Patients' views and experiences on the supported self-management/patient-initiated follow up pathway for breast cancer.

Purpose: To explore patients' expectations and experience of Supportive Self-Management (SSM)/ Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) following breast cancer treatments over a 12-month period.

Methods: In total, 32/110 (29%) patient participants in the PRAGMATIC (Patients' experiences of a suppoRted self-manAGeMent pAThway In breast Cancer) study were interviewed at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Interviews in this sub-study used a mix-methods approach to explore understanding of the pathway, confidence in self-management, triggers to seek help and/or re-engage with the clinical breast team and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The C2 Pedicle Width, Pars Length, and Laminar Thickness in Concurrent Ipsilateral Ponticulus Posticus and High-Riding Vertebral Artery: A Radiological Computed Tomography Scan-Based Study.

Study Design: Retrospective radiological study.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the prevalence of ponticulus posticus (PP) and high-riding vertebral artery (HRVA) occurring simultaneously on the same side (PP+HRVA) and in cases of PP+HRVA, to assess C2 radio-anatomical measurements for C2 pars length, pedicle width, and laminar thickness.

Overview Of Literature: PP and HRVA predispose individuals to vertebral artery injuries during atlantoaxial fixation.

Role of Frailty Scoring in the Assessment of Perioperative Mortality in Surgical Management of Tuberculous Spondylodiscitis in the Elderly.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objectives: Treatment of spinal tuberculosis in the elderly involves consideration of compromised physiology, which often poses a clinical challenge to the surgeons to balance surgical safety versus deteriorating function. Frailty scoring has been reported as an effective tool to predict mortality and morbidity in cardiovascular surgery and recently in hip fractures.

Current Concepts in Pediatric Cervical Spine Trauma.

Background: Pediatric spinal trauma is rare and challenging entity. Although cervical spine is commonly affected, it is often missed on routine imaging investigations. Therefore better understanding of growing spine and its patho-physiology is crucial.

Current Concepts - Congenital Scoliosis.

Background: Congenital scoliosis is one of the 'difficult to treat' scenarios which a spine surgeon has to face. Multiple factors including the age of child at presentation, no definite pattern of deformity and associated anomalies hinder the execution of the ideal treatment plan. All patients of congenital scoliosis need to be investigated in detail.

Surgical Management in Elderly Patients with Tuberculous Spondylodiscitis: Ten Year Mortality Audit Study.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: To evaluate the factors affecting immediate postoperative mortality in elderly patients with tuberculous spondylodiscitis.

Overview Of Literature: Treatment of spinal tuberculosis in the elderly involves consideration of age and co-morbidities, and often leads to an extended conservative management.

Short to Mid-Term Term Surgical Outcome Study with Posterior Only Approach on Tuberculous Spondylodiscitis in an Elderly Population.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: To study short to mid-term outcome of surgically managed elderly patients of tuberculous spondylodiscitis with posterior only approach in terms of decision making and challenges in treatment, choice of implants and outcomes.

Overview Of Literature: Tuberculous spondylodiscitis in the elderly is increasing due to longer survival rates.

Manubriosternal dislocation with spinal fracture: A rare cause for delayed haemothorax.

Type 2 manubriosternal dislocations with concomitant spinal fracture are rare and may be associated with thoracic visceral injuries. The complication of delayed haemothorax has not been reported yet. We report a case of a young male who suffered manubriosternal dislocation with chance type thoracic spine fracture due to fall of a tree branch over his back.

Sacral spinous processes: a morphologic classification and biomechanical characterization of strength.

Background: There has been increasing interest in using the lumbosacral spinous processes for fixation as a less invasive alternative to transpedicular instrumentation. Alhough prior studies have described the appearance and biomechanics of lumbar spinous processes, few have evaluated the dimensions, morphology, or strength of the sacral spinous processes.

Purpose: The goals of this study were to characterize the morphology of the S1 spinous process and biomechanical strength of the S1 spinous process when loaded in a cranial direction.

AKI in hospitalized children: comparing the pRIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO definitions.

Background And Objectives: Although several standardized definitions for AKI have been developed, no consensus exists regarding which to use in children. This study applied the Pediatric RIFLE (pRIFLE), AKI Network (AKIN), and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria to an anonymized cohort of hospitalizations extracted from the electronic medical record to compare AKI incidence and outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU pediatric populations.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Observational, electronic medical record-enabled study of 14,795 hospitalizations at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital between 2006 and 2010.

c-KIT positive Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor presenting with acute bleeding in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1: a case report.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumours are rare (GIST). However, the incidence of GIST among neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) patients is approximately 3.9-25%.

Imaging osteoarthritis: magnetic resonance imaging versus x-ray.

Until recently, imaging evaluation of osteoarthritis has relied primarily on conventional radiography. Using radiography in clinical practice or clinical research, however, has been fraught with difficulty. Techniques for reproducibly acquiring serial radiographs of joints have improved considerably over the past several years.

Small bowel Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors can physiologically alter gut motility before causing mechanical obstruction.

Background: Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs) are rare stromal neoplasms that represent the most common mesenchymal tumor of the G.I. tract, accounting for 5% of all sarcomas.

Fixed-flexion radiography of the knee provides reproducible joint space width measurements in osteoarthritis.

The validity of a non-fluoroscopic fixed-flexion radiographic acquisition and analysis protocol for measurement of joint space width (JSW) in knee osteoarthritis is determined. A cross-sectional study of 165 patients with documented knee osteoarthritis participating in a multicenter, prospective study of chondroprotective agents was performed. All patients had posteroanterior, weight-bearing, fixed-flexion radiography with 10 degrees caudal beam angulation.

Reporter gene assay demonstrates functional differences in estrogen receptor activity in purified breast cancer cells: a pilot study.

Tamoxifen has contributed to a dramatic reduction in breast cancer mortality and recent results indicate that aromatase inhibitors may further improve survival in some patients. Nevertheless, a substantial proportion of patients become resistant to treatment. To date, with the exception of estrogen receptor (ER) determination by ligand binding or immunohistochemical techniques, there has been no way of predicting which of several therapies is indicated in particular patients.