Outcomes after selective nerve root blockade for lumbar radicular pain from lumbar disc hernia or lumbar spinal stenosis assessed by the PROMIS-29 - a prospective observational cohort study.

Purpose: Selective nerve root blocks (SNRB) are used both as a therapeutic and diagnostic tool for lumbar radicular pain. Most studies evaluate the effect of SNRB simply by its relation to pain reduction. It is well known that pain is associated with other factors such as depression, anxiety, inactivity and sleeping disorders, but these patient-related outcomes are seldom evaluated.

Low-frequency dorsal root stimulation is effective for various pain etiologies and pain locations.

Background: Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S) has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach for managing chronic neuropathic pain.

Aims: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of 4-20 Hz DRG-S through a retrospective analysis of a cohort of 28 patients with various neuropathic pain etiologies and pain locations.

Materials And Methods: Patient responses to both stimulation frequencies were examined using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) assessments.

Bilateral T12 Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation for the Treatment of Low Back Pain With 20-Hz and 4-Hz Stimulation, a Retrospective Study.

Objectives: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common chronic pain conditions that cause both individual suffering and a burden to society. For these patients, several interventional treatment options such as surgery, blocks, radiofrequency, and spinal cord stimulation are available. Lately, dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S) also has been mentioned as an option by targeting bilateral T12 dorsal ganglia.

Vertigo: Could this Symptom Indicate the Existence of an Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm?

Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) can be presented with various symptoms, including atypical headaches and cranial nerve deficits. Vertigo is often referred in the literature as a coexisting symptom. Our aim was to investigate the importance of vertigo in the UIA symptomatology and present a possible explanation for its existence.

Intratumoral retrograde microdialysis treatment of high-grade glioma with cisplatin.

Purpose: This study evaluates the application of a microdialysis technique for interstitial chemotherapy using cisplatin in high-grade glioma.

Method: An in vitro study demonstrated that cisplatin can be administered through retrograde microdialysis and defined the recovery for cisplatin. In a subsequent phase I study, 1-4 microdialysis catheters were implanted in tumor tissue, brain adjacent to tumor (BAT) tissue, and subcutaneous tissue in 10 patients with recurrent high-grade glioma.

Metabolic response patterns in brain microdialysis fluids and serum during interstitial cisplatin treatment of high-grade glioma.

Background: High-grade gliomas are associated with poor prognosis. Tumour heterogeneity and invasiveness create challenges for effective treatment and use of systemically administrated drugs. Furthermore, lack of functional predictive response-assays based on drug efficacy complicates evaluation of early treatment responses.

The appropriate management of persisting pain after spine surgery: a European panel study with recommendations based on the RAND/UCLA method.

Purpose: Management of patients with persisting pain after spine surgery (PPSS) shows significant variability, and there is limited evidence from clinical studies to support treatment choice in daily practice. This study aimed to develop patient-specific recommendations on the management of PPSS.

Methods: Using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method (RUAM), an international panel of 6 neurosurgeons, 6 pain specialists, and 6 orthopaedic surgeons assessed the appropriateness of 4 treatment options (conservative, minimally invasive, neurostimulation, and re-operation) for 210 clinical scenarios.

Radiotherapy induces an immediate inflammatory reaction in malignant glioma: a clinical microdialysis study.

The knowledge of response to radiation in the immuno-microenvironment of high grade gliomas is sparse. In vitro results have indicated an inflammatory response of myeloid cells after irradiation. Therefore, microdialysis was used to verify whether this is operative in tumor tissue and brain adjacent to tumor (BAT) after clinical radiotherapy of patients with high grade glioma.

Glucose metabolites, glutamate and glycerol in malignant glioma tumours during radiotherapy.

Objective: The metabolism of malignant glioma was studied in 13 patients. The main objective was to perform a study of the metabolic pattern of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glutamate and glycerol in tumour tissue during base-line conditions and to detect any changes in the metabolism during radiotherapy.

Method: During a stereotactic biopsy, two microdialysis catheters were implanted: one in tumour and one in peri-tumoural tissue.