BookIrving M. Shapiro, Makarand V. Risbud, editors.
Summary: The intervertebral disc is composed of a complex tissue that separates neighboring vertebrae, permits a wide range of motion, and cushions the high biomechanical forces on the spine. Disc degeneration leads to a loss of function and is often associated with excruciating pain. Written by leading scientists and clinicians, this is the only book in the past fifty years devoted entirely to the study of the intervertebral disc. The first part of the book provides a review of the basic biology of the disc in health and disease. The second part considers strategies for mitigating the effects of disc degeneration and discusses the possibility of engineering replacement tissues. The final section is dedicated to approaches that model normal development, and the elucidation of the pathogenesis of degenerative disc disease using animal, organ and cell culture techniques. This unique and authoritative book bridges the gap between the basic and clinical sciences; its target audience includes basic scientists, orthopedists, neurologists, rehabilitation and physical therapists, primary care physicians and chiropractors, while it also addresses the needs of graduate students, medical students, interns, fellows, and patients who suffer from disc-related pathologies.
Contents:
Biomechanical and Molecular Studies of the Intervertebral Disc: Introduction to the Structure, Function and Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrae and the Intervertebral Disc
The Intervertebral Disc: Overview of Disc Mechanics
Development of the Intervertebral Disc
Proteoglycans of the Intervertebral Disc
Collagen and Other Proteins of the Nucleus Pulposus, Annulus Fibrosus and Cartilage Endplates
Microenvironmental Regulation of Cell Function and Extracellular Matrix Synthesis by Disc Cells
The Effects of Mechanical Forces on Nucleus and Annulus Cells
The Role of the ADAMTS Proteins in the Intervertebral Disc
Intervertebral Disc Disease: Pathogenesis and Current Treatment Modalities: Epidemiology of Lumbar Disc Degeneration
Genetic Basis of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Pathogenesis of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Imaging Modalities for Studying Disc Pathology
Surgical Indications for Lumbar Degenerative Disease
Spinal Motion Restoration Devices for the Degenerate Disc
The Non-Surgical Treatment of Back Pain
Back Pain and Disc Degeneration: Are They Linked?- Clinical Features and Pathobiology of Chordoma
Models of Disc Disease and Biological Regeneration: Large Animal Models of Disc Degeneration
Intervertebral Disc Herniation
The Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus obesus) Model of Spontaneous, Age-Related Intervertebral Disc Generation
Use of Knockout and Transgenic Mouse Models in Disc Research
Intervertebral Disc Culture Models and Their Applications to Study Pathogenesis and Repair
Use of Stem Cells to Regenerate the Disc
Gene Therapy Approaches for Disc Regeneration
Enhancing Disc Repair by Growth Factors and Other Modalities
Tissue Engineering of the Disc.