Spinal intradural microsurgery in a nascent neurosurgical department: Lessons learned from the first 25 cases.

Background: Between 2017 and 2021, the newly established Department of Neurosurgery at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, a high volume metropolitan hospital, operated on 25 intradural lesions in 24 patients (one patient had multiple tumors). In this retrospective study, we review results and lessons learned as experienced surgeons opened a new service line.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team was assembled and led by experienced neurosurgeons with skills in both microneurosurgery and complex spine care.

[INTRAOPERATIVE ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY MAPPING OF CORTICAL FUNCTION: A BRIEF HISTORY AND EVOLVING ALTERNATIVE].

Multiple studies have demonstrated that the improved extent of resection for patients with glioma is associated with improved survival. The use of intraoperative electrophysiology cortical mapping to demonstrate function became a standard of care in modern neurosurgery and an indispensable tool to achieve the goal of maximal safe resection in tumor surgery. In this study, we review the brief history of intraoperative electrophysiology cortical mapping from the first cortical mapping study back in 1870 to the innovative tool of broad gamma cortical mapping used today.

[COMPARISON OF HIGH GAMMA ELECTROCORTICOGRAPHY AND DIRECT CORTICAL STIMULATION MAPPING OF CORTICAL FUNCTION IN AWAKE CRANIOTOMY: INITIAL EXPERIENCE].

Introduction: The use of intraoperative electrical cortical stimulation (ECS) to map function is the standard of care in modern neurosurgery. Recently, high gamma electrocorticography (hgECOG) mapping has had encouraging results. In this study we aim to compare hgECOG and fMRI with ECS for motor and language mapping.

Vestibular schwannoma manifesting with hemifacial spasm in a young woman: clinical considerations and tumor removal with hearing preservation. 2-Dimensional operative video.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a rare presentation of vestibular schwannoma. The authors present their experience with a 27-year-old woman who presented with normal hearing and HFS, which was the single neurological manifestation of an 18-mm vestibular schwannoma. In this challenging situation, the treatment goals were maximal tumor removal with preservation of hearing and facial nerve function and cure of the HFS.

Intraoperative Deterioration of Neurophysiological Potentials of the Spinal Tracts in Cervical Spine Surgery: Correlation With Patient-Related and Procedure-Related Variables.

Purpose: To identify characteristics associated with higher incidence of intraoperative deterioration of neurophysiological potentials related to spinal tracts in cervical spine surgeries.

Methods: Electrophysiological raw data and neurophysiological case reports of 1,611 patients from multiple medical centers, who underwent cervical spine surgery for decompression and/or fusion, were retrospectively reviewed. Patient-related and procedure-related variables were identified and analyzed for correlation with intraoperative neurophysiological event of the spinal tracts.

Dysregulation of anti-Mullerian hormone expression levels in mural granulosa cells of FMR1 premutation carriers.

FMR1 premutation (55-200 CGG repeats) results in fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI). We evaluated expression levels of folliculogenesis-related mediators, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), to gain insights into the mechanisms underlying the reduced ovarian function. Mural granulosa cells (MGCs) were collected from FMR1 premutation carriers and noncarriers undergoing IVF treatments.

Treating low back pain - Bridging the gap between manual therapy and exercise.

As therapists, we often recommend exercise to reduce patients' low-back pain, as well as increase their active range of motion and muscle strength. However, physical therapists face a challenge when recommending exercise to reduce low-back pain because the pain itself often inhibits the patient's ability to exercise or perform activities of daily living. This situation becomes even more challenging if the prescribed exercise program aggravates the individual's low-back pain.

Discovery of Novel GABAAR Allosteric Modulators Through Reinforcement Learning.

Background: As not all target proteins can be easily screened in vitro, advanced virtual screening is becoming critical.

Objective: In this study, we demonstrate the application of reinforcement learning guided virtual screening for γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABAAR) modulating peptides.

Methods: Structure-based virtual screening was performed on a receptor homology model.

Single root multiple spinal schwannomas: Case report, treatment strategy and review of literature.

Introduction: Schwannomatosis is defined as multiple schwannomas without presence of neurofibromatosis and is a rare pathology. In vast majority of cases the schwannomas grow from different nerve roots or peripheral nerves.

Presentation Of Case: A 52-year-old woman presented with multiple intradural schwannomas arranged in a chain along the spinal canal causing significant compression.

Intraoperative monitoring of corticospinal tracts in anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery: Excitability differentials of lower extremity muscles.

Objective: This study examines and compares excitability characteristics of tibialis anterior (TA) and abductor hallucis (AH) transcranial motor evoked potentials (tcMEP) during anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) surgery.

Methods: Electrophysiological and clinical data of 89 patients who underwent ACDF procedure were retrospectively reviewed. TcMEP data of TA and AH muscles from 178 limbs were analyzed for availability, robustness and stability during the procedure.

Does the presence of AGG interruptions within the CGG repeat tract have a protective effect on the fertility phenotype of female FMR1 premutation carriers?

Purpose: While FMR1 premutation carriers (CGG 55-200) were shown to have reduced success with IVF treatment (lower oocyte yield), studies reporting on the association between the number of CGG repeats and patients' response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) are inconsistent. In the present study, we aim to explore whether the number of CGG repeats in women with premutation in FMR1 gene, undergoing COH for IVF, correlates with COH variables and whether the number of AGG interruptions may function as a "protective factor" by improving the ovarian response to COH.

Methods: Retrospective study, in an academic IVF-PGD unit.

Computationally Designed Bispecific MD2/CD14 Binding Peptides Show TLR4 Agonist Activity.

Toll-like receptor 4 plays an important role in the regulation of the innate and adaptive immune response. The majority of TLR4 activators currently in clinical use are derivatives of its prototypic ligand LPS. The discovery of innovative TLR4 activators has the potential of providing new therapeutic immunomodulators and adjuvants.

DYNAMIC OSCILLATORY STRETCHING EFFICACY ON HAMSTRING EXTENSIBILITY AND STRETCH TOLERANCE: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.

Background: While static stretch (SS), proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and oscillatory physiological mobilization techniques are documented to have positive effects on a range of motion (ROM), there are no reports on the effect of dynamic oscillatory stretching (DOS), a technique that combines these three techniques, on hamstring extensibility.

Purpose: To determine whether DOS improves hamstring extensibility and stretch tolerance to a greater degree than SS in asymptomatic young participants.

Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Wound temperature profiles of coaxial mini-incision versus sleeveless microincision phacoemulsification.

Background: Temperature profiles at the corneal wound of coaxial mini-incision (2.4 mm) cataract surgery and sleeveless microincision (1.1 mm) cataract surgery were compared.

Infantile spasms in down syndrome: Rescue by knockdown of the GIRK2 channel.

Objective: The Ts65Dn (Ts) mouse model of Down syndrome (DS) is exquisitely sensitive to an infantile spasms phenotype induced by γ-aminobutyric acidB receptor (GABAB R) agonists. The Ts mouse contains the core genomic triplication of the DS critical region, which includes 3 copies of the Kcnj6 gene that encodes the GABAB R-coupled G protein-coupled inward rectifying potassium channel subunit 2 (GIRK2) channel. We test the hypothesis that GIRK2 is necessary for the GABAB R agonist-induced infantile spasms phenotype in Ts.

Prediction of refractive outcomes with toric intraocular lens implantation.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the accuracy of different methods to measure and predict postoperative astigmatism with toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

Setting: Ein-Tal Ophthalmology Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Bilateral Sequential NAION following Cataract Extraction: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

We report a 64-year-old patient who developed nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in both eyes following cataract extraction. The cataract surgeries in both eyes were uneventful and performed within a year, and NAION occurred a few months postoperatively in both eyes. A review of the literature on this rare complication is provided.

Immunofluorescence assay and PCR analysis of cryptosporidium oocysts and species from human feacal specimens.

Background: Cryptosporidium spp. is a widespread protozoan parasite involving humans and animals.

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and PCR results for more accurate diagnosis of faecal specimens.

Simulation of neodymium:YAG posterior capsulotomy for ophthalmologists in training.

Unlabelled: We describe a new method for training ophthalmologists to perform a neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) posterior capsulotomy. Our model consists of an artificial anterior chamber that can be adjusted to fit any laser instrument and houses an intraocular lens (IOL). The posterior surface of the IOL is coated with a crust simulating posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

Temperature profiles of sleeveless and coaxial phacoemulsification.

Purpose: To study the temperature profile at the corneal wound during 2 sleeveless techniques versus 2 coaxial phacoemulsification techniques.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba and Ein-Tal Eye Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Design: Experimental study.

Acute calcific band keratopathy: case report and literature review.

Unlabelled: An 86-year-old patient developed a significant intraocular inflammatory reaction after having phacoemulsification. Topical therapy did not eliminate the inflammation, and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was injected into the anterior chamber. A white corneal plaque appeared in the previously clear cornea within days of the injection.

Outcome of iris fixation of subluxated intraocular lenses.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of iris fixation of subluxated intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Methods: A retrospective study of 44 consecutive cases of subluxated IOLs that underwent iris fixation of the IOL. Demographic information, data regarding surgery, and follow-up were retrieved from patient files.

Computerized modeling techniques predict the 3D structure of H₄R: facts and fiction.

The functional characterization of proteins presents a daily challenge r biochemical, medical and computational sciences, especially when the structures are undetermined empirically, as in the case of the Histamine H4 Receptor (H₄R). H₄R is a member of the GPCR superfamily that plays a vital role in immune and inflammatory responses. To date, the concept of GPCRs modeling is highlighted in textbooks and pharmaceutical pamphlets, and this group of proteins has been the subject of almost 3500 publications in the scientific literature.