Data Trace Editor

Minna Kraatari, Sini Skarp, Minna Männikkö, Jaro Karppinen, Frances Williams INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS The genome is the complete set of genetic information stored as deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) in the nucleus of cells. The nucleic acid sequence of the genome determines the recipe for life: the instructions for each protein and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are stored … Read more

Hardeep Singh and Isaac L. Moss INTRODUCTION The axial spine is separated into three regions: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar which are comprised of 7, 12, and 5 vertebrae, respectively.1 The intervertebral disc (IVD) separates each vertebra except C1-C2. Three articulations are present at each level consisting of two facet joints formed from the articulation of … Read more

Seiji Ohtori, Yasuchika Aoki and Sumihisa Orita Specimens from humans and animal models are known to have revealed sensory innervation of lumbar intervertebral discs and sensory nerve ingrowth into the inner layer of intervertebral discs under painful conditions. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukins induce this abnormal nerve ingrowth. Nerve growth factor … Read more

Ana V. Chee, Chundo Oh, Di Chen, Howard S. An INTRODUCTION The disc is composed of a gelatinous-like core tissue, nucleus pulposus (NP), surrounded by a tough outer tissue, annulus fibrosus (AF). The unique consistency of the NP is mainly due to its components—hydrophilic proteoglycan molecules and a loose network of collagens, mainly collagen type … Read more

Bryan Rynearson and James D. Kang BIOLOGY OF THE DEGENERATIVE INTERVERTEBRAL DISC Biologic therapies are highly targeted approaches to treating degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD). The pathophysiology of the degenerative process is complex and likely multifactorial in nature. Factors such as age, excessive mechanical loading, environmental exposures, and genetic predispositions may all be important … Read more

Daniel Jonsson and Kjell Olmarker INTRODUCTION The acute onset of radicular pain in the lower extremity, commonly referred to as sciatica, is a phenomenon that has had documented impact on human lives for as far back in time as history allows us to review.1 Ancient Egyptians and Greeks, Hippocrates included, introduced an organic rather than … Read more

Bahar Shahidi, James C. Hubbard, Richard L. Lieber and Samuel R. Ward INTRODUCTION Spinal muscles in coordination with the rest of the neuromusculoskeletal system (i.e., vertebrae, tendons, ligaments, and the nervous system), provide stability needed to protect vital anatomic structures and, along with the spinal column and neural control, have been described as one of … Read more

Zorica Buser and Jeffrey C. Wang INTRODUCTION – SPINAL FUSION Spine pathologies with a very complex interplay between neurological, bone and soft tissue components are some of the most common debilitating conditions worldwide. While the default approach for many conditions is conservative treatment, aggressive pathologies or trauma injuries require surgical attention. Spine arthrodesis is a … Read more

Nozomu Inoue, Alejandro A. Espinoza Orías, Kazuyuki Segami, and Howard S. An INTRODUCTION Facet joints, also known as zygapophysial or apophyseal joints, are true synovial joints that can undergo degenerative changes in a similar fashion to other synovial joints. The unique morphology of the facet joint is linked to its biomechanical function. Failure of the … Read more

Kazuhiro Hasegawa and Kei Watanabe INTRODUCTION Lumbar segmental instability is an unstable condition of the functional spinal unit of the lumbar spine. The definition is, however, yet to be clarified. In the clinical setting, evaluation of degenerative lumbar spines has been widely performed using X-ray measurement,1-7 but its usefulness for the diagnosis of segmental instability … Read more