Safety and Feasibility of Umbilical Cord Wharton's Jelly Allograft Injections for Lumbar Pain

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein made by the liver. The level of CRP increases when there's inflammation in the body. A simple blood test can check your C-reactive protein level.

C-reactive protein is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Results equal to or greater than 8 mg/L or 10 mg/L are considered high. Range values vary depending on the lab doing the test.

A high test result is a sign of inflammation. It may be due to serious infection, injury or chronic disease. Your health care provider may recommend other tests to determine the cause.

Sed rate, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), is a blood test that can show inflammatory activity in the body.

Because a sed rate test can't pinpoint the problem that's causing inflammation in your body, it's often accompanied by other blood tests, such as the C-reactive protein (CRP) test.

ESR is measured in millimeters per hour (mm/hr). The normal values are:

0 to 15 mm/hr in men 0 to 20 mm/hr in women

ALT is an enzyme that converts proteins into energy for the liver cells. Aspartate transaminase (AST). AST is an enzyme that helps the body break down amino acids. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP). ALP is an enzyme important for breaking down proteins. Albumin and total protein. Albumin is a protein made in the liver. Bilirubin. Bilirubin is a substance produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). Higher-than-usual may mean liver damage. L-lactate dehydrogenase (LD). LD is an enzyme found in the liver. Prothrombin time (PT). PT is the time it takes your blood to clot. Standard range:

Alanine transaminase (ALT). ALT is an enzyme that converts proteins into energy for the liver cells. Standard range:

ALT. 7 to 55 units per liter U/L.

AST is an enzyme that helps the body break down amino acids. . Standard range: AST 8 to 48 units per liter

ALP is an enzyme important for breaking down proteins. Standard range: 40 to 129 units per liter

Albumin is a protein made in the liver. Normal range is 34 to 54 grams/liter.

Creatinine is a waste product that comes from the digestion of protein in your food and the normal breakdown of muscle tissue. It is removed from the blood through your kidneys. Everyone has some creatinine in their blood, but too much can be a sign of a possible kidney problem. Normal range is 0.6-1.3 milligrams/deciliter

blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test reveals important information about how well your kidneys are working. A BUN test measures the amount of urea nitrogen that's in your blood. Normal BUN is 6-20 milligrams/deciliter.

The SF-36 is used as an assessment tool to measure a quality of life. The SF-36 is comprehensive health survey with a total of 36 questions divided into eight categories, including physical functioning (10 items), bodily pain (2 items), role limitations due to physical health problems (4 items), role limitations due to personal or emotional problems (4 items), emotional well-being (5 items), social functioning (2 items), energy/fatigue (4 items), and general health perceptions (5 items). The score averages for each category range from 0 to 100, with a higher score defining a more favorable outcome.

The Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a subjective measure in which individuals rate their pain on an eleven-point numerical scale. The scale is composed of 0 (no pain at all) to 10 (worst imaginable pain).

The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a common questionnaire used to evaluate functional outcomes and physical functioning in patients with acute or chronic low back pain. This questionnaire yields a subjective percentage score that grades the level of physical function or disability. The cumulative score indicates the patient as functioning at a point on a range from minimal disability to bedbound. Each item consists of 6 statements (scores 0-5) and is scored by the patient in reference to his/her current functional status. A sum is formed from the points given, which is then divided by the maximum value (50 points). If only one question remains unanswered, the maximum value drops accordingly to 45 points and the score can be evaluated normally. The resulting score is then multiplied by 100 to provide a percentage which is referred to as the total score which ranges from 1 - 100%, with higher scores indicating a more severe disability.

The RMQ is a 24-item patient-reported outcome measure that inquires about pain-related disability resulting from low back pain. Items are scored 0 if left blank or 1 if endorsed, for a total RMQ score ranging from 0 to 24; higher scores represent higher levels of pain-related disability.

This is a patient-specific questionnaire that requires patients to identify up to five important activities that they are having difficulty with as a result of their condition. The patient rates difficulty on an 11-point numerical scale (0 = unable to perform the activity; 10 = able to perform activity at the same level as before the injury or problem). The average score for up to five activities is established as the PSFS score. This scale has been established as reliable, valid, and responsive in a number of patient populations, including patients with low back pain. Higher scores indicate better functioning.