山内 かづ代

BACKGROUND: Addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural Japan poses significant challenges. At Sanmu Medical Center, incorporating resident physicians into a general medicine training program has proved effective in retaining them as supervising physicians. This study aims to identify the key factors contributing to the success of such programs. METHODS: We used a qualitative research design to comprehensively understand the factors contributing to physician retention in regional community hospitals in areas with physician shortages. Interviews were conducted with four experienced physicians, including the center director, who participated in the general or family medicine training programs at Sanmu Medical Center. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we explored the factors influencing physician retention in community-based hospitals experiencing shortages. Two physicians specializing in community medicine conducted a content analysis under the supervision of three experts in community-oriented medical education and qualitative research. This approach helped compare retention factors perceived by physicians and the center director. RESULTS: Content analysis revealed 10 categories and 47 subcategories. The analysis revealed that "Educational activity" and "Supervising physicians and guidance system" are crucial for physician retention in rural hospitals in Japan. The study highlighted key educational factors contributing to retention: engagement in educational activities led to personal and professional growth, creating a rewarding experience for the physicians. Furthermore, a structured supervising physician system provided essential guidance and mentorship, improving the educational environment. Diverse learning opportunities and protected learning times were identified as critical for fostering a sustainable commitment among physicians to work in rural settings. These findings contribute to existing literature by detailing how structured educational activities and mentorship programs in rural hospital settings can significantly impact physician retention. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based medical education programs that focus on diverse clinical settings, mentorship, and a supportive work environment can enhance physician retention in rural areas. By fostering such educational and professional environments, healthcare institutions can address physician maldistribution and improve care quality in underserved communities. Our study offers practical insights that can be replicated or adapted by other rural hospitals facing similar challenges. It offers targeted strategies to address the unique challenges faced by female physicians in rural healthcare settings.

BACKGROUND: Generative artificial intelligence (GAI), represented by large language models, have the potential to transform health care and medical education. In particular, GAI's impact on higher education has the potential to change students' learning experience as well as faculty's teaching. However, concerns have been raised about ethical consideration and decreased reliability of the existing examinations. Furthermore, in medical education, curriculum reform is required to adapt to the revolutionary changes brought about by the integration of GAI into medical practice and research. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzes the impact of GAI on medical education curricula and explores strategies for adaptation. METHODS: The study was conducted in the context of faculty development at a medical school in Japan. A workshop involving faculty and students was organized, and participants were divided into groups to address two research questions: (1) How does GAI affect undergraduate medical education curricula? and (2) How should medical school curricula be reformed to address the impact of GAI? The strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) framework was used, and cross-SWOT matrix analysis was used to devise strategies. Further, 4 researchers conducted content analysis on the data generated during the workshop discussions. RESULTS: The data were collected from 8 groups comprising 55 participants. Further, 5 themes about the impact of GAI on medical education curricula emerged: improvement of teaching and learning, improved access to information, inhibition of existing learning processes, problems in GAI, and changes in physicians' professionality. Positive impacts included enhanced teaching and learning efficiency and improved access to information, whereas negative impacts included concerns about reduced independent thinking and the adaptability of existing assessment methods. Further, GAI was perceived to change the nature of physicians' expertise. Three themes emerged from the cross-SWOT analysis for curriculum reform: (1) learning about GAI, (2) learning with GAI, and (3) learning aside from GAI. Participants recommended incorporating GAI literacy, ethical considerations, and compliance into the curriculum. Learning with GAI involved improving learning efficiency, supporting information gathering and dissemination, and facilitating patient involvement. Learning aside from GAI emphasized maintaining GAI-free learning processes, fostering higher cognitive domains of learning, and introducing more communication exercises. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the profound impact of GAI on medical education curricula and provides insights into curriculum reform strategies. Participants recognized the need for GAI literacy, ethical education, and adaptive learning. Further, GAI was recognized as a tool that can enhance efficiency and involve patients in education. The study also suggests that medical education should focus on competencies that GAI hardly replaces, such as clinical experience and communication. Notably, involving both faculty and students in curriculum reform discussions fosters a sense of ownership and ensures broader perspectives are encompassed.

BACKGROUND: The gamification of learning increases student enjoyment, and motivation and engagement in learning tasks. This study investigated the effects of gamification using decision-making cards (DMCs) on diagnostic decision-making and cost using case scenarios. METHOD: Thirty medical students in clinical clerkship participated and were randomly assigned to 14 small groups of 2-3 medical students each. Decision-making was gamified using DMCs with a clinical information heading and medical cost on the front, and clinical information details on the back. First, each team was provided with brief clinical information on case scenarios. Subsequently, DMCs depending on the case were distributed to each team, and team members chose cards one at a time until they reached a diagnosis of the case. The total medical cost was then scored based on the number and contents of cards drawn. Four case scenarios were conducted. The quantitative outcomes including confidence in effective clinical decision-making, motivation to learn diagnostic decision-making, and awareness of medical costs were measured before and after our gamification by self-evaluation using a 7-point Likert scale. The qualitative component consisted of a content analysis on the benefits of learning clinical reasoning using DMCs. RESULT: Confidence in effective clinical decision-making, motivation to learn diagnostic decision-making, and awareness of medical cost were significantly higher after the gamification. Furthermore, comparing the clinical case scenario tackled last with the one tackled first, the average medical cost of all cards drawn by students decreased significantly from 11,921 to 8,895 Japanese yen. In the content analysis, seven advantage categories of DMCs corresponding to clinical reasoning components were extracted (information gathering, hypothesis generation, problem representation, differential diagnosis, leading or working diagnosis, diagnostic justification, and management and treatment). CONCLUSION: Teaching medical students clinical reasoning using DMCs can improve clinical decision-making confidence and learning motivation, and reduces medical cost in clinical case scenarios. In addition, it can help students to acquire practical knowledge, deepens their understanding of clinical reasoning, and identifies several important clinical reasoning skills including diagnostic decision-making and awareness of medical costs. Gamification using DMCs can be an effective teaching method for improving medical students' diagnostic decision-making and reducing costs.

Precisely detecting puncture times has long posed a challenge in medical education. This challenge is attributable not only to the subjective nature of human evaluation but also to the insufficiency of effective detection techniques, resulting in many medical students lacking full proficiency in injection skills upon entering clinical practice. To address this issue, we propose a novel detection method that enables automatic detection of puncture times during injection without needing wearable devices. In this study, we utilized a hardware system and the YOLOv7 algorithm to detect critical features of injection motion, including puncture time and injection depth parameters. We constructed a sample of 126 medical injection training videos of medical students, and skilled observers were employed to determine accurate puncture times. Our experimental results demonstrated that the mean puncture time of medical students was 2.264 s and the mean identification error was 0.330 s. Moreover, we confirmed that there was no significant difference (p = 0.25 with a significance level of α = 0.05) between the predicted value of the system and the ground truth, which provides a basis for the validity and reliability of the system. These results show our system’s ability to automatically detect puncture times and provide a novel approach for training healthcare professionals. At the same time, it provides a key technology for the future development of injection skill assessment systems.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Bone metastasis commonly causes severe pain. Nerve growth factor (NGF) contributes to pain, and promotes the production of pain-associated neuropeptides, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), from sensory nerve endings. We hypothesized that breast cancer cells have NGF levels that promote axonal growth from dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) neurons, and increase their CGRP production associated with pain from spinal metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression of NGF by the cultured rat breast adenocarcinoma cell line CRL-1666 was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We constructed a rat model of spinal metastasis by implanting CRL-1666 into L6 vertebrae and determined the change in CGRP expression in DRG neurons innervating vertebrae immunohistochemically. RESULTS: NGF was expressed by CRL-1666. When DRG cells were co-cultured with CRL-1666, there were more CGRP-ir neurons and with a greater average length of axon growth than in cultures without CRL-1666 (p<0.05). In the rat model of metastasis, there were more CGRP-ir DRG neurons innervating vertebra treated with CRL-1666 than in vertebrae from sham surgery control rats (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: NGF from breast cancer may mediate spinal bone pain from metastasis via axonal growth and up-regulation of pain-associated neuropeptides.

Objective: Our knowledge of human neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) is expanding, owing to recent advances in technologies utilizing human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that generate NCSCs. However, the clinical application of these technologies requires the reduction of xeno-materials. To overcome this significant impediment, this study aimed to devise a novel method to induce NCSCs from hiPSCs without using a feeder cell layer. Materials and Methods: hiPSCs were cultured in feeder-free maintenance media containing the Rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinase inhibitor Y-27632. When the cells reached 50-70% confluence, differentiation was initiated by replacing the medium with knockout serum replacement (KSR) medium containing Noggin and SB431542. The KSR medium was then gradually replaced with increasing concentrations of Neurobasal medium from day 5 to 11. Results: Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry were performed 12 days after induction of differentiation and revealed that the cells generated from hiPSCs expressed the NCSC markers p75 and HNK-1, but not the hiPSC marker SOX2. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that hiPSCs were induced to differentiate into NCSCs in the absence of feeder cells.

BACKGROUND: The traditional curriculum for medical students in Japan does not include sufficient opportunities for students to develop their skills for musculoskeletal (MSK) examination and clinical reasoning and diagnosis. Therefore, an effective programme is required to help medical students and residents improve their clinical skills in MSK. This paper aims to assess the clinical skills of medical students who have participated in a peer role-playing simulation programme using a mini clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX). METHODS: Participants were 90 female medical students who were completing their first orthopaedic clinical clerkship. They were divided into two groups. The simulation group participated in a role-play focussed on MSK cases as low-fidelity simulation, a structured debriefing with the course supervisor, and a self-reflection on Day 1 (n = 64). The control group did not participate in the role-play due to randomised clerkship schedules (n = 26). On Day 2 of the intervention, we observed and assessed all participants' performances during MSK outpatient encounters using the mini-CEX. We compared the mini-CEX score between the simulation group and the control group; the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mini-CEX scores for physical examination, clinical reasoning and diagnosis, and overall clinical competency were significantly higher in the simulation group than in the control group (p < .05, physical examination: p = .014, clinical reasoning: p = .042, overall: p = .016). These findings suggest that medical students who partake in a peer role-playing simulation programme could experience improved clinical skills for physical examination, clinical reasoning and diagnosis, and overall clinical competency in real-life MSK outpatient encounters. CONCLUSIONS: Through a mini-CEX assessment, our findings indicate that medical students who participated in our peer role-playing simulation programme have improved clinical skills. Peer role-playing as a low-fidelity simulation and practical educational opportunity will enable educators to polish the competency of medical students in musculoskeletal physical examinations and clinical reasoning and diagnosis in a clinical setting.

日本整形外科学会正会員25139名(2019年11月1日現在)を対象として、労働環境の現状ならびにその健康への影響との関連、今後の対応などに関する調査を行った。質問票は男女共同参画・働き方改革委員会で作成し、質問内容は勤務状況や労働条件に対する現時点での状況、取り組みの例などのほか、アウトカムとして簡易抑うつ症状尺度と日本版Burn out scaleの質問も含めた。その結果、10052名から総労働時間、夜間当直とオンコール、有給休暇取得日数、自己研鑽、他院での労働時間、女性医師の勤務状況、生活習慣やアウトカムに関する回答が得られ、整形外科医師の就労状況と現状が精神状態に及ぼす影響などが明らかとなった。

STUDY DESIGN: A basic study using a rodent model of sarcopenia. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the contribution of oxidative stress to muscle degeneration and the efficacy of antioxidant treatment for sarcopenia using an animal model of neurogenic sarcopenia. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Oxidative stress has been reported to be involved in a number of pathologies, including musculoskeletal disorders. Its relationship with sarcopenia, one of the potential origins of lower back pain, however, is not yet fully understood. METHODS: Myoblast cell lines (C2C12) were treated with H2O2, an oxidative stress inducer, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), an antioxidant. Apoptotic effects induced by oxidative stress and the antioxidant effects of NAC were assessed by western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assays. An animal model of sarcopenia was produced via axotomy of the sciatic nerves to induce muscle atrophy. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham, sham+NAC, axotomy, and axotomy+NAC groups. Rats were provided water only or water containing NAC (1 g/L) for 4 weeks. The gastrocnemius muscle was isolated and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) 2 weeks after axotomy, from which muscle cells were harvested and protein extracted for evaluation. RESULTS: Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were significantly activated by H2O2 treatment in C2C12 cells, which was ameliorated by NAC pretreatment. Furthermore, H2O2 induced apoptosis and death of C2C12 cells, which was prevented by NAC pretreatment. The weight of the gastrocnemius muscle was reduced in the axotomy group, which was prevented by NAC administration. Lastly, although muscle specimens from the axotomy group showed greater reductions in muscle fiber, the oral administration of NAC significantly inhibited amyotrophy via antioxidant effects. CONCLUSION: The current in vitro and in vivo study demonstrated the possible involvement of oxidative stress in sarcopenic pathology. NAC represents a potential anti-sarcopenic drug candidate, preventing amyotrophy and fatty degeneration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) accelerates bone union in vivo in a rodent model of spinal fusion surgery. However, PRP's effect on bone union after spinal surgery remains unclear. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PRP after posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF) surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Single-center prospective randomized controlled clinical trial with 2-year follow-up. PATIENT SAMPLE: The patient sample included a total 62 patients (31 patients in the PRP group or 31 patients in the control group). OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measures included the bone fusion rate, the area of bone fusion mass, the duration of bone fusion, and the clinical score using the visual analog scale (VAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We randomized 62 patients who underwent one- or two-level instrumented PLF for lumbar degenerative spondylosis with instability to either the PRP (31 patients) or the control (31 patients) groups. Platelet-rich plasma-treated patients underwent surgery using an autograft bone chip (local bone), and PRP was prepared from patient blood samples immediately before surgery; patients from the control group underwent PLF without PRP treatment. We assessed platelet counts and growth factor concentrations in PRP prepared immediately before surgery. The duration of bone union, the postoperative bone fusion rate, and the area of fusion mass were assessed using plain radiography every 3 months after surgery and by computed tomography at 12 or 24 months. The duration of bone fusion and the clinical scores for low back pain, leg pain, and leg numbness before and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery were evaluated using VAS. RESULTS: Data from 50 patients with complete data were included. The bone union rate at the final follow-up was significantly higher in the PRP group (94%) than in the control group (74%) (p=.002). The area of fusion mass was significantly higher in the PRP group (572 mm2) than in the control group (367 mm2) (p=.02). The mean period necessary for union was 7.8 months in the PRP group and 9.8 months in the control group (p=.013). In the PRP, the platelet count was 7.7 times higher and the growth factor concentrations were 50 times higher than those found in plasma (p<.05). There was no significant difference in low back pain, leg pain, and leg numbness in either group at any time evaluated (p>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with PRP showed a higher fusion rate, greater fusion mass, and more rapid bone union after spinal fusion surgery than patients not treated with PRP.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective observational study was performed. PURPOSE: We investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia in dropped head syndrome (DHS), and the relationship between biochemical markers, including major advanced glycation end products (AGEs), pentosidine, and DHS in older women. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: AGEs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. METHODS: We studied 13 elderly women with idiopathic DHS (mean age, 77.2 years) and 20 healthy volunteers (mean age, 74.8 years). We used a bioelectrical impedance analyzer to analyze body composition, including appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (SMI; appendicular lean mass [kg]/[height (m)]2). Cervical sagittal plane alignment, including C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (C2-C7SVA), C2-C7 angle, and C2 slope (C2S), was measured. Biochemical markers, such as serum and urinary pentosidine, serum homocysteine, 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D, were measured. The level of each variable was compared between DHS and controls. The relationship between biochemical markers and DHS was examined. RESULTS: Sarcopenia (SMI <5.75) was observed at a high prevalence in participants with DHS (77% compared to 22% of healthy controls). Height, weight, femoral bone mineral density, appendicular lean mass, total lean mass, and SMI all had significantly lower values in the DHS group. Serum and urinary pentosidine, and serum homocysteine were significantly higher in the DHS group compared to controls. Analysis of cervical alignment revealed a significant positive correlation of serum pentosidine with C2-C7SVA and C2S. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia was involved in DHS, and high serum pentosidine levels are associated with severity of DHS in older women.

INTRODUCTION: Causes of pain due to spinal metastases have been insufficiently investigated. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were the focus of this study. Both are known as proinflammatory cytokines associated with the pathophysiology of pain syndromes1 ). It is well known that cancer cells produce these cytokines, but whether osteoclasts produce them as well remains unclear. We hypothesize that osteoclasts produce these cytokines; in other words, pain from spinal metastasis is stronger than pain from the primary tumor. METHODS: We made a rat spinal metastasis model of breast cancer (metastasis group) and models with a hole in the vertebrae (puncture group) and resected the vertebrae. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was performed to reconfirm that osteoclasts increase in vertebrae with spinal metastasis. We then evaluated TNF-α and IL-6 expression using immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The results of TRAP staining showed that osteoclasts increase in metastatic vertebrae. The osteoclasts in the puncture models were TNF-α negative but were TNF-α positive in the metastasis model. The osteoclasts in the puncture models and metastasis model were both IL-6 positive. According to the real-time PCR results, TNF-α in vertebrae increased in the metastasis model, but IL-6 did not increase in the metastasis model compared with in the puncture model. CONCLUSIONS: The number of osteoclasts is higher in the metastasis model. While TNF in the osteoclasts increased in the spinal metastasis model, IL-6 did not. This probably means that breast cancer affects TNF production in osteoclasts. This increase of TNF-α may lead to pain from spinal metastasis.

INTRODUCTION: Limb muscle mass measurement using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Moreover, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is also recognized as a beneficial tool considering its high correlation with DXA. However, it remains to be elucidated whether DXA and BIA can accurately measure trunk lean mass. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between DXA and BIA measurements of trunk muscle mass and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of trunk muscles measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to compare measures of trunk muscle mass obtained using DXA and BIA in patients with low back pain (LBP). METHODS: In total, 65 patients participated in the study. The correlation between DXA and BIA measurements and the CSA of trunk and paraspinal muscles at the L4-5 level were calculated. In addition, the correlation between DXA and BIA measurements of trunk muscle mass and the differences between these two measurements were determined. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between DXA and BIA trunk muscle mass measurement and trunk muscle CSA was 0.74 and 0.56 for men and 0.69 and 0.44 for women, respectively. DXA and BIA measurement values showed a significantly moderate correlation with the CSA of the erector spinae (ES) and psoas major (PM). The multifidus (MF) CSA did not correlate with measurements of DXA and BIA in both men and women. Although DXA and BIA measurements were significantly correlated, a significant difference between these two measurements was found. BIA overestimated the trunk muscle mass significantly compared with DXA. CONCLUSIONS: Trunk muscle mass measured with DXA and BIA was correlated with the CSA of most trunk muscles. Although the measurement of DXA and BIA showed a high correlation, BIA overestimated trunk muscle mass compared with DXA. Both DXA and BIA are beneficial for measuring trunk muscle mass.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. PURPOSE: We considered the relationship between spinal alignment and skeletal muscle mass on clinical outcomes following a surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: There are no reports of preoperative factors predicting residual low back pain following surgery for LSS. METHODS: Our target population included 34 women (mean age, 74.4 years) who underwent surgery for LSS. Prior to and 6 months after the surgery, systemic bone mineral density and lean soft tissue mass were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was calculated as the sum of the arm and leg lean mass in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. The spinal alignment was also measured. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Japanese Orthopedic Association scoring system, leg and low back pain Visual Analog Scale, and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ). Additionally, we examined the bone mineral density, skeletal muscle mass, and spinal alignment before and after the surgery. We used the Spearman correlation coefficient to examine the associations among clinical outcomes, preoperative muscle mass, and spinal alignment. RESULTS: Sarcopenia (SMI <5.46) was observed in nine subjects (26.5%). Compared with normal subjects (SMI >6.12), RDQ was significantly higher in subjects with sarcopenia (p =0.04). RDQ was significantly negatively correlated with SMI (r =-0.42, p <0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between postoperative RDQ and pelvic tilt (PT; r =0.41, p <0.05). SMI and PT were significantly negatively correlated (r =-0.39, r <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Good postoperative outcomes were negatively correlated with low preoperative appendicular muscle mass, suggesting that postoperative outcomes were inferior in cases of decreased appendicular muscle mass (sarcopenia). Posterior PT due to decreased limb muscle mass may contribute to postoperative back pain, showing that preoperatively reduced limb muscle mass and posterior PT are predictive factors in the persistence of postoperative low back pain.

慢性腰痛の原因は多岐に亘るが、その中で特に腰椎椎間板、神経根は、慢性腰痛や坐骨神経痛の主因とされる。歴史的背景から、これらの病態に慢性炎症は深くかかわっていることが示されてきた。椎間板性腰痛の病態は変性した椎間板への感覚神経の侵入とサイトカインを中心とした微小炎症と考えられている。また神経根性疼痛の病態も、慢性炎症と神経のワーラー変性とされている。これ等の機序、新規診断方法、治療法の展開について記載したい。(著者抄録)

PURPOSE: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia in degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS), and the relationship between biochemical markers including major AGEs, pentosidine, and DLS in older women. METHODS: Our study participants were 20 elderly women with idiopathic DLS (mean age 76.4 years, range 56-88). Nineteen age- and sex-matched volunteers (mean age 74.0 years, range 62-86) served as controls. Spinal and femoral BMD of all participants was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We used a bioelectrical impedance analyzer to analyze body composition, including appendicular skeletal muscle mass index [SMI; appendicular lean mass (kg)/(height (m)]2. SMI < 5.75 was considered diagnostic for sarcopenia. Coronal and sagittal spinal alignments were measured. The following biochemical markers were measured: serum and urinary pentosidine, serum homocysteine, 1,25(OA)2D, and 25(OH)D. The level of each variable was compared between DLS and controls. The relationship between biochemical markers including pentosidine and DLS was examined. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was observed at a high prevalence in participants with DLS: 50% compared with 15.8% of healthy controls. Height, weight, femoral BMI, appendicular lean mass, total lean mass, and SMI all had significantly lower values in the DLS group. Serum pentosidine was significantly higher for the DLS group compared with controls. Correlations with serum pentosidine revealed a significant positive correlation between lumbar scoliosis, pelvic tilt, and pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch, and a significantly negative correlation between thoracic kyphosis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found that sarcopenia was involved in DLS, and high serum pentosidine levels are associated with severity of coronal and sagittal malalignment in older women, suggesting that high levels of AGEs are a potential biomarker for the progression of lumbar scoliosis and kyphotic deformity. Further studies are needed to clarify the pathogenesis of DLS.

INTRODUCTION: Discogenic back pain remains poorly understood with respect to etiopathogenesis, despite being a considerable burden. We sought to examine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in injured intervertebral discs in rat caudal vertebrae. METHODS: Forty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to 2 groups according to disc puncture injury: puncture (n = 32) or non-puncture (n = 16). Disc puncture was performed percutaneously such that the incision would be in the primary plane of motion for the coccygeal discs 5-6, 6-7, and 7-8. A 26-gauge needle was used to puncture each disc 10 times. Punctured discs were examined histologically by hematoxylin and eosin staining at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days post-injury. RESULTS: Vascular endothelial growth factor was localized immunohistochemically, and determined quantitatively using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Peak inflammation occurred on the 7th day post-injury, but tissue degeneration continued until day 28. Local expression of vascular endothelial growth factor tended to be highest in the annulus fibrosus on the 7th and 14th days after puncture injury. The level of vascular endothelial growth factor was highest 1-day post-injury, and then gradually decreased thereafter. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the puncture group were significantly higher than those in the non-puncture control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found increased expression of the inflammatory cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor in injured intervertebral discs, suggesting that vascular endothelial growth factor may be clinically important in discogenic back pain.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis and sarcopenia are said to be similar disorders. However, few reports have described the effects of anti-osteoporosis drugs on muscle mass in clinical practice. METHODS: We selected 150 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis treated by minodronate (osteoporosis medication [OM] group) and 50 postmenopausal women without osteoporosis who did not receive treatment (no osteoporosis [NO] group). The OM group was further divided into two treatment subgroups: a combination of monthly minodronate and daily activated vitamin D vs. monthly minodronate alone. We measured lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and muscle mass of the upper limbs, lower limbs, and trunk with bioelectrical impedance analysis at baseline and after 6 months. RESULTS: The OM and NO groups contained 130 and 37 patients, respectively (mean age: 73.9 ± 8.3 and 74.1 ± 10.0 years, respectively). In the OM group, lumbar spine BMD significantly increased after 6 months, while lower limb muscle mass significantly decreased. In the NO group, lumbar spine BMD and lower limb muscle mass did not significantly change after 6 months. In the OM group, BMD of the lumbar spine significantly increased but the lower limb muscle mass significantly decreased after 6 months relative to the NO group. In the combination therapy subgroup of the OM group muscle mass decreased significantly less than in the minodronate-alone subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, minodronate can increase BMD but cannot increase muscle mass. However, simultaneous use of activated vitamin D can suppress muscle mass decrease. The combination of activated vitamin D and minodronate may be useful for treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis can produce a persistent state of pain known as osteoporotic pain. One proposed mechanism of this pathology is increased calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP; a marker related to inflammatory pain) expression in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) innervating osteoporotic vertebrae. Alternatively, a previous study revealed that axial loading caused osteoporotic pain in a rodent model of coccygeal vertebrae compression. Because this compression model is associated with trauma, additional mechanistic studies of osteoporotic pain in the absence of trauma are required. The current study aimedto evaluate the expression and relative distribution of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), a pain-related mechanoreceptor, in ovariectomized (OVX) osteoporotic rats. METHODS: CGRP-immunoreactive (-ir) and TRPV4-ir DRG neurons innervating the L3 vertebrae of Sprague-Dawley rats were labeled with a neurotracer, FluoroGold. Intravertebral pH was also measured during the neurotracer procedure. TRPV4-ir/CGRP-ir FluoroGold-positive DRG neurons were quantified in sham control and OVX rats (n = 10, ea). The threshold for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the number of FluoroGold-positive DRG neurons between groups; however, there were significantly more CGRP-ir/TRPV4-ir FluoroGold-positive DRG neurons in the OVX group compared with the sham control group (P < 0.05) as well as the significantly increased molecular production of each peptide. Intravertebral pH was also lower in the OVX group compared with the sham control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sensory neurons innervating osteoporotic vertebrae exhibited increased expression of co-localized CGRP and TRPV4 in OVX osteoporotic rats. Additionally, intravertebral pH was low in the vicinity osteoporotic vertebrae. Considering that TRPV4 is a mechanosensitive nociceptor that is activated in acidic environments, its upregulation may be associated with the pathology of osteoporotic pain derived from microinflammation involved in osteoporosis.

PURPOSE: Recently, lateral interbody fusion (LIF) has become more prevalent, and evaluation of lumbar nerves has taken on new importance. We report on the assessment of anatomical relationships between lumbar nerves and vertebral bodies using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). METHODS: Fifty patients with degenerative lumbar disease and ten healthy subjects underwent DTI. In patients with lumbar degenerative disease, we studied nerve courses with patients in the supine positions and with hips flexed. In healthy subjects, we evaluated nerve courses in three different positions: supine with hips flexed (the standard position for MRI); supine with hips extended; and the right lateral decubitus position with hips flexed. In conjunction with tractography from L3 to L5 using T2-weighted sagittal imaging, the vertebral body anteroposterior span was divided into four equally wide zones, with six total zones defined, including an anterior and a posterior zone (zone A, zones 1-4, zone P). We used this to characterize nerve courses at disc levels L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1. RESULTS: In patients with degenerative lumbar disease, in the supine position with hips flexed, all lumbar nerve roots were located posterior to the vertebral body centers in L3/4 and L4/5. In healthy individuals, the L3/4 nerve courses were displaced forward in hips extended compared with the standard position, whereas in the lateral decubitus position, the L4/5 and L5/S nerve courses were displaced posteriorly compared with the standard position. CONCLUSIONS: The L3/4 and L4/5 nerve roots are located posterior to the vertebral body center. These were found to be offset to the rear when the hip is flexed or the lateral decubitus position is assumed. The present study is the first to elucidate changes in the course of the lumbar nerves as this varies by position. The lateral decubitus position or the position supine with hips flexed may be useful for avoiding nerve damage in a direct lateral transpsoas approach. Preoperative DTI seems to be useful in evaluating the lumbar nerve course as it relates anatomically to the vertebral body.

STUDY DESIGN: An experimental animal study. PURPOSE: To evaluate effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the content and distribution of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the dorsal ganglia in a rat model. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Increased expression of VEGF in degenerative disc disease increases the levels of inflammatory cytokines and nerve ingrowth into the damaged discs. In animal models, increased levels of VEGF can persist for up to 2 weeks after an injury. METHODS: Through abdominal surgery, the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) innervating L5/L6 intervertebral disc were labeled (FluoroGold neurotracer) in 24, 8-week old Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were randomly allocated to three groups of eight rats each. The anti-VEGF group underwent L5/6 intervertebral disc puncture using a 26-gauge needle, intradiscal injection of 33.3 µg of the pegaptanib sodium, a VEGF165 aptamer. The control-puncture group underwent disc puncture and intradiscal injection of 10 µL saline solution, and the sham-surgery group underwent labeling but no disc puncture. Two rats in each group were sacrificed on postoperative days 1, 7, 14, and 28 after surgery. L1-L6 DRGs were harvested, sectioned, and immunostained to detect the content and distribution of CGRP. RESULTS: Compared with the control, the percentage of CGRP-positive cells was lower in the anti-VEGF group (p<0.05; 40.6% and 58.1% on postoperative day 1, 44.3% and 55.4% on day 7, and 42.4% and 59.3% on day 14). The percentage was higher in the control group compared with that of the sham group (p<0.05; sham group, 34.1%, 40.7%, and 33.7% on postoperative days 1, 7, and 14, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Decreasing CGRP-positive cells using anti-VEGF therapy provides fundamental evidence for a possible therapeutic role of anti-VEGF in patients with discogenic lower back pain.

BACKGROUND: Patients with osteoporosis but no evidence of fracture can sometimes report low back pain. However, few studies have evaluated the nature of osteoporotic low back pain in a clinical situation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the nature of osteoporotic low back pain without fracture, and the analgesic effect of minodronic acid hydrate on such pain. METHODS: The current study examined 136 patients with osteoporotic low back pain and no lower extremity symptoms. The following factors were evaluated before and after minodronic acid hydrate administration: the nature of osteoporotic low back pain was evaluated using the painDETECT questionnaire, numeric rating scale (NRS) score for low back pain at rest and in motion, bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, and the serum concentration of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) as a bone metabolism marker. RESULTS: A total of 113 patients were enrolled. The painDETECT questionnaire revealed the percentage of patients with nociceptive pain and neuropathic or mixed pain was approximately 85% and 15%, respectively. the average NRS scores for low back pain at rest decreased significantly 2 months after treatment (p = 0.01), while those in motion decreased significantly 1 month after treatment (p = 0.04). The average lumbar spine BMD tended to increase after treatment, but not significantly. On the other hand, the changes in the average serum concentration of TRACP-5b did significantly decrease 1 month after treatment. There was a significant positive correlation between the rate of NRS score improvement for low back pain at rest, and the rate of improvement in serum concentration of TRACP-5b (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Osteoporotic low back pain consisted of 85% nociceptive pain and 15% neuropathic or mixed pain. The pain is strongly related to pain at rest rather than that in motion.

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) stored at room temperature (RT), frozen, or after freeze-drying. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: PRP enriches tissue repair and regeneration, and is a novel treatment option for musculoskeletal pathologies. However, whether biological activity is preserved during PRP storage remains uncertain. METHODS: PRP was prepared from blood of 12 healthy human volunteers (200 mL/person) and stored using three methods: PRP was stored at RT with shaking, PRP was frozen and stored at -80℃, or PRP was freeze-dried and stored at RT. Platelet counts and growth factor content were examined immediately after preparation, as well as 2, 4, and 8 weeks after storage. Platelet activation rate was quantified by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Platelet counts were impossible to determine in many RT samples after 2 weeks, but they remained at constant levels in frozen and freeze-dried samples, even after 8 weeks of storage. Flow cytometry showed approximately 80% activation of the platelets regardless of storage conditions. Almost no growth factors were detected in the RT samples after 8 weeks, while low but significant expression was detected in the frozen and freeze-dried PRP. Over time, the mean relative concentrations of various growth factors decreased significantly or disappeared in the RT group. In the frozen group, levels were maintained for 4 weeks, but decreased significantly by 8 weeks (p <0.05). The freeze-dried group maintained baseline levels of growth factors for the entire 8-week duration. CONCLUSIONS: Freeze-drying enables PRP storage while maintaining bioactivity and efficacy for extended periods.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. PURPOSE: To assess the correlation among inflammatory cytokine expression levels, degree of intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration, and predominant clinical symptoms observed in degenerative disk disease (DDD). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Low back pain (LBP) is associated with inflammatory cytokine expression levels, including those of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and nerve growth factor (NGF). However, the association between cytokine expression levels and the physiological mechanisms of disk degeneration and clinical pain remain controversial. METHODS: Using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, TNF-α, IL-6, and NGF expression levels were analyzed in 58 IVD samples that were harvested from patients with lumbar DDD. Patient samples were grouped according to the degree of IVD degeneration using the Pfirrmann grading system and magnetic resonance imaging, and the correlations between the disease groups and each cytokine expression level were assessed. In addition, on the basis of their predominant preoperative symptoms, the patients were assigned to either an LBP or leg pain group to determine the correlation among these disease manifestations and individual cytokine expression levels. RESULTS: A gradual increase in TNF-α (R=0.391) and IL-6 (R=0.388) expression levels correlated with the degree of IVD degeneration, whereas NGF (R=0.164) expression levels exhibited a minimal decrease with disease progression. Regarding the predominant clinical manifestation, only the LBP group exhibited a significant increase in TNF-α expression levels (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that TNF-α and IL-6 play an important role in the pathophysiology of IVD degeneration at any stage, whereas NGF plays an important role during the early disease stages. Moreover, because TNF-α expression levels were significantly high in the LBP group, we propose that they are involved in LBP onset or progression.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, observational, single-center study. PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term outcomes of in situ fusion procedures for treating dysplastic spondylolisthesis. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: In situ fusion performed in patients with dysplastic spondylolisthesis avoids the development of nerve complications. METHODS: In total, 12 of 28 patients who underwent in situ fusion for treating dysplastic spondylolisthesis at Chiba University Hospital from 1974 to 2004 were followed up in August 2013. Surgical complications were evaluated. Low back pain and leg pain were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Vertebral alignment, including the lumbosacral angle and lumbar lordosis angle measurement on radiographic images (profile view in the neutral standing position), was evaluated during preoperative, postoperative, and final examinations. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration, patient age at the final examination, and patient age at operation were 20.0±7.2, 42.3±13.3, and 22.3±11.4 years, respectively. No complications were reported. Mean VAS scores for low back pain and leg pain were significantly lower at the final examination than at the preoperative examination (p<0.05). At the preoperative, postoperative, and final examinations, the mean lumbosacral angle was 32.3°±14.2°, 33.7°±11.8°, and 36.5°±16.4°, while the mean lumbar lordosis angle was 51.0°±14.8°, 48.6°±18.8°, and 49.6°±15.5°, respectively. No significant differences were noted among these values across the different time periods (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In situ fusion performed in patients with dysplastic spondylolisthesis avoids the development of nerve complications such as nerve paralysis that may occur after repositioning operation and maintains appropriate long-term sagittal alignment, even 20 years after operation.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether discontinuing teriparatide treatment and replacing it with bisphosphonate treatment maintains the volume of the fusion mass after posterolateral fusion (PLF) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Clinical data support the efficacy of parathyroid hormone (PTH) for lumbar PLF. However, the use of PTH is limited to 2 years. METHODS: We treated 19 women diagnosed with osteoporosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis with teriparatide (20 µg daily subcutaneously). All patients underwent one-level instrumented PLF. Teriparatide was used during 2 months prior to surgery and more than 8 months after surgery. After discontinuing teriparatide treatment, all patients used bisphosphonate (17.5 mg risedronate weekly, oral administration). Area of the fusion mass across the transverse processes at one segment was determined on an anteroposterior radiograph at 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery. RESULTS: We followed 19 patients for 3 years. The average duration of teriparatide treatment was 11.5 months. The bone union rate was 95%. The average area of the bone fusion mass was not significantly different between the right and left sides at 1, 2, or 3 years after surgery (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that replacing teriparatide treatment with bisphosphonate maintained the bone fusion mass volume after PLF in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.