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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Various aspects of paraspinal muscle anatomy, biology, and histology have been studied; however, information on paraspinal muscle contractile function is almost nonexistent, thus hindering functional interpretation of these muscles in healthy individuals and those with low back disorders. The aim of this study was to measure and compare the contractile function and force-sarcomere length properties of muscle fibers from the multifidus (MULT) and erector spinae (ES) as well as a commonly studied lower limb muscle (Extensor digitorum longus (EDL)) in the rat. ⋯ This finding suggests that multifidus has faster cross-bridge turnover kinetics when compared to other muscles (ES and EDL) when matched for fiber type. Whether the faster cross-bridge kinetics translate to a functionally significant difference in whole muscle performance needs to be studied further.
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The aim of this study was to assess the validity and objectivity of a new quantitative radiographic grading system for thoracic intervertebral disc degeneration. ⋯ The new quantitative radiographic grading scheme represents a valid, reliable, and almost objective method for assessing the degree of degeneration of individual thoracic intervertebral discs. Potential effects of interindividual variations and the radiographic superimposition of anatomical structures represent a limitation of this method should be taken into account when using the grading system for clinical and experimental purposes, especially with regard to specific morphological as well as patient- and donor-specific characteristics.
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Modic changes (MC) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been associated with the development and severity of low back pain (LBP). The etiology of MC remains elusive, but it has been suggested that altered metabolism may be a risk factor. As such, this study aimed to identify metabolomic biomarkers for MC phenotypes of the lumbar spine via a combined metabolomic-genomic approach. ⋯ This large-scale study is the first to address metabolomics in subject with/without lumbar MC. Causality studies implicate VLDL related to MC, noting a metabolic etiology. Our study substantiates the field of "spino-metabolomics" and illustrates the power of integrating metabolomics-genomics-imaging phenotypes to discover biomarkers for spinal disorders, paving the way for more personalized spine care for patients.
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Intradiscal vacuum phenomenon (IDVP), despite being ubiquitous, is poorly understood. The dynamic passage of peri-discal gases into the degenerated disc is a commonly accepted theory. But the reasons behind its selective appearance in some discs are unevaluated. ⋯ Modic disc-endplate contacts, ALL disruption and coronal translation could be pathways for the passage of peri-discal gases into the degenerated disc. In the pathogenesis of IDVP, advanced disc degeneration, the presence of pathways of gas transfer and angular/coronal instability seem to play complementary roles.