• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제39권6호
• /
• pp.432-437
• /
• 2006

Objective : In order to establish the index of degeneration, the authors performed a histochemical study with Safranin-O staining and investigated the occurrence of apoptosis in the human intervertebral disc. Methods : Eighteen intervertebral disc specimens surgically extracted from the patients and two additional specimens from the autopsied cases were stained with Safranin-O for proteoglycan according to a standard protocol. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate- biotin nick end labeling[TUNEL] was used to detect the fragmented DNA known to be associated with apoptotic cell death and classification scheme was formulated for categorization of the degree of Safranin-O staining [normal, moderate reduction, faint] by modification of Makin's histological-histochemical grading. The Kruskal-Wallis H test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results : The statistical results showed a significant difference in the mean age between "normal" Safranin-O staining group and the others [19.3 versus 55, 43.4, p=0021]. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between Safranin-O staining and MR grading of disc degeneration. Only six of eighteen surgical specimens and none in autopsies showed positive apoptotic cells in TUNEL staining. Conclusion : The determination of the degree of degeneration in surgically obtained disc tissue per se by histochemical staining or by the degree of apoptosis that corresponds to its morphologic change was not feasible.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
• /
• 제8권1호
• /
• pp.16-27
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the clinical symptoms of temporomandibular disorder and findings in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: Clinical data and MRI images were collected from a total of 240 German patients. Clinical symptoms were briefed as joint clicking, crepitus and pain. MRI findings were further defined according to the condyle position, condyle degeneration, disc positon, disc degeneration and the presence of osteophyte/sclerosis/synovitis. Hypermobility was separately recorded. Correlation analysis between parameters was performed. Result: Joint clicking had a positive correlation with unilateral disc degeneration, osteophyte, sclerosis and synovitis. Crepitus had a significant correlation with bilateral osteophyte. Pain was not correlated with any MRI findings except hypermobility. Conclusion: Selective correlations between the MRI findings and clinical symptoms were elucidated. The results of this study imply that condyle-disc deformities could be advanced without pain, and that joint clicking and crepitus could be clinical symptoms of condyle-disc degeneration.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.52-66
• /
• 2003

The intervertebral disc is a cartilaginous structure that resembles articular cartilage in its biochemistry, but morphologically it is clearly different. It shows degenerative and ageing changes earlier than does any other connective tissue in the body, It is believed to be important clinically because there is an association of disc degeneration with back pain. Degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc are thought to develop as aging, mechanical stress and metabolic factors. Genetic factors may also play a part in the onset or progress of the degenerative process. They, together with environmental factors, may act as determinants of the structural characteristics of the intervertebral disc and produce a tendency to generation, In this short review we outline the morphplogy and biochemistry of normal intervertebral disc and the changes that arise during degeneration. Therefore this study will review degeneration of intervertebral disc, so we will have knowledge about low back pain associated with degenerative change in the intervertebral disc.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제65권2호
• /
• pp.186-195
• /
• 2022

Objective : To explore the histological feature of the cervical disc degeneration in patients with degenerative ossification (DO) and its potential mechanisms. Methods : A total of 96 surgical segments, from cervical disc degenerative disease patients with surgical treatment, were divided into ossification group (group O, n=46) and non-ossification group (group NO, n=50) based on preoperative radiological exams. Samples of disc tissues and osteophytes were harvested during the decompression operation. The hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson trichrome staining and Safranin O-fast green staining were used to compare the histological differences between the two groups. And the distribution and content of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 between the two groups were compared by a semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) method. Results : For all the disc tissues, the content of disc cells and collagen fibers decreased gradually from the outer annulus fibrosus (OAF) to the central nucleus pulposus (NP). Compared with group NO, the number of disc cells in group O increased significantly. But for proteoglycan in the inner annulus fibrosus (IAF) and NP, the content in group O decreased significantly. IHC analysis showed that TGF-β1, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 were detected in all tissues. For group O, the content of TGF-β1 in the OAF and NP was significantly higher than that in group NO. For p-Smad2 in IAF and p-Smad3 in OAF, the content in group O were significantly higher than group NO. Conclusion : Histologically, cervical disc degeneration in patients with DO is more severe than that without DO. Local higher content of TGF-β1, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 are involved in the disc degeneration with DO. Further studies with multi-approach analyses are needed to better understand the role of TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway in the disc degeneration with DO.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제56권3호
• /
• pp.200-205
• /
• 2014

Objective : To prove the extents and details of cervical degeneration after anterior microforaminotomy (AMF) with 6-years follow-up. Methods : A retrospective study of 24 patients, underwent single-level AMF, was performed. Clinical and radiologic data were analyzed with office charts, questionaires, and picture achieving and communication system images. Results : According to Odom's criteria, 91.6% achieved favorable outcome. The mean visual analog scale score was improved from 8.6 to 3, and the mean neck disability index was improved from 27.9 to 7.3 (p<0.01). Eighteen cases (75%) showed disc height (DH) decrease. The disc invasion was correlated with DH decrease (p<0.05). The disc height decrease correlated with static, dynamic changes of shell angle and spur formation (p<0.05). Any radiological parameters did not affect the clinical outcome. Conclusion : AMF is an effective technique for treating unilateral cervical radiculopathy. It showed excellent surgical outcomes even in long-term follow-ups. However, a decrease in DH occurred in a considerable number of patients. Disc invasion during surgery may be the trigger of sequential degeneration.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
• /
• 제56권3호
• /
• pp.382-393
• /
• 2023

Cell clusters are a histological hallmark feature of intervertebral disc degeneration. Clusters arise from cell proliferation, are associated with replicative senescence, and remain metabolically, but their precise role in various stages of disc degeneration remain obscure. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate small, medium, and large size cell-clusters. For this purpose, human disc samples were collected from 55 subjects, aged 37-72 years, 21 patients had disc herniation, 10 had degenerated non-herniated discs, and 9 had degenerative scoliosis with spinal curvature <45°. 15 non-degenerated control discs were from cadavers. Clusters and matrix changes were investigated with histology, immunohistochemistry, and Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Data obtained were analyzed with spearman rank correlation and ANOVA. Results revealed, small and medium-sized clusters were positive for cell proliferation markers Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in control and slightly degenerated human discs, while large cell clusters were typically more abundant in severely degenerated and herniated discs. Large clusters associated with matrix fissures, proteoglycan loss, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), and Caspase-3. Spatial association findings were reconfirmed with SDS-PAGE that showed presence to these target markers based on its molecular weight. Controls, slightly degenerated discs showed smaller clusters, less proteoglycan loss, MMP-1, and Caspase-3. In conclusion, cell clusters in the early stages of degeneration could be indicative of repair, however sustained loading increases large cell clusters especially around microscopic fissures that accelerates inflammatory catabolism and alters cellular metabolism, thus attempted repair process initiated by cell clusters fails and is aborted at least in part via apoptosis.

• Asian Spine Journal
• /
• 제12권6호
• /
• pp.1060-1068
• /
• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective study. Purpose: Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain. Overview of Literature: Spinal fusion is often reported to have a good course for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, many studies have reported that adjacent segment degeneration is accelerated after lumbar spinal fusion. Radiography is a simple method used to evaluate the orientation of the vertebral column. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method most often used to specifically evaluate intervertebral disc degeneration. The Pfirrmann classification is a well-known method used to evaluate degenerative lumbar disease. After spinal fusion, an increase in stress, excess mobility, increased intra-disc pressure, and posterior displacement of the axis of motion have been observed in the adjacent segments. Methods: we retrospectively secured and analyzed the data of 15 patients (four boys and 11 girls) with AIS who underwent a spinal fusion surgery. We studied the full-length view of the spine (anterior-posterior and lateral) from the X-ray and MRI obtained from all patients before surgery. Postoperatively, another full-length spine X-ray and lumbosacral MRI were obtained from all participants. Then, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, curve correction, and fused and free segments before and after surgery were calculated based on X-ray studies. MRI images were used to estimate the degree to which intervertebral discs were degenerated using Pfirrmann grading system. Pfirrmann grade before and after surgery were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. While analyzing the contribution of potential risk factors for the post-spinal fusion Pfirrmann grade of disc degeneration, we used generalized linear models with robust standard error estimates to account for intraclass correlation that may have been present between discs of the same patient. Results: The mean age of the participant was 14 years, and the mean curvature before and after surgery were 67.8 and 23.8, respectively (p<0.05). During the median follow-up of 5 years, the mean degree of the disc degeneration significantly increased in all patients after surgery (p<0.05) with a Pfirrmann grade of 1 and 2.8 in the L2-L3 before and after surgery, respectively. The corresponding figures at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels were 1.28 and 2.43, 1.07 and 2.35, and 1 and 2.33, respectively. The lower was the number of free discs below the fusion level, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade of degeneration (p<0.001). Conversely, the higher was the number of the discs fused together, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade. Conclusions: we observed that the disc degeneration aggravated after spinal fusion for scoliosis. While the degree of degeneration as measured by Pfirrmann grade was directly correlated by the number of fused segments, it was negatively correlated with the number of discs that remained free below the lowermost level of the fusion.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
• /
• 제20권2호
• /
• pp.199-208
• /
• 2010

Objectives : To study the cervical lordosis and roentgenographic analysis of cervical disc space in neck pain with or without temporomandibular disorder(TMD). Methods : Radiographic measures of cervical lordosis, cervical disc space narrowing were collected, statiscally analyzed. Results : TMD group showed a significant increase in cervical lordotic angle as compared with non-TMD group, whereas no significant change in cervical disc degeneration. Conclusions : The findings from this study suggest that the curvature of the cervical spine is related to the subject's TMD.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
• /
• 제13권5호
• /
• pp.2133-2141
• /
• 2012

본 연구의 목적은 척추감압치료와 한의학적 치료법으로 치료된 요부디스크 탈출 6례에 관한 자기공명영상의 변화를 보고하는 것이다. 디스크 높이는 $T_2$-강조 자기공명영상의 시상면으로 측정되었다. 탈출된 디스크의 크기는 MRI와 디스크 탈출지수로 측정되었다. 디스크퇴행에 관한 등급체계와 연산은 MRI 신호강도, 디스크구조, 수핵과 섬유륜의 구별을 기초로 하였다. 디스크 높이, 디스크 탈출지수와 디스크 변성등급은 MRI로부터 측정하여 치료 전과 후에 수집되었다. 본 증례연구가 보여주는 것은 디스크 탈출에 대한 감압치료가 디스크 높이를 제외한 디스크 탈출지수, 디스크 재생에 긍정적인 영향을 미친다는 것이다. 디스크 탈출에 대한 감압치료의 사용에 관한 임상적 증거는 제한된 연구 때문에 미비하다. 따라서 이 분야에 주의를 기울이기 위한 더 많은 시도들은 명확한 결론을 내리기 위해서 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국정밀공학회지
• /
• 제20권11호
• /
• pp.188-193
• /
• 2003

To predict changes in biomechanical parameters such as intradiscal pressure, and the shock absorbing mechanism in the spinal motion segment under different impact duration/loading rates, a three dimensional L3/L4 motion segment finite element model was modified to incorporate the poroelastic properties of the motion segment. The results were analyzed under variable impact duration for normal and degenerated discs. For short impact duration and a given maximum compressive force, relatively high cancellous pore pressure was generated as compared with a case of long impact duration, although the amount of impulse was increased. In contrast relatively constant pore pressure was generated in the nucleus. Disc degeneration increased pore pressure in the disc and decreased pore pressure in the cancellous core, which is more vulnerable to compressive fracture compared with intact case.