Trauma and Emergency Medicine

Focused ultrasound has emerged as a key tool for neurologic disorders. In this focused review, we discuss the utility in disrupting the blood brain barrier to maximize treatment. This can facilitate creating direct coagulative lesions and aid in the administration of chemotherapy. Furthermore, it can facilitate neuromodulation when used in pulse sequencing.

Many drugs are effective systemically, but slow onset of non-intravenous routes of administration may limit their clinical utility. While anesthesiologists usually have intravenous (IV) access for drug delivery, other healthcare professionals in less controlled situations such as acute crises in the emergency room, critical care settings, or urgent needs in the community, may need non-invasive drug delivery [1].

Proximal humerus fracture with simultaneous shoulder dislocation in children is a rare occurrence, with few reported cases. This systematic review of case reports aimed to document the outcomes of different treatment methods. A comprehensive literature search from 1980 to 2024 included case reports on traumatic shoulder fracture-dislocation in children. Eighteen studies were included, with a mean followup of 1.5 years. The cases comprised 7 boys and 11 girls, aged between 11 months and 16 years (median 6 years). The cases were divided into two groups based on epiphysealinvolvement.

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2023 significantly affected emergency medical care. Physicians who regularly saw their patients by appointment were redeployed to emergency care, increasing their reported burnout. Understanding how the burnout of specialists increased from this redeployment during COVID-19 is relevant to finding ways to reduce redeployment burnout in these appointment-based physicians when preparing for future pandemics.

Chronic pain conditions constitute the primary reason for seeking healthcare, the development of related disability and addiction, and the highest driver of healthcare costs. Chronic temporomandibular, jaw and orofacial pain after acute jaw sprain/strain can be prevented if prompt and appropriate treatment in an emergency or urgent care clinic is provided using a jaw sprain/strain clinical protocol immediately after onset to begin the healing and recovery process. 

The effects of COVID-19 have been of increasing interest in all fields of medicine after the pandemic, especially considering the important impact and incidence of patients infected with coronavirus. Numerous studies have reported the vast clinical implications related to permanent organ and tissue damage after infection and long COVID. 

This editorial is a trial to open future research in the importance of neurobiology of diseases. We think that the potential of having links between some diseases and brain has been previously indicated, but it may be still underestimated.Previous studies reported the axis of brain and heart, brain and intestine. The reality of the problem is not well addressed on molecular basis. In other words, it is not enough to think or point out to possible existence of such a link.

During an action observation (AO) and action execution, specific group of neural substrates are activated. They provide a neural mechanism for understanding the actions of others called as mirror neurons (MNs). They also carry out motor grounding, motion ersatz, language and emotion appreciation. Mirror neurons discharge not only throughout the self-experience of pain but also during the perception of other people’s pain.

Different computational models and new devices are under development, aiming to better comprehend and alter brain function. Ternary computating offers new approach by considering a third physiological state of the neuronal membrane: the refractory period (-1), in addition to resting potential state (0) and the action potential.

Osteoporosis is a worldwide disease and osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) have a high incidence in the elderly population, mostly involving female sex in the postmenopausal status. They are usually treated conservatively with a bed rest period, pain control with analgesics, bracing, bisphosphonates and early rehabilitation. Nevertheless, this kind of treatment can fail with persistent pain, collapse, pseudoarthrosis, kyphotic deformity and neurologic impairment.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and aggressive extranodal Non Hodgkin Lymphoma. Combined modality treatment with high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) followed by whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has been a commonly used treatment approach.

The human brain is a complex network of billions of neurons accompanied by astrocytes and microglia among others [1]. Neurons communicate via specialized sites of cell-cell contacts called synapses, where information is transmitted via the presynaptic release of neurotransmitter from synaptic vesicles (SVs) [2]. Through the integration of information transmitted via large networks of neurons, complex tasks, such as learning, memory and various behaviors, are regulated.

The tongue is a complex muscular organ essential for speech, taste, chewing and swallowing [1]. Tongue injuries range in severity from minor lacerations to complete amputation. The most common location is anterior dorsum as a result of falls, seizures, self-mutilation, electroconvulsive therapy or child abuse [1,2]. 

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have emerged as promising treatment options for many cancers. ICIs exert their therapeutic effects by targeting immune inhibitory molecules on T-cells in adaptive immunity, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1).

The HLbC model, as proposed by the author, has been utilized to interpret the varied behaviors manifested by individuals with split-brains. This paper initially provides a succinct overview of the function of the corpus callosum, pivotal to discussions concerning split-brains, along with the distinctive behaviors demonstrated by subjects with split-brains. Subsequently, it elucidates the application of the HLbC model in interpreting the behavior of such individuals. Comparative analyses with normal brain function are then conducted.

Brain metastases are a feared complication of breast cancer, occurring in 15-25% of patients and being associated with poor prognosis and reduced quality of life. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an advanced technique that uses powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed three-dimensional (3D) images of the brain's neuroanatomy and any potential pathology, especially in the management of brain metastases. 

Objective: To study vaccine hesitancy among health care workers who provide direct care in nursing homes and long-term care facilities which cater to the most vulnerable population of the community. 

The design of safe drug delivery systems that locally allow efficacious concentration of curative molecules has become the latest frontier in nanomedicine. It usually relies on the entrapment of drugs into micro/nano carriers guaranteeing for the controlled release of the drugs while protecting them from degradation and fast clearance.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly debilitating psychiatric condition that develops in a subset of individuals following a traumatic event, such as a threat of death, serious injury or sexual assault. Over the past two decades, substantial body of research has focused on key neural regions and circuits that play a role in pathogenesis and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. More specifically, hyper-activation of amygdala, insula, and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, as well as hypo-activation in ventral medial prefrontal cortex and altered function of hippocampus have been repeatedly reported.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a member of the ErbB family. It is involved in biological processes such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, inhibition of apoptosis, adhesion, metastasis, and is associated with the progression of lung cancer [1-3].