Low back pain (LBP) represents a frequent and debilitating condition affecting a large part of the global population and posing a worldwide health and economic burden. The major cause of LBP is intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), a complex disease that can further aggravate and give rise to severe spine problems. As most of the current treatments for IDD either only alleviate the associated symptoms or expose patients to the risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications, there is a pressing need to develop better therapeutic strategies. In this respect, the present paper first describes the pathogenesis and etiology of IDD to set the framework for what has to be combated to restore the normal state of intervertebral discs (IVDs), then further elaborates on the recent advances in managing IDD. Specifically, there are reviewed bioactive compounds and growth factors that have shown promising potential against underlying factors of IDD, cell-based therapies for IVD regeneration, biomimetic artificial IVDs, and several other emerging IDD therapeutic options (e.g., exosomes, RNA approaches, and artificial intelligence).

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/12/6460/pdf?version=1654834106

Recent Advances in Managing Spinal Intervertebral Discs Degeneration

Chronic low back pain is a worldwide leading cause of pain and disability. Degenerative disc disease has been the presumptive etiology in the majority of cases of chronic low back pain (CLBP). More recent study and treatments have discovered that the vertebral endplates play a large role in CLBP in a term defined as vertebrogenic back pain. As the vertebral endplates are highly innervated via the basivertebral nerve (BVN), this has resulted in a reliable target in treating patients suffering from vertebrogenic low back pain (VLBP). The application of BVN ablation for patients suffering from VLBP is still in its early stages of adoption and integration into spine care pathways. BVN ablation is grounded in a solid foundation of both pre-clinical and clinical evidence. With the emergence of this therapeutic option, the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) identified the need for formal evidence-based guidelines for the proper identification and selection of patients for BVN ablation in patients with VLBP. ASPN formed a multidisciplinary work group tasked to examine the available literature and form best practice guidelines on this subject. Based on the United States Preventative Task Force (USPSTF) criteria for grading evidence, gives BVN ablation Level A grade evidence with high certainty that the net benefit is substantial in appropriately selected individuals. 

Best Practice Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vertebrogenic Pain with Basivertebral Nerve Ablation from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience

Abstract Chronic low back pain is a worldwide leading cause of pain and disability. Degenerative disc disease has been the presumptive etiology in the majority of cases of chronic low back pain (CLBP). More recent study and treatments have discovered that the vertebral endplates play a large role in CLBP in a term defined as vertebrogenic back pain. As the vertebral endplates are highly innervated via the basivertebral nerve (BVN), this has resulted in a reliable target in treating patients suffering from vertebrogenic low back pain (VLBP). The application of BVN ablation for patients suffering from VLBP is still in its early stages of adoption and integration into spine care pathways. BVN ablation is grounded in a solid foundation of both pre-clinical and clinical evidence. With the emergence of this therapeutic option, the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) identified the need for formal evidence-based guidelines for the proper identification and selection of patients for BVN ablation in patients with VLBP. ASPN formed a multidisciplinary work group tasked to examine the available literature and form best practice guidelines on this subject. Based on the United States Preventative Task Force (USPSTF) criteria for grading evidence, gives BVN ablation Level A grade evidence with high certainty that the net benefit is substantial in appropriately selected individuals.

https://www.dovepress.com/getfile.php?fileID=83923

To explore the correlation between intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and bone mineral density (BMD) difference between adjacent vertebrae.A retrospective analysis of 114 postmenopausal women who were treated in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2021. The degree of lumbar(L)1-5 IDD was scored according to an 8-grade scoring system. The lumbar vertebrae BMD was detected, and the BMD difference was calculated. The subjects were grouped according to age and whether the disc was severe IDD. Data were collected for statistical analysis.The prevalence of osteoporosis in the 51-60-year-old group was lower than that in the other groups, while the prevalence of modic changes in the 71-80-year-old group was higher than that in the 51-70-year-old group (P < 0.05). At the L1/2 level, the prevalence of severe IDD in the 81-90y group was higher than that in the 51-70y group (P < 0.05). At the L2/3 level, the prevalence of severe IDD in the 71-90y group was higher than that in the 51-60y group, and the prevalence of severe IDD in the 71-80y group was higher than that in the 61-70y group (P < 0.05). The L2/3 disc score was positively correlated with the L3-L2 BMD difference (P < 0.05). At the level of L1-2, the BMD difference in the non-severe IDD group was smaller than that in the severe IDD group (P < 0.05).For postmenopausal women, an increase in BMD difference is correlated with IDD. Osteoporosis is more common in people over 60 years old, and the possibility of modic change in 71-80y is higher than in other age groups. The incidence of severe IDD also increases with aging, especially for the L1/2 and L2/3 discs. 

/pdf/correlation-between-intervertebral-disc-degeneration-and-2w2scyec.pdf

Correlation between intervertebral disc degeneration and bone mineral density difference: a retrospective study of postmenopausal women using an eight-level MRI-based disc degeneration grading system

Objectives: Ergometer exercise was considered a new loading method that can be used for participants who are unable to assume the core strengthening exercise posture commonly used to strengthen the erector spinae and multifidus. This study aimed to investigate with healthy participants whether arm and leg ergometers could be used for core strengthening exercises and whether different exercise sites would affect the results. Methods: The study was conducted with 15 healthy adult male participants aged 20–35 years. The intervention consisted of arm- and leg-ergometer exercises performed by the participants. The exercise protocol consisted of three 1-min sessions (rest, 50W, and 100 W), which were measured consecutively. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was measured during the sessions. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the erector spinae and multifidus was also measured, during which sEMG was measured. The sEMG during ergometer exercise was calculated as a percentage of the MVC (calculated as % MVC). The root mean square (RMS) was recorded from the sEMG activity. Muscle activity of the erector spinae and multifidus was compared between ergometer exercises and between intensity levels. Heart rate (HR) was recorded by electrocardiogram. Results: In the arm-ergometer exercise, the % MVC values of the erector spinae were 6.3 ± 3.1, 10.9 ± 5.4, and 16.9 ± 8.3% at rest, 50 W, and 100 W conditions, respectively. The multifidus was 4.6 ± 2.9, 9.2 ± 5.6, and 12.6 ± 7.6% at rest, 50 W, and 100 W conditions, respectively. The respective % MVC values during the leg-ergometer exercise were 3.8 ± 1.7, 7.2 ± 3.8, and 10.4 ± 4.0% at rest, 50 W, and 100 W conditions, respectively. Leg-ergometer exercises were 2.6 ± 2.1, 6.9 ± 5.7, and 10.3 ± 6.8% at rest, 50 W, and 100 W conditions, respectively. The activities of the two muscles increased at comparable levels with increased workload in both types of exercises ( p &amp;lt; 0.01, each). HR increased with the increased workload and the increase was larger during arm-than leg-ergometer exercises. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that both arm- and leg-ergometer exercises are potentially alternative methods for erector spinae and multifidus training for healthy participants. Further research is needed to target elderly. 

/pdf/surface-electromyographic-activity-of-the-erector-spinae-and-1csonkal.pdf

Surface electromyographic activity of the erector spinae and multifidus during arm- and leg-ergometer exercises in young healthy men

At what speed does spinal degeneration gear up?: Aging Paradigm in patients with Low Back Pain

Schmorl’s nodes could be associated with intervertebral disc degeneration at upper lumbar levels and end-plate disease at lower lumbar level in patients with low back pain

Infrared thermographic imaging of horses is becoming more popular in equine practice, and it is regarded to be a useful method for detecting lesions with the potential to cause lameness. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of thermal camera to determining the location of lesions in horses with lameness. A total of twenty-four Arabian horses aged 6.3 ± 1.8 (mean ± standard deviation) years old were included in this study. Temperature measurements were obtained with a thermal camera on the fore- and hindlimb of all horses with lameness and the area where the temperature increased (suspected area) was determined. Following the suspected area was determined, temperature measurements were performed in the symmetric area of the same animal. All thermal camera temperatures were taken from 4 different points (lateral, medial, dorsal, palmar/plantar) and the average of the measurements was recorded. The mean temperature measurement in the suspected area (34.7 ± 1.7 °C) was significantly higher than the symmetric area (31.8 ± 2.1 °C) in horses (p

/pdf/the-effectiveness-of-thermography-in-determining-2ywl7c1c.pdf

The Effectiveness of Thermography in Determining Localization of Orthopedic Diseases in Horses

In this study, we aimed to outline the neuropsychiatric consequences of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and to understand how neuropsychiatric symptomatology affects distress in caregivers.

Neuropsychiatric outcomes and caregiver distress in primary progressive aphasia

Are serum thyroid hormone, parathormone, calcium, and vitamin D levels associated with lumbar spine degeneration? A cross-sectional observational clinical study

Ömer Tarık Orhun

Papers

At what speed does spinal degeneration gear up?: Aging Paradigm in patients with Low Back Pain

Schmorl’s nodes could be associated with intervertebral disc degeneration at upper lumbar levels and end-plate disease at lower lumbar level in patients with low back pain

The Effectiveness of Thermography in Determining Localization of Orthopedic Diseases in Horses

Neuropsychiatric outcomes and caregiver distress in primary progressive aphasia

Are serum thyroid hormone, parathormone, calcium, and vitamin D levels associated with lumbar spine degeneration? A cross-sectional observational clinical study