Showcasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in neurological surgery: a comparative analysis of neurological surgery residency program websites in the United States.

Residency websites can often be crucial for influencing neurosurgery applicants' first impressions of programs. This study explores the representation of diversity on neurological surgery residency program websites and evaluates the impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements. The websites of 117 neurological surgery residency programs were evaluated for the presence of 12 diversity and inclusion elements.

Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease as long-term predictors of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) confer a high risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. These entities frequently coincide. The separate and joint impact of CKD and T2DM on the risk of major cardiovascular events (MACE) and survival is unclear.

Severe Transverse Myelitis Following Ankle Surgery Potentially Unmasking Late-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

A 70-year-old female underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of her right ankle following a mechanical trip and fell two weeks before hospital admission. Two weeks following surgery, the patient experienced sudden-onset bilateral anterior thigh paresthesias and burning mid-back pain. Over the ensuing two days, the patient developed bilateral lower extremity weakness, bilateral lower extremity numbness, and urinary retention with constipation, which led to hospital presentation.

A Case of Fulminant Cerebral Edema Leading to Death After Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has transformed treatment of refractory B-cell malignancies; however, treatment puts patients at risk for side effects secondary to the amplified immune response it induces. Fulminant cerebral edema (FCE) is one of the rarest, yet most devastating side effects following CAR T-cell therapy. Due to this rarity, FCE has not been well characterized and the risk factors associated with its development are not fully understood.

Fidgetin binds spastin to attenuate the microtubule-severing activity.

Microtubule-severing enzymes such as spastin, katanin, and fidgetin, characterized by their AAA ATPase domains, are pivotal in modulating microtubule dynamics and behavior across various cellular processes. While spastin and katanin are recognized for their predominant and robust severing of stable microtubules, thereby enhancing microtubule turnover, fidgetin exhibits comparatively weaker severing activity and selectively targets labile microtubules. The interplay among these enzymes and their mutual regulatory mechanisms remains inadequately understood.

Imaging of gallstones and complications.

Gallbladder pathologies caused by gallstones are commonly encountered in clinical practice, making accurate diagnosis critical for effective patient management. Radiologists play a key role in differentiating these conditions through imaging interpretation, ensuring that appropriate treatment is initiated. The imaging features of gallstone associated diseases are classified into various categories, such as inflammatory conditions, benign lesions, malignant tumors, and associated complications.

The 5-factor modified frailty index as a prognostic factor following stereotactic radiosurgery for metastatic disease to the brain from non-small cell lung cancer: A multi-center cohort analysis.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients often develop brain metastases (BMs), complicating management. We have shown that increasing frailty is associated with decreased overall survival (OS) and central nervous system progression free survival (PFS) for patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to BMs. Leveraging the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation, we sought to expand upon these findings, in NSCLC specifically.

Clinical Outcomes of Therapeutic Interventions for Autoimmune Retinopathy: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review.

Topic: Autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) is a group of rare inflammatory diseases treated with immunosuppression; however, there is no treatment consensus. This meta-analysis and review aims to investigate treatment effectiveness in slowing AIR progression.

Clinical Relevance: Autoimmune retinopathy is a group of diseases characterized by progressive vision loss that is both difficult to diagnose and treat.

Endoscopic and microscopic video modules are effective for teaching middle ear anatomy.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of video modules in improving trainees' objective knowledge of middle ear anatomy and to compare the efficacy of using the endoscope to the microscope in video modules.

Methods: Medical students and residents were recruited. Two videos reviewing middle ear anatomy were developed.

Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection for Cervical Radicular Pain in a Patient with Fractured Cervical Hardware.

Cervical radicular pain following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a challenging condition, particularly in the presence of hardware complications. This case report discusses the successful use of a cervical interlaminar steroid injection to alleviate radicular pain in a patient who presented with a fractured screw following C6/7 ACDF. The patient's symptoms, treatment plan, and outcome are reviewed, highlighting the success of an interlaminar steroid injection in managing radicular pain until the patient could receive corrective surgery.

Central Pathology in Spasmodic Dysphonia.

Introduction: Spasmodic dysphonia a voice disorder characterized by loss of voluntary control of vocal fold movements during speech production. The pathophysiology is not well understood, but there have been proposed connections to areas within the brain such as the reticular formation surrounding the tractus solitarius, spinal trigeminal and ambiguus nuclei, inferior olive, and pyramids.

Objective: To determine whether there are differences on brain Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with and without gadolinium in patients affected by spasmodic dysphonia compared with those without to determine whether there is a central process involved in spasmodic dysphonia (SD) pathophysiology.

Predicting Health Access During Critical Public Health Crises: An Analysis of Medical Office Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives: This study explores how ambulatory medical practices adapted their policies in response to the global COVID-19 crisis. Practice and provider characteristics were used to build an artificial intelligence model that predicts future medical practice closures during critical events.

Methods: We surveyed 261 outpatient medical practices and collected information on clinician age, gender, the protective measures implemented, closure status, and utilization of telemedicine services.

Ecological Psychology: A Framework for Mentoring and Career Development in Academic Medicine.

Effective mentoring can help individuals navigate the complex, dynamic environment of academic medicine as they work to develop meaningful and fulfilling careers. Despite robust research into the characteristics of effective mentoring relationships and successful mentoring programs, resources that support mentors and mentees in engaging in career development in academic medicine are limited. Ecological psychology, a theory focusing on how the dynamic interplay between individuals and their environment influences cognition and behavior, offers a promising framework for exploring how mentors and mentees can support positive career development outcomes.

Minimally Invasive Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Thinning for Cervical Feminization.

At present, there is no gender-affirming facial surgery that offers feminization of the lateral neck. To demonstrate reliable relationship between the great auricular nerve point (GAP) and spinal accessory nerve along the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) in human anatomical specimens and demonstrate feasibility of muscle transection in one transgender female patient. A total of 14 human anatomical specimen dissections were performed to determine if a transection of the SCM perpendicular to the GAP could be performed without potential compromise of the spinal accessory nerve.

Neuro-oncology application of next-generation, optically tracked robotic stereotaxis with intraoperative computed tomography: a pilot experience.

Objective: Innovations in robotics continue to reshape the landscape of neurosurgery. Here, the authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ExcelsiusGPS robot in the treatment of neuro-oncological, intracranial lesions.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 19 consecutive adult patients with a neuro-oncological diagnosis who underwent intracranial biopsy and/or laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) with the assistance of the ExcelsiusGPS robot and intraoperative CT.