Comparative Effectiveness of Landmark-guided Greater Occipital Nerve (GON) Block at the Superior Nuchal Line Versus Ultrasound-guided GON Block at the Level of C2: A Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT).

Objectives: The purpose of this single center, prospective randomized controlled trial was to compare clinical outcomes between an ultrasound-guided greater occipital nerve block (GONB) at the C2 vertebral level versus landmark-based GONB at the superior nuchal line.

Methods: Patients with occipital neuralgia or cervicogenic headache were randomized to receive either a landmark-based GONB with sham ultrasound at the superior nuchal line or ultrasound-guided GONB at the C2 vertebral level with blinding of patients and data analysis investigators. Clinical outcomes were assessed at 30 minutes, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks postinjection.

Associations of catechol-O-methyltransferase (rs4680) single nucleotide polymorphisms with opioid use and dose among adults with chronic pain.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) regulates extracellular catecholamines. A widely studied COMT single nucleotide polymorphism (rs4680) changes the translated amino acid from valine to methionine (Val158Met); the polymorphism has been shown to influence opioid use. The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of COMT Val158Met on the likelihood and dose of opioid use in adults with chronic pain.

The effects of slow-paced versus mechanically assisted breathing on autonomic function in fibromyalgia patients.

Paced breathing has shown efficacy in fibromyalgia (FM), but the mechanisms associated with symptom change are largely unknown. We investigated whether changes in respiratory rate (RR) alone resulted in autonomic changes during normal, paced, and mechanically assisted breathing in untrained FM patients and controls. Participants included 20 FM patients and 14 controls matched for age and body mass index.

Reliability of a novel ultrasound system for gray-scale analysis of muscle.

Introduction: Ultrasound is increasingly used as an adjunct in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disease by measuring muscle thickness and echointensity (EI). Reproducibility is limited because of variations in scanning technique and proprietary algorithms that alter EI values.

Methods: We developed a standardized scanning protocol and a portable machine without any postimaging processing.

Utility Of diaphragm ultrasound in myopathy.

Introduction: Ultrasound (US) evaluation of diaphragm thickness and contractility is an effective tool in neurogenic diaphragm dysfunction. There are limited data about the value of this technique in patients with myopathy.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of cases with electromyography (EMG) -confirmed myopathy and real-time US evaluation of the diaphragm.

Neuromuscular choristoma presenting with unilateral limb hypoplasia in a 3-year-old boy.

Introduction: Neuromuscular choristomas (NMCs) are rare benign peripheral nerve lesions in which skeletal muscle tissue is admixed with nerve fascicles.

Methods: We describe a case of sciatic nerve NMC presenting with unilateral limb hypoplasia, monoparesis, and equinovarus contracture in a pediatric patient. We outline the unique clinical presentation and diagnostic work-up for our patient, including electromyographic and imaging studies.

Midshaft clavicular fractures: comparison of intramedullary pin and plate fixation.

Background: Intramedullary pin and plate fixation for midshaft clavicular fractures both have their proponents, but little comparative data are available. We performed a retrospective comparison of these 2 techniques.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 40 consecutive patients with closed, simple, or wedge-type midshaft clavicular fractures that were identified from a prospectively collected orthopedic trauma database.

Nuclear localisation is crucial for the proapoptotic activity of the HtrA-like serine protease Nma111p.

Programmed cell death is induced by the activation of a subset of intracellular proteins in response to specific extra- and intracellular signals. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Nma111p functions as a nuclear serine protease that is necessary for apoptosis under cellular stress conditions, such as elevated temperature or treatment of cells with hydrogen peroxide to induce cell death. We have examined the role of nuclear protein import in the function of Nma111p in apoptosis.