Introduction: Once the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, the world was waiting for the clue that would be able to cut down the progression of the disease. Vaccines play a crucial role in reducing the disease and saving many people worldwide. However, there are several side effects of these vaccines, like pain, fatigue, fever, and neurological defects like Bell’s palsy. In this systematic review, we presented evidence about the occurrence of Bell’s palsy followed by COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, EBSCO, and Web of Science (WOS) from inception till October 2022. The quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute, National Institute of Health, and Newcastle-Ottawa. The analysis was conducted on SPSS. Results: Thirty-five records were involved in our study. The results of our cases revealed that most of the patients (62.8%) experienced unilateral facial paralysis. Also, the majority of the cases were reported after the first dose, and most cases were after Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sputnik V vaccines, respectively. The patients who were treated with corticosteroids, IVIG, and anti-viral drugs, showed marked recovery afterward. Conclusion: The rate ratio of Bell’s palsy after COVID-19 vaccination was 25.3 per 1,000,000. The ratio was higher after the first dose compared to the second dose and was higher among those who took Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine compared to other vaccines. However, this condition was reported in a small number of cases among a large number of vaccinated people worldwide. It is important to note that the benefits of getting vaccinated far outweigh any potential risks.

Background: Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has demonstrated cardiovascular and glycemic benefits. However, its influence on surgical outcomes, particularly spinal fusion, remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association between semaglutide use and pseudarthrosis rates following posterior lumbar fusion surgery in patients with T2DM. Methods: Data were retrieved from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network, which includes de-identified records from 117 healthcare systems. T2DM patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion were identified using CPT codes, and semaglutide exposure was determined preoperatively. Patients were divided into semaglutide and non-semaglutide groups, with 1:1 propensity score matching applied. Pseudarthrosis was identified using ICD-10 code M96.0. Results: After matching, baseline characteristics were well-balanced between groups with 884 patients in each group. Semaglutide users had significantly lower rates of pseudarthrosis at 6 months (8.0% vs. 13.1%, OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.42–0.79), 1 year (8.9% vs. 14.0%, OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.45–0.81), and two years (10.1% vs. 15.7%, OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.45–0.80) compared to non-users. Conclusions: Semaglutide use is associated with a reduced risk of pseudarthrosis following posterior lumbar fusion in patients with T2DM. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this potential benefit and to assess its implications in broader patient populations.

Background/ Aim: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting upper and lower motor neurons, causing progressive atrophy of muscles, hypertonia, and paralysis. This study aimed to evaluate the current evidence and effectiveness of ultrasound in investigating nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) of peripheral nerves, vagus and cervical roots in those with ALS compared with healthy controls and to pool the CSA measurements. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on Cochrane, Clarivate Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase for the mesh terms nerve, ultrasonography, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A quality assessment was performed using the New-Ottawa scale. In addition, a double-arm meta-analysis using Review Manager 5 software version 5.4 was performed. Results: From the seventeen studies included in this review, the overall mean difference showed that individuals with ALS had a significantly smaller CSA in comparison to healthy controls for median, ulnar, C6 root, and phrenic nerves. However, no significant difference in the CSA was found in radial, vagal, sural, and tibial nerves. Discussion: This study confirmed results of some of the included studies regards the anatomic sites, where nerve atrophy in ALS could be detected to potentially support the diagnosis of ALS. However, we recommend further large, prospective studies to assess the diagnostic value of these anatomical sites for the diagnosis of ALS. Conclusions: Our findings confirmed specific anatomic sites to differentiate ALS patients from healthy controls through ultrasound. However, these findings cannot be used to confirm the ALS diagnosis, but rather assist in differentiating it from other diagnoses. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered on July 30th 2024 in PROSPERO (PROSPERO (york.ac.uk)) with ID574702. Graphical

Background: Post-craniotomy headache (PCH) is a common, often debilitating complication with limited treatment options and unclear pathophysiology. While botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) is effective for various headache disorders, its use in PCH is underexplored. This systematic review examines case reports and series on BoNT-A's efficacy and safety for PCH. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in February 2025 using relevant keywords. Case reports and series on BoNT-A treatment for PCH were included, while unrelated studies, reviews, and incomplete abstracts were excluded. Data on patient characteristics, treatment protocols, efficacy, and adverse events were extracted. Results: Five case series published up to 2025 report on 15 patients from France, Canada, and the United States. Each study enrolled only three or four patients, all with persistent PCH unresponsive to standard analgesics. BoNT-A regimens differed widely, ranging from 15 to 165 U, and included single versus repeated sessions, as well as injection sites such as the temporalis muscle, incision margins, and cranial suture lines, highlighting the lack of a standardized protocol. Eleven patients achieved 75–100% pain relief within 10–15 days, with therapeutic effects persisting for several weeks to over 5 years. Many also demonstrated improvements in daily functioning and a reduction in analgesic consumption. No serious adverse events were reported, supporting BoNT-A as a safe and promising treatment for PCH. Conclusion: BoNT-A is a well-tolerated and effective option for patients with refractory PCH, offering substantial pain relief and functional improvement. However, given the reliance on small-scale studies, larger clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and establish standardized treatment protocols.

Introduction: Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) presents a formidable challenge, marked by the persistence of chronic lower back pain and leg pain despite undergoing surgical interventions. Multicolumn spinal cord stimulation (m-SCS) has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for addressing the pain associated with FBSS. This meta-analysis aims to study the efficacy of m-SCS in mitigating chronic back and leg pain among patients with FBSS. Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library) was conducted to identify relevant studies published up to October 25th, 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized controlled trials and cohort studies evaluating the outcomes of m-SCS in patients with FBSS. The primary outcome measured was the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score for low back and leg pain at baseline, six months, and 12 months. Results: A total of eight studies, including 271 patients, were analyzed. At six months, there was a statistically significant reduction in the VAS scores for low back pain (MD, 4.76; 95% CI, 3.78 to 5.74) and leg pain (MD, 4.41; 95% CI, 2.93 to 5.90) compared to baseline. Similarly, at 12 months, there was a statistically significant reduction in the VAS scores for low back pain (MD, 4.77; 95% CI, 4.34 to 5.20) and leg pain (MD, 2.78; 95% CI, 0.72 to 4.85) compared to baseline. Conclusion: m-SCS effectively manages chronic back and leg pain in FBSS patients, providing sustained pain relief. Studies with more extended follow-up periods and qualitative analysis for the functional outcomes and overall improvement for the patients with FBSS are recommended.

Objectives: Several prior studies have shown that in metastasized colorectal cancer, the primary cancer’s location influences patients’ survival rates, with left-sided colorectal cancer being associated with longer survival than right-sided colorectal cancer. This study aimed to explore the influence of the primary location of colorectal cancer on survival following brain metastasis. Methods: To address this clinical question, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. We included studies focused on patients diagnosed with brain metastasis from colorectal cancer. These studies reported survival outcomes based on different primary tumor sites (right versus left and colon versus rectum). The primary outcome was to aggregate the hazard ratio (HR) of left-sided colorectal cancer when metastasized to the brain compared with right-sided colorectal cancer. The secondary outcome was to aggregate the HR of rectal cancer when it metastasized to the brain compared with colon cancer. Results: Ten studies with a total of 1792 patients were included in the meta-analysis, and combined HR was calculated. Left-sided colon cancer showed higher overall survival compared with right-sided colon cancer when metastasized to the brain (HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54–0.94, I ² = 0%). Rectal cancer did not show a statistically significant difference in overall survival compared with colon cancer (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.40–1.41, I ² = 81%). Conclusions: Concordant with lung and liver metastases, the primary location of colorectal cancer influenced overall survival when metastasized to the brain. Left-sided colon cancer demonstrated higher overall survival than right-sided colon cancer.