Latest Articles
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Beauty Parlor Stroke Syndrome (BPSS), can present after neck hyperextension during activities like hair shampooing. ⋯ BPSS, while rare, can result from hyperextension during routine activities like salon visits. Its symptoms overlap with those of a classic stroke, emphasizing the importance of thorough history-taking and advanced neuroimaging. Pathophysiology is linked to vascular impingement or dissection, with factors like atherosclerosis and vertebral artery hypoplasia contributing. Treatment is tailored to the underlying cause, ranging from conservative measures to surgical interventions. Emergency physicians should consider BPSS in patients with recent neck hyperextension and acute neurological symptoms.
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An estimated 17% of all couples worldwide are involuntarily childless (infertile). The clinically identifiable causes of infertility can be found in the male or female partner or in both. The molecular pathophysiology of infertility still remains unclear in many cases but is increasingly being revealed by genetic analyses. ⋯ Genetic causes, disease patterns, and the related investigations are becoming increasingly important in the diagnostic evaluation of infertile couples and have implications for further treatment, for the children of the affected couple, and for other family members.
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Sarcopenia is a progressive, generalized disease of skeletal muscle characterized by a loss of muscle strength and muscle mass. The combination of obesity and sarcopenia is called sarcopenic obesity. Because of the aging of the population in many countries around the world, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity are a challenge for global health policy. ⋯ A targeted and structured approach to the detection and treatment of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity can make a major contribution to the maintenance or improvement of these patients' functionality and quality of life.
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The transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) technique, pioneered by Harms and Rolinger in 1982 and further refined in the early 2000s by Rosenberg and Mummaneni and later by Foley and Lefkowitz, uses Kambin triangle to access the disc space, thecal sac, and nerve roots. The minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approach to TLIF minimizes soft tissue disruption and spinal segment destabilization, offering benefits such as reduced operative times, blood loss, complications, and postoperative opiate use, with comparable fusion rates to open techniques. Despite these advantages, MIS interbody selection poses challenges, with the MIS TLIF preferred for L4-5 fusions when lordosis restoration is not needed. ⋯ Awake MIS TLIF, incorporating conscious sedation and local anesthesia, offers additional benefits of faster discharge and reduced postoperative pain. Some authors have also started using endoscopic techniques as well to further minimize tissue trauma. The integration of these advanced techniques and technologies in MIS TLIF continues to improve surgical outcomes and expands the applicability of this minimally invasive approach, making it a valuable tool in spine surgery.
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Mar 2025
ReviewEvaluation and Management of Acute Transient Loss of Consciousness.
Transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) is among the most common complaints encountered by clinicians across specialties. Possible etiologies of acute TLOC can be classified as neurologic, systemic, and functional. ⋯ Functional neurologic disorders (also known as conversion disorders or psychogenic spells) refer to clinical conditions in which clinical presentation can mimic but does not completely fit with any specific neurologic or systemic disorder and conventional diagnostic testing reveals normal neurologic and systemic structures. The focus of this review will be on the diagnostic process and tools to differentiate between the multitudes of causes of TLOC.