Ex vivo estimation of thoracolumbar vertebral body compressive strength: The relative contributions of bone densitometry and vertebral morphometry

The estimation of vertebral fracture risk in individuals with suspected osteopenia is commonly based on measurements of lumbar spine bone density. The efficacy of vertebral size and deformity, as assessed by vertebral morphometry, in the prediction of fractures has been less studied. In an ex vivo investigation the regional relationships between vertebral size, vertebral deformity, bone density and compressive strength throughout the thoracolumbar spine were examined. In 16 vertebral columns (T1–L5) the bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of each segment were measured using lateral projection dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the vertebral cancellous density (VCD) and mid-vertebral cross-sectional area (CSA) measured using quantitative computed tomography. Vertebral body heights were determined from mid-sagittal CT scans, and vertical height ratios calculated for each segment. The failure load and failure stress of the isolated vertebral bodies were determined using a material testing device. Separate analyses were performed for the upper (T1–4), middle (T5–8) and lower (T9–12) thoracic, and lumbar (L1–5) segments. In all regions, failure load was strongly correlated with BMD (r=0.82–0.86), moderately correlated with VCD (r=0.60–0.71) and vertebral height (r=0.22–0.49), and poorly correlated with the height ratios (r=0.04–0.33). Failure stress was best predicted by BMD (r=0.73–0.78) and VCD (r=0.70–0.78) but was poorly correlated with all morphometric variables (r=0.01–0.33). The segmental correlations between BMD and VCD ranged fromr=0.49 tor=0.79. For all regions, BMD and VCD were included in the stepwise regression models for predicting failure load and failure stress. Either the mid-vertebral height or CSA were included in all the failure load models, while mid-vertebral height was included in only one of the failure stress models. The results suggest that vertebral deformity and size (as assessed by vertebral morphometry) make only a minor contribution to the prediction of vertebral strength additional to that provided by bone densitometry alone. The consistent regional relationships between variables appear to support the practice of global fracture risk assessment based on lumbar spine densitometry.     

130例二尖瓣置换术同期行三尖瓣成形术的方法及意义

目的 探讨二尖瓣置换术(MVR)同期行三尖瓣成形术(TVP)的手术方法和意义。方法 191例二尖瓣病变同时伴有功能性三尖瓣关闭不全(T1)的患者，其中130例于MVR手术同期行TVP。70例轻度TI中，有7例行Kay氏法二瓣化成形术，2例行DeVega瓣环成形术；中度和重度TI均同期行TVP：其中中度TI 92例，行DeVega瓣环成形术57例，Kay氏法二瓣化成形术33例，人工瓣环固定术2例；重度TI 29例，行DeVega瓣环成形术6例，人工瓣环固定术23例。结果 130例中死亡3例，127例康复出院。122例随访29～112月，发现32例有轻度或极轻度三尖瓣返流(TR)，7例中度TR，3例重度TR。结论二尖瓣病变同时伴有功能性TI的患者，在施行MVR同时，应行TVP，尤其是中重度TI更要积极处理。选择适当的手术方式，能有效纠正TI，阻止轻度TR加重，减少严重TR的发生率。     

椎动脉型颈椎病的彩色多普勒超声诊断

目的 :观察椎动脉型颈椎病的高频彩色多普勒表现和血流动力学变化。方法 :应用彩色多普勒超声诊断仪 (高频探头 ,频率 7～ 10MHz)检测 138例椎动脉型颈椎病患者 (颈椎病组 )的椎动脉 (VH)内径 (D)、血流速度 (V)和血流量 (Q)、阻力指数 (RI)和搏动指数 (PI) ,观察其形态结构、并与 10 0例 (对照组 )进行对照分析。结果 :颈椎病组VA的V(除平均血流速度外 )、D ,Q ,RI,PI与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P <0 0 1)。结论 :高频彩超显示的椎动脉形态和血流参数变化为临床评价椎动脉型颈椎病治疗效果提供了有价值的依据     

闭合性颈椎创伤伴椎动脉损伤的临床研究

目的　研究椎动脉损伤在闭合性颈椎创伤中的发病率及其与颈椎损伤机制、类型、损伤程度的相关性 ,观察椎动脉损伤后的临床症状、体征 ,探讨早期正确诊断的方法。　方法　于2 0 0 0年 8月～ 2 0 0 2年 2月间 ,利用颈部动脉磁共振血管造影 (MRA)技术 ,连续观察 4 6例闭合性颈椎创伤患者 ,结合颈椎X线、MRI、CT检查及患者的临床症状、体征综合分析。　结果 4 6例闭合性颈椎创伤中 ,12例 (2 6 % )伴椎动脉损伤。其中 7例为双侧损伤 (4例一侧未显影、一侧狭窄 ,3例双侧狭窄 ) ,5例为单侧损伤 (均为一侧狭窄 ) ;10例椎动脉损伤患者无任何症状 ,2例出现眩晕、恶心呕吐、面部麻木、偏盲等症状。椎动脉损伤与屈曲型损伤及颈椎严重不稳定相关 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,与小关节绞锁、横突孔骨折及脊髓完全性损伤明显相关 (P <0 .0 1)。　结论　椎动脉损伤是闭合性颈椎创伤的较常见并发症 ,其临床症状体征缺乏特异性。颈椎创伤中的颈椎严重不稳定、屈曲型损伤、伴有脊髓完全性损伤、小关节绞锁和 (或 )横突孔骨折应高度怀疑椎动脉损伤。临床医师应对此类损伤有较高的警惕性 ,常规进行颈部动脉MRA检查是最有效的早期正确辅助诊断方法。     

Modic changes following lumbar disc herniation

Only a small proportion (20%) of patients with LBP can be diagnosed based on a patho-anatomical entity. Therefore, the identification of relevant subgroups, preferably on a patoanatomical basis, is strongly needed. Modic changes have been described by several authors as being closely linked with LBP. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of Modic changes, their development as well as their association to LBP, previous disc contour, and surgery in patients with previous severe sciatica. This is a longitudinal cohort study where the patients were recruited from an RCT comparing two active conservative treatments, the 181 patients, who at baseline had radicular pain in or below the knee; all underwent a physical examination and MRI. MRI’s, pain history and physical examination of 166 patients were obtained at follow-up 14 months later. The prevalence of Modic changes type 1 increased from 9% at baseline to 29% at follow-up. At that time, a strong association between Modic changes and non-specific LBP was noted. Apparently, Modic changes type 1 was more strongly associated with non-specific lumbar pain than Modic changes type 2. The development of new Modic changes was closely related to the level of a previous disc herniation. A lumbar disc herniation is a strong risk factor for developing Modic changes (especially type 1) during the following year. Furthermore, Modic changes are strongly associated with LBP.     

Prevalent vertebral deformities: Relationship to bone mineral density and spinal osteophytosis in elderly men and women

The aims of this study were to ascertain vertebral deformity prevalence in elderly men and women and to describe the association between bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, severity of spinal degenerative disease and vertebral deformity prevalence. We performed standardized spinal radiographs in a random sample of 300 elderly men and women participating in the Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study, a population-based study of fracture risk factors. Radiographs were read independently by masked observers for the prevalence of vertebral deformity and severity of osteophytosis. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The prevalence of vertebral deformities was critically dependent on the criterion used. The less strict criteria seemed to overestimate deformities at either end of the spine region analysed. However, irrespective of the criterion used, prevalence of deformity was higher in men than in women (25% vs 20% for the 3 SD criterion, 17% vs 12% for the 4 SD criterion and 27% vs 25% for the 25% criterion). Femoral neck BMD was more strongly associated with vertebral deformities than spinal BMD for the 25% criterion (OR/SD change in BMD 1.39 (p=0.02) vs 1.20 (p=0.19)), 3 SD criterion (OR/SD change in BMD 1.45 (p=0.01) vs 1.10 (p=0.34)) and 4 SD criterion (OR/SD change in BMD 1.98 (p=0.0002) vs 1.68 (p=0.008)). BMD was also more strongly associated with biconcave deformities than either wedge or crush deformities and more so in men than in women. Severity of spinal osteophytosis was not associated with vertebral deformity. In conclusion, femoral neck BMD is at least equivalent to the lumbar spine BMD in strength of association with prevalent vertebral fractures. Spinal osteophytosis falsely elevates BMD without a concomitant decrease in fracture risk, indicating that any interpretation of spinal BMD needs to be adjusted for osteophytosis. These findings support the use of femoral neck bone densitometry in older men and women. Moreover, these data indicate that current criteria for radiological assessment of vertebral deformity are sufficiently loose to include a substantial proportion of non-fractures in the elderly, with important implications for the design of clinical trials. However, irrespective of the criterion used, vertebral deformities in men are at least as common, if not more so, than in women, suggesting that vertebral osteoporotic fractures are overlooked in men.     

Autoperfusion balloon catheter for treatment of vertebral artery stenosis

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the vertebral artery was performed with an autoperfusion balloon catheter in five patients. There were no complications in the form of embolic episodes or neurological deficits due to brain ischaemia during inflation. In critical cases with insufficient collateral circulation during temporary occlusion, the use of an autoperfusion balloon catheter may expand the indications for PTA in patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular disease.     

Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on canine cerebral artery strips and the in-vivo vertebral blood flow in dogs

Summary The effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on canine cerebral arteries and on vertebral blood flow were investigated in-vivo and in-vitro and the findings compared with the effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P. Administration of CGRP into the vertebral artery caused a dose-dependent and long-lasting increase in blood flow. The in-vivo vasodilatory effects of substance P and VIP were short-lasting. CGRP (0.1 to 100 nmol/l) elicited a concentration-dependent relaxation of the isolated middle cerebral and basilar arteries when the tissues were precontracted by exposure to prostaglandin F₂ (PGF₂). This effect was not antagonized by propranolol, atropine, tetrodotoxin, (N-Ac-Tyr¹, D-Phe²)-growth hormone-releasing factor(1–29)-NH₂ or (D-Pro², D-Trp^7,9) substance P. CGRP also reduced concentration-dependently the contraction of cerebral arteries induced by KCl or 9,11-epithio-11,12-metano-thromboxane A₂ (STXA₂). Mechanical removal of the endothelium did not abolish the vasodilatory response to CGRP. In PGF₂-contracted canine cerebral arteries, VIP (0.1 to 100 nmol/l) was less potent a vasodilator than CGRP. At low concentrations (0.01 to 1 nmol/l) substance P elicited a rapid and short-lasting relaxation, and in the absence of endothelium this relaxation disappeared. These findings are clear evidence that CGRP modulates vascular tone.     

Evolution of Vertebroplasty: A Biomechanical Perspective

This paper is a collection of computational, finite element studies on vertebroplasty performed in our laboratory, which attempts to provide new biomechanical evidence and a fresh perspective into how the procedure can be implemented more effectively toward the goal of preventing osteoporosis-related fractures. The percutaneous application of a bone cement to vertebral defects associated with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture has proven clinical successful in alleviating back pain. When the biomechanical efficacy of the procedure was examined, however, vertebroplasty was found to be limited in its ability to provide sufficient augmentation to prevent further fractures without risking complications arising from cement extravasations. The procedure may instead be more efficient biomechanically as a prophylactic treatment, to mechanically reinforce osteoporotic vertebrae at risk for fracture. Patient selection for such intervention may be reliably achieved with the more accurate fracture risk assessments based on vertebral strength, predicted using geometrically detailed, specimen-specific finite element models, rather than on bone density alone. Optimal cement volume, placement, and material properties were also recommended. The future of vertebroplasty involving biodegradable augmentation material laced with osteogenic agents that upon release will stimulate new bone growth and increase bone mass was proposed.     

Early clinical evaluation of the Cosgrove-Edwards prosthetic heart valve ring

 We discuss the usefulness of the Cosgrove-Edwards ring from our early clinical results from 25 rings in 24 patients who underwent mitral annuloplasty (MAP) or tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) between June 1999 and December 2000. In the MAP group, the posterior mitral annulus between the anterior and posterior fibrous trigones was reinforced with the prosthetic ring. In the TAP group, the annuli of the anterior and posterior leaflets were splinted with the ring. The prosthetic ring was attached by pledgeted U-sutures. Cardiologists performed echocardiography pre- and postoperatively. Thirteen of the 14 in the MAP group showed mitral valve regurgitation of grade 0 or I. Six of the 11 in the TAP group showed tricuspid regurgitation of grade 0 or I, and 5 patients with regurgitation equal to or greater than grade II who remained in atrial fibrillation postoperatively recovered without further clinical symptoms. No patient has required reoperation during a follow-up period of up to 2 years. Cosgrove-Edwards ring-related complications, such as valve stenosis, ring detachment, and arrhythmia, have been not recognized in these patients. In conclusion, for mitral and tricuspid annuloplasty, the Cosgrove-Edwards prosthetic ring showed excellent early clinical results, particularly in patients maintained in sinus rhythm. Received: November 5, 2001 / Accepted: May 30, 2002 Correspondence to:Y. Misawa