Adverse Childhood Experiences and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: ACEs in ACHD.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked with poor physical and psychosocial health outcomes in adulthood, including cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between ACEs and cardiovascular outcomes in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD).

Methods: Outpatients with ACHD completed surveys including medical/psychosocial history, ACEs (range, 0-10), linear quality of life score (QoL, range, 0-100), and NYHA functional class (NYHA FC).

Gabapentinoids confer survival benefit in human glioblastoma.

Neuronal-glioma interactions are increasingly recognized as critical in the development and progression of central nervous system tumors. Recent research highlights that gliomas can integrate into neural circuits through various mechanisms, including the synaptogenic factor thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). This new mechanistic understanding of cancer neuroscience allows for novel insights into target discovery.

Evaluation of bony fusion after anterior cervical discectomy: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Significant variability exists in reported fusion rates in the cervical spine after anterior discectomy. Here we review fusion assessment methods, timing of fusion with various intervertebral devices, and examine correlations with clinical outcomes. PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Emcare were searched on December 9 2024 for studies involving 1- or 2-level anterior cervical discectomy with quantitative fusion assessment via CT or X-ray.

Prolonged glucocorticoid use and rheumatoid arthritis-associated cervical spine deformity.

Objectives: RA patients are often prescribed glucocorticoids, although it is known that their long-term use increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. The association between glucocorticoid use and RA-associated cervical spine deformity is yet to be determined.

Method: Duration and dose of glucocorticoid use were evaluated in patients with new onset RA (BeSt Trial).

Safety of non-osseous union of type II odontoid fractures-a multi-institutional cohort study.

Background Context: The management of type II odontoid fractures in elderly patients presents significant clinical challenges. Surgical treatment may lead to operative complications, while conservative management may increase the risk of non-osseous union, potentially compromising fracture stability.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the safety of non-osseous union subtypes in type II odontoid fractures following conservative treatment and to identify risk factors for unstable fractures.

Infliximab use and cervical spine deformity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Over the past decades, the incidence of surgery for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated cervical spine deformity decreased. Infliximab has been observed as a protective treatment for joint damage in hands and feet; yet, the protective association between infliximab and the cervical spine has been uncertain.

Methods: Duration of infliximab use during 10 years of follow-up was evaluated in patients with new-onset RA (case control study using data from the BeSt Trial).

Prevalence and natural development of thoracolumbar kyphosis in achondroplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK) is a frequently reported spinal deformity in achondroplasia, which in combination with the characteristic narrow spinal canal in achondroplasia predisposes for symptomatic spinal stenosis. There is however no consensus on the optimal treatment, due to limited data on diagnostic criteria, the natural development and the prevalence of TLK.

Research Question: This study aims to assess the prevalence, natural development, and diagnostic criteria for pathological TLK in individuals with achondroplasia.

Predictors of biochemical remission after transsphenoidal surgery in a large cohort of acromegaly patients.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical characteristics and factors predictive of biochemical remission in patients with symptomatic acromegaly undergoing transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) at an academic tertiary care center, as defined by the 2022 Acromegaly Consensus Conference guidelines.

Methods: In this single institution, longitudinal, retrospective study, a large cohort of 158 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of acromegaly undergoing surgery at a large, academic, tertiary care center were examined. We excluded 38 patients as IGF-1 testing was performed less than 12 weeks postoperatively.

Complications of Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) is an established treatment option for chronic subdural hematoma. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to establish estimates of the pooled incidence for complications following MMAE.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for studies reporting complications following MMAE through January 2023.

Practical and statistical aspects of subgroup analyses in surgical neuro-oncology: A comprehensive review from the PIONEER consortium.

Subgroup analyses are essential to generate new hypotheses or to estimate treatment effects in clinically meaningful subgroups of patients. They play an important role in taking the next step toward personalized surgical treatment for brain tumor patients. However, subgroup analyses must be used with consideration and care because they have significant potential risks.

Alcohol consumption in relation to cognitive dysfunction and dementia: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of comparative longitudinal studies.

Background: Alcohol use is associated with a wide spectrum of neurological disorders, including cognitive dysfunction and dementia. Likewise, the high prevalence of cognitive dysfunction and dementia specifies the urgent need to identify modifiable risk factors. Because findings on alcohol and cognitive dysfunction and dementia have been inconsistent, the present dose-response meta-analysis of cohort and case control studies was conducted to evaluate the available evidence.

Assessing accuracy of measurement methods for bony fusion assessment after anterior cervical discectomy.

Background Context: Currently, there is no universally accepted method for assessing radiological fusion shortly after anterior cervical discectomy. Five-year follow-up radiological X-rays demonstrating solid fusion or absence of fusion provided a gold standard for comparison with various assessment methods.

Purpose: Establishing the most accurate diagnostic test for earlier bony fusion assessment by comparing different cut-off values for the difference in interspinous distance and the change in Cobb angle on dynamic radiological images against the established gold standard.

Dural Venous Sinus Thrombosis After Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery: Should We Anticoagulate?

Background: The incidence of dural venous sinus thrombosis (DVST) following vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery remains understudied. The diverse clinical presentation complicates forming anticoagulation treatment guidelines. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the incidence of DVST post-VS surgery and to evaluate the role of anticoagulation.

Evaluation of Financial Interventions in Breast Cancer Care Worldwide: A Systematic Review.

Background: Out-of-pocket costs are burdensome for breast cancer patients. Cost-reducing interventions, though implemented, have unclear comparative efficacy. This study aimed to critically evaluate characteristics of successful versus unsuccessful interventions designed to decrease out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer patients.

Changes in inpatient brain arteriovenous malformation management in the United States following the ARUBA trial: analysis of an interrupted time series design.

The November 2013 online publication of ARUBA, the first multi-institutional randomized controlled trial for unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), has sparked over 100 publications in protracted debates METHODS: This study sought to examine inpatient management patterns of brain AVMs from 2009 to 2016 and observe if changes in U.S. inpatient management were attributable to the ARUBA publication using interrupted time series of brain AVM studies from the National Inpatient Sample data 2009-2016.

Dexamethasone and overall survival and progression free survival in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: Glioblastomas, the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults, still hold poor prognosis. Corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, are usually prescribed to reduce peritumoral edema and limit neurological symptoms, although potential detrimental effects of these drugs have been described. The present meta-analysis aimed to explore the association of dexamethasone with overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Brief report on the efficacy of sotorasib in KRAS-Mutated NSCLC patients with brain metastases.

Introduction: Sotorasib has emerged as a treatment option for patients with KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, its effect in patients with brain metastases is not well described. We assessed the intracranial response of sotorasib in a retrospective case series of patients with brain metastases (BMs) at a single institution.

Methods: Patients with KRAS-mutated NSCLC with BMs who received sotorasib at Mass General Brigham Hospitals were included.

Does the Association Between Psychosocial Factors and Opioid Use After Elective Spine Surgery Differ by Sex in Older Adults?

Purpose: Psychosocial disorders have been linked to chronic postoperative opioid use and the development of postoperative pain. The potential interaction between sex and psychosocial factors with respect to opioid use after elective spine surgery in the elderly has not yet been evaluated. Our aim was to assess whether any observed association of anxiety or depression indicators with opioid consumption in the first 72 hours after elective spine surgery varies by sex in adults ≥65 years.

A comparison of the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive surgery versus open surgery in treating cauda equina syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open surgery (OS) in treating cauda equina syndrome (CES).

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted, searching relevant databases for studies investigating MIS and/or OS in treating CES. Pooled outcomes and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were meta-analyzed via random-effects models.

Traditional Machine Learning Methods versus Deep Learning for Meningioma Classification, Grading, Outcome Prediction, and Segmentation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors. Machine learning (ML) algorithms are emerging to improve accuracy in 4 primary domains: classification, grading, outcome prediction, and segmentation. Such algorithms include both traditional approaches that rely on hand-crafted features and deep learning (DL) techniques that utilize automatic feature extraction.

The optimal treatment of type II and III odontoid fractures in the elderly: an updated meta-analysis.

Purpose: Odontoid fractures are the most common cervical spine fractures in the elderly, with a controversial optimal treatment. The objective of this review was to compare the outcome of surgical and conservative treatments in elderly (≥ 65 years), by updating a systematic review published by the authors in 2013.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in seven databases.