Comparison of medical students' considerations in choosing a specialty: 2020 vs. 2009/10.

Background: Workforce shortage in healthcare and particularly in physicians poses a threat to healthcare delivery and its quality. In comparison to other OECD countries, Israel currently has a small number of medical graduates relative to its number of physicians, naturally emphasizing the importance of ensuring that this population chooses to remain in medicine. Understanding what is most important to medical students can help improve working conditions in residency.

When giants talk; robotic dialog during thoracolumbar and sacral surgery.

Background: Spinal trauma patients treated in a specialized hybrid operating room (OR) using two robotic systems communicating during surgery.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients with thoracolumbar or sacral fractures who underwent surgical fixation between Jan 2017 to Jan 2020 with robotic-guided percutaneous pedicle screw insertion in the specialized hybrid OR with Robotic flat panel 3D C-arm (ArtisZeego) for intraoperative interventional imaging connected with the robotic-guidance platform Renaissance (Mazor Robotics).

Results: Twenty eight surgeries were performed in 27 patients; 23 with traumatic spinal fractures, 4 with multi-level thoracolumbar compression fractures due to severe osteoporosis.

Awake Percutaneous Fixation for Unstable Fractures of the Spine in High-risk Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Unstable fractures in sick or elderly patients are on the rise. These patients who are at high risk for surgery present a challenge for surgeons and anesthesiologists. In patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores 3 to 4, the risk is even higher because of the high rate of intraoperative complications.

Long-Term Effects on Sexual Function in Women Treated With Scoliosis Correction for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study with a cross-sectional comparison.

Objectives: To assess sexual function and experience in adult women who had scoliotic correction for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods: Women ages 18-40 years with a history of scoliosis, who were braced or underwent uncomplicated posterior scoliosis correction for AIS, followed for two years or more since treatment were included.

Intraoperative Deterioration of Neurophysiological Potentials of the Spinal Tracts in Cervical Spine Surgery: Correlation With Patient-Related and Procedure-Related Variables.

Purpose: To identify characteristics associated with higher incidence of intraoperative deterioration of neurophysiological potentials related to spinal tracts in cervical spine surgeries.

Methods: Electrophysiological raw data and neurophysiological case reports of 1,611 patients from multiple medical centers, who underwent cervical spine surgery for decompression and/or fusion, were retrospectively reviewed. Patient-related and procedure-related variables were identified and analyzed for correlation with intraoperative neurophysiological event of the spinal tracts.

Prevalence of Occult Infections in Posterior Instrumented Spinal Fusion.

Study Design: This is a prospective observational study.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the rate of occult infection after instrumented spine surgery in presumed aseptic patients.

Summary Of Background Data: The reported incidence rate of delayed/occult infection determined by positive culture swabs after instrumented spine surgery in prospective studies is 0.

A Mouse Model of Oropharyngeal Papillomavirus-Induced Neoplasia Using Novel Tools for Infection and Nasal Anesthesia.

Human head and neck cancers that develop from the squamous cells of the oropharynx (Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas or OPSCC) are commonly associated with the papillomavirus infection. A papillomavirus infection-based mouse model of oropharyngeal tumorigenesis would be valuable for studying the development and treatment of these tumors. We have developed an efficient system using the mouse papillomavirus (MmuPV1) to generate dysplastic oropharyngeal lesions, including tumors, in the soft palate and the base of the tongue of two immune-deficient strains of mice.

Robotic assisted fixation of sacral fractures: A pilot study.

Objectives: Sacral fractures that require fixation are a challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. Due to anatomical consideration, implant insertion is not risk free, and requires a steep learning curve. A robotic system has been successfully used in pedicle screws insertion and can be also used for iliosacral screws.

Tailoring the lipid composition of nanoparticles modulates their cellular uptake and affects the viability of triple negative breast cancer cells.

Lipid nanoparticles are used widely as anticancer drug and gene delivery systems. Internalizing into the target cell is a prerequisite for the proper activity of many nanoparticulate drugs. We show here, that the lipid composition of a nanoparticle affects its ability to internalize into triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Blood Transfusion and Postoperative Infection in Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Objectives: Allogeneic blood transfusion-related immunomodulation may relatively suppress the immune system, heightening the risk of infection following spine surgery. This systematic review seeks to determine whether allogeneic blood transfusion increases the risk of postoperative infection and whether there are any factors that modify this association.

[FROM THE LAB BENCH TO THE PATIENT - CAN INJURED SKELETAL TISSUES REGENERATE?].

Regenerative medicine research has evolved significantly in recent years. There is a great un-met clinical need for developing new treatments that will induce regeneration of injured skeletal tissues in cases such as large bony defects caused by trauma or tumor resection, articular cartilage defects and torn or degenerate tendons and ligaments. Except for bone that can regenerate small defects, all other skeletal tissues do not hold the natural capability for regeneration after injury and rather form a less functional scar tissue.

Ambulation and survival following surgery in elderly patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression.

Background And Context: Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is a disabling consequence of disease progression. Surgery can restore or preserve physical function, improving access to treatments that increase duration of survival; however, advanced patient age may deter oncologists and surgeons from considering surgical management.

Purpose: Evaluate the duration of ambulation and survival in elderly patients following surgical decompression of MESCC.

Nanoparticles target early-stage breast cancer metastasis in vivo.

Despite advances in cancer therapy, treating cancer after it has metastasized remains an unmet clinical challenge. In this study we demonstrate that 100 nm liposomes target triple-negative murine breast-cancer metastases post intravenous administration. Metastatic breast cancer was induced in BALB/c mice either experimentally, by a tail vein injection of 4T1 cells, or spontaneously, after implanting a primary tumor xenograft.

Using medical specialty and selection criteria clusters to study specialty selection by Israeli medical students.

Background: During their final year of medical school, Israeli students must consider which specialty to choose for residency. Based on the vocational counseling literature we presumed that choices are made by selecting from a cluster of related specialties while considering professional and socio-economic issues.

Methods: Questionnaires distributed to final-year medical students at two Israeli medical schools ascertained inclinations toward various medical specialties and the importance of various selection criteria.

Erratum: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis and Pregnancy: An Unsolved Paradigm.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1552987.].

Value of repeat CT scans in low back pain and radiculopathy.

We assessed the clinical value of repeat spine CT scan in 108 patients aged 18-60 years who underwent repeat lumbar spine CT scan for low back pain or radiculopathy from January 2008 to December 2010. Patients with a neoplasm or symptoms suggesting underlying disease were excluded from the study. Clinical data was retrospectively reviewed.

The use of local vancomycin powder in degenerative spine surgery.

Purpose: Wound infection after spine surgery is a debilitating complication. Local placement of vancomycin powder into the surgical wounds prior to closing of the fascia has been introduced as a method to reduce deep infection rates.

Methods: The infection rates of all the patients who were treated with intra-operative local vancomycin between June 2012 and June 2013 were compared to all cases that were not treated with vancomycin between January 2009 and December 2010.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis and Pregnancy: An Unsolved Paradigm.

Study Design Retrospective cohort study with a cross-sectional comparison. Objective To compare the rates of anesthesia prescription and satisfaction with surgery, prevalence and severity of low back pain, prevalence of depression, and sexual dysfunction among pregnant and nonpregnant patients with AIS undergoing correction surgery with pedicle-based systems and healthy woman with a history of pregnancy. Methods Women between the ages of 18 and 40 years who underwent correction surgery for AIS with a pedicle screw system were interviewed regarding pregnancies, child delivery, method of pain control during delivery, and any long-term outcome after delivery.

Evidence for the adverse effect of starvation on bone quality: a review of the literature.

Malnutrition and starvation's possible adverse impacts on bone health and bone quality first came into the spotlight after the horrors of the Holocaust and the ghettos of World War II. Famine and food restrictions led to a mean caloric intake of 200-800 calories a day in the ghettos and concentration camps, resulting in catabolysis and starvation of the inhabitants and prisoners. Severely increased risks of fracture, poor bone mineral density, and decreased cortical strength were noted in several case series and descriptive reports addressing the medical issues of these individuals.

Spinal cord compression due to brown tumor.

We report a rare case of a vertebral brown tumor causing spinal cord compression and resulting in progressive paraparesis in a 27-year-old female with end-stage renal failure, managed with hemodialysis. Urgent neurosurgical intervention and gross total resection resulted in complete resolution of the symptoms.

The effect of 3-column spinal osteotomy on anterior pelvic plane and acetabulum position.

Because the spine and pelvis are integrated, changes in spine sagittal balance affect relative acetabulum position. A 1° change of the anterior pelvic plane changes acetabulum anteversion by 0.8°.

Efficacy and safety of vertebral stenting for painful vertebral compression fractures in patients with metastatic disease.

Background And Purpose: Painful vertebral compression fractures in cancer patients reduce quality of life and may limit survival. We assessed pain relief, vertebral height restoration, and kyphosis correction following vertebral augmentation using a novel expandable titanium stent implant in cancer patients with painful vertebral compression fractures.

Materials And Methods: Patients >18 years of age with metastatic disease who presented symptomatic compression fractures of vertebral bodies T5-L5, with or without a history of osteoporosis, were included in the study.

Are they too old? Surgical treatment for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression in patients aged 65 years and older.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the efficacy of surgical decompression of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) in patients ≧65 years and review our multidisciplinary surgical decision-making process.

Methods: We identified all patients operated for MESCC from August 2008 to June 2012. Patients ≧65 years, with a single area of cord compression, back/radicular pain, neurological signs of cord compression, surgery within 48 hours after onset of MESCC-related paraplegia, and follow-up for ≧1 year or until death were included.