MRI-based vertebral bone quality score for the assessment of osteoporosis in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar degenerative diseases.

PURPOSE: To explore the value of vertebral bone quality (VBQ) scores in diagnosing osteoporosis in patients with lumbar degeneration. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 235 patients treated with lumbar fusion surgery at the age of ≥ 50; they were divided into a degenerative group and a control group according to the severity of degenerative changes on three-dimensional computed tomography. The L1-4 vertebral body and L3 cerebrospinal fluid signal intensities in the T1-weighted lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image were recorded, and the VBQ score was calculated. Demographics, clinical data, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) indicators were recorded, and the VBQ value was compared with bone density and T-score using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The VBQ threshold was obtained according to the control group and compared with the efficacy of osteoporosis diagnosis based on DXA. RESULTS: A total of 235 patients were included in the study, and the age of the degenerative group was older than that of the control group (61.8 vs. 59.4, P = 0.026). The VBQ score of the control group suggested a higher correlation with the bone mineral density (BMD) value and T-score (r = - 0.611 and - 0.62, respectively). The BMD value and T-score in the degenerative group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the VBQ score had a good predictive ability for osteoporosis (AUC = 0.818), with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 65.4%. Among the undiagnosed osteoporosis patients with T-score, the VBQ score after adjusting the threshold was higher in the degenerative group (46.9% vs. 30.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Emerging VBQ scores can reduce the interference caused by degenerative changes compared to traditional DXA measures. Screening for osteoporosis in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery provides new ideas.

Comparison of One-Level Osteotomy and Two-Level Osteotomy for Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity in Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: One- and two-level osteotomies have been used to treat thoracolumbar kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, the effectiveness and safety of the 2 methods have not been systematically compared, and few studies have reported on which method might be more suitable for treating AS. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search. All comparative studies of one- and two-level osteotomy for the treatment of thoracolumbar kyphosis caused by AS were included. Efficacy was determined by the radiographic outcomes, including global kyphosis, sagittal vertical axis, and lumbar lordosis and the Oswestry disability index. The complication rates were used to assess the safety. We analyzed the data using Review Manager software. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies were included and used for the meta-analysis. We pooled the studies according to the type of data they had reported to evaluate the radiographic correction and incidence of complications. We found that two-level osteotomy provided advantages compared with one-level osteotomy for spinal correction, including global kyphosis and lumbar lordosis. However, the correction was dependent on the degree of preoperative kyphosis. In addition, we found no differences between the 2 groups in the correction of the sagittal vertical axis or improvement in the Oswestry disability index. However, we did find differences in the incidence of neural complications, dural tear, and operative site infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have shown that one-level osteotomy is safer than two-level osteotomy. For AS patients with nonsevere kyphosis, one-level osteotomy will be sufficient for spinal sequence correction and maintenance of balance, and two-level osteotomy will not be needed. For AS patients with severe kyphosis, two-level osteotomy can be recommended for better orthopedic effects; however, a careful surgical technique is required.

Genome Resource for the Verticillium Wilt Resistant Gossypium hirsutum Cultivar Zhongzhimian No. 2.

Verticillium wilt, caused by the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae, is the major cause of disease-related yield losses in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Despite these losses, the major cultivars of G. hirsutum remain highly susceptible to Verticillium wilt. The lack of understanding on the genetic basis for Verticillium wilt resistance may further hinder progress in deploying elite cultivars with proven resistance, such as the wilt resistant G. hirsutum cultivar Zhongzhimian No. 2. To help remedy this knowledge gap, we sequenced the whole genome of Zhongzhimian No. 2 and assembled it from a combination of PacBio long reads, Illumina short reads, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture technologies. The final assembly of the genome was 2.33 Gb, encoding 95,327 predicted coding sequences. The GC content was 34.39% with 99.2% of the bases anchored to 26 pseudo-chromosomes that ranged from 53.8 to 127.7 Mb. This resource will help gain a detailed understanding of the genomic features governing high yield and Verticillium wilt resistance in this cultivar. Comparative genomics will be particularly helpful, since there are several published genomes of other Gossypium species. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

Prediction of Pedicle Screw Loosening Using an MRI-Based Vertebral Bone Quality Score in Patients with Lumbar Degenerative Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based bone quality assessment method for predicting pedicle screw loosening in the lumbar spine. METHODS: We reviewed 174 patients aged ≥50 years who were treated for lumbar degenerative diseases using posterior lumbar interbody fusion. All patients were followed-up for ≥12 months. Based on the presence of radiolucent areas on follow-up MRI images, the patients were divided into loosening and nonloosening groups. The vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score was calculated using T1-weighted MRI images. Demographic data, health history, and radiological parameters were also recorded and compared between the 2 groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the independent risk factors affecting screw loosening. RESULTS: Screw loosening occurred in 29.88% (52/174) of patients. A total of 83 screws (9.18%, 83/904) were loosened. There were differences in the age, fixation length, fixation at S1, preoperative and postoperative PI-LL, PT, preoperative LL, lowest bone mineral density (BMD), and VBQ scores (P < 0.05) between the nonloosening and loosening groups. In the logistic regression, the VBQ score (OR = 1.02 per point; 95% CI: 1.01-1.03; P < 0.001) was identified as an independent factor influencing screw loosening. CONCLUSIONS: As an independent risk factor for screw loosening after lumbar spine fusion, the VBQ score provides a new noninvasive protocol for assessing bone quality during surgical planning.