bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Refinement of interbody implant testing in goats: a surgical and morphometric rationale for selection of a cervical level
Authors: Agazzi Siviero , van Loveren Harry R. , Trahan Creighton J. , Johnson Wesley M. 
Published: December 2007

Object
The authors provide a surgical description of the ventral approach to the cervical spine in a goat model and identify selection of the most appropriate level for testing interbody devices. These constructs are designed for implantation in humans during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Such description and guidelines for level selection have never been published in either the medical or veterinarian literature.

Methods
The study comprised three phases: surgical, anatomical, and morphometric. Six goats underwent ventral approaches and were later killed; their necks were dissected and the cervical spines were processed to obtain clean specimens of the vertebral bodies. Measurements were made at each level using a contact digitizer.

Results
The anterolateral bone spurs, called alar processes, and the increased thickness of the longus colli muscle are the surgically relevant characteristics in the goat. The morphometric analysis showed that C2–3 is the most suitable level for implantation of interbody devices. The vertebral endplates at the C2–3 level are relatively flat and parallel to each other, and are perpendicular to the spinal canal axis. More distally, the endplates adopt a more curved arrangement, and the endplate angle becomes significantly greater than 90°. The authors describe anatomical landmarks that are important to safely and effectively perform a ventral cervical spinal approach in the goat.

Conclusions
The authors' model identifies C2–3 as the most appropriate level for animal testing of cervical implants because of its similarity to human anatomy. Further study with rigorous biomechanical range of motion evaluation of each caprine cervical level is needed.
Use of the scapular spine in lumbar fusion procedures: cadaveric feasibility study
Authors: Tubbs R. Shane , Wartmann Christopher T. , Louis Robert G. , Shoja Mohammadali M. , Cormier Jason , Loukas Marios 
Published: December 2007

Object
Graft sources for lumbar fusion include synthetic materials, donor grafts, and autologous bone such as the iliac crest. Considering the data indicating that autologous bone grafts generate the best results for fusion, the next logical step is to seek alternative donor sites in an attempt to reduce the complications associated with these procedures. To the authors' knowledge, autologous scapula has not been explored as a potential source for posterior lumbar fusion graft material. Therefore, the following study was performed to verify the utility of this bone in these procedures.

Methods
Six adult cadavers (mean age 71 years), four formalin-fixed and two fresh specimens, were used in this study. With the cadaver in the prone position, an incision was made over the spine of the scapula. Soft tissues were stripped from the middle of this region of the scapula, and bone segments were removed with a bone saw and used for a posterior lumbar fusion procedure.

Results
A mean length of 11.5 cm was measured for the spine of the scapula and the mean thicknesses of this bone at its medial part, segment just medial to the spinoglenoid notch, and acromion were 1 cm, 2.2 cm, and 2.5 cm, respectively. No obvious injury to surrounding vessels or nerves was found using this procedure, and adequate fusion was achieved with it.

Conclusions
Following clinical testing, such a bone substitute as autologous scapular spine might be a reasonable alternative to iliac crest grafts for use in posterior lumbar fusion procedures.
Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: analysis of results in a series of 374 patients treated with unilateral laminotomy for bilateral microdecompression
Authors: Costa Francesco , Sassi Marco , Cardia Andrea , Ortolina Alessandro , De Santis Antonio , Luccarell Giovanni , Fornari Maurizio 
Published: December 2007

Object
Surgical decompression is the recommended treatment in patients with moderate to severe degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) in whom symptoms do not respond to conservative therapy. Multilevel disease, poor patient health, and advanced age are generally considered predictors of a poor outcome after surgery, essentially because of a surgical technique that has always been considered invasive and prone to causing postoperative instability. The authors present a minimally invasive surgical technique performed using a unilateral approach for lumbar decompression.

Methods
A retrospective study was conducted of data obtained in a consecutive series of 473 patients treated with unilateral microdecompression for DLSS over a 5-year period (2000–2004). Clinical outcome was measured using the Prolo Economic and Functional Scale and the visual analog scale (VAS). Radiological follow-up included dynamic x-ray films of the lumbar spine and, in some cases, computed tomography scans.

Results
Follow-up was completed in 374 (79.1%) of 473 patients—183 men and 191 women. A total of 520 levels were decompressed: 285 patients (76.2%) presented with single-level stenosis, 86 (22.9%) with two-level stenosis, and three (0.9%) with three-level stenosis.
Three hundred twenty-nine patients (87.9%) experienced a clinical benefit, which was defined as neurological improvement in VAS and Prolo Scale scores. Only three patients (0.8%) reported suffering segmental instability at a treated level, but none required surgical stabilization, and all were successfully treated conservatively.

Conclusions
Evaluation of the results indicates that unilateral microdecompression of the lumbar spine offers a significant improvement for patients with DLSS, with a lower rate of complications.
Spinal dumbbell tumors: an analysis of a series of 118 cases
Authors: Ozawa Hiroshi , Kokubun Shoichi , Aizawa Toshimi , Hoshikawa Takeshi , Kawahara Chikashi 
Published: December 2007

Object
The authors analyzed a series of 118 cases of spinal dumbbell tumors to elucidate the feature of the tumors.

Methods
Of 674 cases of spinal cord tumors, the incidence of dumbbell tumors was studied. The tumors were analyzed, and the authors focus on the distribution of age and sex, the pathological diagnoses, their locations, Eden classification, and the surgical methods used.

Results
The incidence of dumbbell tumors was 18%. The mean patient age was 43 years, which was younger than that for all spinal cord tumors (mean 50 years). There were 11 patients younger than 10 years of age. The rate of dumbbell tumors in the cervical spine was significantly higher than that of all spinal cord tumors. Fifteen (18%) of the 81 schwannomas were observed in the C-2 nerve root, thus having a higher incidence than those in the other nerve roots. In 99 cases (84%), the tumors were removed through a hemilaminectomy with or without a facetectomy and posterior fusion. Of 118 cases, 69% of the tumors were schwannomas, and malignant tumors were found in 10 cases (8.5%). Seven (64%) of 11 patients younger than 10 years of age had malignant tumors. Three patients older than 10 years of age had malignant tumors, thus accounting for 2.8% of the 107 older patients.

Conclusions
The incidence of dumbbell tumors was 18%, and they are not uncommon. Malignant dumbbell tumors were more common in children younger than 10 years of age than in older patients.
Cervical malalignment after laminoplasty: relationship to deep extensor musculature of the cervical spine and neurological outcome
Authors: Iizuka Haku , Nakajima Takashi , Iizuka Yoichi , Sorimachi Yasunori , Ara Tsuyoshi , Nishinome Masahiro , Takagishi Kenji 
Published: December 2007

Object
The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between preservation of the insertion of the deep extensor musculature of the cervical spine at C-2 and postoperative cervical alignment, especially differences between cases involving male and female patients, as well as the relationship between the loss of cervical lordosis and neurological outcome after laminoplasty.

Methods
The authors reviewed the records of 50 patients who underwent laminoplasty to elevate the C-3 lamina with repair of the deep extensor musculature (Group A) and 31 patients who underwent laminoplasty by C-3 dome laminotomy or laminectomy (Group B). They compared the degree of cervical lordosis after laminoplasty with preoperative measurements. Neurological function at last follow-up was also compared with preoperative assessments.

Results
In Group A, the mean values for pre- and postoperative cervical lordosis were 14.5 and 10.9°, respectively (p > 0.18). In female patients, however, the pre- and postoperative means were 14.4 and 3.7°, respectively (p < 0.004). In Group B, the overall means for pre- and postoperative cervical lordosis were 17.3 and 19.1°, respectively (p > 0.48); the corresponding means for female patients were 15.0 and 14.1° (p > 0.83). The mean percentages of neurological recovery were 54.1% in Group A and 54.8% in Group B.

Conclusions
Preservation of the insertion of the deep extensor musculature to the C-2 spinous process prevented significant changes in cervical alignment after laminoplasty, even among female patients. Neurological recovery was not affected by the loss of cervical lordosis.
Association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genetic polymorphisms with atlantoaxial dislocation
Authors: Pradhan Mandakini , Behari Sanjay , Kalra Samir K. , Ojha Priti , Agarwal Sarita , Jain Vijendra K. 
Published: December 2007

Object
Genetic mechanisms of atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) have not previously been elucidated. The authors studied association of polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, which encodes enzymes of the folate pathway (implicated in causation of neural tube defects [NTDs]), in patients with AAD.

Methods
Molecular analysis of MTHFR polymorphisms (677C→T, cytosine to thymine and, 1298A→C, adenine to cytosine, substitutions) was carried out using polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion in 75 consecutive patients with AAD and in their reducible (nine patients, 12%) and irreducible (66 patients, 88%) subgroups. Controls were 60 age- and sex-matched patients of the same ethnicity. Comparisons of genotype and allele frequencies were performed using a chi-square test (with significance at p < 0.05).

Results
The CT genotype frequency of MTHFR 677C→T polymorphism was significantly increased in the full group of patients with AAD (odds ratio [OR] 3.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–7.14, p = 0.005) as well as in the irreducible subgroup (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.17–6.86, p = 0.01). The frequency of T alleles was also higher in the AAD group (25.3%) than in controls (15%). The comparison of the combined frequency of CT and TT genotypes with the frequency of the CC genotype again showed significant association in AAD (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.98–5.90, p = 0.009) and the irreducible (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.74, p = 0.016) subgroup. There was, however, no significant association of MTHFR 1298A→C polymorphism with AAD.

Conclusions
Both MTHFR 677C→T polymorphism and higher T allele frequency have significant associations with AAD, especially the irreducible variety. Perhaps adequate supplementation of periconceptional folic acid to circumvent effects of this missense mutation (as is done for prevention of NTDs) would reduce the incidence of AAD.
The effect of ketoprophen on lumbar spinal fusion healing in a rabbit model
Authors: Urrutia Julio , Mardones Rodrigo , Quezada Felipe 
Published: December 2007

Object
Several reports have shown that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have an inhibitory effect in osteogenesis and reduce heterotopic ossification in humans. A deleterious effect of NSAIDs in posterolateral intertransverse process fusion has also been suggested. The authors used a validated rabbit model to try to determine the influence of the NSAID ketoprophen on the fusion rate in lumbar spinal arthrodesis.

Methods
Thirty New Zealand male rabbits underwent posterolateral (intertransverse process) bilateral spinal fusions at a single level, using autologous bone graft obtained from both iliac crests. The animals were randomized after the operation, so that 15 rabbits received ketoprophen as a postoperative analgesic and the other 15 received the postoperative analgesic tramadol. The animals were killed 8 weeks after surgery, and fusion status was determined by inspection, palpation, anteroposterior radiographs, and histological analysis.

Results
A solid fusion was obtained in eight rabbits (53%), and pseudarthrosis in seven rabbits (47%) in each group.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that the use of ketoprophen after intertransverse spinal fusion at a single level does not decrease the fusion rate, compared with tramadol.
Physical limitations to tissue engineering of intervertebral disc cells: effect of extracellular osmotic change on glycosaminoglycan production and cell metabolism
Authors: Takeno Kenichi , Kobayashi Shigeru , Negoro Kohei , Uchida Kenzo , Miyazaki Tsuyoshi , Yayama Takafumi , Shimada Seiichiro , Baba Hisatoshi 
Published: December 2007

Object
In this study, the authors examined how physiological levels of extracellular osmolality influence proteoglycan accumulation in nucleus pulposus cells in a 3D culture system.

Methods
Cells were isolated from the nucleus pulposus of caudal discs obtained from 18- to 24-month-old bovines. They were cultured for 6 days in alginate beads at 4 million cells/ml in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium containing 6% fetal bovine serum under 21% O2. Medium osmolality was altered by NaCl addition between 270 and 570 mOsm and monitored using a freezing point osmometer. The cell viability profile was determined by manual counting after trypan blue staining. Profiles across intact beads were determined by manual counting by using fluorescent probes and a transmission electron microscope. Lactate production was measured enzymatically, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) accumulation was measured using a dimethylmethylene blue assay. Rate of sulfate GAG synthesis was measured using a standard [35S]sulfate radioactive method.

Results
The cell viability was similar for the high- and low-osmolality cultures. However, confocal microscopy showed that the cells were the largest at 270 mOsm and became smaller with increasing osmotic pressure. The GAG production was largest at 370 mOsm, the capacity for GAG production and cell metabolism (lactate production) was low under hypoosmolality and hyperosmolality, and cell death was observed on electron microscopy.

Conclusions
In the authors' model, the prevailing osmolality was a powerful regulator of GAG accumulation by cultured nucleus cells. Thus, these results indicate that GAG synthesis rates are regulated by GAG concentration, with implications both for the cause of degeneration and for tissue engineering.
Microstructures of CGO and YSZ Thin Films by Pulsed Laser Deposition
Authors: Infortuna A. , Harvey A. S. , Gauckler L. J. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractYttrium‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and cerium gadolinium oxide (CGO) thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) under different ambient pressures and substrate temperatures. The microstructures of the obtained films are compared with existing structural zone models for thin‐film growth. The model developed by Thornton (1974) for metallic sputtered films is applied to the metal oxide films grown by PLD and gives a good description for the growth process and the dependence of the microstructure on deposition temperature and pressure. A map of formed microstructures is compiled as a function of background pressure and substrate temperature, and the conditions to obtain dense or porous films for YSZ and CGO are established. The two materials show the same dependence on temperature and pressure. Higher background pressure yields more porous films and a fully dense structure cannot be achieved for substrate temperatures in the range from room temperature to 800 °C. Of special interest for us was the realization and characterization of dense films processed at low temperature (< 500 °C) for the preparation of free‐standing membranes to be used in a micro solid oxide fuel cell. We could achieve such films by processing at 400 °C in 0.026 mbar of oxygen. In‐plane electric conductivities of the films were measured and correlated with the microstructures.
New case of interstitial deletion 12(q15‐q21.2) in a girl with facial dysmorphism and mental retardation
Authors: Schluth Caroline , Gesny Roselyne , Borck Guntram , Redon Richard , Abadie Véronique , Kleinfinger Pascale , Munnich Arnold , Lyonnet Stanislas , Colleaux Laurence 
Published: December 2007

AbstractInterstitial deletions of the long arm of chromosome 12 are rare rearrangements with only 15 cases reported in the literature. The phenotype may include facial dysmorphism, developmental delay, ectodermal abnormalities, cardiac and renal malformations depending on breakpoints' position. Here, we describe a third case of 12(q15‐q21.2) deletion ascertained through CGH‐array analyses and provide a 5‐year follow‐up. The patient presented with pre‐ and postnatal growth retardation, congenital heart defect, developmental delay, and facial dysmorphism changing with age, underlining the importance of long‐term follow‐up. We compared this new case with previous observations of 12q deletions in order to propose phenotype–karyotype correlations. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pseudoarthrosis of the clavicle and copper beaten skull associated with chromosome 10p11.21p12.1 microdeletion
Authors: Shahdadpuri Raveen , de Vries Bert , Pfundt Rolph , de Leeuw Nicole , Reardon William 
Published: December 2007

AbstractCongenital pseudoarthrosis of the clavicle (CPC) has been described in several genetic conditions including Floating–Harbor and Goltz syndromes, but rarely as a prompt to specific cytogenetic abnormalities. We report on a case of a de novo 10p11.21p12.1 microdeletion in a boy with multiple problems including a beaten copper appearance of the cranium on skull X‐ray and pseudoarthrosis of the right clavicle. This is the first description of these particular skeletal findings in the context of a chromosome 10p deletion. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Population genetic studies ofAlouatta belzebulfrom the Amazonian and Atlantic Forests
Authors: Nascimento F.F. , Bonvicino C.R. , de Oliveira M.M. , Schneider M.P.C. , Seuánez Héctor N. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractCytochromebDNA sequence data (ca. 1,140 bp) of 66Alouatta belzebulfrom the Amazonian and the Atlantic Forests of Brazil were used for phylogenetic reconstructions and population studies. Our sample consisted of 60 specimens from the Amazonian Forest (captured in 1984 and 1998 in Pará‐PA state) and six specimens from the Atlantic Forest (Paraíba‐PB state). We found 32 haplotypes, 23 in PA‐1984 (with 12 present in more than one individual), 11 in PA‐1998 (with two present in more than one individual), and a single haplotype in the PB sample. Animals from PA‐1984 and PA‐1998 shared three haplotypes while animals from Pará and Paraíba did not share any haplotype. We found 57 variable sites, consisting of 53 transitions and four transversions, with most replacements occurring at third codon position (77.19%) and less frequently at first and second positions (10.53 and 12.28%, respectively). Genetic distance between all haplotypes varied between 0 and 1.2%. Nucleotide diversity estimates between PA‐1984 haplotypes and PA‐1998 haplotypes were the same (π=0.01), and haplotype diversity estimates were very similar (h=0.96 and 0.93 for PA‐1984 and PA‐1998, respectively). Maximum parsimony, median‐joining, split decomposition, and TCS showed that PA and PB haplotypes had not drastically diverged and that subsequent radiation within these regions was not apparent. No temporal structure was found between PA‐1984 and PA‐1998. The sum of square deviation estimate for PA‐1984 equaled 0.01 (P=0.23), in agreement with a hypothetical model of sudden expansion contrary to PA‐1998 whose sum of square deviation estimate (0.40;P=0.04) was not compatible with this model, although the small sample size of PA‐1998 as well as the smaller area of capture could have also accounted for this result. Fu's FsandR2statistical neutrality tests corroborated these propositions. Lack of drastic differentiation was attributable to the once existing connection between the Atlantic and the Amazonian forests at a non‐distant past. Am. J. Primatol. 70:423–431, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stille cross‐coupling reaction using Pd/BaSO4 as catalyst reservoir
Authors: Coelho Aline Viana , de Souza Andréa Luzia F. , de Lima Paulo G. , Wardell James L. , Antunes O. A. C. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractStille cross‐coupling reactions between iodobenzene and tributylphenyltin were carried out in ethanol/water solution using different amounts of Pd/BaSO4 as catalyst reservoir in a ligand‐free system and high yields were obtained. Other substituted biaryls were obtained with good yields. The catalyst can be reused up to three times with some loss in activity. Filtration of the catalyst and product extraction yielded a solution that kept its activity, showing the presence of Pd(0)/Pd(II) species that can be regarded as the true catalysts. Interestingly, both 2‐bromotiophene and chlorobenzene yielded the desired corresponding reaction products. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of additives on the composition dependent glass transition variation in PS/PP blends
Authors: Thirtha Vivek , Lehman Richard , Nosker Thomas 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe effect of additives on glass transition behavior in melt processed blends of polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) was studied. Blends of additive‐free polystyrene and additive‐free polypropylene revealed the known effect of the PS Tg increase in blend compositions where PP surrounds PS. Glass transition behavior in these blends was compared to blends prepared from additive‐free PP and commercial grade PS, which contained lubricant additives. The thermal transitions of PS and PP were measured using modulated DSC. Although the behavior of low PS concentration blends was similar in both systems, the characteristics of the high PS blends differed substantially. These differences and the contrast in the PP Tg behaviors were attributed to the migration of additives from the PS phase across the immiscible interface into the PP phase. Similar Tg variations were observed in blends of commercial grade PS and commercial grade PP. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Thin layer concentrated emulsion copolymerization of PUASi/Styrene/Methyl methacrylate
Authors: Zhang Hongtao , Chen Li , Duan Lingli , Huang He 
Published: December 2007

AbstractStable concentrated emulsions of polymerizable polysiloxane‐containing polyurethane (PUASi)/Styrene (St)/Methyl methacrylate (MMA) were prepared using sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)/nonyl polyoxyethylene ether (OS15)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as composite surfactant and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. A novel polymerization method, thin layer polymerization was used to carry out the concentrated emulsion copolymerization at 55°C. The effects of TDI/PPG molar ratio, surfactant concentration, different kinds of surfactants, and temperature on polymerization stability were studied. The effects of the thickness of the thin layer, the outside temperature of the reactor, as well as polymerization environment on the volatilization rate of water, and monomer in the system were investigated. The conversion‐time relationships of the thin layer polymerization and the tube polymerization, as well as the effect of polymerization environment on the polymerization rate were also investigated. The morphology of latex particles was determined with transmission electron microscope (TEM). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008