Protocol for bacterial filtration efficiency evaluations of facemask materials using viable bacteria-laden aerosol droplets.

Here, we present a protocol for determining the bacterial filtration efficiencies of facemask materials according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard F2101-19. We describe steps for reproducibly generating, collecting, and enumerating viable bacteria-laden aerosols containing the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. The optimized operating parameters generate 1,700 to 3,000 viable bacteria-laden aerosol droplets between 2.

Natural history of dolichoectatic vertebrobasilar aneurysms: a multinational study.

Objective: Dolichoectatic vertebrobasilar aneurysms (DVBAs) are expansions of arterial tissue leading to aneurysmal formations without an obvious neck. Their natural history is poorly understood; usually patients are admitted with thromboembolic complications and/or neurological symptoms from the mass effect. There have not been international collective data, and correct timing for highly risky treatments has been under discussion.

Clinical Experience of Dissolvable Calcium Sulfate (Stimulan) Carrier for Antibiotic Delivery in Orthopedic Surgery: A Study of 143 Patients.

Prosthetic bone and joint infections are difficult to treat with varying levels of success with standard therapy. Synthetic calcium sulfate carrier, to which specific antibiotics can be added, can be utilized as an alternative drug delivery system in these cases. We have reviewed clinical outcomes using commercially available pure synthetic calcium sulfate dissolvable beads (Stimulan) loaded with antibiotics in 143 patients undergoing orthopedic surgery for prevention and treatment of joint infection.

Optimization of 3D-titanium interbody cage design. Part 1: in vitro biomechanical study of subsidence.

Background Context: Cage subsidence is a complication of interbody fusion associated with poor clinical outcomes. 3D-printed titanium interbody cages allow for the alteration of features such as stiffness and porosity. However, the influence of these features on subsidence and their biological effects on fusion have not been rigorously evaluated.

Collision of a Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor and Intra-ampullary Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

This manuscript reports the case of a 75-year-old patient presenting with a collision tumor consisting of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor and intra-ampullary adenocarcinoma, which manifested with obstructive jaundice and was treated with primary surgical cytoreduction. Additionally, a bibliographic search of original articles was performed in the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE; via PubMed) and the Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS) databases to review the literature on pancreaticobiliary collision tumors. Currently, information regarding pancreatic and bile duct collision tumors is limited due to their very low incidence.

Flow diverter versus stent-assisted coiling treatment for managing dissecting intracranial aneurysms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Dissecting intracranial aneurysms (DIAs) have been treated through endovascular reconstructive manners, such as flow diverters (FDs) and stent-assisted coiling (SAC). Notably, no robust evidence has compared both approaches. Hence, the authors conducted a meta-analysis to compare their outcomes.

Complications: skull base and cerebrovascular.

Neurosurgical complications are a rich source for learning, but they are grossly underutilized for the purpose of surgeon education. Details of the complications, which make them all the more powerful as teaching tools, are restricted to morbidity and mortality conferences behind closed doors, and open discussions of the topic are blurred by hypotheticals in order to shield the presenters from medicolegal risks. In this issue of Neurosurgical Focus, 9 neurosurgeons were invited to present complications they encountered along with the details and specific lessons they learned.

Front-to-Back Arthroscopic Repair of Complete Lunotriquetral Ligament Injuries: A Case Presentation and Algorithm for Arthroscopic Management of Intercarpal Ligament Injuries.

The lunotriquetral intercarpal ligament (LTIL) is an important structure that equalizes the forces on the lunate imparted through the scapholunate intercarpal ligament. The extension moment of the triquetrum balances the flexion force of the scaphoid, positioning the lunate for efficient load transfer from the hand to the wrist. In contrast to the scapholunate intercarpal ligament, the LTIL is strongest volarly, with the most critical region being associated with the volar ulnocapitate ligament.

Ultrahigh-resolution 7-Tesla anatomic magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging of formalin-fixed human brainstem-cerebellum complex.

Introduction: Brain cross-sectional images, tractography, and segmentation are valuable resources for neuroanatomical education and research but are also crucial for neurosurgical planning that may improve outcomes in cerebellar and brainstem interventions. Although ultrahigh-resolution 7-Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reveal such structural brain details in living or fresh unpreserved brain tissue, imaging standard formalin-preserved cadaveric brain specimens often used for neurosurgical anatomic studies has proven difficult. This study sought to develop a practical protocol to provide anatomic information and tractography results of an human brainstem-cerebellum specimen.

Early experience with the Aristotle Colossus 0.035' macrowire for mechanical thrombectomy in 30 consecutive cases.

Introduction: Recent literature continues to demonstrate the successful role of large-bore aspiration catheters in thrombus ingestion during mechanical thrombectomy. However catheter-to-microwire step-off and distal navigation are ongoing challenges in thrombectomy. A new to market 0.

Management of cerebrospinal fluid leak after a minimally invasive lumbar decompression procedure: illustrative case.

Background: Neurogenic claudication caused by lumbar stenosis is a prevalent disorder of the spinal canal for which many treatment options exist. The mild (minimally invasive lumbar decompression) procedure has recently been introduced as a safe and effective alternative to medical management in the treatment of lumbar stenosis. However, data on complications are rarely reported, and the incidence of complications, when reported, is frequently assessed at 0% in the literature.

Is There an Association Between Spine Surgeon Academic Productivity and Patient Satisfaction Ratings?

Background And Objectives: Physician rating websites (PRWs) are increasingly used by patients to find health care providers. This study explores spine neurosurgeon PRW ratings and their relationship with academic productivity.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from November 2022 to May 2023 that included 1990 neurological surgeons listed in the American Association of Neurological Surgeons database with a subspecialty in spine.

Lung Transplant Outcomes in Recipients of Advanced Age: Are Two Always Better Than One?

Background: Lung transplantation has become more common in patients aged 65 years and older. We aimed to examine outcomes across age groups and identify risk factors for decreased survival.

Methods: United Network for Organ Sharing data for all primary lung transplants from 1/1/2006 to 3/8/2023 was retrospectively reviewed.

Principles of Stereotactic Surgery.

Background And Objectives: Stereotactic procedures are used to manage a diverse set of patients across a variety of clinical contexts. The stereotactic devices and software used in these procedures vary between surgeons, but the fundamental principles that constitute safe and accurate execution do not. The aim of this work is to describe these principles to equip readers with a generalizable knowledge base to execute and understand stereotactic procedures.

A General Framework for Characterizing Inaccuracy in Stereotactic Systems.

Background And Objectives: Identifying and characterizing sources of targeting error in stereotactic procedures is essential to maximizing accuracy, potentially improving surgical outcomes. We aim to describe a generic framework which characterizes sources of stereotactic inaccuracy.

Methods: We assembled a list of stereotactic systems: ROSA, Neuromate, Mazor Renaissance, ExcelsiusGPS, Cirq, STarFix (FHC), Nexframe, ClearPoint, CRW, and Leksell.

Enhancing the technical pearls for L5-S1 anterior lumbar interbody fusion in patients with body mass index greater than 30: clinical and radiographic outcomes at 1-year follow-up.

Background: Performing anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) in patients with a body mass index (BMI) >30 presents surgical challenges. To overcome those challenges, a modified procedure is described.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed patients with a BMI >30 who underwent the modified L5-S1 ALIF procedure from August 2017 to September 2023.

Reduced levels of liver kinase B1 in small extracellular vesicles as a predictor for chronic lung allograft dysfunction in cystic fibrosis lung transplant recipients.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) isolated from plasma of lung transplant recipients (LTRs) with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) contain increased levels of lung associated self-antigens, Kα1 tubulin and collagen V, and decreased expression of the tumor suppressor liver kinase B1 (LKB1). In this study, sEVs were isolated from plasma collected from LTRs with or without cystic fibrosis (CF) from multiple centers at the onset of CLAD and 6 and 12 months before clinical diagnosis of CLAD (n = 32) as well as from time-matched stable controls (n = 25). sEVs were analyzed for Kα1 tubulin, collagen V, and LKB1 by western blot.