ABSTRACT
Objective@# To examine the efficacy and safety of an innovative, device-driven abdominal trunk muscle strengthening program, with the ability to measure muscle strength, to treat chronic low back pain (LBP) in elderly participants. @*Methods@# Seven women with non-specific chronic LBP, lasting at least 3 months, were enrolled and treated with the prescribed exercise regimen. Patients participated in a 12-week device-driven exercise program which included abdominal trunk muscle strengthening and 4 types of stretches for the trunk and lower extremities. Primary outcomes were adverse events associated with the exercise program, improvement in abdominal trunk muscle strength, as measured by the device, and improvement in the numerical rating scale (NRS) scores of LBP with the exercise. Secondary outcomes were improvement in the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) score and the results of the locomotive syndrome risk test, including the stand-up and two-step tests. @*Results@# There were no reports of increased back pain or new-onset abdominal pain or discomfort during or after the device-driven exercise program. The mean abdominal trunk muscle strength, NRS, RDQ scores, and the stand-up and two-step test scores were significantly improved at the end of the trial compared to baseline. @*Conclusion@# No participants experienced adverse events during the 12-week strengthening program, which involved the use of our device and stretching, indicating the program was safe. Further, the program significantly improved various measures of LBP and physical function in elderly participants.
ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. PURPOSE: To evaluate the immunity-enhancing effect of implantation of a liquid nitrogen-treated tumor. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: We have developed a new technique of implanting a tumor frozen in liquid nitrogen after posterior decompression and stabilization, with the aim of enhancing antitumor immunity in order to prolong the survival period of the patient. In the current study, the immunity-enhancing effect of this new technique has been evaluated. METHODS: The subjects were 19 patients in whom we had earlier performed decompression and stabilization between April 2011 and September 2013. The 19 subjects were divided into two groups, namely a frozen autologous tumor tissue implantation group (n=15; "implantation group"), which consisted of patients, who underwent implantation with autologous tumor tissue frozen in liquid nitrogen, and a control group (n=4), which consisted of patients, who did not undergo autologous cancer transplantation. To evaluate the immunity-enhancing effect of the protocol, plasma cytokines (interferon [IFN]-gamma and interleukin [IL]-12) were analyzed before surgery and a month after surgery. RESULTS: The mean rate of increase in IFN-gamma was significantly higher in the implantation group (p=0.03). Regarding IL-12, no significant difference was observed between the groups, although the implantation group exhibited increased levels of IL-12 (p=0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Decompression and stabilization combined with autologous frozen tumor cell implantation can enhance cancer immunity in metastatic spinal tumor patients. It is hypothesized that this procedure might prevent local recurrence and prolong survival period.