A Retrospective Analysis Evaluating the Impact of Neighborhood Deprivation on Birth Weight in Phoenix, Arizona.

Background: Health inequities begin before birth and are influenced by pregnancy conditions, race/ethnicity, social class, and environment. Research indicates that, in the United States, Black women are significantly more likely to have low-birth-weight babies compared to White women. Interestingly, Hispanic women in the United States do not experience this birth weight inequity.

Nervus Intermedius Neuralgia.

Purpose Of Review: This review discusses the diagnosis and treatment of nervus intermedius neuralgia (NIN) and identifies gaps in the literature.

Recent Findings: The nervus intermedius is a branch of the facial nerve. NIN presents as a rare neuralgia of this nerve, causing deep ear pain, which may radiate to the auditory canal, auricle, mastoid, soft palate, temple, and angle of the jaw.

Perspective: Minimally clinically important "symptomatic" benefit associated with disease modification resulting from anti-amyloid immunotherapy.

Unlabelled: Despite some skepticism regarding the amyloid hypothesis, there is growing evidence that clearing amyloid by targeting specific species of amyloid (plaque, oligomers, fibrils, and protofibrils) for removal has therapeutic benefits. Specifically, there is growing evidence that, in mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD), robust and aggressive removal of amyloid can slow cognitive decline as measured by global instruments, composite measures, and cognitive testing. Furthermore, clinical efficacy signals coupled with clear biomarker changes provide the first evidence of disease modification.

Influence of DOAC Levels and Thrombin Generation on Postoperative Bleeding [SONAR]: A Nested Case-Control Study.

A DOAC concentration threshold above which an impact on surgical hemostasis starts to occur is unknown. Thrombin generation assays (TGAs) provide a measure of the coagulation phenotype. This study aimed to determine whether preoperative TGA parameters are associated with postoperative bleeding, and whether this is partly due to residual DOAC levels.

The 2024 American Association for Thoracic Surgery expert consensus document: Current standards in donor lung procurement and preservation.

Background: Donor lung procurement and preservation is critical for lung transplantation success. Unfortunately, the large variability in techniques impacts organ utilization rates and transplantation outcomes. Compounding this variation, recent developments in cold static preservation and new technological advances with machine perfusion have increased the complexity of the procedure.

Obesity and clinical, radiographic, and surgical outcomes after minimally invasive single-level transforaminal versus lateral lumbar interbody fusion.

Objective: To determine the effect of obesity on clinical, radiographic, and surgical outcomes after lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and compare the effectiveness of LLIF versus MIS TLIF in treating obese patients.

Methods: A retrospective comparative analysis of patients who underwent single-level L4-5 LLIF or MIS TLIF over a 7-year period was performed. Spinopelvic parameters were compared based on pre- and postoperative radiographs.

Prone Lateral Transpsoas Approach to the Spine: A Technical Guide for Mastery.

Background: The single-position prone transpsoas (PTP) lateral interbody fusion represents an alternative approach to the traditional lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) typically performed with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. Advantages of PTP surgery include improved segmental lordosis, single-position surgery, and ease of performing posterior techniques as needed. However, the learning curve of PTP is distinct from that of traditional LLIF surgery performed with the patient in the lateral decubitus position.

Evaluating catastrophic health expenditures among patients with long bone fractures in Ghana's major teaching hospitals: a hospital-based analysis.

Background: In low and middle-income countries like Ghana, out-of-pocket (OOP) payments remain a significant barrier to healthcare access, often leading to catastrophic health expenditures (CHE). This study evaluates the incidence of CHE among patients treated for long bone fractures at Ghana's major teaching hospitals, providing insight into the economic burdens faced by these patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2,980 patients with long bone fractures treated at four major teaching hospitals in Ghana from July 2017 to July 2020.

Impact of Frailty on Surgical Outcomes of Patients With Cushing Disease Using the Multicenter Registry of Adenomas of the Pituitary and Related Disorders Registry.

Background And Objectives: Despite growing interest in how patient frailty affects outcomes (eg, in neuro-oncology), its role after transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing disease (CD) remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of frailty on CD outcomes using the Registry of Adenomas of the Pituitary and Related Disorders (RAPID) data set from a collaboration of US academic pituitary centers.

Methods: Data on consecutive surgically treated patients with CD (2011-2023) were compiled using the 11-factor modified frailty index.

Vesalius and His Manikin: An Enduring Influence on Modern Anatomic Teaching.

Anatomic teaching has long informed surgical knowledge, experience, and skills. One tool for teaching that emerged during the Renaissance was the fugitive anatomic sheet, which used flap layers to reveal different levels of anatomy. In 1538, Vogtherr introduced the first fugitive sheets, which included illustrations of male and female figures with a torso paper flap that, when lifted, revealed the internal organs in a cartoonish style.

Enhancing the Use of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid in Fluorescence-guided Surgery for High-grade Glioma: An Expert Nurse Practitioner Opinion-based Approach.

Purpose: This report details the recommendations of a Nursing Best Practice Working Group, which aims to advance best practice in the use of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) in patients with high-grade glioma (HGG).

Design: Quality Improvement Project.

Methods: These recommendations were gathered during a meeting of a Nursing Best Practice Working Group comprising expert nurses and practice administrators from five US centers of excellence in the management of HGG.

Early Versus Delayed Antihypertensive Treatment After Acute Ischemic Stroke by Hypertension History.

Background: We performed a prespecified subgroup analysis of the CATIS-2 trial (China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke II) to compare the effect of early versus delayed antihypertensive treatment on death and disability in patients with and without medical history of hypertension.

Methods: CATIS-2 is a multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted in 106 hospitals in China. The trial randomized 4810 patients with acute ischemic stroke within 24 to 48 hours of symptom onset and elevated systolic blood pressure between 140 and <220 mm Hg to receive antihypertensive treatment immediately after randomization or to discontinue antihypertensive medications for 7 days and then receive treatment on day 8.

A Rare Case of Systemic Cystic Angiomatosis in an Elderly Female Initially Misdiagnosed as Vascular Neoplasm: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: Systemic cystic angiomatosis is an exceedingly rare condition characterized by widespread cystic vascular lesions involving multiple organs. Its clinical presentation can be non-specific, often leading to diagnostic challenges. This report discusses the case of a 72-year-old female with a long-standing history of diabetes mellitus who presented with non-specific symptoms, ultimately diagnosed with systemic cystic angiomatosis after an initial misdiagnosis of vascular neoplasia.

Blarcamesine for the treatment of Early Alzheimer's Disease: Results from the ANAVEX2-73-AD-004 Phase IIB/III trial.

Background: There are no approved oral disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess efficacy and safety of blarcamesine (ANAVEX®2-73), an orally available small-molecule activator of the sigma-1 receptor (SIGMAR1) in early AD through restoration of cellular homeostasis including autophagy enhancement.

Design: ANAVEX2-73-AD-004 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 48-week Phase IIb/III trial.

Exploring the impact of surgeon-reported gender on palliative care utilization in geriatric trauma patients.

Introduction: Geriatric trauma research increasingly supports the use of Palliative Care (PC). We surveyed trauma surgeon for perspectives on PC usage. Significant gender differences were identified, necessitating post-hoc investigation.

Pterional vs. mini-pterional craniotomy for intracranial aneurysms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The mini-pterional craniotomy (mPT) was designed to be a minimally invasive alternative to the standard pterional (PT) approach. However, it remains unclear which technique produces better results. Thus, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis comparing functional, surgical, and aesthetic outcomes between mPT and PT in intracranial aneurysms.

Evaluation of Swallowing Dysfunction With Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing in the Neonatal Unit.

Background: Preterm and low-birth-weight infants often experience discoordination of the suck-swallow-breathe pattern, leading to dysrhythmic feeding, inefficient feeding skills, and swallowing dysfunction, increasing the risk of aspiration and respiratory morbidity. While videofluoroscopic swallowing study is commonly utilized to assess swallow function in neonates, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) has been an emerging modality and has been utilized routinely at our institution since 2018.

Method: A single-center, retrospective study including 90 infants admitted to the neonatal unit between 2018-2023 who underwent FEES procedure.

Remote Ischemic Post-Conditioning (RIC) Mediates Anti-Inflammatory Signaling via Myeloid AMPKα1 in Murine Traumatic Optic Neuropathy (TON).

Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) has been regarded a vision-threatening condition caused by either ocular or blunt/penetrating head trauma, which is characterized by direct or indirect TON. Injury happens during sports, vehicle accidents and mainly in military war and combat exposure. Earlier, we have demonstrated that remote ischemic post-conditioning (RIC) therapy is protective in TON, and here we report that AMPKα1 activation is crucial.

Risk Factors for the Development of Olecranon Bursitis-A Large-Scale Population-Based Study.

Olecranon bursitis (OB) involves fluid accumulation in the bursa, with common causes being trauma and preexisting conditions. Its incidence is difficult to quantify, and risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, and male gender are frequently noted. Hyperlipidemia has been linked to musculoskeletal disorders, but its role as a risk factor for OB remains unexplored.

Advances in neurosurgical education: literature review of mixed-reality simulation models and novel mixed-reality spine prototype.

Objective: Mixed-reality (MR) applications provide opportunities for technical rehearsal, education, and estimation of surgical performance without the risk of patient harm. In this study, the authors provide a structured literature review on the current state of MR applications and their effects on neurosurgery training. They also introduce an MR prototype for neurosurgical spine training.

Automated Detection of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Using CT Imaging for Calculating the Ventricle-to-Subarachnoid Volume Ratio.

Background And Purpose: Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a diagnostic challenge because its clinical symptoms and imaging appearance resemble normal aging and other forms of dementia. Identifying NPH is essential so that patients can receive timely treatment to improve gait distortion and quality of life. An automated marker of NPH was developed and evaluated on clinical CT images, and its utility was assessed in a large patient cohort.

Cushing's Disease Clinical Phenotype and Tumor Behavior Vary with Age: Diagnostic and Perioperative Implications.

Context: Little is known about presenting clinical characteristics, tumor biology, and surgical morbidity of Cushing's disease (CD) with aging.

Objective: Using a large multi-institutional dataset, we assessed diagnostic and prognostic significance of age in CD through differences in presentation, laboratory results, tumor characteristics, and postoperative outcomes.

Design: Data from the Registry of Adenomas of the Pituitary and Related Disorders (RAPID) were reviewed for patients with CD treated with transsphenoidal tumor resection at 11 centers between 2003 and 2023.