Purpose To investigate the correlation between lumbar trunk muscle mass at the L3 level and the severity of lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA) in the middle-aged and elderly population. Materials and Methods The analysis involved 312 individuals aged between 44 and 82 years in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from March to June 2016. The total area and CT values of the lumbar trunk muscles at the L3 vertebral body's lower endplate level were measured to calculate the skeletal muscle mass index via OsiriX image processing software. Furthermore,the severity of bilateral lumbar facet osteoarthritis at the L4-5 level was assessed using the Weishaupt grading criteria. CT value of trunk muscle at L3 lower endplate level,trunk muscle area at L3 lower endplate level,skeletal muscle index,body mass index,age and FJOA grade at L4-5 right and left sides were compared between genders. The correlation between the mean value of trunk muscle CT and FJOA grade at the lower endplate level of L3 was analyzed. Results In 109 male patients,the mean trunk muscle was negatively correlated with FJOA grade on the right and left sides of L4-5 (r=-0.25,P=0.002;r=-0.28,P=0.003),while age was positively correlated with FJOA grade on the right and left sides of L4-5 (r=0.23,P=0.034;r=0.21,P=0.033). In 203 female patients,there was a negative correlation between trunk muscle mean and both right and left FJOA grade at L4-5 (r=-0.29,P<0.001;r=-0.33,P<0.001),there was a positive correlation between age and both right and left FJOA grade at L4-5 (r=0.27,P<0.001;r=0.34,P<0.001),and there was a positive correlation between body mass index and both right and left FJOA grade at L4-5 (r=0.20,P=0.018;r=0.23,P=0.004). Partial correlation analysis,controlling for age,showed that the severity of bilateral FJOA at L4-5 was somewhat negatively correlated with the mean value of the L3 trunk muscle in the male and female groups (r=-0.239,-0.249,-0.177,-0.169,all P<0.05). Conclusion Trunk muscle mass at the L3 level is negatively correlated with the severity of FJOA,and FJOA is one of the independent factors of chronic low back pain,strengthening nutritional intake and physical exercise is beneficial to prevent the occurrence and development of sarcopenia,thereby reducing the occurrence and aggravation of FJOA and reducing the burden on patients with chronic low back pain.

Purpose To investigate the correlation between lumbar trunk muscle mass at the L3 level and the severity of lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA) in the middle-aged and elderly population. Materials and Methods The analysis involved 312 individuals aged between 44 and 82 years in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from March to June 2016. The total area and CT values of the lumbar trunk muscles at the L3 vertebral body's lower endplate level were measured to calculate the skeletal muscle mass index via OsiriX image processing software. Furthermore,the severity of bilateral lumbar facet osteoarthritis at the L4-5 level was assessed using the Weishaupt grading criteria. CT value of trunk muscle at L3 lower endplate level,trunk muscle area at L3 lower endplate level,skeletal muscle index,body mass index,age and FJOA grade at L4-5 right and left sides were compared between genders. The correlation between the mean value of trunk muscle CT and FJOA grade at the lower endplate level of L3 was analyzed. Results In 109 male patients,the mean trunk muscle was negatively correlated with FJOA grade on the right and left sides of L4-5 (r=-0.25,P=0.002;r=-0.28,P=0.003),while age was positively correlated with FJOA grade on the right and left sides of L4-5 (r=0.23,P=0.034;r=0.21,P=0.033). In 203 female patients,there was a negative correlation between trunk muscle mean and both right and left FJOA grade at L4-5 (r=-0.29,P<0.001;r=-0.33,P<0.001),there was a positive correlation between age and both right and left FJOA grade at L4-5 (r=0.27,P<0.001;r=0.34,P<0.001),and there was a positive correlation between body mass index and both right and left FJOA grade at L4-5 (r=0.20,P=0.018;r=0.23,P=0.004). Partial correlation analysis,controlling for age,showed that the severity of bilateral FJOA at L4-5 was somewhat negatively correlated with the mean value of the L3 trunk muscle in the male and female groups (r=-0.239,-0.249,-0.177,-0.169,all P<0.05). Conclusion Trunk muscle mass at the L3 level is negatively correlated with the severity of FJOA,and FJOA is one of the independent factors of chronic low back pain,strengthening nutritional intake and physical exercise is beneficial to prevent the occurrence and development of sarcopenia,thereby reducing the occurrence and aggravation of FJOA and reducing the burden on patients with chronic low back pain.

Objective To investigate the value of MRI in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of bladder leiomyoma.Methods Clinical data,pathological files and MRI findings of 8 patients with bladder leiomyoma that verified by pathologic were analyzed retrospectively.Results 4 cases of bladder leiomyoma were located in front bladder wall, 3 cases were in post bladder wall and 1 case in right bladder wall;meanwhile, 6 cases were endovesical(75.0%),1 case was intramural(12.5%) and another 1 case was extravesical(12.5%).All lesions displayed equal signals on T1WI, equal or slightly high signals on T2WI with mild and moderate enhancements;bladder wall adjacent to tumors and structures around were not invaded by tumors.6 cases of all displayed inhomogeneous signals on T2WI and with some patchy or stripe high signals in it, the signals turned to equal on a fat-saturated T1WI which was similar with muscle of pelvic wall.Conclusion MRI features of bladder leiomyoma showed certain characteristics.