title: Changes in basic metabolic elements associated with the degeneration and ossification of ligamenta flava.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association between levels of basic metabolic elements and degeneration and ossification of the ligamentum flavum (LF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen consecutive patients with degenerative lumbar stenosis, 11 with ossification of the thoracic ligamenta flava, and 11 control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The basic elements of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and fluoride (F) in the specimens were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry, the phosphomolybdic blue method, and a fluoride-selected electrode.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ca content and the ratio of Ca/Mg in the LF specimens increased significantly in the sequence of control, degeneration, and ossification groups. Compared with values for the control group, the Zn, Mn, and Mo contents in the ossification and degeneration groups were significantly lower (P < 0.01); in contrast, Cu content was significantly higher (P < 0.01). As to F, its content in the specimens of the ossification group was much higher than those in the degeneration and control groups (P < 0.01); the F content in the ligamenta flava and sera from patients with fluorosis was also significantly higher than in those from patients without fluorosis (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, there were no differences in the F content in serum from patients without fluorosis; however, the F content in ligamenta flava specimens from patients without fluorosis was significantly higher (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are trends in the contents of basic metabolic elements in the degeneration and ossification of ligamenta flava. These basic metabolic elements may play an important role in this process.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopaedics, Xi-Jing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shannxi 710032, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiang-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming-Quan
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Quan-Ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004602:Elements; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004602:Elements; D010758:Phosphorus; D008345:Manganese; D015032:Zinc; D005459:Fluorides
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