Medicine
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Retrospective radiographic analysis. To determine the fusion rate of stand-alone lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF). Biomechanical studies have indicated that LLIF may be more stable than anterior or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. ⋯ While our study population was relatively low, a non-union rate of 19% to 27% is concerning for modern spine surgery. Currently in our practice, we occasionally still perform stand-alone LLIF utilizing 22 mm wide grafts in low-demand levels in non-smoking and non-osteoporotic patients. However, in a majority of patients, we provide supplemental fixation: bilateral pedicle screws in most patients and unilateral pedicle screws or spinous process plates in some patients.
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Observational Study
Management of complicated aortic aneurysms using multiple overlapping uncovered stents: mid-term outcome from a cohort study.
This study sought to report the mid-term outcome of a modified flow-diverting strategy in the treatment of complicated aortic aneurysms of different morphology. Historical data suggested aortic aneurysm expansion and rupture after endovascular treatment with current commercial flow-diverters, indicating the essentiality of further investigation of this technique prior to its large-scale clinical application. An alternative flow-diverting strategy using layer-by-layer assembled multiple overlapping uncovered stents was employed in this study. ⋯ This modified flow-diverting strategy could be a feasible alternative in the management of complicated aortic aneurysms where vital branches need to be preserved. The treatment outcome may depend on the aneurysm type. Further studies with larger patient cohort and longer follow-up are required to substantiate these results.
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Blood pressure (BP) changes with age. We conducted a cross-sectional study in rural Chinese adults to investigate: (1) what is the relationship between age, arterial stiffness, and BP in Chinese men and women; and (2) to what degree can the age-BP relationship be explained by arterial stiffness, controlling for other covariables. These analyses included a total of 1688 subjects (males/females: 623/1065), aged 40 to 88 years. ⋯ Arterial stiffness appears to be an independent contributor to hypertension, even after adjusting for age and other covariables. In contrast, age-BP associations became attenuated or negative after adjusting for baPWV. The utility of baPWV as a diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic indicator for hypertension warrants further investigation.
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Auditory musical hallucinations (AMHs) are rare complex auditory hallucinations in Parkinson's disease (PD) that have been limited previously. The characteristics of AMHs in PD remain uncertain. We describe a 72-year-old woman with PD who presented with AMHs. ⋯ The music was unpleasant, but not objectionable, threatening, or ego-syntonic, and it did not interrupt her daily activities. AMHs in PD were non-threatening, and dopaminergic treatment may predispose patients to AMHs or be a unique possible cause of AMHs. The hallucinations can occur after immediate-release pramipexole was switched to extended-release pramipexole.