Prevalence of metal hypersensitivity in pediatric spine surgery.

Purpose: Delayed metal hypersensitivity reactions can cause complications in spine surgery. Currently, there is no information on the prevalence of metal hypersensitivity in pediatric patients undergoing spine surgery. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of metal hypersensitivity in pediatric patients undergoing spinal instrumentation.

A propensity score-matched comparison between single-stage and multistage anterior/posterior lumbar fusion surgery: a Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative study.

Objective: Patients undergoing anterior/posterior lumbar fusion surgery can undergo either a single-stage or multistage operation, depending on surgeon preference. The goal of this study was to assess different patient outcomes between single-stage and multistage lumbar fusion procedures in a multicenter setting.

Methods: The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative database was queried for anterior/posterior lumbar fusion surgeries between July 2018 and January 2022.

Effects of gene dosage on cognitive ability: A function-based association study across brain and non-brain processes.

Copy-number variants (CNVs) that increase the risk for neurodevelopmental disorders also affect cognitive ability. However, such CNVs remain challenging to study due to their scarcity, limiting our understanding of gene-dosage-sensitive biological processes linked to cognitive ability. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 258,292 individuals, which identified-for the first time-a duplication at 2q12.

Prospective assessment of end-of-life symptoms and quality of life in patients with high-grade glioma.

Background: Glioblastoma and high-grade glioma (HGG) remain non-curable diseases. Symptoms and Quality-of-life (QoL) in the end-of-life (EoL) phase have not been prospectively studied with validated instruments. Therefore, we prospectively assessed symptom progression, symptom management, and hospice utilization in patients with treatment-refractory progressive HGG.

Intravenous and intracranial GD2-CAR T cells for H3K27M diffuse midline gliomas.

H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) express high levels of the disialoganglioside GD2 (ref. ). Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells targeting GD2 (GD2-CART) eradicated DMGs in preclinical models.

Using Care Navigation to Improve Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Older Adult Patients: Preliminary Results From a Pilot Study.

Navigating health and social care in the United States can be difficult for people of all ages, but older adults often have multiple health problems, chronic illnesses, and disabilities that can increase the complexities of their care. To assist older adult patients and/or their caregivers with coordinating care, and providing information, advocacy, and resources, Henry Ford Health (HFH) implemented a Senior Care Navigation Program (SCNP). Older HFH patients or their caregivers were referred to the SCNP either by a provider or another member of their care team.

Interleukin-11 receptor is an alternative α-receptor for interleukin-6 and the chimeric cytokine IC7.

The cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) signals via the IL-6 α-receptor (IL-6Rα or IL-6R) in complex with the gp130 β-receptor. Cell type restricted expression of the IL-6R limits the action of IL-6 mainly to hepatocytes and some immune cells. Here, we show that IL-6 also binds to the IL-11 α receptor (IL-11Rα or IL-11R) and induces signaling via IL-11R:gp130 complexes, albeit with a lower affinity compared to IL-11.

A Novel Surgical Approach to Synovial Sarcoma of the Esophagus: New Possibilities for the Management of a Rare Tumor.

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is an uncommon soft tissue malignancy that typically occurs in surrounding joints. Rarely, this malignancy may occur in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the esophagus. Given the rarity of this malignancy, treatment recommendations are limited.

Timing of Endoscopic Intervention for Esophageal Food Impaction and Its Impact on Patient Outcomes.

Introduction: Esophageal food impaction (EFI) is a common complaint of patients presenting to the emergency department. EFI requires urgent evaluation by the gastroenterology service and often necessitates esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for management. Timing of EGD in patients with EFI that does not improve with medical management remains a point of contention.

The reliability of virtual non-contrast reconstructions of photon-counting detector CT scans in assessing abdominal organs.

Background: Spectral imaging of photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) scanners allows for generating virtual non-contrast (VNC) reconstruction. By analyzing 12 abdominal organs, we aimed to test the reliability of VNC reconstructions in preserving HU values compared to real unenhanced CT images.

Methods: Our study included 34 patients with pancreatic cystic neoplasm (PCN).

The impact of serum albumin levels on postoperative complications in lumbar and cervical spine surgery: an analysis of the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative registry.

Objective: Patients with serum albumin levels < 3.5 g/dL are considered malnourished, but there is a paucity of data regarding the outcomes of patients with albumin levels > 3.5 g/dL.

Causes of mortality in farmed white-tailed deer in the midwestern United States, 2004-2023.

Farmed cervids are of growing economic importance in the midwestern United States. Although diseases of wild and captive cervids have been examined in more northerly climates, little information exists on the health challenges of deer in the Midwest. We characterized and summarized the causes of mortality in farmed white-tailed deer () submitted to the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Columbia, MO, USA) over a 19-y period (2004-2023).

Copy-number variants differ in frequency across genetic ancestry groups.

Copy-number variants (CNVs) have been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric and cognitive phenotypes. We found that deleterious CNVs are less prevalent in non-European ancestry groups than they are in European ancestry groups of both the UK Biobank (UKBB) and a US replication cohort (SPARK). We also identified specific recurrent CNVs that consistently differ in frequency across ancestry groups in both the UKBB and SPARK.

Integration of Mixed Reality Technology Into a Global Neurosurgery Bootcamp.

International bootcamps are important for providing access to advanced education and training to physicians around the world. In countries where resources are scarce, the opportunity to be exposed to advanced training and the latest technologies is limited. We set out to evaluate the educational value of integrating augmented reality (AR) into the curriculum of a global neurosurgery bootcamp.

Sequential intravenous and intracerebroventricular GD2-CAR T-cell therapy for H3K27M-mutated diffuse midline gliomas.

H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) express high levels of the GD2 disialoganglioside and chimeric antigen receptor modified T-cells targeting GD2 (GD2-CART) eradicate DMGs in preclinical models. Arm A of the Phase I trial NCT04196413 administered one IV dose of autologous GD2-CART to patients with H3K27M-mutant pontine (DIPG) or spinal (sDMG) diffuse midline glioma at two dose levels (DL1=1e6/kg; DL2=3e6/kg) following lymphodepleting (LD) chemotherapy. Patients with clinical or imaging benefit were eligible for subsequent intracerebroventricular (ICV) GD2-CART infusions (10-30e6 GD2-CART).

Effectiveness of Erector Spinae Plane Block as Perioperative Analgesia in Midline Sternotomies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

With the advancements in regional anesthesia and ultrasound techniques, the use of non-neuraxial blocks like the erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has been increasing in cardiac surgeries with promising outcomes. A total of 3,264 articles were identified through a literature search. Intervention was defined as ESPB.

Development and Validation of the Dysphagia Handicap Index-Companion (DHI-C).

Dysphagia is known to present a social and psychological burden with negative effects on quality of life. However, the psychosocial effect of an individual's dysphagia on those that care for them is less known. The purpose of this study was to develop a clinically efficient, statistically robust companion-reported outcomes measure to the Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) to better understand the impact of a patient's dysphagia on their companions as related to physical, emotional and functional domains of health-related quality of life.

The epidemiology of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans incidence, metastasis, and death among various population groups: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database analysis.

Background: Limited information exists regarding the epidemiology, metastasis, and survival of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).

Objective: To measure DFSP incidence and assess metastasis and survival outcomes.

Methods: Incidence rate, overall and DFSP-specific survival outcomes for primary DFSP tumors contained in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry were analyzed via quasi-Poisson regression, Cox, and competing risk analyses.