Vacuum Phenomenon in the Lumbar Spine: A Useful Tool for Neuroradiologists and Spine Surgeons?

Neurographics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
N.E. Kelm ◽  
M.A. Aftab
Keyword(s):  
Lumbar Spine ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Incidental Finding ◽  
Ct Imaging ◽  
Common Finding ◽  
The Past ◽  
Vacuum Phenomenon

The vacuum phenomenon in the lumbar spine is a common finding on radiographs and CT imaging. Its presence has been known for more than a century and has been increasing in spine literature during the past 20 years. Although once thought of as an incidental finding, further research may yield important findings about the vacuum phenomenon, which may allow radiologists to understand its meaning more clearly when it is encountered.Learning Objective: The goal of this article is to present the reader with a better understanding of the vacuum phenomenon as it pertains to the lumbar spine and with its history in radiology and surgery literature, its presence in recent literature, and how it may impact spine radiology and surgery moving forward.

scholarly journals Reframing Professional Development Through Understanding Authentic Professional Learning

2009 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 702-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Webster-Wright
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Educational Research ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Alternative Conceptualization ◽  
Professional Development Programs ◽  
Evaluating Professional Development

Continuing to learn is universally accepted and expected by professionals and other stakeholders across all professions. However, despite changes in response to research findings about how professionals learn, many professional development practices still focus on delivering content rather than enhancing learning. In exploring reasons for the continuation of didactic practices in professional development, this article critiques the usual conceptualization of professional development through a review of recent literature across professions. An alternative conceptualization is proposed, based on philosophical assumptions congruent with evidence about professional learning from seminal educational research of the past two decades. An argument is presented for a shift in discourse and focus from delivering and evaluating professional development programs to understanding and supporting authentic professional learning.

scholarly journals Global nutrient transport in a world of giants

2015 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 868-873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher E. Doughty ◽  
Joe Roman ◽  
Søren Faurby ◽  
Adam Wolf ◽  
Alifa Haque ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Nutrient Transport ◽  
Anadromous Fish ◽  
Upward Movement ◽  
The Past ◽  
Large Animals ◽  
Continental Interior

The past was a world of giants, with abundant whales in the sea and large animals roaming the land. However, that world came to an end following massive late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions on land and widespread population reductions in great whale populations over the past few centuries. These losses are likely to have had important consequences for broad-scale nutrient cycling, because recent literature suggests that large animals disproportionately drive nutrient movement. We estimate that the capacity of animals to move nutrients away from concentration patches has decreased to about 8% of the preextinction value on land and about 5% of historic values in oceans. For phosphorus (P), a key nutrient, upward movement in the ocean by marine mammals is about 23% of its former capacity (previously about 340 million kg of P per year). Movements by seabirds and anadromous fish provide important transfer of nutrients from the sea to land, totalling ∼150 million kg of P per year globally in the past, a transfer that has declined to less than 4% of this value as a result of the decimation of seabird colonies and anadromous fish populations. We propose that in the past, marine mammals, seabirds, anadromous fish, and terrestrial animals likely formed an interlinked system recycling nutrients from the ocean depths to the continental interiors, with marine mammals moving nutrients from the deep sea to surface waters, seabirds and anadromous fish moving nutrients from the ocean to land, and large animals moving nutrients away from hotspots into the continental interior.

Intramyocellular fat storage in metabolic diseases

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Laurens ◽  
Cedric Moro
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Lipid Storage ◽  
Muscle Lipid ◽  
The Past ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Lipid ◽  
Ectopic Lipid Storage

AbstractOver the past decades, obesity and its metabolic co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) developed to reach an endemic scale. However, the mechanisms leading to the development of T2D are still poorly understood. One main predictor for T2D seems to be lipid accumulation in “non-adipose” tissues, best known as ectopic lipid storage. A growing body of data suggests that these lipids may play a role in impairing insulin action in metabolic tissues, such as liver and skeletal muscle. This review aims to discuss recent literature linking ectopic lipid storage and insulin resistance, with emphasis on lipid deposition in skeletal muscle. The link between skeletal muscle lipid content and insulin sensitivity, as well as the mechanisms of lipid-induced insulin resistance and potential therapeutic strategies to alleviate lipotoxic lipid pressure in skeletal muscle will be discussed.

Summer of Discontent: Economic Rivalry among Elite Factions during the Late Porfiriato in Yucatán

1986 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert M. Joseph ◽  
Allen Wells
Keyword(s):  
Regional Economy ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
The Political ◽  
Regional Studies ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Central State ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Family Networks ◽  
Local Elites ◽  
The Past

The past decade has witnessed a rich harvest of regional studies of the Mexican Porfiriato. There are two predominant currents in the recent literature. One group of scholars has focused attention on the political sphere, examining the process whereby the Porfirian central state increased its power at the expense of the regional peripheries. Invariably, the federal cause was advanced by Don Porfirio's ability to manipulate local factional struggles, playing off contending parentescos or élite family networks. Another group of historians has explored the external dimension of the Porfirian regional economy, examining patterns of cooperation and conflict between local élites and foreign investors. The contradictory nature of such transnational alliances and their impact on non-élite groups have now been analyzed for several important Porfirian regions.

scholarly journals A Review of Market Segmentation and Inefficiencies of the Chinese Stock Market

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 18-28
Author(s):  
Shuang Feng ◽  
Jon Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Stock Market ◽  
Market Segmentation ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Chinese Stock Market ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Calendar Effects ◽  
Market Inefficiencies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Market Inefficiency

The Chinese stock market is an emerging market that has gained much importance over the past few decades. Because of this, it also serves as a great subject for studying market inefficiencies and anomalies. In this paper we provide a review of evidence regarding the development, efficiency and integration of the Chinese stock market. In particular, we review recent literature in the areas of market segmentation, cross-listings and calendar effects. This provides evidence of market inefficiency in China. We also pose questions that can be answered in future studies.

scholarly journals Aurones: A Golden Resource for Active Compounds

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Ilaria Mazziotti ◽  
Giovanni Petrarolo ◽  
Concettina La Motta
Keyword(s):  
Functional Properties ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Biological Pathways ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
The Past ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Functional Point ◽  
Chemical Strategies

Deemed as poorly represented in nature, aurones have been often overlooked by researchers compared to other members of the flavonoid superfamily. However, over the past two decades, they have been reassessed by the scientific community, who are increasingly appreciating their ability to modulate several biological pathways. This review summarizes the recent literature on this class of compounds, which has been analyzed from both a chemical and a functional point of view. Original articles, reviews and editorials featured in Pubmed and Scifinder over the last twenty years have been taken into account to provide the readers with a view of the chemical strategies to obtain them, their functional properties, and their potential of technological use. The resulting comprehensive picture aims at raising the awareness of these natural derivatives as effective drug candidates, fostering the development of novel synthetic analogues.

The Political Economy of Easy Credit Policies

2016 ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Karim Azizi ◽  
Thibault Darcillon
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Consumer Credit ◽  
Majority Voting ◽  
The Political ◽  
Aggregate Consumption ◽  
The Past ◽  
Marginal Effects

During the past thirty years, U.S. economic growth has disproportionately benefited the richest percentiles of the American population, i.e., the top income earners. Although this phenomenon is difficult to explain from a “standard” political economy perspective (i.e., majority voting), recent literature emphasizes the role of consumer credit as a means of circumventing costly public redistribution. According to this theory, most OECD and, notably, American policymakers should have facilitated middleclass and low-income households’ access to consumer credit to cushion the effects of increased income inequality (i.e., an increased share of GDP held by top earners). Our contribution to this literature is to argue that increases in inequality (as measured by expansions in the share of GDP held by top income earners) should be associated with aggregate consumption increases. Indeed, in response to increased inequality, easy credit policies stimulate low-income and middle-class consumption, which contributes to an increased aggregate consumption level. Using a panel dataset of 20 developed OECD economies between 1980 and 2007, we show that such increases in inequality are actually associated with expansions of aggregate consumption. Finally, when computing marginal effects, we conclude that these expansions increase with the size of the financial sector.

scholarly journals What Remains of Cross-Country Convergence?

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Johnson ◽  
Chris Papageorgiou
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Absolute Convergence ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Global Inequality ◽  
Income Gap ◽  
The Past ◽  
Advanced Economies ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Distribution Of Income

We examine the record of cross-country growth over the past fifty years and ask if developing countries have made progress on closing the income gap between their per capita incomes and those in the advanced economies. We conclude that, as a group, they have not and then survey the literature on absolute convergence with particular emphasis on that from the last decade or so. That literature supports our conclusion of a lack of progress in closing the income gap between countries. We close with a brief examination of the recent literature on cross-individual distribution of income, which finds that despite the lack of progress on cross country convergence, global inequality has tended to fall since 2000. ( JEL E01, E13, O11, O47, F41, F62)

scholarly journals Closing the Loops in Biomedical Informatics. Editorial

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (01) ◽  
pp. 15-16
Author(s):  
Antoine Geissbuhler ◽  
C. A. Kulikowski
Keyword(s):  
Medical Informatics ◽  
Biomedical Research ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Biomedical Informatics ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Editorial Introduction ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Main Research ◽  
The Past

Summary Objectives To provide an editorial introduction to the 2009 IMIA Yearbook of Medical Informatics with an overview of its contents and contributors. Methods A brief overview of the main theme, and an outline of the purposes, contents, format, and acknowledgment of contributions for the 2009 IMIA Yearbook. Results This 2009 issue of the IMIA Yearbook highlights important, beneficial loops which, if closed, could lead to considerable advances in the field of biomedical informatics and, indirectly, in healthcare and biomedical research. Progress towards closing the loops and remaining gaps are identified from the recent literature, illustrated by selected papers published during the past 12 months. Conclusion Reviews and Surveys of the main research sub-fields in biomedical informatics in the Yearbook provide an overview of progress and current challenges across the spectrum of the discipline.

scholarly journals Are general practitioners referring patients with low back pain for CTs appropriately according to the guidelines: a retrospective review of 3609 medical records in Newfoundland using routinely collected data

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle S. Logan ◽  
Russell Eric Dawe ◽  
Kris Aubrey-Bassler ◽  
Danielle Coombs ◽  
Patrick Parfrey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Lumbar Spine ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Ct Imaging ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Spine Ct ◽  
Red Flag ◽  
Radicular Syndrome ◽  
Record Review

Abstract Background CT Imaging is often requested for patients with low back pain (LBP) by their general practitioners. It is currently unknown what reasons are common for these referrals and if CT images are ordered according to guidelines in one province in Canada, which has high rates of CT imaging. The objective of this study is to categorise lumbar spine CT referrals into serious spinal pathology, radicular syndrome, and non-specific LBP and evaluate the appropriateness of CT imaging referrals from general practitioners for patients with LBP. Methods A retrospective medical record review of electronic health records was performed in one health region in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Inclusion criteria were lumbar spine CT referrals ordered by general practitioners for adults ≥18 years, and performed between January 1st-December 31st, 2016. Each CT referral was identified from linked databases (Meditech and PACS). To the study authors’ knowledge, guidelines regarding when to refer patients with low back pain for CT imaging had not been actively disseminated to general practitioners or implemented at clinics/hospitals during this time period. Data were manually extracted and categorised into three groups: red flag conditions (judged to be an appropriate referral), radicular syndrome (judged be unclear appropriateness), or nonspecific LBP (determined to be inappropriate). Results Three thousand six hundred nine lumbar spine CTs were included from 2016. The mean age of participants was 54.7 (SD 14 years), with females comprising 54.6% of referrals. 1.9% of lumbar CT referrals were missing/unclear, 6.5% of CTs were ordered on a red-flag suspicion, 75.6% for radicular syndromes, and 16.0% for non-specific LBP; only 6.5% of referrals were clearly appropriate. Key information including patient history and clinical exams performed at appointment were often missing from referrals. Conclusion This audit found high proportions of inappropriate or questionable referrals for lumbar spine CT and many were missing information needed to categorise. Further research to understand the drivers of inappropriate imaging and cost to the healthcare system would be beneficial.

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