Natural abundance analysis of the role played by N as indicator for the certification of organic-system deriving food.

Background: The natural abundance of stable isotope N (δ N) in production systems has emerged as an alternative to distinguish organic products from conventional ones. This study evaluated the use of δ N values recorded for nitrogen fertilizers, soil and plant tissue in order to set the differences between organic and conventional agricultural production systems applied to rice, potatoes, apple and banana crops.

Results: Values of δ N recorded for N sources ranged from +5.

Dural Tears During Lumbar Spinal Endoscopy: Surgeon Skill, Training, Incidence, Risk Factors, and Management.

Background: Incidental dural tears during lumbar endoscopy can be challenging to manage. There is limited literature on their appropriate management, risk factors, and the clinical consequences of this typically uncommon complication.

Materials And Methods: To improve the statistical power of studying durotomy with lumbar endoscopy, we performed a retrospective survey study among endoscopic spine surgeons by email and chat groups on social media networks, including WhatsApp and WeChat.

Discrimination of soils managed with different sources of fertilization and plant species in organic and conventional farming through near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Background: The combination of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics can be used to group or discriminate soils based on spectral response. In this study, we conducted discrimination and classification analyses on soils managed with different sources of fertilization and plant species grown in organic and conventional farming systems.

Results: Principal component analysis explained 96% (PC1) and 3% (PC2) of the data variability and separated the soil samples of organic and conventional management systems.

[High-risk clusters and temporal trends in congenital syphilis infection in Brazil].

Objective: To determine the occurrence of high-risk clusters for congenital syphilis (CS) in Brazil and describe the temporal trends in the CS infection in the country, comparing children whose mothers received vs. those whose mothers did not receive prenatal care.

Method: This ecological study used data from the National Disease Notification System (, SINAN) and the Live Birth Information System (, SINASC).

Indication and Contraindication of Endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Decompression.

Background: The indications and contraindications to the endoscopic transforaminal approach for lumbar spinal stenosis are not well defined.

Methods: We performed a Kaplan-Meier durability survival analysis of patients with the following types of spinal stenosis: type I, central canal; type II, lateral recess; type III, foraminal; and type IV, extraforaminal. The 304 patients comprised 140 men and 164 women, with an average age of 51.

Outcomes with transforaminal endoscopic versus percutaneous laser decompression for contained lumbar herniated disc: a survival analysis of treatment benefit.

Background: Contained lumbar disc herniations frequently cause back- and leg pain. Clinical outcomes with surgical treatment may be affected by the size and location of the disc herniation. The surgical directly visualized transforaminal endoscopic decompression has gained acceptance and popularity, while the simplified percutaneous laser disc decompression has fallen out of favor in spite of its initial success as a minimally invasive intervention.