C-Labeled Diethyl Ketoglutarate Derivatives as Hyperpolarized Probes of 2-Ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase Activity.

The TCA cycle is a central metabolic pathway for energy production and biosynthesis. A major control point of metabolic flux through the cycle is the decarboxylation of 2-ketoglutarate by the TCA cycle enzyme 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (2-KGDH). In this project, we developed C labeled 2-ketoglutarate derivatives to monitor 2-KGDH activity in vivo.

Robotic-guided placement of cervical pedicle screws: feasibility and accuracy.

Introduction: It has been shown that pedicle screw instrumentation in the cervical spine has superior biomechanical pullout strength and stability. However, due to the complex and variable anatomy of the cervical pedicles and the risk of catastrophic complications, cervical pedicle screw placement is not widely utilized.

Study Design: A retrospective, consecutive patient review.

Racial Differences in Perioperative Opioid Utilization in Lumbar Decompression and Fusion Surgery for Symptomatic Lumbar Stenosis or Spondylolisthesis.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To assess for racial differences in opioid utilization prior to and after lumbar fusion surgery for patients with lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis.

Methods: Clinical records from patients with lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis undergoing primary <3-level lumbar fusion from 2007 to 2016 were gathered from a comprehensive insurance database.

Regional Variation in Nonoperative Therapy Utilization for Symptomatic Lumbar Stenosis and Spondylolisthesis: A 2-Year Costs Analysis.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To characterize regional variations in maximal nonoperative therapy (MNT) costs in patients suffering from lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis.

Methods: Medical records from patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis undergoing primary ≤3-level lumbar decompression and fusion procedures from 2007 to 2016 were gathered from a large insurance database.

Reduction in Narcotic Use After Lumbar Decompression and Fusion in Patients With Symptomatic Lumbar Stenosis or Spondylolisthesis.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess change in opioid use before and after lumbar decompression and fusion surgery for patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis.

Methods: A large insurance database was queried for patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis undergoing index lumbar decompression and fusion procedures between 2007 and 2016.

A 2-Year Cost Analysis of Maximum Nonoperative Treatments in Patients With Symptomatic Lumbar Stenosis or Spondylolisthesis That Ultimately Required Surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to characterize the utilization and costs of maximal nonoperative therapies (MNTs) within 2 years prior to spinal fusion surgery in patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis.

Methods: A large insurance database was queried for patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis undergoing index 1-, 2-, or 3-level lumbar decompression and fusion procedures between 2007 and 2016.

Regional Differences in the Cost and Utilization of Nonoperative Management Within 3 Months Prior to Lumbar Microdiscectomy.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the regional variations in the use of nonoperative therapies in patients diagnosed with a lumbar intervertebral disc herniation 3 months prior to undergoing microdiscectomy surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Regional variations in the management of chronic pain conditions have been previously identified.

Total Health Care Expenditure in Patients With a Herniated Lumbar Disk That Ultimately Require Surgery: A 3- and 6-month Cost Comparison of Maximum Nonoperative Treatment.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare the cost of maximum nonoperative therapy (MNT) in patients diagnosed with a herniated lumbar disk undergoing primary (1-3 mo) versus prolonged (4-6 mo) conservative management before microdiscectomy.

Summary Of Background Data: Patients diagnosed with a herniated lumbar disk often attempt a 3-month trial of conservative management before microdiscectomy.

Regional Variation in Opioid Use After Lumbar Spine Surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate regional variations in use of opioids after lumbar decompression and fusion surgery for patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis.

Methods: An insurance database, including private/commercially insured and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, was queried for patients undergoing 1-level, 2-level, or 3-level index lumbar decompression and fusion procedures between 2007 and 2016. Research records were searchable by International Classification of Diseases diagnosis and procedure codes, and generic drug codes specific to Humana.

Long-Term Costs of Maximum Nonoperative Treatments in Patients With Symptomatic Lumbar Stenosis or Spondylolisthesis that Ultimately Required Surgery: A 5-Year Cost Analysis.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to characterize the utilization and costs of MNTs prior to spinal fusion surgery in patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis.

Summary Of Background Data: The costs and utilization of long-term maximal nonoperative therapy (MNT) can be substantial, and in the current era of bundled payments, the duration of conservative therapy trials should be reassessed.

Dental Impacts on Health-related Quality of Life of Children with Orofacial Clefts.

Purpose: Children with orofacial clefts experience risks for psychosocial and behavioral problems, making it important to evaluate for negative impacts on health-related quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and surgical history to determine if these measures correlated with caries and/or behavior during dental treatment.

Methods: Data for this retrospective study were obtained for children encountered between March 2011 and August 2013.

The current state of cancer genetic counseling access and availability.

Purpose: Genetic risk assessment and counseling by a qualified genetics professional are recommended to ensure high-quality care for individuals at risk of hereditary cancer. Timely access to genetic services provided by a genetic counselor (GC) is essential, especially in cases where genetic testing results may affect impending surgical decisions.

Methods: A survey of GCs who specialize in cancer genetics was performed to assess service delivery models and ability to accommodate urgent cases.

Downstaging hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and pooled analysis.

Downstaging can facilitate liver transplantation (LT) for patients outside of Milan criteria with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the optimal protocol and downstaging outcomes are poorly defined. We aimed to characterize rates of successful downstaging to within Milan criteria and post-LT recurrence and survival among patients who underwent downstaging. We performed a systematic literature review using the MEDLINE and Embase databases from January 1996 through March 2015 and a search of national meeting abstracts from 2010 to 2014.

Depletion of the cereblon gene activates the unfolded protein response and protects cells from ER stress-induced cell death.

Previous studies showed that cereblon (CRBN) binds to various cellular target proteins, implying that CRBN regulates a wide range of cell responses. In this study, we found that deletion of the Crbn gene desensitized mouse embryonic fibroblast cells to various cell death-promoting stimuli, including endoplasmic reticulum stress inducers. Mechanistically, deletion of Crbn activates pathways involved in the unfolded protein response prior to ER stress induction.

Encephalopathy following melphalan administration.

Objective: To describe a rare case of encephalopathy following melphalan administration. Presentation and intervention:: A 59-year-old female with multiple myeloma developed encephalopathy following administration of melphalan. After ruling out other aetiologies, we hypothesized elevated cytokines from systemic inflammatory response to melphalan as the likely aetiology.

Grey matter reduction associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic stress.

In recent decades, many imaging studies have reported brain structural alterations in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, due to differences in the selection of control subjects, it is difficult to conclude whether the observed alterations were related to disease or traumatic stress. The present study was to provide a quantitative voxelwise meta-analysis of grey matter (GM) changes in PTSD relative to either trauma-exposed controls without PTSD (TEC) or non-traumatised healthy controls (HC) separately and to conduct a systematic review of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies that compared trauma-exposed individuals with HC to explore the effect of traumatic stress.

14th International Workshop on Ataxia-Telangiectasia ATW2012.

The fourteenth international Ataxia-Telangiectasia Workshop 2012 (ATW2012) (www.atw2012.com) on ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) and the role of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene in DNA repair, neurological disease, cancer and related topics was held from February 07 to 11, 2012 in Delhi, India.

The safety and tolerability of newer antiepileptic drugs in children and adolescents.

Childhood epilepsy continues to be intractable in more than 25% of patients diagnosed with epilepsy. The introduction of new anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) provides more options for treatment of children with epilepsy. We review the safety and tolerability of seven new AEDs (levetiracetam, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, rufinamide, topiramate, vigabatrin and zonisamide) focusing on their side effect profiles and safety in children and adolescents.

Addictive-like behaviours to ultraviolet light among frequent indoor tanners.

Background: Frequent, purposeful exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light may induce a compulsive desire to tan despite the negative consequences being known, suggesting a behavioural complex similar to addictive disorders.

Aim: To assess the presence of addictive-like behaviours in subjects using indoor tanning salons.

Methods: Subjects (n = 100) were surveyed by two questionnaires: a modified CAGE questionnaire to assess behaviours consistent with problem tanning and a modified Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) ('substance dependence' criteria) to assess behaviours consistent with a dependence-like disorder.

Vibrio VopQ induces PI3-kinase-independent autophagy and antagonizes phagocytosis.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for gastroenteritis acquired from the consumption of contaminated shellfish. This bacterium harbours two type III secretion systems, one on each chromosome. The type III secretion system on chromosome I induces cell death by a temporally controlled sequence of events that is caspase-independent and first involves induction of autophagy, followed by cellular rounding, and finally cellular lysis.