Complementary Effects of Postoperative Delirium and Frailty on 30-Day Outcomes in Spine Surgery.

Background Context: With an increasingly older population, the number of frail patients requiring surgical management for degenerative spine diseases is rapidly increasing. Older patients are at increased risk of developing post-operative delirium (POD), which increases the odds of postoperative morbidity and mortality in spine surgery patients. Therefore, frail spine surgery patients may be at greater risk of developing POD and subsequent adverse outcomes.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease: A Systematic Review.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is effective and safe, but its outcomes for patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease are relatively unclear. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar till November 2023 yielded studies evaluating TAVI in BAV patients. Inclusion criteria were applied, and data were extracted on clinical and procedural outcomes, including echocardiographic measures and complications.

Digital roots: harnessing digital platforms in advancing traditional and complementary medicine for cancer care in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The rise in cancer rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), combined with limited access to Western pharmaceuticals, has sparked growing adoption of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) for cancer treatment in the region. However, many challenges exist, including the lack of reliable evidence-based research on these products, scarcity of standardized documentation as part of cancer registries, limited physician expertise, and negative effects on mortality. Nonetheless, herbal medicines also present opportunities for further research, development, and stakeholder education, potentially benefiting the regional healthcare systems in SSA countries and global health as whole.

Harnessing big data for health equity through a comprehensive public database and data collection framework.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pledged $90 million to help reduce health disparities with data-driven solutions. The funds are being distributed to 1400 community health centers, serving over 30 million Americans. Given these developments, our piece examines the reasons behind the delayed adoption of big data for healthcare equity, recent efforts embracing big data tools, and methods to maximize potential without overburdening physicians.

Abnormalities of the Vertebrobasilar Arterial System Leading to Sleep Disorders.

Introduction: The abnormalities in the vertebrobasilar arterial system such as enlarged, tortuous or dilated arteries and aneurysms can generate pressure and distortion of brain structures especially in the medulla and pons. This brainstem compression by abnormal arteries can lead to various sleep disorders such as sleep related hypoventilation, central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, and positional sleep apnea.

Aim: To highlight brainstem compression due to vascular abnormalities as a cause of sleep disordered breathing.

Non-Dolichoectatic Vertebral Artery Compression of the Medulla: A Comprehensive Literature Review.

Objective: Vertebral artery compression of the medulla is a rare vascular finding that causes a variety of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic to neurological disability. This article presents the largest literature review to date on medullary compression of the vertebral arteries.

Methods: An English literature search was performed using the PubMed database and the keywords vertebral artery tortuosity, vertebral artery compression, and medullary compression.