Background: Mounting evidence demonstrates a promising safety and efficacy profile for spinal fusion procedures using cellular bone allograft (CBA). However, limited data exists on fusion outcomes stratified by surgical approach. The current study investigates the effectiveness of CBA in lumbar spinal fusion by surgical approach (ie, anterior, lateral, and posterior approaches).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The current report investigates fusion rates and patient-reported outcomes following lumbar spinal surgery using cellular bone allograft (CBA) in patients with risk factors for non-union.
Methods: A prospective, open label study was conducted in subjects undergoing lumbar spinal fusion with CBA (NCT02969616) to assess fusion success rates and patient-reported outcomes in subjects with risk factors for non-union. Subjects were categorized into low-risk (≤ 1 risk factors) and high-risk (> 1 risk factors) groups.
Background: Autologous bone grafts are the gold standard for spinal fusion; however, harvesting autologous bone can result in donor site infection, hematomas, increased operative time, and prolonged pain. Cellular bone allografts (CBAs) are a viable alternative that avoids the need for bone harvesting and may increase fusion success alone or when used as an adjunct material. The present study examined the efficacy and safety of CBA when used as an adjunct graft material to lumbar arthrodesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComplications resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sequelae have been well documented. These include blood conditions such as lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hypercoagulability. Less common problems that may arise are disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and pancytopenia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: While autologous bone grafts remain the gold standard for spinal fusion procedures, harvesting autologous bone is associated with significant complications, including donor site infection, hematomas, increased operative time, and prolonged pain. Cellular bone allograft (CBA) presents an alternative to autologous bone harvesting, with a favorable efficacy and safety profile. The current study further investigates CBA as an adjunct to lumbar spinal fusion procedures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The goal of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI TLIF) is to restore and maintain disc height and lordosis until arthrodesis occurs, while minimizing muscle disruption and improving recovery time. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiographic outcomes in patients treated with an articulating expandable spacer in MI TLIF to more traditional static spacers.
Methods: This was a multi-site, multi-surgeon, Institutional Review Board-exempt, retrospective clinical study from a prospectively collected database.
Chronic eosinophilic leukemia-not otherwise specified (CEL-NOS) is a rare, aggressive, fatal disease characterized by blood eosinophilia and dysfunction of organs infiltrated with eosinophils. Clinically, the disease manifests with weight loss, cough, weakness, diarrhea, and multi-organ dysfunction that is unresponsive to therapy. We developed a one-time gene therapy for CEL-NOS using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing an anti-eosinophil monoclonal antibody (AAVrh.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Eosinophils are specialized granulocytic effector cells that store and release highly active mediators used in immune defense. Eosinophils are also implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders, including eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a chronic disorder characterized by infiltration of eosinophils into the esophagus and release of mediators that damage tissue, resulting in gastrointestinal morbidity, food impaction, and dysphagia. Treatment with elimination diets and/or topical corticosteroid therapy slow disease progression, but are complicated by adverse effects, limited compliance, and loss of response to therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a life-threatening, autosomal dominant disorder characterized by unpredictable, episodic swelling of the face, upper airway, oropharynx, extremities, genitalia, and gastrointestinal tract. Almost all cases of HAE are caused by mutations in the SERPING1 gene resulting in a deficiency in functional plasma C1 esterase inhibitor (C1EI), a serine protease inhibitor that normally inhibits proteases in the contact, complement, and fibrinolytic systems. Current treatment of HAE includes long-term prophylaxis with attenuated androgens or human plasma-derived C1EI and management of acute attacks with human plasma-derived or recombinant C1EI, bradykinin, and kallikrein inhibitors, each of which requires repeated administration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in co-author name and his affiliation. The author name should be Anthony Russo instead it was published as Antony Russo and his affiliation has been corrected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVeterans transitioning from military to civilian life are vulnerable to a loss of social support and an increase in isolation from their communities, which can exacerbate other difficulties they may be experiencing, such as physical or mental health problems. Veteran Coffee Socials are an innovative community-building pilot intervention designed to foster social support and community between veterans. In seven target communities, certified peer specialists initiated and facilitated weekly "Veteran Coffee Socials"-open peer support groups for veterans, held in local coffee shop or restaurants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeer support groups, also known as "self-help groups," provide a unique tool for helping veterans working through the military-to-civilian transition to achieve higher levels of social support and community integration. The number and variety of community-based peer support groups has grown to the point that there are now more visits to these groups each year than to mental health professionals. The focus of these groups on the provision of social support, the number and variety of groups, the lack of cost, and their availability in the community make them a natural transition tool for building community-based social support.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRe-institution of reflex testing of stool submitted for testing for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) reduced the incidence of healthcare-associated VRE bacteremia and bacteriuria compared to when testing was not in place (1.9 versus 3.3 cases per 10,000 patient days when testing was not in use).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOBJECTIVE To describe the frequency of urine cultures performed in inpatients without additional testing for pyuria DESIGN Retrospective cohort study SETTING A 1,250-bed academic tertiary referral center PATIENTS Hospitalized adults METHODS This study included urine cultures drawn on 4 medical and 2 surgical wards from 2009 to 2013 and in the medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) from 2012 to 2013. Patient and laboratory data were abstracted from the hospital's medical informatics database. We identified catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in the ICUs by routine infection prevention surveillance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDysregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway could contribute to the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders. In this study, phosphorylated Akt concentration was measured in 37 autistic children and 12, gender and age similar neurotypical, controls using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Akt levels were compared to biomarkers known to be associated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-Met (hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor) pathways and severity levels of 19 autism-related symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Med Insights Pediatr
February 2015
Aim: To assess plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in autistic children and to test the hypothesis that there is an association between decreased MPO concentration and probiotic therapy.
Subjects And Methods: Plasma from 49 autistic children (39 males; mean age 11.4 years) (17 with diagnosed gastrointestinal (GI) disease - chronic diarrhea and/or constipation (10 of these GI patients were taking probiotics) and 26 receiving probiotic therapy) and 36 neurotypical controls (29 males; mean age 10.
Background: One in 88 children in the US is thought to have one of the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). ASDs are characterized by social impairments and communication problems. Growth factors and their receptors may play a role in the etiology of ASDs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMechanical ventilation provides an important, life-saving therapy for severely ill patients, but ventilated patients are at an increased risk for complications, poor outcomes, and death during hospitalization.1 The timely measurement of negative outcomes is important in order to identify potential issues and to minimize the risk to patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created an algorithm for identifying Ventilator-Associated Events (VAE) in adult patients for reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: There is support for the role of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the etiology of mood disorders. Recent research has shown that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) modulates GABAergic inhibition and seizure susceptibility. This study was designed to determine and correlate plasma levels of HGF and GABA as well as symptom severity in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiscontinuation of reflex testing of stool submitted for Clostridium difficile testing for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) led to an increase in the number of patients with healthcare-associated VRE bacteremia and bacteriuria (0.21 vs 0.36 cases per 1,000 patient-days; P<.
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