Hounsfield Unit Utilization in Cervical Spine for Bone Quality Assessment: A Scoping Review.

Bone mineral density (BMD) is an essential indicator of bone strength and plays a crucial role in the clinical management of various spinal pathologies. Hounsfield units (HUs) calculated from computed tomography (CT) scans are a well-established, effective, and non-invasive method to determine bone density in the lumbar spine when juxtaposed to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, the gold standard for assessing trabecular bone density. Only recently have studies begun to investigate and establish HUs as a reliable and valid alternative for bone quality assessment in the cervical spine as well.

Unmasking Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in United States Chordoma Clinical Trials: Systematic Review.

Background: Chordoma is a rare bone cancer with limited treatment options. Clinical trials are crucial for developing effective therapies, but their success depends on including diverse patient populations. The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the reporting of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity in United States clinical trials exploring treatment for chordoma.

Symptoms in Persons With Either Active or Inactive Crohn's Disease Are Agnostic to Disease Phenotype: The Magic in Imagine Study.

Background: We aimed to examine the relationship between disease symptoms and disease phenotype in a large Canadian cohort of persons with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: Adults (n=1515) with CD from 14 Canadian centers participated in the Mind And Gut Interactions Cohort (MAGIC) between 2018 and 2023. Disease activity was measured using the 24-item IBD Symptom Inventory-Short-Form (IBDSI-SF).

Network Meta-Analysis: Comparison of Endoscopic Dysplasia Detection Technologies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Novel colorectal cancer endoscopic surveillance techniques for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have recently been developed.

Aims: Compare the efficacy of currently available techniques for dysplasia detection in colonic IBD.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search from inception to March 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective cohort studies enrolling adults with IBD and having surveillance colonoscopy for dysplasia screening.

Eligibility Criteria of Randomized Clinical Trials in Critical Care Medicine.

Importance: Eligibility criteria for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are designed to select clinically relevant patient populations. However, not all eligibility criteria are strongly justified, potentially excluding marginalized groups, and limiting the generalizability of trial findings.

Objective: To summarize and evaluate the justification of exclusion criteria in published RCTs in critical care medicine.