Gig Work and the Pandemic: Looking for Good Pay from Bad Jobs During the COVID-19 Crisis.

COVID-19 led to work hour reductions and layoffs for many Americans with wage/salary jobs. Some gig work, however, which is usually considered precarious, remained available. We examine whether people doing gig microtasks right before the pandemic increased their microtask hours during COVID-19 and whether those changes helped them financially. Using data from workers on Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform from February, March, and April of 2020, we find that roughly one third of existing workers increased their microtask hours. Increases were larger for people who lost household income or wage/salary hours. Spending more time on microtasks, however, did little to help workers financially. Furthermore, the people most reliant on microtasks before the pandemic had worse financial outcomes than others. In short, even though microtask work might seem like a good way for people to recoup lost income during the pandemic, it was of limited utility even for the experienced workers in our sample.

Aneurysmal bone cysts in the spine, causing neurological compromise: safety and clinical efficacy of sclerotherapy utilizing sodium Tetradecyl sulfate foam.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy, technical feasibility, and safety profile of percutaneous sclerotherapy utilizing sodium tetradecyl-sulfate foam (STS) as a first-line treatment strategy for aggressive spinal aneurysmal bone cysts (sABCs) presenting with neurological compromise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2013 and September 2019, eight consecutive patients (5 males; 3 females; mean age 22±17, range 7-52) underwent fluoroscopic/CT-guided intraosseous sclerotherapy for sABCs. Pain and/or neurological compromise was the primary indications. Procedural data, complications, imaging, and clinical results were analyzed. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all cases. Mean procedure time was 25±15 min (range 6-167); 1 to 5 repeat treatment cycles (mean 3.7±1.2) utilizing a mean 2.6mls±1.3 (range 1-6) of agitated 3% STS, with a DLP mean dose of 158±91 mGy*cm (range 62-331) per procedure. One reported a minor complication (pain), but no significant complications. Two patients had persistent neurological deficit due to cord compression despite successful sclerotherapy, requiring surgical resection (and were thereby excluded from the final outcome analysis). The remaining six patients demonstrated a significant reduction in tumor volume (p = 0.028), pain (p = 0.027), and SINS (spinal instability neoplastic score) (p = 0.027) at up to 5 years of follow-up (mean 20 ± 16.7, range 7-51 months). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous sclerotherapy with STS is a minimally invasive, technically feasible, safe, and effective first-line treatment for primary sABCs causing pain and neurological compromise, alleviating the need for extensive surgery. It is most effective with three or more treatment cycles, in patients with higher SINS, pain scores, or tumor volumes at the initial presentation.

Feasibility of achieving planned surgical margins in primary spine tumor: a PTRON study.

OBJECTIVE: Oncological resection of primary spine tumors is associated with lower recurrence rates. However, even in the most experienced hands, the execution of a meticulously drafted plan sometimes fails. The objectives of this study were to determine how successful surgical teams are at achieving planned surgical margins and how successful surgeons are in intraoperatively assessing tumor margins. The secondary objective was to identify factors associated with successful execution of planned resection. METHODS: The Primary Tumor Research and Outcomes Network (PTRON) is a multicenter international prospective registry for the management of primary tumors of the spine. Using this registry, the authors compared 1) the planned surgical margin and 2) the intraoperative assessment of the margin by the surgeon with the postoperative assessment of the margin by the pathologist. Univariate analysis was used to assess whether factors such as histology, size, location, previous radiotherapy, and revision surgery were associated with successful execution of the planned margins. RESULTS: Three hundred patients were included. The surgical plan was successfully achieved in 224 (74.7%) patients. The surgeon correctly assessed the intraoperative margins, as reported in the final assessment by the pathologist, in 239 (79.7%) patients. On univariate analysis, no factor had a statistically significant influence on successful achievement of planned margins. CONCLUSIONS: In high-volume cancer centers around the world, planned surgical margins can be achieved in approximately 75% of cases. The morbidity of the proposed intervention must be balanced with the expected success rate in order to optimize patient management and surgical decision-making.

Preventing iatrogenic facial pressure ulcers during spinal surgery: Prospective trial using a novel method and review of literature.

To assess the outcome of a novel method of preventing facial pressure ulcers in spinal surgery and a review of literature. A prospective trial using a novel method of facial protection using paraffin tulle gras dressing to cover bony prominences during spinal surgical procedures was performed. Patients were reviewed at 24 hours and 6 weeks. A telephone survey was also conducted post discharge. Over an 8-month period, 12 patients (7F:5M, age 9-72 years) underwent spine surgery for tumour stabilisation (n = 7), deformity correction (n = 4), and degenerative presentation (n = 1) with mean operative time of 472 minutes (range 150-785 minutes) in prone position. All patients were managed by the same team using an agreed protocol. No pressure ulcers were noted in our study. One patient sustained minimal erythema, which resolved after 24 hours. All patients were satisfied with the care received. Facial pressure ulcers though much reduced are still common in spinal surgery. The common factors are the long duration of surgery, shear, friction, moisture, and intrinsic factors. Our strategy of an appropriate facial support and constant vigilance helped eliminate the incidence of iatrogenic facial ulcers in spinal surgery.

Neoadjuvant denosumab for the treatment of a sacral osteoblastoma.

PURPOSE: To present a case of aggressive sacral osteoblastoma (OB) treated with neoadjuvant denosumab therapy and en bloc resection. METHODS: Case report of a 14-year-old male with an aggressive OB affecting the superior articular process of the left first sacral segment. The lesion was lytic and metabolically active and involved the left-sided posterior elements of S1-S3 with extension into the spinal canal, affecting the left S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 nerve roots. He was treated for 1 month with neoadjuvant denosumab followed by en bloc resection. RESULTS: Denosumab therapy caused regression of the tumour and converted the diffuse infiltrative mass into a well-defined solid (osteoma-like) structure, aiding surgical resection and preserving the S1, S4 and S5 nerve roots. Histologically, the treated lesion showed abundant sclerotic woven bone and osteoblasts with absence of osteoclasts. CONCLUSIONS: A short course of denosumab caused tumour regression, ossification and conversion of an aggressive OB into a sclerotic, well-defined lesion thus aiding surgical resection and preservation of neural structures. Neoadjuvant therapy reduced osteoclast numbers but PET showed that the lesion remained FDG avid post-therapy.

Optimizing the management of patients with spinal myeloma disease.

Myeloma is one of the most common malignancies that results in osteolytic lesions of the spine. Complications, including pathological fractures of the vertebrae and spinal cord compression, may cause severe pain, deformity and neurological sequelae. They may also have significant consequences for quality of life and prognosis for patients. For patients with known or newly diagnosed myeloma presenting with persistent back or radicular pain/weakness, early diagnosis of spinal myeloma disease is therefore essential to treat and prevent further deterioration. Magnetic resonance imaging is the initial imaging modality of choice for the evaluation of spinal disease. Treatment of the underlying malignancy with systemic chemotherapy together with supportive bisphosphonate treatment reduces further vertebral damage. Additional interventions such as cement augmentation, radiotherapy, or surgery are often necessary to prevent, treat and control spinal complications. However, optimal management is dependent on the individual nature of the spinal involvement and requires careful assessment and appropriate intervention throughout. This article reviews the treatment and management options for spinal myeloma disease and highlights the value of defined pathways to enable the proper management of patients affected by it.

Surgical treatment of sacral chordoma: prognostic variables for local recurrence and overall survival.

PURPOSE: Sacral chordomas (SC) are rare, locally invasive, malignant neoplasms. Despite surgical resection and adjuvant therapies, local recurrence (LR) is common and overall survival (OS) is poor. The objective of this study was to identify prognostic factors that have an impact on the local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and OS of patients with SC. METHODS: Utilizing the AOSpine Knowledge Forum Tumor multicenter ambispective database, surgically treated SC cases were identified. Cox regression modeling was used to assess the effect of several clinically relevant variables on OS and LRFS. RESULTS: A total of 167 patients with surgically treated SC were identified. The male/female ratio was 98/69 with a mean age of 57 ± 15 years at the time of surgery. The LR was 35% (n = 57), death occurred in 30% of patients (n = 50) during the study period. The median OS was 6 years post-surgery and LRFS was 4 years. In the univariate analysis, previous tumor surgery at the same site (P = 0.002), intralesional resection (P < 0.001), and larger tumor volume (P = 0.030) were significantly associated with LR. Increasing age (P < 0.001) and a preoperative motor deficit of C or D (P = 0.003) were significantly associated with poor OS, and nerve root sacrifice showed a trend towards significance (P = 0.088). In the multivariate models, previous surgery and intralesional resection were significantly related to LR, while increasing age and motor deficit of C or D were associated with poor OS. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified two predictive variables for LRFS (previous tumor surgery and type of surgical resection) and two for OS (age and impaired motor function) in surgically treated SC patients. Our results indicate that en bloc resection reduces LR but does not influence OS. However, this was likely due to short follow-up (3.2 years).

Aneurysmal bone cysts of the spine: treatment options and considerations.

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are benign bone lesions with annual incidences ranging from 1.4 to 3.2 cases per million people. Approximately, 10-30% of ABCs are found in the spine. Such lesions are traditionally treated with curettage or other intralesional techniques. Because ABCs can be locally aggressive, intralesional resection can be incomplete and result in recurrence. This has led to increased use of novel techniques, including selective arterial embolization (SAE). This study aims to: (1) compare outcomes based on extent of surgical resection, and (2) compare the efficacy of SAE versus surgical resection. Clinical data pertaining to 71 cases of spinal ABCs were ambispectively collected from nine institutions in Europe, North America, and Australia. Twenty-two spinal ABCs were treated with surgery, 32 received preoperative embolization and surgery, and 17 were treated with SAE. Most tumors were classified as Enneking stage 2 (n = 29, 41%) and stage 3 (n = 29, 41%). Local recurrence and survival were investigated and a significant difference was not observed between treatment groups. However, all three local recurrences occurred following surgical resection. Surgical resection was further categorized based on Enneking appropriateness. Recurrences only occurred following intralesional Enneking inappropriate (EI) resections (P = 0.10), a classification that characterized 47% of all surgical resections. Furthermore, 56% of intralesional resections were EI, compared to only 10% of en bloc resections (P = 0.01). Although SAE treatment did not result in any local recurrences, 35% involved more than five embolization procedures. Spinal ABCs can be effectively treated with intralesional resection, en bloc resection, or SAE. Preoperative embolization should be considered before intralesional resection to limit intraoperative bleeding. Treatment plans must be guided by lesion characteristics and clinical presentation.

Reliability of the spinal instability neoplastic scale among radiologists: an assessment of instability secondary to spinal metastases.

OBJECTIVE: The spinal instability neoplastic scale (SINS) is a new classification system for tumor-related spinal instability. The SINS may prove to be a valuable tool for radiologists to communicate with oncologists and surgeons in a standardized evidence-based manner. The objective of this study was to determine the inter- and intraobserver reliability and validity of the SINS among radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven radiologists from 10 international sites used the SINS to categorize the degree of spinal instability in 30 patients with spinal tumors. To assess validity, we compared the SINS scores assigned by the radiologists with the SINS scores of 11 spine oncology surgeons (reference standard). Each total SINS score (range, 0-18 points) was converted into one of the following three clinical categories: 0-6 points, stable; 7-12 points, potentially unstable; and 13-18 points, unstable. In addition, each total SINS score was converted into a binary scale: 0-6 points was defined as stable, and 7-18 points was considered a current or possible instability for which surgical consultation is recommended. RESULTS: Radiologists using the SINS binary scale showed excellent (κ = 0.88) validity, substantial (κ = 0.76) interobserver agreement, and excellent (κ = 0.82) intraobserver reproducibility. Radiologists rated all unstable cases and 621 of 629 (98.7%) potentially unstable cases with a SINS score of 7 or more points, thus appropriately initiating a referral for surgical assessment. CONCLUSION: SINS is a reliable tool for radiologists rating tumor-related spinal instability. It accurately discriminates between stable and potentially unstable or unstable lesions and, therefore, can guide the need for surgical consultation.

Surgical Management of the Metastatic Spine Disease: A Review of the Literature and Proposed Algorithm.

STUDY DESIGN: Narrative Review. The spine remains the most common site for bony metastasis. It is estimated that up to 70% of cancer patients harbor secondary spinal disease. And up to 10% will develop a clinically significant lesion. The last two decades have seen a substantial leap forward in the advancements of the management of spinal metastases. What once was a death sentence is now a manageable, even potentially treatable condition. With marked advancements in the surgical treatment and post-operative radiotherapy, a standardized approach to stratify and manage these patients is both prudent and now feasible. OBJECTIVES: This article looks to examine the best available evidence in the stratification and surgical management of patients with spinal metastases. So the aim of this review is to offer a standardized approach for surgical management and surgical planning of patients with spinal metastases.

Outcomes of Surgical Treatment for Extradural Benign Primary Spinal Tumors in Patients Younger than 25 Years: An Ambispective International Multicenter Study.

Extradural primary spinal tumors were retrospectively analyzed from a prospective database of 1495 cases. All subjects with benign primary tumors under the age of 25 years, who were enrolled between 1990 and 2012 (Median FU was 2.4 years), were identified. Patient- and case-related characteristics were collected and statistically analyzed. Results: 161 patients (66f;95m; age 17.0 ± 4.7 years at time of diagnosis) were identified. The most common tumors were osteoblastomas n = 53 (32.9%), osteoid osteomas n = 45 (28.0%), and aneurysmal bone cysts n = 32 (19.9%). The tumor grade, according to the Enneking Classification S1/S2/S3, was 14/73/74 (8.7/45.3/46.0%), respectively. Tumor-related pain was present in 156 (96.9%) patients. Diagnosis was achieved by biopsies in 2/3 of the cases. Spinal fixation was used in >50% of the cases. Resection was Enneking appropriate in n = 100 (62.1%) of cases. Local recurrence occurred in 21 (13.1%) patients. Two patients died within a 10-year follow-up period. Conclusion: This is one of the largest international multicenter cohorts of young patients surgically treated for benign spinal tumors. The heterogenic young patient cohort presented at a mid-term follow-up without a correlation between the grade of aggressiveness in resection and local recurrence rates. Further prospective data are required to identify prognostic factors that determine oncological and functional outcomes for young patients suffering from these rare tumors.

Extradural Primary Malignant Spinal Tumors in a Population Younger than 25 Years: An Ambispective International Multicenter Study on Onco-Surgical Outcomes.

Extradural malignant primary spinal tumors are rare and outcome data, especially for younger patients, is limited. In a worldwide (11 centers) study (Predictors of Mortality and Morbidity in the Surgical Management of Primary Tumors of the Spine study; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01643174) by the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Tumor, patients surgically treated for primary tumors of the spine between 1992 and 2012, were retrospectively analyzed from a prospective database of their medical history. Medical history, tumor characteristics, diagnostics, treatments, cross-sectional survival, and local recurrences were analyzed. Sixty-eight cases (32 f; 36 m), at an average age of 18.6 ± 4.7 years at the time of diagnosis, were identified (median follow-up 2.9 years). The most common entities were Ewing's sarcoma (42.6%). Of the patients, 28% had undergone previous spine tumor surgery in another center (84% with intralesional margins). Resection was considered "Enneking appropriate" (EA) in 47.8% of the cases. Of the patients, 77.9% underwent chemotherapy and 50% radiotherapy. A local recurrence occurred in 36.4%. Over a third of patients died within a 10-year follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier-analysis demonstrated statistically significant overall survival (p = 0.007) and local recurrence rates (p = 0.042) for tumors treated with EA surgery versus Enneking inappropriate surgery. Aggressive resection of extradural primary malignant spinal tumors combined with adjuvant therapy reveals low local recurrence rates and better outcomes overall in younger patients.

Neurological recovery after early versus delayed surgical decompression for acute traumatic spinal cord injury.

The aim of this study was to determine whether early surgical treatment results in better neurological recovery 12 months after injury than late surgical treatment in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). Patients with tSCI requiring surgical spinal decompression presenting to 17 centres in Europe were recruited. Depending on the timing of decompression, patients were divided into early (≤ 12 hours after injury) and late (> 12 hours and < 14 days after injury) groups. The American Spinal Injury Association neurological (ASIA) examination was performed at baseline (after injury but before decompression) and at 12 months. The primary endpoint was the change in Lower Extremity Motor Score (LEMS) from baseline to 12 months. The final analyses comprised 159 patients in the early and 135 in the late group. Patients in the early group had significantly more severe neurological impairment before surgical treatment. For unadjusted complete-case analysis, mean change in LEMS was 15.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.1 to 19.0) in the early and 11.3 (95% CI 8.3 to 14.3) in the late group, with a mean between-group difference of 4.3 (95% CI -0.3 to 8.8). Using multiply imputed data adjusting for baseline LEMS, baseline ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS), and propensity score, the mean between-group difference in the change in LEMS decreased to 2.2 (95% CI -1.5 to 5.9). Compared to late surgical decompression, early surgical decompression following acute tSCI did not result in statistically significant or clinically meaningful neurological improvements 12 months after injury. These results, however, do not impact the well-established need for acute, non-surgical tSCI management. This is the first study to highlight that a combination of baseline imbalances, ceiling effects, and loss to follow-up rates may yield an overestimate of the effect of early surgical decompression in unadjusted analyses, which underpins the importance of adjusted statistical analyses in acute tSCI research.

He said, she said: The gender wage gap according to self and proxy reports in the Current Population Survey.

Roughly half the labor force data in the Current Population Survey (CPS) are provided by proxy respondents, and since 1979, men's reliance on proxies has dropped dramatically while women's reliance on proxies has increased. Few authors, however, have examined how combining these first-hand and second-hand reports may influence our understanding of long-term economic trends. We exploit the outgoing rotation group structure of the CPS by matching individual records one year apart, and we find that self-reported wages are higher than proxy-reported wages even after controlling for all time invariant characteristics. Furthermore, we find that changes in the use of proxy respondents by men and women since 1979 have made current estimates of the gender wage gap larger than they would have been without changes in reporting status. This suggests that the gender wage gap has closed more than previously estimated. We recommend that researchers combine self and proxy responses with great care, especially when analyzing time trends or making gender comparisons.

Integrated Custom Composite Polyetheretherketone/Carbon fiber (PEEK/CF) Vertebral Body Replacement (VBR) in the Treatment of Bone Tumors of the Spine: A Preliminary Report From a Multicenter Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, multicenter chart, and radiologic review. OBJECTIVE: To present the first case series of bone tumors of the spine surgically reconstructed with a new custom, fully radiolucent, polyetheretherketone/carbon fiber (PEEK/CF) vertebral body replacement (VBR) integrated system. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Surgical resections of spinal tumors result in large defects and local recurrence remains a concern. Current titanium-based implants adversely affects postoperative imaging, directly affects ability to identify tumor recurrence, and for delivery of radiotherapy treatments. PEEK/CF spinal implants allows for improved tumor surveillance, precise pre-radiation Computed Tomography planning, and reduces interference with post-reconstructive adjuvant radiotherapy. METHOD: Thirteen patients with spinal tumors underwent vertebral body resection and reconstruction with an integrated, fully radiolucent, custom PEEK/CF vertebral body replacement, and radiolucent posterior PEEK/CF screw-rod system and/or radiolucent anterior PEEK/CF plate system. Clinical and radiographic data were tabulated. Need for adjuvant radiotherapy determined based on final tissue histology and extent of surgical margins. Postoperative surveillance imaging were reviewed for local tumor recurrence. RESULTS: The ability to integrate the PEEK/CF VBR connected to either the posterior screw-rod system, or anterior plate system provided immediate stability. The VBR was placed directly on cancellous vertebral body surface in 46.2% of cases. Loosening of the distal, or proximal, aspect of posterior system was seen in 15.4% of cases. There was no clinical or radiographic evidence of VBR migration and subsidence at latest follow up. Local recurrence occurred in one (7.7%) patient. CONCLUSION: This is the first series to describe the use of a fully-radiolucent, integrated, PEEK/CF implant system for spinal tumor reconstruction. The use of a PEEK/CF VBR system integrated to either the anterior plate, or posterior screw-rod system is feasible and allows for superior postoperative surveillance imaging and effective delivery of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.Level of Evidence: 4.

En Bloc Resection of Isolated Spinal Metastasis: A Systematic Review Update.

STUDY DESIGN: This work was a systematic review. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to review the literature on the outcomes of en bloc resection of isolated spinal metastasis. SUMMARY: Of background data: En bloc resection of isolated spinal metastasis is rarely performed and its utility debated, with the last review of the literature being performed over a decade ago. With significant advances in adjunctive oncology treatments, an updated review of whether there remains a role for this type of surgery is necessary. METHODS: The authors performed a systematic review of English literature over the last decade on en bloc resection of isolated spinal metastasis in adults using the PubMed, Google Scholar, OVID, and Cochrane database. They excluded studies with <5 reported cases. The studies were appraised by 2 coauthors and examined for the patient and tumor characteristics, surgical time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, cost, complications, functional outcomes, rates of local recurrence, metastasis, and survival. RESULTS: Only 5 articles (148 patients) were included in this study. The average operative time was 6.5 hours, and estimated blood loss was 1742 mL. Only 73% of patients maintained their functional independence, but 35.1% experienced a complication, 6.1% had local recurrence, and the overall survival was 52% with an average time to death of 15 months. CONCLUSIONS: There remains a paucity of data limiting the understanding of the value of en bloc resection for isolated spinal metastasis. However, despite this limitation, our literature review suggests that en bloc resection offers a low local recurrence rate (6.1%) and maintained functional independence (73%), but requires long operative times (mean 6.5 h), causes significant blood loss (mean 1742 mL), and results in high complication rates (35.1%) with poor overall survival (52% with an average time to death of 15 mo).

Sacral insufficiency fractures are a risk of massive bleeding during sacrectomy: patient series.

BACKGROUND: Sacrectomy carries significant risk of bleeding; however, specific risk factors, apart from medical comorbidities and tumor type, for this life-threatening complication remain unclear. This study describes two cases of massive bleeding, including one death during sacrectomy attributable to adherence of the internal iliac vein (IIV) and its neuroforaminal tributaries from sacral insufficiency fractures. OBSERVATIONS: The authors presented two cases involving patients who received sacrectomy for a chordoma and experienced massive bleeding from the IIV due to adherence of the IIV and its neuroforaminal tributaries around sacral insufficiency fractures. They assessed their institution's previous two decades' experience of sacrectomies to determine risk factors for massive bleeding and performed anatomical dissection of 20 hemipelvises, which revealed the close proximity of the IIV to the sacral foraminae and the consistency of neuroforaminal tributaries arising from the foraminae. LESSONS: Sacral insufficiency fractures may cause scarring that adheres to the IIV and its neuroforaminal tributaries, which risks massive bleeding during sacrectomy.

Calculating Utilities From the Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire: A Necessity for Economic and Decision Analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: General population utility valuation study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a technique for calculating utilities from the Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire v2.0 (SOSGOQ2.0). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The ability to calculate quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for metastatic spine disease would enhance treatment decision-making and facilitate economic analysis. QALYs are calculated using utilities. METHODS: Using a hybrid concept-retention and factorial analysis shortening approach, we first shortened the SOSGOQ2.0 to eight items (SOSGOQ-8D). This was done to lessen the cognitive burden of the utility valuation exercise. A general population sample of 2730 adults was then asked to evaluate 12 choice sets based on SOSGOQ-8D health states in a Discrete Choice Experiment. A utility scoring rubric was then developed using a mixed multinomial-logit regression model. RESULTS: We were able to reduce the SOSGOQ2.0 to an SOSGOQ-8D with a mean error of 0.003 and mean absolute error of 3.078 compared to the full questionnaire. The regression model demonstrated good predictive performance and was used to develop a utility scoring rubric. Regression results revealed that participants did not regard all SOSGOQ-8D items as equally important. CONCLUSION: We provide a simple technique for converting the SOSGOQ2.0 to utilities. The ability to evaluate QALYs in metastatic spine disease will facilitate economic analysis and patient counseling. We also quantify the importance of individual SOSGOQ-8D items. Clinicians should heed these findings and offer treatments that maximize function in the most important items.Level of Evidence: 3.

Distinct neural circuits support transient and sustained processes in prospective memory and working memory.

Current theories are divided as to whether prospective memory (PM) involves primarily sustained processes such as strategic monitoring, or transient processes such as the retrieval of intentions from memory when a relevant cue is encountered. The current study examined the neural correlates of PM using a functional magnetic resonance imaging design that allows for the decomposition of brain activity into sustained and transient components. Performance of the PM task was primarily associated with sustained responses in a network including anterior prefrontal cortex (lateral Brodmann area 10), and these responses were dissociable from sustained responses associated with active maintenance in working memory. Additionally, the sustained responses in anterior prefrontal cortex correlated with faster response times for prospective responses. Prospective cues also elicited selective transient activity in a region of interest along the right middle temporal gyrus. The results support the conclusion that both sustained and transient processes contribute to efficient PM and provide novel constraints on the functional role of anterior PFC in higher-order cognition.

Prelude to a RIF: older workers, part-time hours, and unemployment.

Since the beginning of the most recent recession in December 2007, involuntary part-time employment (part-time for economic reasons) in the United States has increased from 4.2 million workers to 9.1 million, more than doubling. In this paper, we examine whether such increases in involuntary part-time employment have helped combat unemployment in the past or placed a disproportionate burden on older workers. Using Current Population Survey (outgoing rotation group) data from 1983 to 2002, we find that increases in involuntary part-time work in an industry raise the industry unemployment rate. Furthermore, the connection between rising rates of involuntary part-time work and unemployment is stronger among older workers than among younger workers. We conclude that reducing work hours through the use of part-time work does not ameliorate the effects of recessions on workers. Rather, it is a harbinger of unemployment, especially among those older than 55.