Variation of demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with pediatric traumatic brain injury: a geospatial analysis.

Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among children in the United States, with nearly a half million pediatric TBI-related emergency visits annually. The authors aimed to investigate geospatial disparities in pediatric TBI across ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and to assess the association of neighborhood sociodemographic factors with pediatric TBI incidence rate and outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the electronic medical records of pediatric patients treated at a level I pediatric trauma center between June 2016 and June 2023.

The Spinal Chordoma Patient Reported Outcome Survey (spCPROS): a patient-centered, disease-specific tool for assessing quality of life in spinal chordoma patients.

Purpose: Chordomas present most frequently in the lumbosacral spine. Spinal chordomas and treatment sequelae significantly affect quality of life (QOL) due to proximity of major neurovascular structures and the aggressive management required. However, since there are no validated instruments for this population, we aimed to develop a novel QOL metric for spinal chordoma patients.

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Importance: Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) represents the third most common stroke type with unique etiologies, risk factors, diagnostics, and treatments. Nevertheless, epidemiological studies often cluster SAH with other stroke types leaving its distinct burden estimates obscure.

Objective: To estimate the worldwide burden of SAH.

Exploring perspectives on skull base chordoma management: a modified Delphi approach to consensus.

Objective: Current treatment for skull base chordomas utilizes both surgical resection and adjuvant radiation, but recent studies have demonstrated evidence that has brought the use of adjuvant radiotherapy into question. Chordomas differ greatly in molecular makeup and proliferation. These factors have led to significant variation in management across providers.

Pediatric traumatic brain injury: precision risk assessment models and an online calculator for enhanced patient care.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health challenge demanding extensive medical resources. Accurate, individualized risk assessments for extended length of stay (LOS), non-routine discharge, ICU/OR transfers, and direct ED discharges are crucial for optimizing patient care, prompting the authors to develop a reliable risk stratification tool to support clinicians and multidisciplinary care teams.

Methods: A retrospective review of electronic health records was conducted to identify pediatric TBI cases (age ≤18) using ICD-10 codes based on the modified CDC framework.

Adverse outcomes in child abuse: a 7-year analysis of patients with traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Child abuse is a critical public health issue that profoundly affects pediatric health and well-being. Child abuse patients who have sustained traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) present with a unique subset of injuries with complex medical and social implications. This study aims to explore the socioeconomic disparities, injury characteristics, and outcomes in child abuse patients who have sustained TBIs.

Timing of pharmacological venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after firearm-related penetrating brain injury.

Objective: Mounting evidence supports early initiation of pharmacological venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis after traumatic brain injury. However, the effectiveness and safety of VTE prophylaxis after penetrating brain injury (PBI) is unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological VTE prophylaxis in patients with firearm-related PBI.

COVID-19's causal impact on child abuse and socioeconomic status: a Bayesian time series study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic intensified psychosocial stressors, potentially contributing to increased rates of child abuse. This study aimed to compare trends in child abuse/traumatic brain injury (TBI) admissions and socioeconomic status before and after the pandemic.

Methods: A 7-year retrospective study was conducted at a Level-1 Pediatric Trauma Center.

The skull base chordoma patient reported outcome survey (sbCPROS): a patient-centered, disease-specific tool for assessing quality of life in chordoma patients.

Purpose: Chordomas are rare malignant tumors arising from the embryological notochord that present most frequently in the lumbosacral spine, followed by the skull base, with an overall 1/1,000,000 incidence. These tumors and their treatment significantly affect quality of life (QOL) due to intricate anatomical locations and aggressive treatment regimens. Despite these challenges, there are currently no disease-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) surveys for chordomas.

Hospital frailty risk score predicts postoperative outcomes after endoscopic endonasal resection of non-functioning pituitary adenomas.

Purpose: Frailty indices are invaluable resources in risk stratification and predicting high-value care outcomes for neurosurgical patients. The Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) is a recently developed and validated method for evaluating frailty; however, its implementation has yet to be assessed in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas undergoing endoscopic endonasal resection. In this study, we aimed to evaluate HFRS's predictive ability for high-value care outcomes, namely postoperative complications, length of stay (LOS), and hospital charges, and to compare it to other traditionally used frailty indices.

Creating a predictive model and online calculator for high-value care outcomes following glioblastoma resection: incorporating neighborhood socioeconomic status index.

Purpose: Social determinants of health including neighborhood socioeconomic status, have been established to play a profound role in overall access to care and outcomes in numerous specialized disease entities. To provide glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients with high-quality care, it is crucial to identify predictors of hospital length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and access to postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation. In this study, we incorporate a novel neighborhood socioeconomic status index (NSES) and develop three predictive algorithms for assessing post-operative outcomes in GBM patients, offering a tool for preoperative risk stratification of GBM patients.

Artificial Intelligence in Radiology: What Is Its True Role at Present, and Where Is the Evidence?

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology has brought about substantial advancements and transformative potential in diagnostic imaging practices. This study presents an overview of the current research on the application of AI in radiology, highlighting key insights from recent studies and surveys. These recent studies have explored the expected impact of AI, encompassing machine learning and deep learning, on the work volume of diagnostic radiologists.

Evaluating the atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease risk score in patients with brain metastases: Associations with overall survival and high-value care outcomes.

Objective: Brain metastases (BM) constitute the most common intracranial tumor in adults. Prior literature indicates the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score is associated with increased risk of cancer, potentially attributable to shared risk factors. Understanding the role of ASCVD risk scores in BM may help optimize their care and inform clinical decision-making.

Promoting durable well-being among healthcare professionals via an interactive, online, wellness initiative.

Burnout is recognized as a negative contributor to well-being within healthcare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether participation in the Peace Education Program (PEP), a 10-week wellness course, promoted durable improvement of burnout and wellness in a large academic medical center. We deployed PEP virtually through a series of free, interactive, online wellness sessions focusing on 10 domains: peace, appreciation, inner strength, self-awareness, clarity, understanding, dignity, choice, hope, and contentment.

Hospital frailty risk score predicts high-value care outcomes following brain metastasis resection.

Objective: Brain metastases (BM) are the most common adult intracranial tumors, representing a significant source of morbidity in patients with systemic malignancy. Frailty indices, including 11- and 5-factor modified frailty indices (mFI-11 and mFI-5), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), have recently demonstrated an important role in predicting high-value care outcomes in neurosurgery. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of the newly developed Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) on postoperative outcomes in BM patients.

Clinical Predictors of Overall Survival in Very Elderly Patients With Glioblastoma: A National Cancer Database Multivariable Analysis.

Background And Objectives: Surgery for the very elderly is a progressively important paradigm as life expectancy continues to rise. Patients with glioblastoma multiforme often undergo surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy (CT) to prolong overall survival (OS). However, the efficacy of these treatment modalities in patients aged 80 years and older has yet to be fully assessed in the literature.

Fractionated radiotherapy after gross-total resection of spinal chordoma: a systematic review of survival outcomes using individualized patient data.

Objective: Spinal chordoma treatment guidelines recommend resection. However, in patients in whom gross-total resection (GTR) is achieved, the benefits of radiation therapy (RT) are unclear. Therefore, the authors performed a systematic review to determine if RT is associated with postoperative progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) after achieving GTR of spinal chordoma.

Synthesis of 6-Chromeno[4,3-]quinolin-7-ylphosphonates through Three Component Phosphonylation of Coumarin Carbaldehyde and Their Antimicrobial and Photophysical Properties.

Organophosphorylated coumarin derivatives were synthesized by a three-component reaction of 4-chloro-3-formylcoumarin, aromatic amines, and dialkyl phosphite in the presence of ZnCl. This process includes the formation of C(sp)-P and C(sp)-N bonds in one pot. The modular scope of the reaction allowed rapid access to a variety of 6-chromeno[4,3-]quinolin-7-ylphosphonate derivatives in good yields.

Availability and utilization of molecular testing for primary central nervous system tumors among US hospitals.

Advanced molecular testing has increasingly become an integral component for accurate diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. We sought to establish the current state of molecular testing availability and approaches for the diagnosis of CNS tumors in US hospitals that conduct high volumes of CNS tumor resections. We distributed a 16-item survey inquiring about molecular testing approaches for CNS tumors to 115 neuropathologists at US hospitals with neurosurgery residency programs.

The Socioeconomic Distressed Communities Index Predicts 90-Day Mortality Among Intracranial Tumor Patients.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a major determinant of quality of life and outcomes. However, SES remains difficult to measure comprehensively. Distress communities index (DCI), a composite of 7 socioeconomic factors, has been increasingly recognized for its correlation with poor outcomes.