Outcomes in Combined Anterior and Posterior Fusion for 3- and 4-Level Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease

Introduction. This study reported the clinical and functionaloutcomes in a consecutive series of patients with3- or 4-level degenerative disc disease (DDD) betweenvertebral levels L2 to S1, who were treated with combinedanterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and posteriorspinal fusion at one-year and two-year follow-ups. Methods. A retrospective chart review was performed on allpatients who underwent long segment fusion for DDD by asingle surgeon between August 2002 and January 2012. Fiftyfivepatients were identified and 32 had complete charts for review(14 had one-year follow-up and 18 two-year follow-up).In addition to demographic data, disability (Oswestry DisabilityIndex, ODI), pain level (Visual Analog Scale, VAS), andflexion-extension range-of-motion were measured pre- andpost-operatively. Operative data also were collected, includingoperative time, blood loss, surgical implants used, surgicalapproach, operative levels treated, and complications.Results. Both VAS and ODI improved significantly postoperatively.The average VAS score improved from 6.5 ± 1.5(range: 4 - 9) to 4.4 ± 1.7 (range: 2 - 7) for one-year follow-up,and 7.0 ± 1.8 (range: 4 - 10) to 4.4 ± 2.6 (range: 1 - 9) for twoyearfollow-up. For one-year follow-up, the average ODI scoreimproved from 53 ± 19% (range: 18 - 70%) to 37 ± 17% (range:12 - 64%), and for two-year follow-up, the average improvedfrom 53 ± 18% (range: 18 - 80%) to 31 ± 24% (range: 2 - 92%).The level of improvement in pain and function was similar topreviously published data for 1- and 2-level fusions, but overallpain and function scores were worse in this study group. Conclusions. Arthrodesis for 3- and 4-level DDD is, on average,a successful surgery that shows clinically significantimprovements in function and pain similar to fusionfor 1- and 2-levels with low rates of re-operation. Patientswith involvement of 3- or 4-levels have higher disabilityand pain both pre- and post-operatively compared to shorterfusion level involvement. KS J Med 2016;9(3):50-53

The effectiveness of the controlled release of gentamicin from polyelectrolyte multilayers in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection in a rabbit bone model

While the infection rate of orthopedic implants is low, the required treatment, which can involve six weeks of antibiotic therapy and two additional surgical operations, is life threatening and expensive, and thus motivates the development of a one-stage re-implantation procedure. Polyelectrolyte multilayers incorporating gentamicin were fabricated using the layer-by-layer deposition process for use as a device coating to address an existing bone infection in a direct implant exchange operation. The films eluted about 70% of their payload in vitro during the first three days and subsequently continued to release drug for more than four additional weeks, reaching a total average release of over 550 μg/cm[superscript 2]. The coatings were demonstrated to be bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus, and degradation products were generally nontoxic towards MC3T3-E1 murine preosteoblasts. Film-coated titanium implants were compared to uncoated implants in an in vivo S. aureus bone infection model. After a direct exchange procedure, the antimicrobial-coated devices yielded bone homogenates with a significantly lower degree of infection than uncoated devices at both day four (p < 0.004) and day seven (p < 0.03). This study has demonstrated that a self-assembled ultrathin film coating is capable of effectively treating an experimental bone infection in vivo and lays the foundation for development of a multi-therapeutic film for optimized, synergistic treatment of pain, infection, and osteomyelitis.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (National Institute on Aging Grant 5R01AG029601-03

STAT-HI: A Socio-Technical Assessment Tool for Health Informatics Implementations

This paper proposes a socio-technical assessment tool (STAT-HI) for health informatics implementations. We explore why even projects allegedly using sound methodologies repeatedly fail to give adequate attention to socio-technical issues, and we present an initial draft of a structured assessment tool for health informatics implementation that encapsulates socio-technical good practice. Further work is proposed to enrich and validate the proposed instrument. This proposal was presented for discussion at a meeting of the UK Faculty of Health Informatics in December 2009

Ibrutinib Unmasks Critical Role of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase in Primary CNS Lymphoma.

Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) links the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) and Toll-like receptors with NF-κB. The role of BTK in primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (PCNSL) is unknown. We performed a phase I clinical trial with ibrutinib, the first-in-class BTK inhibitor, for patients with relapsed or refractory CNS lymphoma. Clinical responses to ibrutinib occurred in 10 of 13 (77%) patients with PCNSL, including five complete responses. The only PCNSL with complete ibrutinib resistance harbored a mutation within the coiled-coil domain of CARD11, a known ibrutinib resistance mechanism. Incomplete tumor responses were associated with mutations in the B-cell antigen receptor-associated protein CD79B

Atomic Resonance and Scattering

Contains reports on three research projects.U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Grant AFOSR-76-2972)National Science Foundation (Grant CHE79-02967)National Science Foundation (Grant PHY79-09743

Atomic Resonance and Scattering

Contains reports on four research projects.U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Grant AFOSR-76-2972)National Science Foundation (Grant CHE79-02967)National Science Foundation (Grant PHY79-09743)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-78-C-0020)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-80-C-0104

Atomic Resonance and Scattering

Contains reports on eight research projects.National Science Foundation (Grant PHY83-06273)National Bureau of Standards (Grant NB83-NAHA-4058)National Science Foundation (Grant PHY84-11483)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-83-K-0003)U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract NO0014-79-C-0183)U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-83-K-0695)National Science Foundation (Grant PHY83-07172-A01

Atomic Resonance and Scattering

Contains reports on eight research projects.National Science Foundation (Grant PHY79-09743)National Bureau of Standards (Grant NB-8-NAHA-3017)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-80-C-0104)National Science Foundation (Grant PHY82-10486)U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-79-C-0183)National Science Foundation (Grant CHE79-02967-A04)U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Contract AFOSR-81-0067)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-83-K-0003

Atomic Resonance and Scattering

Contains reports on nine research projects.National Science Foundation (Grant PHY79-09743)National Science Foundation (Grant PHY82-10486)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-83-K-0003)U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-79-C-0183)National Bureau of Standards (Grant NB83-NAHA-4058)National Science Foundation (Grant CHE79-02967-A04)National Science Foundation (Grant PHY83-07172)Joint Services Electronics Program (Grant DAAG29-83-K-0003