Dopaminergic Treatment and Episodic Memory in Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-analysis of the Literature.

To date, few studies have focused on the benefits of dopaminergic treatment on episodic memory functions in patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD). We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effects of pharmacological therapy with dopamine in alleviating episodic memory deficits in Parkinson's patients. A secondary aim was to evaluate the role of dopamine in episodic memory circuits and thus in different memory systems.

LIV selection in 'tweener' patients treated with magnetically controlled growing rods vs. posterior spinal fusion.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the LIV selection in 'tweener' patients treated with MCGR or PSF.

Methods: A multicenter pediatric spine database was queried for ambulatory patients ages 8-11 years treated by MCGR or PSF with at least 2-year follow-up. The relationship between the LIV and preoperative spinal height, curve magnitude, and implant type were assessed.

Comparing ACDF Outcomes by Cervical Spine Level: A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Previous research suggests a relationship between complications associated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and level involvement; however, there is limited research comparing postoperative outcomes of upper cervical fusions (UCFs) with middle-to-lower cervical fusions (MLCFs). This study aims to compare the outcomes of UCF with MLCF.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review was conducted on 835 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion patients from 2012 to 2022.

Rule breakers achieve successful shoulder balance: unraveling the myth of upper instrumented vertebrae selection criteria.

Purpose: This study compared shoulder balance outcomes in "rule breakers" (RB) vs. "rule followers" (RF) based on commonly utilized upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV) selection guidelines.

Methods: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients (Lenke 1-4) who underwent posterior spine fusion (PSF) with minimum 2-year follow-up had radiographic measurement of shoulder balance including first rib angle (FRA), T1 tilt, coracoid process height difference (CPHD), and clavicle angle (CA) at preop, postop, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year timepoints.

Does postoperative immobilization affect final alignment of pediatric femur fractures treated with flexible intramedullary nailing?

Flexible intramedullary nail (FIN) fixation of pediatric femur fractures is a popular method of fixation in children. Typical immobilization options include spica casting, long leg cast, knee immobilizers, or no immobilization and the decision to use each is usually left to surgeon preference. Our primary aim is to evaluate whether different postoperative immobilization status influences outcomes, namely radiographic alignment at the time of healing.