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The longitudinal follow-up of the development and course of central nervous system related diseases on a molecular level was unsolved for decades. Direct examination of the pathological state on organ or tissue levels was feasible in the late stage of the disease. Modeling diseases has an important role in studying the pathophysiological mechanism underlying central nervous system disorders but animals used as model organism due to species specific nervous system differences can lead to less valid conclusions in translational research. The model of induced pluripotent stem cells may help to solve partially these types of problems. In recent years this model had a strong effect on understanding the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. Although induced pluripotent stem cells have a low impact on clinical research studies, they have a prominent role in the field of cell physiology and molecular biology research.

Paradigm change has recently taken place in spine surgery with the application of minimally invasive techniques. Minimally invasive techniques have several advantages over the open traditional techniques: less blood loss, preservation of spine muscle integrity, shorter hospitalization, early mobilization, reduced pain levels, lower risk of infection. The presented cases cover following lumbar pathologies: segmental spinal instability, LV-SI grade II. spondylolisthesis, degenerative spondylolisthesis, spine trauma. Unilateral or bilateral mini-open technique was employed in the degenerative cases, depending on symptoms and signes. If unilateral symptoms--pathology was identified, screws and rod were implanted percutaneously on the side contralateral to the pathology. The segmental fusion between vertebral bodies was always assured by a cage and autologous bone. The presented trauma case involved combined AO type A2 and B fractures. The anterior column was strengthened with vertebral body stents filled with bone cement, the posterior column was fixed with a percutaneously implanted screw rod system. Insertion of stents in the collapsed vertebra significantly increased the vertebral body height and also improved the stability of the spine. Minimally invasive spine surgery techniques appear more advantageous over the traditional open spine surgery that necessitates for large midline approaches.