The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambulatory Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery.

Background Only a few studies have examined the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on spine ambulatory surgeries and changes in trends. Therefore, we investigated trends during the pre-pandemic period and three pandemic stages in patients undergoing lumbar decompression procedures in the ambulatory surgery (AMS) setting. Methodology A total of 2,670 adult patients undergoing one- or two-level lumbar decompression surgery were retrospectively reviewed.

Examining the Role of Paraspinal Musculature in Postoperative Disability After Lumbar Fusion Surgery for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of prospectively enrolled patients.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between paraspinal muscle (PM) atrophy and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) improvement after spinal fusion surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Background: Atrophy of the PM is linked to multiple spinal conditions, sagittal malalignment, and increased postoperative complications.

Risk Factors for Ambulatory Surgery Conversion to Extended Stay Among Patients Undergoing One-level or Two-level Posterior Lumbar Decompression.

Study Design: A retrospective observational study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the conversion of patient status from ambulatory surgery (AMS) to observation service (OS) (<48 h) or inpatient (>48 h).

Summary Of Background Data: AMS is becoming increasingly common in the United States because it is associated with a similar quality of care compared with inpatient surgery, significant costs reduction, and patients' desire to recuperate at home.

Differences in T regulatory cells between mouse strains frequently used in immunological research: Treg cell quantities and subpopulations in NOD, B6 and BALB/c mice.

Foxp3 Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the maintenance of tolerance to self. Therefore, it is expected that lower numbers and/or less than optimal function could impact on the functioning of the immune system, and thereby contributing to the development of autoimmune diseases. In the present report, by comparing Tregs from most frequently used mouse strains in immunological research (C57BL/6 (B6), BALB/c and NOD), we provide evidence showing that the NOD mouse strain, highly predisposed to develop autoimmune responses, exhibit a generalized decreased in Tregs counts with enhanced proportions of CD44CD62L Tregs when compared with BALB/c mice.

IL-10 Producing B Cells Dampen Protective T Cell Response and Allow Infection of the Male Genital Tract.

A significant proportion of individuals develop chronic, persistent and recurrent genital tract infections with , which has been attributed to the numerous strategies that the bacterium uses to subvert host immune responses. Animal chlamydia models have demonstrated that protective immune response is mediated by CD4 Th1 cytokine responses. Herein, we demonstrate that early after infecting the male genital tract, triggers the production of IL-10 by splenic and lymph node cells.

Towards an Efficient Identification Process for Large-Scale RFID Systems .

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is one of the most widely used wireless communications technologies nowadays. Among the numerous processes executed within an RFID system, the identification processis the most important one. There have been several proposals to efficiently execute such a mechanism, which are based on the use of an RFID identification method.

Erratum: Chlamydia trachomatis neither exerts deleterious effects on spermatozoa nor impairs male fertility.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

Male genital tract immune response against infection.

is the most commonly reported agent of sexually transmitted bacterial infections worldwide. This pathogen frequently leads to persistent, long-term, subclinical infections, which in turn may cause severe pathology in susceptible hosts. This is in part due to the strategies that uses to survive within epithelial cells and to evade the host immune response, such as subverting intracellular trafficking, interfering signaling pathways and preventing apoptosis.

Chlamydia trachomatis neither exerts deleterious effects on spermatozoa nor impairs male fertility.

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection. However, whether Chlamydia trachomatis has a negative impact on sperm quality and male fertility is still controversial. Herein, we report the effects on sperm quality of the in vitro exposure of spermatozoa to Chlamydia trachomatis, and also the effects of male genital infection on male fertility using an animal model.

Chronic Infection of the Prostate by Chlamydia muridarum Is Accompanied by Local Inflammation and Pelvic Pain Development.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital infections are the leading cause of sexually transmitted bacterial infections. Although the prevalence of chlamydial infection is similar in men and women, current research is mainly focused on women, neglecting the study of male genital tract infections. We, therefore, investigated Chlamydia infection in the rodent male genital tract.

Chronic Pelvic Pain Development and Prostate Inflammation in Strains of Mice With Different Susceptibility to Experimental Autoimmune Prostatitis.

Background: Experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the prostate characterized by peripheral prostate-specific autoimmune responses associated with prostate inflammation. EAP is induced in rodents upon immunization with prostate antigens (PAg) plus adjuvants and shares important clinical and immunological features with the human disease chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Methods: EAP was induced in young NOD, C57BL/6, and BALB/c male mice by immunization with PAg plus complete Freund́s adjuvant.

IL-17 is not essential for inflammation and chronic pelvic pain development in an experimental model of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Pain and inflammation in the absence of infection are hallmarks in chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) patients. The etiology of CP/CPPS is unclear, and autoimmunity has been proposed as a cause. Experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) models have long been used for studying CP/CPPS.

Theory of Inpatient Circadian Care (TICC): A Proposal for a Middle-Range Theory.

The circadian system controls the daily rhythms of a variety of physiological processes. Most organisms show physiological, metabolic and behavioral rhythms that are coupled to environmental signals. In humans, the main synchronizer is the light/dark cycle, although non-photic cues such as food availability, noise, and work schedules are also involved.

Bio-efficacy of the essential oil of oregano (Origanum vulgare Lamiaceae. Ssp. Hirtum).

The aim of this study was to investigate the bioactivity of the essential oil isolated from Origanum vulgare L. (EOv). We analyzed the in vivo anti-inflammatory properties in a mouse-airway inflammation model and the in vitro antimicrobial activity, genotoxicity over the anaphase-telophase with the Allium cepa strain and its cytotoxicity/viability in A549 culture cells.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the male genital tract: an update.

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent cause of sexually transmitted diseases. Although the prevalence of chlamydial infection is similar in men and women, current research and screening are still focused on women, who develop the most severe complications, leaving the study of male genital tract (MGT) infection underrated. Herein, we reviewed the literature on genital CT infection with special focus on the MGT.

Expression of CXCR3 on specific T cells is essential for homing to the prostate gland in an experimental model of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) is considered a valid model for the human disease chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. In this report, we analyzed phenotypic characteristics of T cells that gain access to the prostate and induce leukocyte recruitment in mice with different susceptibility to EAP. After EAP induction, NOD mice developed a specific cellular response characterized by a mixed Th1/Th17 pattern with specific T cells mainly expressing CXCR3 that infiltrated and damaged the prostate.

Male rat genital tract infection with Chlamydia muridarum has no significant consequence on male fertility.

Purpose: Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the male genital tract was proposed to alter male fertility. We studied the putative consequences of chlamydial male genital tract infection on semen quality and male fertility in an experimental rat model of infection.

Materials And Methods: We used 36 male and 40 female Wistar rats.