Objective: The objective of this study was to verify whether semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) participate in the immunoregulation of T helper 17 cells related inflammatory process and to identify novel serum markers in the immunoregulation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: A total of 59 untreated male AS patients and 61 age-matched male normal controls were recruited for the study. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. The venous blood of all participants was drawn from just above the elbow with patients' consent. Serum Sema3A, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-21 (IL-21) levels were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis in both AS patients and normal controls. The optical density was assessed at 450 nm using a microtiter plate reader. Then, the concentration of the target serum marker was measured on the constructed standard curve. Results: We found that serum levels of Sema3A, TNF-α, and IL-21 were all higher in AS patients than normal control (47.5 ± 5.3 vs. 40.2 ± 4.0, 182.6 ± 38.1 vs. 47.5 ± 7.7, 190.3 ± 29.8 vs. 93.3 ± 21.0, P < 0.01). Serum level Sema3A was demonstrated to be statistically significantly positive correlated with both TNF-α and IL-21. Serum levels of Sema3A, TNF-α, and IL-21 were all higher in AS patients than normal control. Conclusion: Sema3A was a potential novel putative factor in the immunoregulation of inflammatory response in AS.

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability and validity of anonymous web-based surveys on back pain-related disability by comparing psychometric properties of identical Web-based and paper-based PROMs. Methods: The tested instrument was the Core Outcome Measure Index (COMI), a PROM specific to the low back pain. The WBS was open and anonymous, the Paper-Based Survey (PBS) was administered in several hospitals. Besides COMI both surveys contained assorted questions enabling testing of key psychometric properties. Results: A total of 2318 respondents completed the WBS, 2285 were included in the study, the response rate was 40.60%. 169 subjects completed the PBS, data of 164 was included. The properties evaluated with a single test administration, i.e.: floor and ceiling effect, internal consistency, exploratory factor analysis, and convergent validity were very similar in both groups. The test-retest validity requiring repeated test administration was negatively affected by the low rate of returning respondents in the WBS group. Conclusions: The comparison of two methods of survey administration shows that the open anonymous web-based surveys are valid and reliable sources of data.

Purpose: Our project focuses on assessing the possibility of spinal cord regeneration after its injury. Trying to find an effective therapy is possible nowadays because of modern pharmacology and molecular biology achievements. Materials and Methods: The object of research is male Wistar C rats. To obtain a selective and repeatable spinal tissue damage, we use the pressure impactor. Then, rats are administered with various types of therapeutic substances, which are considered to have a neuroprotective function. Afterward, the effect of our experiment is precisely measured by CatWalk XT device which measures numerous gait parameters. Results: It was found that several parameters significantly varied between therapeutic groups, in particular, MaxContactArea, PrintLength, PrintWidth, PrintArea, SwingSpeed, and StrideLength. Conclusions: CatWalk testing is a simple yet robust tool gait analysis in rats after spinal cord injury.

Fusobacterium necrophorum is an anaerobic Gram-negative bacillus classically associated with the Lemierre syndrome. Although it can cause a localized infection, it is rarely a culprit of a spinal epidural abscess. We report a case of a spinal epidural abscess caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum complicated by meningitis. The patient, two years earlier treated surgically for cervical spondylotic myelopathy with corpectomy, presented with a new-onset severe neck pain and progressive tetraparesis. Based on imaging studies spinal epidural abscess was diagnosed. Despite intensive surgical treatment and subsequent antibiotic therapy the patient gradually deteriorated and eventually died. Fusobacterium necrophorum was identified as a culprit. Fusobacterium necrophorum is a very rare cause of spinal epidural abscess (SEA). Because of high virulence of this pathogen localized infection can progress rapidly into a generalized septicemia and life-threatening neuroinfection.

We report a case of a progressive bilateral C5 palsy (C5P) following multilevel posterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery that was successfully treated with conservative management. A 58-year-old female patient with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and resulting spinal canal stenosis underwent surgery in August 2015. Weakness in her both deltoid and biceps muscles was immediately detected after surgery and gradually deteriorated to severe paresis in the following 2 days. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed sufficient decompression of the spinal cord with posterior shifting. However, residual neuroforaminal bilateral stenosis at levels C4/5 and C5/6 was found on postoperative computed tomography. After discussion of the therapeutic options, we decided to start conservative management including physical therapy and to follow the patient closely including clinical and neurophysiological examinations for the next 12 months. After 3 months, improvement of bilateral paresis was already evident. Muscle strength in the right biceps and the right deltoid muscles recovered completely within a year, but Grade 4 muscle weakness remained in the left deltoid and biceps muscles. Repetitive electromyography also showed continuous improvement of the interference patterns of the deltoid and biceps muscles. Although a standard management protocol for the treatment of postoperative C5P has not yet been established, a conservative therapy may be warranted even for severe and bilateral C5P.