Publications by authors named "N N EPSTEIN"
Synergistic interactions between substance use and violence (SAVA syndemic) are strongly associated with heightened risk for HIV acquisition in the African American population. While couple-based interventions have shown efficacy among at-risk and HIV-positive serodiscordant couples, no interventions have specifically targeted SAVA syndemic risk reduction for HIV-negative, high-risk, heterosexual African American couples in the United States. This pilot study tested the feasibility, safety, and preliminary effects of an integrated sexual risk reduction intervention for African American couples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The incidence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks/dural tears (DT) occurring during anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) are typically relatively low. However, this frequency markedly increases when anterior corpectomy and fusion (ACF) are performed to address ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).
Methods: The reported frequencies of CSF leaks/DT occurring during elective ACDF (i.
Article Synopsis
- Cervical and lumbar epidural spinal injections are commonly used in the US for back pain despite not having FDA approval, yet studies show they offer little to no short-term or long-term benefits compared to placebos.* -
- Adverse events (AE) are more frequent and severe with cervical injections, particularly transforaminal (C-TFESI), leading to issues like respiratory distress, paralysis, and infections, while lumbar injections have their own set of risks.* -
- Overall, the effectiveness of these injections is questioned, as most research indicates they do not significantly improve patient outcomes compared to other treatments like saline or local anesthetics.*
Article Synopsis
- * Effective methods to reduce these complications include thorough operative decompressions, use of operating microscopes, and avoiding aggressive techniques when significant dural adhesions are present.
- * Recommended repair techniques involve using non-resorbable sutures, muscle patch grafts, and additional methods like fibrin sealants and lumbar drains to mitigate CSF leaks.