Efficacy of Stand-Alone Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion With PEEK Cages, BMP-2, and Allografts for Treating Discogenic Low Back Pain: Assessing Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes.

Background: Chronic low back pain secondary to degenerative disc disease is a significant public health issue worldwide, contributing to substantial health care burdens and patient disability. Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) has emerged as a promising surgical solution, offering benefits such as disc height restoration, reduced neural compression, and improved spinal alignment. This study evaluates the efficacy of stand-alone ALIF using polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages, structural femoral head allografts, and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in treating discogenic low back pain caused by degenerative disc disease.

Prepartum and postpartum mothers' and fathers' feelings of frustration in response to infant crying.

In this cross-sectional study performed in Canada, we evaluated the frustration levels of prepartum and postpartum mother and father couple-pairs. Our goal was to determine if there were differences in frustration levels between mothers and fathers while listening to prolonged infant crying, and further, how frustration levels might differ between prepartum and postpartum samples. Using two discrete groups, prepartum (Sample 1; N = 48) and postpartum (Sample 2; N = 44) mother and father couple-pairs completed 600 s of listening to audio-recorded infant cry sounds.

Fundamentals of Mechanobiology and Potential Applications in Spinal Fusion.

Background: Mechanobiology can help optimize spinal fusion by providing insights into the mechanical environment required for bone healing and fusion. This includes understanding the optimal loading conditions, the mechanical properties of implanted materials, and the effects of mechanical stimuli on the cells involved in bone formation. The present article reviews the evidence for surface technologies and implant modification of spinal cages in enhancing spinal fusion.

Transition of Care in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis, and Transplantation.

Improvement in management of pediatric renal disorders has led to patient survival rates of 85-90%, increasing the number of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with childhood onset chronic kidney disease (CKD) transitioning to adult care settings. Pediatric CKD patients differ from adults with CKD in view of early onset of disease (sometimes with fetal onset), different disease spectrum, the potential effect of CKD on neurodevelopment, and substantial involvement of parents in medical decision making. In addition to the usual challenges of emerging adulthood (graduation from school to work, independent living, peak in impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors), young adults with pediatric CKD need to learn to manage a serious medical condition independently.