Current assessment of spine growth for patients undergoing growth friendly surgical treatment for early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is the use of serial, 1-dimensional standard-of-care coronal vertical ...spine height (SoCVH) measurements. Any growth of the spine out of the coronal plane is missed by the SoCVH, which may underestimate the actual growth of the spine. This study set to validate the novel 3-dimensional true spine length (3DTSL) radiographic measurement technique for measuring growth of EOS patients.
3DTSL measurement accuracy, reliability, and repeatability was assessed using 10 physical model configurations. In addition, interrater and intrarater reliabilities (IRRs) were assessed using interclass coefficient (ICC) analyses of 23 retrospective EOS patient clinical radiographs. 3DTSL measurements were compared with SoCVH measurements.
The model assessment showed excellent accuracy with a mean error of 1.2 mm (SD=0.9; range, 0.0 to 3.0) and mean ICC of 0.999.IRR ICCs of the clinical radiographs averaged 0.952 for the 3DTSL and 0.975 for the vertical height whereas IRRs averaged 0.944 and 0.965, respectively (all P<0.001).Mean clinical 3DTSL curve lengths were 193.9 mm (SD=30.0; range, 142.8 to 276.8), whereas the SoCVH averaged 156.1 mm (SD=29.7; range, 74.7 to 207.3). The mean difference between the matched 3DTSL and SoCVH measurements was 37.8 mm (SD=21.4; range, 1.3 to 95.4) and was statistically significant (P<0.0001). On average, the 3DTSL of the measured spines was 124.2% of the measured SoCVH, with a progressive difference as the Cobb or kyphosis angles increased.
The novel 3DTSL measurement is accurate, repeatable, and complements the current growth assessments for EOS treatments.
Level II-diagnostic study-development of a diagnostic criteria on basis of consecutive patients, with gold standard.
Abstract
The rotifer
Epiphanes brachionus spinos
a occurs in shallow temporary waters with hydroperiods up to several months in the Chihuahuan Desert (U.S.A. and Mexico). Clonal populations from one ...such habitat were initiated from stem females hatched from fertilised resting eggs in flooded dried sediment, and cultured with the alga
Cryptomonas erosa
at 19°C in a photoperiod (L:D 16:8). Experiments show that the rotifer has: (1) a morphological response to the predatory rotifer
Asplanchna
, with which it can co‐occur; and (2) an early and constant propensity for sex and resting‐egg production during population development.
Stem females, and females from later generations, have two posterior spines. Measurements of live juveniles and adults indicate that spine length increases isometrically during postnatal growth.
Presence of live
Asplanchna brightwellii
, or its kairomone in
Asplanchna
‐conditioned medium, significantly increase spine length. In one clone, spine lengths of juvenile
Epiphanes
from cultures with or without live
Asplanchna
were, respectively,
c.
40 and
c.
27 μm. In that clone, spine lengths of adult
Epiphanes
in cultures with or without
Asplanchna
kairomone were, respectively,
c.
54 and
c.
37 μm. In another clone, these spine lengths were, respectively,
c.
44 and
c.
36 μm.
Asplanchna
‐induced spine elongation may act as a mechanical defence against capture and ingestion by the predator.
Sexual reproduction in
E. brachionus spinosa
populations is initiated soon after populations develop from stem females and then continues at a rate allowing both population growth by female parthenogenesis and production of resting eggs. Resting eggs hatched after 6–12 days at 19°C. Stem females were amictic (producing daughters parthenogenetically) but produced some daughters that were mictic (producing haploid males parthenogenetically or fertilised resting eggs). In subsequent generations tested 2–7 weeks after hatching of stem females, amictic females from three clonal populations produced similar proportions of mictic daughters (mean
c.
0.25) when cultured singly in large volumes (15 and 40 ml) or a small one (1.5 ml).
Mictic‐female production is probably automatic and controlled by an endogenous mechanism, rather than specifically induced by crowding or some other environmental factor. Early and continuous sexual reproduction assures production of resting eggs throughout short and unpredictable hydroperiods.
Vertebrates have repeatedly modified skeletal structures to adapt to their environments. The threespine stickleback is an excellent system for studying skeletal modifications, as different wild ...populations have either increased or decreased the lengths of their prominent dorsal and pelvic spines in different freshwater environments. Here we identify a regulatory locus that has a major morphological effect on the length of stickleback dorsal and pelvic spines, which we term
(major spine enhancer).
maps in a closely linked supergene complex that controls multiple armor, feeding, and behavioral traits on chromosome IV. Natural alleles in
are differentiated between marine and freshwater sticklebacks; however, alleles found among freshwater populations are also differentiated, with distinct alleles found in short- and long-spined freshwater populations. The distinct freshwater alleles either increase or decrease expression of the bone growth inhibitor gene
in developing spines, providing a simple genetic mechanism for either increasing or decreasing spine lengths in natural populations. Genomic surveys suggest many recurrently differentiated loci in sticklebacks are similarly specialized into three or more distinct alleles, providing multiple ancient standing variants in particular genes that may contribute to a range of phenotypes in different environments.
Cement dust from cement plants around the world has multiple negative effects on organisms and their environment. Cement's effects come from its strongly alkaline nature and high content of heavy ...metals. Previous studies on plants have documented that cement dust deposition can influence plant vegetative growth, the lipid and ionic composition of tissues, and foliar temperature. Here we evaluate the effects of cement dust coming from a plant in western Argentina on the morphology of the cactus Tephrocactus aoracanthus. In sites located at 0.15km, 2km and 6km from the cement plant, we recorded five morphological attributes of the cactus: length and number of spines, cladode (stem) diameter, and fresh and dry weight. We also transplanted plants in situ to evaluate the effect of distance from the cement plant. In addition, we set an experiment spreading cement dust weekly on the aerial and ground parts of the cactus. Results of our field observational and experimental studies indicate that cement dust deposition on aerial parts of the plant leads to increased spine length, number of spines, and wet and dry weights of cladodes.
Display omitted
•The study focused on the morphological response of Tephrocactus aoracanthus to cement pollution.•The cactus response was studied through observational and experimental studies.•Cement dust deposition lead to increased cladodes biomass.•Results indicate an urgent need to remediate the areas affected by cement pollution.
A new growing rod (GR) design, the semiconstrained growing rod (SCGR), with the added advantage of axial rotation freedom within the components, has been introduced at our center which has been shown ...to be growth friendly. We hypothesize that the SCGR system would reduce autofusion in vivo, thereby maximizing the coronal plane correction, T1-S1 growth, and the final correction achieved at definitive fusion for children with an early onset scoliosis.
In total, 28 patients had either single or dual 5.5 mm diameter SCGR placed minimally invasively through a submuscular approach. Surgical lengthening procedures occurred approximately every 6 months until the definitive fusion procedure was performed for 18 patients. Scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis angles, T1-S1 trunk length, and any complications encountered were evaluated.
For the full cohort, before GR insertion, the mean major Cobb curve angle was 72.4 degrees (SD, 18.8; range, 45 to 120), mean T1-S1 trunk length was 282 mm (SD, 59; range, 129 to 365), and at the latest follow-up (mean 6.9 y, SD 3.3, range 2.0 to 13.0), 38.8 degrees (SD, 17.5; range 10 to 90) and 377 mm (SD, 62; range, 225 to 487), respectively. For the subset of 18 patients who have had their final instrumented fusion surgery, the definitive surgery procedure alone produced a correction of the major Cobb curve angle by mean 20.3 degrees (SD, 16.1; P<0.0001), and an increase in the T1-S1 trunk length of mean 31.7 mm (SD, 23.1; P<0.0001). There were 14 complications involving 11 of the 28 patients, giving rise to 5 unplanned surgical interventions and 1 case where GR treatment was abandoned.
SCGR patients exhibited statistically significant increase in T1-S1 trunk length and statistically significant decrease in the severity of scoliosis over the course of GR treatment and again, importantly, with the definitive fusion surgery, suggesting that autofusion had been minimized during GR treatment with relatively low complication rates.
Level IV-case series.
The accuracy and repeatability of a novel sagittal spine length (SSL) radiographic measurement was examined using photographic and radiographic imaging.
To validate the new SSL technique for ...measuring growth in early-onset scoliosis (EOS) patients.
Current assessment of patient growth undergoing growth-friendly surgical treatment for EOS is the use of serial vertical spine height measurements (VH) on coronal radiographs. Spine-based distraction implants are able to control the coronal plane deformity of scoliosis, but exhibit a "law of diminishing returns" in the impact of each follow-up lengthening surgery. As these treatments are kyphogenic, we hypothesize that the increase in kyphosis is, in fact, growth out of plane, not captured by standard spine height measurements.
Measurement accuracy was assessed using 6 spine model alignments and clinical radiographs of 23 retrospective EOS patients. Inter- and intrarater reliabilities were assessed using interclass coefficient (ICC) analyses. The discrepancy between the VH and SSL was also investigated.
The model assessment showed excellent accuracy, with a 1.54 mm (SD: 1.07, range: 0.03-3.14, p = .226) mean error and mean ICCs of 0.999. As the kyphosis increased, a progressive difference between the phantom VH and SSL was observed. Interrater reliability ICCs of the clinical radiographs averaged 0.981 and 0.804, whereas intrarater reliabilities averaged 0.966 and 0.826, for the coronal and sagittal radiographs, respectively. Mean clinical SSLs were 177.5 mm (SD: 28.5, range: 114.3-250.3), whereas the VH averaged 161.6 mm (SD: 31.8, range: 58.5-243.0), resulting in a 16.0-mm (SD: 16.7, range: 0.3-90.3, p < .0001) difference between the two measurements with a progressive difference as the kyphosis increased.
The novel SSL measurement is accurate, repeatable, and complements the current growth assessments for EOS treatments. Until sagittal spine lengths are taken into consideration, the "law of diminishing returns" should be interpreted with caution.
Level II - Prospective Comparative Study.
Retrospective, comparative.
To determine if distraction-based surgeries will increase spine length in patients with nonidiopathic EOS and whether etiology affects final spine length.
As early-onset ...scoliosis (EOS) has many etiologies, it is unclear whether etiology affects the spine length achieved with distraction-based surgeries. Since distraction may produce kyphosis, sagittal spine length (SSL; curved arc length of the spine in the sagittal plane) should be utilized.
Patients with nonidiopathic EOS treated with distraction-based systems (minimum 5-year follow-up, 5 lengthenings) were identified from two EOS registries. Radiographic analysis preoperation, postimplant (L1), and after each lengthening (L2-L5, L6-L10, L11-L15) was performed with primary outcome of T1-S1 SSL.
We identified 126 patients (67 congenital, 38 syndromic, 21 neuromuscular) with a mean preoperative age of 4.6 years, scoliosis 75°, kyphosis 48°, and a mean of 12 lengthenings. After initial correction (p < .05), scoliosis remained constant (58° at L11-L15) and kyphosis increased (38° at L1 to 60° at L11-L15) (p < .05). SSL increased for the entire group from 27.1 cm preoperation to 35.3 cm at L11-L15 (p < .05) and during the distraction phase (29.2 cm at L1 to 35.3 cm at L11-L15) (p < .05). Preoperative SSL was higher in neuromuscular compared with congenital patients and maintained that difference until the 10th lengthening. Preoperative SSL did not differ between syndromic and congenital patients (28.0 cm vs. 25.6 cm); however, syndromic patients had greater SSL after implantation (L1: 30.5 cm vs. 26.8 cm) (p < .05) and maintained that difference until the 15th lengthening (37.1 cm vs. 34.3 cm) (p < .05).
At minimum 5-year follow-up, distraction-based surgeries increased spine length for all patients with nonidiopathic EOS; however, neuromusculars had higher preoperative spine length compared with congenital patients and maintained that difference until the 10th lengthening. Although congenital and syndromic patients had similar preoperative spine length, syndromic patients had greater SSL after implantation (L1) and maintained that difference until the 15th lengthening.
Level III.
In an effort to better understand juvenile growth in the first year and to determine potential effects of hatchery larval rearing, we compared growth of juvenile red king crab, Paralithodes ...camtschaticus (Tilesius, 1815), in the field and under laboratory-rearing conditions. Glaucothoe were obtained from the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery and field; once molted to first stage juveniles, both sets were raised individually in the laboratory under ambient conditions (hereafter called hatchery/laboratory-reared and wild/laboratory-reared, respectively) and measured at each molt. Field-surveyed juveniles were observed and measured monthly in the intertidal in Juneau, AK, USA. Size, molt interval, cumulative molt interval, and molt increment did not differ significantly between hatchery/laboratory-reared and wild/laboratory-reared crab or between male and female crab over one year. Crab reached an average size ± SD of 13.6 ± 2.1 mm CL after 10-11 molts/year with 24% average molt increment at ambient temperatures. Carapace lengths of hatchery/laboratory-reared, wild/laboratory-reared, and field-surveyed juveniles were not significantly different in five of eight months from January through August, with small differences in January, February, and May, likely resulting from differences in hatch timing. Spine lengths differed from January through March but not from April through August. Spine lengths of hatchery/laboratory-reared crab were significantly larger than field-surveyed crab from January through March. Wild/laboratory-reared crab had significantly longer spine lengths than field-surveyed crab in February and March. In conclusion, growth did not differ significantly among juveniles reared in the laboratory and from the field.
Within‐plant spatial variation in herbivore pressure can induce localized antiherbivory defence responses. We tested this hypothesis by studying branch‐specific responses of Acacia robusta, ...Dichrostachys cinerea and Ziziphus mucronata to simulated mammalian herbivory. Herbivory was simulated by clipping the terminal shoots (3 cm from tip) of tree branchlets, allowing them one year of regrowth and then comparing their spine length and density and condensed tannins with those of adjacent unclipped branchlets. Condensed tannins concentrations were higher in clipped branchlets than in unclipped branchlets in all three woody species (P < 0.05). Spine length was higher in clipped branchlets than in unclipped branchlets in A. robusta (P < 0.05) but was similar in both D. cinerea and Z. mucronata (P > 0.05). Spine density was double in clipped branchlets as compared to the unclipped branchlets in Z. mucronata (P < 0.05) but was similar in both A. robusta and D. cinerea (P > 0.05). We found evidence of within‐plant variation in condensed tannins concentration and spine length and density in response to simulated herbivory in the three woody species.
Astronauts experience spine deconditioning during exposure to microgravity due to the lack of axial loads on the spine. Treadmill exercise in a lower body negative pressure (LBNP) chamber provides ...axial loads on the lumbar spine. We hypothesize that daily supine LBNP exercise helps counteract lumbar spine deconditioning during 28 days of microgravity simulated by bed rest. Twelve sets of healthy, identical twins underwent 6 degrees head-down-tilt bed rest for 28 days. One subject from each set of twins was randomly assigned to the exercise (Ex) group, whereas their sibling served as a nonexercise control (Con). The Ex group exercised in supine posture within a LBNP chamber for 45 min/day, 6 days/wk. All subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging of their lumbar spine before and at the end of bed rest. Lumbar spinal length increased 3.7 +/- 0.5 mm in the Con group over 28-day bed rest, whereas, in the Ex group, lumbar spinal length increased significantly less (2.3 +/- 0.4 mm, P = 0.01). All lumbar intervertebral disk heights (L5-S1, L4-5, L3-4, L2-3, and L1-2) in the Con group increased significantly over the 28-day bed rest (P < 0.05). In the Ex group, there were no significant increases in L5-S1 and L4-5 disk heights. Lumbar lordosis decreased significantly by 3.3 +/- 1.2 degrees during bed rest in the Con group (P = 0.02), but it did not decrease significantly in the Ex group. Our results suggest that supine LBNP treadmill exercise partially counteracts lumbar spine lengthening and deconditioning associated with simulated microgravity.
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