Automated measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) in 96-well transwells using ECIS TEER96: Single and multiple time point assessments.

Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is a widely used technique for quantifying the permeability of epithelial and endothelial cell layers. However, traditional methods of measuring TEER are limited to single timepoint measurements and can subject cells to an altered environment during the measurement. Here, we assessed the validity of TEER measurements by the ECIS TEER96 device, which is designed to take continuous TEER measurements of a cell culture system in a standard laboratory incubator.

Workman's compensation as exclusion criteria in rotator cuff repair literature - are we inadvertently excluding race?

Objective: Despite an equal willingness to participate in clinical trials, there is evidence that several minority populations are systematically under-represented in studies. One potential cause and frequently used exclusionary criterion in orthopedic trials is patients with active workman's compensation (WC) insurance claims. The purpose of this study is to determine demographic differences in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with commercial and government insurance vs workers compensation claims.

Predictors of Prolonged Opioid Use After Lumbar Fusion and the Effects of Opioid Use on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objective: To determine risk factors associated with prolonged opioid use after lumbar fusion and to elucidate the effect of opioid use on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after surgery.

Methods: Patients who underwent 1-3 level lumbar decompression and fusion with at least one-year follow-up were identified.

Long-segment posterior cervical decompression and fusion: does caudal level affect revision rate?

Objective: Posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF) is a commonly performed procedure to address cervical myelopathy. A significant number of these patients require revision surgery for adjacent-segment disease (ASD) or pseudarthrosis. Currently, there is no consensus among spine surgeons on the inclusion of proximal thoracic spine instrumentation.

Combined Anterior Osteophytectomy and Cricopharyngeal Myotomy for Treatment of DISH-Associated Dysphagia.

Study Design: Retrospective observational case series.

Objective: To assess the outcome of patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) with dysphagia who underwent cricopharyngeal myotomy (CPM) in conjunction with anterior osteophytectomy (OP).

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of 9 patients that received combined intervention by neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists.