Accuracy of the kissing sign on lumbar spine MRI in cases of axillary disc herniation and the surgical correlation: an Indian multi-center study / Precisão do sinal do beijo na RM da coluna lombar em casos de hérnia do disco axial e a correlação cirúrgica: um estudo multicêntrico indiano

ABSTRACT Objectives: Magnetic resonance imaging has proven to be a valuable tool in the assessment of disc abnormalities. Two types of disc extrusion can be described according to the direction of herniated disc material: shoulder type and axillary type. Axillary disc herniation is described when the extruded disc fragment lies in the recess between the lateral border of cauda equina and medial to the nerve roots, while in the shoulder type the disc lies lateral to the nerve roots. It is very important to describe the type of disc herniation, as the surgical approach differs in each type. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no definite signs have been described in literature to date. This study aimed to address the accuracy of the kissing sign on MRI for he diagnosis of axillary disc herniation. Methods: The MRIs of 72 patients undergoing spinal surgery were prospectively evaluated for axillary disc herniation by a senior radiologist and experienced spinal surgeon using the kissing sign on MRI. The kissing sign was considered positive when the herniated disc material was in direct contact with the lamina and/or ligamentum flavum on axial images. Subsequently, all surgeries were performed by two independent surgeons and the actual type of disc herniation was documented. The accuracy of the results was statistically assessed. Results: The kissing sign on MRI was found to be 66.66% sensitive, 92.59% specific, and 76.38% accurate in detecting axillary disc herniation with significant correlation with the surgical findings. Conclusion: The type of disc herniation is an important parameter for patient selection in different surgical approaches. The kissing sign on MRI can be considered as an important tool for diagnosing axillary disc herniation due to its high specificity and accuracy.

RESUMO Objetivos: A ressonância magnética provou ser uma ferramenta valiosa na avaliação das anormalidades do disco. Dois tipos de extrusão de disco podem ser descritos de acordo com a direção do disco herniado: lateral e axilar. A hérnia de disco axilar é definida quando o fragmento do disco extruso encontra-se no recesso entre a borda lateral da cauda equina e medial às raízes do nervo, enquanto na hérnia lateral o disco posiciona-se lateralmente às raízes do nervo. A descrição do tipo de hérnia de disco é extremamente importante, pois a abordagem cirúrgica difere em cada tipo. Tanto quanto é do conhecimento dos autores, nenhum sinal definido foi descrito na literatura até o momento. Este estudo teve como objetivo abordar a precisão do sinal do beijo na RM no diagnóstico de herniação de disco axilar. Métodos: As RM de 72 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia da coluna vertebral foram avaliadas prospectivamente em relação à presença de hérnia de disco axilar por um radiologista sênior e cirurgião da coluna experiente com o sinal do beijo na RM. O sinal do beijo foi considerado positivo quando o material do disco herniado estava em contato direto com a lâmina e/ou ligamento amarelo em imagens axiais. Posteriormente, todas as cirurgias foram feitas por dois cirurgiões independentes e o tipo real de hérnia de disco foi documentado. A precisão dos resultados foi avaliada estatisticamente. Resultados: O sinal do beijo na RM apresentou 66,66% de sensibilidade, 92,59% de especificidade e 76,38% de precisão na detecção de hérnia de disco axilar com correlação significativa com os achados cirúrgicos. Conclusão: O tipo de hérnia de disco é um parâmetro importante para a seleção de pacientes em diferentes abordagens cirúrgicas. O sinal do beijo na RM pode ser considerado uma ferramenta importante para o diagnóstico de hérnia de disco axilar devido à sua alta especificidade e precisão.

Variants of Tribulus species – a scientific study through DNA RAPD – molecular characterization.

Gokshura a well-known drug in Ayurveda which is extensively used in many disease conditions like dysuria, asthma, diabetes, cough, oedema, cardiac disorders etc. Tribulus terrestris (Family – Zygophyllaceae) is an official source of Gokshura as per API. Five species of genus Tribulus are found throughout India with a slight morphological difference. In this study, three different species of Tribulus genus from different regions were subjected for molecular characterization by RAPD method. Analysis showed that three different samples gave clearly similar banding pattern with each of the random primers used and 80% similarity between the three samples were observed when the results were subjected to band scoring and analysis with clustering. Even through the micromorpholgical observations showed differentiating characters in mature carpels and intrastaminal glands of the selected species.