Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that leads to significant morbidity and disability. PD is caused by a loss of dopaminergic, cholinergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic neurons in the central nervous system (CNS), and peripherally; the syndromic parkinsonism symptoms of movement disorder, gait disorder, rigidity and tremor are mostly driven by the loss of these neurons in the basal ganglia. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of patients taking levodopa, the standard of care treatment for PD, will begin to experience a decrease in effectiveness at varying times. These periods, referred to as “off episodes”, are characterized by increased symptoms and have a detrimental effect on quality of life and disability. Istradefylline, a novel adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, is indicated as a treatment addition to levodopa/carbidopa in patients experiencing “off episodes”. It promotes dopaminergic activity by antagonizing adenosine in the basal ganglia. This review will discuss istradefylline as a treatment for PD patients with off episodes.

Context: Abdominal pain is a widespread complaint and is one of the common reasons leading patients to seek medical care, either in emergency situations or with their primary providers. While acute abdominal pain is a better defined, usually surgical condition, chronic abdominal pain requires longer, typically lifelong, therapy. Chronic abdominal pain may also present with acute flares and complications. Here we review seminal and novel evidence discussing the use of acupuncture in the treatment of abdominal pain, indications, and conditions that may benefit from this approach. Evidence Acquisition: Chronic abdominal pain is a common complaint causing significant morbidity and disability and has a hefty price tag attached. Recent studies show it may be prevalent in as much as 25% of the adult population. It is defined as three episodes of severe abdominal pain over the course of three months. Chronic abdominal pain could be the result of chronicity of acute pain or of chronic pain syndromes, most commonly IBD syndromes and IBS. While a plethora of treatments exists for both conditions, these treatments usually fall short of complete symptom control, and there is a need for complementary measures to curb disability and increase the quality of life in these patients. Acupuncture is a form of integrative medicine that has long been used in Chinese and traditional medicine, based on the rebalancing of the patient’s Qi, or Ying/Yang balance. It has been shown to be effective in treating several other conditions, and novel evidence may expand its use into other fields as well. Clinical trials studying acupuncture in chronic pain conditions have been promising, and recent evidence supports the use of abdominal pain in chronic abdominal pain conditions as well. Though not curative, acupuncture is a complementary approach that helps reduce symptoms and improved quality of life. Conclusions: Chronic abdominal pain is a widespread condition, mostly affected by the IBS and IBD spectrum. Etiologies are still being studied for these conditions, and while novel treatment approaches are absolute game changers for these patients, many continue to experience some level of symptoms and disability. Acupuncture may provide further alleviation of these symptoms in select patients, thus improving quality of life, reducing disability, and saving healthcare dollars. It is a largely safe and inexpensive method that may significantly contribute to the quality of life of selected patients.

Opioids are commonly prescribed postoperatively for pain control, especially in spine surgery. Not only does this pose concerns for potential abuse, but it also has been shown to worsen certain outcomes. Risk factors for increased use include preoperative opioid use, female sex, psychiatric diagnoses, and drug and alcohol use. Over the past few decades, there have been increasing efforts mostly spearheaded by governmental agencies to decrease postoperative opioid use via opioid prescription limitation laws regulating the number of days and amounts of analgesics prescribed and promotion of the use of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols, multimodal pain regimens, epidural catheters, and ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks. These strategies collectively have been efficacious in decreasing overall opioid use and better controlling patients' postoperative pain while simultaneously improving other outcomes such as postoperative nausea, vomiting, and length of stay. With an aging population undergoing an increasing number of spinal surgeries each year, it is now more important than ever to continue these efforts to improve the quality and safety of pain control methods after spinal surgery and limit the transition of acute management to the development of opioid dependence and addiction long-term.

Osteoporosis is a common condition affecting the musculoskeletal system. It carries with it increased risks of fracture in many areas of the body, leading to reduced quality of life, limited mobility, and other long-term implications such as chronic pain. Vertebral compression fractures are a common development in patients with osteoporosis. Current treatment options focus on reducing pain; preventative methods are somewhat limited and focus on minimizing risk factors for the development of osteoporosis. In this review, we explore the use of calcitonin (FORTICAL, MIACALCIN) to treat vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Recent FindingsOsteoporosis had a prevalence of more than 10% in the United States in 2010. The CDC estimates that nearly 25% of women over age 65 have findings of osteoporosis, which include low spinal bone mass. The condition is highly prevalent and, in an aging U.S. population, quite clinically relevant. Risk factors for development include advanced age, cigarette smoking, medications, reduced physical activity, and low calcium and vitamin D intake. Family history may also play a role. Diagnosis is made based on bone mineral density. Standard therapy for VCFs in osteoporosis includes analgesic medications, such as NSAIDs and biphosphonates, and surgical intervention. NSAIDs address the chronic pain that is a common long-term effect of VCFs. Biphosphonates have recently been used to attempt to halt the progression and provide prevention. Surgical interventions such as balloon kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are typically reserved for patients who have failed other methods. Calcitonin is a peptide naturally produced by the human body, released from the parathyroid gland. It binds to osteoclasts, inhibiting them from inducing bone resorption. By relatively unknown mechanisms, it also appears to cause endorphin release and mitigate pain. Clinical data has shown safety and efficacy for exogenous calcitonin in reducing bone turnover and reducing VCF-induced pain.

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