World Neurosurg
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The continuous development of microsurgical techniques to treat lesions in and around the optic canal (OC) emphasizes the need for an accurate understanding of the microanatomy of the region. ⋯ The neurovascular structures within the OC vary in size and shape. The anatomic knowledge of the OC and its variations allows better surgical results and minimizes the surgical morbidity.
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Intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD) is closely associated with inflammatory environments. Curcumol has been shown to alleviate inflammation in various disease models, but its effects on IVDD remain unclear. In this study, we sought to determine the mechanism of curcumol in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced nucleus pulposus cells and a mouse IVDD model. ⋯ These results suggest a potential therapeutic use of curcumol to alleviate inflammation via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway and delay the progression of IVDD.
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Spinal surgeries are the leading causes for patient settlement issues. Recent European Medical Device Regulations aims to reduce complications by enforcing that surgical tools are validated before clinical use. Human cadavers are favored in preclinical use, but due to anatomic variance, decay, and scarce supply, alternative synthetic and animal models are used. This study evaluates the fidelity and validity of porcine models in training and assessment of microsurgical decompressive techniques in the lumbar spine. ⋯ Pigs are representative for assessing microsurgical decompression techniques in the lower lumbar spine. The novel "en bloc" pig model can be an asset for industries and clinicians during assessment and training of new spinal techniques.