Comparison of Harrington rod and Cotrel-Dubousset devices in surgical correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Background: Since the time of Paul Harrington numerous implants have been introduced for correction of scoliosis, but none are ideal. Newer devices are very expensive, and in our country some patients cannot afford them. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the results of the Harrington rod (HR) device and the newer Cotrel-Dubousset (CD) device in treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Materials and Methods: A retrospective review assessed patients with AIS admitted for spinal curve correction treated with HR (n = 120) and CD devices (n = 138) between October 1988 to April 2001 at the Shafa Yahyaeian Hospital, Tehran, Iran. We extracted information from the patient's file and radiographs before, after and two years post-operation. Results: The mean age of patients was 16.7 ± 2.5 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding gender, age, curve before surgery, and percentage of flexibility. The mean curvature was 70 ± 20.7 in the HR and 64.81 ± 19.4 in the CD group before surgery (P = 0.09); and the mean curvature was 40 ± 16.3 and 26.58 ± 15.37 in HR and CD groups respectively after surgery (P = 0.156). The mean curvature was 47.2 ± 15.9 in HR and 31.2 ± 15.4 in CD groups at two years follow-up (P = 0.156). Conclusions: Results of many studies have shown no significant impairment in long-term quality of life and function in patients treated with Harrington rods. According to previously performed studies and the current study, surgical correction with Harrington rods seem to be comparable with the newer more expensive CD device. Although there is no doubt that the preference is to use newer devices in view of some disadvantages of HR, but this does not preclude using it for patients that cannot afford the newer devices. Copyright © 2013, Trauma Research Center; Published by Kowsar Corp

Downregulation of microRNA-217 and microRNA-646 acts as potential predictor biomarkers in progression, metastasis, and unfavorable prognosis of human osteosarcoma

Despite the progress in therapeutic targets, it remains dissatisfactory for most osteosarcoma patients with metastasis or recurrence osteosarcoma. Therefore, it is required to determine the involved mechanisms of osteosarcoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression level of MiR-217 and miR-646 and also their association with clinicopathological features in patients with osteosarcoma. Total RNA was purified from patients with osteosarcoma and noncancerous bone tissues, and then quantitative real-time PCR was applied to evaluate the expression level of microRNAs. Our result suggested that miR-217 expression was remarkably deceased in osteosarcoma bone tissue when compared with noncancerous bone tissues (mean ± SD 5.32 ± 1.231, 2.01 ± 0.78; P = 0.024) and miR-646 expression decreased in osteosarcoma bone tissue in comparison with normal tissues (mean ± SD 4.56 ± 1.45, 1.76 ± 1.24; P = 0.041). Our findings indicated that decreased expression of MiR-217 and miR-646 was strongly correlated with high tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) stage (P = 0.015, P = 0.002) and large cancer diameter (P = 0.041, P = 0.053). Kaplan-Meier survival and log-rank analysis indicated that shorter overall survival was strongly linked to decreased expression of miR-217 and miR-646 (log-rank test P = 0.034, P = 0.026). In terms of miR-217, multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis has showed that reduction of miR-217 expression (P = 0.001), TNM stage (P = 0.046), and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.006) were independently linked to a short-time survival of patients. In terms of miR-646, low expression of miR-646 (P = 0.021), TNM stage (P = 0.052), and tumor size (P = 0.043) were independently associated with poor survival of patients as prognostic factors. Our findings suggested that downregulation of MiR-217 and miR-646 was associated with progression of osteosarcoma. MiR-217 and miR-646 may play a key role in suppression of tumor in osteosarcoma and would be applied as a novel therapeutic agent. © 2015, International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM)

Retraction Note to: Downregulation of microRNA-217 and microRNA-646 acts as potential predictor biomarkers in progression, metastasis, and unfavorable prognosis of human osteosarcoma (Tumor Biol, (2016), 37, (5769-5773), 10.1007/s13277-015-3821-4)

This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief, the International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM) and the Publisher per the Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines. The article shows evidence of irregularities in authorship during the submission process, there is strong reason to believe that the peer review process was compromised and there are similarities with the following articles which were all submitted within a close timeframe: Masoomeh Dadpay, Mojtaba Zarea, Rahman Ghaffarzadegan Rabati, Bijan Rezakhaniha, Babak Barari, Vahid Behnod, Katayoun Ziari, Upregulation of miR-21 and downregulation of miR-494 may serve as emerging molecular biomarkers for prediagnostic samples of subjects who developed nasopharyngeal carcinoma associates with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Tumor Biol. First Online: 21 August 2015 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3905-1 Date received: 27 June 2015 Seyyed Hasan Karbasy, Afshin Taheriazam, Alireza Mirghasemi, Farnoush Sedaghati, Mohammadreza Shakeri, Emad Yahaghi, Reza Bahador, Upregulation of miR-300 and downregulation of miR-125b act as potential predictor biomarkers in progression, metastasis, and poor prognosis of osteosarcoma. Tumor Biol. First Online: 02 September 2015 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-4000-3. © 2016, International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM)

Effectiveness of slump stretching on low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background. The slump test is a type of neurodynamic test that is believed to evaluate the mechanosensitivity of the neuromeningeal structures within the vertebral canal. The objective of this review was to investigate the effectiveness of slump stretching on back pain and disability in patients with low back pain (LBP). Methods. We searched eight electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Ovid, CINAHL, Embase, PEDro, Google Scholar, CENTRAL). The publication language was restricted to English, and we searched the full time period available for each database, up to October 2017. Our primary outcomes were pain and disability, and the secondary outcome was range of motion (ROM). Results. We identified 12 eligible studies with 515 LBP patients. All included studies reported short-term follow-up. A large effect size (standardized mean difference SMD ¼ �2.15, 95% confidence interval CI ¼ �3.35 to � 0.95) and significant effect were determined, favoring the use of slump stretching to decrease pain in patients with LBP. In addition, large effect sizes and significant results were also found for the effect of slump stretching on disability improvement (SMD ¼ �8.03, 95% CI ¼ �11.59 to �4.47) in the LBP population. A qualitative synthesis of results showed that slump stretching can significantly increase straight leg raise and active knee extension ROM. Conclusions. There is very low to moderate quality of evidence that slump stretching may have positive effects on pain in people with LBP. However, the quality of evidence for the benefits of slump stretching on disability was very low. Finally, it appears that patients with nonradicular LBP may benefit most from slump stretching compared with other types of LBP. © 2018 American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved

Magnetic resonance imaging investigations of position of conus medullaris in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis as a peripheral neuropathy

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a structural 3-dimensional deformity the spine, which is occurring between 10 years of age and skeletal maturity and it mostly affects prepuberbal girls. The etiology of AIS remains unknown and seems should be multifactorial. According to the theories, there could be a shorter spinal cord or a higher location of the conus medullaris and disproportionate growth in neuro-osseous system. This study wants to investigate the position of the conus medullaris in AIS patients with a large curve magnitude in comparison with healthy adolescents. 94 AIS patients consisting of 25 males and 69 females between 11 and 25 years old, based on physical examination and standing posteroanterior roentgenography of the total spine with a Cobb angle more than 40 degrees was chosen. The main curve magnitude of every AIS patient was measured by the Cobb method. Apex of deformity was determined based on SRS definition. Patients� deformity were calcified based on Lenke classification. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the total spine were performed in the AIS group, by means of a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging system. The position of conus medullaris was defined according to the method by saffiudin et al and was assessed based on the age, sex, type of deformity, severity of deformity, kyphosis, lordosis, flexibility, apical vertebra, stable vertebra. The mean age of patients were 16.34 with 6.77 of conus medullaris position in mean, which was lower one-third of L1. Our study showed no significant correlation between the position of conus medullaris with age, weight, preoperative curve, flexibility, types of deformity based on Lenke classification and degree of kyphosis and lordisis. In conclusion, there is the same mean and the distribution of the conus medullaris locations for AIS patients and normal populations. © 2015, E-Century Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved

The reliability and concurrent validity of a new iPhone® application for measuring active lumbar spine flexion and extension range of motion in patients with low back pain

Objective: To investigate the reliability and validity of an iPhone® application (iHandy® Level) for measuring active lumbar flexion-extension range of motion (ROM) in chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) patients. Methods: Fifteen CNLBP patients were recruited. The participants stood in a relaxed position and the T12-L1 and S1-S2 spinal levels were identified through palpation and were marked on the skin. Two blinded examiners used a gravity-based inclinometer and the application in order to measure ROM. The instruments were lined up appropriately and the participants were asked to perform maximum lumbar flexion following by maximum extension. First, each examiner placed the instruments over the T12-L1 level and then over the S1-S2 level during the movements. In order to calculate flexion-extension ROM, the measurement which was obtained from T12-L1 was subtracted from S1-S2. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) models (3, k) and (2, k) were used in order to determine the intrarater and inter-rater reliability, respectively. The Spearman�s correlation coefficients (r s ) and Bland-Altman plots were used in order to examine the validity. Results: Fair-to-excellent intrarater (ICC = 0.39�0.89) and moderate-to-good inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.55�0.77) were observed using the inclinometer. Moreover, poor-to-good intrarater (ICC = 0.30�70) and inter-rater (ICC = 0.13�0.70) reliability were found with the application. The Spearman�s correlation coefficients demonstrated low-to-moderate associations between the measures of the two instruments (r s � 0.22). The Bland-Altman plots indicated that there was a significant difference between the instruments for measuring flexion ROM. The difference was not significant for measuring extension ROM. Conclusion: The iHandy® Level application does not have sufficient validity for measuring active lumbar flexion ROM in CNLBP patients. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis

The reliability and concurrent validity of a new iPhone® application for measuring active lumbar spine flexion and extension range of motion in patients with low back pain

Objective: To investigate the reliability and validity of an iPhone® application (iHandy® Level) for measuring active lumbar flexion-extension range of motion (ROM) in chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) patients. Methods: Fifteen CNLBP patients were recruited. The participants stood in a relaxed position and the T12-L1 and S1-S2 spinal levels were identified through palpation and were marked on the skin. Two blinded examiners used a gravity-based inclinometer and the application in order to measure ROM. The instruments were lined up appropriately and the participants were asked to perform maximum lumbar flexion following by maximum extension. First, each examiner placed the instruments over the T12-L1 level and then over the S1-S2 level during the movements. In order to calculate flexion-extension ROM, the measurement which was obtained from T12-L1 was subtracted from S1-S2. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) models (3, k) and (2, k) were used in order to determine the intrarater and inter-rater reliability, respectively. The Spearman�s correlation coefficients (rs) and Bland-Altman plots were used in order to examine the validity. Results: Fair-to-excellent intrarater (ICC = 0.39�0.89) and moderate-to-good inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.55�0.77) were observed using the inclinometer. Moreover, poor-to-good intrarater (ICC = 0.30�70) and inter-rater (ICC = 0.13�0.70) reliability were found with the application. The Spearman�s correlation coefficients demonstrated low-to-moderate associations between the measures of the two instruments (rs � 0.22). The Bland-Altman plots indicated that there was a significant difference between the instruments for measuring flexion ROM. The difference was not significant for measuring extension ROM. Conclusion: The iHandy® Level application does not have sufficient validity for measuring active lumbar flexion ROM in CNLBP patients. © 2019 Taylor & Francis