In Obesity, Esophagogastric Junction Fat Impairs Esophageal Barrier Function and Dilates Intercellular Spaces via HIF-2α.

Background & Aims: Dilated intercellular space (DIS) in esophageal epithelium, a sign of impaired barrier function, is a characteristic finding of GERD that also is found in obese patients without GERD. We have explored molecular mechanisms whereby adipose tissue products might impair esophageal barrier integrity.

Methods: We established cultures of visceral fat obtained during foregut surgery from obese and non-obese patients.

Incidence and predictors of readmission following hospitalization for thoracic disc herniation.

Objective: Symptomatic thoracic disc herniations (TDH) are relatively rare and can be discovered incidentally on neuroimaging. Surgical interventions for TDH represent only 4 % of all surgeries performed for intervertebral disc pathologies, which are most commonly indicated for myelopathy and radiculopathy. Given the absence of publications on rates of readmissions following hospitalization for TDH, we aim to establish baseline metrics for the 90-day all-cause readmission rates and pertinent risk factors.

Extended Reality Gaming for Exercise and Mindfulness Throughout Pediatric Cancer Rehabilitation: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Pediatric patients with cancer have limited options to self-manage their health while they are undergoing treatments in the hospital and after they are discharged to their homes. Extended reality (ER) using head-mounted displays has emerged as an immersive method of improving pain and mental health and promoting health-enhancing physical activity among a variety of clinical groups, but there is currently no established protocol for improving both physical and mental health in pediatric cancer rehabilitation.

Objective: This phase I, pilot, feasibility randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the potential effects of a 14-week ER program on physical activity participation and indicators of health among pediatric patients with cancer who undergo bone marrow transplantation.

The Association of Bone Mineral Density with Distal Junctional Kyphosis and Distal Junctional Failure after Multilevel Spine Fusions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) and distal junctional failure (DJF) are known complications of adult multilevel spinal fusion surgery. Previous literature has extensively investigated proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and proximal junctional failure (PJF), but DJK and DJF are relatively under-studied. This study investigates the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and DJK/DJF via a Systematic Review (SR) and Meta-Analysis (MA).