated with SRS-Schwab grade Ⅳ osteotomy combined with satellite rod. All the patients were females, aged 49-71 years (mean, 54. Read More

Parasitology 2019 Mar 15:1-23. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Department of Animal Biology,Federal University of Viçosa,Viçosa,Minas Gerais,Brazil.

Currently, the types and distribution of the lesions induced in the central nervous system (CNS) by Trypanosoma cruzi remain unclear as the available evidence is based on fragmented data. Therefore, we developed a systematic review to analyse the main characteristics of the CNS lesions in non-human hosts infected. From a structured search on the PubMed/Medline and Scopus platforms, 32 studies were retrieved, subjected to data extraction and methodological bias analysis. Read More

Spinal Cord 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Study Design: The Neurogenic Bladder Research Group (NBRG) registry is a multicenter prospective observational study. This manuscript is retrospective based on a cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: To assess patient subjective assessment of urinary tract infection (UTI) frequency and severity are associated with the degree of use of catheters or incontinence products. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Mar 14;9(1):4588. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany.

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV)-induces a demyelinating disease in the spinal cord (SC) of susceptible but not in resistant (B6) mouse strains. The aim of the present study was to induce SC demyelination and a peripheral neuropathy in resistant mice by switching the infection site from cerebrum to SC. B6 mice were intraspinally inoculated with TMEV. Read More

Neuromodulation 2019 Apr 13;22(3):302-310. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Medtronic, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Objectives: Surgical site infections (SSIs) result in significant negative clinical and economic outcomes. The objective of this study is to estimate annual health expenditures associated with spinal cord stimulation (SCS)-related infections.

Materials And Methods: Data from the Truven MarketScan® databases were used to identify patients with an SCS implant (2009-2014) and a continuous health plan enrollment for at least 12-months before and after implant (index date). Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 9. Epub 2019 Mar 9.

Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:

Objective: Arachnoiditis ossificans (AO) is a rare entity characterized by the presence of calcified plaques formed by the metaplasia of arachnoid cells. We report a case of symptomatic AO, with associated syringomyelia and tethered spinal cord, as a late sequela of oil-based myelography. A review of literature, and description of the pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, imaging characteristics, classification, and management options of this rare entity, are also discussed. Read More

AME Case Rep 2019 16;3. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital of Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal.

Late neurological deficit following scoliosis surgery is a rare event and any change in the patient's neurological status deserves immediate attention. We report on two clinical cases (at 2 and 6 years of follow-up) where two different types of proximal instrumentation resulted in lateral drift into the spinal canal causing cord compression with neurological deficit. Late neurological compromise in a posterior spinal-fusion setting deserves a prompt and complete spine investigative search for non-union, infection, or implant migration into the spinal canal. Read More

J Neuroeng Rehabil 2019 Mar 8;16(1):36. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Background: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is used to restore movements in paretic limbs after severe paralyses resulting from neurological injuries such as spinal cord injury (SCI). Most chronic FES systems utilize an implantable electrical stimulator to deliver a small electric current to the targeted muscle or nerve to stimulate muscle contractions. These implanted stimulators are generally bulky, mainly due to the size of the batteries. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2019 May 27;14(5):561-564. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan.

A previously healthy 43-year-old man presented with durable occipitalgia for 1 month. Neurological examination revealed severe pain in the right C2 area accompanied by neck stiffness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enhancing, polycystic intradural mass at the C2 level, occupying the left dorsolateral part of the spinal canal. Read More

Clin Orthop Relat Res 2019 Apr;477(4):872-878

E. G. Lieberman, S. Radoslovich, L. M. Marshall, J. U. Yoo, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and urinary bother have been reported in adults undergoing surgery and have been associated with urinary tract infections, longer hospital stays, increased surgical costs, and decreased patient satisfaction. Previous reports indicate that up to one in two patients with lumbar spine pathology have moderate-to-severe LUTS, but little is known about LUTS in patients with cervical spine conditions.

Questions/purposes: (1) What is the prevalence of moderate-to-severe LUTS and clinically relevant urinary bother among patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery? (2) Does the presence of myelopathy affect frequency of moderate-to-severe LUTS or clinically relevant urinary bother among patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery? (3) Do MRI findings of spinal cord injury or compression correlate with presence and severity of LUTS?

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study using clinical data collected from adult patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery. Read More

J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2019 Mar 27;62(2):209-216. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

Objective: Hydatid cyst disease is caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. It is rarely seen in the vertebral system, occurring at a rate of 0.2-1%. Read More