ArticleJournal of biomechanical engineering2023
Diffusivity of Human Cartilage Endplates in Healthy and Degenerated Intervertebral Disks.
Article in Journal of biomechanical engineering, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Mapping the degenerating intervertebral disc: a systematic review of histological evidence.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Defining the Human Nucleus Pulposus Microenvironment and Its Impact on Cell Matrix Synthesis and Metabolic Activity.JOR spine · 2026Article
- Influence of the Intervertebral Disc Microenvironment on Matrix Synthesis and Metabolism in Goat Nucleus Pulposus Cells.JOR spine · 2026Article
- Stress-response exhaustion in intervertebral disc degeneration.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2026Review
- Effect of cigarette smoke exposure and cessation on regional diffusion properties in rat intervertebral discs.JOR spine · 2024Article
- pH: A major player in degenerative intervertebral disks.JOR spine · 2024Review
- From structure to therapy: the critical influence of cartilaginous endplates and microvascular network on intervertebral disc degeneration.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2024Review
- Development and Degeneration of the Intervertebral Disc-Insights from Across Species.Veterinary sciences · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
The cartilage endplates (CEPs) on the superior and inferior surfaces of the intervertebral disk (IVD), are the primary nutrient transport pathways between the disk and the vertebral body. Passive diffusion is responsible for transporting small nutrient and metabolite molecules through the avascular CEPs. The baseline solute diffusivities in healthy CEPs have been previously studied, however alterations in CEP diffusion associated with IVD degeneration remain unclear. This study aimed to quantitatively compare the solute diffusion in healthy and degenerated human CEPs using a fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) approach. Seven healthy CEPs and 22 degenerated CEPs were collected from five fresh-frozen human cadaveric spines and 17 patients undergoing spine fusion surgery, respectively. The sodium fluorescein diffusivities in CEP radial and vertical directions were measured using the FRAP method. The CEP calcification level was evaluated by measuring the average X-ray attenuation. No difference was found in solute diffusivities between radial and axial directions in healthy and degenerated CEPs. Compared to healthy CEPs, the average solute diffusivity was 44% lower in degenerated CEPs (Healthy: 29.07 μm2/s (CI: 23.96-33.62 μm2/s); degenerated: 16.32 μm2/s (CI: 13.84-18.84 μm2/s), p < 0.001). The average solute diffusivity had an inverse relationship with the degree of CEP calcification as determined by the normalized X-ray attenuation values (ß = -22.19, R2 = 0.633; p < 0.001). This study suggests that solute diffusion through the disk and vertebral body interface is significantly hindered by CEP calcification, providing clues to help further understand the mechanism of IVD degeneration.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.