Validity and reliability of the integrated palliative care outcome scale (IPOS) in Korea: a multicenter study of terminally ill cancer patients.

Background: The Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS) is a key tool for assessing the quality of palliative care using patient-reported outcomes. This study aimed to culturally adapt and translate the IPOS to Korean and verify its psychometric properties for use in palliative care settings.

Methods: The IPOS was translated and culturally adapted, followed by validation in 119 terminally ill cancer patients and 28 healthcare providers across six Hospice and Palliative Care Units from September 2023 to January 2024.

The Effect of Fibronectin-Immobilized Microgrooved Titanium Substrata on Cell Proliferation and Expression of Genes and Proteins in Human Gingival Fibroblasts.

Background: We aimed to determine the effect of fibronectin (FN)-immobilized microgrooved titanium (Ti) on human gingival fibroblast proliferation, gene expression and protein expression.

Methods: Photolithography was used to fabricate the microgrooved Ti, and amine funtionalization (silanization) was used for FN immobilization on titanium surfaces. Cell proliferation, gene expression and protein expression were analyzed, followed by multiple regression analysis for determining the influential factors on cell proliferation.

Intrapleural urokinase therapy in a neonate with pleural empyema.

Pleural empyema is rare in neonates, and treatment with systemic antibiotics and tube drainage may fail because of the thick viscous fluid, bacterial products with fibrin deposition, and multiple loculations. Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy with urokinase is an effective and non-invasive treatment option that avoids surgical intervention, although its use in neonates has not been studied extensively. In this report, we describe the case of a 13-day-old male neonate with Escherichia coli sepsis and pneumonia, which rapidly progressed to parapneumonic effusion and pleural empyema.

Effect of microgrooves and fibronectin conjugation on the osteoblast marker gene expression and differentiation.

Purpose: To determine the effect of fibronectin (FN)-conjugated, microgrooved titanium (Ti) on osteoblast differentiation and gene expression in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Materials And Methods: Photolithography was used to fabricate the microgrooved Ti, and amine functionalization (silanization) was used to immobilize fibronectin on the titanium surfaces. Osteoblast differentiation and osteoblast marker gene expression were analyzed by means of alkaline phosphatase activity assay, extracellular calcium deposition assay, and quantitative real-time PCR.

Safe Removal of a Broken Abutment Screw with Customized Drill Guide and Rotary Instrument: A Clinical Report.

This clinical report introduces a method for safe retrieval of a broken implant abutment screw. A reverse-tapping rotary instrument has been introduced in the market and is widely used to retrieve broken screws; however, it is difficult to use the rotary instrument unless an access hole for engagement of the rotary instrument is positioned directly on the center of the top of the broken screw remnant. Poor visibility is another limitation to make an access hole.

Percutaneous placement of pedicle screws in overweight and obese patients.

Background Context: In obese patients, placing pedicle screws percutaneously is a particular challenge. As the bulky and thick configuration of obese patients may produce fuzzier fluoroscopic view and longer passage of surgical instruments, the chances of misplacement might increase.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of patient's body habitus on the incidence of percutaneous pedicle screw misplacements.

Cranial facet joint violations by percutaneously placed pedicle screws adjacent to a minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion.

Background Context: Protecting cranial facet joint is a modifiable risk factor that may decrease the incidence of adjacent segment disease after lumbar spinal fusion. Percutaneously instrumented screws may more frequently violate cranial facet joints because of the potential limitation of screw entry site selection. To our knowledge, however, there is no study that has evaluated the cranial facet joint violations adjacent to minimally invasive lumbar fusion related to percutaneously placed pedicle screws.

The effect of a radiographic solid fusion on clinical outcomes after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

Background Context: The correlation between radiographic solid fusion and favorable clinical outcome has not been fully established. Many surgeons believe that patients who achieve a radiographic solid fusion will exhibit a more positive clinical outcome than those getting an unsuccessful fusion. To our knowledge, there is no study that has evaluated whether a solid fusion influences clinical outcome after minimally invasive lumbar fusion.

Lumbar disc rehydration postimplantation of a posterior dynamic stabilization system.

Biological attempts at disc regeneration are promising; however, disc degeneration is closely related to other predisposing factors such as alteration of disc height, intradiscal pressure, load distribution, and motion. The restoration of the physiological status of the affected spinal segment is thus necessary prior to attempts at disc regeneration. Dynamic stabilization systems now offer the potential of a mechanical approach to intervertebral disc regeneration.

Imaging correlation of the degree of degenerative L4-5 spondylolisthesis with the corresponding amount of facet fluid.

Object: The aim of this study was to correlate the degree of L4-5 spondylolisthesis on plain flexion-extension radiographs with the corresponding amount of L4-5 facet fluid visible on MR images.

Methods: Patients underwent evaluation at the Neurosurgical Spine Clinics of Stanford University Medical Center and National Health Insurance Medical Center (Goyang, South Korea) between January 2006 and December 2007. Only patients who were diagnosed with L4-5 degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) and who had both lumbosacral flexion-extension radiographs and MR images available for review were eligible for this study.