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At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

The serine proteinase inhibitory proteins of the chondrodystrophoid (beagle) and non-chondrodystrophoid (greyhound) canine intervertebral disc.

Trypsin inhibitory proteins of low buoyant density (p < or = 1.35 g/mL) fractions were prepared by CsCl density gradient ultracentrifugation of 4 M guanidinium hydrochloride extracts of lumbar beagle and greyhound annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus from animals aged 1 to 6 years. Affinity blotting with biotinylated trypsin was used to identify active trypsin inhibitory protein species; these species were also identified immunologically by Western blotting using antibodies against bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), and human inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI). None of the trypsin inhibitory species evident in Western blots were reactive with anti-human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha-1-PI), alpha2-macroglobulin or secretory leucocyte proteinase inhibitor. The greyhound intervertebral disc samples generally had higher levels of active trypsin inhibitor species per unit weight of tissue extracted, and a more extensive range of inhibitor species. Inhibitor species of 30, 32, 34 kDa were identified in both beagle and greyhound intervertebral disc samples; these species were generally most prominent in the annulus fibrosus samples. In contrast, the nucleus pulposus samples contained relatively large trypsin inhibitor species; the anti-BPTI detected an inhibitor species of approximately 85-90 kDa; anti-ITI detected species of 120-250 kDa; biotinylated trypsin detected species of 60-110 kDa. A small molecular mass trypsin inhibitor species of 6 kDa, which was of similar mobility to BPTI, was also detected in annulus fibrosus samples; however, this species did not react with anti-BPTI.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1975

Pregnancy and the syndrome of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc; an epidemiological study.

In a study of the epidemiology of acute herniated lumbar intervertebral discs in the New Haven, Connecticut, area, it was found that the female cases had had more pregnancies resulting in live births than women of similar age without known herniated discs. However, cases had not had more pregnancies resulting in miscarriages than other women of their age. Among women who underwent surgery for their herniated discs, the association between number of live births and herniated discs was found for women with herniations at the L5 level but not for women with herniations at the L3 level.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1975

Role of ligamentum flavum in the symptomatology of prolapsed lumbar intervertebral discs.

Hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum has been reported to occur in the prolapsed intervertebral disc syndrome. The ligaments from 28 patients were compared with a necropsy control group (18). Only minor histological anomalies were noted in two patients and the ligament was not thickened in cases of disc prolapse. In addition, there was no evidence to suggest previous trauma to the ligaments associated with disc protrusion or that the elastic fibres in the ligament degenerate with age, although some degeneration of the collagen fibres had apparently occurred in the two oldest control cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Spondylosis in sand rats: a model of intervertebral disc degeneration and hyperostosis.

This study defines gross, histopathologic, and radiologic changes associated with intervertebral disc degeneration in a spontaneously occurring form of the disease in aging sand rats (Psammomys obesus). Sand rats (male/female) fed lab chow supplemented with desert salt bush were sacrificed at periods of 3-30 months. Lateral thoracolumbar spine films were obtained. At sacrifice, spines were surgically exposed and gross findings were recorded; after fixation/decalcification, histopathologic studies were carried out using hematoxylin and eosin, and Safranin-O with fast green counterstain. Metabolic studies included correlations of pathologic and radiologic findings with blood glucose and insulin levels. Disc-space narrowing and subchondral endplate sclerosis increased radiologically with age, with more severe lower lumbar disc lesions. Ligamentous calcifications ventral to involved discs and caudal vertebrae were common. Disc thinning and anterior vertebral bony/cartilaginous spurs were more marked with age. Microscopy revealed loss of nucleus pulposus physaliform cells, chondrocyte replication, disc necrosis, and ossification. Hyperglycemia with and without hyperinsulinemia was common. No statistically significant differences in pathologic findings were noted, neither in diabetic versus nondiabetic nor in hyperinsulinemic animals. The sand rat is a model of disc degeneration; similarities with possible overlap with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis syndrome were noted.

Aging↗
PubMed1989

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma simulating a prolapsed intervertebral disc. A case report.

A metastatic liposarcoma presented with the clinical features of a prolapsed intervertebral disc. The tumour had spread from the retroperitoneal space in front of the sacrum by way of the first sacral foramen and along the dural sleeve of the first sacral root. Such a presentation has not previously been reported, and we make the point that it is important always to send material removed during operation on discs for histological examination.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Histologic changes in the intervertebral disc after intradiscal injections of methylprednisolone acetate in rabbits.

STUDY DESIGN: Histologic changes in the intervertebral disc were evaluated by light and electron microscopy after an intradiscal injection of methylprednisolone acetate. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the histologic changes that occur in the disc after an intradiscal injection of cortico steroids. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several orthopedic surgeons have managed lumbar disc herniation with intradiscal steroid injection. Few studies have addressed the histologic changes after this treatment. METHODS: Thirty rabbits were surgically treated. Rabbits were divided into two groups. Group A: 25 rabbits underwent intradiscal steroid injections. Methylprednisolone acetate was injected into the L3-L4 disc, whereas methylprednisolone sodium succinate was injected into the L4-L5 disc. Physiologic saline was injected into the L5-L6 disc as a control. Groups of five rabbits were killed 1 day, 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after the injection and subjected to microscopic evaluation. Group B: Another five rabbits underwent an injection of polyethylene glycol 4000, a vehicle for methylprednisolone acetate, into the L3-L4 and L4-L5 discs. All five rabbits were killed 24 weeks after the injection and subjected to microscopic evaluation. RESULTS: Group A: Light microscopic evaluation showed tissue in the nucleus pulposus, and the inner layer of the anulus fibrosus had degenerated in the methylprednisolone acetate group killed 24 weeks after the injection. Matrix vesicles, an indication of primary tissue calcification, were observed by electron microscopy. In the methylprednisolone sodium succinate group and saline group, however, no histologic changes were observed. Group B: Degeneration of the nucleus pulposus and primary tissue calcification were observed in the discs of all rabbits. CONCLUSIONS: Methylprednisolone acetate and its vehicle polyethylene glycol cause degeneration and primary calcification in discs.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Incoherent imaging using continuous wave ultrasound. A preliminary study using bovine intervertebral discs.

As an object rotates with respect to a stationary planar ultrasonic beam, the scattering centres within the object return echoes that are Doppler-shifted in frequency by amounts depending on the velocities of the individual scatterers. The backscattered echo amplitude at any particular frequency is the line integral of the scattered radiation at the cross-range corresponding to that frequency. The amplitude as a function of frequency can be interpreted as a tomographic projection. A tomographic reconstruction algorithm can produce an image of the distribution of scattering centres in the insonified object from these projections. This paper describes the development and characterisation of a microscanner to investigate the approach of using continuous wave ultrasound for three-dimensional cross-sectional imaging. The results of preliminary tissue investigation, conducted using bovine coccygeal intervertebral discs, are described. The radial imaging resolution improves as the Doppler frequency resolution improves but the circumferential resolution degrades proportionally. As the number of projections increases, there is a finite increase in image quality. Two- and three-dimensional images of the intervertebral disc reveal an alternate light and dark banding pattern that is characteristic of the laminar structure of the annulus fibrosus.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2006

TonEBP/OREBP is a regulator of nucleus pulposus cell function and survival in the intervertebral disc.

The nucleus pulposus is an aggrecan-rich hydrated tissue that permits the intervertebral disc to resist compressive loads. Adaptation to loading is achieved through an elevation in disc osmolarity mediated by the numerous charged glycosoaminoglycan side chains of the aggrecan molecule. The goal of this investigation was to determine the functional role of the osmo-regulatory protein, TonEBP, in cells of the nucleus pulposus. We found that TonEBP and its downstream target genes were robustly expressed in the tissues of the disc. Above 330 mosmol/kg, cultured nucleus pulposus cells up-regulated target genes TauT, BGT-1, and SMIT; above 450 mosmol/kg, there was raised expression of HSP-70. In hypertonic media there was activation of TauT and heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) reporter activity and increased binding of TonEBP to the TonE motif. When cells were transfected with the dominant-negative form of TonEBP (DN-TonEBP) there was suppression of TauT and HSP-70 reporter gene expression; pTonEBP enhanced reporter gene expression. Moreover, in hypertonic media, forced expression of DN-TonEBP induced apoptosis. We suppressed TonEBP using small interfering RNA technique and noted a decrease in TauT reporter activity in isotonic as well as hyperosmolar media. Finally, we report that the aggrecan promoter contains two conserved TonE motifs. To evaluate the importance of these motifs, we overexpressed DN-TonEBP and partially silenced TonEBP using small interfering RNA. Both approaches resulted in suppression of aggrecan promoter activity. It is concluded that TonEBP permits the disc cells to adapt to the hyperosmotic milieu while autoregulating the expression of molecules that generate the unique extracellular environment.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed1998

Characterisation of cytoplasm-filled processes in cells of the intervertebral disc.

We examined cells from the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus of adult bovine intervertebral discs, using confocal laser scanning microscopy on living unfixed tissue. These cells were visualised using chloromethyl fluorescein diacetate, a membrane-impermeant fluorescent dye. The organisation of cells from the outer annulus was also determined using confocal microscopy after fixation and staining the actin-filaments with FITC-phalloidin. We found that cellular processes were a dominant feature of cells from all regions of the disc including the cells of the nucleus pulposus and inner annulus. These processes were also visible in histological sections of disc examined both at the light and electron microscope level, even though cells from the nucleus and inner annulus appeared chondrocyte-like, being rounded and enclosed in a capsule. The function of these processes is at present unknown. We suggest that they may serve to sense mechanical strain.

Actins↗
PubMed1975

The clinical syndromes and surgical treatment of thoracic intervertebral disc prolapse.

Doubt remains as to the safest surgical approach to the prolapsed thoracic intervertebral disc. Laminectomy, lateral rhachotomy and the transthoracic approach all have their protagonists. Twenty-two patients from the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Queen Square, and Atkinson Morley's Hospital have been reviewed. Their clinical presentation is discussed and the ancillary aids to diagnosis assessed. The diagnostic value of disc space calcification is stressed, and the use of air myelography as an adjunct to positive contrast myelography is noted. Fifteen patients were subjected to laminectomy, and seven to lateral rhachotomy. Each group contained patients with a wide range of neurological deficit. Six of the patients who underwent laminectomy were improved, two were unchanged, six deteriorated and one died. Of the patients who had lateral rhachotomy, six were improved, one was unchanged and none deteriorated. The conclusion is drawn that lateral rhachotomy is a safer procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Titanium intervertebral disc and instrumentation for fusion in anterior cervical discectomy. Technical note.

A new titanium intervertebral disc for fusion in anterior cervical discectomy is described. The advantages of the device, apart from avoidance of graft explanation, include biocompatibility, simple instrumentation, availability of different forms and sizes, and restoration of physiologic lordosis. Following extensive biochemical testing and implantation in animals, first long-term experience in 15 patients with an average follow-up of three years (28-73 month) are described. Infections, anterior angulation deformities, and graft extrusions were not observed in this series.

Adult↗