Methodology and cohort profile for the Hangzhou Lumbar Spine Study: a study focusing on back health in a Chinese population / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Back pain is a worldwide health problem, adding a tremendous burden to modern societies. However, little information on back health is available in China, even though a quarter of the world's population is Chinese. To enhance knowledge in this area, we designed and initiated the Hangzhou Lumbar Spine Study, which is a cross-sectional study of a general sample of mainland Chinese with focusing on disc degeneration, Modic changes, endplate lesions, and back pain. The study consists of a structured questionnaire to measure back pain history and lifetime exposure to suspected risk factors, magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine, bone mineral density study of the spine and hip, and DNA sample analysis. Here we briefly introduce the study methodology, report the test-retest reliability of the questionnaire, and describe the cohort profile to date. Since May 2014, 301 randomly selected subjects (male/female, 122/179; mean age, 51.0 years; range, 20-87 years) have been recruited. Tests-retests of the questionnaire, completed by 40 participants, revealed good reliability. To our knowledge, the Hangzhou Lumbar Spine Study is the first population-based epidemiological study conducted to characterize lumbar spinal phenotypes and back pain, their interaction, and their associations with lifetime environmental exposure, in mainland Chinese. Epidemiological information obtained from a reliable questionnaire, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging data, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements, and DNA analysis may serve as a valuable reference for future studies on back health, particularly for mainland Chinese.

Correlation of Vitamin D and Body Mass Index with Modic Changes in Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain in a Sub-Tropical Asian Population

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study by non-probability consecutive sampling. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess body mass index (BMI) and investigate vitamin D levels in patients with low back pain (LBP) and study a possible relationship with myopathy-related symptoms and Modic changes. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: LBP is a multifactorial problem and the search for its patho-anatomical causes is ongoing. Modic changes seem to be a cause of back pain but the pathological mechanisms underlying this are not completely defined. Hypovitaminosis D and obesity have also been shown to cause chronic musculoskeletal pain. The relationship between vitamin D deficiency and BMI with Modic changes has not been studied in detail. METHODS: Three hundred and sixteen patients with chronic LBP was selected for the study by non-probability consecutive sampling. The study was conducted over a period of 12 months from January 2014 to December 2014 at St. John's Medical College, Banglore. Questionnaires were provided to the participants and demographic information, symptoms, weight and height were recorded from the study subjects. BMI was calculated. Serum vitamin D level was assessed and Modic changes studied on magnetic resonance imaging. Correlations between vitamin D, BMI and Modic changes were studied using correlation coefficients and odds ratios obtained from logistic regression. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-six out of 316 patients (80%) had low vitamin D. 83% of patients with BMI>25 kg/m2 had low vitamin D levels as compared to 69% with BMI<25 kg/m2. Statistically significant correlation coefficients were found between vitamin D levels, BMI and Modic changes. Significant association was found between low vitamin D levels and Modic changes (odds ratio 1.75). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency and obesity have significant relations with LBP. Low vitamin D levels is associated with Modic changes but whether they represent a subgroup of patients whose low backpain is associated with low vitamin D needs to be further evaluated.

Analysis on surgical treatment efficacy of lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with modic change / 局解手术学杂志

Objective To investigate the treatment efficacy of lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with modic change. Methods The da-ta of 45 lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with modic change were analyzed retrospectively,which were admitted into hospital from January 2010 to December 2013 and received posterior lumbar interbody fusion ( PLIF) surgery. Those patients were tested by X-ray and Magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) and confirmed the type of spondylolisthesis and Modic change. Based on the degree of spondylolysis and whether combined or not with Modic change,all the patients were divided into six groups:group A with Ⅱ grade spondylolisthesis;group B with Ⅲgrade spondylolisthesis;group C with Ⅱ grade spondylolisthesis with Modic typeⅠ;group D withⅡgrade spondylolisthesis with Modic typeⅡ;group E with Ⅲ grade spondylolisthesis with Modic type Ⅰ;group F with Ⅲ grade spondylolisthesis with Modic type Ⅱ. Those patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively the scores according to the Visual Analogue Scale ( VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI) systems,the obtained data were statistically analyzed and then were used to evaluated the treatment efficacy. Results The treatment efficacy of those patients were evaluated by follow-up work based on the scores of VAS and ODI systems,the results indicated that all those patients were improved in the scores of pain and ODI at different agrees. Within groups,the scores of low back and leg pain in VAS system and ODI preoperative were all significantly lower than that of postoperative (P0. 05). Conclusion Those spondylolisthesis patients with Modic change could obtained satisfactory clinical efficacy after posterior lumbar interbody fusion ( PLIF) surgery.

Modic Degenerative Marrow Changes in the Thoracic Spine : A Single Center Experience

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the prevalence, types, and locations of Modic changes (MCs) in the thoracic spine in a large number of subjects, and to investigate the relation between the distributions of MCs and disc herniations (DHs) in the thoracic spine. METHODS: Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists assessed the presence of MCs and DHs by consensus in the thoracic MRIs of 144 patients with non-specific back pain. Patient ages ranged from 22 to 88 years (mean=53.3+/-14.66 years), and 72 were female (50%). The prevalence, distribution, relation of MCs and DHs was recorded. RESULTS: MC was observed in 8 of the 144 patients (5.6%) and 10 of 1728 segments (0.58%). The most common MC was type II. Of the 8 patients exhibiting MC, 6 had type II (75.0%), and 2 had mixed MCs (type I/II or type II/III). MCs were distributed mainly at the mid-thoracic level (from T5/6 to T9/10). DH was detected in 18 patients (12.5%), 36 of 1728 segments (2.1%). Of the 10 segments exhibiting MC, 5 had DHs at the same level (50.0%). Accordingly, DH was strongly associated with MC (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: A low prevalence of MC was observed in the thoracic spine, and type II MC predominated. The low prevalence of MC in the thoracic spine suggests that it was caused by a relative lack of mobility as compared with the cervical and lumbar spines. And DHs were found to be strongly associated with MCs even in the thoracic spine.