In an attempt to aggregate observations from clinical trials, several meta-analyses have been published examining the effectiveness of systemic, non-opioid, pharmacological interventions to reduce the incidence of chronic postsurgical pain.

To inform the design and reporting of future studies, the purpose of our study was to examine the quality of these meta-analyses.

We conducted an electronic literature search in Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Published meta-analyses, from the years 2010 to 2020, examining the effect of perioperative, systemic, non-opioid pharmacological treatments on the incidence of chronic postsurgical pain in adult patients were identified. Data extraction focused on methodological details. Meta-analysis quality was assessed using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) critical appraisal tool.

Our search yielded 17 published studies conducting 58 meta-analyses for gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin), ketamine, lidocaine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and mexiletine. According to AMSTAR 2, 88.2% of studies (or 15/17) were low or critically low in quality. The most common critical element missing was an analysis of publication bias. Trends indicated an improvement in quality over time and association with journal impact factor.

With few individual trials adequately powered to detect treatment effects, meta-analyses play a crucial role in informing the perioperative management of chronic postsurgical pain. In light of this inherent value and despite a number of attempts, high-quality meta-analyses are still needed.

CRD42021230941.

CRD42021230941.

A short acting spinal anesthetic facilitates smooth flow since quick recovery of motor function will facilitate unassisted ambulation. The aim of this study was to estimate the effective dose (ED90) of intrathecal 2-chloroprocaine 1% in outpatient knee arthroscopy.

Two cohorts were included in two different hospitals. In cohort I, a randomized biased-coin up-and-down design with 40 patients was used to find the ED90. Four dose-levels of plain 2-chloroprocaine 1% were used 25, 30, 35 and 40 mg. The identified primary outcome, the ED90, was validated in 50 patients in cohort II with an open label design. Secondary outcomes included time to complete recovery from motor and sensory block with spinal injection as time zero, peak sensory block level, urine retention and time until hospital discharge.

Forty patients were included in the final analysis in cohort I. The ED90 was estimated at 27.8 mg, successful spinal anesthesia was obtained in 38 patients (95%). Fifty patients were included in the final analysis in cohort II, 49 patients had successful anesthesia with a fixed round dose of 28 mg. In this Cohort, peak sensory block was T10/T11 (range (L4-T4)). The median time to full recovery of the motor block was 60 min (45-60) and 90 min (75-105) for the sensory block. The mean time to hospital discharge was 2.9 hours (0.7).

The ED90 of 2-chloroprocaine 1% in knee arthroscopy was estimated to be 27.8 mg. In an external population, the ED90 resulted in successful anesthesia in 98% of the patients (95% CI 89% to 100%).

Netherlands Trial Registry (NL6769).

Netherlands Trial Registry (NL6769).

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorder (MOGAD) is a rare, autoimmune demyelinating CNS disorder, distinct from multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Characterized by pathogenic immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against MOG, a potential treatment strategy for MOGAD is to reduce circulating IgG levels, e.g., by interference with the IgG recycling pathway mediated by the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). Although the optic nerve is often detrimentally involved in MOGAD, the effect of FcRn blockade on the visual pathway has not been assessed. Our objective was to investigate effects of a monoclonal anti-FcRn antibody in murine MOG-IgG-associated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

We induced active MOG

EAE in C57Bl/6 mice followed by the application of a monoclonal MOG-IgG (8-18C5) 10 days postimmunization (dpi). Animals were treated with either a specific monoclonal antibody against FcRn (α-FcRn, 4470) or an isotype-matched control IgG on 7, 10, ane range α-FcRn [n = 16], 0.50 [0.48-0.55] to 0.50 [0.48-0.58]; isotype IgG [n = 17], 0.50 [0.49-0.54] to 0.45 [0.39-0.51]).

We show preserved optomotor response and ameliorated course of disease after anti-FcRn treatment in an experimental model using a monoclonal MOG-IgG to mimic MOGAD. Selectively targeting FcRn might represent a promising therapeutic approach in MOGAD.

We show preserved optomotor response and ameliorated course of disease after anti-FcRn treatment in an experimental model using a monoclonal MOG-IgG to mimic MOGAD. Selectively targeting FcRn might represent a promising therapeutic approach in MOGAD.

The central vein sign (CVS), a central linear hypointensity within lesions on T2*-weighted imaging, has been established as a sensitive and specific biomarker for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the CVS has not yet been comprehensively studied in newly developing MS lesions. We aimed to identify the CVS profiles of new white matter lesions in patients with MS followed over time and investigate demographic and clinical risk factors associated with new CVS+ or CVS- lesion development.

In this retrospective longitudinal cohort study, adults from the NIH MS Natural History Study were considered for inclusion. Participants with new T2 or enhancing lesions were identified through review of the radiology report and/or longitudinal subtraction imaging. Each new lesion was evaluated for the CVS. Clinical characteristics were identified through chart review.

A total of 153 adults (95 relapsing-remitting MS, 27 secondary progressive MS, 16 primary progressive MS, 5 clinically isolated syndrome, of edema and T2 signal changes can obscure small veins in Gd+ lesions; therefore, caution and follow-up is necessary when determining their CVS status.

Clinical trial registration number NCT00001248.

This study provides Class III evidence that younger age and higher CVS+ percentage at baseline are associated with new CVS+ lesion development.

This study provides Class III evidence that younger age and higher CVS+ percentage at baseline are associated with new CVS+ lesion development.

Culture-based microbiological investigation of hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated pneumonia (HAP or VAP) is insensitive, with aetiological agents often unidentified. This can lead to excess antimicrobial treatment of patients with susceptible pathogens, while those with resistant bacteria are treated inadequately for prolonged periods. Using PCR to seek pathogens and their resistance genes directly from clinical samples may improve therapy and stewardship.

Surplus routine lower respiratory tract samples were collected from intensive care unit patients about to receive new or changed antibiotics for hospital-onset lower respiratory tract infections at 15 UK hospitals. Testing was performed using the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (bioMérieux) and Unyvero Pneumonia Panel (Curetis). Concordance analysis compared machine and routine microbiology results, while Bayesian latent class (BLC) analysis estimated the sensitivity and specificity of each test, incorporating information from both PCR panels rly and were considerably more sensitive than routine microbiology, detecting potential pathogens in patient samples reported as culture negative. The increased sensitivity of detection realised by PCR offers potential for improved antimicrobial prescribing.Cellular senescence contributes to the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease. Using endothelial colony-forming-cells (ECFC), we have demonstrated accelerated senescence in smokers and patients with COPD compared with non-smokers. Subgroup analysis suggests that ECFC from patients with COPD on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) (n=14; eight on ICS) exhibited significantly reduced senescence (Senescence-associated-beta galactosidase activity, p21CIP1), markers of DNA damage response (DDR) and IFN-γ-inducible-protein-10 compared with patients with COPD not on ICS. In vitro studies using human-umbilical-vein-endothelial-cells showed a protective effect of ICS on the DDR, senescence and apoptosis caused by oxidative stress, suggesting a protective molecular mechanism of action of corticosteroids on endothelium.

There are many types of minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion procedures. Among them is the recently introduced biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion surgery. Biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) might combine the advantages of minimally invasive TLIF and endoscopic spine approaches. However, clinical evidence in support of biportal endoscopic TLIF remains insufficient.

A comprehensive review of English-language literature on biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion was performed. Articles on biportal endoscopic TLIF in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched using the terms „unilateral biportal endoscopy,” „biportal endoscopic spine surgery,” „transforaminal,” and „lumbar interbody fusion” as well as their combinations. The clinical and radiological outcomes of biportal endoscopic TLIF were analyzed and are summarized here. The biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion surgical techniques are then described.

There are 3 biportal endoscgard to spinal surgery with an aim to introduce a new technique.

The unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) technique provides minimally invasive decompression for degenerative lumbar canal stenosis (DLCS). With appropriate control of the hydrostatic pressure of normal saline irrigation, the surgery can be performed in a clear and magnified surgical field through 2 small surgical wounds.

A review of published literature in PubMed was performed to identify studies of UBE decompression for DLCS. The outcome measures include operation time, length of hospital stay, estimated blood loss, visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the Macnab criteria.

A total of 76 relevant studies were retrieved through the PubMed search. After screening, 15 studies comprising 6 case series, 6 comparative studies, and 3 randomized controlled trials were included in this review. Significant improvements in pain and neurological symptoms were obtained in all studies. In the 6 case series studies, the outcome measures were extracted from each ruction than all the other decompression techniques.

The UBE technique is safe and effective for decompression of DLCS. Along with its efficacy in decompression, this technique is capable of preserving segmental stability. However, a long-term comparative study is required to verify this hypothesis.

The UBE technique is safe and effective for decompression of DLCS. Along with its efficacy in decompression, this technique is capable of preserving segmental stability. However, a long-term comparative study is required to verify this hypothesis.