A Pilot Study of the Gut Microbiota in Spine Fusion Surgery Patients.

Background: The microbiome has been identified as a contributor to bone quality. As skeletal health is critical to success of orthopedic surgery, the gut microbiome may be a modifiable factor associated with postoperative outcomes. For spine fusion surgery in particular, bone formation and sufficient bone mineral density are essential for successful outcomes.

Ankle Stability and Single-Leg Balance Control in Collegiate Female Soccer Players versus Non-Soccer Players.

Ankle sprains are common in female soccer players. Ankle injuries have the potential to impact balance control, which can further contribute to recurrent injuries. This study aimed to examine if female collegiate soccer players exhibited worse ankle stability and single-leg balance than female non-soccer players, and whether there was a correlation between ankle stability and single-leg balance.

Evaluating student understanding of core pharmacokinetic concepts.

Both educators and graduates have expressed concern about a perceived pharmacology knowledge gap that includes difficulty applying fundamental principles to clinical and research problems. Consequently, we sought to determine the extent to which current students can explain the meaning of, and appropriately apply, a subset of core concepts, and to identify any misconceptions arising from the responses. Of the twenty-four pharmacology core concepts arising from the recent international collaboration, four pharmacokinetic concepts were chosen, namely drug bioavailability, drug clearance, volume of distribution, and steady-state concentration.