Same-day discharge after intracranial shunt revision: a retrospective propensity-matched safety analysis.

Objective: Patients are often observed overnight after ventricular shunt revision for hydrocephalus. We believe that a same-day discharge after a shunt revision is safe in the appropriate population. The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate patient population and the safety profile for a same-day discharge following a ventricular shunt revision.

Fluid Dynamic and in Vitro Blood Study to Understand Catheter-Related Thrombosis.

Purpose: Central venous catheters (CVCs) provide a direct route to the venous circulation but are prone to catheter-related thrombosis (CRT). A known CRT risk factor is a high catheter-to-vein ratio (CVR), or a large catheter diameter with respect to the indwelling vein size. In this study, the CVR's effect on CVC hemodynamics and its impact on CRT is investigated with in vitro and in silico experiments.

Opioid use in thoracic surgery: a retrospective study on postoperative complications.

Background: Opioids are important medications that are used to control postoperative pain. The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program has reduced opioid use after surgery. In a surgical practice with a robust ERAS program, we wanted to determine if there was a relationship between in-hospital opioid use and postoperative complications.

Molecular characterization of gliosarcoma reveals prognostic biomarkers and clinical parallels with glioblastoma.

Purpose: Gliosarcoma is a rare histopathological variant of glioblastoma, but it is unclear whether distinct clinical or molecular features distinguish it from other glioblastomas. The purpose of this study was to characterize common genomic alterations of gliosarcoma, compare them to that of glioblastoma, and correlate them with prognosis.

Methods: This was a single-institution, retrospective cohort study of patients seen between 11/1/2017 to 1/28/2024.

Bleeding outcomes in critically ill patients on heparin with discordant aPTT and anti-Xa activity.

Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and unfractionated heparin (UFH) level via the anti-factor Xa activity assay (anti-Xa) are commonly used assays for UFH monitoring. While discordance between the two assays is common, its impact on critically ill patient outcomes is unclear. This study aimed to compare the incidence of major bleeding events among critically ill patients with discordant aPTT and anti-Xa activity while on UFH, to patients with no discordance.

Regulatory elements in (7q21.3) locus contribute to genetic control of coronal nonsyndromic craniosynostosis and bone density-related traits.

Purpose: The etiopathogenesis of coronal nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (cNCS), a congenital condition defined by premature fusion of 1 or both coronal sutures, remains largely unknown.

Methods: We conducted the largest genome-wide association study of cNCS followed by replication, fine mapping, and functional validation of the most significant region using zebrafish animal model.

Results: Genome-wide association study identified 6 independent genome-wide-significant risk alleles, 4 on chromosome 7q21.

Core outcomes in nerve surgery: development of a core outcome set for common peroneal (fibular) neuropathy.

Objective: Common peroneal (fibular) neuropathy is the most common mononeuropathy of the lower extremity. Despite this, there are surprisingly few studies on the topic, and a knowledge gap remains in the literature. As one attempts to address this knowledge gap, a core outcome set (COS) is needed to guide the planning phases of future studies to allow synthesis and comparability of these studies.

Perioperative Management of Antiplatelet and Anticoagulation in Brain Tumor Surgery: A Survey of International Practices.

Background: Perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy is a necessary preprocedural consideration for patients prescribed direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), vitamin K antagonists, or antiplatelet medications. There is a lack of evidence-based guidelines to help inform decision-making in managing antiplatelet and anticoagulation medications in the perioperative period around brain tumor resection. The objective of this study was to provide an example of the heterogeneity in practice and raise awareness for the need to create standardized guidelines for managing these medications.

High-Throughput Bioprinting of Spheroids for Scalable Tissue Fabrication.

Tissue biofabrication that replicates an organ-specific architecture and function requires physiologically-relevant cell densities. Bioprinting using spheroids has the potential to create constructs with native cell densities, but its application is limited due to the lack of practical, scalable techniques. This study presents HITS-Bio (High-throughput Integrated Tissue Fabrication System for Bioprinting), a novel multiarray spheroid bioprinting technology enabling scalable tissue fabrication by rapidly positioning a number of spheroids simultaneously using a digitally-controlled nozzle array (DCNA) platform.

Awake craniotomy in pediatric low-grade glioma: barriers and future directions.

Introduction: The goal of surgical management in pediatric low-grade gliomas (pLGGs) is gross total resection (GTR), as it is considered curative with favorable long-term outcomes. Achieving GTR can be challenging in the setting of eloquent-region gliomas, in which resection may increase risk of neurological deficits. Awake craniotomy (AC) with intraoperative neurofunctional mapping (IONM) offers a promising approach to achieve maximal resection while preserving neurological function.

Impact of automated alerts on discharge opioid overprescribing after general surgery.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to identify the most performed surgical procedures associated with the highest rates of discharge opioid overprescribing and to implement an electronic health record (EHR) alert to reduce discharge opioid overprescribing.

Methods: This quality improvement, before-and-after study included patients undergoing one of the identified target procedures-laparoscopic cholecystectomy, unilateral open inguinal hernia repair, and laparoscopic appendectomy-at an academic medical center. The alert notified providers when the prescribed opioid quantity exceeded guideline recommendations.

Early Celecoxib Use in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage is Associated with Reduced Mortality.

Background: Hemorrhagic strokes constitute 10-15% of all strokes and have the worst mortality and morbidity of all subtypes. Mortality and morbidity of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) are often secondary to the effects of inflammation, brain edema, and swelling. Studies have shown that celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor, reduces perihematomal edema formation and inflammation.

Effects of Preoperative Glucocorticoid Use on Patients Undergoing Single-Level Lumbar Fusions: A Retrospective Propensity Score-Matched Registry Study.

Objective Spinal fusions are gaining popularity as a means of treating spinal deformity and instability from a range of pathologies. The prevalence of glucocorticoid use has also increased in recent decades, and their systemic effects are well-documented. Although commonly used in the preoperative period, the effects of steroids on outcomes among patients undergoing spinal fusions are inadequately described.

Incidence of tethered cord syndrome in neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2 pediatric patients: a population-level analysis.

Purpose: Tethered spinal cord syndrome (TCS) is characterized by cutaneous attachments on the filum terminale that stretch the spinal cord, leading to musculoskeletal and urogenital sequelae. While the neurocutaneous associations with TCS remain undefined, a recent study reports a high incidence of TCS among a pediatric neurofibromatosis (NF) cohort. This present study utilizes a population-level database to estimate TCS incidence among pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2 (NF1, NF2).

Numerical Study on the Impact of Central Venous Catheter Placement on Blood Flow in the Cavo-Atrial Junction.

An in silico study is performed to investigate fluid dynamic effects of central venous catheter (CVC) placement within patient-specific cavo-atrial junctions. Prior studies show the CVC infusing a liquid, but this study focuses on the placement without any liquid emerging from the CVC. A 7 or 15-French double-lumen CVC is placed virtually in two patient-specific models; the CVC tip location is altered to understand its effect on the venous flow field.

Core outcomes in nerve surgery: development of a core outcome set for brachial plexus and upper extremity nerve injuries.

Objective: When considering traumatic brachial plexus and upper extremity nerve injuries, iatrogenic nerve injuries, and nontraumatic nerve injuries, brachial plexus and upper extremity nerve injuries are commonly encountered in clinical practice. Despite this, data synthesis and comparison of available studies are difficult. This is at least in part due to the lack of standardization in reporting and a lack of a core outcome set (COS).

Pediatric Traumatic Injuries Due to Agrarian Hay-Hole Falls.

Hay-holes are a design feature in many traditionally built barns that serve as a portal through which stored hay is passed to the lower level where animals are fed. Unfortunately, children sometimes fall through the hay-hole to the concrete or packed earth below. Available data on the frequency and types of hay-hole injuries is limited.

Evaluating the Effect of Lactobacillus casei FEGY 9973 and Curcumin on Experimental Giardiasis.

Background And Objective: Giardia is a parasitic hard protozoan that causes a variety of parasitological and pathological changes in gastrointestinal epithelial cells and is resistant to a variety of disinfectants and treatments. This study used experimental animals infected with Giardia Lamblia to assess the potential therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus (Lactobacillus in yoghurt) and curcumin in comparison to one of the commonly used drugs (metronidazole).

Methods: The study included 54 Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) that ranged in weight from 80 to 100 g and were divided into six groups: The effect of the used preparations was assessed in terms of parasitological and histopathological aspects in Group I non-infected healthy control, Group II infected non-treated, Group III infected treated with metronidazole MTZ, Group IV infected treated with Lactobacillus casei, Group V infected treated with curcumin, and Group VI infected treated with, Lactobacillus bulgaricus (Lactobacillus in yoghurt).

Predictor Variables Associated With Dermatology Referral Completion and the Impact on Surgical Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Delays or failure to complete a dermatologic referral may affect health care outcomes. Factors associated with these delays remain understudied.

Objective: This study investigated socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with delays or failure to complete dermatology referrals and potential impact on surgical outcomes.

Simultaneous versus staged bilateral carpal tunnel release via open and endoscopic surgeries: a retrospective propensity score-matched patient comorbidity analysis.

Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) presents bilaterally in nearly 60%-70% of affected patients. Bilateral carpal tunnel release (CTR) can be performed in a staged or simultaneous fashion. There remains a limited understanding of the optimal preoperative factors to use for patient selection when determining simultaneous versus staged bilateral CTR.

Congenital Pediatric Hydrocephalus in the Brazilian Public Health System: The Reality of a Middle-Income Country in the Past 13 Years.

Background: Congenital hydrocephalus is a significant challenge in neurosurgery, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study focuses on the congenital hydrocephalus in Brazil, a developing country, over the past 13 years.

Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of congenital hydrocephalus treatment and outcomes using data records on DATASUS from January 2008 to July 2021.