Does Back Pain Improve Following Lumbar Decompression Alone?

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of a prospectively collected database at an academic institution.

Objective: (1) Evaluate if low back pain (LBP) improves following decompression for neurogenic claudication or radiculopathy, (2) use the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) methodology to identify preoperative predictors for improvement in LBP, and (3) develop a pilot nomogram to guide clinical planning and postoperative expectations.

Summary Of Background Data: LBP is a common complaint for patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease.

The role of hypercoagulability in ischemic stroke associated with blunt cerebrovascular injury.

Background: Stroke is an infrequent, but potentially devastating outcome that can occur after blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI). Assessing coagulation status may allow for more precise risk stratification for initiation of antithrombotic therapy. We sought to evaluate the influence of hypercoagulable state via coagulation profile, including thromboelastography (TEG) and coagulation studies, on ischemic stroke incidence following BCVI.

Multiple Long-Term Conditions, Co-Long-Term Conditions and Polyvascular Disease: Considerations for Evidence Synthesis and Meta-Analyses.

Cochrane's scientific strategy for 2025 to 2030 has four research priorities, including improving the lives of people living with multiple chronic conditions. The purpose of this article written by the Cochrane Thematic Group in Heart, Stroke and Circulation is to explore considerations around multiple chronic conditions (also referred to as 'multiple long-term conditions' i.e.

Ureteral Occlusion: Device Strategies, Approaches, and Results.

Genitourinary tract injuries can occur in the urinary tract or reproductive system as a result of trauma-related pelvic fractures, iatrogenic lacerations or ligations, and radiation therapy for reproductive or digestive malignancies. Although surgical reintervention is possible for large urinary tract injuries, a key component for healing smaller injuries is the ability to divert urine from the injury site to prevent urine-wound contact. This enables the injury to heal prior to reintervention and can eliminate the need for a secondary procedure, reducing the potential for complications.

The PARP inhibitor talazoparib synergizes with reovirus to induce cancer killing and tumour control in vivo in mouse models.

Reovirus type 3 Dearing (RT3D) is an oncolytic, double-stranded RNA virus. To identify potential RT3D drug-viral sensitizer, here we use a high-throughput screen of therapeutic agents and find a PARP-1 inhibitor, talazoparib, as a top hit. RT3D interacts with retinoic acid-induced gene-1 (RIG-I) and activates PARP-1, with consequent PARylation of components of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway.

Palbociclib and dsRNA sensor co-operate to enhance anti-cancer effects through ER stress and modulation of immune evasion.

Cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptors (PRR) for double-stranded RNA, such as RIG-I/MDA5, are key mediators of anti-viral responses. Here we screen for synergistic drug-virotherapy combinations and find that the reovirus type III Dearing strain (Rt3D)-palbociclib combination augments oncolytic virus-induced stress responses and increases interferon production and signaling. Data from RIG-I agonist and ER stress-inducing agents further confirms the crosstalk between RNA-sensing and ER stress in inducing cancer cell death and interferon production.

Duration of symptoms before diagnosis in degenerative cervical myelopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), the commonest cause of spinal cord injury, can lead to progressive disability. Due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions and low awareness among healthcare professionals, many patients experience delayed diagnosis.

Research Question: What is the typical duration of symptoms of DCM before diagnosis?

Materials And Methods: We searched multiple databases for primary studies reporting duration of symptoms in people with confirmed diagnosis of DCM.

Ultralow Overpotential in Rechargeable Li-CO Batteries Enabled by Caesium Phosphomolybdate as an Effective Redox Catalyst.

Rechargeable lithium-CO batteries are emerging as attractive energy storage devices due to their potential for high capacity and efficient CO reduction, making them promising candidates for post-lithium-ion batteries with high energy densities. However, their practical applications have been restricted by low reversibility, poor cycle life, and sluggish redox kinetics induced by the high potential required for decomposing the discharge product LiCO. Despite the various cathode catalysts explored, their application is often limited by availability, high cost, and complexity of synthesis.

International Expert Consensus on Development of a State of the Art Male Perineal Anatomy Simulation Model for Urethroplasty and Artificial Urinary Sphincter Insertion.

Objective: To create a high-fidelity, non-biohazardous, simulation model to train for urethroplasty or placement of artificial urinary sphincters (AUS) in the bulbar urethra. Narrow, deep and dark: the male perineum is a technically difficult area for learners to gain surgical skills and confidence.

Methods: Nineteen high volume reconstructive urologists were recruited to complete a Delphi process to reach an expert consensus on parameters and design specifications for simulation.

Blood pressure lowering efficacy of dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GIP/GLP-1) receptor agonists compared to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To compare the blood pressure effects of dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GIP/GLP-1) receptor agonists with the blood pressure effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.

Pd(μ-L)Pt Pd(μ-L)RuCl: chlorido ancillary ligands as defining factors in the host-guest interactions of M(μ-L)M' heterodimetallic supramolecular architectures.

In supramolecular architectures, the interactions between host and guest molecules are governed by non-covalent forces such as hydrogen (H) bonding, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. We alter here the cavity microenvironment to control the interactions between guest and host molecules and study the effects of introducing axial chlorido ligands through the use of an octahedral building block in M(μ-L)M' architectures. We prepared the heterodimetallic Pd(μ-L)Pt C and Pd(μ-L)RuClC architectures and demonstrated the role of 'classic' non-covalent forces in their host-guest chemistry with anionic and neutral molecules, while the cages also underwent disassembly and reassembly upon addition of external stimuli.

A scoping review of the methods used to estimate health facility catchment populations for child health indicators in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Evidence indicating persistent geographic inequalities in health outcomes signifies a need for routine subnational monitoring of health-related Sustainable Development Goal targets in sub-Saharan Africa. Health facilities may be an appropriate subnational unit for monitoring purposes, but a lack of suitable demographic data complicates the production of baseline facility-level population denominators against which progress can be reliably measured. This scoping review aimed to map the methods and data sources used to estimate health facility catchment areas and translate them to population denominators for child health indicators in the region.

Effect of amphetamines on blood pressure.

Background: Daily ingestion of amphetamines is common, as they are widely prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other diagnoses. People also use amphetamines recreationally or in an attempt to boost cognitive or athletic performance. Amphetamines have the potential to increase blood pressure, and we do not know if the long-term benefits of daily amphetamine use outweigh the potential harms.

Effect of adrenergic agonist oral decongestants on blood pressure.

Background: Adrenergic agonist oral decongestants are commonly taken daily over long periods of time to relieve sinus and nasal congestion. The mechanism of action of decongestants potentially increases blood pressure, and these effects may be acute or chronic. However, no systematic reviews to date have comprehensively assessed the chronic blood pressure effects of adrenergic agonist oral decongestants as a drug class, despite their widespread non-prescription availability.

Investigating the measles susceptibility gap in Ontario infants.

Background: Prior to receiving their first dose of measles-containing vaccine, infants may be protected against infection either via antibodies obtained transplacentally from their mothers or by herd immunity. However, there is evidence that transplacental protection may wane well-before the age of first measles vaccination.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of infants <12 months of age at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Ontario, and their mothers.

Detection of human unannotated microproteins by mass spectrometry-based proteomics: a community assessment.

Thousands of short open reading frames (sORFs) are translated outside of annotated coding sequences. Recent studies have pioneered searching for sORF-encoded microproteins in mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics and peptidomics datasets. Here, we assessed literature-reported MS-based identifications of unannotated human proteins.

Renin inhibitors versus angiotensin receptor blockers for primary hypertension.

Background: Renin inhibitors, which inhibit the first and rate-limiting step in the renin angiotensin system (RAS), are thought to be more effective than other RAS inhibitors in blocking the RAS. Previous meta-analyses have shown that renin inhibitors have a favourable tolerability profile in people with mild-to-moderate hypertension and a blood-pressure-lowering magnitude that is similar to that of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). ARBs inhibit the RAS by interfering with the binding of angiotensin II with its receptors.

Preoperative Emergency Department Usage is a Sentinel Marker of Worsened Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Outcome.

Background: Utilization of the emergency department (ED) is associated with medical and social comorbidities. These factors may also be associated with medical complications after complex surgeries. This study investigated how preoperative ED use increases risk of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) complications.

A Comparison of Decompression Size and Craniectomy Speed of Reverse Question Mark Versus Retroauricular Incisions for Decompressive Hemicraniectomy: A Cadaver Study.

Background And Objectives: Decompressive hemicraniectomy is a common emergent surgery for patients with stroke, hemorrhage, or trauma. The typical incision is a reverse question mark (RQM); however, a retroauricular (RA) incision has been proposed as an alternative. The widespread adoption ofthe RA incision has been slowed by lack of familiarity and concerns over decompression efficacy.

Horst Oertel and the Russell Sage Institute of Pathology: Impacts on vital statistics and the origins of the short-lived heyday of autopsies in America.

Horst Oertel was an early 20th century pathologist who began his career as an instructor of clinical pathology at the New York University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1899. In 1903, he was appointed pathologist for City Hospital, an institution for indigent patients on New York City's Blackwell's Island. In 1907, Oertel became the first director of the Russell Sage Institute of Pathology, a unique new blended public-private entity based at City Hospital, that was named after a wealthy benefactor.

Laparoscopic Management of Small Bowel Obstruction Caused by an Adhesive Internal Hernia Following Open Appendicectomy: A Case Report.

Acute intestinal obstruction (AIO) is one of the most common emergency surgical presentations, with small bowel obstruction (SBO) accounting for the majority of cases. Here, we present a case of a 68-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency department with signs and symptoms of SBO. Her medical history was unremarkable except for an open appendectomy performed in her 20s.