Original Article Research Articles

Flow diversion for the treatment of intracranial bifurcation aneurysms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundFlow diversion (FD: flow diversion, flow diverter) is an endovascular treatment for many intracranial aneurysm types; however, limited reports have explored the use of FDs in bifurcation aneurysm management. We...

Editorial policies of Cell Methods

Cell Methods is a peer-reviewed open access journal aiming at publishing original arti-cles and reviews that present new and high-quality standards methods allowing to address current issues in life science. Here are the journal aims and the editorial poli-cies.

Deep Peroneal Neurectomy for Midfoot Arthritis: A Comprehensive Review, Surgical Technique, and Case Series

Patients with painful midfoot arthritis unsuccessfully treated with conservative measures have been historically left with the surgical option of midfoot arthrodesis as a definitive treatment. In recent years, excision of the deep peroneal nerve has been offered as a potential alternative. Existing literature on the outcomes of patients undergoing deep peroneal neurectomy for the treatment of midfoot arthritis is limited and piecemeal. In this comprehensive review, technique guide, and retrospective case series, we consolidate the evidence around deep peroneal neurectomy for midfoot arthritis, review operative technique, and determine the outcomes of 4 patients who underwent deep peroneal neurectomy from February 2021 to December 2022 using Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function and Pain Interference scores. Four original articles from National Center for Biotechnology Information Medline, published through May 2023, were included. The outcomes of patients treated with deep peroneal neurectomy for midfoot arthritis are discussed. In our case series, the average amount of time between surgery and final postoperative Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System scores was 289 days. The average preoperative physical function score was 36.8. Three patients showed a minimal clinically important difference in physical function; postoperative average was 41.3. Three patients had a minimally clinical important reduction in pain levels (average preoperative pain interference score was 65.8; average postoperative pain interference score was 59.3). One patient underwent a revision neurectomy for inadequate pain relief, and another sought additional treatment for inadequate pain relief. All patients returned to walking in a shoe within 1 month. The outcomes of our case series are similar to those of previously published case series, which demonstrate satisfactory results and acceptable complication rates. For patients with symptomatic midfoot arthritis, deep peroneal neurectomy can be an effective treatment option to reduce pain and improve physical function while requiring minimal postoperative recovery time.

Current use of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis.

Acute appendicitis is a common and time-sensitive surgical emergency, requiring rapid and accurate diagnosis and management to prevent complications. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in healthcare, offering significant potential to improve the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis. This review provides an overview of the evolving role of AI in the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis, highlighting its benefits, challenges, and future perspectives. We performed a literature search on articles published from 2018 to September 2023. We included only original articles. Overall, 121 studies were examined. We included 32 studies: 23 studies addressed the diagnosis, five the differentiation between complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis, and 4 studies the management of acute appendicitis. AI is poised to revolutionize the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis by improving accuracy, speed and consistency. It could potentially reduce healthcare costs. As AI technologies continue to evolve, further research and collaboration are needed to fully realize their potential in the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis.

The Participation of Ca2+ Channels in Epilepsy: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Scientific Literature in Latin America.

Bibliometric analysis allows us to quantify and evaluate scientific activity, and it has become increasingly important in all areas of scientific literature. Thanks to these analyses, we can infer where science should put greater efforts into elucidating the underlying mechanisms of diseases that have yet to be fully described or investigated. This paper delves into published articles related to the involvement of calcium (Ca2+) channels in epilepsy, which is a condition with a high prevalence in Latin America. We followed the scientific publication on SCOPUS and analyzed the impact of publications from Latin America in the field of epilepsy and the study of Ca2+ channels. We identified the countries with the largest number of publications and found that 68% of them were experimental (animal models), while 32% were clinical. We also identified the main journals, growth over time, and citation numbers. We found a total of 226 works produced by Latin American countries from 1976 to 2022. The countries that have contributed the most to the topic are Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, with occasional collaborations between them to make contributions to the study of epilepsy and Ca2+ channels. Additionally, we found that the journal with the most citations is Nature Genetics. The number of authors per article ranges from 1 to 242, and neuroscience journals are the preferred target for researchers, with a predilection for publishing original articles, although 26% of the publications are review articles.

Bibliometric characterization of Revista Alergia Mexico

To characterize the scientific production of the Revista Alergia Mexico. A descriptive study was carried out that took into consideration the bibliometric information of the Revista Alergia México hosted in PubMed (MEDLINE) and Scopus. The total number of articles published during 1991 to 2021 according to Pubmed was 1,115 (annual mean: 37.2 ± 12.3). Scopus registered 1,541 articles during 1972 to 2021 (annual mean: 30.8 ± 14.9); in both sources, original articles (49 and 78%, respectively) and review articles (21 and 12%, respectively) were the most published document modalities; the most relevant topics included asthma (32%), allergic rhinitis (16%) and drug allergy (9%). Public institutions in Mexico were the institutions with the highest number of published articles. The country with the highest number of published papers was Mexico (54%), followed by Colombia (5%) and Spain (4%). The 2020 citation index according to Scopus was 0.9; an H-index of 15; and an impact factor of 0.150. During the period 2016 - 2020, the annual rejection rate ranged from 7% to 30%. Promoting the internationalization of the journal, publishing articles in the English language and achieving the impact factor are among some of the main needs of the Revista Alergia Mexico.

A new measure of feeling safe: Developing psychometric properties of the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS).

The study comprised of 3 stages: (a) item generation, (b) item reduction, and (c) assessment of factor structure and internal consistency. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted from 2 samples who completed a survey online (exploratory n = 342, confirmatory n = 455). Initially, 107 items were generated. Item reduction and exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 29-item NPSS with subscales of compassion, social engagement and body sensations. The NPSS was found to have a consistent factor structure and internal consistency. The NPSS is a novel measure of psychological safety which can be used across a range of health and social care settings. This research provides a platform for further work to support and enhance understandings of the science of safety through the measurement of psychological, relational and physiological components of safety. The NPSS will help shape new approaches to evaluating trauma treatments, relational issues and mental health concerns. Research to establish the convergent, discriminant and concurrent validity of the NPSS and to explore its use with diverse community and clinical populations is underway. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

758 An Appraisal of the Quality of Development and Reporting of Predictive Models in Neurosurgery

INTRODUCTION: Overwhelming evidence indicates that the quality of reporting of predictive models is poor, often being confounded by small datasets, inappropriate statistical methods, a lack of validation, and reproducibility. METHODS: Articles reporting prediction models published in the top five neurosurgery journals by SJR2-rank (Neurosurgery, Journal of Neurosurgery, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, and Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry) between January 1st, 2018, and January 1st, 2023, were identified via a PubMed search strategy that combined terms related to machine learning and prediction models. The identified original research articles were analyzed against the TRIPOD criteria. RESULTS: 110 articles were included and analyzed against the TRIPOD checklist. Among the articles screened, the median compliance was 57.4% (50.0-66.7%). Models utilizing machine learning-based models exhibited lower compliance on average compared to conventional learning-based models (57.1%, 50.0-66.7% vs. 68.1%, 50.2-68.1%, p = 0.472). Among the TRIPOD criteria, the lowest compliance was observed in blinding the assessment of predictors and outcomes (n = 7, 12.7% and n = 10, 16.9%, respectively), including an informative title (n = 17, 15.6%) and reporting model performance measures including confidence intervals (n = 27, 24.8%). Few studies provided sufficient information to allow for the external validation of results (n = 26, 25.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Published machine learning models predicting outcomes in neurosurgery often fall short of meeting the established guidelines laid out by TRIPOD for their development, validation, and reporting. This lack of compliance may indicate the extent to which these models have been subjected to external validation or adopted into routine clinical practice in neurosurgery.

Global research on sinonasal inverted papilloma over the past two decades: a bibliometric analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the global research status, hot topics, and prospects in the field of sinonasal inverted papilloma (SNIP) through bibliometric analysis. The literature on SNIP was retrieved and downloaded from the Web of Science Core Collection from 2002 to 2021. The bibliometric and visualisation networks of SNIP were constructed using VOSviewer 1.6.18, CiteSpace 6.1. R2, and a bibliometric online analysis platform. A total of 560 original articles about SNIP research were included, involving 2,457 authors from 610 institutions in 45 countries. The number of SNIP publications showed an overall rising trend, with an average annual output of 28 articles and almost 3 times as many articles published in 2020 as in 2002. The analysis of keyword burst detection indicated that EGFR mutation, malignant transformation and infection are emerging research hotspots. Moreover, EGFR mutation, KRAS mutation, malignant tumour, metallothionein 2a gene, pre-operative diagnosis, HPV-negative tumour, and expression were among the 11 key clusters of co-cited references. This study provided a comprehensive, systematic, and objective analysis and visualised knowledge map of SNIP over the past 2 decades. In particular, current hotspots and prospective trends in the field of SNIP have been identified. These results highlight the future direction of SNIP research for rhinologists.

Relationship Between Subjective Questionnaires and Videofluoroscopy of Dysphagia Evaluation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Early detection of dysphagia is important for preventing aspiration pneumonia. Although videofluoroscopy is currently the primary diagnostic tool for dysphagia, access to this tool may be limited because of radiation exposure risk, high cost, and other factors. In this study, a meta-analysis was used to determine the strength of the correlation between dysphagia detection outcomes obtained using subjective questionnaires and videofluoroscopy. The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for original articles up to December 2022. Studies published in English that used cross-sectional designs to assess the correlation between subjective questionnaires and videofluoroscopy were considered eligible for inclusion. The search terms used included "dysphagia," "questionnaire," and "videofluoroscopy." Two reviewers critically appraised and extracted the correlation coefficient r values. In addition, a random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. The Q statistic was used to assess the heterogeneity among the included studies. Publication bias was checked using the funnel plot and Egger's tests. Multilevel analysis was used to determine sensitivity to consider within-study correlations. In addition, subgroup analyses were conducted based on type of questionnaire, head and neck cancer, and English-speaking regions. The meta-analysis included five studies and 856 patients using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 and one study and 27 patients using the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire. The results of the random-effects meta-analysis showed a moderate relationship between the subjective questionnaires and videofluoroscopy ( r = .35, 95% CI [0.20, 0.48]). Similar results were also obtained using multilevel analysis ( r = .34, 95% CI [0.25, 0.42]). No publication bias was found for any of the studies ( p = .88). In the subgroup analyses, a moderate relationship between Eating Assessment Tool-10 and videofluoroscopy ( r = .31, 95% CI [0.19, 0.42]) and an ultrahigh relationship between Sydney Swallow Questionnaire and video-fluoroscopy ( r = .74, 95% CI [0.50, 0.87]) were found. Furthermore, moderate associations were observed within each head and neck cancer and English-speaking regions subgroup. However, no significant differences were found between these two subgroups. These results indicate the subjective questionnaires considered in this study share a moderate relationship with videofluoroscopy. Subjective questionnaires may be used as an auxiliary tool by nurses and homecare givers for the early assessment of dysphagia risk in patients.

El papel de los revisores de artículos de investigación científica en medicina

The aim of this article is to describe the task and responsibility of the peer reviewers of medical scientific articles. It succinctly defines what constitutes an original scientific research article and discusses the responsibility and ethics involved in performing this task. Reviewing scientific articles is a commendable yet challenging job that requires knowledge and time to delve into the depth required. This has generated a shortage of reviewers of scientific articles willing to carry out this important task.

Research gap in esophageal achalasia: a narrative review.

In recent years, new translational evidence, diagnostic techniques, and innovative therapies have shed new light on esophageal achalasia and revamped the attention on this relatively rare motility disorder. This narrative review aims to highlight the most recent progress and the areas where further research is needed. The four senior authors identified five topics commonly discussed in achalasia management: i.e. pathogenesis, role of functional lumen imaging probe in the diagnostic flow chart of achalasia, how to define the outcome of achalasia treatments, how to manage persistent chest pain after the treatment, and if achalasia patients' may benefit from a regular follow-up. We searched the bibliographic databases to identify systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized control trials, and original research articles in English up to December 2023. We provide a summary with the most recent findings in each of the five topics and the critical points where to address future research, such as the immune-genetic patterns of achalasia that might explain the transition among the different phenotypes, the need for a validated clinical definition of treatment success, the use of neuromodulators to manage chest pain, and the need for identifying achalasia patients at risk for cancer and who may benefit of long-term follow-up. Although undoubtedly, progress has been made on the definition and management of achalasia, unmet needs remain. Debated aspects range from mechanistic insights, symptoms, objective measure relationships, and accurate clinical responses to therapeutic interventions. Translational research is eagerly awaited to answer these unresolved questions.

Gender distribution in surgical pathology journal publications and editorial boards

AimsTo investigate trends in representation of women among authors and editorial boards of surgical pathology journals over the last two decades.Secondary aims: to identify barriers and potential solutions.MethodsThe names and...

Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab for Plaque Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: An Expert Consensus Panel Report

Background: While there are numerous effective therapies for psoriasis, there remains an unmet need as some patients still suffer from inadequate response with available medications. Bimekizumab is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody that inhibits both interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F and was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The aim of this study was for a panel of experts in psoriasis management to review the available data on bimekizumab and create consensus statements on its use in clinical practice.
 Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted for English-language original research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses discussing the safety and efficacy of bimekizumab for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. A panel of nine dermatology physician assistants and one dermatology nurse practitioner with significant expertise in the management of psoriasis convened virtually on December 16, 2023, to review the studies and create recommendations for their peers on the use of bimekizumab. A modified Delphi process was implemented to reach a consensus on these statements and the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy was used to assign each one a strength of recommendation.
 Results: The literature search resulted in 92 articles that met search criteria. After a thorough screening of these studies for relevance to the discussion questions, 20 articles remained and were distributed to each panelist prior to the meeting. The panel unanimously voted to adopt 10 consensus recommendations and assigned all 10 statements a strength of recommendation of “A.”
 Conclusion: Bimekizumab has a very high efficacy in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. It also has a favorable safety profile that is consistent with that of other biologics, except for an increased risk of oral candidiasis.

The advancement in irrigation solution within the field of endodontics, A Review

The purpose of endodontic treatment is to eliminate all germs, microbial by-products, and vital tissues from the root canal system. Root canals can be mechanically and chemically used for this purpose. The needs and details of the irrigation solutions are described in this article. Because of its wide range of antibacterial activities and its ability to dissolve organic tissues, sodium hypochlorite is suggested as the main irrigation. On the contrary, chelation solutions are recommended as supplemental treatments to either eliminate the smear layer or prevent it from forming on the dentin surface. Data: Only articles that were published electronically were searched within the review. Sources: ‘Google Scholar’ and "Pub-med" websites were used to search data, The most papers related to the topic were chosen, specifically original articles , including only articles from 1999 to 2023.Journal papers that weren't published in a highly regarded publication, irrelevant studies, editorials, personal viewpoints, and social media sources were all disqualified from consideration. 98 articles were retained after the filtering procedure. In conclusion, this article reviews many types of new irrigations that may be used in endodontic practice in the future.

Methods of measurement for pneumothorax in pediatric patients: a systematic review.

Accurate measurement of pneumothorax (PTX) size is necessary to guide clinical decision making; however, there is no consensus as to which method should be used in pediatric patients. This systematic review seeks to identify and evaluate the methods used to measure PTX size with CXR in pediatric patients. A systematic review of the literature through 2021 following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was conducted using the following databases: Ovid/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar. Original research articles that included pediatric patients (< 18years old) and outlined the PTX measurement method were included. 45 studies were identified and grouped by method (Kircher and Swartzel, Rhea, Light, Collins, Other) and societal guideline used. The most used method was Collins (n = 16; 35.6%). Only four (8.9%) studies compared validated methods. All found the Collins method to be accurate. Seven (15.6%) studies used a standard classification guideline and 3 (6.7%) compared guidelines and found significant disagreement between them. Pediatric-specific measurement guidelines for PTX are needed to establish consistency and uniformity in both research and clinical practice. Until there is a better method, the Collins method is preferred.

Exploring the nutritional landscape and emerging trends in kidney stone research: visualization and bibliometric analysis

BackgroundKidney stones, or renal nephrolithiasis, are common and dangerous, increasing the risk of chronic kidney disease. Dietary manipulation is essential for the prevention and recurrence of kidney stones. Research into nutrition and kidney stones lacks library analysis, making it difficult to identify new trends. This bibliometric study was conducted to explore the current landscape of research on nutrition and kidney stones worldwide. This paper also emphasizes significant research trends in this area over the past two decades, aiming to assist researchers in understanding the current research status and identifying potential future directions.MethodsThe scholarly literature pertaining to diet and kidney stones was systematically explored utilizing SciVerse Scopus to identify pertinent research articles released from 2003 to 2022. The examination encompassed an assessment of publication patterns, key contributors, focal areas of research, prevalent themes, influential articles, and emerging research avenues. Following data extraction to Excel, analyses, including frequencies, percentages, and linear regression, were conducted. Visual exploration was facilitated through the use of the VOSviewer program version 1.6.19.ResultsBetween 2003 and 2022, 697 publications on nutrition and kidney stones were identified. There were 478 original articles (68.58%), 120 reviews (17.22%) and 99 other types of publications (14.20%). The United States is the most productive country, with significant growth in research in the fields of nutrition and kidney stones. The United States has demonstrated the strongest partnerships between researchers’ networks from various countries. Cluster analysis revealed three major research themes: sex differences in kidney stone disease, the correlation between increased dietary acid consumption and calcium oxide kidney stones, and nephrolithiasis associated with a ketogenic diet.ConclusionsThis study offers a thorough examination of nutrition and kidney stone research, encompassing key research domains, collaborative networks, and emerging patterns. The findings can aid researchers in gaining insight into the present landscape of the discipline and determining future research directions.

A scoping review of Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca: Mapping the health concerns and proposed solutions.

To map the current evidence about the health concerns and the potential solutions related to the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. A scoping review was applied. Papers published in English between 2012 and 2023 were included but non-human research and sources without any related data were excluded. Data charting and extraction were used to map the current evidence. The total of 36 papers were included with the total number of pilgrims of 17,075,887. The majority of studies were published in the Asia Pacific region (36.11%) as original articles (88.89%). The health concerns were grouped into five main aspects. There were 7603 deaths recorded or about 44 incidences of deaths per 100,000 pilgrims during the pilgrimage. There were recorded 11,018; 6178; 3393; and 17,810 cases for communicable diseases; non-communicable diseases; injuries and trauma; and health services (i.e., cardiac catheterization) and vaccination, respectively. Relating to the five health concerns, this study identified the top seven issues in each category (i.e., hypertension, influenza vaccination), except for the death record. Moreover, there were three solutions (for general health, non- and communicable-diseases) presented. Stakeholders could use this evidence to improve healthcare quality particularly related to the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

Impact of carotid stenosis on the outcome of stroke patients submitted to reperfusion treatments: a narrative review.

Intravenous thrombolysis (IT) and mechanical thrombectomy (MD) are the two interventional approaches that have changed the outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Ipsilateral and contralateral carotid stenosis (ICS, CCS) play an important role in regulating cerebral hemodynamics, both in chronic and acute situations such as AIS. Several studies have explored their role in the incidence and severity of stroke, but very few have investigated the possible impact of ICS and CCS on the efficacy of interventional procedures. The purpose of this review was to I) highlight the incidence and prevalence of carotid stenosis (CS); II) assess the impact of ICS and CCS on cerebral hemodynamics; III) evaluate the effect of carotid stenosis on the efficacy of interventional therapies (IT and MT) for AIS; and IV) report therapeutic complications related to CS. We searched PubMed/Medline for case reports, reviews, and original research articles on English-language review topics during the period from January 1, 2000 to October 1, 2023. CS is associated with 15-20 % of the total number of AIS. ICS and CCS had a negative influence on both cerebral hemodynamics before AIS and outcome after interventional procedures (IT, MT alone or in bridging). Available data on cerebral hemodynamics and efficacy of interventional therapies for AIS suggest a negative role of CS. Therefore, early diagnosis of CS may be considered relevant to preventive and post-stroke treatment strategies.

Geochemistry of Terrestrial Plants in the Central African Copperbelt: Implications for Sediment Hosted Copper-Cobalt Exploration

Mineral exploration has increasingly targeted areas covered by in situ or transported overburden for shallow to deep-seated orebodies. It remains critical to develop better means to detect the surficial chemical footprint of mineralized areas covered by thick regolith. In such settings, plant geochemistry could potentially be a useful exploration tool, as different plant species have varying degrees of tolerance to metal enrichment in the soil. This review provides insights into the geological and geochemical controls on metal accumulation patterns in soil–plant systems of the Central African Copperbelt. In addition, it highlights the opportunities for integrating the geochemistry of terrestrial plants in emerging exploration technologies, identifies research gaps, and suggests future directions for developing phytogeochemical sampling techniques. This review was conducted using reputable online scholarly databases targeting original research articles published between January 2005 and March 2023, from which selected articles were identified, screened, and used to explore current advances, opportunities, and future directions for the use of plant geochemistry in sediment hosted Cu–Co exploration in the Central African Copperbelt. Various plant species are recognized as ore deposit indicators through either independent phytogeochemistry or complementary approaches. In the Central African Copperbelt, the successful application of hyperaccumulator species for phytoremediation provides the basis for adopting phytogeochemistry in mineral exploration. Furthermore, current advances in remote sensing, machine learning, and deep learning techniques could enable multi-source data integration and allow for the integration of phytogeochemistry.