The gap between surgeon goal and achieved sagittal alignment in adult cervical spine deformity surgery.

Objective: Malalignment following cervical spine deformity (CSD) surgery can negatively impact outcomes and increase complications. Despite the growing ability to plan alignment, it remains unclear whether preoperative goals are achieved with surgery. The objective of this study was to assess how good surgeons are at achieving their preoperative goal alignment following CSD surgery.

Insights into cultural and compliance challenges in type 2 diabetes care: A qualitative study of Moroccan and Belgian patients in Belgium.

Aims: To explore factors that may contribute to a possible reduced compliance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with a migrant (i.e. North African) background living in a western society.

Novel method of iliac accessory rods for rod fracture prevention in adult deformity surgery: a case series of 82 patients with outcomes and complications.

Objective: Primary rod fracture after surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) is a leading cause of revision, with recent prospective multicenter fracture rates reported at 11%-14% by 2 years. Consequently, the addition of supplemental rods has been explored to reduce fractures. Here the authors describe their experience with a novel iliac accessory rod technique in which each accessory rod anchors to an independent iliac bolt caudally via lateral connector, and attaches to the primary rod rostrally via side-to-side connector.

Use of Patient-Specific Interbody Cages Through a Minimally Invasive Lateral Approach for Unstable Lumbar Spondylodiskitis.

Background And Objectives: Patients with diskitis/osteomyelitis who do not respond to medical treatment or develop spinal instability/deformity may warrant surgical intervention. Irregular bony destruction due to the infection can pose a challenge for spinal reconstruction. The authors report a lateral approach using patient-specific interbody cages combined with posterior or lateral instrumentation to achieve spinal reconstruction for spinal instability/deformity from spondylodiskitis.

Profiling cells with DELs: Small molecule fingerprinting of cell surfaces.

DNA-encoded small molecule library technology has recently emerged as a new paradigm for identifying ligands against drug targets. To date, it has been used to identify ligands against targets that are soluble or overexpressed on cell surfaces. Here, we report applying cell-based selection methods to profile surfaces of mouse C2C12 myoblasts and myotube cells in an unbiased, target agnostic manner.

Neighbourhood deprivation, distance to nearest comprehensive stroke centre and access to endovascular thrombectomy for ischemic stroke: a population-based study.

Background: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has revolutionized ischemic stroke care. We aimed to assess whether neighbourhood socioeconomic status is predictive of access to EVT after receipt of alteplase for ischemic stroke among patients living in Alberta, Canada, and whether this relation is mediated by the distance a person lives to the nearest comprehensive stroke centre (CSC).

Methods: We performed a retrospective study including all people older than 18 years living in Alberta who were admitted to hospital with an ischemic stroke and who received intravenous alteplase treatment between Jan.

Stratification and Adaptation of Malaria Control Interventions in Chad.

Malaria remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Chad. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that endemic countries stratify malaria to guide interventions. Thus, the Republic of Chad has initiated a stratification process based on malaria incidence with the aim of defining transmission risk and proposing interventions.

Missed pituitary microadenoma during endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing with symptom relief: illustrative case.

Background: Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) is a rare headache disorder that has been associated with pituitary adenomas. Resection has been posited to be curative.

Observations: A 60-year-old female presented with a 10-year history of SUNCT, which had been medically refractory.

Bioavailability of calcium in an enriched postbiotic system compared to calcium citrate in healthy postmenopausal females; A randomized, double-blind, comparator-controlled, crossover study.

Introduction: Bioavailability of calcium is an important consideration when designing supplements for achieving adequate calcium intake, mainly in high-risk, and aged populations. Alternative supplementation strategies may be able to circumvent absorption issues commonly seen with calcium supplements. The objective of this study was to assess the bioavailability of a single serving of two calcium formulations vs.

Characteristics of shunt failure in 38,095 adult shunt insertion surgeries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The management of excess CSF in patients with hydrocephalus typically requires using a shunt to divert CSF. Unfortunately, there is a high rate of shunt failure despite improvements in device components and insertion techniques. Reoperation is frequently necessary, which contributes to patient harm and increased healthcare costs.

Optimization of PROTAC Ternary Complex Using DNA Encoded Library Approach.

The proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) strategy results in the down-regulation of unwanted protein(s) for disease treatment. In the PROTAC process, a heterobifunctional degrader forms a ternary complex with a target protein of interest (POI) and an E3 ligase, which results in ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of the POI. While ternary complex formation is a key attribute of PROTAC degraders, modification of the PROTAC molecule to optimize ternary complex formation and protein degradation can be a labor-intensive and tedious process.

Plasma membrane aquaporins of the PIP1 and PIP2 subfamilies facilitate hydrogen peroxide diffusion into plant roots.

Background: The permeability of plasma membrane aquaporins (PIPs) to small solutes other than water greatly diversifies their potential functions in plant development and metabolic processes. One such process is stress signalling in which hydrogen peroxide (HO) plays a major role. Based on transport assays carried out in yeast, there are differences in the degree to which PIPs of Arabidopsis thaliana, are permeable to HO and thus they may differentially facilitate transmembrane diffusion.

Ultrasound Elastography in Neurosurgery: Current Applications and Future Perspectives.

Background: Similar to clinical palpation, Ultrasound elastography (USE) helps distinguish between tissues by providing information on their elasticity. While it has been widely explored and has been applied to many body organs, USE has not been studied as extensively for application in neurosurgery. The current systematic review was performed to identify articles related to the use of interoperative USE in neurosurgery.

[Psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic support for Covid-19 patients in domestic quarantine: a content analysis of supportive telephone calls].

During their domestic quarantine, Covid-19 patients face major physical, psychological and social challenges. The description of support needs and specific topics brought to supportive conversations will be used to add to the body of knowledge about stressors and resources. A total of 109 telephone conversations with 69 quarantined Corona patients were documented by psychotherapists and physicians at Heidelberg University Hospital from November 2020 to April 2021.

Target Protein Design and Preselection Analysis.

DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology utilizes affinity-based selection methods to screen chemical libraries. DEL technology possesses some unique features compared to other small molecule screening technologies, such as the use of DNA identification tags and use of target protein immobilization in the standard library screening process. Therefore, it is of great importance to ensure the target protein is properly designed for DEL selections, that the protein is of high quality, and that ligand binding sites are accessible under DEL selection conditions.

DNA Conjugates as Tool Compounds for DEL Selections.

DEL selections are designed to discover novel small molecule compounds attached to DNA that bind to a target protein. A known small molecule or peptide ligand that binds to the target protein can be conjugated to DNA to mimic compounds contained in DEL libraries. The conjugate can be used as a ligand in preselection binding assays to validate a target protein and optimize selection methods and serve as a positive control in selection experiments.

Clinical outcomes in pediatric hydrocephalus patients treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization (ETV+CPC) is a novel procedure for infant hydrocephalus that was developed in sub-Saharan Africa to mitigate the risks associated with permanent implanted shunt hardware. This study summarizes the hydrocephalus literature surrounding the ETV+CPC intraoperative abandonment rate, perioperative mortality rate, cerebrospinal fluid infection rate, and failure rate.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed a prespecified protocol and abides by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

The benefit of early surgery on overall survival in incidental low-grade glioma patients: A multicenter study.

Background: The role of surgery for incidentally discovered diffuse incidental low-grade gliomas (iLGGs) is debatable and poorly documented in current literature.

Objective: The aim was to identify factors that influence survival for patients that underwent surgical resection of iLGGs in a large multicenter population.

Methods: Clinical, radiological, and surgical data were retrospectively analyzed in 267 patients operated for iLGG from 4 neurosurgical Centers.

Reducing the risks of proximal and distal shunt failure in adult hydrocephalus: a shunt outcomes quality improvement study.

Objective: Patient outcomes of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery, the mainstay treatment for hydrocephalus in adults, are poor because of high shunt failure rates. The use of neuronavigation or laparoscopy can reduce the risks of proximal or distal shunt catheter failure, respectively, but has less independent effect on overall shunt failures. No adult studies to date have combined both approaches in the setting of a shunt infection prevention protocol to reduce shunt failure.

Innovation in unruptured intracranial aneurysm coiling: At which price or efficacy are new technologies cost-effective?

Background: Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) are increasingly being treated by endovascular coiling as opposed to open surgical clipping. Unfortunately, endovascular coiling imparts an approximate 25% recanalization rate, leading to additional procedures and increased rupture risk. While a new health technology innovation (HTI) that reduces this recanalization rate would benefit patients, few advancements have been made.

Phenotypic Characterization of Postharvest Fruit Qualities in Astringent and Non-astringent Persimmon () Cultivars.

Phenotypic characterization of postharvest traits is essential for the breeding of high-quality fruits. To compare postharvest traits of different genetic lines, it is essential to use a reference point during fruit development that will be common to all the lines. In this study, we employed a non-destructive parameter of chlorophyll levels to establish a similar physiological age and compared several postharvest traits of ten astringent and seven non-astringent persimmon cultivars.

Discovery of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors through DNA-encoded library technology (ELT).

Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) has recently emerged as a new approach to treat cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease. Inhibitors based on 1,3,5-triazine chemotype were discovered through affinity selection against two triazine-based DNA-encoded libraries. The structure and activity relationship study led to the expansion of the original 1,4-cycloalkyl series to related aniline, piperidine, quinoline, aryl-ether and benzylic series.