The potential role of synthetic computed tomography in spinal surgery: generation, applications, and implications for future clinical practice.

Computed tomography (CT) is widely used for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of spinal pathologies, particularly for pedicle screw placement. However, CT's limitations, notably radiation exposure, necessitate the development of alternative imaging techniques. Synthetic CT (sCT), which generates CT-like images from existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, offers a promising alternative to reduce radiation exposure.

Optimizing Healthcare: Implementation of a Pharmacist-To-Pharmacist Transitions of Care Pilot Program.

Transitions of care (TOC) is defined as the movement of patients between healthcare practitioners, settings and home. Ineffective TOC can lead to hospital readmissions, increased costs, and patient dissatisfaction. Pharmacists have a unique opportunity to ensure that continuity of care, in regard to medication optimization and education, is continued throughout the transition between settings.

Unraveling the mysteries of parsonage turner syndrome: A journey towards optimal management. A systematic review.

Aims: Parsonage Turner Syndrome (PTS) is a peripheral neuropathy manifesting as sudden onset pain, muscle weakness, and atrophy. This review aims to analyse long-term outcomes reported in adult patients with PTS, and establish an optimised management approach.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using MEDLINE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library.

Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Raynaud's Conditions of the Hand: Clinical Practice Updates and Future Directions.

Raynaud's conditions of the hand, referred to commonly as Raynaud's phenomenon, both primary and secondary, represents a spectrum of disorders affecting the digits, characterised by recurrent episodes of vasospasm that result in a triad of symptoms: pain, pallor, and cyanosis. Various therapies, ranging from conservative hand therapy techniques to surgical sympathectomy, have been explored with inconsistent results. Recently, the local administration of botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) has re-emerged as a treatment option for this condition.

The Crystal Structure of Human IgD-Fc Reveals Unexpected Differences With Other Antibody Isotypes.

Of the five human antibody isotypes, the function of IgD is the least well-understood, although various studies point to a role for IgD in mucosal immunity. IgD is also the least well structurally characterized isotype. Until recently, when crystal structures were reported for the IgD Fab, the only structural information available was a model for intact IgD based on solution scattering data.

Digital AVATAR therapy for distressing voices in psychosis: the phase 2/3 AVATAR2 trial.

Distressing voices are a core symptom of psychosis, for which existing treatments are currently suboptimal; as such, new effective treatments for distressing voices are needed. AVATAR therapy involves voice-hearers engaging in a series of facilitated dialogues with a digital embodiment of the distressing voice. This randomized phase 2/3 trial assesses the efficacy of two forms of AVATAR therapy, AVATAR-Brief (AV-BRF) and AVATAR-Extended (AV-EXT), both combined with treatment as usual (TAU) compared to TAU alone, and conducted an intention-to-treat analysis.

Determinants of health-seeking behaviour in rural district of Jasikan, Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The Ghana Health Service aims to ensure the health of all Ghanaians. Understanding the factors that influence people's health-seeking behaviour will help the Ghana Health Service evaluate and enact policies that will enable it to achieve set targets. This research aimed to determine the factors that influence the health-seeking behaviour of the residents of Jasikan District and ascertain the importance of the well-being clinic in this context.

Postoperative outcomes in minimally invasive total versus supracervical hysterectomy for endometriosis: a NSQIP study.

Purpose: To study the rate and odds of 30 day postoperative complications among patients undergoing minimally invasive total (TLH) compared to supracervical (LSCH) hysterectomy for endometriosis.

Study Design: A cohort study of patients with a diagnosis of endometriosis undergoing hysterectomy. We used prospectively collected data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2012 to 2020.

Stellabody: A novel hexamer-promoting mutation for improved IgG potency.

Advances in antibody engineering are being directed at the development of next generation immunotherapeutics with improved potency. Hexamerisation of IgG is a normal physiological aspect of IgG biology and recently described mutations that facilitate this process have a substantial impact upon monoclonal antibody behavior resulting in the elicitation of dramatically enhanced complement-dependent cytotoxicity, Fc receptor function, and enhanced antigen binding effects, such as targeted receptor agonism or microbe neutralization. Whereas the discovery of IgG hexamerisation enhancing mutations has largely focused on residues with exposure at the surface of the Fc-Fc and CH2-CH3 interfaces, our unique approach is the engineering of the mostly buried residue H429 in the CH3 domain.

The diagnostic and prognostic utility of oxidative stress circulatory biomarkers in traumatic brain injury patients: a systematic review.

Objective: The objective of this review is to qualitatively appraise the available literature to evaluate the efficacy of circulatory systemic oxidative stress markers (OSMx) in determining the diagnosis and outcome of TBI.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted of PubMed/Medline, Embase and Google Scholar databases per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) for studies which employed serum or plasma OSMx analysis for diagnostic or prognostic purposes in patients with TBI.

Results: Eight studies were included.

Isolated C1 arch fractures: C1-2 fusion vs. C1 osteosynthesis - surgical strategies for potentially unstable injuries.

Study Design: Narrative Review.

Objectives: The premise of this review is to provide a review of the literature pertaining to studies describing outcomes of surgical cohorts when implementing C1 osteosynthesis for arch fractures with or without transverse atlantal ligamentous (TAL) injury.

Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was implemented across several search engines to identify studies which evaluate the outcomes of C1 osteosynthesis for patients with C1 arch fractures with and without TAL injury.

Retrospective case series of vertebral artery injuries associated with cervical spine trauma.

Background: Vertebral artery injuries (VAI) can occur due to cervical spine trauma. VAI can prove a serious complication and potentially compromise vascular supply to the posterior aspect of the brain. Currently, there is a paucity of evidence with regards to incidence, management, and outcomes for these patients.

Outcomes following spinal instrumented fusions in patients with parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients represent challenging spinal surgery candidates due to associated frailty and deformity. This study consolidates the literature concerning spinal surgery outcomes in PD versus non-PD patients, to evaluate if PD predisposes patients to worse post-operative outcomes, so that treatment protocols can be optimised.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar databases per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Mechanical Vertebral Body Augmentation Versus Conventional Balloon Kyphoplasty for Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Compression Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Outcomes.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Surgical management of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) has traditionally consisted of vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty procedures. Mechanical percutaneous vertebral body augmentation (MPVA) systems have recently been introduced as alternatives to traditional methods.

Learning curve analyses in spine surgery: a systematic simulation-based critique of methodologies.

Background Context: Various statistical approaches exist to delineate learning curves in spine surgery. Techniques range from dividing cases into intervals for metric comparison, to employing regression and cumulative summation (CUSUM) analyses. However, their inherent inconsistencies and methodological flaws limit their comparability and reliability.

Neutrophil-Derived Peptidyl Arginine Deiminase Activity Contributes to Pulmonary Emphysema by Enhancing Elastin Degradation.

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inflammation gives rise to protease-mediated degradation of the key extracellular matrix protein, elastin, which causes irreversible loss of pulmonary function. Intervention against proteolysis has met with limited success in COPD, due in part to our incomplete understanding of the mechanisms that underlie disease pathogenesis. Peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes are a known modifier of proteolytic susceptibility, but their involvement in COPD in the lungs of affected individuals is underexplored.

Biomechanical and ergonomic risks associated with cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction amongst surgeons: A systematic review.

Introduction: Surgeons are at high risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms due to a range of factors including, maladaptive positioning and surgical ergonomics. Cervical muscle strain and biomechanical load is most prevalent due to repetitive motions and prolonged static neck positioning. This issue is apparent through reports of prevalence between 10 and 74.

Comparative surgical outcomes of navigated vs non-navigated posterior spinal fusions in ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Introduction: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) patients with acute spinal fractures represent a challenge for practicing spine surgeons due to difficult operative anatomy and susceptibility to complications.

Research Question: Does intraoperative CT-navigation improve outcomes in patients with ankylosing spondylitis undergoing surgery?

Methods: A retrospective review was carried out at our centre from 05/2016-06/2021 to identify AS patients presenting with a traumatic spinal fracture, managed surgically with posterior spinal fusion (PSF). Cohorts were categorised and compared for outcomes based on those who underwent PSF with intraoperative CT-navigation versus those surgically managed with traditional intraoperative fluoroscopy.

The efficacy of anchored stand-alone spacers in comparison to conventional cage and plate in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials for clinical and radiological outcomes.

Introduction: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is commonly performed with cage and plate constructs to stabilise diseased or injured cervical segments. Despite it being a commonly performed procedure, there are notable rates of associated morbidity reported in the literature. Stand-alone spacers represent a novel form of instrumentation to conventional cage and plate constructs.