Anterior lumbar interbody fusion: patient selection and workup.

Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is an anterior surgical approach for interbody fusion in the lumbar spine which affords the surgeon unfettered access to the disc space and allows for release of the anterior longitudinal ligament and insertion of a large, lordotic interbody graft. Despite the benefits associated with ALIF when compared with other lumbar interbody fusion techniques, the ALIF approach is associated with a number of unique complications, and certain patient-specific criteria (e.g.

Osseointegration and fixation opportunities of sacroiliac instrumentation: a preclinical evaluation in a large animal model.

Background: Implant fixation is often the cornerstone of musculoskeletal surgical procedures performed to provide bony fixation and/or fusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate how different design features and manufacturing methods influence implant osseointegration and mechanical properties associated with fixation in a standardized model in cancellous bone of adult sheep.

Methods: We evaluated the performance of three titanium alloy implants: (A) iFuse-TORQ implant; (B) Fenestrated Sacroiliac Device; and (C) Standard Cancellous Bone Screw in the cancellous bone of the distal femur and proximal tibia in 8 sheep.

The percentage of sacroiliac fusions done in the U.S. by non-surgical specialties has increased.

Background: Surgical fusion of the sacroiliac (SI) joint is often performed to manage chronic lower back or buttock pain. When Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were introduced, SI joint fusion procedures were done primarily by orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. The purpose of this study was to examine the utilization of SI joint fusion CPT codes by physician specialty over time.

Non-instrumented management of traumatic atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation: surgical technique.

Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation (AARS) in the adult population is primarily trauma-induced. Conservative and surgical treatments have both been used successfully in treating AARS. In cases where AARS cannot be reduced by conservative measures, open reduction and fusion is the conventional treatment approach.

Kyphoplasty in the setting of corynebacterium striatum septicemia with postoperative osteomyelitis requiring salvage vertebrectomy: a case report.

Background: Kyphoplasty (KP) is a well-established procedure with a low complication risk, however, the procedure's safety in patients with comorbidities and in the setting of systemic infection remains uncertain with no clear guidelines. We present a unique case of KP in the setting of recurrent septicemia, which required subsequent salvage vertebrectomy.

Case Description: We present a clinical case of a 59-year-old diabetic male patient with a recent foot ulcer, positive for and .

Use of ceramic synthetic allografts in spine surgery: a narrative review with early basic science and clinic data of novel nanosynthetic bone graft.

Background And Objective: As the global population ages, degenerative spinal disorders are on the rise, leading to an increased focus on optimizing spinal fusion therapies. Despite the high success rate of iliac crest bone autografts, their usage is hampered by donor site morbidity and limited supply. The objective of this review is to assess the viability of ceramic-based synthetic materials as alternatives in spinal fusion surgeries.

Role of endoscopic sequestrectomy in the treatment of therapy-resistant radiculopathy in patients with extreme obesity: technical note and case report.

Background: Surgical treatment of therapy-resistant radiculopathy associated with lumbar herniated discs in patients with extreme obesity is a challenge for neurosurgeons. In addition to technical problems in surgery due to the abundant subcutaneous adipose tissue and perioperative risks, there are significant anesthetic risks when anesthesia is performed with a patient in the prone position. A surgical procedure should preferably be minimally traumatic and quick with minimal risks of complications.

Vector AutoRegressive Moving Average Models: A Review.

Vector AutoRegressive Moving Average (VARMA) models form a powerful and general model class for analyzing dynamics among multiple time series. While VARMA models encompass the Vector AutoRegressive (VAR) models, their popularity in empirical applications is dominated by the latter. Can this phenomenon be explained fully by the simplicity of VAR models? Perhaps many users of VAR models have not fully appreciated what VARMA models can provide.

Social contact patterns and their impact on the transmission of respiratory pathogens in rural China.

Introduction: Social contact patterns significantly influence the transmission dynamics of respiratory pathogens. Previous surveys have quantified human social contact patterns, yielding heterogeneous results across different locations. However, significant gaps remain in understanding social contact patterns in rural areas of China.

Can the prevalence of one STI serve as a predictor for another? A mathematical modeling analysis.

We aimed to understand to what extent knowledge of the prevalence of one sexually transmitted infection (STI) can predict the prevalence of another STI, with application for men who have sex with men (MSM). An individual-based simulation model was used to study the concurrent transmission of HIV, HSV-2, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in MSM sexual networks. Using the model outputs, 15 multiple linear regression models were conducted for each STI prevalence, treating the prevalence of each as the dependent variable and the prevalences of up to four other STIs as independent variables in various combinations.

Female reproductive ageing persists despite high infanticide risk in chacma baboons and geladas.

Across mammals, fertility and offspring survival are often lowest at the beginning and end of females' reproductive careers. However, extrinsic drivers of reproductive success-including infanticide by males-could stochastically obscure these expected age-related trends. Here, we modelled reproductive ageing trajectories in two cercopithecine primates that experience high rates of male infanticide: the chacma baboon () and the gelada ().

Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis.

In our multicultural and interconnected world, the ability to learn new languages is important. However, there are significant differences in how successfully adults can learn aspects of non-native languages. Given robust relationships between musical ability and native-language processing, musical ability might also contribute to successful second-language acquisition.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) Following Immune Checkpoint Therapy (ICT).

In the past decade, the use of immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) has increased across many malignancies, including metastatic renal cell carcinoma as an option for frontline and subsequent lines of therapy. Despite the many therapeutic benefits of ICT, its use is complicated by the potential risk of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). One rare but potentially life-threatening irAE is hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

Atypical Femur Fracture in a Teenager on Chronic Imatinib Therapy.

Atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) are rare fractures usually associated with medications that can ultimately alter bone metabolism. Imatinib, a drug prescribed for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), has been associated with altered bone homeostasis, however, with unknown clinical significance. Here, we present the case of a 17-year-old female, with a diagnosis of CML undergoing chronic imatinib therapy, who developed an AFF treated successfully with prophylactic fixation with intramedullary nailing.

A comparative analysis of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty versus reverse shoulder arthroplasty for posterior glenoid wear patterns.

Introduction: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) and anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) are well-known methods of treating glenohumeral arthritis, which often leads to posterior wear of the glenoid. This study compared minimum two-year outcome measures in patients treated with RSA and TSA for Walch B2 and B3 glenoids.

Methods: Thirty-eight shoulders underwent TSA and 40 shoulders underwent RSA by two fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons at a tertiary referral center.

Cementless fixation in total joint arthroplasty: Factors impacting osseointegration.

•The success of cementless fixation in TJA depends on a multitude of factors including biological, mechanical, implant, surgical, and material properties.•Biologic fixation has become the primary mode of fixation for the majority of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgeries done today in the United States (US) due to its low complication rate and superior longevity compared to cemented fixation.•Cementless fixation has yet to gain wider acceptance in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and hip hemiarthroplasty due to several factors including host bone quality, implant design, and surgical technique.

Temporomandibular disorders: A new list of key points to summarize the standard of care.

This letter is being sent to editors of major dental journals around the world. Attached to it is an Announcement that summarizes a recently published position paper which deals with the topic of standards of care for Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs). That paper, entitled "Temporomandibular disorders: INfORM/IADR key points for good clinical practice based on standard of care", was developed by a group of expert researchers and clinicians over a one-year period.

Augmenting efficient real-time surgical instrument segmentation in video with point tracking and Segment Anything.

The Segment Anything model (SAM) is a powerful vision foundation model that is revolutionizing the traditional paradigm of segmentation. Despite this, a reliance on prompting each frame and large computational cost limit its usage in robotically assisted surgery. Applications, such as augmented reality guidance, require little user intervention along with efficient inference to be usable clinically.

Seamless augmented reality integration in arthroscopy: a pipeline for articular reconstruction and guidance.

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat joint problems. The clinical workflow of arthroscopy typically involves inserting an arthroscope into the joint through a small incision, during which surgeons navigate and operate largely by relying on their visual assessment through the arthroscope. However, the arthroscope's restricted field of view and lack of depth perception pose challenges in navigating complex articular structures and achieving surgical precision during procedures.

Ultrasound-activated erythrocyte membrane-camouflaged Pt (II) layered double hydroxide enhances PD-1 inhibitor efficacy in triple-negative breast cancer through cGAS-STING pathway-mediated immunogenic cell death.

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) offers a promising avenue for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, optimizing immune responses remains a formidable challenge. This study presents the design of RBCm@Pt-CoNi layered double hydroxide (RmPLH), an innovative sonosensitizer for sonodynamic therapy (SDT), aimed at enhancing the efficacy of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors by inducing robust ICD responses.

Cancer-targeted pro-theranostic bi-metallic organo-coordination nanoparticles.

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, with aggressive, treatment-resistant tumors posing significant challenges. Current combination therapies and imaging approaches often fail due to disparate pharmacokinetics and difficulties correlating drug delivery with therapeutic response. In this study, we developed radionuclide-activatable theranostic nanoparticles (NPs) comprising folate receptor-targeted bimetallic organo-nanoparticles (Gd-Ti-FA-TA NPs).

Cardiomyocyte S1PR1 promotes cardiac regeneration via AKT/mTORC1 signaling pathway.

Lower vertebrates and some neonatal mammals are known to possess the ability to regenerate cardiomyocyte and fully recover after heart injuries within a limited period. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of heart regeneration and exploring new ways to enhance cardiac regeneration hold significant promise for therapeutic intervention of heart failure. Sphingosine 1-phospahte receptor 1 (S1PR1) is highly expressed in cardiomyocytes and plays a crucial role in heart development and pathological cardiac remodeling.

Minimal change disease in treatment-naïve hepatitis C virus infection: A case report and literature review.

Minimal change disease (MCD) accounts for 10 - 15% of idiopathic nephrotic syndromes in adults. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is rarely ascribed as a cause of MCD and was previously associated with interferon-based therapy. MCD in treatment-naïve chronic HCV infection is extremely rare, with only 3 cases reported in the literature.

Anomalous Aortic Origin of a Coronary Artery in Pediatric Patients.

Purpose Of Review: We present a contemporary approach to risk assessment and management of patients with anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA).

Recent Findings: Anomalous left coronary artery from the right aortic sinus (L-AAOCA) with interarterial course carries a high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD); therefore, current guidelines recommend exercise restriction and surgical intervention. Recent data in intraseptal and juxtacommissural L-AAOCA showed inducible perfusion abnormalities, leading to consideration of surgical intervention.

The Role of Intravenous Selexipag in Managing PAH and Bridging Gaps in Oral Treatment: A Narrative Review.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and potentially fatal condition characterized by progressive increases in blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. Oral selexipag, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015 for the treatment of PAH, targets prostacyclin receptors on pulmonary arterial vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells to improve blood flow through the lungs and reduce pulmonary vascular resistance. Oral selexipag is effective, but may be discontinued due to factors like side effects, emergency conditions, or inability to take oral medication, potentially leading to severe adverse events, such as rebound pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure.