Laser interstitial thermal therapy for deep-seated perivascular brain tumors is not associated with distal ischemia.

Purpose: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive cytoreductive treatment option for brain tumors with a risk of vascular injury from catheter placement or thermal energy. This may be of concern with deep-seated tumors that have surrounding end-artery perforators and critical microvasculature. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of distal ischemia following LITT for deep-seated perivascular brain tumors.

Association of prolonged symptom duration with poor outcomes in lumbar spine surgery: a Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative study.

Objective: There is a scarcity of large multicenter data on how preoperative lumbar symptom duration relates to postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of preoperative and baseline symptom duration on PROs at 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years after lumbar spine surgery.

Methods: The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative registry was queried for all lumbar spine operations between January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2021, with a follow-up of 2 years.

Health Care Disparity in Pain.

Disparity in the treatment of chronic pain has become increasingly pertinent in health care, given the large burden of disease and its economic costs to society. That disease burden is disproportionally carried by minorities and those of lower socioeconomic status for a host of historical and systemic reasons. Only by understanding the cause of such disparities, collecting accurate and thorough data that illuminate all contributing factors, and diversifying the health care workforce, can we achieve more equitable treatment and reduce the burden of chronic pain.

Cost Analysis of Inpatient Rehabilitation after Spinal Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Objective The lifetime direct and indirect costs of spinal injury and spinal cord injury (SCI) increase as the severity of injury worsens. Despite the potential for substantial improvement in function with acute rehabilitation, the factors affecting its cost have not yet been evaluated. We used a proprietary hospital database to evaluate the direct costs of rehabilitation after spine injury.

Analysis of Treatment Cost Variation Among Multiple Neurosurgical Procedures Using the Value-Driven Outcomes Database.

Background: Health care costs comprise a substantial portion of total national expenditure. Although interest in cost-effectiveness analysis in neurosurgery has increased, there has been little cross-comparison of neurosurgical procedures. The aim of this study was to compare costs across elective neurosurgical procedures to understand whether drivers of cost differ.

Evaluating the Landscape of Clinical Research in Neurosurgery.

Background: Many clinical trials and observational research never reach publication in peer-reviewed journals. Unpublished research results, including neutral study findings, hinder generation of new research questions, utilize healthcare resources without benefit, and may place patients at risk without benefit.

Objective: To examine the publication of neurosurgery trials listed in ClinicalTrials.

Analysis of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Healthcare Costs via the Value-Driven Outcomes Tool.

Background: Examining the costs of single- and multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is important for the identification of cost drivers and potentially reducing patient costs. A novel tool at our institution provides direct costs for the identification of potential drivers.

Objective: To assess perioperative healthcare costs for patients undergoing an ACDF.

Involvement of adenosine monophosphate activated kinase in interleukin-6 regulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme in the bovine zona fasciculata and zona reticularis.

In bovine adrenal zona fasciculata (ZF) and NCI-H295R cells, interleukin-6 (IL-6) increases cortisol release, increases expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) (increases steroidogenic proteins), and decreases the expression of adrenal hypoplasia congenita-like protein (DAX-1) (inhibits steroidogenic proteins). In contrast, IL-6 decreases bovine adrenal zona reticularis (ZR) androgen release, StAR, P450scc, and SF-1 expression, and increases DAX-1 expression. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) activated kinase (AMPK) regulates steroidogenesis, but its role in IL-6 regulation of adrenal steroidogenesis is unknown.