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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To identify potential prognostic factors predicting functional outcome and survival after surgery followed by radiotherapy for metastatic spinal cord compression due to solid tumors. ⋯ The key element for successful treatment of MESCC is multidisciplinary care of the patient, which includes all of those prognostic factors that have been, until now, analyzed and compared. In our set of patients treated for vertebral metastases, PS, time to development of symptoms, and the presence of visceral metastases affected functional outcome and survival.
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Development of adjacent segment degeneration following anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) is still controversial, as adjacent-level kinematics is poorly understood. This study reports preliminary data from a high-accuracy 3D analysis technique developed for in vivo cervical kinematics. ⋯ This study showed increased segmental motion in flexion/extension angular-ROM at one level adjacent to ACDF. However, increases in the rotational angular-ROM were not statistically significant when cranial/caudal adjacent levels were analyzed separately. This preliminary study highlighted the capabilities of a 3D-kinematic analysis method to detect subtle changes in kinematics and disc height at the adjacent levels to ACDF. Thus, reliable evidence related to ACDF's influence on adjacent-level cervical kinematics can be collected.
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Annulus fibrosus (AF) tissue engineering is gathering increasing interest for the development of strategies to reduce recurrent disc herniation (DH) rate and to increase the effectiveness of intervertebral disc regeneration strategies. This study evaluates the use of a bioactive microfibrous poly(L-lactide) scaffold releasing Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β1 (PLLA/TGF) for the repair and regeneration of damaged AF. ⋯ PLLA/TGF scaffold induced an anabolic stimulus on AFCs, mimicking the ECM three-dimensional environment of AF tissue. This bioactive scaffold showed encouraging results that allow envisaging an application for AF tissue engineering strategies and AF repair after discectomy for the prevention of recurrent DH.
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Comparative Study
The effectiveness of poloxamer 407-based new anti-adhesive material in a laminectomy model in rats.
In the laminectomy model in rats, to verify anti-adhesive effectiveness of the new material, a mixture composed of poloxamer 407, calcium chloride, and xanthorrhizol, we compared it with that of commercially used solution form anti-adhesive agent GUARDIX-SL, Biorane. ⋯ The new anti-adhesive material showed similar or improved effectiveness with the existing agents for commercial use. This result suggests that the new anti-adhesive material will be a successful candidate as a future product for clinical use.