Correlation between anxiety, sleep disturbance and clinical outcomes in a lumbar decompression cohort.

BACKGROUND: Patients with lumbar spinal pathology often suffer from anxiety and sleep disturbance, but correlations between anxiety and sleep disturbance and other patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) before and after surgical intervention have not been explored. The purpose of this study is to analyze the correlations between patient-reported anxiety, sleep disturbance, and PROMs before and after lumbar decompression. METHODS: All patients undergoing elective, primary, lumbar decompression were retrospectively queried from a prospectively-maintained single spine surgeon database. Demographic and perioperative data and pre- and postoperative PROMs were extracted. Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Information System (PROMIS)-Anxiety, PROMIS-Sleep Disturbance (SD), PROMIS-Physical Function (PF), 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Visual Analog Scale (VAS)-Back, VAS-Leg, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were obtained preoperatively and through two years postoperatively. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated between PROMIS-Anxiety, PROMIS-SD, and the other PROMs of interest. RESULTS: PROMIS-Anxiety was positively correlated with PROMIS-SD (range: r = 0.473-0.828, p ≤ 0.006, all), PHQ-9 (range: r = 0.613--0.890, p ≤ 0.006, all), VAS-Back (range: r = -0.410-0.798, p ≤ 0.039, all), and ODI (range: r = 0.503-0.732, p ≤ 0.033, all) at all timepoints. PROMIS-Anxiety was negatively correlated with PROMIS-PF through 1 year postoperatively (range: r = -0.323- -0.729p ≤ 0.033, all). PROMIS-Anxiety was positively correlated to VAS-Leg at preoperative, 6-week, 12-week, and 2-year postoperative timepoints (range: r = 0.333--0.707, p ≤ 0.022, all). PROMIS-SD was positively correlated with PHQ-9 (range: r = 0.600-0.836), VASBack (range: r = 0.383-0.734), VAS-Leg (range: r = 0.399-0.811), and ODI (range: r = 0.404-0.812) at all timepoints (p ≤ 0.031, all). PROMIS-SD was negatively correlated with PROMIS-PF at all timepoints (range: r = -0.339-0.665, p ≤ 0.035, all). CONCLUSION: Patient-reported anxiety and sleep disturbance are significantly correlated with depressive burden, back pain, disability, and physical function, before and after lumbar decompression. Future studies should aim to determine the directionality of the associations and test interventions to improve health-related quality of life following lumbar decompression.

Assessing the Feasibility and Effectiveness of Screening for Indoor Tanning in the Primary Care Setting: A Report of Preliminary Findings.

Introduction: Indoor tanning is a major modifiable risk factor in the development of both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. Investigation of behavior-altering interventions is an area of active research. As with other preventive measures, screening of high-risk populations can be an important aspect of a multimodality public health intervention. This study sought to further the limited understanding of indoor tanning screening practices in the primary care setting. Methods: Physicians practicing within the scope of primary care in the northeast were surveyed in 2022 on practice patterns around the frequency of indoor tanning screening, barriers encountered with implementing screening, and actions taken with a positive screen. Research methodology adhered to the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. Results: Of 26 primary care physicians, only 7.7% routinely screened for indoor tanning. Barriers identified included time limitations (76.9%) and prioritization of other health concerns (96.2%). All primary care physicians (100%) reacted to reports of indoor tanning with an intervention, most commonly counseling on the risks of indoor tanning (92.6%). Conclusions: This data suggest that screening for indoor tanning use could be improved. The authors recommend the incorporation of a standardized screening question regarding indoor tanning in intake forms.

Effect of Preoperative Motor Weakness on Postoperative Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Cervical Disk Replacement.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective review. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of preoperative motor weakness on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing cervical disk replacement (CDR). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Studies examining the effect of preoperative motor weakness on postoperative clinical outcomes in CDR are limited. METHODS: Patient cohorts were based on documented upper-extremity motor weakness on physical exam versus no motor weakness. Demographics, perioperative characteristics, and preoperative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were compared using univariate inferential statistics. PROMs consisted of Visual Analog Pain Scale-Neck (VAS-N), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), VAS-Arm (VAS-A), 12-Item Short Form (SF-12) Physical Component Score (PCS), Oswestry Neck Disability Index (NDI), and SF-12 Mental Component Score (MCS). Postoperative PROMs were collected at the 6-week, 12-week, 6-month, and final follow-up up to 1-yeartime points, and intercohort minimum clinically important difference (MCID) achievement was compared through multivariable linear logistic regression adjusting for significant differences in preoperative characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients formed cohorts based on documented upper-extremity weakness (n=73) versus no weakness (n=45). The average time to postoperative follow-up was 9.7±7.0 mo. The differences in insurance type between the 2 cohorts were significant (P<0.042). Perioperative diagnosis of foraminal stenosis was significantly more common in the motor weakness cohort (P<0.013). There were no differences in reported PROMs between cohorts. Patients with motor weakness reported significant MCID achievement for PROMIS-PF at 6-/12-weeks (P<0.012, P<0.041 respectively), SF-12 PCS at 6-months (P<0.042), VAS-N at final follow-up (P<0.021), and NDI at final follow-up (P<0.013). CONCLUSIONS: CDR patients with preoperative muscle weakness achieved MCID across several PROMs compared with patients without muscle weakness. Patients with motor weakness reported greater improvement in mental health, pain, and disability as early as 6 weeks and up to 1 year after CDR. This information serves to inform physicians that motor weakness may not indicate a negative overall outcome.

Exploring Skin Pigmentation Adaptation: A Systematic Review on the Vitamin D Adaptation Hypothesis.

Understanding the genetic adaptations that occurred as humans migrated out of Africa to higher latitudes helps explain on a population-wide level how UV radiation (UVR) exposure will have varying consequences and benefits in patients of different skin pigmentations. It has been hypothesized that the need for efficient vitamin D synthesis was the primary driver for the skin-lightening process that evolutionarily occurred as humans migrated to higher latitudes. This review analyzes the level of support for the hypothesis that skin lightening occurred to enable adequate vitamin D synthesis in populations that migrated to areas with less UVR. Our literature search supported the hypothesis that through natural selection and intricate genetic adaptations, humans who migrated to areas with lower levels of UVR underwent a skin-lightening process to avoid the consequences of vitamin D deficiency. Our review includes an analysis of migration patterns out of Africa and how these affected pigmentation genes that are found in certain ethnic populations can be used to better understand this critical adaptation process when counseling patients on the need for sun protection.

Artificial Intelligence for Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, several studies have shown that potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in dermatology. However, there has yet to be a systematic review evaluating the usage of AI specifically within the field of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). OBJECTIVE: In this review, we aimed to comprehensively evaluate the current state, efficacy, and future implications of AI when applied to MMS for the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across several databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane libraries. A predefined protocol was registered in PROSPERO, with literature search involving specific keywords related to AI and Mohs surgery for NMSC. RESULTS: From 23 studies evaluated, our results find that AI shows promise as a prediction tool for precisely identifying NMSC in tissue sections during MMS. Furthermore, high AUC and concordance values were also found across the various usages of AI in MMS, including margin control, surgical recommendations, similarity metrics, and in the prediction of stage and construction complexity. CONCLUSION: The findings of this review suggest promising potential for AI to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of Mohs surgery, particularly for NMSC.

Strategies for Increasing the Throughput of Genetic Screening: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic within a University Community.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Polytechnic University of Setúbal (IPS) used its expertise in molecular genetics to establish a COVID-19 laboratory, addressing the demand for community-wide testing. Following standard protocols, the IPS COVID Lab received national accreditation in October 2020 and was registered in February 2021. With the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and safety concerns for students and staff, the lab was further challenged to develop rapid and sensitive diagnostic technologies. Methodologies such as sample-pooling extraction and multiplex protocols were developed to enhance testing efficiency without compromising accuracy. Through Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis, the effectiveness of sample pooling was validated, proving to be a clear success in COVID-19 screening. Regarding multiplex analysis, the IPS COVID Lab developed an in-house protocol, achieving a sensitivity comparable to that of standard methods while reducing operational time and reagent consumption. This approach, requiring only two wells of a PCR plate (instead of three for samples), presents a more efficient alternative for future testing scenarios, increasing its throughput and testing capacity while upholding accuracy standards. The lessons learned during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic provide added value for future pandemic situations.

Impact of Early Depressive Burden on Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mental health influence on minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Poor mental health has been postulated to indicate inferior patient perceptions of surgical outcomes in spine literature. Few studies have assessed mental health as a dynamic metric throughout the perioperative period. METHODS: A single-surgeon database was retrospectively searched for patients who underwent primary, elective MIS-TLIF for degenerative or isthmic spondylolisthesis. Summative depressive burden (SDB) was defined by the sum of preoperative and 6-week postoperative 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with Lesser Burden (LB, SDB<10) and Greater Burden (GB, SDB≥10) cohorts. Patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) were compared preoperatively, at 6 weeks, and at final postoperative follow-up (11.4±10.9 mo), using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analog scale-back (VAS-B), VAS-leg (VAS-L), and PHQ-9. Improvements at 6-week (∆PROM-6W), final follow-up (∆PROM-FF), and minimum clinically important difference (MCID) achievement were compared. RESULTS: The GB cohort consisted of 44 of 105 patients. Demographic variations included older age, higher Charlson comorbidity index, increased hypertension prevalence, and private insurance in the LB cohort (P≤0.018). The LB cohort demonstrated better baseline and 6-week PROMIS-PF/ODI/VAS-L (P≤0.032) and better final PROMIS-PF/ODI/VAS-L/PHQ-9 (P≤0.031). Both cohorts improved in all PROMs at 6 weeks and final follow-up (P≤0.029), except for PROMIS-PF at 6 weeks in the GB cohort. ∆PROM-6W, ∆PROM-FF, and MCID achievement rate for PHQ-9 were greater in the GB cohort (P≤0.001). CONCLUSION: On average, patients undergoing MIS-TLIF for degenerative or isthmic spondylolisthesis improved in all PROMs by final follow-up. Patients with GB suffered inferior perceptions of physical function, disability, and leg pain. MCID rates in mental health were higher for GB cohort. Surgeons are encouraged to adopt a compassionate understanding of depressive burden and educate the patient on possible consequential postoperative outcomes.

Worse Preoperative 12-Item Veterans Rand Physical Component Scores Prognosticate Inferior Outcomes Following Outpatient Lumbar Decompression.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Review. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the influence of the 12-Item veterans Rand (VR-12) physical component score (PCS) on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in an outpatient lumbar decompression (LD) cohort. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The influence of baseline VR-12 PCS on postoperative clinical outcomes has not been evaluated in patients undergoing outpatient LD. METHODS: Patients undergoing primary, elective, 1/2-level outpatient LD with baseline VR-12 PCS scores were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained single-surgeon database. Cohorts were preoperative VR-12 PCS<30 and VR-12 PCS≥30. Patient/perioperative characteristics and preoperative/postoperative 6-week/final follow-up (FF) PROMs were collected. Physical health PROMs included the VR-12 PCS, 12-Item Short Form (SF-12) PCS, patient-reported outcome measure information system-physical function (PROMIS-PF), visual analog scale (VAS)-back/leg, and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Mental health PROMs included the VR-12/SF-12 mental component score (MCS) and the patient-health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Average FF was 13.8±8.9 months postoperatively. PROM improvements at 6 weeks/FF and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) achievement rates were determined. χ2 analysis and the Student's t tests compared demographics, perioperative data, and preoperative PROMs. Multivariate linear/logistic regression compared postoperative PROMs, PROM improvements, and MCID achievement rates. RESULTS: Six weeks postoperatively, VR-12 PCS<30 reported worse baseline PROMs (P≤0.042, all) and worse scores except VR-12/SF-12 MCS (P≤0.043, all). Compared with VR-12 PCS≥30, VR-12 PCS<30 had worse FF VR-12 PCS, SF-12 PCS/MCS, PROMIS-PF, PHQ-9, and VAS-Back (P≤0.033, all). VR-12 PCS<30 experienced greater 6-week improvements in VR-12/SF-12 PCS, PHQ-9, VAS-Back, and ODI (P≤0.039, all). VR-12 PCS<30 had greater FF improvements in VR-12/SF-12 PCS, PHQ-9, and ODI (P≤0.001, all) and greater overall MCID achievement in VR-12 PCS/MCS, SF-12 PCS, PHQ-9, and ODI (P≤0.033, all). CONCLUSIONS: VR-12 PCS<30 patients-reported worse baseline/postoperative mental/physical health scores. However, they reported greater improvements in physical function, depressive burden, back pain, and disability by 6 weeks and FF and experienced greater MCID achievement for physical functioning, mental health, and disability scores.

Worse Pain and Disability at Presentation Predicts Greater Improvement in Pain, Disability, and Mental Health in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Review. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of preoperative pain and disability on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) for degenerative spondylolisthesis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Varying preoperative symptom severity in lumbar fusion patients alters perceptions of surgical success. METHODS: Degenerative spondylolisthesis patients undergoing elective, primary, single-level MI-TLIF were stratified by preoperative symptom severity: Mild (VAS-B<7/ODI<50), Moderate (VAS-B≥7/ODI<50 or VAS-B<7/ODI≥50), and Severe (VAS-B≥7/ODI≥50). PROMs, Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), ODI, VAS-B, VAS-Leg (VAS-L), and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were compared at baseline, 6 weeks, and final follow-up (µ=16.3±8.8 mo). Postoperative PROMs, magnitudes of improvement, and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) achievement rates were compared between cohorts through multivariable regression. RESULTS: A total of 177 patients were included. Acute postoperative pain and narcotic consumption were highest in the severe cohort (P≤0.003). All preoperative PROMs worsened from mild to severe cohorts (P<0.001). All PROMs continued to be significantly different between cohorts at 6 weeks and final follow-up, with the worst scores in the Severe cohort (P≤0.003). At 6 weeks, all cohorts improved in ODI, VAS-B, VAS-L, and PHQ-9 (P≤0.003), with the Moderate cohort also improving in PROMIS-PF (P=0.017). All Cohorts improved across PROMs at the final follow-up (P≤0.044). Magnitudes of improvement in ODI, VAS-B, and PHQ-9 increased with worsening preoperative symptom severity (P≤0.042). The Moderate and Severe cohorts demonstrated higher MCID achievement in ODI, VAS-B, and PHQ-9 rates than the Mild cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Despite preoperative pain and disability severity, patients undergoing MI-TLIF for degenerative spondylolisthesis report significant improvement in physical function, pain, disability, and mental health postoperatively. Patients with increasing symptom severity continued to report worse severity postoperatively compared with those with milder symptoms preoperatively but were more likely to report larger improvements and achieve clinically meaningful improvement in disability, pain, and mental health.

Does Baseline Facet Arthropathy Influence Early Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes After Cervical Disc Replacement?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Severe facet arthropathy is generally a contraindication to undergoing cervical disc replacement (CDR) due to associated instability and potentially limited improvement in neck pain caused by arthropathy. This study evaluates the influence of facet arthropathy on radiographic/early clinical outcomes after CDR. METHODS: One/two-level CDR patients from a single surgeon's prospectively maintained database created 2 cohorts based on facet arthropathy: grade 0-1 or 2-3 (milder/moderate arthropathy). Patient-reported outcome measures for neck disability, neck/arm pain, depressive burden, mental/physical health/function were obtained preoperatively and through final follow-up (average follow-up: 8.5 ± 6.5 months). Preoperative/postoperative radiographs measured segmental lordosis and C2-C7/segmental range of motion (ROM) and determined facet grade for each operative level. Demographic differences, perioperative variables, baseline patient-reported outcomes, and intercohort differences/changes for postoperative patient-reported/radiographic outcomes were determined. RESULTS: Of 161 patients, 100 were in the milder arthropathy group. There were no differences in baseline patient-reported outcomes. Patients with moderate arthropathy reported superior 6-week 12-Item Veterans Rand Mental/Physical Composite Scores (P ≤ .047, all). By final follow-up, moderate patients reported better 12-Item Veterans Rand Mental/Physical Composite Scores/Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System-Physical Function/Patient-Health Questionnaire-9 (P ≤ .049, all). Cohorts reported similar improvements in all patient-reported outcomes by 6 weeks/final follow-up. Those with more severe facet arthropathy had significantly shorter preoperative disc heights (P < .001). Accounting for baseline disc height differences, by final follow-up, moderate patients had lower segmental ROM (P = .036). There were no significant differences in radiographic measurement changes (P ≥ .264, all). CONCLUSION: Postoperatively, patients with moderate facet arthropathy reported lower depressive burden, better mental health/physical function, and lower segmental ROM. However, this did not translate to inferior short-term clinical outcomes. Further study should be conducted on the relationship between clinical/radiographic outcomes in CDR patients with facet arthropathy.

Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis leading to a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia with monocytic differentiation: A case report and literature review.

Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (CHP) is associated with a number of systemic conditions and is characterized by the presence of benign phagocytic histiocytes ("bean bag cells"), including phagocytosed erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. We describe a case of a 72-year-old female who presented with a papular eruption that clinically mimicked pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA). Given that her skin biopsy had multiple features concerning PLEVA, this diagnosis was classified as a superficial pityriasis lichenoides-like variant of CHP. The histopathologic presence of cytophagic histiocytosis prompted workup for a systemic malignancy, leading to a diagnosis of underlying acute monocytic leukemia of myeloid lineage.

Cervical Disk Replacement Versus Anterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion: Effect of Procedural Variant on Patients With a Prolonged Preoperative Duration of Symptoms From Disk Herniation.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with a prolonged preoperative symptom duration (PSD) in the setting of cervical disk herniation (DH) may suffer inferior outcomes after surgical intervention. Comparison between anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) versus cervical disk arthroplasty (CDA) in this at-risk population has not yet been conducted. METHODS: Patients undergoing ACDF or CDA for DH with a PSD > 180 days were selected. Six-week (6W) and final follow-up (FF) patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) as well as magnitude of postoperative improvements (∆PROM) were compared between cohorts using multivariable linear regression. Intercohort achievement rates of minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in each PROM were compared. RESULTS: Seventy-seven of 190 patients were in the CDA cohort. 6W Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function (PROMIS-PF) was superior in the CDA cohort. The ACDF cohort demonstrated notable improvements in the 6W Neck Disability Index (NDI), visual analog scale-neck pain (VAS-N), visual analog scale-arm pain (VAS-A), and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The CDA cohort demonstrated notable improvements in 6W PROMIS-PF, NDI, VAS-N, and VAS-A. FF VAS-A was better in the CDA cohort. The ACDF cohort demonstrated notable improvements in FF PROMIS-PF, NDI, VAS-N, and VAS-A. The CDA cohort demonstrated notable improvements in all FF PROMs. ∆PROM-6W in PROMIS-PF was greater in the CDA cohort. CONCLUSION: Patients with prolonged PSD due to cervical DH demonstrated notable improvements in physical function, disability, pain, and mental health regardless of fusion versus arthroplasty techniques. Accounting for demographic variations, patients undergoing CDA demonstrated a greater magnitude of improvement and superior scores in physical function at the first postoperative follow-up. Rates of clinically tangible improvements in PROMs did not markedly vary by surgical procedure. Patients undergoing CDA may perceive greater early improvements to physical function compared with patients undergoing ACDF for prolonged PSD due to DH.

Prognostic value in preoperative Veterans RAND-12 mental Component score on clinical outcomes for patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

No study has examined the prognostic value of the Veterans RAND-12 (VR-12) Mental Component Score (MCS) on postoperative outcomes in minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) patients. This study examines the effect of preoperative VR-12 MCS on postoperative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in MIS-TLIF patients. Patients were separated into 2 cohorts: VR-12 MCS < 50 and VR-12 MCS ≥ 50. PROMs of VR-12 MCS/Physical Component Score (PCS), Short Form-12 (SF-12) MCS/PCS, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Back/Leg Pain (VAS-BP/LP), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were collected.Of 329 patients, 151 were in the VR-12 MCS < 50 cohort. The VR-12 MCS < 50 cohort reported significantly inferior scores in all PROMs preoperatively, significantly inferior VR-12 MCS, SF-12 MCS, PROMIS-PF, PHQ-9, and ODI scores at 6-weeks postoperatively, and significantly inferior scores in all PROMs, except for VAS-BP at final follow-up. Magnitude of 6-week postoperative improvement was significantly greater in the VR-12 MCS < 50 cohort for VR-12 MCS, SF-12 MCS, and PHQ-9. Magnitude of final postoperative improvement was significantly greater in the VR-12 MCS < 50 cohort for VR-12 MCS, SF-12 MCS/PCS, and PHQ-9. MCID achievement rates were significantly greater in the VR-12 MCS < 50 cohort for VR-12 MCS, SF-12 MCS, and PHQ-9. MIS-TLIF patients with lesser preoperative VR-12 MCS reported inferior postoperative outcomes in mental health, physical function, pain, and disability. However, patients with inferior preoperative mental health reported greater rates of clinically meaningful improvement in mental health. Inferior preoperative mental health does not limit postoperative improvement in patients undergoing MIS-TLIF.

Preoperative motor weakness and the impact on patient reported outcomes in lateral lumbar interbody fusion.

This study measures the impact of preoperative motor weakness (MW) on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) patients. Retrospectively-sourced data from a prospectively-maintained, single-surgeon database created two cohorts of LLIF patients: patients with/without documented MW. Demographics/perioperative characteristics/PROMs were collected preoperatively and at six-weeks/final follow-up (FF). Studied outcomes were Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), 12-Item Short Form (SF-12) Physical/Mental Component Score (PCS/MCS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Visual Analog Scale Back/Leg Pain (VAS-BP/LP), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Multivariable linear/logistic regression calculated/compared intercohort minimum clinically important difference (MCID). Mean postoperative follow-up time was 11.5 ± 7.52 months. In total, 214 LLIF patients from December 2010 to May 2023 were included, with 149 having documented MW. In Table 1, self-reported gender was significant between cohorts (p < 0.025). Other significant demographic characteristics were smoker status (p < 0.002), diabetes (p < 0.016), and CCI score (p < 0.011). Table 2 shows notably significant perioperative characteristics: spinal pathology (degenerative spondylolisthesis/foraminal stenosis/herniated nucleus pulposus) (p < 0.005, all), estimated blood loss/length of stay/postoperative day (POD)-zero narcotic consumption (p < 0.001, all). Table 3 outcomes/MCID achievement percentages demonstrated insignificant intercohort differences besides a weakly significant FF ODI score (p < 0.036). MW, a frequently reported symptom in spine surgery, is poorly studied in LLIF patients. Thus, this study evaluates MW impact on PROMs and notes no significant differences. However, one exception regarding FF disability scores was recorded. MW did not affect MCID achievement for our patient population. Therefore, the preliminary findings suggest preoperative MW imparts minimal influence on PROMs/MCID in LLIF patients.

Dynamic Hippo pathway activity underlies mesenchymal differentiation during lung alveolar morphogenesis.

Alveologenesis, the final stage in lung development, substantially remodels the distal lung, expanding the alveolar surface area for efficient gas exchange. Secondary crest myofibroblasts (SCMF) exist transiently in the neonatal distal lung and are crucial for alveologenesis. However, the pathways that regulate SCMF function, proliferation and temporal identity remain poorly understood. To address this, we purified SCMFs from reporter mice, performed bulk RNA-seq and found dynamic changes in Hippo-signaling components during alveologenesis. We deleted the Hippo effectors Yap/Taz from Acta2-expressing cells at the onset of alveologenesis, causing a significant arrest in alveolar development. Using single cell RNA-seq, we identified a distinct cluster of cells in mutant lungs with altered expression of marker genes associated with proximal mesenchymal cell types, airway smooth muscle and alveolar duct myofibroblasts. In vitro studies confirmed that Yap/Taz regulates myofibroblast-associated gene signature and contractility. Together, our findings show that Yap/Taz is essential for maintaining functional myofibroblast identity during postnatal alveologenesis.