The effect of a prostaglandin E-1 derivative on the symptoms and quality of life of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis

Quality of life (QOL) is a concern for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). In this study, QOL was examined using the 5-item EuroQol (EQ-5D). QOL and activities of daily living (ADL) were surveyed for 91 patients who visited 18 medical institutions in our prefecture and were diagnosed with LSS-associated intermittent claudication. A second survey was performed after a parts per thousand yen6 weeks for 79 of the subjects to evaluate therapy with limaprost (an oral prostaglandin E1 derivative) or etodolac (an NSAID). Symptoms, maximum walking time, QOL, ADL items, and relationships among these variables were investigated for all 91 patients. Leg pain, leg numbness, and low back pain while walking were surveyed by use of VAS scores (0-100). Leg pain, leg numbness, and low back pain while walking (VAS a parts per thousand yen25) were present in 83.5, 62.6, and 54.9 % of the patients in the first survey, and approximately half of the patients had a maximum walking time 30 min, showing that maximum walking time affected health-related QOL. Of the 79 patients who completed the second survey, 56 had taken limaprost and 23 (control group) had received etodolac. Limaprost improved possible walking time, reduced ADL interference, and significantly increased the EQ-5D utility score, whereas no significant changes occurred in the control group. Maximum walking time was prolonged by a parts per thousand yen10 min and the EQ-5D utility value was improved by a parts per thousand yen0.1 points in significantly more patients in the limaprost group than in the control group. According to the findings of this survey, at an average of 8 weeks after administration limaprost improved symptoms, QOL, and ADL in LSS patients whereas treatment with an NSAID reduced pain but did not have any other effects.ArticleJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC SCIENCE. 18(2):208-215 (2013)journal articl

A history of mild shocks experienced by the regolith particles on hydrated asteroid Ryugu

Micrometeorites, a possible major source of Earth’s water, are thought to form from explosive dispersal of hydrated chondritic materials during impact events on their parental asteroids. However, this provenance and formation mechanism have yet to be directly confirmed using asteroid returned samples. Here, we report evidence of mild shock metamorphism in the surface particles of asteroid Ryugu based on electron microscopy. All particles are dominated by phyllosilicates but lack dehydration textures, which are indicative of shock-heating temperatures below ~500 °C. Microfault-like textures associated with extensively shock-deformed framboidal magnetites and a high-pressure polymorph of Fe–Cr–sulfide have been identified. These findings indicate that the average peak pressure was -2 GPa. The vast majority of ejecta formed during impact on Ryugu-like asteroids would be hydrated materials, larger than a millimetre, originating far from the impact point. These characteristics are inconsistent with current micrometeorite production models, and consequently, a new formation mechanism is required

Factors related to subjective satisfaction following microendoscopic foraminotomy for cervical radiculopathy

Abstract Background Microendoscopic foraminotomy has been reported to be effective for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy, using outcome measurement scores such as the neck disability index (NDI) and numerical rating scale (NRS). However, the scores for spine surgery do not always reflect the true subjective satisfaction of the patient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors related to subjective satisfaction following microendoscopic foraminotomy for cervical radiculopathy. Methods The subjects consisted of consecutive patients who underwent microendoscopic foraminotomy for cervical radiculopathy. Patient background information and operative data were collected. The NDI, the NRS score for the neck, upper back, and arm, and the EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D) were assessed preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. Postoperative subjective satisfaction was also assessed as a direct evaluation of satisfaction, and willingness to undergo the same operation if needed was assessed as an indirect evaluation. Results A total of 42 patients were included in this study. The mean age was 52.9 ± 11.8 years; 19.0% were female and 81.0% were male. The operation time for one level was 57.7 min and the estimated blood loss was minimal in most cases. All NDI, NRS, and EQ-5D scores improved significantly postoperatively. Univariate analyses revealed that the factors related to subjective satisfaction were younger age, non-smoking status, high preoperative NDI score, and low postoperative NRS score for the arm. Factors related to the willingness to undergo the same operation if needed were high preoperative NDI scores, high preoperative NRS scores for the arm, and low preoperative EQ-5D scores. Conclusions Factors related to subjective satisfaction following microendoscopic foraminotomy include younger age, non-smoking status, high preoperative NDI score, high preoperative NRS score for the arm, low preoperative EQ-5D score, and a low postoperative NRS score for the arm

A case of lymphoma mimicking infected internal iliac artery aneurysm

Abstract Background Malignant lymphoma rarely mimics an infected arterial aneurysm and a ruptured arterial aneurysm because of similar imaging findings, leading to misdiagnosis. The hematomas of ruptured aneurysms are radiologically difficult to distinguish from those of malignant lymphoma in emergency settings. Hence, a definitive diagnosis is crucial to avoid unnecessary surgery. Case presentation A man in his 80s with hematuria and shock vital had right internal iliac artery aneurysm (IIAA) and perianeurysmal fluid retention, which appeared to be a ruptured or an infected aneurysm. Treatment was initiated for infected IIAA instead of for ruptured IIAA. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome developed, and the infectious sources were assessed. Pacemaker lead and urinary tract infections were identified and treated; however, blood pressure was unstable. The aneurysm was treated with endovascular aortic aneurysm repair following antibiotic therapy; however, fluid retention increased, and inflammatory status and hematuria deteriorated. Open surgical conversion was performed to manage the infected lesions. Although an iliopsoas abscess was detected during surgery and nephrectomy and ureterectomy were performed to control the hematuria, analysis of the removed tissues led to the pathological diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Conclusions We encountered a case of DLBCL with imaging findings mimicking an infected internal iliac artery aneurysm, and definitive diagnosis was made more than 2 months after the initial examination. Definitively diagnosing malignant lymphoma around an iliac artery aneurysm based merely on symptoms and imaging findings is extremely difficult. Thus, histological examination should be actively performed in atypical infected aneurysms

Partial Resection of Spinous Process for the Elderly Patients with Thoraco-Lumbar Kyphosis: Technical Report

Background and objectives: Global sagittal imbalance with lumbar hypo-lordosis can cause low back pain (LBP) during standing and/or walking. This condition has recently been well-known as one of the major causes of reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in elderly populations. Decrease in disc space of anterior elements and an increase in the spinous process height of posterior elements may both contribute to the decrease in lordosis of the lumbar spine. To correct the sagittal imbalance, the mainstream option is still a highly invasive surgery, such as long-segment fusion with posterior wedge osteotomy. Therefore, we developed a treatment that is partial resection of several spinous processes of thoraco-lumbar spine (PRSP) and lumbar extension exercise to improve the flexibility of the spine as postoperative rehabilitation. Materials and Methods: Consecutively, seven patients with over 60 mm of sagittal vertical axis (SVA) underwent PRSP. The operation was performed with several small midline skin incisions under general anesthesia. After splitting the supraspinous ligaments, the cranial or caudal tip of the spinous process of several thoraco-lumbar spines was removed, and postoperative rehabilitation was followed to improve extension flexibility. Results: The average follow-up period was 13.0 months. The average blood loss and operation time were 11.4 mL and 47.4 min, respectively. The mean SVA improved from 119 to 93 mm but deteriorated in one case. The mean numerical rating scale of low back pain improved from 6.6 to 3.7 without any exacerbations. The mean Oswestry Disability Index score was improved from 32.4% to 19.1% in six cases, with one worsened case. Conclusions: We performed PRSP and lumbar extension exercise for the patients with LBP due to lumbar kyphosis. This minimally invasive treatment was considered to be effective in improving the symptoms of low back pain and HRQOL, especially of elderly patients with lumbar kyphosis

Diagnosing Discogenic Low Back Pain Associated with Degenerative Disc Disease Using a Medical Interview

<div><p>Purposes</p><p>To evaluate the usefulness of our original five questions in a medical interview for diagnosing discogenic low back pain (LBP), and to establish a support tool for diagnosing discogenic LBP.</p><p>Materials and Methods</p><p>The degenerative disc disease (DDD) group (n = 42) comprised patients diagnosed with discogenic LBP associated with DDD, on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging findings and response to analgesic discography (discoblock). The control group (n = 30) comprised patients with LBP due to a reason other than DDD. We selected patients from those who had been diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis and had undergone decompression surgery without fusion. Of them, those whose postoperative LBP was significantly decreased were included in the control group. We asked patients in both groups whether they experienced LBP after sitting too long, while standing after sitting too long, squirming in a chair after sitting too long, while washing one’s face, and in the standing position with flexion. We analyzed the usefulness of our five questions for diagnosing discogenic LBP, and performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to develop a diagnostic support tool.</p><p>Results</p><p>There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, except age, between the groups. There were significant differences between the groups for all five questions. In the age-adjusted analyses, the odds ratios of LBP after sitting too long, while standing after sitting too long, squirming in a chair after sitting too long, while washing one’s face, and in standing position with flexion were 10.5, 8.5, 4.0, 10.8, and 11.8, respectively. The integer scores were 11, 9, 4, 11, and 12, respectively, and the sum of the points of the five scores ranged from 0 to 47. Results of the ROC analysis were as follows: cut-off value, 31 points; area under the curve, 0.92302; sensitivity, 100%; and specificity, 71.4%.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>All five questions were useful for diagnosing discogenic LBP. We established the scoring system as a support tool for diagnosing discogenic LBP.</p></div

Study flow chart.

<p>Forty-two patients were included in the degenerative disc disease (DDD) group, and 30 patients were included in the control group. LBP, low back pain; NRS, numerical rating scale; LSS, lumbar spinal stenosis.</p