This electron microscopic study deals with the structure of the Z disc of frog's skeletal muscle, with special regard to the I filaments-whether they pass through the Z disc or terminate at it. In most longitudinal sections the I filaments terminate as rod-like projections on either side of the Z disc, one I filament on one side lying between two I filaments on the opposite side. This indicates...

The results of operation on 46 cases of slipped disc have been studied. The age of the patient and the duration of pre-operative symptoms both influence the late results. Results were not usually satisfactory in cases with severe limitation of straight-leg raising. Severe pressure on the nerve-root produces permanent changes and symptoms do not always disappear after its relief. The presence of...

It has been our sincerest honor to have guest-edited this focus issue on “Disk Degeneration and Pain” for the Global Spine Journal. Of particular importance is that this issue commemorates the “first” focus issue of our newly developed journal, which we hope will be one of many more to come. In a recent publication by Vos et al,1 published by The Lancet, low back pain was identified as “the lea...

Prediction of the relationship between different types of mechanical loading and the failure of the intervertebral disc is so important to identify the risk factors which are difficult to study in vivo and in vitro. On the basis of finite element methods some of these issues may be overcome enabling more detailed assessment of the biomechanical behavior of the intervertebral disc. The objective...

INTRODUCTION A scoliotic deformity on intervertebral discs may accelerate degeneration at a molecular level with the production of metalloproteinases (MMPs). In the present experimental study we evaluated the presence of MMP-1 immunohistochemically after application of asymmetric forces in a rat intervertebral disc and the impact of the degree of the deformity on MMP-1 expression. MATERIAL-ME...

INTRODUCTION: Cells of the intervertebral disc respond to mechanical and biophysical stimuli in their environment, including deformations, hydrostatic and osmotic pressures [1]. Previous studies have shown that fibrochondrocytes of the disc respond to altered osmotic pressure with changes in post-translational biosynthesis of proteoglycans (i.e., S-incorporation) [2, 3], as well as changes in g...

Intervertebral disc degeneration is widely recognized as a cause of lower back pain, neurological dysfunction and other musculoskeletal disorders. The major inflammatory cytokine IL-1β is associated with intervertebral disc degeneration; however, the molecular mechanisms that drive IL-1β production in the intervertebral disc, especially in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, are unknown. In some tissu...

STUDY DESIGN Biomechanical study. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cervical facet loading profile of an intervertebral cervical disc prosthesis incorporating a unique saddle-shaped articulation and to determine the effect of implantation of the prosthesis on both the loading curve and area distribution of facet loading, when compared with that of an intact specimen. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA This...

PURPOSE To assess the relation between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and degenerative disc disease emerging in association with various intrinsic and extrinsic factors and to evaluate the correlation between degree of degeneration in intervertebral discs and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. METHODS Thirty-five patients with AS and a control group of 35 patients were included in the ...

Galway, Ireland Degeneration of Intervertebral Disc: Correlation between MRI, Histological and Transcripts Analysis. Johann Clouet, Marianne Pot-Vaucel, ClaireVinatier, Martial Masson, Julie Lesoeur, Yan Chérel, Lydie Guigand, Marion Fusellier, Borhane Fellah, Olivier Gauthier, Pierre Weiss, Gaël Grimandi, Jérôme Guicheux Corresponding Author: [email protected] 1 Inserm U791, group o...