Autofluorescence is a biomarker of neural stem cell activation state.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) must exit quiescence to produce neurons; however, our understanding of this process remains constrained by the technical limitations of current technologies. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) of autofluorescent metabolic cofactors has been used in other cell types to study shifts in cell states driven by metabolic remodeling that change the optical properties of these endogenous fluorophores. Using this non-destructive, live-cell, and label-free strategy, we found that quiescent NSCs (qNSCs) and activated NSCs (aNSCs) have unique autofluorescence profiles.

Intra-Articular Platelet Rich Plasma vs Corticosteroid Injections for Sacroiliac Joint Pain: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: Using stringent inclusion criteria, a double-blinded study protocol, and fluoroscopically guided injections, we compare intra-articular sacroiliac joint platelet-rich plasma injections with intra-articular steroids.

Design: Double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Two large university-based interdisciplinary spine centers.

Investigation of genicular neurotomy of the knee: MRI characterization of anatomy and implications for intervention.

Background: Genicular nerve block and subsequent radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) has emerged as a novel intervention and alternative for total knee arthroplasty in patients with refractory pain from knee osteoarthritis (OA). To our knowledge, there is no cited report correlating the accuracy of localizing the genicular nerves using bony landmarks on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Objectives: To quantify the proximity of superomedial genicular nerve (SMGN), superolateral genicular nerve (SLGN), and inferomedial genicular nerve (IMGN) from a target point.

Ultrasound for Lumbar Spinal Procedures.

Ultrasonography has become an increasingly valuable and promising tool for performing image-guided spine interventions. The increase in the use of ultrasound utilization has led to more studies evaluating ultrasound-guided interventional spine procedures in comparison to fluoroscopy and computed tomography. Several studies have investigated the use of ultrasound for lumbosacral pain management procedures with favorable outcomes.

Myofascial Pelvic Pain and Related Disorders.

Myofascial pelvic pain refers to pain in the pelvic floor muscles, the pelvic floor connective tissue, and the surrounding fascia. The cause is often multifactorial and requires treatment that encompasses multiple modalities. This type of pain is often associated with other abdominopelvic disorders, so providers in these specialties need to be aware of these connections.

Treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer in the elderly: navigating the trade-offs of risk and benefit.

Purpose: Despite the fact that bladder cancer patients have the highest median age of any type of cancer, older patients with muscle invasion are often under-treated.

Methods: In this review, we report the most up to date literature on the patterns of care and treatment of older patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. Data on under-treatment, geriatric principles, cystectomy, perioperative chemotherapy, and bladder preservation for older patients are presented and analyzed.

Secondary acute lymphoblastic leukemia is an independent predictor of poor prognosis.

Compared to secondary acute myeloid leukemia, secondary acute lymphoblastic leukemia (sALL) is poorly characterized. We utilized data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 13 database to further elucidate patient characteristics and prognostic factors in sALL. Cases of adult de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and sALL in patients with primary breast, rectum, cervix, or ovarian cancers or lymphoma with a latency period of at least 12 months were identified within the SEER 13 database.

Ultra low concentrations of morphine increase neurite outgrowth in cultured rat spinal cord and cerebral cortical neurons.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of ultra low concentrations (10(-9) or 10(-14)M) of morphine on neurite elongation in cultured neurons dissociated from rat spinal cords and cerebral cortex. In fetal serum (FS) or fetal serum-free supplemented with cAMP media, the length of longest neurite was significantly increased by 10(-9) or 10(-14)M morphine. For example, 10(-14)M morphine increased neurite length by 24 +/- 0.

Beacon/ubiquitin-like 5-immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus and pituitary of the mouse.

Beacon is a 73-amino acid peptide encoded by a novel gene in the hypothalamus of Israeli sand rat Psammomys obesus. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical techniques were used to investigate the presence of beacon mRNA and the distribution of beacon-immunoreactivity (irBC) in the hypothalamus of ICR mice. RT-PCR experiments revealed beacon mRNA in the mouse hypothalamus.