Rejected

: Musculoskeletal dysfunction can induce several types of chronic pain syndromes. It is of particular interest to elucidate the pathomechanism of different forms of chronic pain. It is possible that patients who have developed chronic widespread pain (CWP) may endure different pathomechanisms as compared to those who suffer from local pain (osteoarthritis, OA) and regional pain (chronic low back pain, cLBP), especially with regard to pain regulation and its related biomediators. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in pathomechanisms among these patients by measuring pain-related biomediators, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Additionally, subpopulations of immune cells were determined in parallel. : Patients and healthy subjects (HSs) were recruited (age and gender-matched). BDNF was measured from serum samples of patients and HSs and the data of body composition parameters were recorded. Additionally, both patients and HSs were asked to fill in questionnaires related to pain intensity, anxiety, and depression. : Our results highlight that the levels of both free and total BDNF are significantly lower in pain patients compared to HSs, with values of 0.041 and 0.024, respectively. The number of CD3 CD56 natural killer (NK) cells shows significant differences between the groups. Comparing all chronic pain patients with HSs reveals a significantly lower number of CD4 CD8 T cells ( 0.031), CD3 CD56 NK cells ( 0.049) and CD20 CD3 cells ( = 0.007). : To conclude, it seems that a general conformity between the pathomechanisms of different chronic pain diseases exists, although there are unique findings only in specific chronic pain patients.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic condition affecting primarily individuals of African descent, who happen to be disproportionately impacted by poverty and who lack access to health care. Individuals with SCD are at high likelihood of high acute care utilization and chronic pain episodes. The multiple complications seen in SCD contribute to significant morbidity and premature mortality, as well as substantial costs to the healthcare system. SCD is a complex chronic disease resulting in the need for primary, specialty and emergency care. Many providers do not feel prepared to care for individuals with SCD, despite the existence of evidence-based guidelines. We report the development of a SCD toolbox and the dissemination process to primary care and emergency department (ED) providers in North Carolina (NC). We report the effect of this dissemination on health-care utilization, cost of care, and overall cost-benefit. The SCD toolbox was adapted from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommendations. Toolbox training was provided to quality improvement specialists who then disseminated the toolbox to primary care providers (PCPs) affiliated with the only NC managed care coordination system and ED providers. Tools were made available in paper, online, and in app formats to participating managed care network practices (n=1 800). Medicaid claims data were analyzed for total costs and benefits of the toolbox dissemination for a 24-month pre- and 18-month post-intervention period. There was no statistically significant shift in the number of outpatient specialty visits, ED visits or hospitalizations. There was a small decrease in the number of PCP visits in the post-implementation period. The dissemination resulted in a net cost-savings of $361 414 ($14.03 per-enrollee per-month on average). However, the estimated financial benefit associated with the dissemination of the SCD toolbox was not statistically significant. Although we did not find the expected shift to increased PCP visits and decreased ED visits and hospitalizations, there were many lessons learned.

Sphenoid sinus fungal ball (FB) is a noninvasive fungal infection affecting predominantly immunocompetent middle-aged female patients. Common clinical manifestations include headaches, postnasal drip, and nasal discharge. In this case report, we present a 56-year-old female with a 10-year history of occasional dizziness, vertigo, nystagmus, feeling disoriented and feeling her eyes moving rapidly. Complaints of restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, stress and anger were also present. Due to the nonspecific nature of her symptoms, a diagnosis of sphenoid sinus FB was overlooked. Definitive diagnosis was established after performing a nasal endoscopy and subsequent histopathological examination of the collected sinus tissues. The histopathology report disclosed Aspergillosis FB with chronic sinusitis. Due to the decade long delay in diagnosis and proper treatment, septal wall collapse occurred, with the patient developing diabetes insipidus with hyponatremia that led to a massive seizure and fall, resulting in multiple disc herniations. Surgical removal of the FA elicited a complete resolution of her symptoms and a full recovery. Although fungal rhinosinusitis is a well recognized spectrum of diseases by ENT specialists, through this case report we hope to draw attention to this particular pathological entity within fungal infections, while simultaneously underlining the broad spectrum of symptoms with which it may manifest and the importance of including FA infections when considering the differential diagnosis in patients with long-standing chronic sinusitis.

Until now, little is known about the benefit of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). This study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of the LTG versus the open total gastrectomy (OTG) approach after NACT treatment in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

A 42-year-old woman from a medically underserved community in rural New England was referred by her primary care provider (PCP) for televisit during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic following 2 years of chronic neck pain and numbness in her left hand that was initially concerning for demyelinating disease. Upon further evaluation, it was revealed that she had experienced a traumatic fall with a concussion and symptoms consistent with central cord syndrome but had refused magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at her initial medical evaluation. On MRI conducted 1 month prior to neurosurgical evaluation she was found to have a disc bulge and 4-mm T2-hyperintense lesion at the C4-C5 level that was consistent with a chronic spinal cord injury secondary to spinal trauma with associated vertebrogenic injury. This televisit confirmed the diagnosis of chronic spinal cord injury for this patient and allowed for discussion of future interventions, avoided further unnecessary referrals, and increased access to care.

to investigate the change in volume and signal in the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) after whiplash injury, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to correlate them with other clinical parameters.

α2‑agonists and opioids have been used as intrathecal adjuvants to local anesthetics for several years, but the effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine (Dex) or sufentanil combined with epidural ropivacaine in labor analgesia is not fully understood.

: Craniopharyngioma is benign neoplasm thought to be caused by mal-development, which occurs in both children and adults in the sellar and suprasellar regions of the brain. Typical manifestations in adults are visual and endocrine system symptoms followed by signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (i.e., headache). The management of this rare condition is complex and requires life-long surveillance by a multidisciplinary team of health-care professionals. : To present a rare clinical presentation of craniopharyngioma mimicking nonspecific neck pain usually associated with cervicogenic headache recognized by a physiotherapist in a direct access setting as a condition requiring medical referral. : This case report describes the history, examination findings, and clinical reasoning used in the initial examination of a 33-year-old female with neck pain and cervicogenic headache as chief complaints. Several key indicators in the patient presentation warranted further and urgent investigation: 1) the recent onset of a "new-type" headache; 2) the phenotype headaches change; 3) the rapid progression of the symptoms; 4) the presence of associated neurological signs and symptoms; and 5) the worsening of the symptoms during Valsalva-like activities. The decision was made to refer the patient for further evaluation. An MRI revealed a craniopharyngioma. After a surgical removal of the tumor mass, the patient participated in a rehabilitation program and reached a full recovery after 6 months. : This case report highlights the need of more research regarding red flags and warning signs during examination of in the head-neck region, and the central role of primary care clinicians such as physiotherapists in differential diagnosis of life-threatening conditions.

Chronic kidney disease is defined as a decrease in renal function or evidence of kidney injury for >3 months. This represents an oversimplification that may confuse physicians. Thus kidney function is equated to glomerular filtration rate, which represents one of multiple kidney functions. Some potentially more important renal functions are lost earlier, such as the production for the anti-ageing factor Klotho. Overall, these changes modify the emergent properties of the body, altering the relationships between different organs and systems, in a manner that is difficult to predict the response to interventions based on normal physiology concepts, as there is a novel steady state of interorgan relations. In this regard we now discuss the impact of CKD on heart failure; osteomuscular and joint pain and bone fragility and fractures; and osteosarcopaenia as seen by a cardiologist, a rheumatologist and a geriatrician.