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In the previous study, whole-body cryotherapy (WBC)+static stretching (SS) has been shown to reduce the severity of some symptoms in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) noted just after the therapy. Here we consider the effects of treatment and explore the sustainability of symptom improvements at four weeks (one-month) follow-up. Twenty-two CFS patients were assessed one month after WBC + SS programme. Parameters related to fatigue (Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ), Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)), cognitive function (Trial Making test part A and B (TMT A and TMT B and its difference (TMT B-A)), Coding) hemodynamic, aortic stiffness (aortic systolic blood pressure (sBP aortic)) and autonomic nervous system functioning were measured. TMT A, TMT B, TMT B-A and Coding improved at one month after the WBC + SS programme. WBC + SS had a significant effect on the increase in sympathetic nervous system activity in rest. WBC + SS had a significant, positive chronotropic effect on the cardiac muscle. Peripheral and aortic systolic blood pressure decreased one month after WBC + SS in comparison to before. Effects of WBC + SS on reduction of fatigue, indicators of aortic stiffness and symptoms severity related to autonomic nervous system disturbance and improvement in cognitive function were maintained at one month. However, improvement in all three fatigue scales (CFQ, FIS and FSS) was noted in 17 of 22 patients. In addition, ten patients were treated initially but they were not assessed at 4 weeks, and are thus not included in the 22 patients who were examined on follow-up. The overall effects of WBC + SS noted at one month post-treatment should be interpreted with caution., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In lateral cervical disc herniations, posterior foraminotomy (PF) provides direct nerve root decompression and maintains segmental mobility. However, partial facetectomy can cause instability. This study evaluated long-term clinical outcomes related to cervical sagittal alignment after PF., Methods: The study included 48 consecutive patients with lateral cervical disc herniations who underwent PF. Pain and mobility were evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale and Neck Disability Index (NDI), respectively. Sagittal alignment was evaluated using the modified Toyama method., Results: Median Numeric Rating Scale arm, Numeric Rating Scale neck, and NDI scores improved by 7, 4.5, and 24 points, respectively. Corresponding mean minimal clinically important differences were achieved in 94%, 77%, and 98% of patients at a mean follow-up of 8.4 years. Of patients, 82% showed favorable radiological results (i.e., retained or developed lordosis or had straight spine), while 18% showed unfavorable radiological results (i.e., retained or changed toward kyphosis). The latter group had multilevel cervical degenerative disc disease (mcDDD) before PF. Nevertheless, the risk of developing kyphosis was only 2.6%, and the potential for improving sagittal balance was 43%. Follow-up median NDI scores, but not minimal clinically important differences, were significantly worse in patients with preoperative kyphosis (21 vs. 8; P = 0.03) or mcDDD (20 vs. 8; P = 0.024) compared with other patients., Conclusions: Patients with preoperative kyphosis or mcDDD had worse NDI outcomes but also benefited from PF. Sagittal alignment improved in >40% of patients, but coexisting mcDDD was a main risk factor for kyphosis persistence., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Perioperative craniotomy practices depend mainly on neurosurgeon preferences. To investigate the variations in these preferences, we surveyed neurosurgeons in Poland regarding different aspects of their practices., Methods: Anonymous questionnaires were circulated in 2019 at the neurosurgery conferences in Poland. We then analyzed the responses, categorized in subgroups by sex, affiliation, and stage of training., Results: A total of 114 responses to the questionnaire were obtained. For surgical site exposure, regional hair shaving was the most common pattern (64.9%), followed by whole-scalp (19.3%) and strip line shaving (12.3%). Most respondents (65.8%) used clamp-based devices for bone flap fixation, and approximately one third (30.7%) reported using bone suturing. During cranioplasty, respondents most often used artificial bone implants (69.3%), followed by a preserved bone flap from the patient (24.5%). More than three quarters reported that they (77.2%) performed routine radiologic evaluation after uncomplicated brain tumor surgery. Most patients (64.0%) were discharged between the third and sixth postoperative days. Almost half of emergent surgeries (48.2%) and most elective surgeries (89.5%) were performed with the help of an assistant surgeon. No significant differences were found in practice between the sexes or by affiliation or training stage. We inferred an influence of regional economic status on some of the reported choices., Conclusions: Perioperative craniotomy practices among Polish neurosurgeons show a significant heterogeneity. Economic factors can explain some choices, but others trace to a conservative mindset. Further studies are needed to identify which factors are most relevant and to identify approaches to a standardized method of care., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this Series we document the substantial progress in the reduction of maternal mortality and discuss the current state of science in reducing maternal mortality. However, maternal health is also powerfully influenced by the structures and resources of societies, communities, and health systems. We discuss the shocks from outside of the field of maternal health that will influence maternal survival including economic growth in low-income and middle-income countries, urbanisation, and health crises due to disease outbreaks, extreme weather, and conflict. Policy and technological innovations, such as universal health coverage, behavioural economics, mobile health, and the data revolution, are changing health systems and ushering in new approaches to affect the health of mothers. Research and policy will need to reflect the changing maternal health landscape., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)