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 955 records · Page 53Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Intervertebral disc adaptation to wedging deformation.

UNLABELLED: Although scoliosis includes wedge deformities of both vertebrae and discs, little is known about the causes of the discal changes, and whether they result from mechanical influences on growth and/or remodelling. METHODS AND MATERIALS: An external apparatus attached to transvertebral pins applied compression and 15 degrees of angulation to each of two adjacent young rat caudal intervertebral discs for 5 weeks (four animals), or for 10 weeks (four animals). Each week, micro-CT scanning documented the in vivo discal wedging. After euthanasia, tail segments (three vertebrae and the 2 angulated discs) were excised and their flexibility was measured over a range of lateral bending. The angle of maximum flexibility was recorded. Then discs were fixed in situ (with the external apparatus in place) and sectioned for polarized light microscopy. RESULTS: The disc-wedging deformity averaged 15 degrees initially, it averaged 20 degrees after 5 weeks, and then reduced to 10 degrees (in 10 week animals). The lateral bending flexibility showed a distinct maximum at an average of 1.1 degrees from the in vivo position in the 5-week animals, indicating structural remodeling of the discs almost to the deformed geometry. The 10-week animals had maximum flexibility at 1.4 degrees from the in vivo position (no significant difference between 5 and 10-week animals.) Collagen crimp angles [Cassidy et al., Conn Tiss Res 1989, 23:75-88] were not significantly different between convex and concave sides, again suggesting that remodeling had occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In a mechanically induced scoliosis deformity in skeletally immature rats, the intervertebral discs underwent remodeling within 5 weeks. This indicates that this animal model is suitable for studying adaptive wedging changes in human scoliosis.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1995

A new in-vitro model to investigate antibiotic penetration of the intervertebral disc.

We have studied the ability of a range of antibiotics to penetrate intervertebral disc tissue in vitro, using a mouse disc model. Equilibrium concentrations of antibiotics incorporated into the entire disc were determined by bioassay using a microbial growth-inhibition method. Uptake was significantly higher with positively-charged aminoglycosides compared with negatively-charged penicillins and cephalosporins. Uncharged ciprofloxacin showed an intermediate degree of uptake. Our results support the hypothesis that electrostatic interaction between charged antibiotics and negatively-charged glycosaminoglycans in the disc is an important factor in antibiotic penetration, and may explain their differential uptake.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Impaired intervertebral disc formation in the absence of Jun.

Jun is a major component of the heterodimeric transcription factor AP-1 and is essential for embryonic development, as foetuses that lack Jun die at mid-gestation. Ubiquitous mosaic inactivation of a conditional Jun allele by cre/LoxP-mediated recombination was used to screen for novel functions of Jun and revealed that its absence results in severe malformations of the axial skeleton. More-specific Jun deletion by collagen2a1-cre demonstrated the essential function of Jun in the notochord and sclerotome. Mutant notochordal cells showed increased apoptosis, resulting in hypocellularity of the intervertebral discs. Subsequently, fusion of vertebral bodies caused a scoliosis of the axial skeleton. Thus, Jun is required for axial skeletogenesis by regulating notochord survival and intervertebral disc formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Changes in macromolecular components of prolapsed intervertebral discs.

Significant quantitative differences between macromolecular components of the nuclei pulposi of prolapsed human intervertebral discs and those taken at necropsy were found. The nuclei pulposi of prolapsed discs contained about twice more collagen in comparison to control tissues. The amount of type I and type III collagens grew in a higher degree in comparison to type II of this protein. A distinctly higher solubility of the prolapsed discs collagen, together with an increased aldehyde content in solubilized collagen fractions were observed. A distinct decrease in the amount of glycosaminoglycans, especially CH-4-S and CH-6-S were found. Furthermore, a significant increase in elastin content and its susceptibility to the proteolytic action of elastase were found. The significance of these phenomena for pathobiochemistry of disc prolapse is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The course of macroscopic degeneration in the human lumbar intervertebral disc.

STUDY DESIGN: Assessment of age-related macroscopic changes in human lumbar intervertebral discs (IVD) and vertebral bodies. OBJECTIVES: To determine the sequence of macroscopic changes during aging/degeneration. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Descriptive studies on macroscopic alterations of the IVD during aging/degeneration are readily available, but quantitative analyses are sparse. METHODS: A total of 248 mid-/parasagittal sections of lumbar IVD and vertebral bodies from 41 routine autopsies (range, 7 months to 88 years) were semiquantitatively assessed for macroscopic parameters and correlated with age. RESULTS: Nuclear fibrous transformation, anular disorganization, endplate, and vertebral body alterations progress predominantly in the first two and in the fifth to seventh decades. In the third and fourth decade, little progression occurs. Nuclear clefts and anular tears appear later, mostly starting in the second decade, with clefts preceding tear formation. Radial and concentric tears develop similarly over time, whereas rim lesions mostly develop after the sixth decade. Significant differences are observed between upper and lower lumbar spine. CONCLUSION: Our data show that fibrous nuclear transformation during aging/degeneration precedes cleft formation. The temporal sequence suggests a strong correlation of cleft and tears formation starting with clefts in the second decade. Our results support the hypothesis that disc degeneration starts in the nucleus. Extensive macroscopic alterations already apparent in the second life decade present a challenge to any tissue engineering and repair attempt.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Pathological evaluation of intervertebral disc tissue specimens after routine cervical and lumbar decompression. A cost-benefit analysis retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: After decompression of cervical and lumbar nerve roots for radicular pain, pathological evaluation of the extracted disc material is commonly performed. Although histological examination rarely detects clinically significant unsuspected disease, it remains a common practice in most hospitals in the United States. To determine the cost-effectiveness of this routine practice, we conducted a retrospective study. The results are contained within this report. METHODS: Using the University Neurosurgery database, we retrospectively identified 1,387 patients who had spinal decompression surgery (laminectomy and/or discectomy). These cases were broadly classified into routine and non-routine cases depending on the preoperative diagnosis. Benign and noninfectious cases were classified as routine; malignant and all other cases were classified as nonroutine. We reviewed the medical records and pathology reports of these routine and nonroutine cases in an attempt to study the efficacy of the pathological evaluation of the disc material. The cost-benefit value of histopathology in these cases was analyzed, retrospectively. RESULTS: In all routine cases, the histopathology was consistent with benign disc disease and yielded no additional information that could have altered the treatment plan. In the nonroutine cases, however, histopathology was significant in the management of the patient. The cost factor for pathological study was the same for both case groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pathological study of intervertebral disc specimens is cost beneficial only in cases with significant preoperative clinical diagnoses. Pathological evaluation of routine herniated nucleus pulposus extracted during decompressive surgeries is not warranted.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed2005

Intervertebral disc degeneration in relation to the COL9A3 and the IL-1ss gene polymorphisms.

Disc degeneration is a complex condition in which environmental factors and multiple genes are expected to act together to determine the degenerative phenotype. Recently associations of COL9A2 (Trp2 allele) and COL9A3 (Trp3 allele) polymorphisms with lumbar disc disease characterized by sciatica have been reported. However, it is not known whether the Trp2 or Trp3 alleles contribute to disc degeneration (DD). In this study, the association between the collagen genes polymorphisms and lumbar DD was investigated. Furthermore, the influence of the IL-1beta(C(3954)-T) polymorphism on the association of collagen genes polymorphisms with DD was examined. Lumbar intervertebral discs of 135 middle-aged occupationally active men were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging, using decreased signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus, disc bulges, and decreased disc height as signs of degeneration. Blood samples were analysed for the presence of COL9A3 and COL9A2 tryptophan alleles (Trp3 and Trp2 alleles). The COL11A2, COL2A1 and IL-1beta(C(3954)-T) polymorphisms were also analysed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis allowing for occupation and body mass index showed that the carriage of the Trp3 allele in the absence of the IL-1betaT(3954) allele increased the risk of dark nucleus pulposus (OR 7.0, 95% CI 1.3-38.8) and joint occurrence of degenerative changes (OR 8.0, 95% CI 1.4-44.7). There was no effect of the Trp3 allele on DD in the presence of the IL-1betaT(3954) allele. The carriers of the COL11A2 minor allele had an increased risk of disc bulges (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0-4.2) as compared with non-carriers. The results suggest that the effect of the COL9A3 gene polymorphism on DD might be modified by the IL-1beta gene polymorphism.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The cartilage end-plate and intervertebral disc in scoliosis: calcification and other sequelae.

The morphology and composition of the intervertebral disc and also of the cartilage end-plate were studied in patients with idiopathic or congenital scoliosis. The cartilage end-plate was investigated because of its function as an epiphyseal plate in humans and the association between growth and progression of the scoliotic curve. The proteoglycan and water contents were reduced in both structures in specimens from scoliotic patients, particularly toward the concavity of the curve, compared with autopsy material. The distribution of some collagen types differed in tissue from scoliotic patients and autopsy tissue. Calcification of the cartilage end-plate, and sometimes of the adjacent disc, occurred in all but three scoliotic patients, whereas there was minimal calcification in the autopsy specimens. We suggest that, although these changes are probably a secondary response to altered loading in the scoliotic patients, they may be highly significant to the progression of the scoliotic curve.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Bioengineering for cartilage and intervertebral disc regeneration].

Cell-based therapy on damaged or degenerative articular cartilage and intervertebral disc promote tissue regeneration by optimized cells and biodegradable matrix. Cell culture is a crucial process to construct the neo-tissue and only means to manipulate cell differentiation and metabolic function prior to implant. Bioreactor, one of the key technology, allows changing culture condition programmed for maximizing tissue regeneration. Incorporating latest biochemical, molecular, and clinical notions, bioengineering means will provide secure treatment to restore functional tissue.

Cartilage↗
PubMed1989

Intervertebral disc herniation at D3-4 Case report.

The authors report a case of intervertebral disc herniation at D3.4 which they removed surgically from a posterior approach. They emphasize the extreme rarity of this localisation. The hernia was calcified, extruded and displaced posterolaterally and medially, causing pressure on the anterior aspect of the spinal cord with neurological signs of the pareto-spastic type. The operation was successful, with relief of pain and regression of the neurological symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Proteinases and their inhibitors in intervertebral discs].

The authors investigated the incidence of proteinases and their inhibitors in bovine intervertebral discs. They proved the presence of proteinases of all basic enzyme classes. In some instances (in the class of cysteine proteinases) a more detailed specification of the present enzymes could be made. The authors proved also the presence of inhibitors of serine and cysteine proteinases which were characterized by relative molecular weights. The relative molecular weights were within the range of cca 7000 to cca 40,000.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Prolapsed thoracic intervertebral disc: the importance of CT assisted myelography.

We present six new cases of prolapsed thoracic intervertebral disc (PTIVD), and review the clinical and radiological features, particularly with regard to the role of computed tomography (CT) examination in the diagnosis and management. In patients with atypical lower limb pain, particularly when associated with sphincter disturbances, lumbar myelography is incomplete unless supplemented by an examination of the conus region and lower thoracic cord. The supplementary use of CT in suspected PTIVD is of considerable value to the surgeon in determining the size, position, and volume of the sequestration, and the extent of excavation of the spinal cord by prolapsed disc material.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Intervertebral disc calcification syndromes in children.

One hundred and twenty-seven cases of intervertebral disc calcification in children, including 11 previously unreported cases, have been analysed. A distinction is made between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, whose age, sex and spinal distributions of the calcifications have been shown to differ. Radiologically detectable protrusions and later resorption of the calcifications are common events in symptomatic children, but are unrecorded in asymptomatic children. The spinal distribution of paediatric calcifications is quite different to that of adult and canine calcifications of the nucleus pulposus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The innervation of the cervical intervertebral discs.

Microdissection and histologic studies were undertaken to determine the innervation of the cervical intervertebral discs. The cervical sinuvertebral nerves were found to have an upward course in the vertebral canal, supplying the disc at their level of entry and the disc above. Branches of the vertebral nerve supplied the lateral aspects of the cervical discs. Histologic studies of discs obtained at operation showed the presence of nerve fibers as deeply as the outer third of the anulus fibrosus. These anatomic findings provide the hitherto missing substrate for primary disc pain and the pain of provocation discography.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Oxygen and lactate concentrations measured in vivo in the intervertebral discs of patients with scoliosis and back pain.

STUDY DESIGN: Oxygen concentrations in intervertebral discs were measured in 10 patients during discography and in 13 patients with scoliosis and 11 patients with back pain during spinal surgery. Lactate concentration profiles were measured in 12 of these discs. The discs were graded for degeneration by magnetic resonance imaging and histology where possible. OBJECTIVES: To determine if oxygen and lactate levels in human discs vary with degree of degeneration. Failure of nutrient transport is thought to lead to disc degeneration. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The disc is avascular. Oxygen is used by the disc cells, and lactate is produced. Low oxygen and high lactate concentrations have been measured in the center of healthy animal discs. METHODS: Oxygen concentrations were measured amprometrically. The sterilized gold-needle electrode was introduced into the disc during discography or after the disc was exposed surgically via an anterior approach. Concentration profiles of each disc took approximately 5 minutes to measure. Lactate concentrations were measured biochemically on the excised disc segment. RESULTS: Oxygen concentrations were highest at the disc surface and fell toward the center. Lactate concentrations showed the reverse profile. Oxygen levels were very variable, ranging from 5-150 mm Hg in the center of the nucleus. No correlation was seen with age, pathology, or degree of degeneration. Lactate concentrations ranged for the most part from 2 mmol/L to 6 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of metabolites depend on cellular activity and on transport of the metabolite between the blood supply and the cell. The correlation between degeneration and nutrition cannot be determined only from metabolite concentrations; measurements of metabolic activity and nutrient transport rates also are required.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Significance of the straight-leg-raising test in the diagnosis and clinical evaluation of lower lumbar intervertebral-disc protrusion.

The cases of 113 patients who had protrusion of a lumbar intervertebral disc were analyzed to determine the relationship between the findings at operation and the location of the pain that resulted from the straight-leg-raising test. The study showed a close relationship between the location of the pain and the position of the protrusion of the disc. The degree of limitation of straight-leg raising was also found to have a direct relationship to the size and position of the protrusion and to its relationship to the spinal nerve. The protrusions were classified into three types according to position in relation to the dura mater and to the pattern of pain that was induced by passive straight-leg raising. On straight-leg raising, central protrusions tended to cause pain in the back, lateral protrusions caused pain in the lower extremity, and intermediate protrusions caused both. On this basis, the distribution of pain on straight-leg raising allowed an accurate prediction of the location of the lesion in 100 (88.5 per cent) of the 113 patients.

Adolescent↗