Clinical Outcomes and Radiographic Results of Prone Transpsoas Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Single-Institution Case Series.

Background And Objectives: This study assessed feasibility, radiologic parameters, and clinical outcomes in patients who underwent the prone transpsoas (PTP) approach for lateral lumbar interbody fusion.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included consecutive patients who underwent PTP performed by a single surgeon. Data were collected including age, sex, body mass index, operative levels, retraction time, complications, radiographic measurements, and visual analog scale pain scores.

The impact of severe obesity on image quality and ventricular function assessment in echocardiography and cardiac MRI.

This study sought to evaluate the impact of severe obesity on image quality and ventricular function assessment in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (MRI) and trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE). We studied 100 consecutive patients who underwent clinically indicated cardiac MRI and TTE studies within 12 months between July 2017 and December 2020; 50 (28 females and 22 males; 54.5 ± 18.

Two-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Performed Using a Three-Dimensional Exoscope.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common neurosurgical procedure. Portions of the procedure, such as the discectomy, foraminotomy, graft placement, and plate placement, are often performed using operating microscopes to maximize visualization and minimize neurovascular injury. Although standard operating microscopes offer superb visualization, they lack ergonomic and educational utility.

Novel Use of Bilateral Prone Transpsoas Approach for the Treatment of Transforaminal Interbody Fusion Pseudarthrosis and Interbody Cage Subsidence.

Background And Objectives: Pseudarthrosis is a complication after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) that leads to recurrent symptoms and potential revision surgery. Subsidence of the interbody adds to the complexity of surgical revision. In addition, we report a novel technique for the treatment of TLIF pseudarthrosis with subsidence and propose an approach algorithm for TLIF cage removal.

Examining the associations between control (primary and secondary) appraisals and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in Malaysian and Australian trauma survivors.

Background: Little research has considered the influence of culture on control appraisals in the context of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether cultural group moderated the relationship between control (primary and secondary) appraisals and PTSD symptoms in trauma survivors from Western (Australian) and Asian (Malaysian) cultural contexts.

Methods: Trauma survivors (107 Australian with European cultural heritage; 121 Malaysian with Malay, Indian or Chinese cultural heritage) completed an online survey assessing PTSD symptoms and appraisals of control.

Alkaline surface treatment and time-resolved reading of mn-doped nanocrystal signal transducer for enhanced bioassay sensitivity.

Recently, Mn-doped semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) with high brightness, long lifetimes, and low-energy excitation are emerging for time-resolved luminescence biosensing/imaging. Following our previous work on Mn-doped NCs, in this work we developed poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (PSMA)-encapsulated Mn-doped AgZnInS/ZnS NCs as signal transducers for immunoassay of capsular polysaccharide (CPS), a surface antigen and also a biomarker of Burkholderia pseudomallei which causes a fatal disease called melioidosis. To enhance the assay sensitivity, a surface treatment for PSMA-encapsulated NCs (NC-probes) was performed to promote the presence of carboxyl groups that help conjugate more anti-CPS antibodies to the surface of NC-probes and thus enhance bioassay signals.

Dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane use in emergent craniectomies shows minimal dural adhesions.

Decompressive craniectomies (DCs) are routinely performed neurosurgical procedures to emergently treat increased intracranial pressure secondary to multiple aetiologies, such as subdural haematoma, epidural haematoma, or malignant oedema in the setting of acute infarction. The DC procedure typically induces epidural fibrosis post-cranial resection, resulting in adherence of the dura to both the brain internally and skin flap externally. This becomes especially problematic in the setting of skull flap replacement for cranioplasty as adherences can lead to bridging vein tear, damage to the underlying brain cortex, and other postoperative complications.

Preexisting anticoagulation is an independent predictor of mortality in geriatric trauma patients - a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Preexisting anticoagulation is common among geriatric trauma patients. Geriatric trauma patients have a higher risk of mortality compared to younger patients. We sought to evaluate the association of preexisting anticoagulation with mortality in a group of geriatric trauma patients.

Complications of the Prone Transpsoas Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Lumbar Spine Disease: A Multicenter Study.

Background And Objectives: The prone transpsoas (PTP) approach for lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is a novel technique for degenerative lumbar spine disease. However, there is a paucity of information in the literature on the complications of this procedure, with all published data consisting of small samples. We aimed to report the intraoperative and postoperative complications of PTP in the largest study to date.

Review of Mn-Doped Semiconductor Nanocrystals for Time-Resolved Luminescence Biosensing/Imaging.

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have been developed for decades and are widely applied in biosensing/imaging. However, their biosensing/imaging applications are mainly based on luminescence-intensity measurement, which suffers from autofluorescence in complex biological samples and thus limits the biosensing/imaging sensitivities. It is expected for these NCs to be further developed to gain luminescence features that can overcome sample autofluorescence.

Radiographic alignment outcomes after the single-position prone transpsoas approach: a multi-institutional retrospective review of 363 cases.

Objective: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the changes in radiographic spinopelvic parameters in a large cohort of patients undergoing the prone transpsoas approach to the lumbar spine.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective observational cohort study was performed for all patients who underwent lateral lumber interbody fusion via the single-position prone transpsoas (PTP) approach. Spinopelvic parameters from preoperative and first upright postoperative radiographs were collected, including lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI), and pelvic tilt (PT).

Chopping techniques in cataract surgery.

Purpose Of Review: To explain reasons for phaco chop, outline strategies for transitioning to chop, and summarize recent articles discussing chopping techniques.

Recent Findings: New variations of phaco chop may help with managing dense cataracts. Studies generally continue to show similar phaco time between traditional manual chopping and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.

Does culture moderate the relationships between rumination and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression?

Brooding rumination is positively associated with symptoms of both depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, non-clinical cross-cultural research indicates that culture may influence these associations. This study aimed to examine the moderating effect of cultural group (Australian versus Malaysian) on the associations between brooding rumination and symptoms of depression and PTSD.

Heparin Resistance in SARS-CoV-2 Infected Patients with Venous Thromboembolism.

Heparin resistance has been reported in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients receiving intravenous unfractionated heparin (IV UFH). Anti-Xa monitoring of IV UFH has been suggested over activated partial thromboplastin times due to laboratory interference from elevated factor VIII and fibrinogen levels in COVID-19 patients. Information on heparin resistance with anti-Xa monitoring in COVID-19 patients with confirmed venous thromboembolism (VTE) is lacking.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum Masquerading as Wound Infection in the Early Postoperative Period After Lumbar Spine Deformity Correction Surgery.

The development of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) after surgical site trauma is a rare, poorly understood immunologic phenomenon. PG is an immunologic disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the dermis that can manifest with skin necrosis and ulceration. This rare phenomenon can mimic surgical site infection (SSI) when it occurs in the perioperative period and in the region of surgical wounds.

A Compact and Sensitive Time-Resolved-Optical-Reader for Bioassay Using Low-Energy Excitable and Long-Lived-Fluorescence Nanolabels.

Time-resolved fluorescence measurement, a technique utilized to improve sensitivity for fluorescence detection, is becoming more accessible due to the recent development of bright nanolabels with long fluorescence lifetimes and low-energy excitation. Currently, instruments taking advantage of this technique for broader applications (in-field or point-of-care testing) are lagging behind in their development. In this work, a low-cost, compact, and sensitive time-resolved-optical-reader was developed aiming to advance such a technique for wider applications.

Optical Properties of Mn-Doped CuGa(In)S-ZnS Nanocrystals (NCs): Effects of Host NC and Mn Concentration.

Time-gated fluorescence measurement (TGFM) using long-life fluorescence probes is a highly sensitive fluorescence-measurement technology due to the inherently high signal-to-background ratio. Although many probes for TGFM such as luminescent-metal-complex probes and lanthanide-doped nanoparticles are in development, they generally need sophisticated/expensive instruments for biosensing/imaging applications. Probes possessing high brightness, low-energy (visible light) excitation, and long lifetimes up to milliseconds of luminescence, are highly desired in order to simplify the optical and electronic design of time-gated instruments (e.

Examining Cultural Differences in the Associations between Appraisals and Emotion Regulation and PostTraumatic Stress Disorder in Malaysian and Australian Trauma Survivors.

Appraisals and emotional regulation play a central role in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite research demonstrating cultural differences in everyday appraisals and emotion regulation, little research has investigated the influence of culture on these processes in PTSD. This study examined cultural differences in the associations between appraisals, emotion regulation and PTSD symptoms using trauma survivors from an individualistic Western culture (Australia) and a collectivistic Asian culture (Malaysia).

Mn-Doped AgZnInS/ZnS Nanocrystals (NCs): Effects of Zn Etching on the NC Optical Properties.

Mn-doped I(II)-III-VI NCs (e.g., Mn-doped AgZnInS/ZnS NCs) possessing low-energy excitation, high brightness and long fluorescence lifetimes have been desired for time-gated fluorescence biosensing/imaging.

Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features and the risk of malignancy in thyroid cytology: Data from Singapore.

Introduction: The impact of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) on the risk of malignancy (ROM) in fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) per The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology has not been well reported in Singapore.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 821 thyroid nodules with preoperative FNAC from 788 patients out of 1,279 consecutive thyroidectomies performed between January 2010 and August 2016 in a tertiary general hospital in Singapore. Possible cases of NIFTP were reviewed for reclassification and the impact of NIFTP on ROM was analysed.

A Retrospective Analysis of the L3-L4 Disc and Spinopelvic Parameters on Outcomes in Thoracolumbar Fusion: Was Art Steffee Right?

Objective: To determine whether the L3-L4 disc angle may be a surrogate marker for global lumbar alignment in thoracolumbar fusion surgery and to explore the relationship between radiographic and patient-reported outcomes after thoracolumbar fusion surgery.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who had undergone a lumbar fusion involving levels from T9 to pelvis. EuroQol-Five Dimension (EQ-5D-3L) scores and adverse events including adjacent-segment disease and degeneration, pseudoarthrosis, proximal junctional kyphosis, stenosis, and reoperation were collected.

Three-Dimensional Insights into Interfacial Segregation at the Atomic Scale in a Nanocrystalline Glass-Ceramic.

The distribution of dopant atoms plays a key role in the effectiveness of doping, thereby requiring delicate characterizations. In this study, we found that energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) techniques in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) were not adequate to reveal the distribution of yttrium and the chemical composition of the ZrO/SiO heterophase interface in an yttrium-doped ZrO-SiO nanocrystalline glass-ceramic. Atom probe tomography (APT) is rarely utilized to characterize ceramics due to some inherent difficulties.

Visualization of Collagen-Mineral Arrangement Using Atom Probe Tomography.

Bone is a functional material comprised of mainly two phases: an organic collagenous phase and an inorganic mineral phase. Collagen-mineral arrangement has implications for bone function, aging, and disease. However, theories on collagen-mineral arrangement have been confined to studies with low spatial and/or compositional resolution resulting in an extensive debate over the location of mineral with respect to collagen.

Steroids Significantly Decrease Postoperative Postural Hypotension in Total Knee Replacement.

Total knee replacement (TKR) is one of the most common orthopaedic procedures performed, and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been developed and incorporated into inpatient surgical pathways to improve patient outcomes. Under ERAS recommendations, multimodal prophylaxis has been used to help manage postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following TKR. Dexamethasone is one of the commonly used for this and the anti-inflammatory properties could depress vagal activity, reducing postural hypotension (PH).