This is the first study investigating the biomechanical effects of posterior decompressive surgery combined with cervical disc arthroplasty.
Methods.
Seven human cervical spines were biomechanically evaluated under the following conditions: (1) intact; (2) discectomy (C5-C6); (3) disc arthroplasty (C5-C6); (4) arthroplasty + 3-level laminoplasty (C3-C5); (5) arthroplasty + 4-level laminoplasty (C3-C6); (6) arthroplasty + 5-level laminoplasty (C3-C7); (7) arthroplasty + 5-level laminoplasty (C3-C7) without hydroxyapatite spacers; and (8) arthroplasty + laminectomy (C3-C7). Multidirectional flexibility testing used unconstrained pure moments of + 2 Nm for flexion-extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending. Quantification of C5-C6 and C3-C7 range of motion (ROM) and neutral zone (NZ) were normalized to the intact spine (100%).
Results. Flexion-extension loading of the discectomy condition demonstrated ROM of 22.05 degrees selleck chemicals +/- 4.17 degrees at the operative level (P < 0.05). Implantation of the porous coated motion device restored segmental motion near the intact condition (ROM, 9.97 degrees +/- 6.44 degrees; NZ, 5.82 LBH589 manufacturer degrees +/- 6.18 degrees). There were no statistical differences between 3-level (13.79 degrees +/- 6.49 degrees), 4-level (14.51 degrees +/- 5.76 degrees), and 5-level (15.67 degrees +/- 5.71 degrees) laminoplasty; however, additional levels demonstrated a trend toward increased motion at the arthroplasty
level. Laminoplasty without spacers (17.45 degrees) and laminectomy (18.27 degrees) indicated even greater segmental motion (P > 0.05). Axial rotation and lateral bending indicated trends similar to those for flexion-extension.
Conclusion. Posterior decompressive surgery increased ROM and NZ in all loading modes compared to arthroplasty alone, and laminectomy markedly increased motion compared with laminoplasty. Use of hydroxyapatite spacers and minimization of the extent of laminoplasty appear to be biomechanically
favorable in this in vitro model.”
“To determine the relationship between sperm morphological abnormalities, DNA fragmentation and fertilization rate in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Sperm samples from 20 ICSI cycles were analysed. Morphology was assessed according to strict Tideglusib concentration criteria, and DNA fragmentation was measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated fluorescein-dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) using flow cytometry.
A negative correlation was found between the percentage of spermatozoa with elongated heads and fertilization rate. There was a significant difference in the amount of morphological abnormalities between sperm samples with low and high degree of DNA fragmentation. The percentages of amorphous heads and overall head abnormalities were significantly higher in sperm samples with elevated degree of DNA fragmentation. No correlation was found between sperm DNA fragmentation and fertilization rate.