Rejected

In 2017, 11.4 million US citizens misused prescription opioids, resulting in 46 overdose deaths daily and a $78.5 billion burden on the economy. Dentists are one of the most frequent prescribers of opioids, and there is concern that dental prescribing is contributing to the opioid crisis.

Radiotherapy (RT) has become an indispensable part of oncologic treatment protocols for a range of malignancies. However, a serious adverse effect of RT is radiodermatitis; almost 95% of patients develop moderate to severe skin reactions following radiation treatment. In the acute setting, these can be erythema, desquamation, ulceration, and pain. Chronically, soft tissue atrophy, alopecia, and stiffness can be noted. Radiodermatitis can delay oncologic treatment protocols and significantly impair quality of life. There is currently a paucity of effective treatment options and prevention strategies for radiodermatitis. Importantly, recent preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that fat grafting may be of therapeutic benefit, reversing detrimental changes to soft tissue following RT. This review outlines the damaging effects of RT on the skin and soft tissue as well as discusses available treatment options for radiodermatitis. Emerging strategies to mitigate detrimental, chronic radiation-induced changes are also presented.

A 10-step protocol employing multimodal analgesia was implemented in patients undergoing mastectomy to decrease the quantity of opioids prescribed at discharge.

During the past 15 years, opioid-related overdose death rates for women have increased 471%. Many surgeons provide opioid prescriptions well in excess of what patients actually use. This study assessed a health systems intervention to control pain adequately while reducing opioid prescriptions in ambulatory breast surgery.

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease with decreased bone mass and alteration in microarchitecture of bone tissue, and these changes put patients in risk of bone fracture. As a common symptom of osteoporosis and complication of osteoporotic fracture, chronic pain is a headache for clinicians. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), selective COX-2 inhibitors and opioid drugs can temporarily reduce osteoporotic pain but have relevant side effects, such as addiction, tolerability and safety. The review summarized the recent advancements in the study of CB receptors in osteoporosis and osteoporotic pain and related mechanisms.

Roughly 17 million abdominal surgeries are performed annually in the U.S. Up to 17% of those may be readmitted for adhesion related problems. This study evaluated the effectiveness of soft tissue mobilization (STM) techniques at improving chronic pain, mobility restrictions and functional deficits following complex abdominal surgery.

The mechanism of action of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is thought to be related to the biomolecules present in α-granules. However, for the healing process to occur, an inflammatory phase is also deemed necessary. Leukocytes present in the inflammatory phase release both pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules. The latter may play an important role in the process of "inflammatory regeneration". Thus, we propose that in the context of healing, both platelets and leukocytes play an important role, specifically due to the macrophage's plasticity to switch from the M1 to M2 fraction. Therefore, we propose that PRP products derived from the buffy coat may be more beneficial than detrimental from a standpoint of the regenerative potential of PRP.

This article critically discusses the current assessment guidelines valid since 2014 which must be applied to determine the driving aptitude of patients with dizziness and balance disorders (in the official document called "disorders of the sense of balance"). With all due respect for the meticulous work of the expert commission who established the guidelines – the likes of which are not known anywhere else – we consider their revision imperative. On the basis of our many years of experience in the German Center for Dizziness and Balance Disorders of the LMU Munich it is our opinion that these restrictions are too strict and the required dizziness-free intervals are too long.The guidelines now stipulate the following for drivers with a group 1 driving licence ("private"):1) Patients with Meniere's disease (attacks without prodromes) must have had no attacks for 2 years before it is possible to drive a car again.2) Patients with vestibular migraine without prodromes must not have had any attacks for 3 years.The following stipulations hold for drivers with a group 1 and group 2 driving licence ("professional driver"):3) Patients with bilateral vestibulopathy as a rule are considered to have a driving disability, likewise4) Patients with central vestibular forms of vertigo, e. g., oculomotor disorders like downbeat and upbeat nystagmus syndromes are also as a rule regarded as having a driving disability.5) Patients with functional (psychogenic) forms of dizziness (e. g., phobic postural vertigo) who have a group 1 driving licence are considered to have a driving disability if dizziness occurs while driving. Those with a group 2 driving licence are in general considered to have a driving disability. However, many patients with episodic or chronic dizziness have such minor symptoms that their driving fitness is not relevantly impaired or if they do have an attack, they are able to stop driving in a controlled manner. In contrast, the restrictions on other illnesses that are accompanied by attack-like disorders of cognition and consciousness like the epilepsies are less strict. Depending on the type of attack or its trigger, the attack-free interval for such patients with a group 1 driving licence amounts to 3 months up to 1 year, although they clearly are not fit to drive during an attack.

Abductor tendon tears are one of the common causes of recalcitrant laterally based hip pain and dysfunction. In most cases, abductor tendon tears are associated with chronic nontraumatic tearing of the gluteus medius tendon. Restoring abductor function of the hip by primary repair of the gluteus medius tendon has been reported to have good and excellent outcomes. However, primary repair might not be as effective for chronic detachment of the gluteus medius tendon with a wide separation from the femoral footprint or severe tendon loss. The lack of tendinous foot for repair and the intrinsically degenerative condition of the tendon may create high tension at the repair site thereby predisposing to surgical failure. We believe that the use of soft-tissue allograft from the Achilles tendon or human dermal allograft may help strengthen the surgical site. We describe a superior gluteal reconstruction technique that is suitable for cases with abductor tendon tear with severe tendon loss.

Mercury is a toxic metal that exists in elemental, inorganic, and organic states. Humans are exposed to mercury through industrial sources, consumption of seafood, or healthcare. Over time, this compound can accumulate in the body and cause symptoms. The authors of this study report a case of mercury toxicity and the detoxification treatment regimen provided to the patient from a functional medicine standpoint.