Neurostimulation for the Treatment of Cancer-Induced Pain: A Scoping Review.

Objectives: Cancer pain is among the most prevalent and challenging symptoms in cancer care, with up to 95% of patients with late-stage cancer experiencing moderate-to-severe pain. Conventional pharmacologic treatments, including opioids, carry risks, and patients' conditions may be refractory to medical management or have contraindications. Neurostimulation techniques, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS), dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS), and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), have shown promise in treating treatment-induced cancer pain.

Effectiveness of Scrambler Therapy for Alleviating Phantom Limb Pain: A Case Report.

Among the 2 million amputees in the United States, 60% to 90% will experience phantom limb pain (PLP). Managing PLP presents challenges with current evidence-based pharmacological and interventional therapies yielding varied results. In recent years, advancements in neuromodulation, such as scrambler therapy (ST), have demonstrated effectiveness in addressing various chronic and neuropathic pain syndromes.

Disability Ethics and Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Identifying Ability Bias in ChatGPT and Gemini.

Objective: To identify and quantify ability bias in generative artificial intelligence large language model chatbots, specifically OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

Design: Observational study of language usage in generative artificial intelligence models.

Setting: Investigation-only browser profile restricted to ChatGPT and Gemini.

Clitoral metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix on F-FDG PET/CT and MRI.

Metastasis to the clitoris is extremely rare. Here, we report a highly unusual case of high-grade squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix metastasizing to the clitoris a year following surgery and chemoradiotherapy. The patient presented with a painless clitoral mass identified through physical examination.

Device-Related Complications Associated with Cylindrical Lead Spinal Cord Stimulator Implants: A Comprehensive Review.

Purpose Of Review: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an increasingly utilized therapy for the treatment of neuropathic pain conditions. Though minimally invasive and reversable, there are several important device-related complications that physicians should be aware of before offering this therapy to patients. The aim of this review is to synthesize recent studies in device-related SCS complications pertaining to cylindrical lead implantation and to discuss etiologies, symptoms and presentations, diagnostic evaluation, clinical implications, and treatment options.

Techniques in medicine: ipsilateral transforaminal epidural steroid injection in Bertolotti's syndrome.

Bertolotti's syndrome, also known as lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, is a relatively rare spinal condition characterized by an anatomical variation in the lower spine. Conservative approaches such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle modifications may be recommended for mild cases. In more severe cases or when conservative measures fail to provide relief, injections such as may be considered to alleviate pain.

Increased Pathologic Downstaging with Induction versus Consolidation Chemotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated with Total Neoadjuvant Therapy-A National Cancer Database Analysis.

Unlabelled: Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) is the recommended treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer. The optimal sequence of TNT is debated: induction (chemotherapy first) or consolidation (chemoradiation first)? We aim to evaluate the practice patterns and clinical outcomes of total neoadjuvant therapy with either induction or consolidation regiments in the United States for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Database for patients with clinical stage II or stage III rectal cancer, diagnosed between 2006 and 2017, who underwent total neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery.

Stimulating Superior Cluneal Nerves via Peripheral Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain.

Low back pain (LBP) is a challenging clinical condition for both patients and physicians. It requires a comprehensive initial diagnosis to avoid missing potential causes. One less common cause is superior cluneal neuralgia (SCN), which can present with limited lumbar motion, LBP, buttock pain, or an antalgic gait.

Metastatic gastric cancer target lesion complete response with Claudin18.2-CAR T cells.

Treatment of hematologic malignancies with patient-derived anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells has demonstrated long-term remissions for patients with otherwise treatment-refractory advanced leukemia and lymphoma. Conversely, CAR T-cell treatment of solid tumors, including advanced gastric cancer (GC), has proven more challenging due to on-target off-tumor toxicities, poor tumor T-cell infiltration, inefficient CAR T-cell expansion, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments, and demanding preconditioning regimens. We report the exceptional results of autologous Claudin18.

Epidural Catheters for Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections to Target Higher Cervical Pathology: Clinical Images in Practice.

Cervical radicular pain is commonly treated with cervical epidural steroid injections. The transforaminal approach allows for direct treatment of the steroid at a particular nerve root or level. Still, it carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality with thromboembolism or injury to cervical vasculature.

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain Management: a Narrative Review.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this review is to educate healthcare professionals regarding buprenorphine for the use of opioid use disorder (OUD) as well as for chronic pain management. This review provides physicians and practitioners with updated information regarding the distinct characteristics and intricacies of prescribing buprenorphine.

Recent Findings: Buprenorphine is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for acute pain, chronic pain, opioid use disorder (OUD), and opioid dependence.