Association between serum zinc levels and trabecular bone scores among patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

Introduction: Zinc, an essential trace element, plays an important role in various cellular processes, and zinc deficiency is common in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Zinc has been shown to stimulate osteoblastic bone formation and mineralization and inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption. Although osteoporosis is highly prevalent among patients undergoing hemodialysis, the utility of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is limited because DXA cannot reveal bone microarchitectural alterations.

Effect of individual physiotherapy and telerehabilitation on back pain and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis with mild and moderate disability.

Background: Back pain is a common but often underestimated symptom of patients with MS that can negatively influence their quality of life. However there are only limited number of studies comparing the effect of different types of exercise and use of telerehabilitation on back pain in MS. Therefore, the aim of the study is to compare whether telerehabilitation alone is as effective as conventional outpatient physiotherapy followed by online exercise.

Using evidence-based imaging referral guidelines to facilitate appropriate imaging: Are they all the same?

Rationale And Objectives: Countries worldwide have selected, adopted, adapted, and translated evidence-based imaging referral guidelines from radiology professional bodies. This study establishes the concordance of three imaging referral guidelines from the ACR, ESR, and RCR, and examines the emergency department cervical spine imaging appropriateness rates.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of the electronic medical records was performed between October 1st to December 31st, 2022, evaluating 452 radiography and 153 CT imaging referrals.

Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A systematic review.

Background: Long term glucocorticoid treatment in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is associated with a high incidence of fragility fractures. This systematic review aims to assess the current evidence for pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment for osteoporosis in children and adults with DMD.

Methods: Three online databases (Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library) were searched for studies that evaluated interventions for treatment or prevention of osteoporosis in DMD.

Automated spinopelvic measurements on radiographs with artificial intelligence: a multi-reader study.

Purpose: To develop an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for automated measurements of spinopelvic parameters on lateral radiographs and compare its performance to multiple experienced radiologists and surgeons.

Methods: On lateral full-spine radiographs of 295 consecutive patients, a two-staged region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN) was trained to detect anatomical landmarks and calculate thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), sacral slope (SS), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA). Performance was evaluated on 65 radiographs not used for training, which were measured independently by 6 readers (3 radiologists, 3 surgeons), and the median per measurement was set as the reference standard.

Reducing postoperative morbidity by diminishing chest tube drainage utilizing tranexamic acid following vertebral body tethering for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: Vertebral body tethering (VBT) is a non-fusion surgical option for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) that requires a postoperative (PO) chest tube. This study evaluates whether 48 h of PO TXA reduces chest tube (CT) drainage and retention compared to 24 h of TXA following VBT for AIS.

Methods: Consecutively treated patients with a diagnosis of AIS who underwent VBT were assessed.

Correlations between spinopelvic parameters and health-related quality of life in degenerative lumbar scoliosis patients before and after long -level fusion surgery.

Background: For degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS), prior studies mainly focused on the preoperative relationship between spinopelvic parameters and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), lacking an exhaustive evaluation of the postoperative situation. Therefore, the postoperative parameters most closely bonded with clinical outcomes has not yet been well-defined in DLS patients. The objective of this study was to comprehensively assess the correlation between radiographic parameters and HRQoL before and after surgery, and to identified the most valuable spinopelvic parameters for postoperative curative effect.

Developmental deficits, synapse and dendritic abnormalities in a Clcn4 KO autism mice model: endophenotypic target for ASD.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is linked to ion channel dysfunction, including chloride voltage-gated channel-4 (CLCN4). We generated Clcn4 knockout (KO) mice by deleting exon 5 of chromosome 7 in the C57BL/6 mice. Clcn4 KO exhibited reduced social interaction and increased repetitive behaviors assessed using three-chamber and marble burying tests.

Adolescent mice exposed to TBI developed PD-like pathology in middle age.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is identified as a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), which is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). However, the precise mechanism by which chronic TBI initiates PD pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. In our present study, we assessed the chronic progression and pathogenesis of PD-like behavior at different intervals in TBI mice.

Detecting asymptomatic cement pulmonary embolisms following vertebral augmentation using dual-energy computed tomography pulmonary angiography.

Background And Purpose: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) pulmonary angiography can reliably detect cement pulmonary embolisms (CPEs) and parenchymal perfusion defects. This prospective observational study investigated CPEs in asymptomatic patients using DECT.

Methods: We enrolled 42 patients who underwent vertebroplasty or received cement screws for vertebral augmentation, examining them using spinal computed tomography and DECT pulmonary angiography.

Anatomic and Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis: Outcomes in Patients 80 Years Old and Older.

Background: There has been an increase in both primary anatomic (aTSA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) over the last decade, with rates peaking for patients aged 75 years and older. Despite aTSA being the mainstay of treatment for patients with glenohumeral arthritis in the absence of rotator cuff insufficiency, there has been an upward trend of rTSA utilization in the elderly due to concerns about rotator cuff integrity, regardless of deformity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes including pain, function, range of motion, satisfaction, and complications in patients 80 years or older following primary anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for osteoarthritis without full thickness rotator cuff tears.

Upright versus recumbent lumbar spine MRI: Do findings differ systematically, and which correlates better with pain? A systematic review.

Background Context: Recumbent MRI is the most widely used image modality in people with low back pain (LBP), however, it has been proposed that upright (standing) MRI has advantages over recumbent MRI because of its ability to assess the effects of being weight-bearing. It has been suggested that this produces systematic differences in MRI parameters and differences in the correlation between MRI parameters and pain or disability in patients thus, potentially adding clinically helpful information.

Purpose: This paper aims to review and summarize the available empirical evidence for or against these two hypotheses.

Trends in Neurosurgeons Signing Medicare Opt-Out Affidavits.

Objective: In recent decades, many physicians have chosen to opt out of Medicare, allowing them to set their own pricing models for their patients. Characterization of Medicare opt-outs has not been thoroughly studied in any surgical specialty, including Neurosurgery. Our study characterizes the factors that may influence a neurosurgeon's decision to opt out of Medicare acceptance and contextualizes them both within the field and across various surgical specialties.

The moderating effect of frailty on the network of depression, anxiety, and loneliness in community-dwelling older adults.

Objectives: Comorbidities of depression, anxiety and loneliness may be more prevalent in frail older adults, which may lead to an accelerated deterioration of psychological symptoms. This study was aimed to assess the moderating effect of frailty on the network of depression, anxiety, and loneliness symptoms in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A sample of 4253 older adults were recruited from the Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents (PBICR).

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for non-spine bone metastases: A meta-analysis and international stereotactic radiosurgery society (ISRS) clinical practice guidelines.

Background: While SBRT to NSBM has become common, particularly in the oligometastatic population, the approach to treating non-spine bone metastases (NSBM) with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) varies widely across institutions and clinical trial protocols. We present a comprehensive systematic review of the literatures to inform practice recommendations on behalf of the International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society (ISRS).

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Changes in Bone Mineral Density After Parathyroidectomy in Patients With Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Introduction: Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are prone to low bone mineral density (BMD). This study aimed to explore factors associated with improved bone health after parathyroidectomy (PTx).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent PTx for PHPT at our institution between 2016 and 2020.

Association of malnutrition with surgical outcomes after spine surgery for spinal epidural abscess.

Background: Malnutrition is a predictor of poor surgical outcomes, but its specific effects in spinal epidural abscess (SEA) are understudied. This study aims to assess the association between nutritional status and post-operative outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the 2011-2022 American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database to identify adult SEA patients who underwent spinal surgery.

The Hao-Fountain syndrome protein USP7 regulates neuronal connectivity in the brain via a novel p53-independent ubiquitin signaling pathway.

Mutation or deletion of the deubiquitinase USP7 causes Hao-Fountain syndrome (HAFOUS), which is characterized by speech delay, intellectual disability, and aggressive behavior and highlights important unknown roles of USP7 in the nervous system. Here, we conditionally delete USP7 in glutamatergic neurons in the mouse forebrain, triggering disease-relevant phenotypes, including sensorimotor deficits, impaired cognition, and aggressive behavior. Although USP7 deletion induces p53-dependent neuronal apoptosis, most behavioral abnormalities in USP7 conditional knockout mice persist following p53 loss.

How Painful are Lumbar Hernias? A Comprehensive Review of Intervention Strategies.

Purpose Of Review: Low back pain (LBP) is considered an important issue of public health, with annual prevalence estimations almost achieving 60% of the worldwide population. Available treatments have a limited impact on this condition, although they allow to alleviate pain and recover the patient's quality of life. This review aims to go deeper on the understanding of this condition, providing an updated, brief, and concise whole picture of this common musculoskeletal problem.

High Modified 5 Factor Frailty Index is Associated With Worse PROMs and Decreased Return to Activities After 1 or 2 Level MI-TLIF.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Frailty is defined as a state of minimal "physiologic reserve." The modified 5 factor frailty index (mFI-5) is a recently proposed metric for assessing frailty and has been previously studied as a predictor of morbidity and mortality.

Probability of Achieving Bone Mineral Density Treatment Goals with Denosumab Treatment in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis.

Bone mineral density (BMD) levels achieved on osteoporosis treatment are predictive of subsequent fracture risk, and T-score > -2.5 has been proposed as a minimum treatment target for women with osteoporosis. Knowing the likelihood of attaining target T-scores with different medications for different baseline BMD levels can help determine appropriate initial treatment for individual patients.

Preserving Cervical Mobility: A Novel Robot-Assisted Approach for Atlas Fracture Fixation.

BACKGROUND The management of unstable atlas fractures remains a subject of ongoing debate and controversy. The conservative surgical treatment commonly involves fusion, resulting in severe loss of cervical spine mobility, and a large incisions and extensive tissue dissection are required. We aim to introduce a novel concept and surgical approach for treating atlas fracture, one that involves minimizing trauma while maintaining mobility of the upper cervical spine without resorting to fusion.

Decrease in Facial Bone Density with Aging and Maintenance Effect of Calcium Maltobionate Ingestion in Japanese Adult Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Trial.

Background/objectives: Facial bone density, including the jawbone, declines earlier than that of the lumbar spine and calcaneus. Calcium maltobionate is reported to mitigate bone resorption and maintain bone density of the lumbar spine in post-menopausal women, but its effects on facial bone density remain understudied. Therefore, this study compared variations in facial bone mineral density with variations in calcaneal bone mineral density and bone resorption markers among healthy women, examining differences between pre- and post-menopause and the effects of continuous calcium maltobionate intake.

Normative Database of Spatiotemporal Gait Metrics Across Age Groups: An Observational Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Gait analysis is a vital tool in the assessment of human movement and has been widely used in clinical settings to identify potential abnormalities in individuals. However, there is a lack of consensus on the normative values for gait metrics in large populations. The primary objective of this study is to establish a normative database of spatiotemporal gait metrics across various age groups, contributing to a broader understanding of human gait dynamics.