PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Intervertebral Disc”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 865 records · Page 48Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

[Studies on the topographic architecture of the annulus fibrosus in developmental and degenerative processes in the lumbar intervertebral disc in man].

Architecture of the annulus fibrosus of the lumbar intervertebral disc in 49 human cadavers (30 fetuses and 19 adults) was observed topographically by polarized light microscopy to investigate the developmental process and the degenerative changes. At the 6th month of fetal life, the anterior annulus fibrosus presented a regular lamellar structure, while the posterior annulus fibrosus presented an irregular reticular structure. Difference of the interstriation angles of collagen fibers in the lamellae between the anterior and posterior annulus fibrosus was identified, and rather smaller angles were found in the anterior than in the posterior. At the 40's years of life collagen fibers in the lamellae showed loosening, separation and a cyst-like cavity, which finally developed into an annular tear. These degenerative changes observed predominantly in the posterior annulus fibrosus suggest that the posterior annulus fibrosus has structural and developmental instability against mechanical stress.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Lumbar intervertebral disc involvement in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A case report.

STUDY DESIGN: Report of a patient with a rare location of a solid chronic lymphocytic leukemic mass of an intervertebral lumbar disc. OBJECTIVES: To illustrate the previously undescribed discovertebral involvement of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and to discuss the diagnostic difficulties. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia primarily involves lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and bone marrow. Bone lesions are rare in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and usually consist of areas of osteopenia. Spinal involvement in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is rare, and only two cases of spinal cord compression attributable to an extradural solid mass composed of leukemic cells have been reported. Intervertebral disc involvement in chronic lymphocytic leukemia has not been reported previously. METHODS: The clinical findings, radiographs, histology, treatment, and follow-up results are presented. RESULTS: Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging studies showed partial collapse of vertebrae L2 and L3, with destruction and protrusion of the intervertebral disc L2-L3 with dura compression. Treatment consisted of radiotherapy followed by en bloc resection of vertebrae L2 and L3 stabilized with stackable cages and anterior fixation with Kaneda bars. Intervertebral disc infiltration with leukemic cells of B-cell origin was confirmed through histologic examination and immunohistochemical studies of a biopsy and resection specimen. Twenty months after treatment the patient was still in remission and fully mobilized. CONCLUSIONS: Intervertebral disc involvement in cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia is rare. Its presence should be considered in patients with back pain and neurologic symptoms who had been treated for this form of leukemia in the past. Differentiation with infectious spondylodiscitis can be difficult. Histology is necessary to confirm diagnosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Age-related changes in the nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc in mice. An electronmicroscopic study.

The nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral discs in mice from newborn to four months of age was examined by electron microscopy. The nucleus pulposus was packed with the cells which were distended with large vacuoles and aggregations of glycogen particles. These cells contained many filaments and poorly developed organelles. Numerous pinocytotic vesicles were present along the cell surface. Neighboring cells were connected with desmosomes. Thus, the cells composing the nucleus pulposus were similar to notochordal cells. The intercellular space contained granular substances as seen in the matrix of the cartilage. In the peripheral region of the nucleus pulposus, the cells relatively rich in organelles were occasionally observed. At two months or more of age, vacuoles of the cells of the nucleus pulposus became larger and more numerous, and the scanty cytoplasm contained fewer organelles but well-developed filaments. However, many pinocytotic vesicles could be still observed along the cell surface. Degenerated cells appeared.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1982

Ultrastructure of the human intervertebral disc: II. Cells of the nucleus pulposus.

The cells of the intervertebral disc exist in a unique environment; not only are discs subject to large mechanical loads, they are the largest avascular structures in the body. To describe the ultrastructure and age changes in cells from human nucleus pulposus, we studied these cells in individuals ranging in age from the 26th week of fetal life to 91 years. Viable chondrocyte-like cells existed in specimens from all ages. The presence of Golgi cisternae and well-developed endoplasmic reticulum in these cells suggests that they are capable of producing and maintaining the extracellular matrix. Necrotic cells were also present in all samples, and many cells which appeared viable when examined by light microscopy proved to be necrotic when examined by electron microscopy. The percentage of necrotic cells increased with age from 2% or less in fetal specimens to over 50% in adults. In addition, with age, a distinct pericellular matrix or "nest," consisting of collagen fibrils, fine filaments, dense particles, and banded structures, formed around most cells with no apparent preference for viable or necrotic cells. Nest formation and increasing density of the cell nests may reflect accumulation of cell products.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Finite element aided tracking of signal intensity changes in deforming intervertebral disc tissue.

Tracking of signal intensity changes in soft tissue over time is often hampered by deformation of the tissue. In this study a method is described that uses finite element modeling to compensate for tissue deformation. The method is applied to the quantification of fluid redistribution in an intervertebral disc that deforms under mechanical load. The clinical importance of this application emerges from the increased susceptibility of the intervertebral disc to damage after a period of mechanical loading. The study shows that the use of the finite element aided approach results in a detailed map of tissue MRI signal changes, where the distorting effects of tissue deformation are eliminated.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Intradiscal pressure forces on cervical intervertebral discs in physiologic and pathologic conditions. In vitro study].

Clinical and experimental studies concerning intradiscal pressure have mainly been carried out using the lumbar spine. It has been shown that degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc and external loads can significantly influence intradiscal pressure. To see if these findings are also relevant for cervical discs, we carried out an in vitro study using human cervical spine specimens. The specimens were tested biomechanically under various conditions with simultaneous recording of intradiscal pressure in two cervical discs. We were able to confirm in vivo measurements of intradiscal pressure reported in the literature. Simulation of muscle force led to a marked increase in intradiscal pressure. Moreover, it was demonstrated that ventral cervical fusion has a significant influence on intradiscal pressure in both adjacent segments. In general, the results improve our understanding of the basic biomechanics of the cervical spine. The experiments with fused specimens could help to explain why degeneration is accelerated in adjacent motion segments after ventral cervical fusion.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed2006

Up-regulation of niacinamide in intervertebral disc aggrecan in vitro.

The regulatory effects of niacinamide (Nia) on intervertebral disc (IVD) aggrecan in vitro was investigated. Chiba's 10 ng/mL interleukin-1 (IL-1)-induced rabbit IVD degeneration model in vitro was established. 0.5, 0.25 and 0.05 mg/mL Nia was added to normal and degenerated IVDs for intervention. On the first and second week after intervention, safranin O-fast green staining intensity and glycosaminoglycan (GS) content were measured. The expression of aggrecan core protein was detected by RT-PCR. The results showed: (1) After treatment with 0.5 mg/mL Nia for one week, the GS content in nucleus pulposus (NP) was increased by 44.8% as compared with control group (P < 0 01); The GS content in IL-1 induction groups was increased with the increase of Nia concentrations: After treatment with 0.5 mg/mL for one week, the GS content in NP was increased by 68.3% as compared with control group (P < 0.01). After two weeks, GS content in NP and fibrous rings was still higher than in control group at the same period (P < 0.01) and untreated group (P < 0.01). (2) Safranin O-fast green staining revealed that with the increase of Nia concentrations, staining density in NP and fibrous rings was increased and histological structure damage to IVDs by IL-1beta was alleviated. (3) RT-PCR showed that the expression of core protein gene in IL-1beta-induced degenerated IVDS was increased with the increase of Nia concentrations. It was concluded that under conditions in vitro, Nia could up-regulate the expression of aggrecan in IVDs and protect IVDs from IL-1beta-induced degeneration at least partially, which offers a potential choice for IVD degeneration clinical therapy.

Aggrecans↗
PubMed2005

Pulsed radiofrequency for radicular pain due to a herniated intervertebral disc--an initial report.

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) has been used for the treatment of radicular pain, due to a herniated intervertebral disc, but so far the data are anecdotal. This is a retrospective study on 13 consecutive patients with this type of pain, at levels L3 to S1. All patients had a diagnosis confirmed by imaging, all had neurological abnormalities, and all were scheduled for surgical intervention. All 12 patients who had a profession had stopped working. Treatment consisted of application of PRF to the dorsal root ganglion of the affected segmental nerve, or in the case of S1 to the segmental nerve at the level of the S1 foramen. One patient underwent disc surgery, and one other patient underwent a spinal fusion 1 year following PRF treatment. He had no leg pain at the time of operation. The remaining patients did not require surgical intervention. The numeric rating scale (NRS) score fell from 7.83 to 2.25 over the first 2 weeks, followed by a gradual further fall to 0.27 at the final follow-up, 15.8 (11 to 23) months after the procedure. Compared with the initial NRS score the data were significant (P < 0.01) from 4 weeks after the procedure. Neurological abnormalities resolved except in one patient, who had decreased sensibility in a small area in the L3 dermatome at the last follow-up. All professionally active patients went back to work after 0.49 months (0.1 to 1). It is concluded that PRF may potentially be a viable alternative for epidural steroid injections in the treatment of acute radicular pain, due to a herniated intervertebral disc, and that further studies, including a control group, should be carried out to establish the value of this method.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1975

Growth of human intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies.

In normal children, who usually learn to walk unaided before the age of two, the resultant change from a primary to secondary lumbar curvature is accompanied by a change in the relative position of the nucleus pulposus within the intervertebral disc, from a predominantly posterior situation to a central situation. During the third and fourth years of life, an increase in the rate of vertical growth of the L 4-5 "total disc", as measured at its centre, is associated with the gradual change from convexity to concavity in the shape of the bony vertebral end surfaces bounding the disc. In non-ambulant spastic children, the increased vertical growth of L 4-5 discs and the change in shape of the lumbar vertebral bodies, described in normal children, are not seen. In these non-ambulant children, though normal vertebral body heights are attained, the heights of the L 4-5 discs are severely reduced compared with normal heights for corresponding ages, and the anteroposterior diameters of lower lumbar vertebral bodies and discs are also more than two standard deviations below the corresponding norms. It is suggested that while vertical growth of the central region of lumbar vertebral bodies may be genetically determined and independent of mechanical factors, vertical growth of lumbar intervertebral discs and anteroposterior growth of lumbar vertebral bodies and discs are dependent on the activity associated with weight-bearing in the erect posture.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Trauma induces apoptosis in human thoracolumbar intervertebral discs.

BACKGROUND: Vertebral fractures resulting from high energy trauma often comprise the risk of posttraumatic degenerative changes in the affected intervertebral discs (IVD). Particularly in conservatively treated patients, or in cases after implant removal of an exclusively posterior stabilization, consecutive disc degeneration and the associated functional losing of the spinal segment clearly represent detrimental treatment results. In this regard, apoptosis of IVD cells has been suggested to be involved in the critical changes of the extracellular matrix. METHODS: To investigate whether fractures of the vertebrae induce apoptosis in the affected IVD, disc tissue from patients (n = 17) undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of thoracolumbar spine fractures were analysed in regards to caspase activity, apoptosis-receptor expression levels and gene expression of apoptosis-regulating proteins such as Bax and Bcl-2. Healthy IVD tissue (n = 3) obtained from patients undergoing surgical resection of adjacent vertebrae were used as control samples. RESULTS: In contrast to healthy control IVD tissues, samples from traumatic thoracolumbar IVD showed positive TUNEL staining and a significant increase of caspase-3/7 activity. Interestingly, analyses of the initiator caspase-8 and -9 revealed significantly increased activation levels compared to control values, suggesting the coexistent activation of both the extrinsic (receptor-mediated) and intrinsic (mitochondria-mediated) apoptosis pathway. Accordingly, expression levels of the Fas receptor (FasR) mRNA were significantly increased. Although the TNF receptor I (TNFR I) was only slightly upregulated, corresponding TNFalpha from trauma IVD presented significantly increased mRNA expression values. Furthermore, traumatic IVD cells demonstrated significantly reduced expression of the mitochondria-bound anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, thereby maintaining baseline transcriptional levels of the pro-apoptotic Bax protein when compared to control IVD cells. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that thoracolumbar fractures induce early caspase-dependent apoptosis in IVD cells of the affected intervertebral disc, in part, by downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 (intrinsic apoptosis pathway), as well as signalling via the death receptor complex (TNFR I and FasR).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Sheep lumbar intervertebral discs as models for human discs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the water content, collagen content and collagen orientation angle in different regions of sheep lumbar discs. DESIGN: A laboratory study of sheep discs obtained from an abattoir. METHODS: A total of 21 sheep lumbar discs were obtained from three lumbar spines. Water content was determined by oven drying (60 degrees C) to constant mass. Collagen content was determined by hydroxyproline analysis. Fibre orientation angles were determined by X-ray diffraction. RESULTS: Water content increased from 74% of total tissue mass in the outer annulus, to 82% in the inner annulus, to 86% in the nucleus. Collagen content decreased from 30% of total tissue mass in the outer region to 20% in the inner region of the anterior and lateral annulus; it was 16% in the posterior annulus. The orientation angle of the collagen fibres decreased from 59 degrees in the outer region to 56 degrees in the inner region of the anterior and lateral annulus; it was 51 degrees in the posterior annulus. CONCLUSIONS: Sheep lumbar intervertebral discs provide a reasonable model for human lumbar intervertebral discs. RELEVANCE: Sheep lumbar discs have been used to investigate the effects of removing and replacing the nucleus. These studies indicate that removal of nucleus may lead to further disc degeneration and indicate the material properties required for an implant material. The relevance of these previous studies is increased if human and sheep lumbar discs have a similar composition and structure.

Animals↗