Pineal gland calcification, lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and abdominal aorta calcifying atherosclerosis correlate in low back pain subjects: A cross-sectional observational CT study

Pathophysiology : the Official Journal of the International Society for Pathophysiology
Ahmet Tuncay TurgutUğur Koşar

Abstract

The goal of this cross-sectional observational study was to assess the possible impact of pineal gland calcification upon the intervertebral disc degeneration and abdominal aorta atherosclerosis in subjects with low back pain, and to investigate the course of these processes with aging. The study was carried out on 81 (66 women and 15 men) subjects: younger than 45 years (group X, n=22), 45-65 years of age (group Y, n=45), and older than 65 years (group Z, n=14). In addition to clinical data, computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain as well as X-ray and CT examination of the lumbar spine were recorded in this study. The degree of disc degeneration and calcification rates of aortic wall and pineal gland were independently determined by two radiologists. Both ratio of calcified pineal gland and density of pineal calcification increased progressively with aging. Also, both the degree of aortic wall calcification and disc degeneration score increased with advancing age. On CT scan, a positive correlation between degree of aortic wall calcification and disc degeneration score was found (r=0.306, p<0.01). Importantly, there was a positive association between calcification of the pineal gland and degenerative disc disease in X-ray o...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 9, 2012·The Spine Journal : Official Journal of the North American Spine Society·Pradeep SuriJeffrey N Katz
Apr 19, 2008·Pathophysiology : the Official Journal of the International Society for Pathophysiology·Ahmet Tuncay TurgutUğur Koşar
May 28, 2010·Arthritis and Rheumatism·Kenneth M C CheungKeith D K Luk
May 15, 2015·The Neurologist·Charles N Munyon, David J Hart
Mar 31, 2009·European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery : the Official Journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery·L I Kauppila
Jul 28, 2016·Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology·Supinya TuntapakulNutjaree Pratheepawanit Johns
Apr 8, 2011·The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume·Dino SamartzisKenneth M C Cheung
Nov 17, 2017·European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society·Abolhassan ShakeriDaniel Fadaei Fouladi
Sep 18, 2017·PM & R : the Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation·William J BeckworthJames R Welle

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