A vertebroplastia percutânea (VP) consiste na injeção de polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA) no corpo vertebral para alívio da dor e estabilização vertebral, porém seu uso na região cervical é restrito. No intuito de avaliar a efetividade e a segurança da VP na região cervical (VPC), foram avaliados 75 pacientes que se submeteram à VPC (n=101) por doença maligna (n=69) ou hemangioma vertebral (n=6) no período de janeiro de 1994 a outubro de 2007. A VPC foi realizada por uma abordagem ântero-lateral guiada por fluoroscopia. A dor foi graduada por uma escala variando de 0 a 10. O seguimento clinico (período médio de 8,8 meses) foi obtido em 57 (76%) pacientes: 48 tiveram a VPC indicada para controle da dor e nove para estabilização vertebral. Os dados foram analisados de forma univariada e multivariada. A efetividade analgésica foi obtida em 37 (77,1%) dos 48 pacientes seguidos, tendo sido associada ao volume de cimento injetado (P=0,011) e ao preenchimento vertebral (P=0,007) na análise multivariada. A estabilidade vertebral foi observada em 55 (96,5%) dos 57 pacientes, não se correlacionando com as variáveis estudadas. A curva de ROC identificou o preenchimento vertebral como preditor da efetividade analgésica (P=0,008), sendo 50% o melhor ponto de corte para discriminar a maior probabilidade de efetividade analgésica (sensibilidade de 78,0% e especificidade de 62,5%). O extravasamento de cimento foi identificado em 83 (82,2%) das 101 vértebras tratadas não se correlacionando com as variáveis estudadas. As complicações clínicas foram detectadas em 13 (17,3 %) pacientes: complicações locais em 10 (13,3%) e sistêmicas em três (4%) pacientes. As complicações clínicas foram estatisticamente relacionadas à ruptura do muro posterior (P=0,026) e ao extravasamento de PMMA no plexo venoso transverso (P=0,023). A taxa de mortalidade e morbidade a longo termo foi de 1,3% (um paciente) e 1,3% (um paciente). Pode se inferir que a VPC é um procedimento efetivo e seguro, sem se negligenciar os riscos potenciais de complicações. O preenchimento vertebral e o volume de cimento foram associados à efetividade analgésica, mas não à estabilidade vertebral. O preenchimento vertebral teve o maior poder discriminatório da efetividade analgésica, tendo sido obtido com o ponto de corte de 50 % o melhor equilíbrio entre sensibilidade e especificidade para se determinar a efetividade analgésica / Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) consists of an injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) into the vertebral body for pain relief and spinal stabilization, however reports of PV in the cervical spine (CPV) are scarce in the literature. To evaluate the effectiveness and security of CPV, we evaluated 75 patients (mean age, 51.3 years) who underwent CPV (n=101) for malignancies (n=69) and vertebral hemangiomas (n=6) between January 1994 and October 2007. CPV was performed via an antero-lateral approach, using fluoroscopic guidance. Pain intensity was scored with a scale ranging from 0 to 10. Follow-up (mean time of 8.8 months) was avaible in 57 (76 %) patients: 48 of them had CPV indicated for pain control and nine for spinal stabilization. Data were analysed by means of univariate and multivariate analysis. Pain improvement was observed in 37 (77.1%) out of 48 followed patients and was correlated in multivariate analysis with cement volume (P=0.011) and with vertebral filling (P=0.007). Spinal stabilization was observed in 55 (96.5%) of 57 followed patients and was related with none of the evaluated variables. The ROC curve identified the vertebral filling as a good predictor of pain improvement (P=0.008). The best cut-off point to discriminate pain improvement was 50% of vertebral filling (78.0% sensitivity and 62.5% specificity). In 83 (82.2%) of the 101 treated vertebral levels, at least one type of PMMA leakage was found. None of the evaluated factors were related significantly to PMMA leakage. Clinical complications were detected in 13 (17.3%) patients: local complications in 10 (13.3%) patients and systemic clinical complications in three (4.0%) patients. Posterior wall disruption (P=0.026) and transverse venous PMMA leakage (P=0.023) were significantly associated with clinical complications. Long-term morbidity and mortality rate was 1.3% (one patient) and 1.3% (one patient). CPV is a safe and efficacious procedure, but the potential for local and systemic complications must be considered. Cement volume and vertebral filling were associated with pain improvement but not with spinal stability. Vertebral filling has a good performance to predict pain improvement and a cut-off of 50% of vertebral filing obtained the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity to discriminate pain improvement

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xii, 72, Annexures 1-10, [19] leaves / The purpose of this research was to conduct a descriptive study of cervical cases recorded at the Durban University of Technology Chiropractic Day Clinic from 1995 to 2005 as there is a paucity of information on the recorded cases of neck pain in South Africa.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T16:31:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Glauber Fabre Carinhena1.pdf: 160083 bytes, checksum: 9ff28bf9a976e1529fd0641542f508ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-03-23 / Este estudo foi realizado com o propósito de testar a reprodutibilidade, a confiabilidade e a concordância existente entre os métodos de Martins e Sakima (1977) para a radiografia de mão e punho, e Hassel e Farman (1995) e Baccetti et al. (2002) para as vértebras cervicais, quando comparados 2 a 2, e entre todos, conjuntamente. A amostra constou de 72 radiografias, sendo 36 telerradiografias em norma lateral da cabeça e 36 radiografias de mão e punho do lado esquerdo, de 36 indivíduos com Síndrome de Down (SD), sendo 13 do sexo feminino e 23 do masculino na faixa etária entre oito anos e seis meses até 18 anos e sete meses, com média de 13 anos e dez meses. De acordo com os resultados obtidos concluímos que, os índices de maturação avaliados por meio das vértebras cervicais e os centros de ossificação observados nas radiografias de mão e punho foram estatisticamente significativos, obtendo um excelente grau de concordância entre eles, considerados reprodutíveis e confiáveis. Quando comparados onjuntamente, todos os métodos se mostraram estatisticamente significantes com grau de concordância de razoável a boa, sendo considerados confiáveis na aplicação clínica.

A vertebroplastia percutânea (VP) consiste na injeção de polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA) no corpo vertebral para alívio da dor e estabilização vertebral, porém seu uso na região cervical é restrito. No intuito de avaliar a efetividade e a segurança da VP na região cervical (VPC), foram avaliados 75 pacientes que se submeteram à VPC (n=101) por doença maligna (n=69) ou hemangioma vertebral (n=6) no período de janeiro de 1994 a outubro de 2007. A VPC foi realizada por uma abordagem ântero-lateral guiada por fluoroscopia. A dor foi graduada por uma escala variando de 0 a 10. O seguimento clinico (período médio de 8,8 meses) foi obtido em 57 (76%) pacientes: 48 tiveram a VPC indicada para controle da dor e nove para estabilização vertebral. Os dados foram analisados de forma univariada e multivariada. A efetividade analgésica foi obtida em 37 (77,1%) dos 48 pacientes seguidos, tendo sido associada ao volume de cimento injetado (P=0,011) e ao preenchimento vertebral (P=0,007) na análise multivariada. A estabilidade vertebral foi observada em 55 (96,5%) dos 57 pacientes, não se correlacionando com as variáveis estudadas. A curva de ROC identificou o preenchimento vertebral como preditor da efetividade analgésica (P=0,008), sendo 50% o melhor ponto de corte para discriminar a maior probabilidade de efetividade analgésica (sensibilidade de 78,0% e especificidade de 62,5%). O extravasamento de cimento foi identificado em 83 (82,2%) das 101 vértebras tratadas não se correlacionando com as variáveis estudadas. As complicações clínicas foram detectadas em 13 (17,3 %) pacientes: complicações locais em 10 (13,3%) e sistêmicas em três (4%) pacientes. As complicações clínicas foram estatisticamente relacionadas à ruptura do muro posterior (P=0,026) e ao extravasamento de PMMA no plexo venoso transverso (P=0,023). A taxa de mortalidade e morbidade a longo termo foi de 1,3% (um paciente) e 1,3% (um paciente). Pode se inferir que a VPC é um procedimento efetivo e seguro, sem se negligenciar os riscos potenciais de complicações. O preenchimento vertebral e o volume de cimento foram associados à efetividade analgésica, mas não à estabilidade vertebral. O preenchimento vertebral teve o maior poder discriminatório da efetividade analgésica, tendo sido obtido com o ponto de corte de 50 % o melhor equilíbrio entre sensibilidade e especificidade para se determinar a efetividade analgésica / Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) consists of an injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) into the vertebral body for pain relief and spinal stabilization, however reports of PV in the cervical spine (CPV) are scarce in the literature. To evaluate the effectiveness and security of CPV, we evaluated 75 patients (mean age, 51.3 years) who underwent CPV (n=101) for malignancies (n=69) and vertebral hemangiomas (n=6) between January 1994 and October 2007. CPV was performed via an antero-lateral approach, using fluoroscopic guidance. Pain intensity was scored with a scale ranging from 0 to 10. Follow-up (mean time of 8.8 months) was avaible in 57 (76 %) patients: 48 of them had CPV indicated for pain control and nine for spinal stabilization. Data were analysed by means of univariate and multivariate analysis. Pain improvement was observed in 37 (77.1%) out of 48 followed patients and was correlated in multivariate analysis with cement volume (P=0.011) and with vertebral filling (P=0.007). Spinal stabilization was observed in 55 (96.5%) of 57 followed patients and was related with none of the evaluated variables. The ROC curve identified the vertebral filling as a good predictor of pain improvement (P=0.008). The best cut-off point to discriminate pain improvement was 50% of vertebral filling (78.0% sensitivity and 62.5% specificity). In 83 (82.2%) of the 101 treated vertebral levels, at least one type of PMMA leakage was found. None of the evaluated factors were related significantly to PMMA leakage. Clinical complications were detected in 13 (17.3%) patients: local complications in 10 (13.3%) patients and systemic clinical complications in three (4.0%) patients. Posterior wall disruption (P=0.026) and transverse venous PMMA leakage (P=0.023) were significantly associated with clinical complications. Long-term morbidity and mortality rate was 1.3% (one patient) and 1.3% (one patient). CPV is a safe and efficacious procedure, but the potential for local and systemic complications must be considered. Cement volume and vertebral filling were associated with pain improvement but not with spinal stability. Vertebral filling has a good performance to predict pain improvement and a cut-off of 50% of vertebral filing obtained the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity to discriminate pain improvement

As disfunções temporomandibulares (DTMs) compreendem um termo genérico, que abrange vários subtipos de patologias funcionais que podem acometer o sistema temporomandibular (ST). Apesar de as relações funcionais entre postura corporal e ST terem sido intensamente estudadas nas últimas décadas, pouco se sabe atualmente a respeito de seus papeis recíprocos durante os estados patológicos envolvendo uma ou outra região. Pesquisas que compararam a postura corporal de indivíduos portadores de patologia funcional do ST (PFST) com a de indivíduos portadores de ST saudável mostraram resultados conflitantes. O presente estudo partiu da hipótese que parte de tal inconclusividade da literatura científica se deve ao estudo indistinto da postura corporal de indivíduos portadores de patologias funcionais do sistema tempomandibular (PFSTs), sem a preocupação a respeito da característica e intensidade dos sinais e sintomas temporomandibulares específicos apresentados. A partir da amostra de estudos prévios deste autor e colaboradores, selecionaram-se 50 indivíduos distribuídos entre portadores de distúrbio interno de articulação temporomandibular (DI de ATM), com ou sem disfunção muscular mastigatória associada, e indivíduos portadores de ST saudável. Aplicaram-se análises de correlação linear, utilizando-se a idade, gênero, índices oclusal (Oi), anamnésico (Ai) e de disfunção clínica (Di) de Helkimo, bem como categorias de sinais e sintomas específicos de PFSTs como variáveis explicativas. Avaliações posturais da região de cabeça, coluna cervical, ombros e pelve foram utilizadas como variáveis dependentes da análise. Os resultados mostram que existe uma especificidade de alteração postural relacionada a determinada sintomatologia disfuncional do ST. A sintomatologia dolorosa na musculatura mastigatória tende a se relacionar ao aumento radiográfico de lordose de coluna cervical, bem como ao aumento de evidência clínica de lordose lombar; ao passo que alterações funcionais da articulação temporomandibular (ATM) tendem a se relacionar positivamente à evidência clínica de elevação de ombros e aumento no número de desvios posturais encontrados na cadeia ântero-interna da bacia. Todos os coeficientes de correlação encontrados apresentaram valores absolutos classificados como razoável. Entre outros resultados encontrados, a análise de regressão demonstrou que a lordose de coluna cervical se relaciona simultaneamente com a idade e o Di. Nem a dor em ATM isoladamente, nem tampouco o índice de limitação de mobilidade mandibular de Helkimo (ILMM) se relacionaram positivamente com quaisquer alterações posturais estudadas. Implicações fisiopatológicas mútuas são discutidas / Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) comprise a generic term covering several subtypes of functional disorders that can affect the temporomandibular system (TS). Although the functional relationship between body posture and TS have been intensively studied in recent decades, little is currently known about their roles during the reciprocal pathological states involving one or another region. Researches that have compared the posture of individuals with functional pathology of the TS (FPTS) with that of healthy individuals with TS have yielded conflicting results. The present study has hypothesized that part of such inconclusiveness of the scientific literature might be due to the indistinguishable to the study of body posture in individuals with functional pathologies of the system temporomandibular (FPTSs), without worrying about the characteristics and intensity of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular specific presented. From the sample of previous studies by this author and collaborators, we have selected 50 individuals distributed among patients with internal temporomandibular joint disorder (ID-TMJ), with or without associated masticatory muscle disorders, and TS healthy individuals. We have applied linear correlation analysis, using age, gender, occlusal index (Oi), anamnestic (Ai) and clinical dysfunction (Di) of Helkimo as well as categories for specific signs and symptoms of FPTSs as explaining variables. Postural evaluations in the head, spine, shoulders and pelvis were used as dependent variables from the analysis. The results show that there is a specificity of postural changes related to specific dysfunctional symptoms of TS. Painful symptoms at the masticatory muscles tend to relate to increased radiographic lordosis of the cervical spine, as well as the increase of clinical evidence of lumbar lordosis, whereas functional changes of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) tend to correlate positively with clinical evidence of lifted shoulders and increase in postural deviations found in the antero-internal hip chain. All correlation coefficients for absolute values have presented fair correlation intensity. Among other results, regression analysis showed that the cervical spine lordosis is related both to age and Di. Neither TMJ pain in isolation, nor the limitation mandibular mobility index of Helkimo (MMI) were positively related to any postural changes studied. Mutual pathophysiological implications are discussed

As disfunções temporomandibulares (DTMs) compreendem um termo genérico, que abrange vários subtipos de patologias funcionais que podem acometer o sistema temporomandibular (ST). Apesar de as relações funcionais entre postura corporal e ST terem sido intensamente estudadas nas últimas décadas, pouco se sabe atualmente a respeito de seus papeis recíprocos durante os estados patológicos envolvendo uma ou outra região. Pesquisas que compararam a postura corporal de indivíduos portadores de patologia funcional do ST (PFST) com a de indivíduos portadores de ST saudável mostraram resultados conflitantes. O presente estudo partiu da hipótese que parte de tal inconclusividade da literatura científica se deve ao estudo indistinto da postura corporal de indivíduos portadores de patologias funcionais do sistema tempomandibular (PFSTs), sem a preocupação a respeito da característica e intensidade dos sinais e sintomas temporomandibulares específicos apresentados. A partir da amostra de estudos prévios deste autor e colaboradores, selecionaram-se 50 indivíduos distribuídos entre portadores de distúrbio interno de articulação temporomandibular (DI de ATM), com ou sem disfunção muscular mastigatória associada, e indivíduos portadores de ST saudável. Aplicaram-se análises de correlação linear, utilizando-se a idade, gênero, índices oclusal (Oi), anamnésico (Ai) e de disfunção clínica (Di) de Helkimo, bem como categorias de sinais e sintomas específicos de PFSTs como variáveis explicativas. Avaliações posturais da região de cabeça, coluna cervical, ombros e pelve foram utilizadas como variáveis dependentes da análise. Os resultados mostram que existe uma especificidade de alteração postural relacionada a determinada sintomatologia disfuncional do ST. A sintomatologia dolorosa na musculatura mastigatória tende a se relacionar ao aumento radiográfico de lordose de coluna cervical, bem como ao aumento de evidência clínica de lordose lombar; ao passo que alterações funcionais da articulação temporomandibular (ATM) tendem a se relacionar positivamente à evidência clínica de elevação de ombros e aumento no número de desvios posturais encontrados na cadeia ântero-interna da bacia. Todos os coeficientes de correlação encontrados apresentaram valores absolutos classificados como razoável. Entre outros resultados encontrados, a análise de regressão demonstrou que a lordose de coluna cervical se relaciona simultaneamente com a idade e o Di. Nem a dor em ATM isoladamente, nem tampouco o índice de limitação de mobilidade mandibular de Helkimo (ILMM) se relacionaram positivamente com quaisquer alterações posturais estudadas. Implicações fisiopatológicas mútuas são discutidas / Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) comprise a generic term covering several subtypes of functional disorders that can affect the temporomandibular system (TS). Although the functional relationship between body posture and TS have been intensively studied in recent decades, little is currently known about their roles during the reciprocal pathological states involving one or another region. Researches that have compared the posture of individuals with functional pathology of the TS (FPTS) with that of healthy individuals with TS have yielded conflicting results. The present study has hypothesized that part of such inconclusiveness of the scientific literature might be due to the indistinguishable to the study of body posture in individuals with functional pathologies of the system temporomandibular (FPTSs), without worrying about the characteristics and intensity of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular specific presented. From the sample of previous studies by this author and collaborators, we have selected 50 individuals distributed among patients with internal temporomandibular joint disorder (ID-TMJ), with or without associated masticatory muscle disorders, and TS healthy individuals. We have applied linear correlation analysis, using age, gender, occlusal index (Oi), anamnestic (Ai) and clinical dysfunction (Di) of Helkimo as well as categories for specific signs and symptoms of FPTSs as explaining variables. Postural evaluations in the head, spine, shoulders and pelvis were used as dependent variables from the analysis. The results show that there is a specificity of postural changes related to specific dysfunctional symptoms of TS. Painful symptoms at the masticatory muscles tend to relate to increased radiographic lordosis of the cervical spine, as well as the increase of clinical evidence of lumbar lordosis, whereas functional changes of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) tend to correlate positively with clinical evidence of lifted shoulders and increase in postural deviations found in the antero-internal hip chain. All correlation coefficients for absolute values have presented fair correlation intensity. Among other results, regression analysis showed that the cervical spine lordosis is related both to age and Di. Neither TMJ pain in isolation, nor the limitation mandibular mobility index of Helkimo (MMI) were positively related to any postural changes studied. Mutual pathophysiological implications are discussed

<p>Degenerativne bolesti kičme nastaju kao posledica promena na dinamičkim segmentima kičmenog stuba. Klinički ove promene se mogu manifestovati u vidu radikulopatije, mijelopatije i radikulomijelopatije. Najče&scaron;će primenjivana metoda operativnog lečenja kod ovih pacijenata je prednja cervikalna diskektomija sa fuzijom koja omogućava adekvatnu anatomsku i funkcionalnu restituciju degenerativno promenjene cervikalne kičme. Imajući u vidu da su već kompromitovane nervne strukture u riziku od dodatnih o&scaron;tećenja u različitim fazama operativnog zahvata primena intraoperativnog neurofiziolo&scaron;kog monitoringa je dobila svoje mesto i u hirur&scaron;kim tretmanima degenerativnih oboljenja kičme. Svrha primene neuromonitoringa je da obezbedi povratnu informaciju hirurgu o promenama u funkciji nervnih struktura pre nego &scaron;to dođe do ireverzibilnih o&scaron;tećenja. Na ovaj način moguće je prevenirati nastanak novog ili pogor&scaron;anje postojećeg deficita. Takođe intraoperativni nalazi neurofiziolo&scaron;kih parametara mogu da ukažu na težinu postojećeg oboljenja i da budu prediktori ishoda lečenja. Ciljevi ove doktorske disertacije bili su utvrđivanje faza operativnog zahvata u kojima najče&scaron;će dolazi do promena u neurofiziolo&scaron;kim parametrima, kao i postojanje korelacije nalaza intraoperativnog neurofiziolo&scaron;kog monitoringa sa preoperativnim kliničkim nalazom pacijenta kao i rezultatima procene ishoda nakon prednje cervikalne diskektomije se fuzijom. Ova studija je obuhvatila 30 pacijenata kod kojih je indikovano operativno lečenje degenerativnih promena u vratnom segmentu kičmenog stuba prednjom mikrodiskektomijom sa fuzijom. Preoperativno je izvođen klinički pregled pacijenata i kori&scaron;teni su Numerička skala bola i Upitnik za pacijente sa bolom u vratnoj kičmi, koji su takođe popunjavani na otpustu i mesec dana nakon operacije. U toku hirur&scaron;ke procedure upotrebom intraoperativnog neurofiziolo&scaron;kog monitoringa registrovani su somatosenzorni (SSEP) i motorni evocirani potencijali (MEP), kao i spontana elektromiografija. Kod svih SSEP do&scaron;lo je do statistički značajnog povećanja amplitude (p&lt;0,05), dok je kod desnog n. medianusa zabeleženo i statistički značajno skraćenje latence (p&lt;0,05). Značajne promene se beleže između početka i kraja operativnog zahvata, kao i u fazi uklanjanja intervertebralnog diska kada dolazi do dekompresije. U vrednostima pražne struje potrebne za dobijanje MEP nije bilo statistički značajnih promena izuzev kod m. triceps brachii obostrano. Kod pacijenata sa radikulopatijom vrednost pražne struje za dobijanje mi&scaron;ićnog odgovora je statistčki značajno niža u odnosu na pacijente sa mijelopatijom (p&lt;0,05). SSEP koreliraju sa poremećajem senzibiliteta, refleksnim odgovorom i bolom. MEP koreliraju takođe sa refleksnim odgovorom, dok negativna korelacija sa manuelnim mi&scaron;ićnim testom pokazuje da klinički očuvana gruba mi&scaron;ićna snaga ne mora biti pokazatelj pravog stanja motornog sistema. Preoperativne vrednosti NDI su se statistički značajno smanjile mesec dana nakon operacije (p&lt;0,05). U vrednostima bola postoji statistčki značajna razlika između svih merenje (p&lt;0,008), izuzev između bola na otpustu i mesec dana nakon operacije (p&gt;0,008). Latenca desnog n.medianusa pokazuje negativnu, a amplituda pozitivnu korelaciju sa vrednostima bola mesec dana postoperativno (p&lt;0,05). Povećanje amplitude i skraćenje latence SSEP ukazuje na značajan stepen dekompresije. Stabilnost MEP ukazuje na intraoperativnu očuvanost motornih puteva i da nije do&scaron;lo do novog motornog deficita niti produbljivanja postojećeg. SSEP i MEP koreliraju sa kliničkim nalazom, dok su vrednosti bola i NDI statistički značajno manje nakon operacije. Ovi rezultati ukazuju da klinički nalaz pacijenta korelira sa neurofiziolo&scaron;kim nalazom, kao i da introperativne promene neurofiziolo&scaron;kih parametara mogu biti prediktivni faktor ishoda operativnog lečenja.</p> / <p>Degenerative spinal diseases are consequence of spondylotic changes on dynamic segments of spinal column. These changes can result in different clinical appearances such as radiculopathy, myelopathy and radiculomyelopathy. The most common surgical procedure used in treatment of this group of patients is anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) which can provide adequate anatomical and functional restitution of degenerative cervical spine. Considering the fact that already compromised neural structure can be additionally damaged in different stages of surgical procedure, use of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has role in surgical treatment of degenerative spinal diseases. The aim of use of IONM is to provide real time feedback for surgeon regarding changes in function of neural structures before irreversible damage occurs. This is the way to prevent new neurological deficit from occurring or to prevent worsening of preexisting deficit. Results of intraoperative monitoring can additionally emphasize severity of disease and help in outcome assessment. The aim of this doctoral thesis was to determine phases of surgical procedure in which changes in neurophysiological parameters occurs most commonly. Another aim was to determine correlation between findings of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring and clinical assessment and outcome prediction in patients treated with anterior cervical discectomy with fusion. Thirty patients who met inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. All of them were treated surgically due to degenerative changes of cervical spine and ACDF were performed in all cases. Patients were thoroughly examined before surgery. Detailed neurological examination were performed together with Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and Neck Disability index (NDI) questionnaire. NPRS and NDI were applied on discharge from the hospital and one month after surgery. During surgery we registered somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), motor evoked potentials (MEP) and spontaneous elektromiography. In all SSEP there were statistically significant increase in amplitude (p&lt;0.05), while in the case of right n. medianus statistically significant shortening of the latency (p&lt;0.05) was recorded. Significant changes are recorded between beginning and the end of the surgical procedure, as well as in the phase of removing of the intervertebral disc when decompression occurs. In the threshold intensity needed to elicit the MEP there were no statistically significant changes except for m. triceps brachii bilaterally. In patients with radiculopathy, the value of the stimulus intensity needed for obtaining muscular response was statistically significantly lower in comparison with patients with myelopathy (p&lt;0.05). SSEP showed the best correlation with sensory disorder, tendon reflexes and pain. MEPs also correlate with tendon reflexes, while a negative correlation with a manual muscle strength testing results shows that clinically preserved muscle strength does not have to be reliable indicator of the motor system condition. Preoperative NDI values were statistically significantly reduced a month after surgery (p&lt;0.05). In pain values there is a statistically significant difference between all measurements (p&lt;0.008), except between pain on release and a month after surgery (p&gt;0.008). The right n.medianus latency shows a negative, and the amplitude shows positive correlation with pain values one month postoperatively (p&lt;0.05). Increasing amplitude and shortening latency of the SSEP indicates a significant degree of decompression. The stability of the MEP indicates the intraoperative preservation of motor pathways and absence of both new motor deficiency or worsening of the existing one. SSEP and MEP correlate with clinical findings, while pain and NDI values are statistically significantly less after surgery. These results indicate that clinical findings in the patients correlate with the neurophysiological findings. Results also points out that the intraoperative changes in neurophysiological parameters can be a predictive factor for the outcome of surgical treatment.</p>

Meiolania platyceps is the stratigraphically youngest, and osteologically best-known members of the enigmatic Paleogene-Holocene testudinatan clade Meiolaniidae. This study generated digital reconstructions of intervertebral mobility using the complete cervical series of M. platyceps as a functional model for inferring feeding habits in giant meiolaniid taxa. A combined photogrammetric and CT data approach was used to compile surface meshes for each individual vertebra, which were then scaled, articulated, and animated to visualise maximal movement through segments radiating from the dorsoventral and mediolateral planes. The results show that M. platyceps was incapable of any kind of neck retraction, which is not surprising given the massive skull and prong-like squamosal horns. In addition, impeded dorsal flexibility via the vertebral processes and projecting anterior margin of the carapace suggests that browsing would have been difficult. Indeed, the neck of M. platyceps was best capable of downward mobility allowing the skull to tilt forward. This presumably brought the muzzle into a grazing position and allowed the animal to feed upon low growing herbaceous vegetation, ferns and palm fruits. Because of the insularity and the skull configuration of this aberrant turtle, an intraspecific combat behaviour has also been suggested in the reconstruction of the lifestyle of M. platyceps. / Meiolania platyceps, en stor behornad sköldpadda som levde under Pleistocen, är en av de yngsta och osteologiskt mest välkända medlemmarna av den enigmatiska Paleogen-Holocena gruppen av testudinata sköldpaddor, dit familjen Meiolaniidae hör. Genom att digitalt rekonstruera exemplarets kompletta nacke, inklusive samtliga halsryggens kotor, kunde artens matvanor såväl som dess potentiella stridsbeteende mellan individer inom arten beskrivas. De individuella kotorna fogades samman genom att kombinera fotogrammetri med CT-data, och efter att ha justerat deras respektive storlekar samt artikulerat dem kunde kotornas maximala rörelsevidd animeras såväl dorsoventralt som mediolateralt. Den mjukvaran som användes för detta var framförallt 3D Studio Max, dock i mindre utsträckning även Agisoft Photoscan Geomagic. Resultatet från de 3D-modeller som genererats i denna undersökning stöder hypotesen att M. platyceps saknade förmågan att dra in dess huvud och hals i skalet, vilket inte är helt överraskande med tanke på dess massiva skalle och utstickande squamosala horn. Skillnaden i hur nacken böjs ventralt jämfört med dorsalt tyder dock på att denna sköldpaddas betningstekniker varit desto mer utvecklade, särskilt eftersom vegetationen under denna tid bestod till största delen av palmer. Skallens position och konfiguration hos detta märkliga djur ger ytterligare information om artens beteende, och det verkar som att intraspecifika slagsmål kan ha förekommit hos M. platyceps. / Meiolania platyceps est l’un des derniers et mieux connus membre de l’énigmatique clade des Meiolaniidae de la période du Paléogène-Holocène. Notre étude fut de générer des reconstructions digitales de la mobilité intervertébrale en utilisant la série complète de cervicales de M. platyceps en tant que modèle fonctionnel afin d’inférer le comportement alimentaires du taxon des meiolanides. Une combinaison de données photogrammétriques et de scannes fut utilisée afin de compiler des surfaces en 3D pour chaque vertèbre, mises à l’échelle, articulées et animées afin de visualiser les mouvements optimaux selon les plans dorsoventral et mediolateral. Les résultats montrent nettement que M. platyceps était incapable de rétracter son cou, ce qui n’est pas surprenant considérant sa tête massive et ses impressionnantes cornes. Qui plus est, la flexibilité dorsale, entravée par les apophyses vertébrales et la marge antérieure de la carapace, suggère que le « browsing » aurait été difficile. En effet, le cou de M. platyceps était mieux à même d’une mobilité ventrale permettant au crâne de basculer vers l'avant. Ce qui aurait entraîné le museau dans une position de « grazing » et aurait permis à l’animal de se nourrir de végétation herbacée, de fougères et de fruits de palmiers. En raison de l'insularité et de la configuration du crâne de cette tortue aberrante, un comportement de combat intraspécifique a également été suggéré dans la reconstruction de la vie de M. platyceps.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Human traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI) are primarily incomplete contusion or compression injuries at the cervical spinal level, causing immediate local tissue damage and a range of potential functional deficits. Secondary damage exacerbates initial mechanical trauma and contributes to function loss through delayed cell death mechanisms such as apoptosis and autophagy. As such, understanding the dynamics of cervical SCI and related intracellular signaling and death mechanisms is essential. Through behavior, Western blot, and histological analyses, alterations in phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling and the neuroprotective, functional, and mechanistic effects of administering the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitor, potassium bisperoxo (picolinato) vanadium ([bpV[pic]) were analyzed following cervical spinal cord injury in rats. Furthermore, these studies investigated the combination of subacute Schwann cell transplantation with acute bpV(pic) treatment to identify any potential additive or synergistic benefits. Although spinal SC transplantation is well-studied, its use in combination with other therapies is necessary to complement its known protective and growth promoting characteristics. v The results showed 400 μg/kg/day bpV(pic) promoted significant tissue sparing, lesion reduction, and recovery of forelimb function post-SCI. To further clarify the mechanism of action of bpV(pic) on spinal neurons, we treated injured spinal neurons in vitro with 100 nM bpV(pic) and confirmed its neurprotection and action through inhibition of PTEN and promotion of PI3K/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Following bpV(pic) treatment and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-SC transplantation, similar results in neuroprotective benefits were observed. GFP-SCs alone exhibited less robust effects in this regard, but promoted significant ingrowth of axons, as well as vasculature, over 10 weeks post-transplantation. All treatments showed similar effects in forelimb function recovery, although the bpV and combination treatments were the only to show statistical significance over non-treated injury. In the following chapters, the research presented contributes further understanding of cellular responses following cervical hemi-contusion SCI, and the beneficial effects of bpV(pic) and SC transplantation therapies alone and in combination. In conclusion, this work provides a thorough overview of pathology and cell- and signal-specific mechanisms of survival and repair in a clinically relevant rodent SCI model.