European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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The aim of this study was to provide some useful insights into the clinical and imaging presentations, treatment and prognostic factors in patients with neurological deficit caused by clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) spinal metastases for the sake of designing individualized therapeutic plans for such patients. ⋯ Tokuhashi score 10 or more is a favorable prognostic factor of CCRCC spinal metastasis.
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Multiple myeloma (MM) and solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SPB) are two independent subtypes of plasma cell dyscrasias which often occur in spine. However, little is known about the surgical treatment of patients with spinal instability or neurological impairment caused by spinal lesions as the first clinical manifestation. The present study aimed to investigate the surgical outcome of these patients. ⋯ Surgery may be beneficial to patients with spinal instability or neurological impairment caused by spinal lesions as the first clinical manifestation, in which MM patients with postoperative ambulatory ability display better prognosis.
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A number of anterior reconstruction options are available in patients managed for symptomatic metastatic spinal column disease. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been traditionally used as a reconstruction option in patients with limited life expectancy as an anterior fusion is not expected. In this article, we present the outcome of a 13-year follow-up of a long anterior reconstruction using PMMA of the upper thoracic spine in a myelopathic female secondary to a compressive breast metastasis affecting the upper 4 thoracic vertebrae. We discuss the use of PMMA in spinal oncological surgery and review the evidence pertinent to its use.
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To investigate the difference of intra-dural space for spinal cord in magnetic resonance imaging between patients with and without developmental cervical stenosis and its clinical significance. ⋯ Developmental cervical stenosis is associated with a smaller sagittal diameter of dural sac, but does not lead to a significant decrease of intra-dural space available for the cord. For patients with normal intra-dural space, the recovery after anterior decompression surgery was better.
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Intervertebral disc cell apoptosis has been suggested to play a key role in promoting disc degeneration, and many studies have shown that the mechanism may be related to oxidative stress. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a redox cofactor for bacterial dehydrogenases, possesses the potential to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibit cell apoptosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of PQQ on cultured rat nucleus pulposus (NP) cells under conditions of oxidative injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and to investigate the underlying mechanisms in vitro. ⋯ Our results suggest that PQQ can protect rat NP cells against oxidative stress via a mitochondria-mediated pathway. PQQ might be useful as a potential pharmaceutical agent in the prevention of intervertebral disc degeneration.