Spine
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A prospective cohort study. ⋯ These findings suggest that sleep disturbances are predictive of hospitalization for back disorders. The mechanism underlying this association warrants further study.
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A prospective follow-up study. ⋯ In addition to neurologic deficits, cervical spondylotic myelopathy also causes sexual dysfunction. Most of these patients had an abnormal psychogenic erection and normal reflexogenic erection. Along with neurologic recovery, most patients had improvement in sexual function after surgery.
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Prospective case series with historical controls (normative data). ⋯ CLBP patients, especially men, seem to have a reduced aerobic fitness level compared with the normative population. No explanatory factor for that loss could be identified.
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Marrow was aspirated from the vertebral body (VB) and iliac crest (IC) of patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery, following an approved protocol. Progenitor cells were isolated using standard culture conditions and their osteogenic potential evaluated. ⋯ Our studies show that CFU-F frequency is higher in the marrow of the VB than the IC. Progenitor cells isolated from both sites respond in a similar manner to an osteogenic stimulus and express common immunophenotypes. Based on these findings, we propose that progenitor cells from the lumbar vertebral marrow would be suitable candidate for osseous graft supplementation in spinal fusion procedures. Studies must now be conducted using animal models to ascertain if cells of the VB are as effective as those of the IC for the fusion applications.
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Computerized tomographic study of human cadavers undergoing traction and flexion-extension bending. ⋯ The CTJ, as a transition region between the cervical and thoracic spines, has unique kinematic characteristics. This application of kinematic CT methods is useful for quantifying unreported normative ranges of motion for the CTJ, difficult by other conventional radiologic means.