One is not like the other: health quality of life scores vary in neuromuscular EOS by diagnosis.

Purpose: The etiology of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) has been shown to significantly influence baseline parent-reported health-related quality of life (HrQOL). In combining these etiology groups, we obligatorily lump together many disparate diagnoses, particularly true in the neuromuscular (NM) cohort. We sought to evaluate the influence of underlying neuromuscular diagnosis on the HrQOL at 5 years following surgery for EOS.

Does the coronal deformity angular ratio affect bracing outcome in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis?

Purpose: To examine if coronal deformity angular ratio (C-DAR) serves as a predictor for progression to surgical magnitude in patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) treated with thoracolumbar sacral orthosis (TLSO).

Methods: Patients with AIS, prescribed a full-time TLSO, Cobb angle 20-40°, Risser 0-2, who wore the brace ≥ 12.9 h and reached skeletal maturity/surgery were included retrospectively.

Health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes for magnetically controlled growing rod patients after treatment termination.

Purpose: To determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and clinical outcomes of children with early onset scoliosis (EOS) treated with magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) followed to definitive fusion (DF).

Methods: A retrospective review of EOS patients treated with MCGR and followed to DF was performed. Outcomes included HRQoL scores, radiographic, clinical, and unplanned returns to the operating room (UPROR) data collected at pre-MCGR implantation, immediately post-MCGR implantation, pre-DF, and post-DF.

Phosphorous extraction and heavy metal separation from sewage sludge ash by two-compartment electrodialysis in an upscaled tube reactor.

Two-compartment electrodialytic extraction (2C-ED) is a one-step process for the simultaneous phosphorous extraction and separation of heavy metals from sewage sludge ash (SSA). The process is driven by an applied electric DC field, which can be supplied from renewable sources. The proof-of-concept of the method was conducted in small laboratory cells; however, upscaling to a continuous 2C-ED process, which additionally can treat SSA suspensions at a low liquid-to-solid (L:S) ratio, requires a new design.

Radiographic and clinical outcomes after definitive spine fusion for skeletally immature patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: To assess the intermediate-term radiographic and clinical outcomes of skeletally immature idiopathic scoliosis (IS) patients that underwent definitive fusion (DF).

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with IS who were Risser 0 with open tri-radiate cartilages at the time of DF with minimum 5-year follow-up. Outcomes included Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-30 scores, major Cobb angle, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and unplanned returns to the operating room (UPROR).

Repeat surgical interventions following "definitive" instrumentation and fusion for idiopathic scoliosis: a 30-year update.

Purpose: Although spinal fusion (SF) is considered "definitive" treatment in juvenile/adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (JIS/AIS), complications requiring reoperation continue to occur. The purpose of this study was to characterize the evolving rates of reoperation following SF in JIS/AIS.

Methods: Single-center retrospective review of patients who underwent SF for JIS/AIS as their index surgical treatment between 2013 and 2019.

Spinal Fusion in Patients With Classic Amyoplasia and General Arthrogryposis.

Background: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita is a group of conditions characterized by joint contractures affecting 2 or more joints. This study describes results of spinal fusion in patients with classic amyoplasia and general arthrogryposis.

Methods: IRB approved retrospective review of patients with a diagnosis of classic amyoplasia and general arthrogryposis who had a primary definitive posterior spinal fusion between 1990 and 2017 at a single pediatric institution.

Comparison of treatment outcomes between growth-sparing instrumentation and definitive one-stage fusion for EOS patients ages 6-10 years.

Purpose: To compare objective outcomes for EOS patients age 6-10 years treated by growth-sparing (GS) surgery or definitive one-stage correction and fusion (DF).

Methods: We reviewed surgical, radiographic, PFT's, and EOSQ-24 outcomes for EOS patients > age 6 at index surgery treated at a single institution, minimum 2-year follow-up. Neuromuscular diagnoses were excluded.

Increasing soft tissue depth is associated with stalling of magnetically controlled growing rods.

Background: Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) represent the most used implant for the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS). These implants lengthen through the application of a remote magnetic field but distraction force generation has been negatively correlated with increasing soft tissue depth. Given the high rate of MCGR stalling, we proposed to investigate the impact of preoperative soft tissue depth on the rate of MCGR stalling at a minimum of 2 years following implantation.

The evolution of pre-operative SRS scores over time in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: To determine if preoperative Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has declined in the past two decades for patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), as measured by the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) questionnaire.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on AIS patients that underwent surgery at a single institution between 2002 and 2022. Patients were included if they completed an SRS questionnaire preoperatively.

A thoracoscopic anterior approach to the spine for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis does not have a detrimental effect on pulmonary function at 2 years compared to posterior-only surgery.

Purpose: This study aims to examine pulmonary function outcomes in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with an anterior thoracoscopic release compared to those undergoing PSF alone.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with AIS over a 9-year period at a single institution compared 2 groups: PSF with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (PSF/VATS) and patients undergoing a posterior spinal fusion (PSF) alone. Standard radiographs and Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) were obtained preoperatively and at regular follow up periods up to 2-year post-operatively.

Angelman and Prader-Willi Syndromes: Sister Imprinting Disorders With High Complication Rates Following Spinal Deformity Surgery.

We sought to examine the modern surgical treatment of spinal deformity associated with sister imprinting disorders, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and Angelman syndrome (AS), with emphasis on the specific complications encountered in these patient populations. Fifteen patients with PWS and 5 patients with AS who underwent surgical intervention for spinal deformity between 2000 and 2018 were identified. Postoperative complications were classified using the modified Clavien-Dindo-Sink (CDS) system and further categorized into specific subtypes including excessive drainage, dehiscence, implant failure, infection, and delayed wound healing.

The evolving stall rate of magnetically controlled growing rods beyond 2 years follow-up.

Purpose: Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) have become the dominant distraction-based implant for the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS). Recent studies, however, have demonstrated rising rates of implant failure beyond short-term follow-up. We sought to evaluate a single-center experience with MCGR for the treatment of EOS to define the rate of MCGR failure to lengthen, termed implant stall, over time.

Impact of surgical treatment on parent-reported health related quality of life measures in early-onset scoliosis: stable but no improvement at 2 years.

Purpose: The etiology of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) has been shown to significantly influence baseline parent-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures as assessed by the Early Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ). We sought to assess the influence of distraction-based surgery and scoliosis etiology on EOSQ 2 years following surgical intervention remains unclear.

Methods: A retrospective review of a multi-center prospective EOS database was performed.

Pain Catastrophizing Influences Preoperative and Postoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Background: Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) often report chronic back pain; however, there is inadequate research on psychological factors associated with pain in this patient population. Pain catastrophizing, a psychological factor that describes a pattern of negative thoughts and feelings about pain, has been associated with poorer responses to medical treatment for pain. The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence of pain catastrophizing in the AIS population and assess its relationship with preoperative and postoperative self-reported outcomes.

Treatment of micropollutants in wastewater: Balancing effectiveness, costs and implications.

In this contribution, we analyse scenarios of advanced wastewater treatment for the removal of micropollutants. By this we refer to current mainstream, broad spectrum processes including ozonation and sorption onto activated carbon. We argue that advanced treatment requires properly implemented tertiary (nutrient removal) treatment in order to be effective.

Seasonal microbial community dynamics complicates the evaluation of filamentous bulking mitigation strategies in full-scale WRRFs.

The activated sludge wastewater treatment process has been thoroughly researched in more than 100 years, yet there are still operational challenges that have not been fully resolved. Such a challenge is the control of filamentous bulking caused by the overgrowth of certain filamentous bacteria. In this study, we tested different mitigation strategies to reduce filamentous bulking, caused by two common filamentous genera found in full-scale water resource recovery facilities (WRRF), Candidatus Microthrix and Candidatus Amarolinea.

The 18-cm Thoracic-Height Threshold and Pulmonary Function in Non-Neuromuscular Early-Onset Scoliosis: A Reassessment.

Background: Thoracic spine height is cited as a crucial outcome measure in the treatment of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) because of its reported relationship to pulmonary function tests (PFTs). An 18-cm threshold has been proposed, although this single parameter might be overly simplistic for cases of different etiologies and deformity magnitude. We aimed to reevaluate pulmonary function in patients undergoing corrective surgery, assessing the role of residual scoliosis as well as spine elongation.

From wastewater treatment to water resource recovery: Environmental and economic impacts of full-scale implementation.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote resource recovery, many wastewater treatment operators are retrofitting existing plants to implement new technologies for energy, nutrient and carbon recovery. In literature, there is a lack of studies that can unfold the potential environmental and economic impacts of the transition that wastewater utilities are undertaking to transform their treatment plants to water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). When existing, literature studies are mostly based on simulations rather than real plant data and pilot-scale results.

Incidence and significance of findings on spinal MRIs in a paediatric population with spinal column complaints.

Purpose: We sought to identify correlations between working diagnosis, surgeon indication for obtaining spinal MRI and positive MRI findings in paediatric patients presenting with spinal disorders or complaints.

Methods: Surgeons recorded their primary indication for ordering a spinal MRI in 385 consecutive patients. We compared radiologist-reported positive MRI findings with surgeon response, indication, working diagnosis and patient demographics.

Assessment of Full-Scale NO Emission Characteristics and Testing of Control Concepts in an Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plant with Alternating Aerobic and Anoxic Phases.

This work aims to obtain full-scale NO emission characteristics translatable into viable NO control strategies and conduct full-scale testing of the proposed NO control concepts. Data of a long-term monitoring campaign was first used to quantify full-scale NO emission and probe into the seasonal pattern. Then trends between NO production/emission and process variables/conditions during typical operating cycles were revealed to explore the dynamic NO emission behavior.

Chemical disinfection of combined sewer overflow waters using performic acid or peracetic acids.

We investigated the possibility of applying performic acid (PFA) and peracetic acid (PAA) for disinfection of combined sewer overflow (CSO) in existing CSO management infrastructures. The disinfection power of PFA and PAA towards Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus was studied in batch-scale and pre-field experiments.