Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36820887›Full record

SynthesisActa neurochirurgica2023

Human spinal cord tissue is an underutilised resource in degenerative cervical myelopathy: findings from a systematic review of human autopsies.

Esmee Dohle, Sophie Beardall, Aina Chang, Karla P Corral Mena, Luka Jovanović, Upamanyu Nath, Keng Siang Lee, Alexandria H Smith, Arun J Thirunavukarasu, Alvaro Yanez Touzet and 4 more

Open access · hybridAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Acta neurochirurgica, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Observational
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Esmee DohleSchool of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. esmeedohle@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5385-2026
Sophie BeardallSchool of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Aina ChangSchool of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Karla P Corral MenaSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Luka JovanovićSchool of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Upamanyu NathNorth Manchester General Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
Keng Siang LeeDepartment of Basic and Clinical Neurosciences, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK.
Alexandria H SmithSchool of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Arun J ThirunavukarasuSchool of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Alvaro Yanez TouzetSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Emma Jane NortonDivision of Anaesthesia, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
Oliver D MowforthDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Mark R N KotterDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Benjamin M DaviesDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
University of Cambridge · GBUniversity of Manchester · GBKing's College London · GBNorth Manchester General Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designSystematic review.

backgroundAlthough degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most prevalent spinal cord condition worldwide, the pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Our objective was to evaluate existing histological findings of DCM on cadaveric human spinal cord tissue and explore their consistency with animal models.

methodsMEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched (CRD42021281462) for primary research reporting on histological findings of DCM in human cadaveric spinal cord tissue. Data was extracted using a piloted proforma. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Findings were compared to a systematic review of animal models (Ahkter et al. 2020 Front Neurosci 14).

resultsThe search yielded 4127 unique records. After abstract and full-text screening, 19 were included in the final analysis, reporting on 150 autopsies (71% male) with an average age at death of 67.3 years. All findings were based on haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The most commonly reported grey matter findings included neuronal loss and cavity formation. The most commonly reported white matter finding was demyelination. Axon loss, gliosis, necrosis and Schwann cell proliferation were also reported. Findings were consistent amongst cervical spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Cavitation was notably more prevalent in human autopsies compared to animal models.

conclusionFew human spinal cord tissue studies have been performed. Neuronal loss, demyelination and cavitation were common findings. Investigating the biological basis of DCM is a critical research priority. Human spinal cord specimen may be an underutilised but complimentary approach.

Indexed as

Demyelinating DiseasesSpinal Cord DiseasesAgedAnimalsAutopsyCadaverCervical VertebraeFemaleHumansMaleAutopsyDegenerative cervical myelopathyHistologyOssification posterior longitudinal ligamentPathophysiologySystematic review

Identifiers

PMID36820887
PMCPMC10140111
OpenAlexW4321600153

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.