Near infrared imaging system for preventing blood vision obstruction in endoscopy.

Spinal endoscopy procedure is commonly used in the diagnosis and treatment of various health problems and is effective. Bleeding is one of the most common complications of spinal endoscopy procedures. Blood vision obstruction (BVO), that is, obstruction of the endoscopic camera lens caused by the accumulation of blood in the surgical field, is a serious problem in endoscopic procedures. This study presents what we believe to be a new approach to addressing BVO with external multispectral imaging. The study was completed using a BVO simulation model, and the results reveal that this technology can be used to effectively overcome BVO and provide clear images of the anatomy, enabling more effective diagnosis and treatment. This technique may enable improvement of the outcomes of endoscopic procedures and could have far-reaching implications in the field of endoscopy.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Traditional Chinese version of the Core Outcome Measures Index in patients with low back pain.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to carry out a cross-cultural adaptation of the Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) for use in Traditional Chinese-speaking patients with low back pain (LBP) and to investigate its psychometric properties. METHODS: A total of 224 patients with LBP > 6 weeks who visited our spine center from May 2018 to May 2019 were included in the study. Patients completed a booklet of questionnaires including the following: (1) pain Numeric Rating Scale, (2) Oswestry Disability Index, (3) Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, (4) EuroQol-five dimension (EQ-5D), and (5) COMI. Patients were sent a second booklet (also containing a transition question to indicate any change in condition) to be completed again within one month after the first. Fifty-two patients did not receive any intervening treatment (group 1), while the other 172 patients received medical treatment (group 2) between the two questionnaires. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the COMI summary score was 0.94 (95% CI 0.89-0.97); the standard error of measurement (SEM) was 0.41 and the minimum detectable change (MDC) score was 1.14. The COMI summary scores showed a low floor effect (1.8%) and ceiling effect (0.4%). All COMI item scores demonstrated the hypothesized correlations with their corresponding full-length questionnaires except for the pain item (correlation stronger than hypothesized). Standardized response means (SRM) for the COMI items in the treated group were between 0.58 and 1.30. Regarding the ability of the COMI change score to differentiate between good and poor outcomes, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was 0.77 [standard error (SE) 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-0.84] and the minimal clinically important change (MCIC) score was ≥ 1.85 points. CONCLUSION: The Traditional Chinese COMI represents a practical and reliable tool for the assessment of Traditional Chinese-speaking patients with back problems.

Anaerobic spondylodiscitis: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with anaerobic spondylodiscitis. METHODS: From a total of 382 patients with infectious spondylodiscitis, nine patients (2.4%; two male and seven female with an average age of 67 years) with anaerobic spondylodiscitis between March 2003 and March 2017 were analyzed. RESULTS: Most of the patients (77.8%) initially presented with afebrile back pain. Hematogenous spread occurred in seven patients and postoperative infection in two patients. Bacteroid fragilis was the most common pathogen isolated from three patients. Atypical radiographic characteristics, including a vertebral fracture with the preservation of disk height or coexisting spondylolytic spondylolisthesis, occurred in four patients with hematogenous anaerobic spondylodiscitis. The eradication rate of anaerobic infection was significantly higher in the patients with hematogenous infection than in those with postoperative infection (100% vs. 0%, p = 0.0476). Anaerobic spondylodiscitis accounted for 2.4% of cases of infectious spondylodiscitis and predominantly affected the female patients. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic delay may occur because of atypical spinal radiographs if the patient reports only back pain but no fever. Anaerobic infection following elective spinal instrumentation has a higher recurrence rate.

Functional outcomes of full-endoscopic spine surgery for high-grade migrated lumbar disc herniation: a prospective registry-based cohort study with more than 5 years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) is an alternative to posterior open surgery to treat a high-grade migrated herniated disc. However, because of the complexity of the surgery, success is dependent on the surgeon's skill. Therefore, patients are frequently treated using open discectomy. Anatomical constraints and technical difficulties can lead to the incomplete removal of high-grade migrated discs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who had undergone FELD performed by a single surgeon between January 2010 and January 2014 from a prospective spine registry in an institute. Perioperative records and data of the Oswestry Disability Index, visual analog scale scores (preoperatively and 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years after the operation), and MacNab criteria were collected. RESULTS: Of 58 patients with a follow-up duration of > 5 years, (41 and 17 patients had undergone transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy [TELD] and interlaminar endoscopic lumbar discectomy [IELD], respectively), the satisfaction rate was 87.8% (five unsatisfactory cases) for TELD and 100% for IELD. The overall percentage of patients with good to excellent results according to modified MacNab criteria was 91.3% (53/58 patients). Two patients had residual discs. Two patients needed an open discectomy due to recurrent disc herniation. One IELD patient received spinal fusion surgery due to segmental instability after 5 years. CONCLUSION: FELD has a high success rate for the management of high-grade migrated herniated discs. In patients with high-grade disc migration from L1 to L5, TELD is effective and safe. However, for L4-L5 and L5-S1 high-grade upward and downward disc migration, IELD is the favorable option and provides high patient satisfaction.

Novel Insights into the Pathogenesis of Spinal Sarcopenia and Related Therapeutic Approaches: A Narrative Review.

Spinal sarcopenia is a complex and multifactorial disorder associated with a loss of strength, increased frailty, and increased risks of fractures and falls. In addition, spinal sarcopenia has been associated with lumbar spine disorders and osteoporosis, which renders making decisions on treatment modalities difficult. Patients with spinal sarcopenia typically exhibit lower cumulative survival, a higher risk of in-hospital complications, prolonged hospital stays, higher postoperative costs, and higher rates of blood transfusion after thoracolumbar spine surgery. Several studies have focused on the relationships between spinal sarcopenia, appendicular muscle mass, and bone-related problems-such as osteoporotic fractures and low bone mineral density-and malnutrition and vitamin D deficiency. Although several techniques are available for measuring sarcopenia, each of them has its advantages and shortcomings. For treating spinal sarcopenia, nutrition, physical therapy, and medication have been proven to be effective; regenerative therapeutic options seem to be promising owing to their repair and regeneration potential. Therefore, in this narrative review, we summarize the characteristics, detection methodologies, and treatment options for spinal sarcopenia, as well as its role in spinal disorders.

Risk factors of synchronous multifocal necrotizing fasciitis: a case control study in comparison with monofocal necrotizing fasciitis in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Monofocal necrotizing fasciitis (MONF) involves a single site in a rapidly progressing infection and necrosis of the fascia and surrounding soft tissue. Synchronous multifocal necrotizing fasciitis (SMNF), the simultaneous development of NF in multiple noncontiguous sites, is rarely reported. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes between patients with SMNF and MONF, and to determine the risk factors of SMNF. METHODS: Our retrospective case-control study compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes, between January 2006 and January 2013, of patients with SMNF and of patients with MONF of the extremities. RESULTS: We enrolled 144 patients with NF of the extremities: 19 with SMNF and 125 with MONF. The duration of symptoms before admission was significantly shorter for the former than for the latter (1.7 days vs. 3.3 days, p = 0.001); the prevalence of shock at the initial visit significantly higher (73.7% vs. 36%, p = 0.002); and the total-case postoperative mortality rate significantly higher (68.4% vs. 14.4%, p <  0.001). In further analysis of the total-case mortality, 9 in 13 SMNF deaths (69.2%) within 7 days after fasciotomy were in the majority while 13 with 28-day mortality (72.2%) was the majority of MONF deaths (p <  0.001). SMNF was significantly more likely to involve bacteremia (89.5% vs. 36%, p <  0.001). Independent risk factors for SMNF were liver cirrhosis (LC) (odds ratio [OR] 6.0, p = 0.001) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (OR 7.1, p = 0.035). Gram-negative bacteria were most common in SMNF, and Gram-positive bacteria in MONF (83.3% vs. 53.3%, p = 0.005). Vibrio species were the most common single microbial cause (35.4%) of all NF patients and were the overwhelming cause (73.7%) of SMNF. Staphylococcus aureus and group A ß-hemolytic streptococcus (45.6%) were the other predominant causes of MONF while both (10.5%) rarely caused multifocal NF. CONCLUSIONS: SMNF was more fulminant than was MONF. SMNF was attributable primarily to marine Gram-negative bacteria. Physicians should be aware of SMNF because of its extremely high mortality rate.

MLN4924, a Protein Neddylation Inhibitor, Suppresses the Growth of Human Chondrosarcoma through Inhibiting Cell Proliferation and Inducing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Apoptosis.

Chondrosarcoma, a heterogeneous malignant bone tumor, commonly produces cartilage matrix, which generally has no response to conventional therapies. Studies have reported that MLN4924, a NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor, achieves antitumor effects against numerous malignancies. In this study, the suppressive effects of MLN4924 on human chondrosarcoma cell lines were investigated using in vitro and in vivo assays, which involved measuring cell viability, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, proliferation, cell cycles, molecule-associated cell cycles, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Our results demonstrated that MLN4924 significantly suppressed cell viability, exhibited cytotoxicity, and stimulated apoptosis through the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-7 in chondrosarcoma cell lines. Furthermore, MLN4924 significantly inhibited cell proliferation by diminishing the phosphorylation of histone H3 to cause G2/M cell cycle arrest. In addition, MLN4924 activated ER stress⁻related apoptosis by upregulating the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), enhancing the expression of GRP78 and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP, an inducer of endoplasmic ER stress⁻related apoptosis) and activating the cleavage of caspase-4. Moreover, MLN4924 considerably inhibited the growth of chondrosarcoma tumors in a xenograft mouse model. Finally, MLN4924-mediated antichondrosarcoma properties can be accompanied by the stimulation of ER stress⁻related apoptosis, implying that targeting neddylation by MLN4924 is a novel therapeutic strategy for treating chondrosarcoma.

Synchronous multifocal necrotizing fasciitis prognostic factors: a retrospective case series study in a single center.

PURPOSE: No reports have been published on synchronous multifocal necrotizing fasciitis (SMNF), a multifocal presence of necrotizing fasciitis in different extremities. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of SMNF. METHODS: Eighteen patients (14 men, 4 women; mean age: 59 years) diagnosed with SMNF of the extremities between January 2004 to December 2012 were enrolled and evaluated. RESULTS: Vibrio species were the most commonly (78%; n = 14) isolated; others were two cases (11%) of Aeromonas spp., one case (6%) of group A ß-hemolytic streptococcus, and one case of coagulase-negative staphylococcus. SMNF was in the bilateral lower limbs (72%; n = 13), bilateral upper limbs (17%; n = 3), and one patient with one upper and one lower limb (11%). Non-surviving patients had more bilateral lower limb involvement and thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with SMNF were male and had bilateral lower limb and marine Gram-negative bacteria involvement. The mortality of SMNF remained extremely high in patients with involvement of bilateral lower limb and initial thrombocytopenia.

Comparison of gram-negative and gram-positive hematogenous pyogenic spondylodiscitis: clinical characteristics and outcomes of treatment.

BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, no study has compared gram-negative bacillary hematogenous pyogenic spondylodiscitis (GNB-HPS) with gram-positive coccal hematogenous pyogenic spondylodiscitis (GPC-HPS) regarding their clinical characteristics and outcomes. METHODS: From January 2003 to January 2013, 54 patients who underwent combined antibiotic and surgical therapy in the treatment of hematogenous pyogenic spondylodiscitis were included. RESULTS: Compared with 37 GPC-HPS patients, the 17 GNB-HPS patients were more often found to be older individuals, a history of cancer, and a previous history of symptomatic urinary tract infection. They also had a less incidence of epidural abscess formation compared with GPC-HPS patients from findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Constitutional symptoms were the primary reasons for initial physician visits in GNB-HPS patients whereas pain in the affected spinal region was the most common manifestation in GPC-HPS patients at initial visit. The clinical outcomes of GNB-HPS patients under combined surgical and antibiotic treatment were not different from those of GPC-HPS patients. In multivariate analysis, independent predicting risk factors for GNB-HPS included a malignant history and constitutional symptoms and that for GPC-HPS was epidural abscess. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestations and MRI presentations of GNB-HPS were distinguishable from those of GPC-HPS.

The Influence of Alignment on Midterm Outcome after Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Marked Coronal Femoral Bowing.

Whether the mechanical axis should be restored to neutral remains controversial when the patient has marked coronal femoral bowing. Eighty-four total knee arthroplasties were retrospectively reviewed. In the neutral-aligned group A the immediate postoperative mechanical axis of 179 ± 1° held stable (P = 0.841). The postoperative mechanical axis decreased from 176 ± 1° to 173 ± 1° (P = 0.024) in the outlier group. Progressive varus in the outlier group at follow-up was probably due implant instability and ligament imbalance as well as excessive polyethylene wear. At a mean follow-up of 75.8 months, no statistically significant difference was detected between the two groups. Long-term follow up will be needed to determine if the maintenance in radiographic results translates to better clinical outcomes.

The elusive three-coordinate dicationic hydrido boron complex.

The formation of a hitherto unknown three-coordinate dicationic hydrido boron complex is described. Interestingly, supporting ligand carbodicarbene gave unprecedented reaction with BH3 without using more highly electrophilic Lewis acid precursors. Spectroscopic, crystallographic, and computational analysis was performed to understand the electronic features of these species.

Development and functional evaluation of a hyaluronic acid coated nano-formulation with kaempferol as a novel intra-articular agent for Knee Osteoarthritis treatment.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) involves articular cartilage degradation driven mainly by inflammation. Kaempferol (KM), known for its anti-inflammatory property, holds potential for OA treatment. This study investigated the potential of hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated gelatin nanoparticles loaded with KM (HA-KM GNP) for treating knee OA. KM was encapsulated into gelatin nanoparticles (KM GNP) and then coated with HA to form HA-KM GNPs. Physical properties were characterized, and biocompatibility and cellular uptake were assessed in rat chondrocytes. Anti-inflammatory and chondrogenic properties were evaluated using IL-1ß-stimulated rat chondrocytes, compared with HA-coated nanoparticles without KM (HA GNP) and KM alone. Preclinical efficacy was tested in an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)-induced knee OA rat model treated with intra-articular injection of HA-KM GNP. Results show spherical HA-KM GNPs (88.62 ± 3.90 nm) with positive surface charge. Encapsulation efficiency was 98.34 % with a sustained release rate of 18 % over 48 h. Non-toxic KM concentration was 2.5 µg/mL. In IL-1ß-stimulated OA rat chondrocytes, HA-KM GNP significantly down-regulated RNA expression of IL-1ß, TNF-α, COX-2, MMP-9, and MMP-13, while up-regulating SOX9 compared to HA GNP, and KM. In vivo imaging demonstrated significantly higher fluorescence intensity within rat knee joints for 3 hours post HA-KM GNP injection compared with KM GNP (185.2% ± 34.1% vs. 45.0% ± 16.7%). HA-KM GNP demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing subchondral sclerosis, attenuating inflammation, inhibiting matrix degradation, restoring cartilage thickness, and reducing the severity of OA in the ACLT rat model. In conclusion, HA-KM GNP holds promise for knee OA therapy.

Development of End-to-End Artificial Intelligence Models for Surgical Planning in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a commonly used technique for treating lumbar degenerative diseases. In this study, we developed a fully computer-supported pipeline to predict both the cage height and the degree of lumbar lordosis subtraction from the pelvic incidence (PI-LL) after TLIF surgery, utilizing preoperative X-ray images. The automated pipeline comprised two primary stages. First, the pretrained BiLuNet deep learning model was employed to extract essential features from X-ray images. Subsequently, five machine learning algorithms were trained using a five-fold cross-validation technique on a dataset of 311 patients to identify the optimal models to predict interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL. LASSO regression and support vector regression demonstrated superior performance in predicting interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL, respectively. For cage height prediction, the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated as 1.01, and the model achieved the highest accuracy at a height of 12 mm, with exact prediction achieved in 54.43% (43/79) of cases. In most of the remaining cases, the prediction error of the model was within 1 mm. Additionally, the model demonstrated satisfactory performance in predicting PI-LL, with an RMSE of 5.19 and an accuracy of 0.81 for PI-LL stratification. In conclusion, our results indicate that machine learning models can reliably predict interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL.

The role of cross sectional imaging in the management of acute pyogenic inguinal abscess - extrapelvic versus intrapelvic origin.

BACKGROUND: Abscesses involving the inguinal region as manifestations of complex soft-tissue infections are rare, and the infectious route is usually unclear. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the importance of imaging study and whether the clinical presentations differ between the extrapelvic and intrapelvic origin. METHODS: Patients who presented with inguinal abscess between January 2003 and December 2010 were evaluated retrospectively. All patients received broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and debridement. Imaging studies, including computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, were performed in all patients to elucidate the origin and extent of infectious disease, and the results were reviewed. Clinical data, laboratory examination findings, and culture results were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in the study: 13 patients whose infections were of extrapelvic origin (Group 1) and 15 patients of intrapelvic origin (Group 2). Imaging studies yielded information that helped guiding the treatment. Gram-positive coccus infection was more frequent in Group 1 (p < 0.001), while mixed pathogen and anaerobic bacterial infection were more frequent in Group 2 (p = 0.002 and p = 0.006, respectively). Group 2 had a higher incidence of history of malignancy and chronic renal failure (p = 0.044 and p = 0.038, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are helpful in diagnosing cases of inguinal abscess and determining the extent of infection. In patients presenting with acute pyogenic inguinal abscess, a higher prevalence of chronic renal failure and history of malignancy were found in those with an intrapelvic, as compared with an extrapelvic, origin of infection.

What is the success of treatment of hip and knee candidal periprosthetic joint infection?

BACKGROUND: Fungal infection at an arthroplasty site is rare and poses a therapeutic challenge. To the best of our knowledge, no reports have been published thus far on the success rate of prosthesis reimplantation after fungal prosthetic joint infections. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We asked: (1) What is the success rate in terms of infection eradication using a two-stage exchange arthroplasty in patients with hip or knee fungal periprosthetic joint infections, particularly focusing on Candida infections? (2) What patient-, infection-, and treatment-related variables are associated with the success or failure of treatment? METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2010, 16 patients with hip or knee candidal periprosthetic joint infections were treated with two-stage exchange arthroplasty at our institute. Treatment success was defined as a well-functioning joint without relapse of candidal infection after prosthesis reimplantation, while treatment failure was defined as uncontrolled or relapse of candidal infection or mortality. Variables, including age, sex, comorbidities, microbiology, antimicrobial agents used, and operative methods, were analyzed. Minimum followup was 28 months (mean, 41 months; range, 28-90 months). RESULTS: At latest followup, the treatment failed to eradicate the infection in eight of the 16 patients, and there were four deaths related to fungemia. Four patients required permanent resection arthroplasty owing to uncontrolled or recurrent candidal infections. All eight patients (50% successful rate) who had their infections eradicated and successful prosthesis reimplantation had prolonged treatment with oral fluconazole before (mean, 8 months) and after (mean, 2.2 months) prosthesis reimplantation. The antifungal therapy correlated with successful treatment. Renal insufficiency, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were significantly more prevalent in the treatment-failure group than in the treatment-success group. CONCLUSIONS: Half of the patients treated with two-stage exchange arthroplasty for fungal periprosthetic joint infections had recurrence or lack of control of the infection. A prolonged antifungal therapy appeared to be essential for successful treatment of candidal periprosthetic joint infections. The presence of renal insufficiency, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease might be associated with a poor outcome.

Comparing radiation exposure during percutaneous vertebroplasty using one- vs. two-fluoroscopic technique.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) requires relatively lengthy fluoroscopic guidance, which might lead to substantial radiation exposure to patients or operators. The two-fluoroscopic technique (two-plane radiographs obtained using two fluoroscopes) during PV can provide simultaneous two-planar projections with reducing operative time. However, the two-fluoroscopic technique may expose the operator or patient to increased radiation dose. The aim of this study was to quantify the amount of radiation exposure to the patient or operator that occurs during PV using one- vs. two-fluoroscopic technique. METHODS: Two radiation dosimeters were placed on the right flank of each patient and on the upper sternum of each operator during 26 single-level PV procedures by one senior surgeon. The use of two-fluoroscopic technique (13 patients) and one-fluoroscopic technique (13 patients) were allocated in a consecutive and alternative manner. The operative time and mean radiation dose to each patient and operator were monitored and compared between groups. RESULTS: Mean radiation dose to the patient was 1.97±1.20 mSv (95% CI, 0.71 to 3.23) for the one-fluoroscopic technique group vs. 0.95±0.34 mSv (95% CI, 0.85 to 1.23) for the two-fluoroscopic technique group (P=0.031). Mean radiation dose to the operator was 0.27±0.12 mSv (95% CI, 0.17-0.56) for the one-fluoroscopic technique group vs. 0.25±0.14 mSv (95% CI, 0.06-0.44) for the two-fluoroscopic technique group (P=0.653). The operative time was significantly different between groups: 47.15±13.48 min (range, 20-75) for the one-fluoroscopic technique group vs. 36.62±8.42 min (range, 21-50) for the two-fluoroscopic technique group (P=0.019). CONCLUSION: Compared to the one-fluoroscopic technique, the two-fluoroscopic technique used during PV provides not only shorter operative times but also reduces the radiation exposure to the patient. There was no significant difference between the two techniques with regards to radiation exposure to the operator.

Ethnic Differences in Western and Asian Sacroiliac Joint Anatomy for Surgical Planning of Minimally Invasive Sacroiliac Joint Fusion.

Pain originating in the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a contributor to chronic lower back pain. Studies on minimally invasive SIJ fusion for chronic pain have been performed in Western populations. Given the shorter stature of Asian populations compared with Western populations, questions can be raised regarding the suitability of the procedure in Asian patients. This study investigated the differences in 12 measurements of sacral and SIJ anatomy between two ethnic populations by analyzing computed tomography scans of 86 patients with SIJ pain. Univariate linear regression was performed to evaluate the correlations of body height with sacral and SIJ measurements. Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate systematic differences across populations. Most sacral and SIJ measurements were moderately correlated with body height. The anterior-posterior thickness of the sacral ala at the level of the S1 body was significantly smaller in the Asian patients compared with the Western patients. Most measurements were above standard surgical thresholds for safe transiliac placement of devices (1026 of 1032, 99.4%); all the measurements below these surgical thresholds were found in the anterior-posterior distance of the sacral ala at the S2 foramen level. Overall, safe placement of implants was allowed in 84 of 86 (97.7%) patients. Sacral and SIJ anatomy relevant to transiliac device placement is variable and correlates moderately with body height, and the cross-ethnic variations are not significant. Our findings raise a few concerns regarding sacral and SIJ anatomy variation that would prevent safe placement of fusion implants in Asian patients. However, considering the observed S2-related anatomic variation that could affect placement strategy, sacral and SIJ anatomy should still be preoperatively evaluated.

Myasthenia Gravis: Novel Findings and Perspectives on Traditional to Regenerative Therapeutic Interventions.

The prevalence of myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune disorder, is increasing among all subsets of the population leading to an elevated economic and social burden. The pathogenesis of MG is characterized by the synthesis of autoantibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR), low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4), or muscle-specific kinase at the neuromuscular junction, thereby leading to muscular weakness and fatigue. Based on clinical and laboratory examinations, the research is focused on distinguishing MG from other autoimmune, genetic diseases of neuromuscular transmission. Technological advancements in machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) have been assistive in accurate diagnosis and management. Besides, addressing the clinical needs of MG patients is critical to improving quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction. Lifestyle changes including physical exercise and traditional Chinese medicine/herbs have also been shown to exert an ameliorative impact on MG progression. To achieve enhanced therapeutic efficacy, cholinesterase inhibitors, immunosuppressive drugs, and steroids in addition to plasma exchange therapy are widely recommended. Under surgical intervention, thymectomy is the only feasible alternative to removing thymoma to overcome thymoma-associated MG. Although these conventional and current therapeutic approaches are effective, the associated adverse events and surgical complexity limit their wide application. Moreover, Restivo et al. also, to increase survival and QoL, further recent developments revealed that antibody, gene, and regenerative therapies (such as stem cells and exosomes) are currently being investigated as a safer and more efficacious alternative. Considering these above-mentioned points, we have comprehensively reviewed the recent advances in pathological etiologies of MG including COVID-19, and its therapeutic management.

Hypertrophic Ligamentum Flavum in Lumbar Spine Stenosis Is Associated With the Increased Expression of Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine.

STUDY DESIGN: Basic research. OBJECTIVES: Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a critical pro-fibrotic mediator. This study aims to characterize the role of SPARC in hypertrophic ligamentum flavum (LF) and fibrosis. METHODS: Hypertrophic LF samples were obtained from 8 patients with L4/5 lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) during the decompressive laminectomy. Non-hypertrophic LF from age- and sex-matched 8 patients with L4/5 lumbar disc herniation was selected as control. An in vitro model of fibrosis in human LF cells was established by interleukin 6 (IL-6) to assess SPARC expression. RESULTS: Hypertrophic LF samples had higher fibrosis scores than control samples by Masson's trichrome staining (3.6 vs. 1.3, P < .001). Hypertrophic LF samples had significantly more positive staining for collagen and SPARC. Collagen III (Col3), α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and SPARC mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in hypertrophic LF samples than in control samples by qPCR. SPARC expression and fibrotic and inflammatory makers (collagen I, Col3, IL-6, interleukin 1ß) were significantly upregulated in IL-6 stimulation of normal LF in vitro. CONCLUSION: SPARC was detected in human LF and significantly upregulated in the clinical samples of hypertrophic LF compared to their normal counterparts. We also demonstrated an increased level of SPARC in an in vitro fibrosis model of LF. Thus, SPARC could be a crucial biomarker for the pathogenesis of hypertrophic LF and a therapeutic target for LSS.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment of Extensive Spinal Epidural Abscess With Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression Using an Ultrasonic Bone Curette: A Technique Note.

BACKGROUND: An extensive spinal epidural abscess is a devasting infection of the multiple-level epidural space. Emergent surgical decompression is required to remove the abscess and decompress the affected spinal cord. This study evaluated the efficacy of unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) in the treatment of extensive spinal epidural abscesses. METHODS: Three patients with extensive spinal epidural abscesses (epidural abscess involving more than 5 vertebral levels) were treated with the ULBD technique between September 2019 and August 2020. An ultrasonic curette was used for over-the-top decompression. Surgical drainage of the epidural abscess was performed concurrently with sublaminar drilling on top of the dura sac by using cold saline to automatically maintain the effluent in the ultrasonic curettage device. RESULTS: The 3 patients were men, with a mean age of 65.7 years. Diabetes mellitus, fever, and paraplegia were reported in all 3 patients. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus intermedius were cultured separately. The mean operative time was 163 minutes, and the mean estimated blood loss was 160 mL. All patients fully recovered from neurologic deficits and returned to preinjury levels of functioning at the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: As a minimally invasive technique, ULBD is a safe and effective treatment for extensive spinal epidural abscesses in critically ill patients. Moreover, the use of an ultrasonic bone curette not only safely accelerates over-the-top decompression but also flushes the epidural abscess with copious amount of cold saline.