Sensory Stimulation Threshold: A Viable Tool to Improve the Outcome of Lumbar Facet Radiofrequency Denervation?

Background: Sensory stimulation threshold (SST) has been used as a surrogate marker to target a nerve branch for radiofrequency (RF) denervation; however, the validity of SST as a prognostic marker is still under debate.

Objective: To assess whether lower SST values correlate with better outcomes of radiofrequency denervation for facetogenic low back pain.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Electrical Grounding Improves Vagal Tone in Preterm Infants.

Background: Low vagal tone (VT) is a marker of vulnerability to stress and the risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. Electric fields produced by equipment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) induce an electric potential measurable on the skin in reference to ground. An electrical connection to ground reduces the skin potential and improves VT in adults.

Chemotherapeutic drugs and human tumor cells cytokine network.

The ability of human tumor cell lines to produce various cytokines, chemokines, angiogenic and growth factors was investigated using Luminex multiplex technology. Media conditioned by tumor cells protected tumor cells from drug-induced apoptosis and stimulated tumor cell proliferation. Antibodies neutralizing IL-6, CXCL8, CCL2 and CCL5 blocked this stimulation.