Clinicians have managed and treated lower back pain since the earliest days of practice. Historically, lower back pain and its accompanying symptoms of radiating leg pain and muscle weakness have been recognized to be due to any of the various lumbar spine pathologies that lead to the compression of the lumbar nerves at the root, the most common of which is the radiculopathy known as sciatica. More recently, however, with the increased rise in chronic diseases, the importance of differentially diagnosing a similarly presenting pathology, known as lumbosacral plexopathy, cannot be understated. Given the similar clinical presentation of lumbar spine pathologies and lumbosacral plexopathies, it can be difficult to differentiate these two diagnoses in the clinical setting. Resultingly, the inappropriate diagnosis of either pathology can result in ineffective clinical management. Thus, this review aims to aid in the clinical differentiation between lumbar spine pathology and lumbosacral plexopathy. Specifically, this paper delves into spine and plexus anatomy, delineates the clinical assessment of both pathologies, and highlights powerful diagnostic tools in the hopes of bolstering appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Lastly, this review will describe emerging treatment options for both pathologies in the preclinical and clinical realms, with a special emphasis on regenerative nerve therapies.

Gliomas are common primary brain malignancies that remain difficult to treat due to their overall aggressiveness and heterogeneity. Although a variety of therapeutic strategies have been employed for the treatment of gliomas, there is increasing evidence that suggests ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) can serve as a valuable biomarker and diagnostic tool in the pathogenesis of gliomas. Various LGICs, including P2X, SYT16, and PANX2, have the potential to become altered in the pathogenesis of glioma, which can disrupt the homeostatic activity of neurons, microglia, and astrocytes, further exacerbating the symptoms and progression of glioma. Consequently, LGICs, including purinoceptors, glutamate-gated receptors, and Cys-loop receptors, have been targeted in clinical trials for their potential therapeutic benefit in the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas. In this review, we discuss the role of LGICs in the pathogenesis of glioma, including genetic factors and the effect of altered LGIC activity on the biological functioning of neuronal cells. Additionally, we discuss current and emerging investigations regarding the use of LGICs as a clinical target and potential therapeutic for gliomas.

Background: Nitinol compression staples have been increasingly used in foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery because of simple implantation, reproducibility, and favorable biomechanical features. Compared with traditional implants (i.e., plates and screws), nitinol staple use in foot and ankle orthopaedics has not been extensively described. This systematic review aims to describe the current clinical outcomes of nitinol staple use in forefoot and midfoot surgery. Methods: A search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. All studies that included clinical outcomes of nitinol in foot surgery were evaluated for their demographics, outcome scores, or complication rates. Biomechanical studies and studies investigating nitinol nails in the hindfoot were excluded. Two reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts. Results: Of the 198 total articles from the search, 9 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of the 9 articles, 4 articles investigated outcomes of nitinol in the forefoot, 3 articles in the midfoot, 1 article in the forefoot and midfoot, and 1 article in the midfoot and hindfoot. This systematic review included articles that were retrospective in nature and thus subject to selection bias. The mean follow-up ranged from 6 to 35.9 months. The included studies demonstrated significantly improved postoperative visual analog scale pain score ( P < .001), Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale scores ( P < .001), and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure activities of daily living scores ( P < .001). Of the 6 studies that report union for patients receiving purely nitinol staple constructs or nitinol staples in combination with another construct, the overall fusion rate was 94.6% and the overall complication rate was 11.25%. Conclusion: This systematic review demonstrates that nitinol staples in foot surgery, whether alone or in combination with another construct, can achieve an acceptable fusion rate. However, currently we found highly limited clinical study data directly comparing nitinol staples to traditional implants. The current literature is heterogenous in its discussion of nitinol staple configurations and designs. Level of Evidence: Level IV, Systematic Review.

Despite recent advancements in the field of neuro-ophthalmology, the rising rates of neurological and ophthalmological conditions, mismatches between supply and demand of clinicians, and an aging population underscore the urgent need to explore new therapeutic approaches within the field. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), traditionally used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, are becoming increasingly appreciated for their diverse applications. Recently, GLP-1RAs have been approved for the treatment of obesity and recognized for their cardioprotective effects. Emerging evidence indicates some GLP-1RAs can cross the blood-brain barrier and may have neuroprotective effects. Therefore, this article aims to review the literature on the neurologic and neuro-ophthalmic role of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). This article describes GLP-1 peptide characteristics and the mechanisms mediating its known role in increasing insulin, decreasing glucagon, delaying gastric emptying, and promoting satiety. This article identifies the sources and targets of GLP-1 in the brain and review the mechanisms which mediate its neuroprotective effects, as well as implications for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Furthermore, the preclinical works which unravel the effects of GLP-1 in ocular dynamics and the preclinical literature regarding GLP-1RA use in the management of several neuro-ophthalmic conditions, including diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma, and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) are discussed.