Intervertebral reaction force prediction using an enhanced assembly of OpenSim models

OpenSim offers a valuable approach to investigating otherwise difficult to assess yet important biomechanical parameters such as joint reaction forces. Although the range of available models in the public repository is continually increasing, there currently exists no OpenSim model for the computation of intervertebral joint reactions during flexion and lifting tasks. The current work combines and improves elements of existing models to develop an enhanced model of the upper body and lumbar spine. Models of the upper body with extremities, neck and head were combined with an improved version of a lumbar spine from the model repository. Translational motion was enabled for each lumbar vertebrae with six controllable degrees of freedom. Motion segment stiffness was implemented at lumbar levels and mass properties were assigned throughout the model. Moreover, body coordinate frames of the spine were modified to allow straightforward variation of sagittal alignment and to simplify interpretation of results. Evaluation of model predictions for level L1–L2, L3–L4 and L4–L5 in various postures of forward flexion and moderate lifting (8 kg) revealed an agreement within 10% to experimental studies and model-based computational analyses. However, in an extended posture or during lifting of heavier loads (20 kg), computed joint reactions differed substantially from reported in vivo measures using instrumented implants. We conclude that agreement between the model and available experimental data was good in view of limitations of both the model and the validation datasets. The presented model is useful in that it permits computation of realistic lumbar spine joint reaction forces during flexion and moderate lifting tasks. The model and corresponding documentation are now available in the online OpenSim repository.     

Patients with chronic,but not episodic,migraine display altered activity of their neck extensor muscles

The current study aimed to investigate differences in activity of neck flexor and extensor muscles in women with migraine considering the chronicity of their condition. Thirty-one subjects with episodic migraine, 21 with chronic migraine and 31 healthy controls participated. Surface electromyography signals were recorded bilaterally from the sternocleidomastoid, anterior scalene, splenius capitis and upper trapezius muscles as subjects performed 5 stages of cranio-cervical flexion (CCF), representing a progressive increase in range of CCF motion. Comparison of normalized root-mean-square among groups was conducted with 3 × 5 ANCOVA with task level as the within-subject variable, group as the between-subject variable, and the presence of neck pain and disability as co-variates. The group with chronic migraine exhibited increased activity of their extensor muscles compared to the control and episodic migraine groups (splenius capitis: F = 3.149, P = 0.045; upper trapezius: F = 3.369, P = 0.041). No significant between-group differences were found for the superficial neck flexors (sternocleidomastoid: F = 1.161, P = 0.320; anterior scalene: F = 0.135, P = 0.874). In conclusion, women with chronic migraine exhibit increased activity of their superficial neck extensor muscles when acting as antagonists during low-load isometric CCF contractions in comparison to non-headache subjects.     

小鼠胸主动脉血管管壁结构和平滑肌细胞表型的年龄变化

目的:通过研究小鼠胸主动脉血管直径和管壁厚度以及平滑肌细胞表型标志物波形蛋白(Vimentin)和平滑肌细胞肌动蛋白(α-SM-actin)的表达,探讨胸主动脉在发育、成熟和老化过程中血管管壁结构和平滑肌细胞表型的变化。方法:将24只昆明小鼠按年龄分成4组:3天组、3个月组、6个月组和16个月组。采用HE染色和免疫荧光术分别观察胸主动脉血管管壁结构以及Vimentin和α-SM-actin的表达变化。结果:随着年龄的增长,胸主动脉血管直径和管壁厚度增加,以16个月小鼠胸主动脉的直径最大和管壁最厚,但细胞密度减少。3天小鼠胸主动脉的Vimentin表达较高,6个月表达下降,16个月重新上调;而α-SM-actin在3天小鼠的胸主动脉表达较低,6个月表达增加,16个月表达出现下调,其差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:小鼠胸主动脉的直径和管壁的厚度随年龄的增长而增加,而细胞的密度则随着年龄增加而减少;平滑肌细胞的表型从幼龄时的合成表型转变为收缩表型,老龄时又转变为合成表型。     

Validation of an OpenSim full-body model with detailed lumbar spine for estimating lower lumbar spine loads during symmetric and asymmetric lifting tasks

There is currently no validated full-body lifting model publicly available on the OpenSim modelling platform to estimate spinal loads during lifting. In this study, the existing full-body-lumbar-spine model was adapted and validated for lifting motions to produce the lifting full-body model. Back muscle activations predicted by the model closely matched the measured erector spinae activation patterns. Model estimates of intradiscal pressures and in vivo measurements were strongly correlated. The same spine loading trends were observed for model estimates and reported vertebral body implant measurements. These results demonstrate the suitability of this model to evaluate changes in lumbar loading during lifting.     

Trio Haploinsufficiency Causes Neurodevelopmental Disease-Associated Deficits

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Optimization of compressive loading parameters to mimic in vivo cervical spine kinematics in vitro

The human cervical spine supports substantial compressive load in vivo. However, the traditional in vitro testing methods rarely include compressive loads, especially in investigations of multi-segment cervical spine constructs. Previously, a systematic comparison was performed between the standard pure moment with no compressive loading and published compressive loading techniques (follower load – FL, axial load – AL, and combined load – CL). The systematic comparison was structured a priori using a statistical design of experiments and the desirability function approach, which was chosen based on the goal of determining the optimal compressive loading parameters necessary to mimic the segmental contribution patterns exhibited in vivo. The optimized set of compressive loading parameters resulted in in vitro segmental rotations that were within one standard deviation and 10% of average percent error of the in vivo mean throughout the entire motion path. As hypothesized, the values for the optimized independent variables of FL and AL varied dynamically throughout the motion path. FL was not necessary at the extremes of the flexion–extension (FE) motion path but peaked through the neutral position, whereas, a large negative value of AL was necessary in extension and increased linearly to a large positive value in flexion. Although further validation is required, the long-term goal is to develop a “physiologic” in vitro testing method, which will be valuable for evaluating adjacent segment effect following spinal fusion surgery, disc arthroplasty instrumentation testing and design, as well as mechanobiology experiments where correct kinematics and arthrokinematics are critical.     

Lumbar spine angles and intervertebral disc characteristics with end-range positions in three planes of motion in healthy people using upright MRI

Understanding changes in lumbar spine (LS) angles and intervertebral disc (IVD) behavior in end-range positions in healthy subjects can provide a basis for developing more specific LS models and comparing people with spine pathology. The purposes of this study are to quantify 3D LS angles and changes in IVD characteristics with end-range positions in 3 planes of motion using upright MRI in healthy people, and to determine which intervertebral segments contribute most in each plane of movement. Thirteen people (average age = 24.4 years, range 18–51 years; 9 females; BMI = 22.4 ± 1.8 kg/m²) with no history of low back pain were scanned in an upright MRI in standing, sitting flexion, sitting axial rotation (left, right), prone on elbows, prone extension, and standing lateral bending (left, right). Global and local intervertebral LS angles were measured. Anterior-posterior length of the IVD and location of the nucleus pulposus was measured. For the sagittal plane, lower LS segments contribute most to change in position, and the location of the nucleus pulposus migrated from a more posterior position in sitting flexion to a more anterior position in end-range extension. For lateral bending, the upper LS contributes most to end-range positions. Small degrees of intervertebral rotation (1–2°) across all levels were observed for axial plane positions. There were no systematic changes in IVD characteristics for axial or coronal plane positions.     

五种掩耳螽雌性发声刺的比较观察(直翅目:露螽科)

本文报道了露螽科Ｐｈａｎｅｒｏｐｔｅｒｉｄａｅ掩耳螽属ＥｌｉｍａｅａＳｔａｌ５种雌性发声刺,不同种发声刺的数目,形态和分布不同,露螽科雌性的发声刺,可以作为鉴定雌性为一个特征。     

条螽属和桑螽属雌性发声刺的比较观察

 报道了对尖翅条螽Ducetia attenuata Xia et Liu、日本条 螽D. japonica(Thunberg)、施氏条螽D. strelkovi Gorochov et Storozhenk o和中华桑螽K uwayamaea chinensis(Brunner)、长翅桑螽K. longipennis Shi et Zheng、札 幌桑螽K.sap porensis Mats.et Shir.的雌性发声刺的观察结果。这6个种的雌性发声刺在数量与 形态上具较明显的差异。     

经伤椎单节段固定与跨伤椎短节段固定治疗胸腰椎骨折的临床疗效比较研究

目的:研究经伤椎单节段固定和跨伤椎短节段固定对于胸腰椎骨折进行治疗的临床疗效。方法:从2011年6月至2014年6月,选择我院100例胸腰椎骨折患者作为研究对象。以数字法随机分为观察组50例以及对照组50例。观察组患者行经伤椎单节段固定,对照组患者行跨伤椎短节段固定,对比观察两组的临床效果。结果:观察组患者术中出血量及手术时间均明显低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。对两组患者手术前后的影像学检测结果进行比较,手术前后两组的压缩率以及Cobb角比较均无显著差异(P0.05),对所有患者进行末次随访时发现,观察组的压缩率明显高于对照组,Cobb角明显低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗前两组在社会功能,情感职能以及躯体疼痛评分比较上均无统计学差异(P0.05),治疗后两组以上评分较治疗前均明显升高,并且观察组显著高于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:使用经伤椎单节段固定较跨伤椎短节段固定方式能更好地恢复患者Cobb角度,对于预防手术之后矫正度的丢失性具有明显优势,且其有利于术后患者生活质量的提高,值得临床推荐使用。