Validity of Paramedian Tangential Approach to L5-S1 Far-Lateral Lesions

OBJECTIVE: There are various surgical approaches to far-lateral lesions in the L5-S1 intervertebral space. Of these is the validity of a paramedian tangential approach is being investigated in this study. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 25 patients who had been diagnosed as having a far-lateral L5-S1 disc herniations, osteophyte, costal process hypertrophy, and had undergone a paramedian tangential approach from November 1999 through December 2003. The degree of symptoms and improvement were compared via the visual analog pain scale, before and after surgery. RESULTS: This study included 4 males and 21 females with a mean age of 62+/-11.8 years old. The average follow-up period after surgery was 8.2+/-2.7 months. The visual analog pain scale taken before surgery was 6.7+/-1.1 points, while the post-surgical scale was 2.4+/-0.9 points showing a significant decrease (p<0.05). There were no complications that developed during surgery. CONCLUSION: A paramedian tangential approach is less invasive in the soft tissue than that of the median approach. This approach may effectively reduce nerve root compression and expand intervertebral foramens, and is devoid of the risk of spinal instability after surgery. The authors suppose that a paramedian tangential approach is quite an effective technique to relieve compression in the far-lateral L5-S1 intervertebral space.

Effects of Pine Needle Ethyl Acetate Fraction on Acetylcholine(ACh) and Its Related Enzymes in Brain of Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effects of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc) needle on cholesterol and lipofuscin (LF) accumulations, acetylcholine (ACh) and its related enzyme activities such as choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, which destroyed the catecholamine related neurotransmitters in brain membranes of Sprague- Dawley (SD) rats. Male SD rats were fed basic diets (control group) and experimental diets (EtOAc-25, EtOAc-50 and EtOAc-100) for 45 days. Cholesterol accumulations in mitochondria and microsomes were significantly inhibited (11.8 - 12.1% and 9.6 - 13.0%, respectvely) in EtOAc-50 and EtOAc-100 groups. ACh levels and ChAT activities were significantly increased about 10% in membranes of EtOAc-100 group compared with control group. AChE activities were significantly increased about 8 - 12% in membranes of EtOAc-50 and EtOAc-100 groups compared with control group. MAO-B activities were significantly inhibited about 10% in membrane of EtOAc-100 group compared with control group. These results suggest that ethyl acetate fraction of pine needle may play an effective role in inhibiting cholesterol and improving a membrane fluidity, and learning and memory impairments.

Effects of Pine Needle Butanol Fraction on Acetylcholine (ACh) and Its Related Enzymes in Brain of Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effects of buthanol (BuOH) fraction of pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc) needle on cholesterol and lipofuscin (LF) accumulations, acetylcholine (ACh) and its related enzyme activities such as choline acetyltransferase (CAhT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and monoamone oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, which destroyed the catecholamine-related neurotransmitters in brain membranes of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Male SD rats were fed basic diets (control group) or experimental diets (BuOH-25, BuOH-50 and BuOH-100) for 45 days. Cholesterol accumulations in mitochondria and microsomes were significantly inhibited (about 14 - 17% and 23 - 34%, respectvely) in BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups, whereas LF levels were significantly inhibited (about 10 - 14%) in BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups compared with control group. ACh levels and ChAT activities were significantly increased (about 11 - 17% and 11 - 23%, respectively) in membranes of BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups compared with control group. AChE activities were significantly increased (about 14 - 17%) in membranes of BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups. There was no significant difference in MAO-B activities between control and experimental diet groups. The results suggest that butanol fraction of pine needle may play an effective role in an antiaging effect and improving a learning and memory impairments.