Patient preferences regarding spine surgical decision making.

Study Design: Patient surveys to determine preferences in surgical decision making.

Objective: To evaluate spine patient preferences regarding physician and patient roles in surgical decision making and to discuss the ethical considerations that arise.

Summary Of Background Data: Since the 1980s, there has been a push toward increasing patient autonomy and self-determination, and away from the paternalism of the past.

Opioid growth factor inhibits intimal hyperplasia in balloon-injured rat carotid artery.

Objective: The endogenous opioid [Met(5)]-enkephalin (opioid growth factor [OGF]) is a tonically active, receptor-mediated inhibitory growth peptide in developing and adult vasculature. This study was designed to determine the role of OGF in neointimal hyperplasia.

Methods: The carotid artery in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats was denuded with balloon catheterization.