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Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 2018 Oct 12;46(5):323-329. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

A 2-year-old male neutered mixed breed dog with a body weight of 30 kg was presented for evaluation of a soft subcutaneous mass on the dorsal midline at the level of the caudal thoracic spine. A further clinical sign was intermittent pain on palpation of the area of the subcutaneous mass. The owner also described a prolonged phase of urination with repeated interruption and re-initiation of voiding. Read More

Neurosurgery 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California.

Background: Given recent differing findings following 2 randomized clinical trials on degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) surgery, there is a need to better define how subsets of patients fare following surgery.

Objective: To investigate the impact of obesity on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following DLS surgery.

Methods: A total of 12 high-enrolling sites were queried, and we found 797 patients undergoing surgery for grade 1 DLS. Read More

Pain Med 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.

Objective: To determine if intra-articular (IA) injection of corticosteroids is effective in reducing the need for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in those with dual comparative medial branch block (MBB)-confirmed lumbar z-joint pain.

Design: This was a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

Setting: Two academic medical centers. Read More

PLoS One 2018 12;13(12):e0208020. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Ecology and Evolution, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

The extinct marsupial 'lion' Thylacoleo carnifex was Australia's largest mammalian carnivore. Despite being the topic of more discussion than any other extinct Australian marsupial (excepting perhaps the Thylacine), basic aspects of its palaeobiology, including its locomotory repertoire, remain poorly understood. Recent discoveries allowed the first reconstruction of an entire skeleton including the first complete tail and hitherto-unrecognised clavicles. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY.

Study Design: Retrospective review of prospective multicenter database.

Objective: To identify an optimal set of factors predicting the risk of PJF while taking the time dependency of PJF and those factors into account.

Summary Of Background Data: Surgical correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD) can be complex and therefore, may come with high revision rates due to proximal junctional failure (PJF). Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.

Study Design: Retrospective study using prospectively collected registry data.

Objectives: The authors examine the influence of preoperative mental health on outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and determine the impact of ACDF on postoperative mental health.

Summary Of Background Data: While studies have reported a negative correlation between preoperative mental health and outcomes following lumbar spine surgery, the influence on outcomes following cervical spine surgery remains relatively understudied. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Neurosurgery, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Study Design: Reliability Study.

Objective: To evaluate the applicability and reliability of 9.4T MRI in the assessment of degenerative disc disease compared to 3T MRI. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Children's Orthopaedic Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Study Design: Diagnostic accuracy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if neural axis abnormalities in early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients can be reliably detected with limited magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences (sagittal T1, sagittal T2).

Summary Of Background Data: MRI's are often performed in EOS patients as studies have shown there are neural axis abnormalities in up to 40% of this population. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

School of Medicine, Department of Neonatology, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey.

Purpose: Kyphosis is the most severe spinal deformity associated with meningomyelocele (MMC) and is seen in approximately 15% of neonates. Our purpose is to present our clinical experience, to discuss the technique and deformity correction in kyphectomy in neonates with MMC, and to assess its long-term outcomes.

Method: In this prospective study, the authors reviewed eight cases submitted to surgery between 2013 and 2015. Read More

Osteoporos Int 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23 Youzheng Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150001, People's Republic of China.

Combination therapy with parathyroid hormone (PTH) analogs and antiresorptive agents may be more effective than monotherapy for the treatment of osteoporosis. This study aimed to estimate the effectiveness and safety of this combination therapy for osteoporosis. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to May 1, 2018, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a duration of at least 6 months on adults with osteoporosis treated with combination therapy versus monotherapy. Read More

Sports Med Int Open 2018 Nov 16;2(6):E179-E184. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Golf Biomechanic Academy, Teaching, Pforzheim, Germany.

In the sport of golf, there is no standard teaching method or swing technique even though golf is known for overuse injuries. This prospective study was to analyze classic swing kinematics in comparison with the Free-Release method and to define a physiological golf swing. Two hundred eighty-three players, age 50-59 years, were included in the study. Read More

Anesth Pain Med 2018 Oct 20;8(5):e83069. Epub 2018 Oct 20.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Jeju National School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.

Background: Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is a rare disease, defined as diffuse hypertrophy of unencapsulated adipose tissue causing spinal canal compression and progressive neurologic deficits. However, there are few studies on SEL in Korea.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and clinical characteristics of SEL in Korea. Read More

Local Reg Anesth 2018 23;11:111-113. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Department of Anesthesia, Ales-en-Cévennes Hospital, Alès-en-Cévennes, France.

The occurrence of a needle breaking is a very rare complication of spinal anesthesia (SA). We report a case of a broken spinal needle occurring in a morbid obese pregnant woman during SA indicated for an emergent cesarean section. Multiple puncture attempts due to difficult identification of lumbar spine, associated with an inadequate use of the introducer, contributed to this complication. Read More

J Pain Res 2018 20;11:2943-2948. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Jon Block, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA,

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) causes significant pain and functional impairment, and medical management has increasingly included the prescription of opioid-based analgesics. Interspinous process decompression (IPD) provides a minimally-invasive treatment option for LSS.

Methods: This study estimated the type, dosage, and duration of opioid medications through 5 years of follow-up after IPD with the Superion Indirect Decompression System (Vertiflex Inc. Read More

Curr Health Sci J 2015 Jul-Sep;41(3):274-280. Epub 2015 Mar 15.

Pathology dept., Clinical Emergency County Hospital of Craiova.

The purpose of this study was the clinical and histo-immunohistochemical analysis of two cases: a cutaneous pigmented facial malignant melanoma and a lumbar congenital nevus with malignant transformation. A series of clinical elements raised the suspicion of some malignant melanocytic lesions and the histopathological analysis through the paraffin embedding technique confirmed the clinical suspicion. The immunohistochemical analysis using the streptavidin-biotin-peroxydase method of the facial malignant melanoma showed: S100 protein intense and diffuse positive, Tyrosinase diffuse positive, HMB45 strong and focal positive, Cyclin D1 positive in approximately 40% and Ki-67 positive in almost 70% of the tumor cells. Read More

Bone 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

Background: Lower skeletal muscle density, indicating greater infiltration of adipose tissue into muscles, is associated with higher fracture risk in older adults. We aimed to determine whether mid-calf muscle density is associated with falls risk and bone health in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: 2214 community-dwelling men and women who participated in the Healthy Ageing Initiative (Sweden) study at age 70 were included in this analysis. Read More

J Bone Miner Res 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Concerns about the effects of gender-affirming hormonal treatment (HT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in transgender people exist, particularly regarding the decrease in estrogen concentrations in transmen. Although it is known that HT is safe for BMD in the short term, long-term follow-up studies are lacking. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the change in BMD during the first 10 years of HT, to determine whether HT is safe and if assessing BMD during HT is necessary. Read More

J Anat 2018 Dec 9. Epub 2018 Dec 9.

Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, Dresden, Germany.

The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a well-known source of low back and pelvic pain, of increasing interest for both conservative and surgical treatment. Alterations in the kinematics of the pelvis have been hypothesized as a major cause of SIJ-related pain. However, definitions of both the range and the extent of physiological movement are controversial, and there are no clear baseline data for pathological alterations. Read More

Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Anesthesiology, Kansai Medical University Medical Center, Moriguchi, Japan.

Background: A preliminary study has shown effective cancer pain relief by intrathecal betamethasone (ITB). However, further evidence is needed to support this new approach.

Methods: Cancer patients with opioid-resistant pain received lumbar intrathecal administration of betamethasone 2 or 3 mg once a week for 28 days. Read More

J Paediatr Child Health 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Paediatrics, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Background: Paediatric Cryptococcus gattii disease is rare, with only two previous cases recorded in the Northern Territory (NT) over the last 54 years. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a recognised complication of C. gattii infection, even in the absence of an identified immunodeficiency syndrome; however, limited paediatric data exist. Read More

Musculoskelet Surg 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

S.C. Ortopedia e Traumatologia, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Viale Camillo Golgi 19, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy.

Background: Low back pain and sciatica represent a common disabling condition with a significant impact on the social, working and economic lives of patients. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a surgical procedure used in degenerative spine conditions. Several types of cages were used in the TLIF procedure. Read More

Orthopade 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Zentrum für Wirbelsäulenchirurgie und Schmerztherapie, Zentrum für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie der St. Elisabeth Gruppe - Katholische Kliniken Rhein-Ruhr, St. Anna Hospital Herne/Universitätsklinikum, Marien Hospital Herne/Marien Hospital Witten, Hospitalstr. 19, 44649, Herne, Deutschland.

Background: The most frequent causes of degenerative constrictions of the spinal canal are disk herniations and spinal stenoses. The lumbar and cervical spine is the most affected.

Surgical Procedures: After conservative treatments have been exhausted, surgical intervention may be necessary. Read More

Eur Spine J 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.

Purpose: In vivo quantification of intervertebral motion through imaging has progressed to a point where biomarkers for low back pain are emerging. This makes possible deeper study of the condition's biometrics. However, the measurement of change over time involves error. Read More

J Nephrol 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

UCL Department of Nephrology, Royal Free hospital, University College London, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF, UK.

Background: Increased vascular stiffness is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) in the general population, and both are risk factors for mortality. We wished to determine whether vascular stiffness is associated with BMD in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: We measured vascular stiffness by aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), BMD by dual electron absorptiometry (DXA) scanning, and body composition using bioimpedance. Read More

Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 5122 Etcheverry Hall, #1740, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.

Biological tissues with a high glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content have an excellent ability to swell by absorbing water molecules from the surrounding environment. Our recent work showed that anisotropy in tissue swelling depends on the fiber-network architecture, including fiber angle, fiber stiffness, and lamellae structure. However, that work did not evaluate the effect of in situ boundary conditions, such as the kidney-bean shape of the annulus fibrosus (AF), on swelling behavior. Read More

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

Background: Among the currently available osteoporosis therapeutics, bisphosphonates and denosumab are widely used. However, it remains uncertain which therapy is more effective.

Objective: To determine whether the use of denosumab increases bone mineral density (BMD) and reduces the risk of fractures more than bisphosphonates in patients with low BMD or osteoporosis. Read More

Heliyon 2018 Dec 1;4(12):e00985. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Shinshu University, Faculty of Education, 6-Ro Nishinagano, Nagano City, Nagano 380-8544, Japan.

Background: Research on the effectiveness of treatment for low back disorders has been made, however yet no established method has been found. Therefore, we devised a triple-treatment trunk stretching program comprising the following three trunk stretching exercises: stretching using an unstable flex chair; stretching using a stretching bench; and stretching using a stretch pad. Our three-treatment trunk stretching program is based on the principles of static muscular stabilization of the spine and uses well-known physiological strength-training principles. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 11;2018:8157061. Epub 2018 Nov 11.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Intervertebral foramen is the doorway of nerve root and it plays an important role of radiculopathy and surgical treatment of intervertebral foramen diseases. The purpose of the study is to obtain three-dimensional (3D) morphological characteristics of lumbar intervertebral foramen and their relationship with age. Pedicle-superior articular process (P-SAP), disc height between adjacent vertebra (DH), pedicle-inferior vertebrae (P-IV), inferior posterior vertebrae-superior articular process (IPV-SAP), and bony boundary area (BBA) were measured in entrance, middle slice, and exit of lumbar intervertebral foramen for 25 males of different age groups. Read More

Arab J Urol 2018 Dec 4;16(4):453-459. Epub 2018 Jul 4.

Department of Urology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for the development of flank incisional hernias or bulges following surgical flank approaches to the kidney.

Patients And Methods: In all, 100 consecutive adult patients who underwent variable renal surgeries via flank approaches were included in this prospective study. The incidence and risk factors for flank hernias and bulges were studied at 1- and 6-months postoperatively. Read More

J Eat Disord 2018 26;6:40. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

1Provincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program for Children & Adolescents, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Box 178, 4500 Oak St., Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1 Canada.

Background: The growing body of research on eating disorders among male adolescents reveals some sex differences in clinical presentation. The current study set out to replicate and extend recent research on the clinical and medical characteristics of male youth with eating disorders, and examine sex differences between biological males and females in a tertiary pediatric eating disorder treatment setting.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted with all biological males who were admitted to the Eating Disorders Programs at British Columbia Children's Hospital (2003-2015) or the Looking Glass Residence (2011-2015). Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 7;2018:1574020. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.

The aim of this study was to reveal whether demographic aspect, vertebral morphometry, and spine degeneration are associated with lumbar Schmorl's nodes (SNs). A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using data from the Department of Radiology (Carmel, Medical Center, Israel) for 180 individuals: age range between 40 and 99 years; 90 males and 90 females. All participants had undergone high-resolution CT scans for abdominal diagnostic purposes in the same supine position prior to our study, which enabled the processing of the scans in all planes and allowed a 3D reconstruction of the lower lumbar region. Read More

Cureus 2018 Oct 2;10(10):e3404. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Orthopaedics, Washington Spine and Scoliosis Institute, Bethesda, USA.

Symptomatic far-lateral lumbar disc herniation is a less common causes of lumbar radiculopathy than paracentral or central disc herniation. Treatment of far-lateral disc herniation with a retroperitoneal, transpsoas approach and disc fragment excision has been described. However, treatment of far-lateral disc herniation using lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) without neural manipulation has not been described. Read More

Cureus 2018 Oct 1;10(10):e3392. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Radiology, VA Medical Center, Riviera Beach, USA.

We present a case of a 55-year-old lady with intermittent twitching of the left side of her face, involving her left eyelid and the angle of the mouth, ongoing for two years. She failed multiple trials of botulinum toxin injections as well as oral anti-spasmodic medications. The patient was diagnosed with an ectatic left vertebral artery, causing a compression of cranial nerve VII on the same side on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Read More

PLoS One 2018 11;13(12):e0208895. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Physical Analysis and Therapeutic Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.

Dysphagia is the major pathophysiologic mechanism leading to aspiration pneumonia in the elderly. Elderly people with dysphagia who show low levels of the cough peak flow (CPF) are at greater risk for aspiration pneumonia. It has been reported that CPF values were significantly lower in the "soft" versus "hard" mode of a pressure-relieving air mattress in healthy volunteers in a supine position. Read More

PLoS One 2018 11;13(12):e0208415. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked muscle disorder characterized by primary muscle degeneration. Patients with DMD reveal progressive muscle weakness leading to ambulatory dysfunction. Novel outcome measures are needed for more sensitive evaluation of therapeutic effects in clinical trials. Read More

Front Psychol 2018 23;9:2236. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Institute of Sport Sciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.

Chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP) poses a major socioeconomic problem, although the mechanisms are not yet clear. Impaired motor control is one of the mechanisms being discussed. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of motor control parameter differences between individuals with and without non-specific LBP during gait. Read More

Indian J Orthop 2018 Nov-Dec;52(6):578-583

Department of Orthopaedics and Spine Surgery, Zydus Hospitals and Healthcare Research Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

In the current clinical scenario, restenosis following the primary surgical procedure for lumbar canal stenosis is being frequently noticed. A number of studies have evaluated the reoperation rates following different surgical procedures for lumbar canal stenosis. However, a dilemma still exists about the surgical procedures, associated comorbidities and reoperation rates. Read More

Neurospine 2018 Sep 4. Epub 2018 Sep 4.

Department of Neurosurgery, Spinal Disorders Center, Fujieda Heisei Memorial Hospital, Fukui, Japan.

Objective: Computed tomography following myelography (CTM) revealed an unusual flow of contrast dye into the anterior median fissure (AMF) in a patient with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Since then, several AMF configurations have been observed on CTM. Therefore, we evaluated morphological patterns of the AMF on CTM and investigated the significance and mechanisms of contrast dye flow into the AMF. Read More

Neurospine 2018 Sep 9. Epub 2018 Sep 9.

Ankara Spine Center, Ankara, Turkey.

Objective: Postoperative dynamic cryo-compression (DC) therapy has been proposed as a method of reducing pain and the inflammatory response in the early postoperative period after orthopedic joint reconstruction surgery. Our aim was to analyze the analgesic efficacy of DC therapy after adult lumbar spinal surgery.

Methods: DC was applied for 30 minutes every 6 hours after surgery. Read More

Neurospine 2018 Oct 2. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University, Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.

The present study reports the case of an 81-year-old woman who underwent lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) placement for idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus. After LPS placement, the patient presented with radicular pain. A computed tomography scan revealed that the intradural lumbar catheter was tangled at the T11 vertebra; therefore, we decided to remove the catheter under local anesthesia. Read More

Neurospine 2018 Oct 7. Epub 2018 Oct 7.

Department of Anesthesiology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.

Objective: Lower back pain (LBP) is a worldwide health problem, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a common modality used to aid in its diagnosis. Although specific guidelines for assessing the necessity of MRI usage exist, the use of MRI as the initial imaging method for LBP seems to be more common than necessary in general practice.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 313 patients who had undergone MRI of the lumbosacral spine during 2014-2015. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2019 Jan;38(1):37-41

bioMérieux, Durham, NC.

Background: Large epidemiologic studies evaluating the etiologies, management decisions and outcomes of infants and children with meningitis and encephalitis in the United States are lacking.

Methods: Children 0-17 years of age with meningitis or encephalitis as assessed by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes available in the Premier Healthcare Database during 2011-2014 were analyzed.

Results: Six thousand six hundred sixty-five patients with meningitis or encephalitis were identified; 3030 (45. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nanoori Gangnam Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea.

Study Design: This study was a technical case report.

Objectives: To introduce a new transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) technique for the treatment of upper lumbar disc herniation using an extradiscal epiduroscopic approach.

Summary Of Background Data: Although upper lumbar disc herniation accounts for only 1%-2% of all cases of lumbar disc herniation, the treatment is difficult and shows relatively poor outcomes compared with lower lumbar disc herniation. Read More

Curr Opin Pediatr 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Provide a comprehensive overview of lumbar spondylolysis, a frequent cause of lower back pain in children and adolescents, from evaluation to management.

Recent Findings: With the surge of structured sports participation in the pediatric population, spondylolysis is a common ailment that afflicts many young athletes due to rigorous competition that taxes the growing spine with repetitive extension and rotation.

Summary: Spondylolysis is a fracture through the pars interarticularis. Read More

Neural Regen Res 2019 Feb;14(2):313-318

Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum - University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn; University Clinical Hospital in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.

Animal experiments have confirmed that mesenchymal stem cells can inhibit motor neuron apoptosis and inflammatory factor expression and increase neurotrophic factor expression. Therefore, mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to exhibit prospects in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the safety of their clinical application needs to be validated. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.

Background: Assessment of hippocampal amnesia is helpful to distinguish between normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but not for identifying converters to dementia. Here biomarkers are useful but novel neuropsychological approaches are needed in their absence. The In-out-test assesses episodic memory using a new paradigm hypothesized to avoid reliance on executive function, which may compensate for damaged memory networks. Read More

Br J Ophthalmol 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Background/aims: It remains unclear whether the presence of optic disc haemorrhages (ODH) or cotton wool spots (CWS) at presentation in patients with papilloedema from idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has prognostic value. The aim of this study was to determine if optic disc appearance at presentation predicts visual outcome in patients with IIH.

Methods: Retrospective study of 708 eyes of 360 consecutive patients with IIH who had baseline optic disc photographs before or within 30 days of their diagnostic lumbar puncture and initiation of medical treatment. Read More

Nanomedicine 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Pediatric Neuromuscular Laboratory, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel; Felsenstein Medical Research Center (FMRC), Schneider Children's Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. Electronic address:

Glucocorticosteroids are the most efficacious anti-inflammatory agents and the gold standard treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, their chronic use may lead to severe side effects. We evaluated the use of a novel injectable steroidal nano-drug in mdx mouse model of DMD by comparing the efficacy of nano-liposomes remotely loaded with the steroid prodrug, methylprednisolone hemisuccinate (MPS) with the same steroid as-is, in short (4-weeks) and long-term (58-weeks) treatments. Read More

Spine J 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics.

Background Context: Exposure of unintended levels (defined as a spinal segment outside the intended surgical levels) is unnecessary and potentially adds to operative time and patient morbidity. Wrong-level surgery (defined as decompression, instrumentation, or fusion of a spinal segment not part of the intended surgical procedure) clearly adds to morbidity as well as putting the surgeon at medicolegal risk.

Purpose: To describe a localization technique for posterior lumbar spine surgery to minimize both unintended-level exposure and wrong-level surgery. Read More

Spine J 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.

Background And Context: The lumbar paraspinal muscles, including the erector spinae and multifidus, play an important role in movement and control of the spine. However, our understanding of their contribution to low back pain and disability is unclear. Systematic reviews have reported conflicting evidence for an association between paraspinal muscle size and low back pain, and a paucity of data examining muscle cross-sectional area and low back disability. Read More