Wnt signaling drives stromal inflammation in inflammatory arthritis.

The concept that fibroblasts are critical mediators of inflammation is an emerging paradigm. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), they are the main producers of IL-6 as well as a host of other cytokines and chemokines. Their pathologic activation also directly causes cartilage and bone degradation.

Molecular and spatial analysis of tertiary lymphoid structures in Sjogren's syndrome.

Tertiary lymphoid structures play important roles in autoimmune and non-autoimmune conditions. While many of the molecular mechanisms involved in tertiary lymphoid structure formation have been identified, the cellular sources and temporal and spatial relationship remain unknown. Here we use combine single-cell RNA-sequencing, spatial transcriptomics and proteomics of minor salivary glands of patients with Sjogren's disease and Sicca Syndrome, with ex-vivo functional studies to construct a cellular and spatial map of key components involved in the formation and function of tertiary lymphoid structures.

Functional analysis of fibroblasts and macrophages in head and neck paragangliomas.

Background And Aim: Head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGN) are tumours that carry significant morbidity The role of the stroma in the pathogenesis of HNPGN is not completely understood. This study explores the profile of fibroblasts and macrophages in HNPGN.

Methods: Ten patients undergoing HNPGN surgery were recruited.

A Case of Painful Visual Loss - Managing Orbital Compartment Syndrome in the Emergency Department.

Audience: Emergency medicine (EM) residents. This simulation curriculum may also be utilized for senior medical students conducting EM rotations.

Background: Ophthalmologic education represents only a small portion of medical school curriculums and continues to decrease over time, leaving physicians poorly equipped to diagnose and manage eye complaints.

Factors Associated With Return to Work Following Laminoplasty for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To identify factors predictive of returning to work within 90 days of laminoplasty for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Background: DCM is a debilitating condition resulting from spinal canal stenosis and spinal cord compression.

NK cell subsets define sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated, chronic inflammatory condition. With modern therapeutics and evidence-based management strategies, achieving sustained remission is increasingly common. To prevent complications associated with prolonged use of immunosuppressants, drug tapering or withdrawal is recommended.

Ion-combination specific effects driving the enzymatic activity of halophilic alcohol dehydrogenase 2 from in aqueous ionic liquid solvent mixtures.

Biocatalysis in ionic liquids enables novel routes for bioprocessing. Enzymes derived from extremophiles promise greater stability and activity under ionic liquid (IL) influence. Here, we probe the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase 2 from the halophilic archaeon in thirteen different ion combinations for relative activity and analyse the results against molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the same IL systems.

Clinical Effectiveness of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Using Tritanium C Anterior Cervical Cage vs. PEEK Cage.

Introduction: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has proven to be a clinically efficient and cost-effective method for treating patients with degenerative cervical spine conditions. New intervertebral implant products are being developed to improve fusion and stability while decreasing complications. This study assesses the effectiveness of Tritanium C (Tri-C) Anterior Cervical Cage (Stryker) in the treatment of degenerative disk disease (DDD) of the cervical spine compared with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages.

A personalised algorithm predicting the risk of intravenous corticosteroid failure in acute ulcerative colitis.

Background: An episode of acute ulcerative colitis (UC) represents an important watershed moment in a patient's disease course.

Aims: To derive a personalised algorithm for identifying patients at high risk of corticosteroid non-response from variables available at hospital presentation using a large prospectively collected acute UC patient database and machine learning-based techniques.

Methods: We analysed data from 682 consecutive presentations of acute UC.

Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Laminoplasty Versus Laminectomy With Fusion in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate preoperative differences in racial and socioeconomic factors in patients undergoing laminoplasty (LP) versus laminectomy and fusion (LF) for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Summary Of Background Data: DCM is prevalent in the United States, requiring surgical intervention to prevent neurological degeneration.

Impact of occupational characteristics on return to work for employed patients after elective cervical spine surgery.

Objective: In a cohort of employed patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery with an uncomplicated postoperative course, the authors sought to determine the demographic, functional, and occupational characteristics associated with return to work (RTW) following surgery.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data was undertaken of patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery for degenerative disease in the Quality Outcomes Database. Study inclusion criteria were: 1) employed prior to surgery and planned to RTW, 2) no unplanned readmissions, 3) achieved 30% improvement on the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and 4) were satisfied with the surgical outcome at 3 or 12 months postoperatively.

Landscape fire smoke airway exposure impairs respiratory and cardiac function and worsens experimental asthma.

Background: Millions of people are exposed to landscape fire smoke (LFS) globally, and inhalation of LFS particulate matter (PM) is associated with poor respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes. However, how LFS affects respiratory and cardiovascular function is less well understood.

Objective: We aimed to characterize the pathophysiologic effects of representative LFS airway exposure on respiratory and cardiac function and on asthma outcomes.

Synovial 5-Lipoxygenase-Derived Oxylipins Define a Lympho-Myeloid-Enriched Synovium.

Objective: Oxylipins are bioactive lipids derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that modulate inflammation and may remain overexpressed in refractory synovitis. In plasma, they could also be biomarkers of synovial pathology. The aim of this study is to determine if synovial oxylipins in inflamed joints correlate with plasma oxylipins and with synovial histologic patterns.

Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of vestibular schwannoma reveals functionally distinct macrophage subsets.

Background: Vestibular schwannomas (VSs) remain a challenge due to their anatomical location and propensity to growth. Macrophages are present in VS but their roles in VS pathogenesis remains unknown.

Objectives: The objective was to assess phenotypic and functional profile of macrophages in VS with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq).

Tumor-Induced Osteomalacia in a Patient with Crohn's Disease: A Case Report and Approach to Investigating Hypophosphatemia.

Introduction: Hypophosphatemia occurs commonly in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and can cause considerable morbidity. The differential diagnoses in IBD include nutritional causes and hypophosphatemia induced by some formulations of intravenous iron infusions.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 37-year-old man with active Crohn's disease, presenting with difficulty walking and fractures of the vertebrae and calcaneus.

Conditioned Medium of Intervertebral Disc Cells Inhibits Osteo-Genesis on Autologous Bone-Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Osteoblasts.

Low back pain (LBP) is associated with the degeneration of human intervertebral discs (IVDs). Despite progress in the treatment of LBP through spinal fusion, some cases still end in non-fusion after the removal of the affected IVD tissue. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that the remaining IVD cells secrete BMP inhibitors that are sufficient to inhibit osteogenesis in autologous osteoblasts (OBs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

CD200 fibroblasts form a pro-resolving mesenchymal network in arthritis.

Fibroblasts are important regulators of inflammation, but whether fibroblasts change phenotype during resolution of inflammation is not clear. Here we use positron emission tomography to detect fibroblast activation protein (FAP) as a means to visualize fibroblast activation in vivo during inflammation in humans. While tracer accumulation is high in active arthritis, it decreases after tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-17A inhibition.

Impact of Unplanned Readmission on Patient-Reported Outcomes After Cervical Spine Surgery: A National Study of 13 355 Patients.

Background And Objectives: Although risk factors for unplanned readmission after cervical spine surgery have been widely reported, less is known about how readmission itself affects patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Using the Quality Outcomes Database registry of patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery, we sought to (1) determine the impact of unplanned readmission on PROMs and (2) compare the effect of specific readmission reasons on PROMs.

Methods: An observational study was performed using a multi-institution, retrospective registry for patients undergoing cervical spine surgery.

Cancer Therapies and Cardiomyocyte Viability: Which Drugs are Directly Cardiotoxic?

Background: Increased cancer survivorship represents a remarkable achievement for modern medicine. Unfortunately, cancer treatments have inadvertently contributed to cardiovascular (CV) damage, significantly threatening the health and quality of life of patients living with, through and beyond cancer. Without understanding the mechanisms, including whether the cardiotoxicity is due to the direct or indirect effects on cardiomyocytes, prevention and management of cardiotoxicity can pose challenges in many patients.