scholarly journals Cells of the intervertebral disc: Making the best of a bad environment

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 15-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Urban ◽  
Sally Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Physical Environment ◽  
Degenerative Change ◽  
Intervertebral Discs ◽  
Nutrient Supply ◽  
Small Population ◽  
The Body ◽  
Western World ◽  
Hostile Environment ◽  
Vertebral Bodies ◽  
Genetically Determined

The intervertebral discs are the largest avascular tissues in the body. They link the vertebral bodies and are the major joints of the spine, providing flexibility to an otherwise rigid structure. These large tissues are maintained by only a small population of cells; the cell density is one of the lowest of any tissue in the body with one cell responsible for synthesizing and maintaining as much as 200 times its volume of matrix. The discs show signs of degenerative change very early in life, possibly because of the hostile environment that they encounter; their nutrient supply is precarious and they experience high mechanical loads. Although recent work indicates that much degeneration is genetically determined, interactions between genes and the physical environment appear to increase the risk of disc degeneration, which itself is associated with one of the most costly medical conditions in the Western world, back pain.

scholarly journals β1 Integrin regulates convergent extension in mouse notogenesis, ensures notochord integrity and the morphogenesis of vertebrae and intervertebral discs

Development ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 147 (22) ◽  
pp. dev192724
Author(s):  
Shiny Shengzhen Guo ◽  
Tiffany Y. K. Au ◽  
Sarah Wynn ◽  
Attila Aszodi ◽  
Danny Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Planar Cell Polarity ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Developmental Process ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Intervertebral Discs ◽  
The Body ◽  
Β1 Integrin ◽  
Convergent Extension ◽  
Tail Bud ◽  
Vertebral Bodies

ABSTRACTThe notochord drives longitudinal growth of the body axis by convergent extension, a highly conserved developmental process that depends on non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling. However, the role of cell-matrix interactions mediated by integrins in the development of the notochord is unclear. We developed transgenic Cre mice, in which the β1 integrin gene (Itgb1) is ablated at E8.0 in the notochord only or in the notochord and tail bud. These Itgb1 conditional mutants display misaligned, malformed vertebral bodies, hemi-vertebrae and truncated tails. From early somite stages, the notochord was interrupted and displaced in these mutants. Convergent extension of the notochord was impaired with defective cell movement. Treatment of E7.25 wild-type embryos with anti-β1 integrin blocking antibodies, to target node pit cells, disrupted asymmetric localization of VANGL2. Our study implicates pivotal roles of β1 integrin for the establishment of PCP and convergent extension of the developing notochord, its structural integrity and positioning, thereby ensuring development of the nucleus pulposus and the proper alignment of vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs. Failure of this control may contribute to human congenital spine malformations.

A deep learning system for automated, multi-modality 2D segmentation of vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs

Bone ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 115972
Author(s):  
Abhinav Suri ◽  
Brandon C. Jones ◽  
Grace Ng ◽  
Nancy Anabaraonye ◽  
Patrick Beyrer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Intervertebral Discs ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Vertebral Bodies

scholarly journals Minimally invasive debridement and drainage using intraoperative CT-Guide in multilevel spondylodiscitis: a long‐term follow‐up study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianbiao Xu ◽  
Leiming Zhang ◽  
Rongqiang Bu ◽  
Yankang Liu ◽  
Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Operation Time ◽  
Intervertebral Discs ◽  
Intraoperative Ct ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Invasive Method ◽  
Vertebral Bodies ◽  
Adjacent Segments

Abstract Background Spondylodiscitis is an unusual infectious disease, which usually originates as a pathogenic infection of intervertebral discs and then spreads to neighboring vertebral bodies. The objective of this study is to evaluate percutaneous debridement and drainage using intraoperative CT-Guide in multilevel spondylodiscitis. Methods From January 2002 to May 2017, 23 patients with multilevel spondylodiscitis were treated with minimally invasive debridement and drainage procedures in our department. The clinical manifestations, evolution, and minimally invasive debridement and drainage treatment of this refractory vertebral infection were investigated. Results Of the enrolled patients, the operation time ranged from 30 minutes to 124 minutes every level with an average of 48 minutes. Intraoperative hemorrhage was minimal. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 12 months to 6.5 years with an average of 3.7 years. There was no reactivation of infection in the treated vertebral segment during follow-up, but two patients with fungal spinal infection continued to progress by affecting adjacent segments prior to final resolution. According to the classification system of Macnab, one patient had a good outcome at the final follow-up, and the rest were excellent. Conclusions Minimally invasive percutaneous debridement and irrigation using intraoperative CT-Guide is an effective minimally invasive method for the treatment of multilevel spondylodiscitis.

scholarly journals Pyogenic and tuberculous discitis: magnetic resonance imaging findings for differential diagnosis

2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiano Gonzaga de Souza ◽  
Emerson Leandro Gasparetto ◽  
Edson Marchiori ◽  
Paulo Roberto Valle Bahia
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Correct Diagnosis ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Intervertebral Discs ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Imaging Findings ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Radiographic Findings ◽  
Vertebral Bodies

Spondylodiscitis represents 2%–4% of all bone infections cases. The correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment can prevent complications such as vertebral collapse and spinal cord compression, avoiding surgical procedures. The diagnosis is based on characteristic clinical and radiographic findings and confirmed by blood culture and biopsy of the disc or the vertebra. The present study was developed with Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital patients with histopathologically and microbiologically confirmed diagnosis of spondylodiscitis, submitted to magnetic resonance imaging of the affected regions. In most cases, pyogenic spondylodiscitis affects the lumbar spine. The following findings are suggestive of the diagnosis: segmental involvement; ill-defined abscesses; early intervertebral disc involvement; homogeneous vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs involvement. Tuberculous spondylodiscitis affects preferentially the thoracic spine. Most suggestive signs include: presence of well-defined and thin-walled abscess; multisegmental, subligamentous involvement; heterogeneous involvement of vertebral bodies; and relative sparing of intervertebral discs. The present pictorial essay is aimed at showing the main magnetic resonance imaging findings of pyogenic and tuberculous discitis.

scholarly journals The massage approach of Avicenna in the Canon of Medicine

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-114
Author(s):  
Murat Çetkin ◽  
İlhan Bahşi ◽  
Mustafa Orhan
Keyword(s):  
The Body ◽  
Western World ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
State Of Health ◽  
Important Work ◽  
Historical Process ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Important Position ◽  
Natural Healing

Massage is the manipulation of the body tissues by using techniques, such as rubbing, kneading, pressing, and rolling to sustain a state of health and wellness. Massage is one of the oldest and most natural healing applications in human history. Avicenna (980 – 1037) gained a very important position in the medical world with his most important work, the Canon of Medicine, known as the holy book of medicine in the Western world. Different types of massage were defined in the book. These were hard friction that braces the body, soft friction that relaxes the body, repeated friction that reduces the amount of fat in the body, moderately hard friction that improves the body, rough friction that leads the blood to the surface rapidly, gentle friction that increases blood flow in the application area, preparatory friction that prepares the body before exercise, and restorative friction that is applied after exercise which alleviates exhaustion. It may be seen that Avicenna, whose work shows influence of Greek and Roman physicians, was heavily influenced by Hippocrates and Galen. It is seen that the massage techniques and effect mechanisms defined by Avicenna about a thousand years ago have contributed a lot to the developments in massage through the historical process.

scholarly journals Aetiological factors in left-handedness

2005 ◽  
Vol 133 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 532-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanja Milenkovic ◽  
Goran Belojevic ◽  
Radojka Kocijancic
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Factors ◽  
The Body ◽  
Intrauterine Environment ◽  
Foetal Development ◽  
Ultrasound Exposure ◽  
The Past ◽  
Left Handedness ◽  
Left Handed ◽  
Efferent Pathways ◽  
Genetically Determined

Lateralisation associates the extremities and senses of one side of the body, which are connected by afferent and efferent pathways, with the primary motor and sensory areas of the hemisphere on the opposite side. Dominant laterality denotes the appearance of a dominant extremity or sense in the performance of complex psychomotor activities. Laterality is manifested both as right-handedness or left-handedness, which are functionally equivalent and symmetrical in the performance of activities. Right-handedness is significantly more common than left-handedness. Genetic theory is most widely accepted in explaining the onset of lateralisation. According to this theory, the models of brain organisation asymmetry (anatomical, functional, and biochemical) are strongly, genetically determined. However, the inability to clearly demonstrate the association between genetic factors and left-handedness has led researchers to investigate the effects of the environment on left-handedness. Of particular interest are the intrauterine environment and the factors influencing foetal development, of which hormones and ultrasound exposure are the most significant. It has been estimated that an extra five cases of nonright-handed lateralisation can be expected in every 100 males who were exposed to ultrasound in utero compared to those who were not. Socio-cultural pressure on left-handed individuals was much more severe in the past, which is confirmed by scientific findings that left-handedness is present in 13% of individuals in their twenties, while in less than 1% of individuals in their eighties.

scholarly journals The Evolution in The Treatment of Multiple Myeloma Towards Targeted Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Nanomedicines

2015 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Edgar Pérez-Herrero
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Plasma Cells ◽  
The Body ◽  
Western World ◽  
Bone Lesions ◽  
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Clonal Proliferation ◽  
Tract Infections

Multiple myeloma is the second more frequently haematological cancer in the western world, after non-Hodgkin lymphoma, being about the 1-2 % of all the cancers cases and the 10-13% of hematologic diseases. The disease is caused by an uncontrolled clonal proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow that accumulate in different parts of the body, usually in the bone marrow, around some bones, and rarely in other tissues, forming tumor deposits, called plasmocytomas. This uncontrolled clonal proliferation of plasma cells produces the secretion of an abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin (paraprotein or M-protein) and prevents the formation of the other antibodies produced by the normal plasma cells that are destroyed. The anormal secretion of paraproteins unbalance the osteoblastosis and osteoclastosis processes, leading to bone lesions that cause lytic bone deposits and the release of calcium from bones (hypercalcemia) that may produce renal failure. Regions affected by bone lesions are the skull, spine, ribs, sternum, pelvis and bones that form part of the shoulders and hips. The substitution of the healthy bone marrow by infiltrating malignant cells and the inhibition of the normal production of red blood cells produce anaemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. Multiple myeloma patients are immunosuppressed because of leukopenia and the abnormal immunoglobulin production caused by the uncontrolled clonal proliferation of plasma cells, being susceptible to bacterial infections, like pneumonias and urinary tract infections. The interaction of immunoglobulin with hemostatic mechanisms may lead to haemorrhagic diathesis or thrombosis. Also, disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system are part of the disease, being the more common neurological manifestations the spinal cord compressions and the peripheral neuropathies.

Measurements of Mean Velocity and Turbulent Statistics in a Centrifugal Blood Pump

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W. Day ◽  
James C. McDaniel ◽  
Phillip P. Lemire ◽  
Houston G. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Left Ventricle ◽  
Heart Transplantation ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
The Body ◽  
Western World ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Centrifugal Blood Pump ◽  
Turbulent Statistics

An estimated 150,000 patients in the Western World require heart transplantation every year, while only 4,000 (2.5%) of them actually receive a donor heart [1]. This lack of available donors for heart transplantation has led to a large effort since the 1960s to develop an artificial mechanical heart as an alternative to heart transplant. Most end stage cardiac failures result from cardiac disease or tissue damage of the left ventricle. After this failure, the ventricle is not strong enough to deliver an adequate supply of oxygen to critical organs. A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a mechanical pump that does not replace the native heart, but rather works in concert with it. An LVAD can effectively relieve some strain from a native heart, which has been weakened by disease or damage, and increase blood flow supplied to the body to maintain normal physiologic function. The inlet to the LVAD is attached to the native left ventricle, and the output of the assist pump rejoins the output of the native heart at the aorta, as shown in Figure 1. Blood flow from both the aortic valve and the assist pump combine and flow through the body. The clinical effectiveness of LVADs has been demonstrated; however, all of the currently available pumps have a limited life because of either the damage that they cause to blood or their limited mechanical design life.

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