A flexible microblade shaver system is able to traverse the foramen, removing bone and ligament, using a ventral to dorsal approach, rather than medial to lateral. This enables
it to effectively decompress the lateral recess and neural foramen while sparing posterior structures.
Methods. Brief literature review of current MIS decompression techniques is presented. MIS decompression using a flexible microblade shaver system is described with 1 year outcomes from a small pilot study and a retrospective chart review at 2 centers.
Results. A small postmarket pilot study (n = 9) with 1 year results showed positive patient outcomes using Visual Analog Scale (decrease by 73%), Oswestry Disability Index(50% improvement), Zurich Claudication
Questionnaire physical Torin 1 cell line function and symptom severity (improved by 72% and 31%, respectively), and Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Physical Component Score (36% improvement). Sixty-seven patients from a retrospective chart review at 2 centers had an average of 2 levels per patient decompressed using a flexible microblade shaver system. No patient has returned for additional surgery and there have been no cases of neurologic impairment.
Conclusion. GS-4997 cell line Current decompression techniques may result in inadequate decompression of the neural foramen or excessive resection of the facet joint. MIS decompression using a flexible microblade shaver system represents a way to perform an effective, facet-preserving Selleck Veliparib decompression for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.”
“Solution culture has been used extensively to determine the phytotoxic effects of trace metals. A review of the literature from 1975 to 2009 was carried out to evaluate the effects of As(V), Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) on plants grown in solution. A total of 119 studies was selected using criteria that allowed
a valid comparison of the results; reported toxic concentrations varied by five orders of magnitude. Across a range of plant species and experimental conditions, the phytotoxicity of the trace metals followed the trend (from most to least toxic): Pb approximate to Hg > Cu > Cd approximate to As > Co approximate to Ni approximate to Zn > Mn, with median toxic concentrations of (mu M): 0.30 Pb, 0.47 Hg, 2.0 Cu, 5.0 Cd, 9.0 As, 17 Co, 19 Ni, 25 Zn, and 46 Mn. For phytotoxicity studies in solution culture, we suggest (i) plants should be grown in a dilute solution which mimics the soil solution, or that, at a minimum, contains Ca and B, (ii) solution pH should be monitored and reported (as should the concentrations of the trace metal of interest), (iii) assessment should be made of the influence of pH on solution composition and ion speciation, and (iv) both the period of exposure to the trace metal and the plant variable measured should be appropriate.