Although noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has bee

Although noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been shown to improve oxygenation and physical activity in these patients, no practical approach for the application of NPPV during walking has yet been established. Objective: To elucidate the most effective approach to preserving oxygenation during walking in patients with severe COPD receiving long-term NPPV. Methods: Three 12-min walking tests were performed in a randomized

cross-over design on 3 consecutive days, comparing the usual and double dosages of oxygen versus NPPV plus the usual dosage of oxygen. The ventilator and oxygen tank were placed in a backpack. Results: Eleven patients (FEV(1) 26 +/- 9% predicted) completed the study, while 8 patients refused to walk with NPPV, due to the weight of the ventilatory device MEK pathway (7.3 kg with NPPV vs. 3.1 kg without). PaO(2) changes during walking differed [p = 0.01, repeated-measures (RM)-ANOVA], BAY 57-1293 in vitro whereas dyspnea was unchanged. The difference in PaO(2) change was 14.0 +/- 16.6 mm Hg (unadjusted

p = 0.0036, critical level = 0.017, RM-ANOVA) in favor of NPPV compared to the usual dosage of oxygen. Changes in FEV(1), tidal volume and inspiratory impedance were in favor of NPPV-aided exercise (all p < 0.05, RM-ANOVA). Walking distance was reduced under NPPV (555 +/- 227 m) compared to the usual (619 +/- 210 m) and double (622 +/- 215 m) dosages of oxygen (p = 0.024, RM-ANOVA). Conclusions: NPPV plus supplemental oxygen, but not oxygen alone, preserves oxygenation during walking in patients with severe COPD. However, dyspnea and walking distance were

not improved due to the burden of carrying the heavy ventilatory equipment in a backpack. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Aim: To construct a normal value for inhibin-A concentrations at 1420 weeks of gestation for a Thai population.

Material and Methods: Inhibin-A concentrations from pregnant women without Down’s syndrome at 14-20(+6) weeks of gestation were measured. Maternal serum inhibin-A C188-9 price levels were analyzed according to the gestational age.

Results: Serum specimens from 727 Thai women were analyzed. Inhibin-A levels decreased from 14 to 17(+4) weeks and then gradually rose thereafter, giving a U-shape pattern.

Conclusion: The data of inhibin-A concentration at 14-20 weeks of gestation for normal Thai pregnant women fitted well with quadratic regression.”
“A 38-year-old obese woman, with a past medical history of cholecystectomy and dyslipidaemia, presented with acute occipital headache, vomiting and rotational vertigo which lasted 8 hours. On admission neurological examination was unremarkable, however general physical examination revealed hepatomegaly. Routine blood tests showed abnormal liver function tests. MRI scan indicated an acute ischemic infarct in the right cerebellum. Extensive investigation was negative.

Primary emphasis of treatment should be on lowering LDL-C to <

Primary emphasis of treatment should be on lowering LDL-C to < 100 mg/dl with statins. If cardiovascular disease is present, then high dose statins should be used, and an optional LDL-C goal < 70 is recommended. If triglycerides are > 200 mg/dl, then a secondary goal is to lower non-HDL-C < 130 mg/dl (< 100 mg/dl if cardiovascular disease is present) is recommended. Low HDL-C

levels are common in type 2 diabetes but are not currently recommended as a target for treatment because of the lack of definitive cardiovascular outcome studies supporting this goal, and because this website of the difficulty in raising HDL-C. The additional benefit of combination therapy with fibrates, ezetimibe or niacin added to a statin on cardiovascular risk is uncertain pending the results of on-going cardiovascular outcome studies.”
“Within the realm of studies on nosocomial infections and epidemiology, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is often considered as the “”gold standard”" for typing of Legionella or other bacteria. Performing this protocol usually requires 2-5 days; this excessive time requirement, lack of a standardized procedure, and high cost have limited its use. However, recently the BMS-754807 price typing of Legionella with PFGE has been reduced to about 2 days, and we further shortened the procedure by reducing the

time for the plug preparation and electrophoresis steps. To shorten plug preparation, we used a strong thermal shock and high-temperature washes to reduce cell lysis and DNA isolation time, and we stressed the electrophoresis to obtain GDC-0068 PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitor comparable macrorestriction patterns among strains in 16 h. The DNA digestion phase was not altered.

We also applied this protocol directly to frozen bacteria from strain collections with the aim of shortening the entire procedure. We developed a protocol that can be completed in 24 h, or less if necessary, while avoiding some typical artifacts of traditional procedures. This new protocol also provides good results when directly applied to frozen material from strain collections, thus saving bacteria growth time. Our observations indicate that PFGE tolerates a wide range of adjustments, allowing its application to fresh or frozen samples in a short amount of time.”
“The reduction of mortality from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the setting of coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a major challenge, especially among patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of SCA, at least in part, from an increased presence and extent of coronary atherosclerosis (macrovascular disease). Diabetes also is associated with microvascular disease and autonomic neuropathy; and, these non-coronary atherosclerotic pathophysiologic processes also have the potential to increase the risk of SCA.

Being sexually active, younger, and married are predictors of PIS

Being sexually active, younger, and married are predictors of PISQ-12 completion.

Some NSA women complete the PISQ-12. Instructions should specify that only SA women complete this questionnaire.”
“PURPOSE: To describe the incidence, management, and visual outcomes of buttonholed laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flaps.

SETTING: Private practice, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: This retrospective review identified eyes that developed buttonholed flaps during LASIK. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were obtained to identity factors

predictive of this complication.

RESULTS: Of 4250 primary LASIK procedures, 17 eyes (0.4%) with buttonholed flaps were identified. Buttonholes occurred with the Hansatome microkeratome in 64.7% of eyes and with the Moria microkeratome in 35.3% of eyes, the incidence of buttonholed flaps was 0.62% and 0.19%, respectively (P = .03). Laser ablation Selleckchem AS1842856 was performed at the same time as buttonhole formation in 8 eyes (47.1%) and was aborted in the other eyes. Retreatment

was performed in 10 eyes (58.8%); of retreated eyes, 6 had repeat LASIK and 3 had surface ablation. The final spherical equivalent refraction was -0.38 diopter +/- 0.79 (SD). Two eyes had a final loss of more than 2 lines of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The mean loss of BCVA lines was 0.72 in eyes that had complete LASIK, 0.62 in eyes that had aborted LASIK followed by retreatment with repeat LASIK, BI-D1870 solubility dmso and 0.80 in eyes that https://www.sellecn.cn/products/ly2109761.html had aborted LASIK followed by retreatment with surface ablation.

CONCLUSIONS: Buttonholed flaps occurred more frequently in the second of 2 consecutively treated eyes. Microkeratomes that produce a larger diameter flap were more likely to produce flap buttonholes. The least loss of BCVA was achieved when LASIK was aborted and then repeated after refractive stability.”
“Magnetic phases and defects are partly produced in steam generator tubes by stress and heat, because steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants are used under high temperature, high pressure, and radioactivity.

The magnetic phases induce an error in the detection of the defects in steam generator tubes by the conventional eddy current method. So a new method is needed for detecting the magnetic phases in the steam generator tubes. We designed a new U-type yoke which has two kinds of coils and simulated the signal by the magnetic phases and defects in the Inconnel 600 tube. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3337753]“
“Background: The cuff pressure for optimal airway sealing with first-generation laryngeal mask airway has been shown to be 40 cm H2O in children. Currently, there are no data regarding the ideal intracuff pressure for the laryngeal mask airway Supreme (Supreme) in children.

Objectives: To compare the clinical performance of the laryngeal mask airway supreme with the laryngeal mask airway unique in infants and children.

001) Organ preservation through UW demonstrated a significantly

001). Organ preservation through UW demonstrated a significantly better survival as compared with HTK (P < 0.001). Less AREs occurred in patients receiving tacrolimus-sirolimus or tacrolimus-MMF (P < 0.001). Patients receiving tacrolimus-MMF showed less CAV than when treated with cyclosporine-MMF (P < 0.005). There were more ventricular assist device implantations and more re-HTx in era 6 (P < 0.0001) than when compared with other eras. Although the causes for improvement in survival over time are multifactorial, we believe that changes in immunosuppressive therapy have

had a major impact Givinostat datasheet on survival.”
“Purpose. The clinical behavior of unicystic ameloblastoma varies according to its subtype. The assessment of its proliferative capacity, AZD9291 in vivo neovascularization, and invasiveness using relevant immunomarkers may aid in appropriate surgical therapeutic protocol. Methods. 18 cases of clinically and histologically confirmed unicystic ameloblastoma, categorized as luminal, intraluminal, or mural subtypes, were analyzed retrospectively. Immunomarkers such as Ki-67, CD34, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were studied to evaluate their behavior. Results. Labeling index of Ki-67 was 4.25% in the intraluminal subtype, compared with 2.14% in the luminal and 4.04% in the mural variant (P = 0.3). CD34 immunostaining was

significantly higher in the mural variant (43 per high power field) than the other two subtypes (P = 0.04). MMP-2 and MMP-9 were strongly expressed in mural, moderately in intraluminal, and weakly to absent in luminal variant. Conclusions. High proliferative index, angiogenesis, and protease activity in the mural ameloblastoma, ascertained by the expression of these markers, confirm its aggressive phenotype. The intraluminal and luminal subtype exhibiting decreased expression are compatible with their indolent clinical behavior.”
“Cells associated with veins of petioles of C-3 tobacco possess high activities of the decarboxylase enzymes required in C-4 photosynthesis. It is not clear whether this is the case in other C-3 species, nor whether these enzymes provide precursors for specific biosynthetic pathways. Here, we investigate the activity of C-4 acid decarboxylases

in the mid-vein of Arabidopsis, identify regulatory regions sufficient for this activity, and determine the impact of removing individual isoforms of each Wnt 抑制剂 protein on mid-vein metabolite profiles. This showed that radiolabelled malate and bicarbonate fed to the xylem stream were incorporated into soluble and insoluble material in the mid-vein of Arabidopsis leaves. Compared with the leaf lamina, mid-veins possessed high activities of NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME), NAD-dependent malic enzyme (NAD-ME) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). Transcripts derived from both NAD-ME, one PCK and two of the four NADP-ME genes were detectable in these veinal cells. The promoters of each decarboxylase gene were sufficient for expression in mid-veins.

J Appl Polym Sci 120: 2627-2631, 2011″
“We present full-band

J Appl Polym Sci 120: 2627-2631, 2011″
“We present full-band structure calculations of temperature-and wavelength-dependent two-photon absorption coefficients and free-carrier absorption cross sections in GaAs, InP, and 0.92 eV-band gap Ga64In36As and InP60As40 alloys. The calculated coefficient decreases with increasing wavelength and band gap but increases with temperature. Using detailed band structure analysis, we identify various contributions to the free-carrier OSI-906 absorption in GaAs and InP. Although the free-carrier absorption is found to arise predominantly from hole absorption,

we show that direct absorption by excited electrons is possible, leading to an enhanced free-carrier absorption coefficient. This excited state absorption could be exploited to modulate the transmission of light at communication wavelengths (of 1.33 or 1.55 mu m) with, for example, the more commonly available 0.8 mu m diode laser. We further show that the Vactosertib high-intensity transmission calculated with our values of nonlinear parameters

in GaAs agrees very well with the measured values. c 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3533775]“
“Movement disorders represent a significant societal burden for which therapeutic options are limited and focused on treating disease symptomality. Early-onset torsion dystonia (EOTD) is one such disorder characterized by sustained and involuntary muscle contractions that frequently cause repetitive movements or abnormal postures. Transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner with reduced penetrance, EOTD is caused in most cases by the deletion of a glutamic acid (DE) in the DYT1 (also known as TOR1A) gene product, torsinA. Although some patients respond well to anticholingerics, therapy is primarily limited to either neurosurgery or chemodenervation. As mutant torsinA

(DE) expression results in decreased torsinA function, therapeutic strategies directed toward enhancement of wild-type (WT) torsinA activity in patients who are heterozygous for mutant DYT1 may restore normal selleck chemicals llc cellular functionality. Here, we report results from the first-ever screen for candidate small molecule therapeutics for EOTD, using multiple activity-based readouts for torsinA function in Caenorhabditis elegans, subsequent validation in human DYT1 patient fibroblasts, and behavioral rescue in a mouse model of DYT1 dystonia. We exploited the nematode to rapidly discern chemical effectors of torsinA and identified two classes of antibiotics, quinolones and aminopenicillins, which enhance WT torsinA activity in two separate in vivo assays. Representative molecules were assayed in EOTD patient fibroblasts for improvements in torsinA-dependent secretory function, which was improved significantly by ampicillin. Furthermore, a behavioral defect associated with an EOTD mouse knock-in model was also rescued following administration of ampicillin.

In COS7 cells, the inducible ARE-HRE-luciferase vectors are highl

In COS7 cells, the inducible ARE-HRE-luciferase vectors are highly activated by oxygen deprivation, hydrogen peroxide treatment, and the ROS-induced transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Using a defective

herpes virus, the neuroprotective potential of this inducible vector was tested by over-expressing the transcription factor Nrf2. In primary cortical cultures, expression of the inducible ARE-HRE-Nrf2 protects against oxygen glucose deprivation, similar to that afforded by the constitutively expressed Nrf2. This ARE+HRE vector system is advantageous in that it allows the expression ISRIB of a transgene to be activated not only during hypoxia but also maintained after reperfusion, thus prolonging the transgene Selleckchem Entrectinib expression during an ischemic insult. This insult-inducible vector system will be a valuable gene therapy tool for activating therapeutic/protective genes in cerebrovascular diseases.”
“Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of age and gender on adolescents’ vocal tract dimensional development with acoustic reflection technology (ART).

Methods:

A total of ninety-five male and female adolescents aged between 10 and 18 divided into three age groups were tested with acoustic reflection technology (ART) and acoustic program to secure their vocal tract dimensional parameters and the vowel formant frequencies.

Results: Significant age and gender effects were found not only in vocal tract length, but also segmental volumetric

measurements, as well as the vowel formant frequencies.

Conclusions: The findings of this study have provided insights on ABT-263 in vitro the developmental trend of adolescents’ vocal tracts. The study has also offered a preliminary anatomical database of adolescents’ vocal tract dimensional growth for otolaryngologists, clinical anatomists, speech therapists and other health professionals of swallowing, respiration and communicative disorders. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: To investigate whether Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia are competing risks in subjects with idiopathic rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD).

Methods: The number of incidental PD cases observed in 11 longitudinal RBD studies was compared with the corresponding expected number as estimated by a simple mathematical model based on population parameters for PD age-of-onset.

Results: The expected number of incidental PD cases exceeded observed PD cases (p-value < 0.001) but was in agreement with the sum of observed PD cases and observed mild cognitive impairment/dementia cases (p-value = 0.34). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the results.

Conclusion: In the RBD population, PD and dementia cases are competing risks, suggesting that alpha-synuclein pathology occurs simultaneously in substantia nigra and neocortex.

The production of H2O2 by chloroplasts and the appearance of H2O2

The production of H2O2 by chloroplasts and the appearance of H2O2 outside chloroplasts increased with increasing light intensity and time of illumination. The amount of H2O2 that can be detected outside the chloroplasts has been shown to BEZ235 purchase be up to 5% of the total H2O2 produced inside the chloroplasts at high light intensities. The fact that H2O2 produced by chloroplasts can be detected outside these organelles is an important finding in terms of understanding how chloroplastic H2O2 can serve as a signal molecule.”
“The magnetic behavior and possibility

of quantum criticality in a (Cr0.98Si0.02)(1-y)Mo-y alloy system (0 <= y <= 0.09) is investigated through electrical resistivity, specific heat, and thermoelectric power measurements in a temperature range 2-350 K. Alloys with 0 <= y <= 0.011 depict

first-order Neel transitions that give way to continuous Neel transitions for 0.011 < y <= 0.038. The Neel temperature, T-N(y), seems to be suppressed down to 0 K at a critical concentration y(c) approximate to 0.04. The Sommerfeld coefficient of specific heat gamma(y) peaks at y approximate to y(c), showing a sharp decreasing trend on decreasing y to below y(c). This behavior is reminiscent of that observed for gamma of the prototypical Cr1-xVx quantum critical system, and indeed also portrays the physics of a quantum P005091 mouse critical point in the present (Cr0.98Si0.02)(1-y)Mo-y system. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3536667]“
“Children with sickle cell anemia are at risk for brain injury. Physicians obtain brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for clinical indications to determine if a patient has developed a brain injury. Controversy exists whether find more all children with sickle cell anemia should undergo MRI screening. This retrospective study evaluates the clinical and laboratory correlates for brain injury in 124 MRIs obtained for a variety of clinical indications. Seizure, sensory, or motor events were statistically associated with the highest risk

for brain injury while less specific neurologic complaints of headache or poor school performance were not associated. Children with high systolic blood pressure, leukocytosis, and severe anemia demonstrate a higher probability for brain injury. These results indicate that brain MRI should be obtained on all children with seizure, sensory, or motor events. These data suggest that less specific neurologic symptoms should be screened if physical findings or abnormal lab or vital signs exist.”
“The phytohormone auxin is transported through the plant body either via vascular pathways or from cell to cell by specialized polar transport machinery. This machinery consists of a balanced system of passive diffusion combined with the activities of auxin influx and efflux carriers.

Men who consumed a 3% concentration of green tea showed lower mea

Men who consumed a 3% concentration of green tea showed lower mean values of fasting blood glucose and fructosamine than those who consumed a 1% concentration. Fasting blood glucose levels were found to be significantly associated with green tea concentration (beta = -0.14, p = 0.03). However, green tea consumption frequency showed no significant differences in mean levels of blood glucose, fructosamine and hemoglobin A(1c). In conclusion, our findings

suggest that the consumption of green tea at see more a high concentration has the potential to reduce blood glucose levels.”
“Optimal treatment of oncologic pain is a challenge to all professionals who deal with cancer and its complications. The management of upper abdominal pain is usually difficult and it is often refractory to conservative therapies. In this context, celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) appears to be an important

and indispensable tool because it alleviates pain, gives comfort to patients and is a safe procedure. In this study, the importance of CPN is reviewed by a retrospective study of 74 patients with pain due to upper abdominal cancer. Almost all cases evaluated (94.6%) had an excellent result after CPN and the majority of side effects were transitory.”
“Objective-To describe the clinical findings, treatments, and outcome in alpacas treated for scapulohumeral joint luxation (SHJL).

Design-Retrospective case series.

Animals-10 Elacridar alpacas.

Procedures-Medical records

of alpacas with SHJL that were treated at 2 referral hospitals QVDOph were reviewed. History, signalment, physical examination results, radiographic findings, treatments, complications, and outcome were evaluated.

Results-Records for 8 male and 2 female alpacas with 16 instances of SHJL were reviewed. Three male alpacas each had 2 recurrences of SHJL in the treated limb. The proportion of male alpacas treated for SHJL was significantly greater than the proportion of female alpacas treated for SHJL. Closed reduction was used in 2 female and 3 male alpacas; SHJL reccurred in the 3 males. Stabilization by use of a lateral extracapsular tension band suture technique was performed successfully in 4 male alpacas; in another male alpaca, reluxation caused by self-inflicted trauma occurred postoperatively. In 2 male alpacas, arthrodesis was performed but residual lameness remained 1 year after surgery.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-SHJL should be considered as a differential diagnosis in alpacas with thoracic limb lameness. Luxation may occur more frequently in males. A closed reduction technique may be used successfully to treat acute luxations. Extracapsular stabilization by use of the lateral extracapsular tension band suture technique was successful for treatment of recurrent SHJL and SHJL that could not be reduced via closed reduction.

Extraction temperature was varied from 5 to 77 degrees C The hig

Extraction temperature was varied from 5 to 77 degrees C. The highest yield of material (35%) was obtained by extracting pennycress seeds with water at 77 degrees C. However, this material had only moderate levels of protein (25%) with the remainder being carbohydrates and oil (as determined by infrared spectroscopy). The use of 0.5 M sodium chloride to remove protein from press cake at 5 degrees C produced Selonsertib cost material with the highest protein content (83%), but extraction yield was 25%. When extractions were carried out at 77 degrees C, oil typically began to be a major impurity in the protein. Using bomb calorimetry, the material remaining after extraction was found to

have some value as a fuel source. Published by Elsevier B.V.”
“Proper immune function is the result of multiple cell commitment and differentiation

steps, and adequate control of activation mechanisms. Deregulation of Panobinostat molecular weight transcriptional programs in immune cells leads to the development of hematological malignancies, autoimmune diseases or immunodeficiencies. In this sense, epigenetic control of gene expression plays an essential role in the correct function of the immune system and the integrity of identity of relevant cell types. Epigenetic deregulation can result as a consequence of genetic changes in transcription factors, elements of signaling pathways or epigenetic enzymes, or as an effect of a variety of environmental factors. On top of genetic predisposition, viral infection and other external factors influence the development of immune-related diseases. In recent years, major strides have been made towards understanding the contribution of genetics in these immune disorders. Less progress has been made in dissecting

the contribution of epigenetic factors in their etiology. Herein, it is presented what is currently known about epigenetic alterations in immune system associated disorders. It is also discussed how epigenomic analysis can help to understand the molecular basis of these diseases and how this information can be used in the clinical setting.”
“There is a growing evidence on the use of biomarkers https://www.sellecn.cn/products/pu-h71.html in daily practice both as of markers of brain/multiorgan damage and/or trophic factors. However, among different tools, Activin A, S100B protein, and Hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1 or Heat Shock Protein 32, HSP32) assessment offer the possibility to investigate brain/multiorgan function and development. This could be especially useful in perinatal medicine that requires even more noninvasive techniques to fulfill the minimal handling diagnostic and therapeutic strategy. In this regard, among different biological fluids, human milk for its unique composition can constitute a wide source of knowledge useful both in clinical daily practice and in research.Therefore, this mini-review reports recent data on the presence and the usefulness of Activin A, S100B protein, and HO-1/HSP32 assessment in human milk as brain/multiorgan development markers.

coli isolates were highly resistant to ampicillin, sulfonamides,

coli isolates were highly resistant to ampicillin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline. Approximately 50% of

Campylobacter coli and 30% of Campylobacter jejuni isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin. Over 33% of Salmonella isolates were resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline, and Stem Cell Compound Library almost 100% of Shigella isolates were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.

Conclusions: These data on the etiology of diarrhea and antibiotic resistance patterns in Cambodia will have significant effect on local public health policies and on local resource prioritization practices.”
“Design. Systematic review.

Objective. To systematically search for critically appraise and summarize studies that (1) evaluated the association between degenerative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes and chronic low back pain (CLBP) and (2) compared surgical and nonsurgical treatment of these degenerative MRI changes.

Summary of Background selleck screening library Data. The role of routine MRI in patients with CLBP is unclear. It is also uncertain whether or not surgical treatment of degenerative

MRI changes results in alleviation of back pain.

Methods. Systematic literature searches were conducted in PubMed for studies published through March 1, 2011. To evaluate whether MRI degenerative changes are associated with CLBP, studies that were designed to compare the prevalence of MRI changes among subjects with and without CLBP were sought. The prevalence odds ratio was used to compare the odds of degenerative MRI findings in subjects with CLBP to the odds of such selleck findings among those without CLBP. To evaluate whether surgical treatment of degenerative MRI changes is associated with different outcomes compared with nonsurgical treatment, comparative studies were sought. The GRADE system as applied to describe the strength of the overall

body of evidence.

Results. Regarding the association of degenerative changes on MRI and CLBP, five studies were included, all of which were cross-sectional in design. On the basis of these studies, a statistically significant association was found in all but one study regarding the presence of disc degeneration and CLBP (odds ratio range: 1.8-2.8). The overall strength of evidence across studies was considered to be insufficient, however. No comparative studies of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment of degenerative MRI changes were identified.

Conclusion. Although there may be an association between degenerative MRI changes and CLBP, it is unknown if these estimates accurately represent the association given the quality of included studies, lack of a direct link between degenerative MRI changes and CLBP, and heterogeneity across studies. Thus, a strong recommendation against the routine use of MRI for CLBP evaluation is made.