The Efficacy of Prophylactic Vancomycin in Decreasing Surgical Site Infections in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients: A Large Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: The use of vancomycin powder in spine surgery has been supported in adult populations, however, its efficacy in preventing postoperative surgical site infections in AIS patients is yet to be determined.

Methods: A multi-center review was conducted from June 2010 to February 2019, using ICD and CPT codes to identify AIS patients who underwent primary PSF. The patients were divided into two groups: the vancomycin cohort (receiving local vancomycin powder prior to wound closure) and the non-vancomycin cohort.

Is severe medial knee osteoarthritis a risk factor for dissatisfaction following medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy in patients 55 years of age or younger?

Introduction: Although previous studies have shown that severe medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) (Kellgren-Lawrence grade IV) is a risk factor for patient dissatisfaction following medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO), it is uncommon to perform arthroplasty as a primary surgical option in patients 55 years of age or younger. Thus, the purpose of our study was to evaluate whether severe medial knee OA is a risk factor for dissatisfaction following MOWHTO depending on patient age based on a cutoff of 55 years.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 270 consecutive patients who underwent MOWHTO with a minimum of 2 years of follow up.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are both recognized as effective treatments for depression when applied individually. However, it is unknown whether rTMS combined with tDCS has better efficacy in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Objective: To investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of rTMS, tDCS, tDCS + rTMS, and sham tDCS + sham rTMS after 2 weeks of treatment in patients with MDD.

IL-23 inhibition for chronic inflammatory disease.

Biological monoclonal antibody drugs inhibit overactive cytokine signalling that drives chronic inflammatory disease in different organ systems. In the last 10 years, interleukin (IL)-23 inhibitors have attained an important position in the treatment of psoriatic skin and joint disease as well as inflammatory bowel diseases. Addressing an upstream pathological mechanism shared between these disorders, this drug class has high efficacy rates and a durable response that extends dosing intervals up to 3 months.

The collagen-augmented chondrogenesis technique demonstrates superior cartilage repair compared to microfracture for cartilage defects of the knee joint, regardless of age.

Purpose: This study investigated whether age affects clinical outcomes and cartilage repair quality in patients who underwent collagen-augmented chondrogenesis.

Methods: The study included patients who underwent either the collagen-augmented chondrogenesis technique or microfracture for cartilage defects of the knee joint of International Cartilage Repair Society grade 3 or 4. Patients were categorised according to an age threshold of 50 years and the treatment method, whether collagen-augmented chondrogenesis technique or microfracture.

Long-term Outcomes of Intramedullary Nails in Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Fewer Surgeries and Longer Survival Times With Telescoping Rods in Patients With Over Ten Years Follow-up.

Objective: Intramedullary rodding of lower extremity long bones in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a widely accepted technique for fracture treatment and prevention. Previous small studies with short to medium-term follow-up have shown that telescoping rods have longer survival times compared with static rods. However, there are no long-term studies (10 or more years) longitudinally evaluating the results of these procedures.

Pitavastatin attenuates hypercholesterolemia-induced decline in serotonin transporter availability.

Introduction: Hypercholesterolemia is associated with increased inflammation and impaired serotonin neurotransmission, potentially contributing to depressive symptoms. However, the role of statins, particularly pitavastatin, in modulating serotonin transporter (SERT) function within this context remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate whether pitavastatin counteracts the neurobiological effects of hypercholesterolemia.

Differentiating hand gestures from forearm muscle activity using machine learning.

This study explored the use of forearm electromyography data to distinguish eight hand gestures. The neural network (NN) and random forest (RF) algorithms were tested on data from 10 participants. As window sizes increase from 200 ms to 1000 ms, the algorithm accuracies increased with RF from 85% to 97% due to the increased temporal resolution.

Advancements in Interventional Pulmonology: Harnessing Ultrasound Techniques for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment.

Medical ultrasound has emerged as an indispensable tool within interventional pulmonology, revolutionizing diagnostic and procedural practices through its non-invasive nature and real-time visualization capabilities. By harnessing the principles of sound waves and employing a variety of transducer types, ultrasound facilitates enhanced accuracy and safety in procedures such as transthoracic needle aspiration and pleural effusion drainage, consequently leading to improved patient outcomes. Understanding the fundamentals of ultrasound physics is paramount for clinicians, as it forms the basis for interpreting imaging results and optimizing interventions.

Preexisting Skin-Resident CD8 and γδ T-cell Circuits Mediate Immune Response in Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Predict Immunotherapy Efficacy.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer with a ∼50% response rate to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. To identify predictive biomarkers, we integrated bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) with spatial transcriptomics from a cohort of 186 samples from 116 patients, including bulk RNA-seq from 14 matched pairs pre- and post-ICB. In nonresponders, tumors show evidence of increased tumor proliferation, neuronal stem cell markers, and IL1.

Deliberate Practice as an Effective Method for Reducing Diagnostic Error in Identifying Burn and Bruise Injuries Suspicious for an Abusive Injury.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of an education intervention for reducing physician diagnostic error in identifying pediatric burn and bruise injuries suspicious for abuse, and to determine case-specific variables associated with an increased risk of diagnostic error.

Study Design: This was a multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of pediatricians and other front-line physicians who treat acutely injured children in the United States and Canada were eligible for participation.

The role for endobronchial biopsy in the era of endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis: a single center experience.

Background And Aim: Endobronchial biopsy (EBBX) has been reported to increase diagnostic yield for pulmonary sarcoidosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the diagnostic yield for EBBX following endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).

Methods: We identified a cohort of patients in the University of Minnesota Sarcoidosis Registry who had EBBx and EBUS-TBNA as part of workup for abnormal chest imaging.

Cognitive enhancing effect of rTMS combined with tDCS in patients with major depressive disorder: a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction is one of the common symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been studied separately in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in MDD patients. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of rTMS combined with tDCS as a new therapy to improve neurocognitive impairment in MDD patients.

Dan forms condensates in neuroblasts and regulates nuclear architecture and progenitor competence in vivo.

Genome organization is thought to underlie cell type specific gene expression, yet how it is regulated in progenitors to produce cellular diversity is unknown. In Drosophila, a developmentally-timed genome reorganization in neural progenitors terminates competence to produce early-born neurons. These events require downregulation of Distal antenna (Dan), part of the conserved pipsqueak DNA-binding superfamily.

Frequency of Persistent Opioid Use 6 Months After Exposure to IV Opioids in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: As rates of opioid use disorder in the general population have increased, some have questioned whether IV opioids should be used routinely for treatment of acute severe pain in the emergency department (ED).

Objectives: We determined the incidence of persistent opioid use among opioid-naïve patients exposed to IV opioids in the ED.

Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted in two EDs in the Bronx, NY.