Data-driven, cross-disciplinary collaboration: lessons learned at the largest academic health center in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted global research efforts to reduce infection impact, highlighting the potential of cross-disciplinary collaboration to enhance research quality and efficiency.

Methods: At the FMUSP-HC academic health system, we implemented innovative flow management routines for collecting, organizing and analyzing demographic data, COVID-related data and biological materials from over 4,500 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized from 2020 to 2022. This strategy was mainly planned in three areas: organizing a database with data from the hospitalizations; setting-up a multidisciplinary taskforce to conduct follow-up assessments after discharge; and organizing a biobank.

Effects of ganglioside GM1 and erythropoietin on spinal cord injury in mice: Functional and immunohistochemical assessments.

Objectives: To evaluate the functional and immunohistochemical effects of ganglioside GM1 and erythropoietin following experimental spinal cord injury.

Methods: Thirty-two male BALB/c mice were subjected to experimental spinal cord injury using the NYU Impactor device and were randomly divided into the following groups: GM1 group, receiving standard ganglioside GM1 (30 mg/kg); erythropoietin group, receiving erythropoietin (1000 IU/kg); combination group, receiving both drugs; and control group, receiving saline (0.9%).

COMVC-19: A Program to protect healthcare workers' mental health during the COVID-19 Pandemic. What we have learned.

Objective: In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a work and stress overload to healthcare workers, increasing their vulnerability to mental health impairments. In response, the authors created the COMVC-19 program. The program offered preventive actions and mental health treatment for the 22,000 workers of The Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP).

Risk Factors Associated with Postoperative Infection in Cancer Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery.

Objectives: To determine the rate of and main risk factors for postoperative infection in cancer patients who underwent spine surgery in the last 5 years in order to determine whether there is an association between postoperative infection and increased mortality during hospitalization.

Methods: All cancer patients who underwent surgical procedures between January 2015 and December 2019 at a single hospital specializing in spine cancer surgery were analyzed. The primary outcome of interest was postoperative infection.

Comparative tomographic study of the iliac screw and the S2-alar-iliac screw in children.

Objectives: The recent advancements in spine fixation aid in the treatment of complex spinal pathologies. Both the iliac screw (IS) and the S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) screw provide adequate stability in the fixation of complex lumbosacral spine pathologies, leading to a significant increased rate of using these techniques in the daily practice of the spine surgeons. This study aims to analyze, describe, and compare the insertion and positioning parameters of the S2AI screw and IS techniques in children without spinal deformities.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy Versus Microdiscectomy for the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation: Pain, Disability, and Complication Rate-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: The objective was to compare the traditional microdiscectomy with percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for the treatment of disc herniations regarding pain, disability, and complications.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial with 47 patients with disc herniations treated with 2 different surgical techniques: traditional microdiscectomy or percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy. Forty-seven patients were divided into 2 groups and monitored for 12 months.

Evaluation of the effects of erythropoietin and interleukin-6 in rats submitted to acute spinal cord injury.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and erythropoietin (EPO) in experimental acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.

Methods: Using standardized equipment, namely, a New York University (NYU) Impactor, a SCI was produced in 50 Wistar rats using a 10-g weight drop from a 12.5-mm height.

En bloc vertebrectomy for the treatment of spinal lesions. Five years of experience in a single institution: a case series.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the experience of a Brazilian public university hospital regarding the treatment of metastatic or benign spine lesions with en bloc vertebrectomy of the thoracic and lumbar spines.

Methods: This study was a retrospective case series and included all medical records of patients with benign aggressive, primary malignant, or metastatic spine lesions who underwent en bloc vertebrectomy from 2010 to 2015.

Results: A total of 17 patients were included in the analysis.

Standardization of a spinal cord lesion model and neurologic evaluation using mice.

Objective: To standardize a spinal cord lesion mouse model.

Methods: Thirty BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: four experimental groups and one control group (sham). The experimental groups were subjected to spinal cord lesion by a weight drop from different heights after laminectomy whereas the sham group only underwent laminectomy.

Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Combined with Methylprednisolone Improves Functional Outcomes in Rats with Experimental Acute Spinal Cord Injury.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of combined treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and methylprednisolone in rats subjected to experimental spinal cord injury.

Methods: Forty Wistar rats received a moderate spinal cord injury and were divided into four groups: control (no treatment); G-CSF (G-CSF at the time of injury and daily over the next five days); methylprednisolone (methylprednisolone for 24 h); and G-CSF/Methylprednisolone (methylprednisolone for 24 h and G-CSF at the time of injury and daily over the next five days). Functional evaluation was performed using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score on days 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 following injury.

Feasibility of anterior screw fixation in children: a tomographic study.

Purpose: Morphology measures of the odontoid process in children under 12 years old were carried out to demonstrate the viability of anterior internal fixation in this population once their active profile may not be compatible with successful conservative treatment.

Methods: During a 6-month period, 36 tomographic examinations of the cervical spine region that provided visualization of the odontoid process were selected. Group 1 included children between 6 and 9 years of age, and group 2 contained children from 9 to 12 years of age.

Epidemiology of cauda equina syndrome. What changed until 2015.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of cases admitted to hospital with cauda equina syndrome (CES) at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology (IOT) from 2005 to 2015. Secondly, this article is a continuation of the epidemiological work of the same base published in 2013, and will be important for other comparative studies to a greater understanding of the disease and its epidemiology.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of the medical records of admissions due to CES at IOT in the period 2005-2015 with diagnosis of CES and neuropathic bladder.

Anatomical and radiological characteristics in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with surgical indication.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the anatomical and radiological characteristics of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients with surgical indication.

Methods: Retrospective, descriptive study of 100 medical records pertaining to patients included in the group of scoliosis with surgical indication from the years 2008 to 2015. Descriptive statistics were used for statistical analysis.

Effects of estrogen on functional and neurological recovery after spinal cord injury: An experimental study with rats.

Objectives: To evaluate the functional and histological effects of estrogen as a neuroprotective agent after a standard experimentally induced spinal cord lesion.

Methods: In this experimental study, 20 male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: one group with rats undergoing spinal cord injury (SCI) at T10 and receiving estrogen therapy with 17-beta estradiol (4mg/kg) immediately following the injury and after the placement of skin sutures and a control group with rats only subjected to SCI. A moderate standard experimentally induced SCI was produced using a computerized device that dropped a weight on the rat's spine from a height of 12.

Predictive factors for perioperative blood transfusion in surgeries for correction of idiopathic, neuromuscular or congenital scoliosis.

Objective: To evaluate the association of clinical and demographic variables in patients requiring blood transfusion during elective surgery to treat scoliosis with the aim of identifying markers predictive of the need for blood transfusion.

Methods: Based on the review of medical charts at a public university hospital, this retrospective study evaluated whether the following variables were associated with the need for red blood cell transfusion (measured by the number of packs used) during scoliosis surgery: scoliotic angle, extent of arthrodesis (number of fused levels), sex of the patient, surgery duration and type of scoliosis (neuromuscular, congenital or idiopathic).

Results: Of the 94 patients evaluated in a 55-month period, none required a massive blood transfusion (most patients needed less than two red blood cell packs).

Controlled medial branch anesthetic block in the diagnosis of chronic lumbar facet joint pain: the value of a three-month follow-up.

Objectives: To verify the incidence of facetary and low back pain after a controlled medial branch anesthetic block in a three-month follow-up and to verify the correlation between the positive results and the demographic variables.

Methods: Patients with chronic lumbar pain underwent a sham blockade (with a saline injection) and then a controlled medial branch block. Their symptoms were evaluated before and after the sham injection and after the real controlled medial branch block; the symptoms were reevaluated after one day and one week, as well as after one, two and three months using the visual analog scale.

Prevalence of scoliosis in Williams-Beuren syndrome patients treated at a regional reference center.

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of scoliosis and the patterns of scoliotic curves in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome. Williams-Beuren syndrome is caused by a chromosome 7q11.23 deletion in a region containing 28 genes, with the gene encoding elastin situated approximately at the midpoint of the deletion.