Examining the predictive value of fetal fraction on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Background: Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) screening is routinely performed in pregnancy. Abnormal fetal fraction has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which are associated with severe maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Objective: This study examined whether abnormal fetal fraction, defined in this study as fetal fraction either <6 or >15 on the basis of restricted-cubic-spline-plot within our study population, was associated with HDP in a retrospective sample, as well as whether fetal fraction improves the prediction of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).

In situ brain tumor detection using a Raman spectroscopy system-results of a multicenter study.

Safe and effective brain tumor surgery aims to remove tumor tissue, not non-tumoral brain. This is a challenge since tumor cells are often not visually distinguishable from peritumoral brain during surgery. To address this, we conducted a multicenter study testing whether the Sentry System could distinguish the three most common types of brain tumors from brain tissue in a label-free manner.

Effects of hours of sleep on ImPACT concussion testing: comparing baseline with postinjury scores.

Objective: The influence of sleep on baseline and postconcussion neurocognitive performance prior to Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) is poorly understood. Since ImPACT is widely used in youth sport to assess neurocognitive performance before and after head injury, it is important to delineate factors that affect testing performance. While some have reported correlations between fewer hours of sleep and lower scores on baseline tests, others have not observed any such associations.

Walking the tightrope: Fertility preservation among hereditary breast and ovarian Cancer syndrome Previvors.

Introduction: Fertility-related concerns cause significant anxiety among patients with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC). The Society of Gynecologic Oncology and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommend patients diagnosed with HBOC receive early referral to a reproductive endocrinologist. However, evidence about fertility trends in this patient population are limited and guidelines are scarce.

Examining provider practice-level disparities in delivery outcomes among patients with a history of Cesarean Delivery.

Background: Choosing whether to pursue a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) or scheduled repeat cesarean delivery (SRCD) requires prenatal assessment of risks and benefits. Providers and patients play a central role in this process. However, the influence of provider-associated characteristics on delivery methods remains unclear.

Clinical and Operative Risk Factors Associated With Prolonged Length of Stay After Endoscopic Pituitary Adenoma Resection.

Background And Objectives: Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are the most common intrasellar tumor. Clinically relevant adenomas have a prevalence of 1 per 1000 in the general population. Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is the most common surgical treatment and is the first-line management for most PAs.

The effect of age on baseline neurocognitive performance.

Objective: Evaluate the independent effect of age on baseline neurocognitive performance.

Study Design: Baseline ImPACT scores from tests taken by 7454 athletes aged 12-22 from 2009 to 2019 were split into three age cohorts: 12-14 years (3244), 15-17 years (3732), and 18-22 years (477). Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the effect of age on ImPACT composite scores while controlling for demographic differences, medication-use, and symptom burden.

Clinical Considerations and Outcomes for Spine Surgery Patients with a History of Transplant: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the perioperative management and outcomes of patients with a prior history of successful transplantation undergoing spine surgery.

Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for matching reports in July 2021. We included case reports, cohort studies, and retrospective analyses, including terms for various transplant types and an exhaustive list of key words for various forms of spine surgery.

Baseline ImPACT Composite Scores in Student-Athletes With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Background: Athletes who are diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk of concussion compared to other athletes. Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) is a widely used concussion tool, but it relies on pre-injury baseline testing that can be affected by psychiatric conditions. This research aims to determine if there are differences in pre-injury testing composite scores in student-athletes with ADHD compared to those without ADHD diagnosis.

Bibliometric Analysis of International Medical Graduates and Professorship Promotion in Neurosurgery.

Background: International medical graduates (IMGs) comprise ∼25% of physicians in the United States. Differences in promotion rates from assistant to associate to full professorship based on medical school location have been understudied. We aim to stratify odds of professional advancement by 3 categories: IMG with U.

Improving Surgeon Well-Being: Ergonomics in Neurosurgery.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are common among surgeons, and affect most neurosurgeons over the course of their career. Although all subspecialist neurosurgeons may be affected by physical strain, spine surgeons and skull base surgeons have a high propensity for workplace injury as a result of long procedures with repetitive movements in strained physical positions.

Methods: In this review, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in neurosurgery, the state of innovation to improve ergonomics in the operating room for neurosurgeons, and potential limitations in advancing technology with the goal of maximizing neurosurgeon longevity are discussed.

Neuroimaging findings and neurological manifestations in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: Impact of cancer and ventilatory support status.

Introduction: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is known to affect the central nervous system. Neurologic morbidity associated with COVID-19 is commonly attributed to sequelae of some combination of thrombotic and inflammatory processes. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate neuroimaging findings in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with neurological manifestations in cancer versus non-cancer patients, and in patients with versus without ventilatory support (with ventilatory support defined as including patients with intubation and noninvasive ventilation).

External Ventricular Drain Placement Teleproctoring Using a Novel Camera-Projector Navigation System: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: Teleproctoring is an emerging method of bedside clinical teaching; however, its feasibility has been limited by the available technologies. The use of novel tools that incorporate 3-dimensional environmental information and feedback might offer better bedside teaching options for neurosurgical procedures, including external ventricular drain placement.

Methods: A platform with a camera-projector system was used to proctor medical students on placing external ventricular drains on an anatomic model as a proof-of-concept study.

Novel Grading Scales for Static and Flexion-Extension Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Background: Flexion-extension magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has potential to identify cervical pathology not detectable on conventional static MRI. Our study evaluated standard quantitative and novel subjective grading scales for assessing the severity of cervical spondylotic myelopathy in dynamic sagittal MRI as well as in static axial and sagittal images.

Methods: Forty-five patients underwent both conventional and flexion-extension MRI prior to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion from C4 through C7.

A multicenter, longitudinal survey of headaches and concussions among youth athletes in the United States from 2009 to 2019.

Objective/ Background: Chronic headaches and sports-related concussions are among the most common neurological morbidities in adolescents and young adults. Given that the two can overlap in presentation, studying the effects of one on another has proven difficult. In this longitudinal study, we sought to assess the relationship between chronic headaches and concussions, analyzing the role of historic concussions on chronic headaches, as well as that of premorbid headaches on future concussion incidence, severity, and recovery.

The Effect of Multiple Scopus Profiles on the Perceived Academic Productivity of Neurosurgeons in the United States.

Objective: Bibliometrics assessing academic productivity plays a significant role in neurosurgeons' career advancement. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of multiple author profiles on Scopus on neurosurgeon author-level metrics (h-index, document number, citation number).

Methods: A list of 1671 academic neurosurgeons was compiled through public searches of hospital and faculty websites for 115 neurosurgical residency training programs.

Evaluation of differences across age groups in the incidence, severity, and recovery of concussion in adolescent student-athletes from 2009 to 2019.

Objective: Concussion incidence is known to be highest in children and adolescents; however, there is conflicting evidence about the effect of age on concussion risk and recovery within the adolescent age range. The heterogeneity of results may be partially due to the use of age groupings based on convenience, making comparisons across studies difficult. This study evaluated the independent effect of age on concussion incidence, severity, and recovery in student-athletes aged 12-18 years using cluster analysis to define groupings.

Effects of a history of headache and migraine treatment on baseline neurocognitive function in young athletes.

Objective/background: Despite the prevalence of concussions in young athletes, the impact of headaches on neurocognitive function at baseline is poorly understood. We analyze the effects of a history of headache treatment on baseline ImPACT composite scores in young athletes.

Methods: A total of 11,563 baseline ImPACT tests taken by 7,453 student-athletes ages 12-22 between 2009 and 2019 were reviewed.

Subspecialty and Training Preferences for U.S. Neurosurgery Faculty with International Training.

Background: Academic neurosurgeons with international medical training play a large role in the U.S. neurosurgical workforce.

Bibliometric Evaluation of U.S. Neurosurgery Subspecialties and Academic Rank Using RCR Index.

Introduction: Academic productivity, a key feature of academic neurosurgery, has been linked to academic rank, subspecialty, and institutional rank. Relative Citation Ratio (RCR) has emerged as a new metric of scholarly output that can make field-normalized comparisons between researchers, a feature unavailable in prior metrics such as h-index. Here we evaluate the influence of academic rank and neurosurgical subspecialties on RCR scores.