Phase Transitions in Colloidal Suspensions of Virus Particles

Colloidal liquid crystals are a useful experimental system for studying fun-damental aspects of liquid crystal ordering, because the time, energy, and size scales involved allow one to interact with the system with laboratory scale probes and forces, in a way that is not possible in small molecul

Clinical significance of cerebrospinal fluid nitric oxide concentrations in degenerative cervical and lumbar diseases

In animal models of degenerative lumbar disease, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed in macrophages and Schwann cells following compression of the cauda equina. We previously reported that NO metabolites (nitrite plus nitrate: [NOx]) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) correlate with postoperative pain relief in patients with degenerative lumbar disease and with neurologic recovery rate postoperatively or after conservative treatment in patients with spinal cord injury. The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between [NOx] and neurologic severity, and recovery in degenerative cervical and lumbar diseases. Two hundred fifty-seven cases, including 85 patients with cervical compression myelopathy (CCM), 25 with cervical disc herniation (CDH), 70 with lumbar canal stenosis (LCS), and 77 with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), were examined. The CSF [NOx] was measured using the Griess method. Severity of neurologic impairment and clinical recovery was assessed using the Japanese Orthopedic Association score and Hirabayashi’s method. [NOx] in CCM and LCS, but not CDH and LDH groups, was significantly higher than that in controls, and correlated with postoperative recovery rates, but not with preoperative neurologic severity. [NOx] significantly correlated with neurologic recovery following surgery for CCM and LCS

Significant correlation between cerebrospinal fluid nitric oxide concentrations and neurologic prognosis in incomplete cervical cord injury

In animal models of spinal cord injury (SCI), inducible NO (nitric oxide) synthase is expressed in the spinal cord immediately after sustaining SCI. Excessive NO production has cytotoxic effects and induces neuronal apoptosis, causing neural degeneration and neurodysfunction in the spinal cord. Little is known, however, about the relationship between NOx (NO metabolites: nitrite and nitrate) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neurologic severity or recovery in clinical cases. The objective of the present study was to examine the correlation between CSF NOx levels and neurologic severity or recovery in SCI. Twenty-five patients with incomplete cervical cord injury (CCI) were examined. Eight cases were treated conservatively (non-operated group). Seventeen cases underwent surgical intervention (operated group). NOx levels in the CSF were measured using the Griess method. The severity of the neurologic impairment was assessed using Frankel’s classification and the American Spinal Injury Association motor score (ASIA MS). The degree of neurologic recovery was assessed using Frankel’s classification and the ASIA motor recovery percentage (MRP). There was no significant difference in the NOx levels between the CCI group (NOx levels: 5.9 ± 0.7 μM) and the 36 control subjects (1 volunteer and 35 patients without neurologic disorders, NOx levels: 4.9 ± 0.3 μM). There was no significant difference in NOx levels and MRP between the non-operated group and the operated group. The NOx levels in total SCI group were significantly correlated with the ASIA MS and MRP. There was a significant correlation between CSF NOx levels and neurologic severity or recovery in incomplete CCI