Recent advances in robotics technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked increased interest in humanoid robots that resemble humans and social robots capable of interacting socially. Alongside this trend, a new field of robot research called human-robot interaction (HRI) is gaining prominence. The aim of this review paper is to introduce the fundamental concepts of HRI and social robots, examine their current applications in the medical field, and discuss the current and future prospects of HRI and social robots in spinal care. HRI is an interdisciplinary field where robotics, AI, social sciences, design, and various disciplines collaborate organically to develop robots that successfully interact with humans as the ultimate goal. While social robots are not yet widely deployed in clinical environments, ongoing HRI research encompasses various areas such as nursing and caregiving support, social and emotional assistance, rehabilitation and cognitive enhancement for the elderly, medical information provision and education, as well as patient monitoring and data collection. Although still in its early stages, research related to spinal care includes studies on robotic support for rehabilitation exercises, assistance in gait training, and questionnaire-based assessments for spinal pain. Future applications of social robots in spinal care will require diverse HRI research efforts and active involvement from spinal specialists.

Recent advances in robotics technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked increased interest in humanoid robots that resemble humans and social robots capable of interacting socially. Alongside this trend, a new field of robot research called human-robot interaction (HRI) is gaining prominence. The aim of this review paper is to introduce the fundamental concepts of HRI and social robots, examine their current applications in the medical field, and discuss the current and future prospects of HRI and social robots in spinal care. HRI is an interdisciplinary field where robotics, AI, social sciences, design, and various disciplines collaborate organically to develop robots that successfully interact with humans as the ultimate goal. While social robots are not yet widely deployed in clinical environments, ongoing HRI research encompasses various areas such as nursing and caregiving support, social and emotional assistance, rehabilitation and cognitive enhancement for the elderly, medical information provision and education, as well as patient monitoring and data collection. Although still in its early stages, research related to spinal care includes studies on robotic support for rehabilitation exercises, assistance in gait training, and questionnaire-based assessments for spinal pain. Future applications of social robots in spinal care will require diverse HRI research efforts and active involvement from spinal specialists.

Recent advances in robotics technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked increased interest in humanoid robots that resemble humans and social robots capable of interacting socially. Alongside this trend, a new field of robot research called human-robot interaction (HRI) is gaining prominence. The aim of this review paper is to introduce the fundamental concepts of HRI and social robots, examine their current applications in the medical field, and discuss the current and future prospects of HRI and social robots in spinal care. HRI is an interdisciplinary field where robotics, AI, social sciences, design, and various disciplines collaborate organically to develop robots that successfully interact with humans as the ultimate goal. While social robots are not yet widely deployed in clinical environments, ongoing HRI research encompasses various areas such as nursing and caregiving support, social and emotional assistance, rehabilitation and cognitive enhancement for the elderly, medical information provision and education, as well as patient monitoring and data collection. Although still in its early stages, research related to spinal care includes studies on robotic support for rehabilitation exercises, assistance in gait training, and questionnaire-based assessments for spinal pain. Future applications of social robots in spinal care will require diverse HRI research efforts and active involvement from spinal specialists.

Conventional treatments for degenerative disc disease have limitations in regenerating the intervertebral disc because of its anatomical characteristics. Hence, researchers are investigating biological therapies for degenerative disc disease. The advances in genetic engineering and fields, such as tissue engineering, are accelerating the development of biological treatments for degenerative discs.Biological treatments for degenerative discs focus on inhibiting cell apoptosis and maintaining cell populations within the disc. Current biological therapies studied include gene therapy, cell therapy, and growth factor therapy. Gene therapy involves the use of RiboNucleic Acid (RNA) interference, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), to inhibit genes related to cell apoptosis and to explore therapeutic targets.Cell therapy, which involves a direct injection of stem cells into the disc, has attracted considerable attention. Mesenchymal stem cells and notochordal cells are commonly used, with mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) being preferred because of their ease of production and anti-inflammatory effects. Several clinical trials using MSCs have reported favorable clinical outcomes, such as alleviating lower back pain, but disc height was not restored. These results were not from randomized trials, and double-blind clinical trials using MSCs are currently underway. Research is ongoing to promote anabolic processes within the nucleus pulposus by injecting growth factors into the disc. Preclinical studies have shown that a biglycan fragment targeting transforming growth factor (TGF)-β can inhibit degenerative changes in the disc, and clinical trials using growth/differentiation factor (GDF)-5 are currently in progress. Research on biological treatments for degenerative discs is being conducted in three main areas: gene therapy, cell-based therapy, and growth factor-based therapy. Although cell therapy using MSCs has shown symptomatic improvement in clinical trials, a double-blind clinical trial is still needed to confirm the therapeutic effects.

Conventional treatments for degenerative disc disease have limitations in regenerating the intervertebral disc because of its anatomical characteristics. Hence, researchers are investigating biological therapies for degenerative disc disease. The advances in genetic engineering and fields, such as tissue engineering, are accelerating the development of biological treatments for degenerative discs.Biological treatments for degenerative discs focus on inhibiting cell apoptosis and maintaining cell populations within the disc. Current biological therapies studied include gene therapy, cell therapy, and growth factor therapy. Gene therapy involves the use of RiboNucleic Acid (RNA) interference, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), to inhibit genes related to cell apoptosis and to explore therapeutic targets.Cell therapy, which involves a direct injection of stem cells into the disc, has attracted considerable attention. Mesenchymal stem cells and notochordal cells are commonly used, with mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) being preferred because of their ease of production and anti-inflammatory effects. Several clinical trials using MSCs have reported favorable clinical outcomes, such as alleviating lower back pain, but disc height was not restored. These results were not from randomized trials, and double-blind clinical trials using MSCs are currently underway. Research is ongoing to promote anabolic processes within the nucleus pulposus by injecting growth factors into the disc. Preclinical studies have shown that a biglycan fragment targeting transforming growth factor (TGF)-β can inhibit degenerative changes in the disc, and clinical trials using growth/differentiation factor (GDF)-5 are currently in progress. Research on biological treatments for degenerative discs is being conducted in three main areas: gene therapy, cell-based therapy, and growth factor-based therapy. Although cell therapy using MSCs has shown symptomatic improvement in clinical trials, a double-blind clinical trial is still needed to confirm the therapeutic effects.

Recent advances in robotics technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked increased interest in humanoid robots that resemble humans and social robots capable of interacting socially. Alongside this trend, a new field of robot research called human-robot interaction (HRI) is gaining prominence. The aim of this review paper is to introduce the fundamental concepts of HRI and social robots, examine their current applications in the medical field, and discuss the current and future prospects of HRI and social robots in spinal care. HRI is an interdisciplinary field where robotics, AI, social sciences, design, and various disciplines collaborate organically to develop robots that successfully interact with humans as the ultimate goal. While social robots are not yet widely deployed in clinical environments, ongoing HRI research encompasses various areas such as nursing and caregiving support, social and emotional assistance, rehabilitation and cognitive enhancement for the elderly, medical information provision and education, as well as patient monitoring and data collection. Although still in its early stages, research related to spinal care includes studies on robotic support for rehabilitation exercises, assistance in gait training, and questionnaire-based assessments for spinal pain. Future applications of social robots in spinal care will require diverse HRI research efforts and active involvement from spinal specialists.

Conventional treatments for degenerative disc disease have limitations in regenerating the intervertebral disc because of its anatomical characteristics. Hence, researchers are investigating biological therapies for degenerative disc disease. The advances in genetic engineering and fields, such as tissue engineering, are accelerating the development of biological treatments for degenerative discs.Biological treatments for degenerative discs focus on inhibiting cell apoptosis and maintaining cell populations within the disc. Current biological therapies studied include gene therapy, cell therapy, and growth factor therapy. Gene therapy involves the use of RiboNucleic Acid (RNA) interference, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), to inhibit genes related to cell apoptosis and to explore therapeutic targets.Cell therapy, which involves a direct injection of stem cells into the disc, has attracted considerable attention. Mesenchymal stem cells and notochordal cells are commonly used, with mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) being preferred because of their ease of production and anti-inflammatory effects. Several clinical trials using MSCs have reported favorable clinical outcomes, such as alleviating lower back pain, but disc height was not restored. These results were not from randomized trials, and double-blind clinical trials using MSCs are currently underway. Research is ongoing to promote anabolic processes within the nucleus pulposus by injecting growth factors into the disc. Preclinical studies have shown that a biglycan fragment targeting transforming growth factor (TGF)-β can inhibit degenerative changes in the disc, and clinical trials using growth/differentiation factor (GDF)-5 are currently in progress. Research on biological treatments for degenerative discs is being conducted in three main areas: gene therapy, cell-based therapy, and growth factor-based therapy. Although cell therapy using MSCs has shown symptomatic improvement in clinical trials, a double-blind clinical trial is still needed to confirm the therapeutic effects.

Recent advances in robotics technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked increased interest in humanoid robots that resemble humans and social robots capable of interacting socially. Alongside this trend, a new field of robot research called human-robot interaction (HRI) is gaining prominence. The aim of this review paper is to introduce the fundamental concepts of HRI and social robots, examine their current applications in the medical field, and discuss the current and future prospects of HRI and social robots in spinal care. HRI is an interdisciplinary field where robotics, AI, social sciences, design, and various disciplines collaborate organically to develop robots that successfully interact with humans as the ultimate goal. While social robots are not yet widely deployed in clinical environments, ongoing HRI research encompasses various areas such as nursing and caregiving support, social and emotional assistance, rehabilitation and cognitive enhancement for the elderly, medical information provision and education, as well as patient monitoring and data collection. Although still in its early stages, research related to spinal care includes studies on robotic support for rehabilitation exercises, assistance in gait training, and questionnaire-based assessments for spinal pain. Future applications of social robots in spinal care will require diverse HRI research efforts and active involvement from spinal specialists.

Background/Aims: Recently, patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) who underwent resection have exhibited improved survival outcomes, but comprehensive analysis is limited. We analyzed the trends of contributing factors. Methods: Data of patients with resected PC were retrospectively collected from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database and separately at our institution. Cox regression analysis was conducted with the data from our institution a survival prediction score was calculated using the β coefficients. Results: Comparison between the periods 2013–2015 (n=3,255) and 2016–2018 (n=3,698) revealed a difference in the median overall survival (25.9 months vs not reached, p<0.001) when analyzed with the HIRA database which was similar to our single-center data (2013–2015 [n=119] vs 2016–2018 [n=148], 20.9 months vs 32.2 months, p=0.003). Multivariable analyses revealed six factors significantly associated with better OS, and the scores were as follows: age >70 years, 1; elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9 at diagnosis, 1; R1 resection, 1; stage N1 and N2, 1 and 3, respectively; no adjuvant treatment, 2; FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel after recurrence, 4; and other chemotherapy or supportive care only after recurrence, 5. The rate of R0 resection (69.7% vs 80.4%), use of adjuvant treatment (63.0% vs 74.3%), and utilization of FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (25.2% vs 47.3%) as palliative chemotherapeutic regimen, all increased between the two time periods, resulting in decreased total survival prediction score (mean: 7.32 vs 6.18, p=0.004). Conclusions Strict selection of surgical candidates, more use of adjuvant treatment, and adoption of the latest combination regimens for palliative chemotherapy after recurrence were identified as factors of recent improvement.

Background: Lumbar paraspinal muscles play an important role in maintaining global spinal alignment and are associated with lower back pain; however, only a few studies on the effect of the paraspinal muscles on the surgical outcome exist. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the association of preoperative muscularity and fatty infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles with the outcome of lumbar interbody fusion. Methods: Postoperative clinical and radiographic outcomes were analyzed in 206 patients who underwent surgery for a degenerative lumbar disease. The preoperative diagnosis was spinal stenosis or low-grade spondylolisthesis, and the surgery performed was posterior lumbar interbody fusion or minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.Indications for surgery were a complaint of severe radiating pain that did not improve with conservative treatment and neurological symptoms accompanied by lower extremity motor weakness. Patients with fractures, infections, tumors, or a history of lumbar surgery were excluded from this study. Clinical outcome measures included functional status, measured using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) score for lower back and leg pain. Other radiographic parameters included measures of spinal alignment, including lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, pelvic incidence, C7 sagittal vertical axis, and pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch. Lumbar muscularity (LM) and FI were measured preoperatively using a lumbar magnetic resonance image (MRI). Results: The high LM group showed more significant improvement in VAS score for lower back pain than the low LM group. In contrast, the VAS score for leg pain demonstrated no statistical significance. The high LM group showed more significant improvement in ODI postoperatively than the medium group. The severe FI group showed more significant improvement in ODI postoperatively, whereas the less severe FI group showed more significant improvement in the sagittal balance postoperatively. Conclusion Patients with high LM and mild FI ratio observed on preoperative MRI demonstrated more favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes after lumbar interbody fusion. Therefore, preoperative paraspinal muscle condition should be considered when planning lumbar interbody fusion.