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Microbiology Spectrum Apr 2016In mid-September 2012, the largest healthcare-associated outbreak in U.S. history began. Before it was over, 751 patients were reported with fungal meningitis, stroke,... (Review)
Review
In mid-September 2012, the largest healthcare-associated outbreak in U.S. history began. Before it was over, 751 patients were reported with fungal meningitis, stroke, spinal or paraspinal infection, or peripheral osteoarticular infection, and 64 (8.5%) died. Most patients had undergone epidural injection, and a few osteoarticular injection, of methylprednisolone acetate that had been manufactured at the New England Compounding Center (NECC). The offending pathogen in most cases was Exserohilum rostratum, a brown-black soil organism that previously was a rare cause of human infection. Three lots of methylprednisolone were contaminated with mold at NECC; the mold from unopened bottles of methylprednisolone was identical by whole-genome sequencing to the mold that was isolated from ill patients. Early cases manifested as meningitis, some patients suffered posterior circulation strokes, and later cases were more likely to present with localized infection at the injection site, including epidural abscess or phlegmon, vertebral diskitis or osteomyelitis, and arachnoiditis with intradural involvement of nerve roots. Many patients with spinal or paraspinal infection required surgical intervention. Recommendations for treatment evolved over the first few weeks of the outbreak. Initially, combination therapy with liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole was recommended for all patients; later, combination therapy was recommended only for those who were most ill, and voriconazole monotherapy was recommended for most patients. Among those patients who continued antifungal therapy for at least 6 months, outcomes for most appeared to be successful, although a few patients remain on therapy.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Ascomycota; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Contamination; Humans; Injections, Epidural; Mycoses; Steroids; United States
PubMed: 27227303
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.EI10-0005-2015 -
European Spine Journal : Official... May 2024To explore degeneration and fatty infiltration (FI) of lumbar paraspinal muscles in patients with dynamic sagittal imbalance (DSI) and the relationship between lumbar...
PURPOSE
To explore degeneration and fatty infiltration (FI) of lumbar paraspinal muscles in patients with dynamic sagittal imbalance (DSI) and the relationship between lumbar paraspinal muscles degeneration, fatty infiltration and severity of the disease.
METHODS
We recruited 41 DSI patients and selected 22 lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients without osphyalgia as controls. All patients received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and DSI patients also received pre-walk and post-walk X-rays. DSI patients were divided into 2 subgroups according to their symptom improvement after conservative treatment. We calculated rmCSA and FI of the lumbar paraspinal muscles. The rmCSA and FI between DSI and control and between DSI subgroups were compared by t test. The regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors influencing disease severity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under curves (AUCs) were used to evaluate the severity of the disease.
RESULTS
In comparison of rmCSA and FI between DSI and control, there are significant differences of most muscles. In comparison of rmCSA between two subgroups, there are significant differences of most muscles, while in comparison of FI, only muscles in L4 segment have significant different. In logistic regression analysis, total rmCSA and total FI are risk factors influencing disease severity. ROC curves shows that total rmCSA and total FI both achieve an AUC greater than 0.7.
CONCLUSION
Compared with control, DSI patients have degeneration and fatty infiltration of the lumbar paraspinal muscles. The degeneration and fatty infiltration are risk factors influencing disease severity. The total rmCSA and total FI can be used as an indicator to determine whether a patient has severe DSI.
Topics: Humans; Paraspinal Muscles; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Aged; Lumbar Vertebrae; Spinal Stenosis; Adipose Tissue; Adult; Lumbosacral Region
PubMed: 38043127
DOI: 10.1007/s00586-023-08033-4 -
Journal of Anatomy Jun 2019The paraspinal compartment acts as a bone-muscle composite beam of the spine. The elastic properties of the paraspinal muscles play a critical role in spine...
The paraspinal compartment acts as a bone-muscle composite beam of the spine. The elastic properties of the paraspinal muscles play a critical role in spine stabilization. These properties depend on the subjects' posture, and they may be drastically altered by low back pain. Supersonic shear wave elastography can be used to provide quantitative stiffness maps (elastograms), which characterize the elastic properties of the probed tissue. The aim of this study was to challenge shear wave elastography sensitivity to postural stiffness changes in healthy paraspinal muscles. The stiffness of the main paraspinal muscles (longissimus, iliocostalis, multifidus) was measured by shear wave elastography at the lumbosacral level (L3 and S1) for six static postures performed by volunteers. Passive postures (rest, passive flexion, passive extension) were performed in a first shear wave elastography session, and active postures (upright, bending forward, bending backward) with rest posture for reference were performed in a second session. Measurements were repeated three times for each posture. Sixteen healthy young adults were enrolled in the study. Non-parametric paired tests, multiple analyses of covariance, and intra-class correlations were implemented for analysis. Shear wave elastography showed good to excellent reliability, except in the multifidus at S1, during bending forward, and in the multifidus at L3, during bending backward. Yet, during bending forward, only poor quality was recorded for nine volunteers in the longissimus. Significant intra- and inter-muscular changes were observed with posture. Stiffness significantly increased for the upright position and bending forward with respect to the reference values recorded in passive postures. In conclusion, shear wave elastography allows reliable assessment of the stiffness of the paraspinal muscles except in the multifidus at S1 and longissimus, during bending forward, and in the multifidus at L3, during bending backward. It reveals a different biomechanical behaviour for the multifidus, the longissimus, and the iliocostalis.
Topics: Adult; Biomechanical Phenomena; Elasticity; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Female; Humans; Male; Paraspinal Muscles; Posture
PubMed: 30901090
DOI: 10.1111/joa.12978 -
Journal of Bodywork and Movement... Jul 2019Patients suffering from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) endure myofascial-related pain in at least 50% of cases. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Patients suffering from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) endure myofascial-related pain in at least 50% of cases.
AIMS
To evaluate the association of upper limb CRPS with myofascial pain in muscles that might influence arm or hand pain, and to evaluate whether the paraspinal skin and subcutaneous layers' tenderness and allodynia are associated with CRPS.
METHODS
A case-control study comprising 20 patients presenting with upper limb CRPS, and 20 healthy controls matched for sex and age, were evaluated in the thoracic paraspinal area and myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) (infraspinatus, rhomboids, subclavius, serratus posterior superior and pectoralis minor) via a skin rolling test.
RESULTS
The prevalence of MTrPs in the affected extremity of the subjects was significantly higher than in the right limb of the controls: 45% exhibited active and latent MTrPs in the infraspinatus muscle (χ = 11.613, p = 0.001); 60% in active and latent MTrPs in the subclavius muscle (χ = 17.143, p < 0.001); and in the pectoralis minor muscle (χ2 = 13.786, p < 0.001). In addition, 55% of the cases exhibited active and latent MTrPs in the serratus posterior superior muscle (χ = 15.172, p < 0.001). Significant differences between the groups in skin texture and pain levels (p = 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively) demonstrated that CRPS patients felt more pain, and their skin and subcutaneous layers were much tighter than in the healthy controls.
CONCLUSION
There is a high prevalence of MTrPs in the shoulder and upper thoracic area muscles in subjects who suffer from CRPS. We recommend adding an MTrPs evaluation to the standardized examination of these patients.
Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Complex Regional Pain Syndromes; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Hyperalgesia; Intermediate Back Muscles; Male; Middle Aged; Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Pain Measurement; Pectoralis Muscles; Severity of Illness Index; Skin; Upper Extremity
PubMed: 31563368
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.02.015 -
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Aug 2022The quality of the paraspinal muscles has been recommended as a surrogate marker for the evaluation of the severity of the lumbar degenerative diseases (LDD). The...
BACKGROUND
The quality of the paraspinal muscles has been recommended as a surrogate marker for the evaluation of the severity of the lumbar degenerative diseases (LDD). The purpose of this study is to determine the age- and sex-dependent differences in the morphology and composition of the paraspinal muscles between LDD and asymptomatic subjects.
METHODS
We analyzed data from 370 patients and 327 asymptomatic volunteers aged between 18-85 years. The measurement of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the erector spinae, multifidus, and psoas at the L4/5-disc level was performed by the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The fatty infiltration ratio (FI %) of the multifidus and erector spinae was calculated.
RESULTS
FI % of the lumbar paraspinal muscles were significantly and positively correlated with the severity of LDD instead of the CSA. Males had greater CSA than females, and females showed higher FI % than males in the paraspinal muscles. With the increase of age, the CSA of the lumbar paraspinal muscles gradually decreased, and the psoas showed the most significant decreasing trend. However, the FI % gradually increased in both LDD and asymptomatic groups with aging.
CONCLUSION
Age- and sex-dependent differences were found in the morphology and composition of the paraspinal muscles between subjects with and without LDD. Further long-term follow up investigations and basic studies will continue to confirm the natural history of the paraspinal muscles with aging and their association with LDD.
Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Low Back Pain; Lumbar Vertebrae; Lumbosacral Region; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Paraspinal Muscles; Young Adult
PubMed: 35915426
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-022-05692-0 -
JBMR Plus Dec 2023Astronauts have an increased risk of back pain and disc herniation upon returning to Earth. Thus, it is imperative to understand the effects of spaceflight and...
Astronauts have an increased risk of back pain and disc herniation upon returning to Earth. Thus, it is imperative to understand the effects of spaceflight and readaptation to gravity on the musculoskeletal tissues of the spine. Here we investigated whether ~6 months of spaceflight led to regional differences in bone loss within the vertebral body. Additionally, we evaluated the relationships between vertebral bone density and paraspinal muscle morphology before flight, after flight, and after readaptation on Earth. We measured vertebral trabecular bone mineral density (Tb.BMD), paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), and muscle density in 17 astronauts using computed tomography (CT) images of the lumbar spine obtained before flight (before flight, = 17), after flight (spaceflight, = 17), and ~12 months of readaptation to gravitational loading on Earth (follow-up, = 15). Spaceflight-induced declines in Tb.BMD were greater in the superior region of the vertebral body (-6.7%) than the inferior (-3.1%, = 0.052 versus superior region) and transverse regions (-4.3%, = 0.057 versus superior region). After a year of readaptation to Earth's gravity, Tb.BMD in the transverse region remained significantly below preflight levels (-4.66%, = 0.0094). Paraspinal muscle CSA and muscle density declined -1.0% ( = 0.005) and -0.83% ( = 0.001) per month of spaceflight, respectively. Ultimately, bone loss in the superior vertebral body, along with fatty infiltration of paraspinal muscles and incomplete recovery even after a year of readaptation on Earth, may contribute to spinal pathology in long-duration astronauts. © 2023 The Authors. published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
PubMed: 38130751
DOI: 10.1002/jbm4.10810 -
European Radiology Sep 2022Obesity has been proposed as a risk factor for low back pain (LBP), and the body mass index (BMI) has been used for obesity; however, a more reliable tool is required to...
OBJECTIVES
Obesity has been proposed as a risk factor for low back pain (LBP), and the body mass index (BMI) has been used for obesity; however, a more reliable tool is required to assess obesity-related health issues. A recent study depicted the subcutaneous fat tissue thickness (SFTT) at the L1-L2 level as superior to BMI in predicting LBP and spine degeneration. However, the study failed to answer the following questions: (1) What was the cutoff value for the SFTT to predict LBP and spine degeneration? (2) Could this new index be adjusted according to gender? (3) Could this new index predict fatty infiltration in the paraspinal muscles, severe intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD), and Modic changes in the lumbar spine? Therefore, the current study aimed to answer these questions by developing and validating a new anthropometric index-the subcutaneous fat index (SFI).
METHODS
This study retrospectively reviewed the magnetic resonance imaging database of patients with LBP and compared them with asymptomatic volunteers.
RESULTS
Appropriate cutoff values for females and males were 8.45 mm and 9.4 mm, respectively. Females and males with the SFI of > 8.45 mm and > 9.4 mm, respectively, had significantly higher rates of spine degeneration.
CONCLUSION
The SFI reliably distinguished patients with LBP from the asymptomatic subjects and could reliably distinguish patients with severe IVDD/Modic changes at the lower lumbar levels and those with moderate-to-severe fat-infiltrated paraspinal muscles at all lumbar levels with reliable cutoff values for males and females.
KEY POINTS
• The subcutaneous fat tissue thickness at L1-L2 level (subcutaneous fat index [SFI]) was superior to BMI in predicting LBP and spine degeneration. However, a reliable cutoff value has not been previously defined. • The subcutaneous fat index had reliable cutoff values of 8.45 mm and 9.4 mm for females and males, respectively. • Females with an SFI of > 8.45 mm and males with > 9.4 mm had significantly higher rates of severe IVDD, Modic changes, and fatty infiltration in their paraspinal muscles.
Topics: Female; Humans; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Low Back Pain; Lumbar Vertebrae; Lumbosacral Region; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Obesity; Paraspinal Muscles; Retrospective Studies; Subcutaneous Fat
PubMed: 35380225
DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-08775-7 -
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and... Oct 2022Sarcopenia, defined as loss of skeletal muscle mass, is a novel term associated with adverse outcomes in children. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe and precise...
BACKGROUND
Sarcopenia, defined as loss of skeletal muscle mass, is a novel term associated with adverse outcomes in children. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe and precise technique for measuring tissue compartments and is commonly used in most routine paediatric imaging protocols. Currently, there is a lack of MRI-derived normative data which can help in determining the level of sarcopenia. This study aimed to introduce reference values of total psoas muscle area (tPMA), total paraspinal muscle area (tPSMA), and total macroscopic fat infiltrations of the PSMA (tMFI).
METHODS
In this retrospective study, the local database was searched for abdominal and pelvic region MRI studies of children aged from 1 to 18 years (mean age (standard deviation (SD)) of 9.8 (5.5) years) performed in the years 2010-2021. Children with chronic diseases and a history of surgical interventions were excluded from the analysis. Finally, a total of 465 healthy children (n = 233 girls, n = 232 boys) were enrolled in the study. The values of the tPMA, tPMSA, and tMFI were measured in square centimetres (cm ) at the level of the L4/L5 intervertebral disc as the sum of the left and right regions. Age-specific and sex-specific muscle, fat, and body mass index percentile charts were constructed using the LMS method. Inter-observer agreement and intra-observer reproducibility were assessed using the Bland-Altman plots.
RESULTS
Both tPMA and tPSMA showed continuous increases in size (in cm ) throughout all age groups. At the age of 18, the median tPMA areas reached 26.37 cm in girls and 40.43 cm in boys. Corresponding tPSMA values were higher, reaching the level of 40.76 cm in girls and 56.66 cm in boys. The mean value of tMFI within the paraspinal muscles was 5.0% (SD 3.65%) of their total area in girls and 3.5% (SD 2.25%) in boys with the actual difference between sexes up to 0.96 cm . Excellent intra-observer reproducibility and inter-observer agreement were noted. Actual mean differences for tPMA were at the level of 0.43 and 0.39 cm , respectively. Mean bias for tPSMA was 0.1 cm for inter-observer and 0.05 cm for intra-observer measurements.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate novel and highly reproducible sex-specific MRI-derived reference values of tPMS, tPSMA, and tMFI at the level of the L4/L5 intervertebral disc for children from 1 to 18 years old, which may guide a clinician in the assessment of sarcopenia, a prognostic outcome marker in children.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Paraspinal Muscles; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Sarcopenia
PubMed: 35851581
DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13049 -
The Spine Journal : Official Journal of... Jul 2024The role of lumbar paraspinal muscle health in back pain (BP) is not straightforward. Challenges in this field have included the lack of tools and large, heterogenous...
Investigating the associations between lumbar paraspinal muscle health and age, BMI, sex, physical activity, and back pain using an automated computer-vision model: a UK Biobank study.
BACKGROUND CONTEXT
The role of lumbar paraspinal muscle health in back pain (BP) is not straightforward. Challenges in this field have included the lack of tools and large, heterogenous datasets to interrogate the association between muscle health and BP. Computer-vision models have been transformative in this space, enabling the automated quantification of muscle health and the processing of large datasets.
PURPOSE
To investigate the associations between lumbar paraspinal muscle health and age, sex, BMI, physical activity, and BP in a large, heterogenous dataset using an automated computer-vision model.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.
PATIENT SAMPLE
Participants from the UK Biobank with abdominal Dixon fat-water MRI (N=9,564) were included (41.8% women, mean [SD] age: 63.5 [7.6] years, BMI: 26.4 [4.1] kg/m) of whom 6,953 reported no pain, 930 acute BP, and 1,681 chronic BP.
OUTCOME MEASURES
Intramuscular fat (IMF) and average cross-sectional area (aCSA) were automatically derived using a computer-vision model for the left and right lumbar multifidus (LM), erector spinae (ES), and psoas major (PM) from the L1 to L5 vertebral levels.
METHODS
Two-tailed partial Pearson correlations were generated for each muscle to assess the relationships between the muscle measures (IMF and aCSA) and age (controlling for BMI, sex, and physical activity), BMI (controlling for age, sex, and physical activity), and physical activity (controlling for age, sex, and BMI). One-way ANCOVA was used to identify sex differences in IMF and aCSA for each muscle while controlling for age, BMI, and physical activity. Similarly, one-way ANCOVA was used to identify between-group differences (no pain, acute BP, and chronic BP) for each muscle and along the superior-inferior expanse of the lumbar spine while controlling for age, BMI, sex, and physical activity (α=0.05).
RESULTS
Females had higher IMF (LM mean difference [MD]=11.1%, ES MD=10.2%, PM MD=0.3%, p<.001) and lower aCSA (LM MD=47.6 mm, ES MD=350.0 mm, PM MD=321.5 mm, p<.001) for all muscles. Higher age was associated with higher IMF and lower aCSA for all muscles (r≥0.232, p<.001) except for LM and aCSA (r≤0.013, p≥.267). Higher BMI was associated with higher IMF and aCSA for all muscles (r≥0.174, p<.001). Higher physical activity was associated with lower IMF and higher aCSA for all muscles (r≥0.036, p≤.002) except for LM and aCSA (r≤0.010, p≥.405). People with chronic BP had higher IMF and lower aCSA than people with no pain (IMF MD≤1.6%, aCSA MD≤27.4 mm, p<.001) and higher IMF compared to acute BP (IMF MD≤1.1%, p≤.044). The differences between people with BP and people with no pain were not spatially localized to the inferior lumbar levels but broadly distributed across the lumbar spine.
CONCLUSIONS
Paraspinal muscle health is associated with age, BMI, sex, and physical activity with the exception of the association between LM aCSA and age and physical activity. People with BP (chronic>acute) have higher IMF and lower aCSA than people reporting no pain. The differences were not localized but broadly distributed across the lumbar spine. When interpreting measures of paraspinal muscle health in the research or clinical setting, the associations with age, BMI, sex, and physical activity should be considered.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Paraspinal Muscles; Aged; Body Mass Index; United Kingdom; Exercise; Cross-Sectional Studies; Age Factors; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Sex Factors; Lumbosacral Region; Back Pain; Lumbar Vertebrae; Low Back Pain; UK Biobank
PubMed: 38417587
DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2024.02.013 -
Spine Aug 2020
Topics: Gene Expression; Humans; Lumbar Vertebrae; Lumbosacral Region; Paraspinal Muscles
PubMed: 32675621
DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003576