Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Disease Optic Neuritis: A Structure-Function Paradox?

BACKGROUND: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD) is a demyelinating disorder that most commonly presents with optic neuritis (ON) and affects children more often than adults. We report 8 pediatric patients with MOG-associated ON and characterize focal optical coherence tomography (OCT) abnormalities over time that help distinguish this condition from the trajectories of other demyelinating disorders. These OCT findings are examined in the context of longitudinal visual function testing. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series of 8 pediatric patients with MOG-associated ON who were referred for neuro-ophthalmic evaluation. Longitudinal data for demographics, clinical history, physical examination, and OCT obtained in the course of clinical evaluations were collected through retrospective medical record review. RESULTS: Patients demonstrated acute peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickening in one or both eyes, consistent with optic disc swelling. This was followed by steady patterns of average RNFL thinning, with 9 of 16 eyes reaching significantly low RNFL thickness using OCT platform reference databases ( P < 0.01), accompanied by paradoxical recovery of high-contrast visual acuity (HCVA) in every patient. There was no correlation between HCVA and any OCT measures, although contrast sensitivity (CS) was associated with global thickness, PMB thickness, and nasal/temporal (N/T) ratio, and color vision was associated with PMB thickness. There was a lower global and papillomacular bundle (PMB) thickness ( P < 0.01) in clinically affected eyes compared with unaffected eyes. There was also a significantly higher N:T ratio in clinically affected eyes compared with unaffected eyes in the acute MOG-ON setting ( P = 0.03), but not in the long-term setting. CONCLUSIONS: MOG shows a pattern of prominent retinal atrophy, as demonstrated by global RNFL thinning, with remarkable preservation of HCVA but remaining deficits in CS and color vision. These tests may be better clinical markers of vision changes secondary to MOG-ON. Of the OCT parameters measured, PMB thickness demonstrated the most consistent correlation between structural and functional measures. Thus, it may be a more sensitive marker of clinically significant retinal atrophy in MOG-ON. The N:T ratio in acute clinically affected MOG-ON eyes in our study was higher than the N:T ratio of neuromyelitis optica (NMO)-ON eyes and similar to the N:T ratio in multiple sclerosis (MS)-ON eyes as presented in the prior literature. Therefore, MOG may share a more similar pathophysiology to MS compared with NMO.

Chronic Lower Back Pain in Weight Lifters: Epidemiology, Evaluation, and Management.

¼ Chronic lower back pain (LBP) is common in both nonathletes and weight lifters, but the diagnosis and treatment should be approached differently in these 2 populations based on the unique movement patterns causing the pain.¼ Injury rates of weight lifters are far less than those of contact sports, ranging from 1.0 to 4.4 injuries per 1,000 workout hours. However, the lower back was consistently one of the top 2 injury sites for weight lifters, accounting for anywhere from 23% to 59% of all injuries. LBP was most often associated with the squat or deadlift.¼ Guidelines for evaluating general LBP are applicable to weight lifters, including a thorough history and physical examination. However, the differential diagnosis will change based on the patient's lifting history. Of the many etiologies of back pain, weight lifters are most likely to be diagnosed with muscle strain or ligamentous sprain, degenerative disk disease, disk herniation, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, or lumbar facet syndrome.¼ Traditional recommended therapies include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and activity modification, which are often insufficient to resolve pain and prevent injury recurrence. Because most athletes will want to continue to lift weights, lifting-specific behavior modifications focused on improved technique and correcting mobility and muscular imbalances are important aspects of management in this patient population.

Increased Readmission Rates but No Difference in Complication Rates in Patients Undergoing Inpatient Versus Outpatient Hip Arthroscopy: A Large Matched-Cohort Insurance Database Analysis.

Purpose: To compare the early postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing inpatient versus outpatient hip arthroscopy and identify any characteristics that may serve as predictors of these complications. Methods: The PearlDiver Mariner insurance database was queried for all patients who underwent hip arthroscopy from 2010 to 2019. Patients were matched based on Charlson Comorbidity Index, age, and sex. Outcomes recorded included postoperative complications and return to care within 90 days. Predictors of complications were assessed via multivariable logistic regression controlling for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, comorbidities, surgical setting, and procedure type. Results: The final matched cohort included 832 inpatients and 1,356 matched patients. Fifty-eight patients (7.0%) who underwent inpatient surgery versus 25 patients (1.8%) who underwent outpatient surgery were readmitted (P < .01). Of the readmitted patients, 31 inpatients (3.7%) and 5 outpatients (0.4%) were readmitted for hip-related reasons (P < .01). No significant differences were observed in emergency department visits (67 inpatients [8.1%] vs 84 outpatients [6.2%], P = .11), intensive care unit admissions (3 [0.4%] vs 1 [0.1%], P = .31), or revision hip arthroscopies (43 [5.2%] vs 65 [4.8%], P = .77). A multivariable model of complications correcting for baseline differences in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, tobacco use, and inpatient status found that age (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85-0.99; P = .03), coronary artery disease (adjusted OR, 12.82; 95% CI, 1.18-140.02; P = .03), and inpatient setting (adjusted OR, 20.59; 95% CI, 3.48-401.65; P = .01) were significantly associated with complications. No procedure type was associated with complication rates. Conclusions: Compared with the outpatient setting, inpatient hip arthroscopy is associated with higher rates of readmission in a cohort matched for age, sex, and comorbidities. Complications after inpatient hip arthroscopy appear to be related to comorbidities rather than procedure-related factors. The decision to conduct an inpatient hip arthroscopy should prioritize consideration of patient comorbidities over the type of procedure. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Reduction of IL-6 gene expression in human adipose tissue after sleeve gastrectomy surgery.

OBJECTIVE: There is increasing evidence that immune cell interactions in adipose tissue contribute to the development of metabolic dysfunction. Pro-inflammatory cytokines have been shown to mediate insulin resistance, and the presence of macrophages is a salient feature in the development of obesity. The present study aimed to evaluate adipocyte size and macrophage activation in women before and 3 months after laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). METHODS: Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue biopsies were obtained from women scheduled to undergo VSG. Histological evaluation of adipocytes and macrophages was performed as well as cytokine expression quantification before and after VSG-induced weight loss. RESULTS: Weight loss following VSG resulted in a reduction in adipocyte size as well as a decrease in interleukin (IL)-6 cytokine mRNA expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue. There was no change in the presence of crownlike structures after weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Early weight loss after VSG is associated with a reduction in adipocyte size and a decline in IL-6 gene expression in local adipose tissue. Macrophage infiltration and crownlike density structures persist in adipose tissue from tissues impacted by excess body weight 3 months after VSG-induced weight loss.