Highest ocean heat in four centuries places Great Barrier Reef in danger.

Mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia between 2016 and 2024 was driven by high sea surface temperatures (SST). The likelihood of temperature-induced bleaching is a key determinant for the future threat status of the GBR, but the long-term context of recent temperatures in the region is unclear. Here we show that the January-March Coral Sea heat extremes in 2024, 2017 and 2020 (in order of descending mean SST anomalies) were the warmest in 400 years, exceeding the 95th-percentile uncertainty limit of our reconstructed pre-1900 maximum.

Surgical options in thoracic disc herniation: Evaluating long-term outcomes of 21 cases based on a single-center 10-year experience.

Background: Symptomatic thoracic disc herniation (TDH) is a rare pathology that is addressed with relatively challenging surgical approaches, the choice and technical execution of which have been well described in the literature. Interestingly, long-term outcomes, including surgical site pain-related disability, the need for instrumentation, and commonly occurring complications such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-pleural fistula have not been widely addressed. Here, we address the complication profiles and long-term outcomes of different surgical approaches for TDH.

Performance of Computed Tomography-Guided Spine Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Malignancy and Infection.

Background: Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous biopsies are used to guide treatment in vertebral osteomyelitis and spinal malignancy, but the efficacy of this study remains unclear.

Objective: To investigate the performance of CT-guided spinal biopsy, and factors that may influence its success.

Methods: Retrospective study of all consecutive patients who underwent a CT-guided spine biopsy at a UK teaching hospital between April 2012 and February 2019.

The Political Economy of Health Co-Benefits: Embedding Health in the Climate Change Agenda.

A complex, whole-of-economy issue such as climate change demands an interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral response. However, evidence suggests that human health has remained elusive in its influence on the development of ambitious climate change mitigation policies for many national governments, despite a recognition that the combustion of fossil fuels results in pervasive short- and long-term health consequences. We use insights from literature on the political economy of health and climate change, the science–policy interface and power in policy-making, to identify additional barriers to the meaningful incorporation of health co-benefits into climate change mitigation policy development.

Complex spinal fixation of a cervical vertebra Brown tumour: report of an unusual case.

Brown tumours affecting the cervical spine are a rare but recognised complication of renal failure-related secondary hyperparathyroidism. We present a case of a 26 year-old female with radiculopathy who was managed successfully with 360° cervical spine fixation and parathyroidectomy.

The Role of Health Co-Benefits in the Development of Australian Climate Change Mitigation Policies.

Reducing domestic carbon dioxide and other associated emissions can lead to short-term, localized health benefits. Quantifying and incorporating these health co-benefits into the development of national climate change mitigation policies may facilitate the adoption of stronger policies. There is, however, a dearth of research exploring the role of health co-benefits on the development of such policies.

Brain abscess due to Trueperella bernardiae.

We present the case of a brain abscess caused by a combination of rare organisms (Trueperella bernardiae and Peptoniphilus harei) in a patient with chronic suppurative otitis media that had been complicated by the presence of a cholesteatoma. The authors believe this is the first report published in the literature.

Swelling and enhancement of the cervical spinal cord: when is a tumour not a tumour?

Objective: To describe the management of patients with co-existing cervical spondylotic compression and enhancing intramedullary swelling of uncertain aetiology. We describe the key features, suggest a management plan and review the literature.

Material And Methods: A short series of six cases with cervical myelopathy and radiological features of spondylotic compression, swollen cervical cord and intramedullary enhancement is described.

Paravertebral cervical chordoma--a case report.

Chordomas constitute <5% of vertebral column tumours and a third of these arise in the upper cervical spine and tend to be clival - usually midline, with occasional eccentric extension. We report a case of cervical chordoma presenting as a lateral neck mass and discuss its origin, diagnosis and management.

Early emergence in a butterfly causally linked to anthropogenic warming.

There is strong correlative evidence that human-induced climate warming is contributing to changes in the timing of natural events. Firm attribution, however, requires cause-and-effect links between observed climate change and altered phenology, together with statistical confidence that observed regional climate change is anthropogenic. We provide evidence for phenological shifts in the butterfly Heteronympha merope in response to regional warming in the southeast Australian city of Melbourne.

Cutaneous horn: case report.

We report an interesting case of a large, rapidly developing cutaneous horn in the temple area of an 86-year-old man who was admitted to a hospital in London. The lesion had been caused by a squamous cell carcinoma. We highlight the historical and pathophysiological aspects of the condition and draw attention to the malignant potential of such lesions.

Intradural calcifying fibroblastic proliferation associated with a nerve root: a reactive process mimicking a nerve sheath tumor.

Study Design: Case Report.

Objective: To share our experience about the unique histological appearances of a calcified intradural, extramedullary lesion involving a nerve root.

Summary Of Background Data: A 53-year-old man presented with a long history of low back pain and a few months of occasional left groin pain with no neurological deficit.

Giant extradural sacral meningioma.

We present the first case of primary benign fibrous meningioma restricted to the sacrum with no sign of recurrence after a long follow-up duration. This occurred in a 36-year-old man who initially presented with a 3-month history of right-sided sciatica. The tumour was successfully resected after three surgical procedures due to its high vascularity and technical difficulties.

Intramedullary cervical teratoma in an adult.

Background And Context: Mature teratomas are extremely rare spinal tumors, and in the cervical spine presentation in an adult it is even more infrequent. To the best of our knowledge, only five previous intramedullary teratomas in an adult cervical spine have been reported.

Purpose: Here, we present another case of a cervical intramedullary mature teratoma in an adult and review the literature.

Attributing physical and biological impacts to anthropogenic climate change.

Significant changes in physical and biological systems are occurring on all continents and in most oceans, with a concentration of available data in Europe and North America. Most of these changes are in the direction expected with warming temperature. Here we show that these changes in natural systems since at least 1970 are occurring in regions of observed temperature increases, and that these temperature increases at continental scales cannot be explained by natural climate variations alone.

Climate change and primary health care.

Background: Climate change and rising average global temperatures threaten to disrupt the physical, biological and ecological life support systems on which human health depends.

Objective: This article overviews the evidence for human induced climate change, the predicted health impacts, and the role of primary health care professionals in managing these impacts.

Discussion: Climate change has substantial potential health effects.

Delayed fibrotic obliteration of the spinal subarachnoid space after cerebral aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: case report.

Objective: Widespread fibrotic obliteration of the spinal subarachnoid space after cerebral aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is rare.

Clinical Presentation: A 57-year-old woman presented with the gradual development of a spastic paraparesis. Two years earlier, she experienced a cerebral aneurysmal SAH that was successfully managed with endovascular coiling.

Lumbar extradural arteriovenous malformation: case report and literature review.

Background Context: Most spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are dural arteriovenous fistulas in which a singularly intradural venous drainage emanates from an extradural nidus. A pure extradural spinal arteriovenous malformation (E-AVM), in the absence of a vertebral body (cavernous) hemangioma, is extremely rare, and full clinical, radiological, and operative descriptions are scant.

Purpose: To fully document the rare occurrence of a symptomatic E-AVM producing spinal claudication.

Solar UV forecasts: a randomized trial assessing their impact on adults' sun-protection behavior.

This study examined the effectiveness of solar UV forecasts and supporting communications in assisting adults to protect themselves from excessive weekend sun exposure. The study was conducted in Australia, where 557 adult participants with workplace e-mail and Internet access were randomly allocated to one of three weather forecast conditions: standard forecast (no UV), standard forecast + UV, standard forecast + UV + sun-protection messages. From late spring through summer and early autumn, they were e-mailed weekend weather forecasts late in the working week.

"Disc cysts" and "posterior longitudinal ligament ganglion cysts": synonymous entities? Report of three cases and literature review.

Objective And Importance: Extradural cysts intimately associated with relatively normal lumbar discs have rarely been reported. Histologically nonspecific, most have been designated posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) or annulus fibrosus (AF) "ganglion cysts." Recently, "disc cysts" have been distinguished as a separate entity, mostly on the grounds of cyst-disc communication.

The dysmorphic cervical spine in Klippel-Feil syndrome: interpretations from developmental biology.

The authors conducted a study to identify radiological patterns of Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS), and they present a new interpretation of the origin of these patterns based on recent advances in understanding of embryonic development of the spine and its molecular genetic control. The authors studied radiographs and computerized tomography (CT) scans as well as magnetic resonance images or CT myelograms obtained in 30 patients with KFS who were referred for treatment between 1982 and 1996; the patients had complained of various neuroorthopedic complications. Homeotic transformation due to mutations or disturbed expression of Hox genes is a possible mechanism responsible for C-1 assimilation, which was found to have occurred in 19 cases (63%).

Benign fibrous histiocytoma of the thoracic spine: case report and review of the literature.

Benign fibrous histiocytoma (BFH) is a rare skeletal tumor, accounting for approximately 1% of all surgically managed benign bone tumors. Spinal location is very rare, and its management can be challenging, involving excision of tumor and spinal reconstruction and stabilization. The prognosis is good after treatment.