• Diagnostics and Treatment
• Genetics
• Modelling
• Disc Physiology

• Surgeons and Scientists – Symbiosis in Spinal Research? Submitted on behalf of the scientists and surgeons from the EU FP7 GENODISC consortium by Áron Lazáry, Keita Ito, Stephen Eisenstein, Jeremy Fairbank, Sally Roberts, Michelle Kumin, Jill Urban, Marco Brayda-Bruno, and Péter Pál Varga. Submitted as an editorial to the European Spine Journal.
• The intervertebral disc and the spine. S Roberts, J Trivedi and V Duance. In: Sports Injuries, eds Michael Hutson and Cathy Speed. Oxford University Press 2011 pp54-61.

Degeneration & Modelling

• Metabolic effects of vitamin D active metabolites in monolayer and micromass cultures of nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells isolated from human intervertebral disc. Colombini Alessandraa, Lanteri Patrizia, Lombardi Giovanni, Grasso Dalila, Recordati Camilla, Lovi Alessio, Banfi Giuseppe, Bassani Roberto and Brayda-Bruno Marco. Submitted to the International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
• Longetivity of elastin in human intervertebral disc as probed by the racemization of aspartic acid. Sivan, S., Merkher, Y., Wachtel, E., Lazary, Van El, B., Zuurmund, AM., Schmeltzer, CEH., Heinz, A., Lazary, A., Varga, PP., A., Brayda, M., Maroudas, A. Submitted to BBA.
• Computational investigation of sulphate diffusion into the intervertebral disc. Samira Motaghinasab, Aboulfazl Shirazi-Adl, Jill Urban, Mohammad Parnianpour, Maryam Hovaiattalab. ICPBME (in press)
• Effect of intervertebral disc degeneration on disc cell viability: a numerical investigation. Galbusera F, Mietsch A, Schmidt H, Wilke HJ, Neidlinger-Wilke C. Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering (2011) doi:10.1080/10255842.2011.619184. Epub ahead of print.
• Evaluation of platelet-rich plasma and hydrostatic pressure regarding cell differentiation in nucleus pulposus tissue engineering. Mietsch A, Neidlinger-Wilke C, Schrezenmeier H, Mauer UM, Friemert B, Wilke HJ, Ignatius A. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (2011) doi: 10.1002/term.524. Epub ahead of print.
• Pratsinis H, Constantinou V, Pavlakis K, Sapkas G, Kletsas D. Exogenous and autocrine growth factors stimulate human intervertebral disc cell proliferation via the ERK and Akt pathways. J Orthop Res (in press).
• The effect of glucosamine sulfate on the proliferative potential and glycosaminoglycan synthesis of nucleus pulposus intervertebral disc cells. E. Mavrogonatou and D. Kletsas. Submitted to Spine
• 3D non-affine finite strains measured in isolated bovine annulus fibrosus tissue samples. J.M. Huyghe, C.J.M. Jongeneelen and Y. Schroeder. Biomech Model Mechanobiol, 11, 161-170 (2012).
• Assessment of cell viability in 3D scaffolds using cellular autofluorescence. R. Dittmar, E. Potier, M. van Zandvoort and K. Ito. Tiss Eng Part C, Volume 18, Number 3, 2012 (DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2011.0334).
• Mavrogonatou E, Kletsas D. “Effect of varying osmotic conditions on the response of bovine nucleus pulposus cells to growth factors and the activation of the ERK and Akt pathways”, J. Orthop. Res. (2010) 28 (10), 1276-1282.
• Differential response of nucleus pulposus intervertebral disc cells to high salt, sorbitol and urea. Mavrogonatou E, Kletsas D. J Cell Physiol. J Cell Physiol. (2012) 227 (3) 1179-1187.
• Comparison of four methods to simulate swelling in poroelastic finite element models of intervertebral discs. Galbusera F, Schmidt H, Noailly J, Malandrino A, Lacroix D, Wilke HJ, Shirazi-Adl A. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2011 Oct;4(7):1234-41.
• The effect of degenerative morphological changes of the intervertebral disc on the lumbar spine biomechanics: a poroelastic finite element investigation. Galbusera F, Schmidt H, Neidlinger-Wilke C, Wilke HJ. Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering (2011) 14(8):729-39.
• The mechanical response of the lumbar spine to different combinations of disc degenerative changes investigated using randomized poroelastic finite element models. Galbusera F, Schmidt H, Neidlinger-Wilke C, Gottschalk A, Wilke HJ. Eur Spine J. (2011) 20(4):563-71.
• Kettler A, Rohlmann F, Ring C, Mack C, Wilke HJ. Do early stages of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration really cause instability? Evaluation of an in vitro database. Eur Spine J (2011) 20(4):578-584.
• Interactions of Environmental Conditions and Mechanical Loads Have Influence on Matrix Turnover by Nucleus Pulposus Cells. C. Neidlinger-Wilke, A. Mietsch, C. Rinkler, H-J. Wilke, A. Ignatius and J. Urban. J Orthop Res. J Orthop Res. (2012), 30(1):112-121.
• The influence of nutrient supply and cell density on the growth and survival of intervertebral disc cells in 3-D culture. S. Stephan, W.E. Johnson and S. Roberts. European Cells and Materials (2011) 22:97-108.
• Intervertebral Disc Nutrition: A Review of Factors Influencing Concentrations of Nutrients and Metabolites. Thijs Grunhagen, Abdoul Shirazi-Adl, Jeremy Fairbank, Jill Urban. Orthopaedics of North America, 2011 Oct;42(4):465-77.
• On the thermodynamical admissibility of the triphasic theory of charged hydrated tissues. J.M. Huyghe, W. Wilson, K. Malakpoor. J.Biochemical Engineering. 131:044504. DOI
• Differential gene expression profiling of metalloproteinases and their inhibitors: a comparison between bovine intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells and articular chondrocytes. Cui Y, Yu J, Urban JP, Young DA. Spine. (Phila Pa 1976). 2010 May 15;35(11):1101-8.
• Analysis of cell viability in intervertebral disc: Effect of endplate permeability on cell population. Shirazi-Adl A, Taheri M, Urban JP. J. Biomech. 2010 May 7;43(7):1330-6.
• Differential expression level of cytokeratin 8 in cells of the bovine nucleus pulposus complicates the search for specific intervertebral disc cell markers. Gilson A, Dreger M, Urban JP. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(1):R24. Epub 2010 Feb 12.
• The mechanical response of the lumbar spine to different combinations of disc degenerative changes investigated using randomized poroelastic finite element models. F. Galbusera, H. Schmidt, C. Neidlinger-Wilke and H-J. Wilke. Eur Spine J. 2011 Apr;20(4):563-71.
• Low glucose supply influences the regulation of gene expression by nucleus pulposus cells and their responsiveness to mechanical loading. C Rinkler, F Heuer, M T Pedro, A Ignatius and C Neidlinger-Wilke. J. Neurosurg Spine 13:535-542, 2010.
• The effect of degenerative morphological changes of the intervertebral disc on the lumbar spine biomechanics: a poroelastic finite element investigation. F Galbusera, H Schmidt, C Neidlinger-Wilke and H-J Wilke. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2011; 14(8):729-39.
• Senescent cells in the intervertebral disc: numbers and mechanisms. Kletsas, D. (2009). Spine J. 9, 677-678.
• Efect of varying osmotic conditions on the response of bovine nucleus pulposus cells to growth factors and the activation of the ERK and Akt pathways. Mavrogonatou E, Kletsas D. J. Orthop. Res. 2010 Oct; 28(10):1276-82.
• A thermodynamical correction of the chemical expansion stress. J.M. Huyghe, W. Wilson and K. Malakpoor. J. Biomech. Eng. 131(4): 044504, 2009.

Phenotypes & Gene Hunting

• Candidate Gene Association Study of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Hip Osteoarthritis (OA): Evidence for COL9A2 Gene as a Common Predisposing Factor for Hip OA and Lumbar Disc Degeneration. A. Näkki, T. Videman, U. M. Kujala, M. Suhonen, M. Männikkö, L. Peltonen, M. C. Battié, J. Kaprio, J. Saarela. J Rheumatol. 2011 Apr:38(4):747-52. Epub 2010 Dec 15.

Diagnosis & Repair

• Reliability and validity study on the Hungarian versions of the Oswestry Disability Index and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale. Tamás Valasek, Peter Paul Varga, Peter Paul Varga,Ildikó Kriszbacher, Jeremy Fairbank and Aron Lazary. Submitted to the European Spine Journal.
• Quantitative paraspinal muscle measurements: Inter-software reliability and agreement using OsiriX and ImageJ. Maryse Fortin and Michele C. Battié. Submitted to Physical Therapy.
• Tissue Engineering of Fibrocartilaginous Tissues: The Intervertebral Disc and the Meniscus. S Roberts and J Menage. Comprehensive Biotechnology. Elsevier 2011.
• Prospects of Stem Cell Therapy in Osteoarthritis. S. Roberts, P. Genever, A. McCaskie and C. De Bari. Regen. Med. (2011) 6 (3) 376-406.
• Assessment of Chronic Low Back Pain:The Role of Classification of ChronicLow Back Pain. J. Fairbank, S. E. Gwilym, J. C. France, S. D. Daffner, J. Dettori, J. Hermsmeyer, G. Andersson and R. L. DeWald SPINE Volume 36, Number 21S, pp 1–24.
• Challenging the cumulative injury model: positive effects of greater body mass on disc degeneration. T Videman, L E Gibbons, J Kaprio, M C Battie´. 2009 Outstanding Paper: Medical and Interventional Science. The Spine Journal 10 (2010) 26–31.
• Do early stages of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration really cause instability? Evaluation of an in vitro database. Kettler A, Rohlmann F, Ring C, Mack C and Wilke H-J. Eur Spine J (2011) 20(4):578-584.
• High osmolality activates the G1 and G2 cell cycle checkpoints and affects the DNA integrity of nucleus pulposus intervertebral disc cells triggering an enhanced DNA repair response. E Mavrogonatou and D Kletsas. DNA Repair (Amst) 8 (2009) 930–943.

Diagnostics and Treatment

• Urban JP, Winlove CP. Pathophysiology of the intervertebral disc and the challenges for MRI. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2007 Feb;25(2):419-32.
• Wilke HJ, Rohlmann F, Neidlinger-Wilke C, Werner K, Claes L, Kettler A Validity and interobserver agreement of a new radiographic grading system for intervertebral disc degeneration: Part I. Lumbar spine. Eur Spine J;15(6):720-30 (2006).
• Varga PP: Surgical treatment of the pathologies of the osteoporotic spine in: Lakatos P.: Metabolic Bone Diseases, Ed. Medintel, Budapest, 2007, pp 197-207.
• Teli MG, Cinnella P, Vincitorio F, Lovi A, Grava G, Brayda-Bruno M. Spinal fusion with Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for neuropathic scoliosis in patients with cerebral palsy. Spine 2006; 31(14): E441-7;
• Bellini CM, Galbusera F, Raimondi MT, Mineo GV, Brayda-Bruno M. Biomechanics of the lumbar spine after dynamic stabilization. Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques. In press.

Genetics

• Battié MC, Videman T, Gibbons LE, Manninen H, Gill K, Pope M, Kaprio J. Occupational driving and lumbar disc degeneration: a case-control study. Lancet 2002;360:1369-74.
• Videman T, Battié MC, Gibbons LE, Maravilla K, Manninen H, Kaprio J. Associations Between Back Pain History and Lumbar MRI Findings. Spine 28(6):582-8, 2003.
• Battié MC, Videman T, Levälahti E, Gill K, Kaprio J. Heritability of Low Back Pain and the Role of Disc Degeneration. Pain 2007, In press. (www.sciencedirect.com)
• Di Santolo M, Casabellata G, Banfi G, Cauci S. Association of interleukin-1beta polymorphisms with athlete phenotype. Bioch Clin 2006;30:366;

Modelling

• Wognum S, Huyghe JM, and Baaijens FTP. Influence of osmotic pressure changes on the opening of existing cracks in two intervertebral disc models.. Spine 31:1783-1788, 2006.
• Schroeder Y, Wilson W, Huyghe JM, and FTP Baaijens. Osmoviscoelastic finite element model of the intervertebral disc. Eur Spine J 15:S361-S371, 2006.
• Benneker LM, Heini PF, Alini M, Anderson SE, and Ito K. 2004 Young Investigator Award Winner: vertebral endplate marrow contact channel occlusions and intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine 30:167-73, 2005.

Disc Physiology

• Bibby SR, Jones DA, Ripley RM, Urban JP. Metabolism of the intervertebral disc: effects of low levels of oxygen, glucose, and pH on rates of energy metabolism of bovine nucleus pulposus cells. Spine. 2005 Mar 1;30(5):487-96 2.
• Bank RA, Soudry M, Maroudas A, et al. The increased swelling and instantaneous deformation of osteoarthritic cartilage is highly correlated with collagen degradation. Arthritis and Rheumatism 43(10): 2202-2210 (2000).
• Sivan S, Wachtel E, Merkher Y, and Maroudas A. Correlation of swelling pressure and intra-fibrillar water in young and aged annuli of human intervertebral discs. J Orthop Res 24(6):1292-8 (2006).
• Sivan, S., Tsitron, E., Wachtel, E., Roughley, P., Sakkee, AN., van-der Ham, F., DeGroot, J., Roberts, S., and Maroudas, A. Aggrecan Turnover in Human Intervertebral Disc as Determined by the Racemization of Aspartic Acid. J Biol Chem 281(19):13009-14 (2006).
• Roberts S, Evans EH, Kletsas D, Jaffray DC, Eisenstein SM. (2006) Senescence in human intervertebral discs. Eur Spine J. Aug;15 S312-6.2.
• Johnson WEB, Caterson B, Eisenstein SM & Roberts S. (2006) Human Intervertebral Disc Aggrecan Inhibits Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Cell Migration In Vitro. Spine 30:1139-1147.
• Roberts S and Butler RC. (2005) Inflammatory mediators as potential therapeutic targets in the spine. Current Drug Targets. Inflamm. Allergy 4: 257-266.
• Schmidt, H., Kettler, A., Heuer, F., Simon, U., Claes, L., Wilke, HJ. Intradiscal pressure, shear strain, fiber strain in the intervertebral disc under combined loading. Spine 2(7):748-55 (2007).
• Neidlinger-Wilke C, Würtz K, Urban JP, Börm W, Arand M, Ignatius A, Wilke HJ, Claes L: Regulation of gene expression in intervertebral disc cells by low and high hydrostatic pressure. Eur Spine J. 15, Suppl 15: 372-8, 2006.
• Grunhagen T, Wilde G, Soukane DM, Shirazi-Adl SA, Urban JP. Nutrient supply and intervertebral disc metabolism. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006 Apr;88 Suppl 2:30-5. Review
• Gorgoulis V, et al. p53-dependent ICAM-1 over-expression in senescent human cells. Their identification in atherosclerotic lesions. Laboratory Investigation 85: 502-511 (2005).
• Roberts S, et al. Senescence in human intervertebral discs Eur Spine J. Suppl 15 (2006):312-6. 3)
• Giannouli CC, Kletsas D. TGF-beta regulates differentially the proliferation of fetal and adult human skin fibroblasts via the activation of PKA and the autocrine action of FGF-2 Cell Signal. 18 (2006):1417-29.
• Bartkova J., et al., Oncogene-induced senescence is part of the tumorigenesis barrier imposed by DNA damage checkpoints Nature 444 (2006) 633-7.
• Varga PP, Jakab G, Bors I, et al. The Aging Spine , Instructional Course Lectures Book, European Federation of Orthopaedic Surgeons (EFORT), (2007);
• Lazáry Á, Lakatos P, Varga PP: Effect of gypsum on proliferation and differentiation of the MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblastic cells. Biomaterials, 1; 393-399 (2007);
• Frohlich M, Malicev E, Gorensek M, Knezevic M, Kregar Velikonja N. Evaluation of rabbit auricular chondrocyte isolation and growth parameters in cell culture. Cell Biol Int. 2006 Dec 30; [Epub ahead of print]
• Mohorko N, Kregar-Velikonja N, Repovs G, Gorensek M, Bresjanac M. An in vitro study of Hoechst 33342 redistribution and its effects on cell viability. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2005 Nov;24(11):573-80.
• Gorensek M, Joksimovic C, Kregar-Velikonja N, et al. Nucleus pulposus repair with cultured autologous elastic cartilage derived chondrocytes. Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2004;9(2):363-73.

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