Breast and cervical cancer screening in females with spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Context: Breast and cervical cancer are among the most common types of cancer, with breast cancer being a leading cause of death in females. Participation in preventive cancer screening is thought to be lower for females with spinal cord injury (SCI) compared to the general population, which could lead to late diagnosis and increased mortality.

Objective: To summarize evidence on the prevalence of breast and cervical cancer, adherence to cancer screening recommendations, and factors influencing participation in preventive programs among females with SCI.

Clinical Subsets of Central Cord Syndrome: Is It a Distinct Entity from Other Forms of Incomplete Tetraplegia for Research?

Central cord syndrome (CCS) is the most prevalent and debated incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) syndrome, with its hallmark feature being more pronounced weakness of the upper extremities than of the lower extremities. Varying definitions encapsulate multiple clinical features under the single umbrella term of CCS, complicating evaluation of its frequency, prognosis discussions, and outcomes research. Often, people with CCS are excluded from research protocols, as it is thought to have a favorable prognosis, but the vague nature of CCS raises doubts about the validity of this practice.

Motor Control Changes after Utilizing Upper Extremity Myoelectric Powered Wearable Orthotics in Persons with Acute SCI.

Following spinal cord injury (SCI), upper extremity (UE) weakness may impede one's ability to carry out activities of daily living (ADLs). Such a limitation drastically lowers a person's level of independence. Additionally, therapy and the field of assistive technology continue to place a strong premium on the restoration of UE motor function in patients with SCI.

Inpatient rehabilitation outcomes in patients with the new diagnosis of COVID-19 tractopathy: a case series.

Study Design: Retrospective Case Series.

Objectives: Describe the inpatient rehabilitation outcomes of four patients with COVID-19 tractopathy.

Setting: Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States of America.

Central cord syndrome definitions, variations and limitations.

Central cord syndrome (CCS) is the most common, yet most controversial, among the different spinal cord injury (SCI) incomplete syndromes. Since its original description in 1954, many variations have been described while maintaining the core characteristic of disproportionate weakness in the upper extremities compared to the lower extremities. Several definitions have been proposed in an attempt to quantify this difference, including a widely accepted criterion of ≥10 motor points in favor of the lower extremities.

The International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury: Classification Accuracy and Challenges.

Background: Successful utilization of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) requires a comprehensive understanding of its rules, terminology, and several complex concepts. There have been no studies investigating classification accuracy since the newest ISNCSCI revision (2019).

Objectives: To evaluate classification accuracy of SCI professionals using the 2019 ISNCSCI edition, identify common mistakes and areas of confusion, and assess associations between experience in ISNCSCI classification and performance.

Transcutaneous spinal stimulation in patients with intrathecal baclofen pump delivery system: A preliminary safety study.

Objective: To determine the effect of transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) on an implanted intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Prospective clinical trial.

Participants: Five individuals with chronic traumatic SCI, >18 years of age, and an anteriorly implanted Medtronic SynchroMed™ II ITB pump delivery system.

Going Virtual: A Virtual Summer Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Externship Experience for Medical Students.

Opportunities for early medical student exposure to the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) are desirable for promoting the field as a career choice and are useful for introducing students to the care of people with disabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical education and caused the cancellation of many in-person clinical programs, including the Medical Student Summer Clinical Externship in PM&R supported by the Association of Academic Physiatrists. This article describes the process by which an in-person summer clinical externship program was effectively converted into a Virtual PM&R Experience using a combination of independent assignments and small-group sessions.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Syndromes: Current Incidence and Quantifiable Criteria for Classification.

The demographics of acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) have changed over the last few decades, with a significant increase in age at the time of injury, a higher percentage of injuries caused by falls, and incomplete tetraplegia becoming the most common type of neurological impairment. Incomplete SCI syndromes, most specifically central cord syndrome (CCS), anterior cord syndrome (ACS) and Brown-Sequard syndrome (BSS), constitute a substantial proportion of incomplete tetraplegia and SCI overall. Nevertheless, the updated incidence of these syndromes is not well known, and their estimates vary considerably, largely because of methodological inconsistencies across previous studies.

Characterizing Natural Recovery after Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

The predominant tool used to predict outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI), in association with the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS). These measures have evolved based on analyses of large amounts of longitudinal neurological recovery data published in numerous separate studies. This article reviews and synthesizes published data on neurological recovery from multiple sources, only utilizing data in which the sacral sparing definition was applied for determination of completeness.

Updates of the International Standards for Neurologic Classification of Spinal Cord Injury: 2015 and 2019.

The International Standards for Neurologic Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) are the most widely used classification system in spinal cord injury medicine. The purpose of the ISNCSCI is to ensure accurate and consistent communication among patients, clinicians, and researchers. Since its first publication in 1982, the ISNCSCI has continued to evolve with the latest updates and revisions published in 2015 and 2019.

Combination of a MEK inhibitor at sub-MTD with a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor significantly suppresses growth of lung adenocarcinoma tumors in Kras(G12D-LSL) mice.

The role of PI3K and MAPK pathways in tumor initiation and progression is well established; hence, several inhibitors of these pathways are currently in different stages of clinical trials. Recent studies identified a PI3K/mTOR (PF-04691502) and a MEK inhibitor (PD-0325901) with strong potency and efficacy in different cell lines and tumor models. PD-0325901, however, showed adverse effects when administered at or above MTD (maximum tolerated dose) in the clinic.