From a comprehensive search, we selected randomized studies that compared anterior cervical decompression
and ACIF techniques, in patients with chronic single-or double-level degenerative disc disease or disc herniation. Risk of bias was assessed using the criteria of the Cochrane back review group.
Results. Thirty-three Oligomycin A in vitro studies with 2267 patients were included. The major treatments were discectomy alone and addition of an ACIF procedure (graft, cement, cage, and plates). At best, there was very low-quality evidence of little or no difference in pain relief between the techniques. We found moderate quality evidence for few secondary outcomes. Odom’s criteria were not different between iliac crest autograft and a metal cage (risk ratio [RR]: 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.99-1.24). Bone
graft produced more fusion than discectomy (RR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.17-0.48). Complication rates were not different between discectomy and iliac crest autograft (RR: 1.56; 95% CI: 0.71-3.43). Low-quality evidence was found that iliac crest autograft results in better fusion than a cage (RR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.10-3.17); but more complications (RR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.12-0.92).
Conclusion. When fusion of the motion segment is considered to be the working mechanism for pain relief and functional improvement, iliac crest autograft appears to be the golden standard. When ignoring fusion rates and looking at complication rates, a cage as a golden standard has a weak evidence base over iliac crest autograft, but not over discectomy.”
“We investigated genetic associations between mature cow weight (MW) and weaning weight (WW), yearling weight (YW), weight gain from birth to weaning selleck chemical (GBW), weight gain from P005091 weaning to yearling (GWY),
weaning hip height (WHH), yearling hip height (YHH), scrotal circumference (SC), and age at first calving (AFC). Data from 127,104 Nellore animals born between 1993 and 2006, belonging to Agropecuaria Jacarezinho Ltda., were analyzed. (Co)variance components were obtained by the restricted maximum likelihood method, applying an animal model in a multi-traits analysis. The model included direct genetic and residual effects as random effects, the fixed effects of contemporary group, and the linear and quadratic effects of animal age at recording (except for AFC, GBW, and GWY) and age of cow at calving as covariates (except for MW). The numbers of days from birth to weaning and from weaning to yearling were included as covariates for GBW and GWY, respectively. Estimated direct heritabilities were 0.43 +/- 0.02 (MW), 0.33 +/- 0.01 (WW), 0.36 +/- 0.01 (YW), 0.28 +/- 0.02 (GBW), 0.31 +/- 0.01 (GWY), 0.44 +/- 0.02 (WHH), 0.48 +/- 0.02 (YHH), 0.44 +/- 0.01 (SC), and 0.16 +/- 0.03 (AFC). Genetic correlations between MW and productive traits were positive and of medium to high magnitude (ranging from 0.47 +/- 0.03 to 0.71 +/- 0.01). A positive and low genetic correlation was observed between MW and SC (0.24 +/- 0.04).