Improving workflows of neuro-interventional procedures with autostereoscopic 3D visualization of multi-modality imaging in hybrid interventional suites.

Purpose: Recent developments in interventional neuroradiology techniques, medical imaging modalities, endovascular stenting and embolization materials lead to an increasing number of patients with cerebral aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations that are eligible for endovascular treatment and have opened new perspectives for novel ways for patient treatment in general. In this paper, we describe a software tool for 3D image fusion of multi-modal acquisitions to assist endovascular treatment of cerebral malformations. The software and an autostereoscopic 3D display were implemented and tested in clinical applications in a hybrid interventional suite that is used for radio-interventional as well as neurosurgical procedures.

Historical records as a source of information for childhood socioeconomic status: results from a pilot study of decedents.

Purpose: The validity of parental occupation recalled by adult children is not established, yet it is commonly used to measure childhood socioeconomic status (SES). We investigated the feasibility of using data from historical records to validate recalled parental SES.

Methods: Data from death certificates and applications for Social Security numbers (parents' names, date and place of birth) were used to locate birth certificates and 1930 census records of 416 decedents in Forsyth County, NC, to verify parental occupation and childhood residence.

Predictors of opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Opioid misuse can complicate chronic pain management, and the non-medical use of opioids is a growing public health problem. The incidence and risk factors for opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain, however, have not been well characterized. We conducted a prospective cohort study to determine the one-year incidence and predictors of opioid misuse among patients enrolled in a chronic pain disease management program within an academic internal medicine practice.

Short-term repeatability of electrocardiographic spatial T-wave axis and QT interval.

Although ventricular repolarization abnormalities reflect arrhythmic susceptibility, few reliable tools exist to identify their presence. We investigated the repeatability of the spatial T-wave axis and QT interval from standard 12-lead electrocardiograms in 63 asymptomatic volunteers. Certified technicians used a standardized protocol to digitally record 2 electrocardiograms per participant at each of 2 visits separated by 1 to 2 weeks.

A primary care, multi-disciplinary disease management program for opioid-treated patients with chronic non-cancer pain and a high burden of psychiatric comorbidity.

Background: Chronic non-cancer pain is a common problem that is often accompanied by psychiatric comorbidity and disability. The effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary pain management program was tested in a 3 month before and after trial.

Methods: Providers in an academic general medicine clinic referred patients with chronic non-cancer pain for participation in a program that combined the skills of internists, clinical pharmacists, and a psychiatrist.

Valproic acid increases SMN levels in spinal muscular atrophy patient cells.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited motor neuron disease caused by mutation of the telomeric copy of the survival motor neuron gene (SMN1). Although a centromeric copy of the survival motor neuron gene (SMN2) is retained in all patients with SMA, it differs from SMN1 at a critical nucleotide such that the majority of SMN2 transcripts lack exon 7 and encode an unstable, truncated protein. Here, we show that valproic acid increases levels of exon 7-containing SMN transcript and SMN protein in type I SMA patient-derived fibroblast cell lines.