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DHA and curcumin preserve walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury

UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient of curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

27 Jun 2012

HIV therapy affects bone mass within 2 years

Young men receiving antiretroviral therapy for recently diagnosed HIV are more likely to have low bone mineral density than are other men of a similar age, US researchers report.

25 Jun 2012

Spinal fusion surgery no stroke risk

Spinal fusion does not significantly increase the risk for stroke in the 3 years following surgery, research from Taiwan suggests.

22 Jun 2012

Pfizer receives FDA approval for Lyrica to manage neuropathic pain associated with SCI

Pfizer Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Lyrica (pregabalin) capsules CV for the management of neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury.

22 Jun 2012

Foods fortified with folic acid can prevent neural tube defects

Wheat flour milled in Nigeria will soon be fortified with folic acid, a B vitamin known for preventing serious or fatal birth defects of the spine and brain. Women who may become pregnant are encouraged to daily choose foods fortified with this essential vitamin because it can prevent the majority of these devastating birth defects known as neural tube defects.

21 Jun 2012

Researchers discover distinct differences in how muscle affects two layers of bone in men, women

Researchers have long been aware that the progressive loss of muscle mass and bone density is a natural part of aging. But little work has investigated how muscle tissue affects the inner and outer layers of bone microstructure.

21 Jun 2012

Osteoporosis screening recommended for men at risk

Men at increased risk for osteoporosis should undergo bone mineral density testing with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, concludes The Endocrine Society’s Clinical Practice Guideline “Osteoporosis in Men.”

20 Jun 2012

IOF review outlines pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in young adults

Much of the research defining osteoporosis and fracture risk has focused on older adults, i.e. postmenopausal women and men over the age of 50. While older adults are at highest risk of osteoporosis and related fractures, the disease can also affect younger adults between 20 and 50 years of age. However, the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in young adults is complicated by special challenges, including a complex pathophysiology and the related fact that there is no clear definition of osteoporosis, or of intervention thresholds, in this age group.

20 Jun 2012

Young men with HIV more likely to experience low bone mass

Young men being treated for HIV are more likely to experience low bone mass than are other men their age, according to results from a research network supported by the National Institutes of Health. The findings indicate that physicians who care for these patients should monitor them regularly for signs of bone thinning, which could foretell a risk for fractures. The young men in the study did not have HIV at birth and had been diagnosed with HIV an average of two years earlier.

20 Jun 2012

$Vertebral fractures flag vascular disease risk$

Vertebral fractures flag vascular disease risk

Abdominal aortic calcification in elderly men appears to be associated with vertebral fractures, say Moroccan scientists.

19 Jun 2012

Clinical practice guidelines for management of osteoporosis in men

Osteoporosis in men causes significant morbidity and mortality. Today, the Endocrine Society released clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for management of this condition in men.

19 Jun 2012

Advances in robotic spine surgery

1. Please could you give a brief outline of robotic spine surgery and its recent history? Robotic spine surgery is very new, less than 10 years old. There are only 10 hospitals in the US offering it and we are the second hospital in California to offer this technology.

15 Jun 2012

DFINE completes initial phase of STAR Tumor Ablation System trial

DFINE, Inc., the developer of minimally invasive radiofrequency (RF) targeted therapies for the treatment of vertebral pathologies, today announced an upcoming poster presentation at the World Congress of Interventional Oncology (WCIO), June 14-18 in Chicago.

15 Jun 2012

Surgeon, not hospital expertise affects spine surgery outcome

The risk for complications after spine surgery are significantly lower among patients treated by very high-volume surgeons compared with those treated by very low-volume ones, report US researchers.

14 Jun 2012

Invuity closes $25M Series D round of financing

Invuity, a leading developer of state-of-the-art surgical visualization and illumination technology, has raised a $25 million Series D round of financing to expand the development, manufacturing and commercialization of the company's advanced medical devices.

14 Jun 2012

Mazor Robotics receives KFDA clearance for Renaissance system

Mazor Robotics Ltd., a developer of innovative surgical robots and complementary products, today announced that its Korean distributor, BR Holdings, received marketing clearance from the Korean Food & Drug Administration (KFDA) to market Mazor's Renaissance system.

13 Jun 2012

Utah-based company licenses new biomedical device from BYU for chronic back pain

In between the vertebrae of the human spine are 23 Oreo-sized, cartilage-filled discs that hold the vertebrae together and allow for spine movement. While the discs are critical for movement, they can become the source of back pain when they degenerate or herniate - a major health problem that affects 85% of Americans and drains the U.S. economy to the tune of $100 billion every year.

13 Jun 2012

OOCE chooses eClinicalWorks comprehensive EHR solution

ClinicalWorks, a market leader in ambulatory clinical systems, today announced that Ohio Orthopedic Center of Excellence, has chosen eClinicalWorks comprehensive electronic health records (EHR) solution for its 59 providers across multiple locations. Use of this technology will help improve practice speed and efficiency.

11 Jun 2012

Mazor Robotics successfully completes first robot-guided brain surgical procedures

Mazor Robotics Ltd., a developer of innovative surgical robots and complementary products, today announced the successful completion of the first robot-guided brain surgical procedures, which were performed with Mazor Robotics' technology.

11 Jun 2012

Biomarkers predict progressive spinal damage in ankylosing spondylitis

German researchers have discovered five biomarkers that may predict the progression of structural damage in the spine of patients with ankylosing spondylitis who are already at high risk for disease progression.

8 Jun 2012