Association of Safety-Net hospital status and hospital outcomes following ACDF or PCDF for CSM.

Introduction: Safety net hospitals (SNH) serve a large proportion of patients with Medicaid or without insurance. However, few prior studies have addressed the impact of SNH status on outcomes following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). The aim of this study was to assess the association between SNH status outcomes following ACDF or PCDF for CSM.

Analysis of short- and delayed unplanned readmission rates after anterior discectomy and fusion for CSM.

Introduction: Many patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) undergo anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Many of these patients are readmitted, but there is no clear understanding of drivers of readmission. The aim of this study was to assess the patient- and hospital-level factors that contribute to 7-, 30-, and 90-day readmissions after treatment of CSM.

Therapies, Research Funding, and Racial Diversity in Essential Tremor: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common tremor disorders in the world. Despite this, only one medication, propranolol, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat it.

Objectives: We analyzed controlled clinical trials in ET, spanning the last 50 years, to identify potential shortcomings in the therapeutic clinical pipeline.

Current and emerging treatment modalities for spinocerebellar ataxias.

Introduction: Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) are a group of rare neurodegenerative diseases that dramatically affect the lives of affected individuals and their families. Despite having a clear understanding of SCA's etiology, there are no current symptomatic or neuroprotective treatments approved by the FDA.

Areas Covered: Research efforts have greatly expanded the possibilities for potential treatments, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

Emerging therapies in Friedreich's Ataxia.

Introduction: Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that results in gait and limb ataxia, diabetes, cardiac hypertrophy, and scoliosis. At the cellular level, FRDA results in the deficiency of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein that plays a vital role in iron homeostasis and amelioration of oxidative stress. No cure currently exists for FRDA, but exciting therapeutic developments which target different parts of the pathological cascade are on the horizon.

Management of Early Parkinson Disease.

Early Parkinson disease is the approximate time period between initial diagnosis and the onset of motor fluctuations. Treatment requires an integrative approach, including identification of motor and nonmotor symptoms, choice of pharmacologic treatment, and emphasis on exercise. Patients should be treated for motor symptoms, whereas medications may be delayed for milder symptoms.

Orphan Drugs In Development For The Treatment Of Friedreich's Ataxia: Focus On Omaveloxolone.

Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA) is a devastating and progressive ataxia, marked by mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Nrf2 activators such as omaveloxolone (Omav) modulate antioxidative mechanisms, and thus may be viable therapeutic agents in FRDA.

Stem cell therapy for abrogating stroke-induced neuroinflammation and relevant secondary cell death mechanisms.

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide. A key secondary cell death mechanism mediating neurological damage following the initial episode of ischemic stroke is the upregulation of endogenous neuroinflammatory processes to levels that destroy hypoxic tissue local to the area of insult, induce apoptosis, and initiate a feedback loop of inflammatory cascades that can expand the region of damage. Stem cell therapy has emerged as an experimental treatment for stroke, and accumulating evidence supports the therapeutic efficacy of stem cells to abrogate stroke-induced inflammation.