Association between Occupation and Cervical Disc Degeneration in 1211 Asymptomatic Subjects

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system has frequently observed degenerative changes in the cervical discs of healthy subjects. Although there are concerns regarding the link between an individual's occupation and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) in the cervical spine, whether the occupation affects IDD is still not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the occupation and IDD interplay using cervical spine MRI among a cohort of healthy individuals, and to evaluate any association between the type of labor and IDD. Using MRI, we prospectively measured at every level, the anteroposterior (AP) intervertebral disc diameter and disc height, in a cohort of 1211 healthy volunteers (606 (50%) male; mean age, 49.5 years). Using a minimum of 100 male and female each from the third to eighth decades of age (20-79 years), IDD was evaluated based on the modified Pfirrmann classification system to derive a disc degeneration score (DDS). We also measured the AP diameters of disc protrusion and of the dural sac as well as the spinal cord. The overall DDS and number of disc protrusions increased with age. Among 11 occupations, there were no significant differences in AP diameter of the dural sac as well as the spinal cord. For the four labor types (heavy object handling, same position maintenance, cervical extension position, and cervical flexion position), there were no significant differences in overall DDS and number of disc protrusions, with or without work. Also, among the four labor types, there were no significant differences in the AP diameter of the dural sac as well as the spinal cord. In this cross-sectional survey of cervical spine MRI data among healthy adult volunteers, occupation and type of labor might have no effect on IDD in the cervical spine.

A comparison of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid-test and serological-test in a Public Health Hospital

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, with the start of the vaccination campaign is very important to assess the extent of exposure of the population and identifying rapid, sensitive and accurate test to quickly identify new cases of SARS-CoV-2. The rapid test, cheap and easy to perform, is therefore very useful in developing countries, where the vaccination campaign has not yet reached adequate coverage.

METHODOLOGY

We compared the VivaDiag COVID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Test (VivaCheck Biotech Co., Ltd) with the Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (Roche Diagnostics, Rotkreuz, Switzerland) to recognize past infections and to compare VivaDiag COVID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Test (VivaCheck Biotech Co., Ltd) with Abbott Real Time PCR SARS-CoV-2 assay to recognize infection during its acute phase so that it's possible to evaluate the use of commercially available assays in clinical practice.

RESULTS

Of the 1,100 patients tested with serological and rapid test, 1,085 were negative both to serological and rapid test, 4 patients were positive at rapid (2 for IgM and 2 for IgG) but negative serological test, 11 patients were positive at serological test but negative to rapid. Of the 300 tested with oropharyngeal swab and rapid test, 294 were negative both to swab and rapid test, 2 positives both to swab and rapid test, 3 positives at swab but negative at rapid test, 1 negative at swab but positive at rapid test.

CONCLUSIONS

the combined use of these tests according to the specific needs of users, allows a reliable identification of infected patients in the acute phase, distinguishing them from subjects with an antibody response from a previous infection.

Risk factors for progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in asymptomatic subjects

OBJECTIVE

The incidence and risk factors for the progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) have been previously reported in surgically and nonsurgically treated symptomatic patients. However, the correlates of OPLL progression in asymptomatic subjects with OPLL are not well characterized. This study aimed to clarify the incidence and risk factors for OPLL progression in asymptomatic subjects based on whole-body CT.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed 2585 healthy subjects who underwent whole-body CT at a single health center from September 2007 to December 2011. This study included asymptomatic subjects with OPLL who underwent CT scans twice with an interval of at least 5 years. Progression of OPLL was assessed based on initial and final CT scan. Subjects were divided into two groups: nonprogression (OPLL-NP) and progression (OPLL-P) groups. Clinical characteristics, bone mineral density status, OPLL types, and OPLL involvement of multiple vertebral levels between the two groups were compared. Risk factors for progression of OPLL were identified by logistic regression analysis after propensity score adjustment.

RESULTS

Of the 109 subjects with OPLL (91 men and 18 women), 20 (18.3%) exhibited OPLL progression (OPLL-P group). Subjects in the OPLL-P group were significantly younger (p = 0.031), had higher prevalence of multilevel OPLL involvement (p = 0.041) and continuous type of OPLL (p = 0.015), and had higher uric acid (UA) levels (p = 0.004) at the time of initial CT examination compared to the OPLL-NP group. Younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.95, 95% CI 0.90-0.99), OPLL involvement of multiple vertebral levels (aOR 2.88, 95% CI 1.06-7.83), continuous type of OPLL (aOR 4.21, 95% CI 1.35-13.10), and higher UA levels (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.24-3.53) were significant risk factors for OPLL progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Younger age, OPLL involvement of multiple vertebral levels, continuous type of OPLL, and higher UA levels are significant risk factors for OPLL progression in asymptomatic subjects.

Carotid and Femoral Atherosclerotic Plaques in Asymptomatic and Non-Treated Subjects: Cardiovascular Risk Factors, 10-Years Risk Scores, and Lipid Ratios´ Capability to Detect Plaque Presence, Burden, Fibro-Lipid Composition and Geometry

Carotid and/or femoral atherosclerotic plaques (AP) assessment through imaging studies is an interesting strategy for improving individual cardiovascular risk (CVR) stratification and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or events prediction. There is no consensus on who would benefit from image screening aimed at determining AP presence, burden, and characteristics.

AIMS

(1) to identify, in asymptomatic and non-treated subjects, demographic factors, anthropometric characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs), individually or grouped (e.g., CVR equations, pro-atherogenic lipid ratios) associated with carotid and femoral AP presence, burden, geometry, and fibro-lipid content; (2) to identify cut-off values to be used when considering the variables as indicators of increased probability of AP presence, elevated atherosclerotic burden, and/or lipid content, in a selection scheme for subsequent image screening.

METHODS

CRFs exposure and clinical data were obtained (n = 581; n = 144 with AP; 47% females). Arterial (e.g., ultrasonography) and hemodynamic (central [cBP] and peripheral blood pressure; oscillometry/applanation tonometry) data were obtained. Carotid and femoral AP presence, burden (e.g., AP number, involved territories), geometric (area, width, height) and fibro-lipid content (semi-automatic, virtual histology analysis, grayscale analysis and color mapping) were assessed. Lipid profile was obtained. Lipid ratios (Total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol, LogTryglicerides(TG)/HDL-cholesterol) and eight 10-years [y.]/CVR scores were quantified (e.g., Framingham Risk Scores [FRS] for CVD).

RESULTS

Age, 10-y./CVR and cBP showed the highest levels of association with AP presence and burden. Individually, classical CRFs and lipid ratios showed almost no association with AP presence. 10-y./CVR levels, age and cBP enabled detecting AP with large surfaces (˃p75th). Lipid ratios showed the largest association with AP fibro-lipid content. Ultrasound evaluation could be considered in asymptomatic and non-treated subjects aiming at population screening of AP (e.g., ˃ 45 y.; 10-y./FRS-CVD ˃ 5-8%); identifying subjects with high atherosclerotic burden (e.g., ˃50 y., 10-y./FRS-CVD ˃ 13-15%) and/or with plaques with high lipid content (e.g., LogTG/HDL ˃ 0.135).